I’m so excited to announce that my latest work, The Feather Doesn’t Fall Far from the Wing: A Playwith Music opens next week on Wednesday May 9, 2018 at the prestigious Signature Theatre of New York as a part of Columbia University’s Playwrights’ Thesis Festival.
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Through the perfect elixir of poetry, song, and dance The Feather Doesn’t Fall Far from the Wing: A Play with Music— written, composed and directed by yours truly — reimagines the fall of Lucifer described in scripture. I bring into fantasy a sister who ultimately takes Lucifer’s place as heaven’s new minister of music and a jealous brother who cannot be trusted to keep her secrets. It is with great honor that I can say this new work is under the mentorship of Tony Award winning Broadway producer Ron Simons and the tutelage of Tony Award winning playwright David Henry Hwang and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage.
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God has blessed me with an amazing cast and team that has been an absolute joy to work with, and I know they are going to dazzle you in their performance. Reserve your FREE seats today for this family friendly show at the link above! Hint: This is a perfect way to get a jump start on celebrating Mother’s Day 🙂
Prepare to engage the Bible through acting, dance, and/or song through the class of your choice while also relaxing the body and nurturing the spirit. Using scripture for inspiration, classes will develop a short piece of performance art live in the room. Under my instruction, get ready to not only meditate on scripture but activate it with your body and retain it through stimulation of your imagination through art forms integral to theatre.
This Class is For: People of any skill level who want to engage the Bible through acting
Focus: Scripture study, meditation, relaxation, nurturing the spirit, activating the body, stimulating the imagination
DEVISED DANCE
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Age Level: 18+
This Class is For: people desiring to explore the Bible though dance. You do not have to be a trained dancer to enjoy this class. However, dance experience is a plus.
Focus: Using dance to aid in understanding and retaining scriptural messages; relaxation; nurturing the spirit; activating the body; stimulating the imagination
DEVISED SONG
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Age Level: 18+
This Class is For: People excited to use singing to explore and delve deeper into the Bible. You do not have to be a trained singer to enjoy this class. However, your singing ability should range from good to exceptional. If you do not profess to be a singer or feel comfortable singing around others or in public, you probably will not be comfortable in this course.
Focus: As a group, improvising song from scripture to aid in understanding and retaining Biblical passages; scripture study; relaxation; nurturing the spirit; and activating the body
What Does “Devised” Mean?
In terms of performing arts, “devised” is used to refer to works that are developed collaboratively. Such works can be inspired by anything. Using scripture for inspiration, “Inner Spirit Inner Artist” classes focus on building a short piece of performance art developed live in the room from the contributions of participants. ~
NOTE: “INNER SPIRIT INNER ARTIST” IS A PART OF RESEARCH I’M CONDUCTING IN THE THESIS YEAR OF MY MASTER OF FINE ARTS AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST: COMPLETE A COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS – THEATRE “HOLD HARMLESS” FORM PRIOR TO CLASS PARTICIPATION; FILL OUT A SURVEY AT THE END OF EACH CLASS THEY PARTICIPATE IN; AND AGREE TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED AND FILMED FOR AYVAUNN PENN’S ARCHIVAL AND PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES.
Upcoming Event: My latest play The Feather Doesn’t Fall Far From the Wing, A Play with Music opens May 9, 2018 at the prestigious Signature Theatre. Enter your email address in the “Follow” section to receive updates on auditions and show times.
The time has come! Zarephath, A Gospel & Jazz Infused Musical opens this Friday August 11th at 7PM at Columbia University Schapiro Theatre. Click here for other show times and locations. Seats are going fast, but it’s not too late to get yours. Make your FREE reservation at the link above. This is the perfect outing for you and your family, church group, and friends. Enjoy the spiritually uplifting story of the widow who shared her last meal with the prophet Elijah and the miracle that follows — a story of how God can take what little you have and bless it into abundance with a little faith from you.
Columbia University Schapiro Theatre is located in Schapiro Hall at 605 W. 115th Street, New York, NY 10025. Click here for directions. See you at the show!
I just have to share this amazing moment from last week’s ZAREPHATH rehearsal with you. In this video, you will see some of the cast members of my summer musical put together an AWESOME vocal beat…ON THE FLY! I still can’t believe this happened, and I honestly can’t stop listening to it. All I know is that if these amazing actors can create vocal fabulousness for something as simple as an exercise, the actual show is going to be mind-blowing. Details for the show are below. Mark your calendars, invite your friends, tell strangers, and I’ll see you there!
