kids' voice

Youth gather to "speak their soul"

By blogpop on April 29, 2011 8:21 PM | No Comments

Twelve-year-old Ebony Ceballos steps onto the stage at Montgomery College, long brown hair obscuring her pretty face. Her fellow emcee, Agnes King, a shy fifth grader, clutches her script.

At first, they're a little silly, but soon they get in a groove, welcoming 150 participants to the fourth annual Step Up ! Youth Summit, designed to focus attention on the voices of "minority" kids who now represent a majority of Montgomery County's youth population. Before long, they're leading the audience in their version of Keri Hilson's "Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful."

Participants in the Step Up! Youth Summit take part in a dance class. (Photos by Julie Wiatt)

Continue reading Youth gather to "speak their soul".

Local teen thinks global, develops "Passport to School" project

By blogpop on April 15, 2011 7:11 PM | No Comments

There are 87 backpacks and 128 pair of shoes in the basement of Leah Muskin-Pierret's house in Silver Spring. She's hoping to double the donations by the end of May.

Last summer, 16-year-old Leah traveled to the Dominican Republic, an island nation just 2,000 miles from the U.S, where 30 percent of the people live in poverty.

She was surprised to learn that countless children, including many refugees from neighboring Haiti, can't go to school simply because they can't afford the backpacks and shoes they need to be admitted.

This seemed like a problem that her relatively affluent community could help solve, reasoned Leah, and she named her effort the "Passport to School" project. She organized a donation drive at her old school, Woodlin Elementary, and her religious community, the Interfaith Families Project (IFFP). Some of her neighbors promised backpacks too. The donations keep coming in.

Founder of "Passport to School" project, 16-year-old Leah Muskin-Pierret sits among the donations she has collected for school chidren in the Dominican Republic. (photos courtesy Leah Muskin-Pierret)

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Ben, Zeke, Michael, Ian: Ubercool in Rolling Stone

By blogpop on February 17, 2011 8:26 PM | No Comments

In his February 2011 Talk of Takoma column, Howard Kohn writes about Ladle Fight, a band consisting of local eighth grader, who were recently featured on NPR and in the German language Rolling Stone magazine. Follow this link to read the article: http://www.takoma.com/talkoftakoma/2011/02/ben-zeke-michael-ian-ubercool-in-rolling-stone.html. (Photo by Julie Wiatt)

Lumina Studio Theatre stuns with A Winter's Tale

By blogpop on January 1, 2011 6:26 PM | No Comments

by Mary Ellen Koenig
special to the Voice

With bare branches silhouetted against gray skies and the temperatures dropping daily, we are deep within winter's cold beauty. Many Takoma Park and Silver Spring residents welcomed the season with Lumina Studio Theatre's stunning production of William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, which played to capacity audiences at Round House Theater for two weekends in early December.

Artistic Director David Minton's adaptation placed William Shakespeare's classic story of loss and redemption within another tale set during the blitz in World War II London. The modern story, written by Minton, echoed the themes of Shakespeare's work, with both revolving around the loss of a child and culminating in emotional reunions which foretold the end of dark days of separation and estrangement. Two large casts of Lumina performers, ranging from the seven-year-old "tinies" to Lumina's talented high school students and skilled adult actors, brought both stories beautifully to life, melding the magic and bittersweet qualities of Shakespeare's tale into both parts.

Queen Hermione, played by Aziza Afzal (left), defends herself against charges made by her husband, King Leontes, played by Jeremiah Savage (right) in the Teal Cast of Lumina's The Winter's Tale. (photo by Linda Parker)

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Father-daughter dance swings into second decade

By blogpop on January 1, 2011 3:30 AM | No Comments

The social hall at Takoma Presbyterian Church is filled nearly to capacity as the crowd readies for more music. Teen-age deejays cue the next song, "Y-M-C-A" --a sure crowd pleaser. The sea of outstretched arms includes maybe two hundred young girls, many in velvet or lace dresses, laughing and singing as their aging escorts try to keep pace.

