The 52nd Street Project

This is just a quick post to tell you all about a cool organization that I volunteered at last week called The 52nd Street Project.

The 52nd Street Project is "a not-for-profit organization that matches kids of Hell's Kitchen in New York City with professional theatre artists to create original theatre" (I stole that from their website - but the quote marks make it okay. I hope). It's a great space, they have tutoring and homework help and theatre workshops.

I was recommended by my friend Matt to be a "musical collaborator" for their Songwriting workshop called "Compose Yourself." The kids came up with lyrics and a melody line and then musical collaborators helped them develop it further and made up a piano part. Then professional singers came in, learned the songs and there was a performance. It was really amazing to watch the kids' faces as their song was being performed in front of an audience. They were so open and they reacted in different ways. One kid had tears streaming down his face. The songs were all so great as well! Some were humorous, some serious but they all had those idiosyncratic bits that made you stop and realize "Huh. A kid wrote this. That's so cool."

I really enjoyed my time there. I hope I get to do more workshops, but in the meantime, I thought I'd mention it here so that you can check them out or send them money or something.

Hopefully, I'll get back to cooking this week. Also, stay tuned for a post about Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Easter Bonnet competition!