Al Doblar La Esquina / Around The Block

News and Activities / Noticiero

Here is a list of news and activities of Around The Block / Al Doblar La Esquina.  Unless otherwise specified, admission is free to these events.

Around The Block cultivates urban community participation in arts and technologies, with a focus on the New York City area.  We welcome people of all backgrounds and levels of expertise to our activities, which include workgroups, performances, and exhibits.  ATB is a not-for-profit organization.

Membership in Around The Block is not required in order to participate in most ATB activities (and in particular those held at branches of the New York Public Library).  Nevertheless, we are grateful to the individuals and organizations listed below that have contributed so generously to our cause.

Membership dues and contributions are tax-deductible.  Details at the end of this page.
 

Activities and Events of ATB

Return to Around The Block Home Page

Urban Playwriting Workgroup

All levels of expertise welcome.  Improvisation.  Reading and discussion of stage and film scenes of participants.  Exchange of ideas on issues facing writers and actors.  Bring your own material (if you want to), for reading and comments.

Workgroup meeting: Thursday, July 9, 6:00 – 7:45 pm,

Ottendorfer Branch Library
135 Second Ave (between 8th & 9th Streets), 2nd floor
New York, NY 10003-8304
Directions to Ottendorfer branch   Map
[Four step stairs at entrance and very slow elevator.]

The group meets every couple of weeks in the evenings.

Current Text:

• Stuart Spencer, The Playwright's Guidebook : An Insightful Primer on the Art of Dramatic Writing;  Faber & Faber; London (2002)

Previous Texts:

• William Archer, Play-Making: A Manual of Craftsmanship;  Dodd, Mead & Co.; New York (1912)
  Free electronic copy available at: www.gutenberg.org/etext/10865
• William Missouri Downs and Robin U. Russin, Naked Playwriting;  Silman-James Press; (2004)
• Spolin, Viola: Improvisation for the Theater: A Handbook of Teaching and Directing Techniques;  Northwestern University Press; 3rd edition (1999)

  Return to list  

Web and Systems Workgroup

ATB Web and Systems Workgroup in collaboration with the Object Data and Knowledge Management Group.

Workgroup meeting, Wednesday, July 1, 2009,  5:30 – 7:45 pm
228 East 23rd Street [near Second Ave.],
New York, NY 10010-4672.
212-679-2645
Directions to Epiphany branch       Map

In addition to finishing with the Rechtin book, we will be going over the use of Eclipse in setting up our constituent setups.  All levels of expertise welcome.

The group meets every couple of weeks in the evenings.

Texts:

•   Rechtin, Eberhardt and Maier, Mark: The Art Of Systems Architecting, CRC, second edition.
•   James Goodwill, Apache Jakarta:Tomcat 2002, Apress www.apress.com
•   Hubbell, Arlyn, Understanding Web Development, Prentice Hall
•   Harms, David, JSP, Servlets, and MySQL, M&T Books, NY, 2001
•   Armstrong, Eric, The J2EE 1.4 Tutorial, Sun, Microsystems 2003
•   James Goodwill, Mastering Jakarta:Struts, Wiley
•   Apache Struts Tutorial  www.coreservlets.com/Apache-Struts-Tutorial/

  Return to list  

Sixth Annual Raymond J. Flores Short Play Series

Around The Block in collaboration with the
Morningside Heights Branch of the New York Public Library

invites you to the

Sixth Annual Raymond J. Flores Short Play Series

   Travel note:  There is a lot of weekend construction on the Red subway line.
   Please check at MTA Service Advisories

  Return to list  

Acting Workgroup

Learning through improvisation as a way to work:  Physical Action, Emotional Memory, Line of emotion, Relaxation, Imagination etc. Vital tools to help create a character and finally the opportunity to collaborate on a short play.

Workgroup meeting, Monday, May 11, 2008,  5:45 – 7:45
Epiphany Branch Library – Third floor
228 East 23rd Street [near Second Ave.],
New York, NY 10010-4672.
212-679-2645
Directions to Epiphany branch       Map

The group meets every couple of weeks in the evenings.