The Father-Daughter Dance is a Takoma Park/Silver Spring tradition, and one that holds a special place in the hearts of local daughters and dads who have attended since it began, in the year 2000. This year the dance enters its second decade, turning 11 years old.

"It's really sweet," says event founder Pat Holobaugh, "to see the little girls all dressed up. We had about 100 couples the first year; all the troops in our service area were invited. We tried to find really danceable music--stuff that would appeal to both the dads and daughters. There was some obscure stuff too, like: "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" by B.B. King. The girls loved it. Sometimes the Dads dressed up too, in the spirit of things. A few guys came in tuxedos!"

Girls say they like the dance because it gives them a chance to be with their fathers in a social atmosphere where they can see them cut loose a little. For the scout troop, it has become a marquee event that reliably draws crowds and raises funds in a fun way year after year.

One of the beloved rituals of the father-daughter dance is a Polaroid photo shoot. Here, Jeanne Jarvis-Gibson snaps a memento for David Corn and daughters. (photo by Eric Bond)

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"African Kaleidoscope" conference reunites African Club alums

By blogpop on December 1, 2010 3:27 AM | No Comments

At the recent African Youth conference held at Montgomery College's Takoma campus in November, alumni of local African Clubs gathered to compare notes and report on their lives. They were so confident and loquacious, it was hard to believe that less than 10 years ago many were experiencing culture shock as they adjusted to life in suburban Maryland.

Young Adje Koite is a case in point. The African Club alumnae proudly displayed a sash reading, "Miss Senegal, Washington," on top of her dress. She's now a business major at Montgomery College. But life was not always so easy for Adja.

"I was 12 when I left Sierra Leona and entered White Oak Elementary in Silver Spring. I was a very shy person - I didn't do school projects or join any activities. I needed help learning English, and how to fit in, and at the same time to be comfortable in my own skin, to love my own culture. The African Club at my middle school started me on the road."

"I saw student leaders at my school, Cardoza High, who were African immigrants. They spoke fluent English and led the African Club. That was an inspiration to me. I wanted to be like them. I had a chance to learn leadership skills in the African Club," said Ivan Ango. Originally from Cameroon, Ango is now a student at James Madison University in Virginia.

African clubs help teens decode American culture and navigate high school

By blogpop on December 1, 2010 3:13 AM | No Comments

Eight years ago, Cynthia Mandjila got off an airplane in Washington. Her family, refugees from war-torn Congo, in Central Africa, sought asylum in America.

A French speaker who didn't know a word of English , Cynthia had never seen snow or eaten American fast food. And who was this Harry Potter fellow everyone was talking about?

As a student at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Cynthia was a stranger in the strange land of American teenagers.

Months later, she heard about the African Club. Cynthia found her way to the room of Blair faculty adviser David Ngbea, where immigrants from Africa gathered on Wednesday afternoons after school.

"It's crucial for these kids to meet others who have been through the same thing, to feel they're not alone," said Dr. Wanjiru Kamau. founder and President of the African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation (AIRF), parent organization of the African Clubs.

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Members of Blair HIgh School's African Club, ninth grader Emmanuel Minja and senior Philippina Mensah flank club advisor Lydia Spitalny. (photo by Julie Wiatt)

Continue reading African clubs help teens decode American culture and navigate high school.

Blair junior wins Apollo amateur night competition

By blogpop on November 23, 2010 1:59 PM | No Comments

by Sandy Moore

photos by Shahar Azran

Opening his arms wide to welcome the Amateur Night crowd at Harlem's historic Apollo Theater, the emcee shouts towards the gilded balconies, "Tonight a dream comes true -- YOU!"

