Full Circle + After The Storm. Just a reminder to order your fair trade organic coffee, tea or chocolate from Full Circle Exchange plus . They are donating 30% back to ATS Foundation when you order online. The product is delicious, it helps ATS promotes justice and cultivate good around the world. If you already order some, let us know what you got and how much you liked it. The coffee is the best and the chocolate is to die for. Order away and lets help raise money for ATS. Spread the word.
Here is the link:
www.fullcircleexchange.com/afterthestorm
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
FROM PLAYBILL....By Matthew Blank
The Human Heart Benefits Children of Haiti
By Matthew Blank
02 Mar 2010
Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Gerry McIntyre and After The Storm presented The Human Heart, a starry March 1 benefit concert at Joe's Pub. Proceeds support the children of Haiti.
Randy Redd directed the performance, with musical direction by Aaron Jodoin.
Janine LaManna opened the eclectic concert with "After the Storm," featuring Stephen Flaherty on piano and backup vocals from Michael McElroy, Danielle Lee Greaves and Celisse Henderson.
A few of the offerings from the first half of the show included Mark Lawson presenting a new song by Michael Feinsten and Bill Schermerhorn, Jill Paice with "There Will Come a Day," Hair's Rachel Bay Jones in a rendition of "No More" from Into the Woods, Robin Skye covering Patty Griffin's "When It Don't Come Easy," Farah Alvin belting "2 Steps Away" and Tituss Burgess lending his smooth tenor to "Believe" from The Wiz.
Other highlights from the two-hour affair included Christy Carlson Romano delivering Johnny Cash's "Big River," Gregg Edelmann in a touching version of "I Think It's Gonna Rain Today," Lynne Wintersteller with "Chanson" from The Baker's Wife and Billy Porter bringing down the house with one of his signature songs, "Time."
The evening wound down with Betty Buckley donating her legendary rendition of "Memory," followed by three Once on This Island numbers performed by original cast members: Gerry McIntyre performed the cut song "Come Down From the Tree," Kecia Lewis-Evans delighted with "Mama Will Provide" and Andrea Frierson closed with the concert's title song, "The Human Heart."
By Matthew Blank
02 Mar 2010
Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Gerry McIntyre and After The Storm presented The Human Heart, a starry March 1 benefit concert at Joe's Pub. Proceeds support the children of Haiti.
Randy Redd directed the performance, with musical direction by Aaron Jodoin.
Janine LaManna opened the eclectic concert with "After the Storm," featuring Stephen Flaherty on piano and backup vocals from Michael McElroy, Danielle Lee Greaves and Celisse Henderson.
A few of the offerings from the first half of the show included Mark Lawson presenting a new song by Michael Feinsten and Bill Schermerhorn, Jill Paice with "There Will Come a Day," Hair's Rachel Bay Jones in a rendition of "No More" from Into the Woods, Robin Skye covering Patty Griffin's "When It Don't Come Easy," Farah Alvin belting "2 Steps Away" and Tituss Burgess lending his smooth tenor to "Believe" from The Wiz.
Other highlights from the two-hour affair included Christy Carlson Romano delivering Johnny Cash's "Big River," Gregg Edelmann in a touching version of "I Think It's Gonna Rain Today," Lynne Wintersteller with "Chanson" from The Baker's Wife and Billy Porter bringing down the house with one of his signature songs, "Time."
The evening wound down with Betty Buckley donating her legendary rendition of "Memory," followed by three Once on This Island numbers performed by original cast members: Gerry McIntyre performed the cut song "Come Down From the Tree," Kecia Lewis-Evans delighted with "Mama Will Provide" and Andrea Frierson closed with the concert's title song, "The Human Heart."
Friday, February 19, 2010
Event to benefit Haiti's Children
COMING SOON!!!
Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and After The Storm present
The Human Heart: Helping Haiti's Children
Monday, March 1st at 7 PM
Joe's Pub
425 Lafayette
New York
Tickets
$40 (General)
$100 (Premium - includes Preferred Seating, Meet & Greet and more!)
www.joespub.com
Starring: Farah Alvin (Chess, The Look Of Love, Nine, I Love You Because), Betty Buckley (Triumph of Love, Sunset Boulevard, Carrie, Song & Dance, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Cats, 1776), Tituss Burgess (Guys And Dolls, The Little Mermaid, Jersey Boys), Quentin Darrington (Ragtime), Gregg Edelman (A Tale Of Two Cities, Wonderful Town, Into The Woods, City Of Angels), Kecia Lewis-Evans (The Drowsy Chaperone, Once On This Island, Chicago), Rachel Bay Jones (Hair), Janine LaManna (The Drowsy Chaperone, Seussical, Ragtime), One Life To Live's Mark Lawson, James Lecesne, Michael McElroy (Big River, The Wild Party, Rent, The Who's Tommy), Gerry McIntyre (Once On This Island), Jill Paice (The 39 Steps, Curtains, The Woman In White), Billy Porter (Smokey Joe's Cafe, Grease), Christy Romano (Avenue Q, Parade), Robin Skye (Parade, Cyrano), Stephanie Umoh (Ragtime), Lynne Wintersteller (A Grand Night For Singing, Closer Than Ever) and Andrea Frierson (Once On This Island, Marie Christine, Juan Darien, The Lion King). This fundraiser will also feature new songs by Brooke Sunny Moriber, Bill Schermerhorn and Michael Feinstein and Georgia Stitt and Bil Wright and special appearances by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and more. Directed by Randy Redd, Aaron Jodoin musical directs and leads a 5 piece band with vocalists Cole Burden, Mary Catherine McDonald, Caroline Dooner, Justin Lopez and Matt Dengler. All proceeds go through After The Storm directly to SOS Children’s Villages.
SOS Children's Villages is assessing the most immediate needs of the thousands of victims of the disaster in Haiti and will provide medical supplies, drinking water and basic food supplies. In the days and weeks to come, SOS Children's Villages Haiti will provide temporary care for children who are not accompanied by adults or even long-term care for children who have lost their parents in this terrible catastrophe.
www.sos-childrensvillages.org
Thursday, February 4, 2010
From Beatrice Crouch - Vashon
Last week I attended a wonderful screening at Vashon Island. As soon as I arrived and I saw the theater with After The Storm next to Avatar just in a better time of the day, I knew it will be special. and it was...Beatrice Couch who helped organized it wrote that:
In late November Diane Bradford asked me to coordinate a promotional campaign and oversee the NW premiere of “After the Storm” on Vashon Island, WA on January 18, 2010 (MLK Day). After watching the movie, I was inspired along with and a small group of local Vashon artists to create a two week event called “From Vashon with Love: a Celebration of Films, Music and Art”.
As part of the grassroots promotion of “After the Storm” I held a private screening for 20 local artists, ranging from film-makers, musicians, artists and local promoters of the arts. From that meeting ca
me a core group Vicki Dunakin, Richard Waits, Robyn Landis and myself that helped to create “From Vashon with Love: a Celebration of Films, Music and Art” (January 8 – 20, 2010).With a recent break in of the Vashon Theater, Vicki Dunakin and some of the local film-makers created FilmAid as a means of helping the theater owner recover from the financial loss. Along with FilmAid we created a benefit “From Vashon with Love: a Celebration of Music” to send local musicians to Sundance. We were able to take Robyn Landis (the Grand prize winner of the 2009 John Lennon singer/song-writer award), Troll’s Cottage and Song and Legend to perform during the first weekend of the Sundance Film Festival at the “Crown on Main” in Park City, UT.