This acting workgroup is open to the public – all ages and levels of experience – to share ideas and projects.

Workgroup Leader: Rosario Pineda

  Return to list  

Basic Acting Course for Adults

ATB in collaboration with the Hamilton Fish Branch of the New York Public Library invites you to register for our
Basic Acting Course for Adults

A simple, eclectic approach to acting.

A fifteen-week course, using physical, vocal, sensory and emotional exercises and improvisation. We encourage the student's sense of play and spontaneity and then apply these techniques to written contemporary, realistic scenes and monologue, with an emphasis on individual expression.

The class will meet
Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.,
in the Hamilton Fish Branch Theatre
beginning Saturday, April 4, 2009.

Hamilton Fish Branch Library
415 East Houston Street [near Avenue D],
New York, NY 10002-1197.
Directions to Hamilton Fish Branch Library
Map   Wheelchair accessible   

Enrollment is limited.  Register now at the Hamilton Fish information desk.

There is no fee for this course.

  Return to list  

Directing Lab

ATB in collaboration with the Hamilton Fish Branch of the New York Public Library invites you to register for our
Directing Lab

An Urban Approach to Directing.

This is open to people with significant theatrical background – acting and/or directing and/or playwriting.

The class will meet
Tuesdays, 5:45 – 7:45 p.m.,
in the Hamilton Fish Branch Theatre
beginning Tuesday, April 21, 2009.

Hamilton Fish Branch Library
415 East Houston Street [near Avenue D],
New York, NY 10002-1197.
Directions to Hamilton Fish Branch Library
Map   Wheelchair accessible   

If you are interested, please send us a note and your resume immediately.  Space is limited, so that we will admit eligible people on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Note: Because of illness, the first session was postponed to April 28.

There is no fee for this course.

The instructor, Alex Roe, the award-winning Artistic Director of Metropolitan Playhouse, has produced over twenty productions and helped Metropolitan become recognized in the local and national theater scene as one of the foremost theaters exploring the growth and development of American drama. An active approach using the students' theatre experience and an improvisational approach to develop atmosphere, character and dramatic tension. We encourage the student's sense of play and spontaneity and then apply these techniques to both improvised and written scenes and monologue, with an emphasis on individual expression.

  Return to list  

Upside On The Lower East

Around The Block in collaboration with
the Hamilton Fish, Muhlenberg, Tompkins Square and Epiphany Branches
of the New York Public Library
invites you to

Upside On The Lower East, Part I One For The Books A new play with the City as subtext
Playwright
Carlos Jerome #
Directed by
Camille Monte*
With
Elena Adames	Barbara Bleier*	Stephanie Garay
Sam Gordon*	Inma Heredia	Joe Albert Lima
Michael Morris	Rodney Roldan	Dennis Vargas*
Sound Management:  Alfredo Marin
Stage Management:  Shawn Guan

* Member, Actors Equity Association

# Member, Dramatists Guild

Free Admission
Saturday May 2, 2008		Hamilton Fish Branch Library
Saturday May 9, 2008		Muhlenberg Branch Library
Saturday May 16, 2008		Tompkins Square Branch Library
Saturday May 30, 2008, 2:00 pm		Epiphany Branch Library – Third floor 228 East 23rd Street [near Second Ave.], New York, NY 10010-4672. 212-679-2645 Directions  Map
Free Admission

  Return to list  

XXXX

  Return to list  

The Far Side Of Spring

Around The Block in collaboration with
the Muhlenberg Branch Library of the New York Public Library
invites you to

The Far Side Of Spring new one act plays with the City as subtext
Playwrights
Tevia Abrams #	Carlos Jerome #	Juel Wiese #
Directed by
Marlene McCoy*	Camille Monte*	Gloria Zelaya*
With
Rosie Berrido	Ruben D. Cruz II	Patt Franklin*
Sam Gordon*	Tara Greenway*	Joe Albert Lima
Carlos Molina*	Michael Morris	Richy Vasquez