As legendary performers James Brown and Marvin Gaye once did, Blair high school junior Nathan Foley strode onto the Apollo Stage, the last of the competitors, his cherry sunburst Les Paul tucked firmly under his arm. Peering out from under his pork pie hat, he flashed the audience a shy smile, and then dug into "Maggot Brain," a guitar solo by the '70s era-band Funkadelic, sounding anything but amateur. As his last note reverberated, his fans, which included a bus of students from Blair High School, exploded.

He was the man, and the man was on.

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Haunted house comes alive on All Hallows Eve

By blogpop on November 1, 2010 2:24 PM | No Comments

by Sandy Moore

photos by Mark Podger

The dinner table set is set for a sumptuous wedding feast, complete with multi-tiered cake, crystal, fine china and champagne. But it's covered in cobwebs, crawling with insects, molested by mice. Soon Miss Haversham, from Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, arrives wearing a turn-of-the-century wedding gown, antique-white, with layers of beads and lace.

In the room next door, actors playing detective Sherlock Holmes and Watson rehearse their lines for a short segment of The Speckled Band.

It's October 30th, All Hallows Eve, and line forms on the sidewalk in front of Caroline's dark Victorian house where she is hosting the 9th annual "Visitation" a kind of literary haunted house. Some visitors come in costume, and others leave the dressing up to the actors.

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Spirited adults join younger playmates at September Play Day

By blogpop on October 1, 2010 8:23 PM | No Comments

by Sandy Moore
photos by Molly Mehling

Stephanie Lambadakis stepped gingerly between two twirling ropes and began jumping. The double dutch team looked on nervously as their coaches swung faster and Lambadakis, age 51, picked up one foot and continued jumping without a mis-step.

"Whoo-hoo ! All right!" came a voice from the crowd.

Stephanie grinned and continued for another minute, showing only faint signs of sweat.

"I did a LOT of double dutch when I was a kid - right here at this school, said Lambadakis, now a CBS reporter. At the second annual Play Day at Takoma Middle School, adults got to try games from their past -- things like jump rope, street hockey, four square, and hopscotch.

The "Takoma Plays!" Committee, which promotes play for all ages, encouraged adults to attend the Play Day along with their much younger counterparts.

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Folk Festival performers include young rockers "unplugged"

By blogpop on October 1, 2010 6:22 PM | No Comments

by Sandy Moore

"Oh my GAAAAWWWWWWDDDD," said a young girl in the crowd when middle schoolers Ben Miller, Ian Askew, Michael Untereiner, and Zeke Wapner -- members of the teen band "Ladle Fight"-- took the stage. Their fans, including a gaggle of girls with chipped nail polish and flip-flops, have watched the boys grow up.

In Takoma Park, home to more than a few veterans of Woodstock, many parents seem delighted that in an age of iPods, laptops, and Facebook, many young people are choosing to make their own music. No matter that some of it is loud enough to frighten the pets, parents welcome their teens playing in bands as a valuable outlet for creativity and a team-building experience on par with playing on a sports team.

In a sign of how many teen musicians are ready to perform, for the fourth year in a row, the Takoma Folk Festival sought to showcase young talent at the Festival's "Grassy Nook Stage," where a steady stream of teen musicians and their enthusiastic fans held court from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., despite the intermittent rain.

Although some of the performers chafed at the Festival's requirement that they play "unplugged," most of the bands were willing to leave their electric guitars at home, and play cajons instead of drum sets, in exchange for a great performance venue.

From left to right, Ladle Fight bandmates Zeke Wapner, Ben Miller, Ian Askew and Michael Untereiner play unplugged. photo by Julie Wiatt

Continue reading Folk Festival performers include young rockers "unplugged".

Pied Piper Pat makes Takoma Park more playful

By blogpop on September 1, 2010 6:56 PM | No Comments

by Sandy Moore

Pat Rumbaugh sports her Takoma Plays T-shirt.

photos by Julie Wiat

Former tomboy and "play advocate" Pat Rumbaugh thinks kids need to get physical. Go outside. Run, swing, slide, whack a whiffle ball. Stuck inside? Get out the board games, beanbags, wrestling mat. Keep moving.