As part of the NW Premiere of “After the Storm”, it was Diane’s wish to include an educational piece to the screening of the movie. I have known James Cardo for many years he was the perfect choice, James Cardo is the assistant Dean and teaches at The Harbor School and has been leading a group of 8th grade students to New Orleans’ for the past three years in an effort to play a part in the recovery projects. The NW Premiere was used as a benefit to create a follow up mini-documentary and show how the power of community involvement with youth can be used as an experiential educational piece and showcase the value of volunteering. Nick Weisnet, Vicki Dunakin’s son will be filming the travel study trip that the 8th grade students from The Harbor School in May, 2010.
“After the Storm” is a magical movie that provides a model to create community cooperation combined with the creative arts to overcome most obstacles that life presents us. As Gerry McIntyre states in the movie “through Community and Love one can over come any disaster”! James Lecesne, Hilla Medalia, Gerry McIntyre and the cast of young performers all give us a shining example of how with love, determination and inspiration communities can bring hope into even the most hopeless of hearts.
Sincerely,
Beatrice Crouch
Heart of the Sound Events
www.fromvashonwithlove.org
Photos by Peter Ray and Rebecca Douglas
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Three Years Later....
WE ARE THE SONG - Songwriting Workshop
North Rampart Community Center
New Orleans. January 17th, 2009
Saturday, January 16, 2010
FROM LESLEY..... in New Orleans
Unbelievably, it's been THREE YEARS since we began working with the North Rampart Community Center. Amazin things have happened in those three years for both our Foundation and the Center. But this weekend we were able to send down five songwriters to work with about 20 kids in the WE ARE THE SONG songwriting workshop. Below is a report from our own Lesley Mazzotta who is down there with Randy Redd, Robin Sky and several others.
"Yesterday was joyous chaos here, but things are going really well. We had about 22 kids show up... we started the day with a lot of round robin talking... everyone introduced themselves, and Randy (Redd) lead two quick writing exercises... write four lines... to get the creative juices flowing. Then, we broke off into small groups for 8 line exercises and each of our teaching artists presented their works to the whole group as inspiration. We ended the evening with pizza and the film. Hannah & mom, Ashley & mom, Griffin & mom, Annie & mom, Eric (who's doing the program) & mom and April & granddad all came and enjoyed the film! There was really no Q&A afterwards... no real time. All of our OOTI kids looks great and are doing well.
Today, 16 kids came back, with more trickling in. Randy started by asking each kid to write a commercial about themselves and present it back to the group... to personalize the writing process and create a silly, fun environment. Everyone loved it - lots of laughter - and it brought the kids back into the work. Now, everyone is divided into small groups of 3-4, and they are taking all of their ideas from the past writing assignments and putting them together. Robin (Sky) has tons of great footage of the kids... I haven't taken lots of pictures yet but certainly will. We are still waiting for the MTI box, so we're going to get the kids in t-shirts to take photos from them. I'll send some along as soon as I have them.
Things are really good.... the workshop is really working, all the kids are participating... there is tons of diversity... they are into rap, R&B, soul, old school...kids from all around town. The kids are open and creative and excited and trusting our staff and the process. There is so much great energy in this place today! In fact, one kid, LuckyLou, just canceled going to watch the Saints at the Superdome because he's "having fun!" WOW!
Our team is totally jazzed and excited to be here. It's a great variety of talents and backgrounds, which makes them work well together and gives many different points of view to make the experience richer for the kids. Randy is overseeing the creative process brilliantly... shaking things up to see what works, how to make everything even better.
I've talked a lot with Coach and Joanne. Coach told us once again how happy he is that we are here, and thankful for all we are doing. They are "back in business" with over 200 kids... serving 50-60 a day. As you know, they still need money, but things are slowly moving forward. They have a new heating system, fire alarm system, the gym is newly painted and cleaned, the pool is completely renovated with the leak fixed, the shelves are packed with books.
Peg is making us cookies and buying us snacks.
