theatre
Feeding Your Inner Spirit with Your Inner Artist – FREE Classes in Theatre, Dance, & Song (NYC)
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.
Class Descriptions
DEVISED THEATRE
- Skill Level: Any
- Age Level: 18+
- 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.
~
Ayvaunn Penn Follow @PennSpeaks on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
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.
Reserve FREE Seats for ZAREPHATH Musical Opening Friday at Columbia
Click Here to Reserve FREE Seats
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!
ZAREPHATH in the Press
Broadway World: http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/New-Musical-ZAREPHATH-Brings-Free-Summer-Fun-to-NYC-20170617
All Christian News: http://allchristiannews.com/christian-playwright-offers-free-musical-columbia-university-august/
Your Black World: http://yourblackworld.net/2017/05/09/new-gospel-jazz-infused-musical-coming-august-2017/
(Video) Listen to How Much My ZAREPHATH Cast Rocks!!!!
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
Auditions for KING DAVID, the Poetry “Musical”
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
- Email Director Ayvaunn Penn at:
- 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
- Fill out paper work
- Do not prepare a monologue
- This is a cold read audition
- Come prepared to experiment and play
- Arrive 10 min. early for your audition time to
- 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.
- PUBLIC PERFORMANCE SHOWS:
- March 6-12, 2017
- Show times TBA
- Columbia University Schapiro Studio