Pat doesn't just talk the talk. "I'm the lady that goes down the slide", says the 50-something baby boomer. That's when she's not teaching physical education, coaching tennis, or writing a picture book about play.

She has been "serious" about play all her life, but in March Pat was recognized as the national "Playmaker of the Month" by KaBOOM! - - a national organization impressed by her efforts to make Takoma Park citizens more playful.

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Charlie Koiner and his "Corner Plot"

By blogpop on August 3, 2010 1:27 PM | No Comments

by Sandy Moore

It seems out of place, set less than a city block from a high rise apartment building and new civic center. A solid acre of green. A place to see the sky in what's fast becoming a tunnel of tall buildings. A farm that advertises

on an old-fashioned wooden sign that might say: "Cucumbers," "Blueberries,", or "Beets."

If you walk to downtown Silver Spring on Grove Street, you may have stumbled across the very large vegetable garden that is Charlie Koiner's "Corner Plot".

Perhaps as surprising as the garden's location is the hardy soul who tends it: Charlie Koiner, an octegenerian (he'll turn 90 years old in November), who still gets up at 4:30 everyday to begin work. To beat the July heat, he sometimes ventures out around 8:30 at night as well, to do some gardening before sunset. He may be the oldest working farmer in Montgomery County.

Charlie Koiner with young farm visitor Min Hunt-Neu, a resident of Silver Spring, and regular at Charlie's farm. photo by Julie Wiatt

Continue reading Charlie Koiner and his "Corner Plot".

Teens turn out for "Ultimate Tag" in Silver Spring

By blogpop on August 3, 2010 1:14 PM | No Comments

It's not your mother's yoga class. Think Bourne Ultimatum.

by Sandy Moore
photos by Mark Felsenthal

Post it on Facebook, and they will come.

Ask Aaron Kozloff. In late May the 19-year-old organizer sent a Facebook invitation to his friends promoting "a race/chase through the streets of Takoma Park and Silver Spring," called Survive TP-SS. It would begin at night, to beat the summer heat.

Three weeks later, on June 12th, 250 teenagers showed up at the fountain in downtown Silver Spring, eager to join the 6.5 mile chase. What game participant Sam Jacobsen described as a game of "ultimate tag" was also an endurance test, with some elements of street theatre thrown in.

Players on the "Zombie Apocalypse" team that competed in Survive Takoma-Silver Spring included (from left to right): Jacob Wellner, Kahlil Lindsey (with mini-sombrero), Aaron Fellows, Ryan Fuoco, and Aaron Weckstein. In front, in the mask, is Justin Taft-Morales.

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Takoma Park native turned stunt woman

By blogpop on June 14, 2010 3:14 PM | No Comments

by Sandy Moore

Former Takoma Park native and Lumina stage fighter Julianna Allen graduated from Vassar College with a degree in Psychology and Drama, along with some bruises earned on stage. That's because Julianna, 23, choreographed fights for the college theatre, including one that became the subject of her senior thesis. Now a year out of college, Julianna moved to Los Angeles in the fall of '09 and is training to be a stuntwoman. She says proudly, "One of the most dangerous stunts I've done is being set on fire and jumping off a platform 40 feet from the ground. It's all about managing risks and knowing exactly where your body is in the air."

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Sports writer Bowen pitches to his fans

By blogpop on June 14, 2010 2:59 PM | No Comments

by Sandy Moore

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Fred Bowen, Washington Post columnist and author, has learned what really hooks a young reader. "If it's a book about baseball, they'll read it," he says with a smile. He writes the kind of stories kids whiz through, often faster than you can say, "infield fly rule." But his stories are also about friendship and loyalty, honesty and perseverance.

Bowen, a Silver Spring resident, writes a weekly column for the Washington KidsPost called "The Score" that has been a hit with many young readers. He also bats clean up for the AllStar SportsStory series, for which he has written 15 books.