"Yesterday was joyous chaos here, but things are going really well. We had about 22 kids show up... we started the day with a lot of round robin talking... everyone introduced themselves, and Randy (Redd) lead two quick writing exercises... write four lines... to get the creative juices flowing. Then, we broke off into small groups for 8 line exercises and each of our teaching artists presented their works to the whole group as inspiration. We ended the evening with pizza and the film. Hannah & mom, Ashley & mom, Griffin & mom, Annie & mom, Eric (who's doing the program) & mom and April & granddad all came and enjoyed the film! There was really no Q&A afterwards... no real time. All of our OOTI kids looks great and are doing well.
Today, 16 kids came back, with more trickling in. Randy started by asking each kid to write a commercial about themselves and present it back to the group... to personalize the writing process and create a silly, fun environment. Everyone loved it - lots of laughter - and it brought the kids back into the work. Now, everyone is divided into small groups of 3-4, and they are taking all of their ideas from the past writing assignments and putting them together. Robin (Sky) has tons of great footage of the kids... I haven't taken lots of pictures yet but certainly will. We are still waiting for the MTI box, so we're going to get the kids in t-shirts to take photos from them. I'll send some along as soon as I have them.
Things are really good.... the workshop is really working, all the kids are participating... there is tons of diversity... they are into rap, R&B, soul, old school...kids from all around town. The kids are open and creative and excited and trusting our staff and the process. There is so much great energy in this place today! In fact, one kid, LuckyLou, just canceled going to watch the Saints at the Superdome because he's "having fun!" WOW!
Our team is totally jazzed and excited to be here. It's a great variety of talents and backgrounds, which makes them work well together and gives many different points of view to make the experience richer for the kids. Randy is overseeing the creative process brilliantly... shaking things up to see what works, how to make everything even better.
I've talked a lot with Coach and Joanne. Coach told us once again how happy he is that we are here, and thankful for all we are doing. They are "back in business" with over 200 kids... serving 50-60 a day. As you know, they still need money, but things are slowly moving forward. They have a new heating system, fire alarm system, the gym is newly painted and cleaned, the pool is completely renovated with the leak fixed, the shelves are packed with books.
Peg is making us cookies and buying us snacks.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
December 2009
What an amazing year it has been for The After The Storm Foundation.
As many of you know, Hilla Medalia's film (AFTER THE STORM) premiered at The LA Film Festival in June, and it has already won several of awards including the Audience Favorite Award at The Woodstock Film Festival and at The Heartland Festival. Hilla also won a Crystal Heart Award for best Documentary feature at Heartland. Hawaii was a major stop on our film tour, especially because it was the first place we were able to screen the film for a theater full of kids, ages 8 to 18 (and the scenery wasn't bad either.) Our next scheduled screening is at The Windrider Forum, which is part of The Sundance Film Festival on January 30th if you happen to be in Park City, Utah. We also have a NYC screening at the JCC Manhattan on March 2nd.
Keeping the doors of the North Rampart Community Center open is the primary goal of The Foundation. Thanks to the efforts of the wonderful Deaconess, Joanne Finley, and the dedication of Coach Parker as well as the entire board of North Rampart Community Center (formerly St. Mark's), the kids in the neighborhood continue to have a safe and creative place to go after school.
Randy Redd has also been doing his part. He organized two very successful benefit performances this year at Joe's Pub in NYC to raise money for the Center. Singer/songwriters came together to celebrate New Orleans. This past Monday, December 7th, Randy Redd presented We Are The Song 2, a second helping of extraordinary new music at Joe's Pub to benefit North Rampart Community Center. This concert featured new songs by songwriters Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Chris Miller, Sam Willmott, Rob Rokicki, Jason Loffredo, David Sisco and Tom Gualtieri, Michael Walker and Kyle Ewalt, Barbara Anselmi and Ken Clifton. Save the date for the next Song/Storm concert. On Monday, February 15th, during Mardi Gras, We Are The Song 3: After The Storm will be presented at Symphony Space in New York City and will feature all new songs.
