In our final performance for the second season of Raise Our Voices, Hieu Bui is the first artist to share a dramatic scene written and performed by himself. In this scene titled “Renewal,” Hieu addresses the struggles of being an immigrant in a powerful recreation of a real-life experience he had as an interpreter for … Continued
Tag: Raise Our Voices
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In the fifth episode of Starlight’s second season of Raise Our Voices, Guadalupe Valdes-Diaz shares a stunning performance of “Breathe” by Lin Manuel Miranda from his Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights. “In the Heights was the first musical that truly celebrated the Latine community,” Guadalupe said. “It not only talked about the struggles … Continued
In Starlight’s most recent Raise Our Voices performance, rapper Ayel created an original song to premiere, “Stand the Rain.” Inspired by this season’s theme, “Celebrating Me,” Ayel chose his words very intentionally with thoughtful intent on sharing this moment with others who have similar experiences as him. “Ayel’s words are a testament that though black … Continued
This month, Starlight’s Raise Our Voices video showcases the work of Seth Irving, who brings together vocals, poetry, and choreographed roller skating. Seth was chosen by Artistic Advisor Christopher Barksdale-Burns to bring his performance to Starlight audiences. “Seth is a kind and caring individual, who wants to see everyone uplifted and living their best life,” … Continued
In our second episode of season two’s Raise Our Voices video performance series, Artistic Advisor Chioma Anyanwu selected Ahafia Jurkiewicz-Miles to feature. “Ahafia is unflinchingly open to artistic collaboration, masterfully flexible to evolving ideas, genuinely kind, and exhibits an almost saintly patience in stressful situations,” Chioma said. “They are what I think of when I … Continued
On this week’s episode, Disney’s “Encanto” comes to theatres and Disney+, Starlight’s Raise Our Voices makes its season two premiere, and A Very Boy Band Holiday celebrates the season on ABC. Encanto Comes to Theatres/Disney+
In the second season of Starlight’s video performance series Raise Our Voices, Starlight assembled an Artistic Advisory Committee comprised of community artists and art educators, who then search and select artists to collaborate with. The pairs work together to decide on the material, concepts, messaging and technique for their performance. For the season two premiere, … Continued
In 2020, with Starlight’s stage dark and a call for social justice rising across the nation, a new Starlight performance series, Raise Our Voices, was born. Season one featured ten students, each with a connection to at least one of Starlight’s community engagement programs, performing a student-selected piece. In December, season two of Raise Our … Continued
In Starlight’s most recent Raise Our Voices performance, M’racle Bryant-Morgan dances in a moving number to “Stand Up” by Cynthia Erivo and Joshuah Brian Campbell. It’s a song that fills M’racle with strength, power and courage and those feelings resonate in the choreography, which M’racle created herself. She knows that we are currently living in … Continued
In Starlight’s first Raise Our Voices performance of the New Year, 2019 Vincent Legacy Scholarship winner Blessing Ogedengbe shares an inspiring dance piece to the song “Betty Butter” by Mayorkun, featuring Davido. Blessing already had a background in singing, but recently began dance training with Jennifer Owen, who helped choreograph this piece. Blessing wanted to … Continued
In our latest Raise Our Voices performance, Blue Star Awards student Elaine Watson shares an inspiring rendition of “Hope” by Emeli Sandé. She chose this piece because it’s a message that she feels needs to be heard—one about having hope, supporting one another and continuing to have tough conversations with loved ones. “Hope that one … Continued
Starlight’s latest performance in our Raise Our Voices video series features Chase Chancy—a Multimedia Intern and student from the 2020 Bob Rohlf Internship Program. In his internship at Starlight earlier this year, he played a key role in video production and editing—he was actually on the other side of the camera in previous Raise Our … Continued
In Starlight’s most recent Raise Our Voices performance, professional performer and 2011 Blue Star Awards Rising Star Scholarship recipient Talya Groves takes the stage for a powerful rendition of “Freedom” by Beyoncé. The empowering song comes from Beyoncé’s Lemonade album, which Talya fondly refers to as a love letter to black people—specifically, black women. Talya … Continued
In Starlight’s newest Raise Our Voices performance, Vincent Legacy Scholar Courtney Germany takes the stage for the series’ first dance piece to “I Can’t Breathe” by the artist H.E.R. Her brother suggested the song to Courtney, and she found that her feelings toward violence and police brutality filtered through every powerful and honest lyric of … Continued
Breana Smith, a 2019 Vincent Legacy Scholarship winner, is the latest Starlight student to share her talents and perspectives in “Raise Our Voices.” Starlight introduced this new performance initiative in June, giving students with a connection to Starlight an opportunity to publicly share their responses to racial injustice and other social issues our nation faces. … Continued
Our latest Raise Our Voices performance features Breana Smith—a 2019 Vincent Legacy Scholarship winner and current Starlight Star. Breana chose to perform “Waiting For Life” from the 2018 Tony Award winner for Best Revival of a Musical, Once On This Island. The musical tells the story of Ti Moune, who wonders about her purpose on … Continued
Starting in June, Starlight introduced a new performance initiative, “Raise Our Voices,” to give students with a connection to Starlight the opportunity to share their responses to the Black Lives Matter movement. Through this series, Starlight acknowledges the urgency for our community to speak out against racial injustice and inspire action through the power of art. All students featured participated in at least one of Starlight’s community engagement … Continued
In our newest Raise Our Voices performance, Blue Star Awards alumnus Lucas Lowry shares a powerful excerpt from one of today’s most popular musicals—Hamilton. But the musical’s current popularity isn’t why Lucas chose these words written by Lin Manuel Miranda. Rather, he recognizes that its indirect message can be tied to current world issues, including … Continued
In our newest filmed performance of Raise Our Voices, Starlight Star Danielle Woods chose to share John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change.” She hopes the song helps to lift others’ spirits, as it does for her and her family. When asked why she chose the song, she said that waiting for change is … Continued
Last month, Starlight launched a new video initiative titled “Raise Our Voices” in hopes of offering Starlight’s platform to share diverse voices. The title is two-fold—Starlight recognizes the need, now more than ever, to Raise Our Voices against racial injustice, and wants everyone to have the opportunity to do the same. Through “Raise Our Voices,” … Continued
Striving to be a better advocate, Starlight wants to use our theatre platform to share diverse voices. We recently offered students with a connection to Starlight’s community engagement programs the opportunity to share what they are feeling through a filmed performance at Starlight. In our first “Raise Our Voices” video, 2017 Vincent Legacy Scholar Lauren … Continued
Earlier this month, Starlight debuted a new video initiative as an opportunity for students with a connection to Starlight’s community engagement programs to share what they are feeling through a filmed performance on the Starlight stage. Titled “Raise Our Voices,” the series encourages viewers to hear and engage in the powerful messages of students seeking … Continued
On this week’s episode, the National Black Theatre opens submissions for their residency program, the Broadway Podcast Network launches a new show, and a Vincent Legacy Scholar raises her voice on the Starlight stage. National Black Theatre Opens Submissions for SOUL Directing Residency