* Member, Actors Equity Association

# Member, Dramatists Guild

Saturday, January 24, 2009, 2:00 pm		Muhlenberg Branch Library 209 West Twenty-third Street [near Seventh Ave.], New York, NY 10011-2379. Directions to Muhlenberg branch    Map
Free Admission

  Return to list  

Reconnecting October

  Return to list  

La Manajata Bequixed

  Return to list  

Titus Andronicus

The Collide Productions and Prospect Theater Project present

William Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus

The Arclight Theatre
August 1 - 17, 2008
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays @ 8pm & Sundays at 2pm
152 W. 71 St (between Amsterdam & Columbus)
New York, NY

All tickets $20.00
To reserve tickets: www.theatermania.com/content/show.cfm/show/145155

  Return to list  

Direction: Lower East

  Return to list  

Suffer Queen: a One-woman Play

SUFFER QUEEN
A ONE-WOMAN PLAY
By
EDITH TARBESCU

Ms. Tarbescu was a finalist in ATB's Flores Short Play Competition in 2008.

Algonquin Theatre
123 East 24th Street, (Bet. Park Avenue South & Lex.)
New York, N.Y.

(212) 730- 4644

Map

August 25, 26. 27, 28 at 8:00 PM

Admission: $18.00

See her web site at: www.home.earthlink.net/~tarbescu

  Return to list  

Graduation – Basic Acting Course for Adults

ATB in collaboration with the Hamilton Fish Branch of the New York Public Library invites you to

2008 graduation ceremony for our Acting Lab

Hamilton Fish Branch Library
415 East Houston Street [near Avenue D],
New York, NY 10002-1197.
Directions to Hamilton Fish Branch Library       Map

  Return to list  

Basic Acting Course for Adults

ATB in collaboration with the Hamilton Fish Branch of the New York Public Library invites you to register for our Basic Acting Course for Adults

A simple, eclectic approach to acting

A fifteen-week course, using physical, vocal, sensory and emotional exercises and improvisation.  We encourage the student's sense of play and spontaneity and then apply these techniques to written contemporary, realistic scenes and monologue, with an emphasis on individual expression and fun.

The class will meet Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in the Hamilton Fish Branch Library starting April 5, 2008.

Enrollment is limited.  Register now at the Hamilton Fish information desk without fee.

Hamilton Fish Branch Library
415 East Houston Street [near Avenue D],
New York, NY 10002-1197.
Directions to Hamilton Fish Branch Library   

  Return to list  

Raymond J. Flores Short Play Readings

Morningside Heights Branch Library
2900 Broadway [at W. 113th St.]
New York, NY 10025-7822.
Directions to Morningside Heights branch       Map

Raymond J. Flores Short Play Competition

Each year Around The Block / Al Doblar La Esquina sponsors a short play contest.  The best of the submitted plays will be given public reading in the spring 2008. There is also a modest cash prize for the winner.

Dramatic reading pieces are to be short plays and should match the theme of the Urban Arts Festival: i.e., the life and aspirations of the New York City community.

The maximum length for plays: 15 minutes.

Full information is at Flores_Index2008.htm including rules and application information in web page (html), Word doc and plain, printer friendly text formats.

Please note that the submission deadline is November 30, 2007

We look forward to reading your play!!!

  Return to list  

Some Recent ATB Past Events

Between The Watertower and the Sub-Basement

ATB in collaboration with the Mulberry Street Branch of the New York Public Library presented Meet the Neighbors @ Mulberry Street: Between the Water-tower and the Sub-basement

Readings of new one-act plays with the city as sub-text.