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Teens find drama in fight

By blogpop on June 14, 2010 2:35 PM | No Comments

by Sandy Moore

If you saw Rebecca Novello's photo on Facebook, you might think "dancer" or "runner." She's long and lean.

But when describing her interests and activities, Blair High School senior Rebecca says with a smile, "I always put STAGE FIGHTING first." It's her passion. She's been doing it since she was nine years old.

Early training at Lumina

When Rebecca signed up for classical theatre training back in 4th grade, she wasn't expecting to play a male role -- but there were not enough boys. So she tied up her hair and lowered her voice to play a male role in Lumina Studio Theatre's production. Soon Director David Minton was recommending Stage Combat classes, where she learned how to handle weapons. Rebecca remembers her first katana (a curved samuri sword): "I had a lot of fun with it. It was empowering!"

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Talented teen artists thrive at the VAC

By blogpop on May 11, 2010 3:48 PM | No Comments

by Sandy Moore

Miriam Stevens' parents have a picture of her as a toddler, sitting in a high chair.

She's not eating--she's drawing.

"I loved to draw from an early age, and I couldn't wait for summer art camp." But it wasn't until high school -- and the rigorous training she got at the Visual Arts Center (VAC) in Kensington--that Miriam knew becoming a professional artist was a real possibility.

Miriam Stevens, a senior in Einstein's VAC Program, at the Art Show on April 21.
photos by Lauren Poor.

Although some were a little older before becoming art-obsessed, students like Miriam tend to gravitate towards Einstein High School's VAC. It's the only Montgomery County program for high school students who are strongly motivated to be artists.

On April 20 and 21 the VAC at held its annual show of drawings, paintings, photographs, and mixed media created by the 74 students enrolled in the rigorous four-year program. Senior Lauren Poor's oversized portraits use expressionistic color and wild brush strokes. Aaron Kuhn's paintings of people communicating confront the viewer. Quiet, meditative drawings by Seung Eun Lee encourage reflection. A carefully rendered stinkbug by Joel Munoz shows mastery of scientific illustration.

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Young artists bloom in spring

By blogpop on May 11, 2010 6:17 AM | No Comments

"We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic."

-- President Jimmy Carter

"I made a tile for the mosaic with the word, 'balo bashi,' which means 'be loving' in Bangla. I also made a clay figure of a woman wearing traditional clothes from Bangladesh--a shalwar kamiz (long tunic and loose pants). Making art is exciting and fun."

-- Amina Hima, a 5th grader at Piney Branch Elementary School

photos by Laurie Stepp

by Sandy Moore

On April 21, a group of nearly 75 fifth graders gathered at Takoma Park's Community Center for the unveiling of a mosaic mural. The large mosaic was created by a diverse group of students from Piney Branch Elementary, many of them recent immigrants to the U.S. Young artists began work on the mural last year, and gathered this spring to see how each of their colorful pieces had been integrated into a "welcome arch" at the Takoma Park Community Center.

Alice Sims, founder of "Art for People" in Takoma Park, came up with the idea for the mosaic arch. She teamed up with Piney Branch ESOL (English as a Second Language) teacher Rachna Rikhye last spring, involving 15 ESOL students in the project. They asked students to bring in artifacts from home that reminded them of the culture they had left behind. Among the artifacts they collected: an Ethiopian cross, a woven handbag from Somalia, a turban from Guinea. As Rikhye explained: "They made drawings inspired by these artifacts. It was empowering for them--to share a piece of what they are, where they came from." Rikhye and Sims helped the kids go from drawing board to clay; the children shaped clay figures to represent their cultural piece of the mosaic that is Takoma Park.

