our new project

Our last production at Youth Onstage!, "Over There/Over Here" by Michael Reyes, was a huge success. The play, developed in collaboration between Michael (a 22 year-old playwright and Iraq War veteran) and our ensemble of young actors, presented the war in Iraq from the perspective of America's youngest and poorest soldiers. It played to sold-out houses and received an unprecedented critical response. The New York Times called it "an impressive, poignant new work." (If you missed that play -- or want to see it again -- we've added three additional performances in 2007. Click here to buy tickets!)

We're following up that success, however, with something completely different. Our next project, called "America (a conversation)," will use music, text, and movement to engage in a dialogue with and about America. What does that mean exactly? Even we aren't sure yet. The first rehearsal is still a week and a half away! We do know, however, that the show will be created by a talented ensemble of YO!'s freshest performers, all of whom have graduated from our Community Performance School and will be making their YO! debuts with this production.

This site, too, is a work in progress. We'll be using it to track the rehearsal process. We'll update you regularly about what we've been doing in rehearsal and providing you with background information about the texts we're using. And, most importantly, since this show is "a conversation," we'll be using this site as a forum to engage in even more conversation -- amongst ourselves and also with you, our audience! We hope you'll comment on this site before and after you've seen the show, so that the conversation never stops!