Not only did this concert raise money for NRCC but also raised awareness and introduced even more New York City singers, songwriters and musicians to The After The Storm Foundation and the new We Are The Song Songwriting Workshops. Thanks to a generous contribution from Freddie and Myrna Gershon and, Music Theater International, our first Song/Storm workshop will be held January 15-17 in New Orleans. During this 3-day workshop, local students (ages 13-18) will learn how a song is created from start to finish. Through games, singing, discussion, and exercises led by professional singers, songwriters and Broadway teaching artist, students will explore the components of basic songwriting: rhythm, rhyme, song structure, lyrics, and melody. After an introduction to songwriting basics, students will listen to a variety of well-known songs examining point of view, melody, lyrics, structure and arrangement. Then, using these tools students will write an original song of their own. This workshop is not about writing a hit song. In fact, no prior songwriting experience or musical training is necessary in order to participate. Students will be encouraged to share ideas, express themselves and tell stories thru songwriting. The students will also discuss individuality and community and how they might be able to express their individuality through song.
Stay tuned for more in the coming year.
We can't do it without you.
What an amazing year it has been for The After The Storm Foundation.
As many of you know, Hilla Medalia's film (AFTER THE STORM) premiered at The LA Film Festival in June, and it has already won several of awards including the Audience Favorite Award at The Woodstock Film Festival and at The Heartland Festival. Hilla also won a Crystal Heart Award for best Documentary feature at Heartland. Hawaii was a major stop on our film tour, especially because it was the first place we were able to screen the film for a theater full of kids, ages 8 to 18 (and the scenery wasn't bad either.) Our next scheduled screening is at The Windrider Forum, which is part of The Sundance Film Festival on January 30th if you happen to be in Park City, Utah. We also have a NYC screening at the JCC Manhattan on March 2nd.
Keeping the doors of the North Rampart Community Center open is the primary goal of The Foundation. Thanks to the efforts of the wonderful Deaconess, Joanne Finley, and the dedication of Coach Parker as well as the entire board of North Rampart Community Center (formerly St. Mark's), the kids in the neighborhood continue to have a safe and creative place to go after school.
Randy Redd has also been doing his part. He organized two very successful benefit performances this year at Joe's Pub in NYC to raise money for the Center. Singer/songwriters came together to celebrate New Orleans. This past Monday, December 7th, Randy Redd presented We Are The Song 2, a second helping of extraordinary new music at Joe's Pub to benefit North Rampart Community Center. This concert featured new songs by songwriters Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Chris Miller, Sam Willmott, Rob Rokicki, Jason Loffredo, David Sisco and Tom Gualtieri, Michael Walker and Kyle Ewalt, Barbara Anselmi and Ken Clifton. Save the date for the next Song/Storm concert. On Monday, February 15th, during Mardi Gras, We Are The Song 3: After The Storm will be presented at Symphony Space in New York City and will feature all new songs.
Not only did this concert raise money for NRCC but also raised awareness and introduced even more New York City singers, songwriters and musicians to The After The Storm Foundation and the new We Are The Song Songwriting Workshops. Thanks to a generous contribution from Freddie and Myrna Gershon and, Music Theater International, our first Song/Storm workshop will be held January 15-17 in New Orleans. During this 3-day workshop, local students (ages 13-18) will learn how a song is created from start to finish. Through games, singing, discussion, and exercises led by professional singers, songwriters and Broadway teaching artist, students will explore the components of basic songwriting: rhythm, rhyme, song structure, lyrics, and melody. After an introduction to songwriting basics, students will listen to a variety of well-known songs examining point of view, melody, lyrics, structure and arrangement. Then, using these tools students will write an original song of their own. This workshop is not about writing a hit song. In fact, no prior songwriting experience or musical training is necessary in order to participate. Students will be encouraged to share ideas, express themselves and tell stories thru songwriting. The students will also discuss individuality and community and how they might be able to express their individuality through song.
Stay tuned for more in the coming year.
We can't do it without you.
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