Photos: Stars Join Local Youth for REBEL VERSES Festival

Vineyard Theatre and Developing Artists partner again to present Developing Artists' REBEL VERSES Youth Arts Festival, Thursday through Saturday August 9-18 at Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15th St.). Since the festival's inception in 2001, REBEL VERSES has provided young artists, ages 13-19, with the opportunity to collaborate and network with their peers and prominent artists, and to showcase their original work. This two-week event, now in its second season Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre, will feature over one hundred artists and performers from ten young-artist companies hailing from all five boroughs of New York City and beyond.

Each night includes a prominent Guest Artist joining the festival for a special performance.

Week One featured performances by young-artist companies The Door (NYC), Alumni Theatre Company (Pittsburgh, PA), and The Brotherhood/Sister Sol (NYC). Developing Artists and Vineyard Theatre Student Ensemble will perform on all nights of the Festival.

• Thursday, August 9 - Daphne Rubin-Vega (MISS YOU LIKE HELL, RENT)
• Friday, August 10 - Flaco Navaja (poet/actor/singer);
• Saturday, August 11 - Kevin Mambo (FELA!)

Week Two will feature MCC Youth Company (NYC), Epic Next (NYC), 6th Borough Slam (Jersey City, NJ), and Girl Be Heard (Brooklyn). Developing Artists and Vineyard Theatre Student Ensemble will perform on all nights of the Festival.

• Thursday, August 16 - Laura Gómez ("Orange is the New Black")
• Friday, August 17 - Brandon Victor Dixon (Emmy Award Nominee NBC's "Jesus Christ Superstar," HAMILTON, Vineyard Theatre Board Member)
• Saturday, August 18 - Joe Morton ("Scandal," Vineyard Board Member)

Born out of a need in New York City for new voices in theatre, REBEL VERSES Youth Arts Festival is a journey into the unapologetic, unrestrained creativity of the next generation.

Photo Credit: Brian Gustaveson and Bobby Rodriguez

Laura Gomez

Timothy Kim, Bryson Brunson

Jaden DeArmon, Xara Williams, Salena Steward

Naila Negron, John Negron

Christina Liberus

Layla Diaz

Amaya Montanez, Vic Rodriguez, Layla Diaz

Jaden DeArmon, Bailey Davin, Amaya Montanez, Vic Rodriguez

Jaden DeArmon, Bailey Davin, Amaya Montanez, Vic Rodriguez

Jaden DeArmon, Bailey Davin, Amaya Montanez, Vic Rodriguez

Daphne Rubin-Vega

Daphne Rubin-Vega