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"Many little seeds" mark the advent of Earth Day at East Silver Spring Elementary

By blogpop on May 11, 2010 5:58 AM | No Comments

Mosaic mural crafted by East Silver Spring Elementary School 3rd graders in honor of Earth Day.
photos by Julie Wiatt

by Sandy Moore

Students at East Silver Spring (ESS) Elementary School celebrated Earth Day on April 22nd by planting a garden in the courtyard, doing without electricity for an "Earth Hour," and eating "no waste lunches" brought from home. Third graders unveiled a tile mosaic entitled "Many Little Seeds," created with the help of artist Carien Quiroga.

Dawn Moffitt, an ESS science teacher, has spearheaded the school's Earth Day effort for four years. "Every student in the school did something," said Moffitt. Their attention was focused on the school's new courtyard. Some planted sunflower seeds or perennials, herbs, or plants native to Maryland. Others built or painted birdhouses and hummingbird feeders. A few assembled rain barrels or raked topsoil. Guest speaker "Chef Egg" (Erik Berlin) of Whole Foods talked to students about the importance of their planting efforts.

East Silver Spring students plant flowers in the courtyard as part of Earth Day festivities

Continue reading "Many little seeds" mark the advent of Earth Day at East Silver Spring Elementary.

Mushroom mania

By blogpop on April 12, 2010 9:42 AM | No Comments

by Sandy Moore

Author Mary Amato contributes this recipe (also available on her website, www. maryamato.com), inspired by her new book, Invisible Lines. The main character, Trevor, becomes a mushroom expert to impress a science teacher at his new school.

Mushroom burgers for one

First, assemble all the main ingredients: Mushrooms, olive oil, egg, breadcrumbs, and feta cheese.
Preheat a toaster oven to 400° F.
Chop and sauté mushrooms (one large portabella or a half-dozen small button mushrooms) in olive oil. Let them cool slightly.
Meanwhile in a bowl, beat an egg and add ¼ cup of breadcrumbs and any seasonings you like. Add the mushrooms to the egg mixture; add 2 oz of crumbled feta cheese and mix. Form this mix into two patties.
Place the patties on a well-oiled baking pan. Bake them in the toaster oven for 10 minutes and then flip and bake for 7 more minutes or until golden brown.
Serve with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt and a splash of hot sauce.

If you like mushrooms, or are curious to try a new variety after reading Mary Amato's book, why not check out mushrooms displayed by Pennsylvania farmer Ferial Welsh at the Takoma Farmer's market? Ferial says mushrooms from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania are exported all over the country. She offers a wide range of types: from the well known "button" -- to the more exotic oyster and maiake mushrooms. Above, Ferial shows Paige and Paul Seibert some fun fungi.
photo by Julie Wiatt

How does the Passion for Learning Program (P4L) hook kids?

By blogpop on April 12, 2010 12:31 AM | No Comments

by Sandy Moore

PHOTO: Author Mary Amato and Cynthia Rubenstein
photo by Julie Wiatt

Visiting teacher Pam Jackson held up Frankie the Fish (from the McDonald's ad), and her students lit up. They know the jingle by heart. Then Jackson helped them analyze the ad, and asked them to write a slogan to describe their personal selling points. "Passion for Fashion" said one. "Cool Like a Chicken McNugget" offered another.

Passion for Learning's after-school programs bolster kids' writing skills and get them excited about learning. Their signature program, the Young Writer's Academy, is held twice weekly at five area schools: Oakview, Pinecrest and Strathmore Elementary -- plus Eastern and Argyle Middle schools. Writing teachers like Pam Jackson jump start kids' writing engines. Guest teachers like D.C. Slam poet Isaac Colon provide poetic inspiration and creative writing skills (see poem by Eastern Middle School writer below).

P4L also recognizes the important role parents play in their kids' learning: it offers "Family Writing Nights" at Long Branch Community Center in Silver Spring. In December nearly 100 families showed up to meet author Mary Amato and practice writing together. Kenia Villatoro, a fifth grader, brought her mom to the event and translated Amato's writing instructions so Maria Canales -- an immigrant from El Salvador -- could take part in the writing exercises too.

