"Aloud", a youth theatre residency performance will be presented in West Seattle at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center on November 17th at 4:00 and 7:00 pm. It is a free event but you are asked to RSVP via Brown Paper Tickets. More information can be found here: http://aloudresidency.brownpapertickets.com/

In an informational note the producers said:

" Aloud is a two month afterschool theatre program for youth in Southwest Seattle. The program is part of Freehold's Engaged Theatre program and is funded in part by the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (SYVPI) which targets youth involved in or at risk of involvement in violence. Freehold's teaching artists, Daemond Arrindell, Slam Master of Seattle, and actor Carter Rodriquez, are meeting with a group of 15 teenagers twice a week after school, from mid September through November. The workshops encourage participating youth to experiment, play, and build skills in both writing and performing. Writing from each of the youth will be complied into a script which will be used for the final performance. The workshops will culminate in two public performances at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center on November 17.

Teaching Artist Daemond Arrindell noted the importance of this residency work when he said:

"Poetry says things that our students would not be able to say otherwise because of the immensity or complexity of their experience. But through metaphor and allegory and persona, the youth are able to tackle the incredibly difficult question, "Who are you, really?", a question that is essential to growing up and one that should be asked at many junctures in our lives. It is this self-examination that the youth in our residencies undergo in very poignant, powerful and at times, painful but always honest ways."

The hour-long performance will include a Question and Answer session with the youth and the teaching artists. These performances are a unique opportunity for the youth to share their stories and for the community to recognize their voices. We look forward to sharing this powerful program with our larger community.

Public performances of Aloud:
Date: Saturday, November 17, 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm
Location: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, 98106
Tickets: Free (donations accepted). RSVP appreciated via this site.
More information about Freehold: www.freeholdtheatre.org
Cast includes youth from Southwest Seattle

Freehold's Engaged Theatre program is funded in part by: Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs and Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative.