YOUTHS BREAK OUT WITH SHAKESPEARE STATEWIDE Edition

• Published in: The Hartford courant
• Main Authors: Reyna, Bessy, Bessy Reyna is a free-lance writer whose column appears monthly. To leave her a comment in English or Spanish, call 860-241-3165. Or e-mail her at bessy_reyna@hotmail.com
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hartford, Conn Tribune Interactive, LLC 18.08.2006
• ISSN: 1047-4153; 2641-3892

Despite the many opportunities offered by groups such as the Artists' Collective, Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford, the Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Girl Scouts and the Neighborhood Studios of the Greater Hartford Arts Council, there are still not enough positive choices available to adolescents. Unfortunately, many parents and guardians do not know about the existing programs, how to obtain information about them or even recognize the value of these activities for their children. This summer, Eddie Duran, education director for the Hartford Stage Company, decided to do just that. He collaborated with the Neighborhood Studios -- with theater director Missy Waryas and choreographer Jason Post -- to choose 13 students from among 80 applicants to take part in a six-week program. The students were paid a stipend to learn responsibility and social skills through studying the elements of drama and dance. They explored the effects of prejudice and narrow-mindedness by creating a new version of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." This time, the Capulets and Montagues used break dancing instead of sword fighting and the two groups (wearing red or black) were gang members instead of rival families.