Playwrights:  Joseph De Luise, John Esposito, Nina Howes and Albert Meglin #

Directed by:  John Esposito, Marlene McCoy* and Hector Palacios

With:  Marisol Carrere, James Colgan, Elizabeth Kingsley*, Daniel Matejka, Carolina McNeely, Michael Morris, Susan Weiswasser and Louis Vuolo*

 * member, Actors Equity Association  # member, Dramatists Guild

This was on Monday, April 21, 2008

The Spanish Connection

ATB in collaboration with the of the New York Public Library presented The Spanish Connection: Zapatistas leaving Ontic
Two one-act NYC plays with a link to Spain

Playwrights:  Angelina Llongueras-Altimis # and David Nieves

Directed by:  Allison Astor-Vargas and Ginger Kipps*

With:  Ruben D. Cruz II, Perry Garcia, Henry Hernandez and Cristina San Juan *

 * member, Actors Equity Association   # member, Dramatists Guild

This was at the Hamilton Fish Park Branch Library on six dates in February, 2008

The Far Side of Spring

ATB in collaboration with the Ottendorfer Branch of the New York Public Library presented The Far Side of Spring

The early 60s: the way it was;   New one act plays with the City as subtext.

Playwrights: Nina Howes, Carlos Jerome #, Julius Landau #

Directed by: Marlene McCoy *, Camille Monte *

With: Suzanne Barbetta *, Don Bill *, Ruben Cruz, Alexis DeLaRosa, Crystal Diaz, Carolina McNeely, Rodney Roldan. Maria Teresa Silva, Jimmy Strano, Louis Vuolo

* member, Actors Equity Association    # member, Dramatists Guild

This was on Tuesday, January 29, 2008

The Brutal Comedians by Joseph De Luise

ATB in cooperation with the Jefferson Market Branch of the New York Public Library presented a staged reading of The Brutal Comedians by Joseph De Luise.

This was directed by Camille Monte* with Crystal Diaz, Elizabeth Kingsley*, Jimmy Strano, Barbara Tabor and Louis Vuolo* (* member, Actors Equity Association).

This was on Saturday, September 29, 2007

The Waves At Tar Beach

A reading of new plays written and performed by the Around The Block theatre workgroup in collaboration with the Columbus Branch of the New York Public Library.

Playwrights: Emily Cohen, Allen Davis III, Joseph De Luise, Carlos Jerome

Directed by: Camille Monte & Gloria Zelaya

Performed by: Elena Adames, Anne Ames, Don Bill, Rick Brockman, Guy DeMatties, Carolina McNeely, R. Reine, Louis Vuolo

Presentation: There was one presentation at the Columbus Branch Library on July 28, 2007.

Beginners Acting Course for Adults

ATB in collaboration with the Seward Park Branch of the New York Public Library had a Beginners Acting Course for Adults.

A simple, eclectic approach to acting.

This was a fifteen-week course, using physical, vocal, sensory and emotional exercises and improvisation.  The class met April through August in the Seward Park Branch Theater.

The 2006 Raymond J. Flores Short Play Reading Series

The semi-finalist to the 2006 Raymond J. Flores Short Play Competition were read on June 4 and 16.

Written by: Sona Robbins Cohen, John Esposito, Elise Marenson, Nancy Nevarez, Enid Shomer & Stacey, Dennis Vargas

Readers: Elena Adames, A.B. Asher, Barbara Bleier, Paul Bogas, Marisol Carrere, Alexis DeLaRosa, Santana Dempsey, Crystal Diaz, Tom Lavagnino, Jorge Marcos, William Marley, Tim Michael, Neville Mur, Romina Polnoroff, Yancey Quiñones, Ivan Ramos, Rodney Roldan, Cristina San Juan, Richy Vasquez

Presentation: These were read at Repertorio Español on June 4 and Morningside Heights Branch of the NYPL on June 16, 2007

Short Rides On The Local

Written by: Allen Davis III , Fred de Luna, Nina Howes, Carlos Jerome, Derek Lively, Elise Marenson

Directed by: Don Bill, Miguel Juan Concepcion, Ginger Kipps, Camille Monte, Andreas Robertz, Gloria Zelaya