Continue reading How does the Passion for Learning Program (P4L) hook kids?.

Silver Spring's Mary Amato inspires young writers

By blogpop on April 11, 2010 11:46 PM | No Comments

How do writers turn ideas into a book?
Are you a young writer--or a Baby Boomer with writing aspirations? Check out Mary Amato's short movie above.

by Sandy Moore

When local children's book author Mary Amato addressed her young audience at a March 13th book signing for her new novel, Invisible Lines, she issued a challenge: "If you ever see me without my writer's notebook, I'll give you $100."
Amato is passionate about writing. She's ready to write anywhere, anytime.

Mary started to write as a young girl, filling her first writer's notebook when she was seven. " I became best friends with children's book character, Harriet the Spy" she says, "and started writing in a notebook, just like Harriet." Mary entered writing contests, penned magazine stories, wrote manuscripts and eventually (fast forward) built a career as a children's book writer. Her nine books have won her a national following. But local fans are equally impressed by her devotion to young writers in Silver Spring's Passion for Learning ("P4L") program.

Alexander Amaya is one of those young writers. He participates in the Young Writer's Academy sponsored by P4L at Strathmore Elementary. Amaya was hooked after reading Amato's Please Write in This Book, about an epic classroom battle waged entirely through journal entries. "The part about three boys in a bikini was pretty funny," said Amaya, "and I got to write in the back of the book!" But now he writes stories about his favorite subject: soccer. Kenia Villatoro, a fifth grader from Oakview Elementary said she likes writing plays best. "In one of my plays," said Kenia, "the main character gets Superpowers from a bug bite."

Continue reading Silver Spring's Mary Amato inspires young writers.

Fifth graders try on Shakespeare

By blogpop on February 1, 2010 9:16 PM | No Comments

Acting in Lumina's Merchant of Venice

by Sandra Moore

From left to right: Sandy Moore (Lumina Board), Isaura Ovalle, Marcia Rex (Assistant Principal, Oakview Elementary School), Taylor Young, Madison Waechter, and Levis Mendoza.

Like most Montgomery County schools, Oakview Elementary has struggled with budget cuts. When County funding for "activity buses" was on the chopping block two years ago, many after-school classes and clubs were discontinued. As a result, Assistant Principal Marcia Rex is always on the look out for enrichment programs in the community. When Lumina Studio Theatre, which trains young actors in Takoma Park and Silver Spring, had a few openings for young kids in the fall, Ms. Rex jumped on it.

She had kids like Taylor Young and Isaura Ovalle in mind. Ms. Rex had seen Taylor act with the school drama club. An extrovert with a huge smile, Taylor clearly liked performing, and wouldn't be put off by Shakespeare. Said Taylor, "I was thinking it sounded kind of hard, but also challenging. I have a good memory for things from my childhood, I knew I could memorize my lines, most definitely."

Continue reading Fifth graders try on Shakespeare.

Shogun Caesar

By blogpop on January 1, 2009 6:58 PM | No Comments

Lumina Studio Theatre's adaptation of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, set in feudal Japan

Reviewed by Stewart Hickman

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What happens to a head of state who has grown to love his power, who is insatiably ambitious, who subverts the law to achieve his aims, and whose arrogance makes him impervious to critique? To answer this question, you might need to know the context. For instance, are we talking about a 21st century democracy, feudal Japan or ancient Rome?
If the context is Lumina Studio Theatre's recent rendition of Shogun Caesar, the head of state is a female Samurai, and the timeless themes of Shakespeare's play allow the audience to explore power and politics, rhetoric and revolution through all the ages.

What happens to those youth who mount this extraordinary interpretation of the great Bard, with magical Japanese Noh theatre choreography, flashing katana fight sequences, and haunting Bunraku puppets? They love it. And so does the audience.

Continue reading Shogun Caesar.