-Ayvaunn
Columbia University Schapiro Theatre
F r e e A d m i s s i o n
August 11, 2017 – 7PM
August 12, 2017 – 12PM
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A showstopping, dance-filled, gospel and jazz infused musical based on the Bible story of the widow woman who shared her last meal with the prophet Elijah. ZAREPHATH is written and directed by Ayvaunn Penn under the tutelage of two-time Pulitzer Prize Winner Lynn Nottage & Tony Award Winner David Henry Hwang. Thrilling to perform, enthralling to listen to, and exciting to watch, this ball of summer fun will also be performed in various public spaces in NYC. To receive automatic updates on where the show will appear next, follow this blog by entering your email address at the bottom of this webpage.
Seeking versatile performers with a passion for poetry, musicality, movement and ensemble work. Performers with backgrounds in poetry, dance, gymnastics, and stage combat are strongly encouraged to audition. Details about roles, important dates, and audition steps are below in the casting notice.
KING DAVID, lauded by theatre legends Anne Bogart and David Henry Hwang, has taken on exciting transformations in form and content since the original October 2016 production at Columbia University. Imagine a dance-filled “musical” where people are the instruments, poetry is the music, and the human body serves as the building blocks of the set. That is what writer/director Ayvaunn Penn has created with this piece. It is visually stunning and an absolute ball to perform.
This play explores the tragedy that befalls King David’s family in a way he never expects when his son, Amnon, rapes his beloved young daughter, Tamar. Will David have the strength to tell his daughter that his past actions are the cause of her pain? Through contemporary free verse poetry and dance we dive into David’s mind revisiting the mental battle fields of his past where the fate of his daughter is determined.
CASTING NOTICE:
SEEKING NON-UNION ACTORS / OPEN ETHNICITY / AGES 18+
AUDITIONS:
Friday, December 9, 2016
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Thursday, December 15, 2016 (Callbacks)
8:30AM — 3:40PM each day at
Riverside Church 490 Riverside Dr., New York, NY 10027, Room 12T
Auditions will be scheduled in 10 minute slots
TO BOOK AN AUDITION SLOT:
Email Director Ayvaunn Penn at:
PennSpeaks [at] gmail [dot] com
In the subject line write: “Audition, King David”
Specify which ROLE you are auditioning for
Specify which audition DAY(s) and TIME(s) you are available for
Attach PDF of your Headshot
Attach PDF of your Resume
NOTE: Auditions will be filmed
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:All roles include ensemble work
King David – Male. 18-50. King of Israel; Wrestles, often, with his divided conscience — literally; Stage combat skills a plus
David’s Good Conscience — Male. 18-50. The physical manifestation of King David’s good inner voice; Always at odds with the bad half of King David’s conscience; Stage combat experience a plus
David’s Bad Conscience — Male. 18-50. King David’s naughty inner voice; Always at odds with the good side of King David’s conscience; Stage combat experience a plus
Bathsheba – Female. 18-35. The married woman King David falls for and ultimately rapes; Stage combat experience and moderate singing ability a plus
Ziba – Female. 40-50. Head of the palace staff; Full of wisdom; The only person brave enough to challenge King David’s choices and tell him when he’s wrong
Jezreel – Male. 18-50. Faithful servant to King David — maybe too faithful
Tamar – Female. 18-20. Daughter of King David; Full blood sister of Absalom; Raped by her half-brother, Amnon; Experience in stage combat a plus
Amnon – Male. 18-30. King David’s son; Half-brother of Tamar and Absalom; Rapes Tamar; Experience in stage combat a plus
Absalom – Male. 18-30. Son of King David; Full blood brother of Tamar and half-brother of Amnon; Wants to keep Tamar’s rape a secret
Nathan – Male. 30-50. The prophet who foretells King David’s punishment for his actions
Ensemble – Males & Females. 18-50. Always actively functioning as equal parts narrator, musical underscore (with poetry & bodily percussion), dance, scenic elements, and soundscape. Requires basic rhythm and the ability to follow simple choreography and carry a tune (if you can hum “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” you’re good).
Individuals interested in auditioning for ENSEMBLE ONLY should be athletic and able to maintain high energy and rhythm. Above average vocal, dance, and gymnastics skills are a plus.
AUDITION PREP / WHAT TO EXPECT
Arrive 10 min. early for your audition time to
Fill out paper work
Have a list of any conflicts you may have during January 3 – March 12, 2017. If you are cast, any conflicts you fail to disclose in advance will not be excused.
Turn in a printed copy of your headshot/resume
Receive an audition number and sides
Do not prepare a monologue
This is a cold read audition
Come prepared to experiment and play
REHEARSALS:
Start the week of January 1, 2017 (post-holiday)
End March 6, 2017 (opening night)
Rehearsals will take place 4 times a week
3 weekdays 6-9PM
1 weekend day 10AM-2PM.
For dates prior to January 17, 2017, weekday rehearsals will take place before 5PM
All rehearsals will be held in the area around Columbia University.
Dates and times may change due to creative team schedules and/or rehearsal space availability.
Ayvaunn Penn 