Performed by: Elena Adames, Anne Ames, Don Bill, Rick Brockman, Lateshia Cunningham, Alexis DeLaRosa, Guy DeMatties, Santana Dempsey, Crystal Diaz, Jeff Woods Garlin, Roberta Germaine, Shawn Guan, Felisa Kazen, Mary Keefe, A.B. Lugo, Marlene McCoy, Carlos Molina , Dara O'Brien, Omar Perez, Fausto Pineda, Britta Ruona, Joanne Smith, Giovanni Vargas, Jenne Vath

Presentation: There were eleven presentations at seven branches of the NYPL between January 30 and April 20, 2007

Painting The Town With Leaves

Written by: Joseph De Luise, John Esposito, C.S. Hanson, Carlos Jerome

Directed by: Miguel Juan Concepcion, Camille Monte, Andreas Robertz

Performed by: Guy DeMatties, Nick DeSimone, Crystal Diaz, Mario Golden, A.B. Lugo, Marlene McCoy, Tim Michael, Alexandra Valentin, Louis Vuolo

Presentation was at Columbus Branch Library, October 28, 2006

New York Cool In New York Heat – Seven Short Plays

Written by: Nina Howes, Carlos Jerome, Julius Landau, Allan Liff, Barbara Lifton, Eleanor Spitzer and Sharon Wajswol

Directed by: Jean Anderson, Elise Marenson, Camille Monte, Gloria Zelaya

Performed by: Rachel Allen, Larry Auld,  Guy DeMatties, Santana Dempsey, Marlene McCoy, Carolina McNeely, R. Reine, Giovanni Vargas, Jenny Vath, Louis Vuolo, Max Woertendyke

Presentation was at Kips Bay Branch Library, July 18, 2006

This event was made possible in part with public funds from the Fund for Creative Communities / New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program, administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.

Reflection In Asphalt / Lo Que Refleja La Acera

Short Plays on the City

The City as subtext: short plays about New York life and dreams.

Written by: Allen Davis III, Joseph De Luise, Nina Howes, Carlos Jerome, Thomas Lavagnino, Jeffrey Harmon Smith, Cynthia Soderholm

Directed by: Jean Anderson, Don Bill, Miguel Juan Concepcion, Ginger Kipps, Camille Monte, Rebecca Nyahay

Performed by: Don Bill,  Miguel Juan Concepcion, Ruben Dario Cruz II, Alexis DeLaRosa, Nick DeSimone, Mario Golden, Sam Gordon, Gretchen Howe, Mary Keefe, Carolina McNeely, Jimmy Strano, David van Leesten, Rich Vasquez, Jenne Vath

There were eight presentation from February 25 – April 1, 2006 at the Jefferson Market, Muhlenberg, Epiphany and Hamilton Fish Branch Libraries.

Raymond J. Flores Short Play Competition

As part of the annual urban arts festival, had its third annual Raymond J. Flores Short Play Competition and Reading Series, for Spring 2006.

Presented April 29, 2006 at Muhlenberg Branch Library were plays by Allen Davis III, Tevia Abrams, Judy Klass, Stephen Levi, Neville Muran and Edith Tarbescu.  Also Ray Flores' monologue Tragic Comedy and the prize presentation for last year contest.

Presented May 9, 2006 at Ottendorfer Branch Library were play by Sona R. Cohen, Allen Davis III,  Julius Landau, Tom Lavagnino, Elise Marenson and Derek Lively

Our past winners are:

These events were made possible in part with public funds from the Fund for Creative Communities / New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program, administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.

  Return to list  

Sponsors

We are grateful for the support we receive from our public and corporate sponsors.
These programs are made possible in part with public funds from the Fund for Creative Communities / New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program, administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. www.nysca.org http://www.lmcc.net/
Microsoft Corporation http://www.microsoft.com/	®
Citigroup http://www.citigroup.com
New York Public Library, the Branch Libraries. www.nypl.org/branch/

  Return to list  

Around The Block is a not-for-profit organization chartered in the State of New York, tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.

Contribution Categories

Membership dues and contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
Please mail to:
        Around The Block
        5 E 22nd St., Apt. 9K,
        New York NY 10010-5323
 

To contact us: info@aroundtheblock.org

Last Updated June 28, 2009