La MaMa Presents AMERICAN HUMAN BEATBOX FEST, Now thru 5/6

La Mama E.T.C., the legendary downtown experimental arts organization currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, presents the American Human Beatbox Festival, today, May 3 through May 6, 2012. Performances will be held at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) and as well as at The Club at La MaMa (74 E. 4 St.)

The five-day festival brings together legendary and emerging beatboxers and introduces La Mama's audience to that artistry’s expanding global community. Beatboxing, originally an American-born, vocal style born out of the 1970's New York rap scene, is now a global phenomenon, and the American Human Beatbox Festival is a celebration of community, family, and the art of human noise. The festival furthers La Mama's mission to support artists who push theatrical boundaries in the creation of new works that unify cultures. ??“La MaMa is excited to present beatboxers in our theater, to give them a platform outside of the club scene, says La MaMa Artistic Director Mia Yoo, “We want audiences to experience beatboxing as an art form that communicates across generations and cultures.” The American Human Beatbox Festival is curated by Kid Lucky, a renowned beat-MC who has the unique ability to simultaneously create vocal beats and rhyme.

The festival features the following five dynamic programs:
• Beat Poetics of NYC + Open Mic
Thursday, May 3rd @ 10PM at the Club at La MaMa
Spoken word artists, whistlers, beatboxers, and vocalists
Featuring: Akim Funk Buddah, DJ Rabbi Darkside, Kid Lucky and more!

• Unified Beats
Friday, May 4th @ 10PM at the Club at La MaMa
Beatboxers team up to create improvisational mash-up masterpieces
Featuring: D.r.e.s. Tha Beatnik, LethalFX, Yakko 440, YanCarlos Sanchez, Say Wut?! and more!

• Nu Voices on Saturday
Saturday, May 3rd @ 3PM at The Ellen Stewart Theatre at La MaMa
• The East Village Community School Beat Box Club with 1st and 2nd grade beatboxers, Amza and Psyence
• A fully improvised vocal symphony conducted by Terry Kid Lucky Lewis
• DJ vs. Human Beatbox Battle with Rob Swift (X-Executioners) and JFlo (current American Human Beatbox Champion)

• Vocalism and Turntablism
Saturday, May 5th @ 10PM at The Club at La MaMa
Beatboxers team with DJs to bring the raw energy of groove.
Featuring Kidtronik, Synapse, Jase Mason, Kid Lucky, DJ Rabbi Darkside and more!

• HIP HOP SUBWAY SERIES
Sunday, May 6th @ 5PM – Meet at Bryant Park at 34th St. and 6th Ave. to jam with beatboxers in a traveling performance on the F train that ends up at La MaMa for an open mic celebration
Email beatboxerentmedia@gmail.com to reserve a spot!

Tickets are $10 to Beatbox events (except Subway Series). For tickets and info go to www.lamama.org/beatbox or call 212-475-7710 Or visit http://www.facebook.com/events/189193487864777/190337767750349/