New York Shakespeare Exchange Launches Diversity Cohort Program
By: BWW News Desk Oct. 10, 2017
New York Shakespeare Exchange (NYSX), a theatre company that re-imagines how Shakespeare can bridge cultural divides, start conversations, and impact our modern world, is announcing a new playwriting program, the Diversity Cohort, to develop original works in heightened language using Shakespeare as the launching pad. Six-to-eight playwrights will be selected in the coming months. The selected writers -- representing as many artistic, social and demographic communities as possible -- will take part in a series of monthly collaborative workshops and public diversity events, beginning in January. The workshops continue until April and culminate in a mini festival with performances, panels, and roundtable discussions in May (dates to be announced).
According to Ross Williams, NYSX's artistic director, "We are looking for a passionate group of writers who are committed to participating in a conversation about diversity and have a curiosity for experimenting with verse. We believe Shakespeare's age-old universality is still profoundly relevant and can provide inspiration for powerful new work that gets us talking. Through Diversity Cohort we will enter a conversation about the connection of classical stories and forms to contemporary issues."
NYSX is responsible for the internationally recognized The Sonnet Project, in which diverse filmmakers have been commissioned to create short films based on Shakespeare's 154 sonnets. The series' first phase has produced a remarkable library of short films from a variety of perspectives, all shot in New York. The project's second phase, now in process, aims to produce a new round of films shot in cities around the world, in many languages. Visit www.SonnetProject.org.
After gathering on a monthly basis for writing labs and discussions, in which various prompts and guiding principles will lay the groundwork for creative expression, NYSX company members will join the Cohort playwrights in April to begin to stage their short plays. In May (dates TBA) NYSX will present a week-long festival of short plays written in verse, during which Cohorts will participate in public Diversity Cohort Forums with panel discussions and roundtables with topics experts addressing subjects like connection vs. disconnection; inclusion; diversity; verse language and rap; and adapting classic theatre for contemporary audiences.
Williams adds: "For 500 years Shakespearean literature has helped us understand humanity and the world. Now more than ever we need a deeper and more compassionate and smarter conversation about who we are -- and that includes all of us!"
In addition to the Diversity Cohort and The Sonnet Project, NYSX has already launched a new traveling theatre model, "Intersections," that brings a mini Shakespeare festival to different underserved communities. So far cities in Texas and Alabama have hosted week-long festivals designed to make Shakespeare accessible and relevant, and to integrate different factions of a community. New such festival residencies are being planned for the spring of 2019.
To find out more about the Diversity Cohort, and to apply visit www.nysx.org.
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