What is it like to be a teenager in an American city? Join City at Peace for an unforgettable event in NYC, LA, WDC, Charlotte, Baton Rouge or Santa Barbara. City at Peace, the only national program using the performing arts for youth empowerment and community change, will kick off its 2005 season on May 6th with the premiere of the first of six original theatrical productions written and performed by diverse groups of teenagers in six different US cities.
New York / Los Angeles / Washington DC / Charlotte / Baton Rouge / Santa Barbara (PRWEB) April 25, 2005 -- City at Peace, the only national program using the performing arts for youth empowerment and community change, will kick off its 2005 season on May 6th with the premiere of the first of six original theatrical productions written and performed by diverse groups of teenagers in six different US cities.
Theatrical productions and community events unlike any other, the 2005 City at Peace productions paint a vivid, poignant picture of what it is to be a teenager in modern-day America. The musicals, written and performed entirely by City at Peaces young participants, tell the real-life stories of teenage struggles with sexuality and religion, family conflicts, abusive relationships, parent/teen struggles, betrayal, hope, and abandonment. Based on the lives and experiences of the cast members themselves, the performances are eye-opening and inspiring.
May 6, 13, 14
Charlotte, NC
Duke Power Theater
May 12, 13, 14
New York, NY
Gerald W. Lynch Theater
May 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29
Los Angeles, CA
Greenway Court Theater
June 2, 3, 4
Santa Barbara, CA
Center Stage
June 9, 10
Baton Rouge, LA
Independence Park Theater
June 11
Washington, DC
Arena Stage
City at Peace cast members range in age from 13 to 19. The youth come from all walks of life and are as diverse in culture and background as the cities in which they live. Some members come from the toughest public schools and alternative programs while others attend the finest private schools. The members are united by a common goal to overcome adversity and, in doing so, to make positive changes not only in their own lives, but also in their communities and the world at large.
Many of these extraordinarily talented and insightful young people are able to take the lessons of self-esteem and understanding into the classroom. In 2004, 90% of City at Peace youth went on to college and 99% stayed in school – significantly higher than national averages – and GPAs increased by 0.4. The youth of City at Peace also report that through their involvement in the City at Peace program they gain a new ‘sense of future; their levels of comfort with people of all races and cultures increases; their confidence increases; and they gain an understanding of their power to control their own lives.
Since its inception in 1994, over 2,000 youth have participated in City at Peace programs and have created 32 original musicals seen by more than 90,000 audiences members, providing a window into the extraordinary challenges and pressures facing young people. City at Peace was the subject of a feature on Nightline with Ted Koppel, an HBO full-length documentary called city at peace, and has been featured in numerous newspapers and magazines. A feature film based on the documentary is being developed by MTV Films/Paramount Pictures. Paul Newman, Tim Robbins, Starbucks Foundation, Time Warner, Target Stores, Macys, and Working Assets are among the many supporters of City at Peace.
To receive more information on City at Peace programs or performances, arrange interviews or acquire press passes to events, please contact City at Peace-National at 212-924-2300.
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