Manhattan Theatre Lab V.1

EVELYN COLLINS, PRINCIPAL

Manhattan Theatre Lab High School

In the Spotlight: Livin’ in the Life: A Hip-Hop Musical

“Excellence in the Performing Arts!”

Fall 2011Volume 1

MANHATTAN THEATRE LAB HIGH SCHOOL - 122 AMSTERDAM AVENUE, NYC 10023

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Evelyn Collins, MTL Principal

and Theatrical Director

CONTENTS.................................................................................................MTL Mission and Direction 3..................................................................................................Livin‘ in the Life (Overview) 4

Livin’ in the Life (Photos)...................................................................................................... 5.................................................................................................................MTL’s Inspiration 6

Raisin (Photos)..................................................................................................................... 8

The Wiz (Photos)................................................................................................................ 9Blues for an Alabama Sky (Photos).................................................................................... 10

Guest Artists Visit MTL ...................................................................................................... 11Dance Concert (Photos)......................................................................................................12Tribute to Michael Jackson................................................................................................ 13

Performing Arts Staff..........................................................................................................14


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MTLMission and Direction

EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS!

Manhattan Theatre Lab High School opened its doors in 2004 and is an NYC public school specializing in the performing arts for students from all boroughs in grades 9-12. MTL is located in the Lincoln Center neighborhood on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Educational Campus. The majority of our students have no formal training in their desired arts area, but what they do have is talent, passion, and a desire to learn and grow. Instructors in the performing arts are also arts professionals in the field. They perform onstage as actors and dancers, direct, music direct and design Off-Broadway and Regional theatrical productions and direct independent films.Guest Artists also contribute to the educational experience. Some of our guests have included actors (Kim

Brockington, Saycon Sengbloh, Micki Grant, Billie Allen, Ruby Dee, Roger Robinson, Rosalind Coleman, Javon Johnson and Seth Gillam; musicians - Wynton Marsalis, Kerry Hilson, Pharrell, and Priscilla Baskerville; playwrights - Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights) and Radha Blank; dancers - Maria Torres and Omar Edwards. Alumni are presently in attendance at various colleges including Howard, Penn State, SUNY Purchase, Mercy, University of the Arts, SUNY Albany, McNally

Smith College, Shaw College, City Tech, AMDA, and BMCC.


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Musical OverviewImagine Fame set in Harlem.

Visualize teenagers from varied

backgrounds aspiring to succeed in the performing arts - yet along with their passion, they must overcome

insurmountable obstacles positioned by parents, teachers, friends and their

communities.

Production HistoryLivin in the Life was first produced

on the stage in 2006 at Wadleigh

Secondary School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where

Evelyn Collins was then the assistant principal of the performing and visual

arts. Recognizing the connection between academic success and the

arts, Evelyn crafted a story around her students personal experiences and

their desire to perform. Ms. Collins then created and

nurtured a program in the performing

arts that consisted of tap dance, instrumental music (violin, percussion,

and woodwinds), visual arts, chorus dance, and theatre. The program was not only impressive but also assisted

with elevating the faltering NYC high school.

The results was Livin’ in the Life: A Hip-Hop Musical. It ran for 8 performances in June of 2006 and

critically acclaimed by the Harlem community.

Manhattan Theatre Lab High SchoolIn May 2006, Evelyn received a

email from a teacher at the then failing

high school. A new principal was being sought. She accepted the invitation to interview and was later

selected principal of the school. In 2007, Principal Collins reprised

her musical Livin’ in the Life with her Manhattan Theatre Lab students. She also revised the book of the musical to

include her new experiences at the school.

On February 5, 2011 the musical was once again revised and presented as a fundraiser for the performing arts

program. Next up is a feature film adapted from the musical.

Livin’ in the Life: A Hip-Hop Musical


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Livin’ in the LifeBook, Lyrics, and Directed by Evelyn Collins

Music and Music Directed by Gregg Payne


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MTL’s Inspiration..."But someday somebodyʼll

Stand up and talk about me,

And write about me-

Black and beautiful-

And sing about me,

And put on plays about me!

I reckon itʼll be

Me myself!

Yes, itʼll be me."

Langston Hughes - Notes on a

Commercial Theatre


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MTL Inspirations...

MTL

Theatre +

Dance + Music =

Success


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RAISINBook by Robert B. Nemiroff and Charlotte Zaltzberg

Music by Judd Woldin Lyrics by Robert Britain

Directed by Evelyn Collins Music Directed by Gregg Payne

Original cast members Ernestine Jackson (Ruth)

and Joe Morton (Walter Lee). Composer Judd Woldin was also at our

opening night performance. MTL’s

production marked the first revival since the 1975 Broadway performance.


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The WizBook by William F. Brown

Music and Lyrics by Charlie SmallsDirected by Evelyn Collins Music Directed by Gregg Payne


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Blues for an Alabama SkyBy Pearl Cleage

Directed by Evelyn Collins


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Special Guests visit MTL

“Wisdom and experience is the greatest

teacher!” Evelyn Collins

Acting Legends(L) Billie Allen and Micki

Grant(R) Ruby Dee

(L) Roger Robinson-actor

R) Stephen A. Smith and Jami Floyd -TV

Journalists.

Nestor Rodriguez-film producer, Daniel Beaty-actor, Felipe Luciano, TV anchor, and

Dream Jordan, writer.

(L) Mayor Bloomberg and James Earl Jones.(R) Lamman Rucker, actor.


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Dance


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A Tribute to Michael Jackson


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PERFORMING ART STAFFPERFORMING ART STAFFPERFORMING ART STAFF

Evelyn Collins, Theatre Director and Producer

Charles Browning, (Actor) Acting Instructor

Gregg Payne, (Musician) Music Director and Instructor

Harlan Penn, (Designer) Stage Designer and Instructor

Elleatrice Thompson, (Dancer)Choreographer and Dance Instructor

Omar Edwards (Tap Dancer) Tap Instructor

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Manhattan Theatre Lab V.1