The Early Stages Blog

Janita was born and raised in the Bronx. This past year, her last at University Heights High School, she began participating in Early Stages' Live Theater Program. Trips to the theater were coordinated by her college advisor, Lillian Martinez, and Janita was both excited and skeptical when she first decided to participate. 

She thought Broadway shows would be old-fashioned and boring, with theaters full of uptight wealthy people, but Janita decided to take a chance- and she was not disappointed. She fell in love with the world of theater and now considers herself a life-long fan. "I love theater, and I plan on watching many plays. I know it will allow me to look at life differently."

The daring and curiosity she practiced at the theater will come in handy this fall when she heads off to SUNY Geneseo. She is the first in her family to go to college and plans to study liberal arts and minor in dance. The environment at Geneseo will be very different from anything Janita has experienced thus far, "It's full of cows!" But she feels ready to meet the challenge head on, "I walk into every situation in life the same way I first walked into a theater. Prepared, eyes wide opened, and with a smile on my face. I love life and I have come to understand that my life is something like a play in a theater. It's special in its own way and I can make my own story."

Through a partnership with Mr. Nelson Resto, students from Job Corps were able to see a number of shows this year including American Idiot, Rock of Ages, and Wicked.  Most of the students had never been to a Broadway show and feel this discovery has had a positive impact on their lives.  Here's what they had to say . . .

I went to Wicked and it was the first time.  I thought "it's probably going to be boring and everything."  But when it started, when they started acting and singing--I was really getting into it, I was excited.  After the show ended, I was like "That's it?"

I didn't want the show to end!

--Noemi

[Going to plays] can really change your outlook.  Most plays, like Wicked for example, can really make you look for the silver lining.  She went through a lot with her family, with everything being downtrodden, but still after all that, she still persevered and got what she wanted. . . You can take stuff from plays and apply it to your everyday life.  People have this certain mentality toward life, like there's only one direction they can go in.  But I've seen now there's many directions you can take, it's only up to you on whether or not you take it.

--Matthew

I love seeing Broadway shows, because it's better than TV!  You get to have a different relationship with it.  The actors are live, you get to feel the message, it's like you're on the stage with them, going through it all.  I liked Rock of Ages, because I only listen to one type of music, but now it's opened my horizons to listen to more.

--Merchia

Being able to go to different shows and plays gives us a better vibe; we have more energy.  We're just . . . happier, for lack of a better word.  We're definitely more upbeat. . . It's definitely made me more outgoing. It makes me want to see more things and do more stuff. 

--Kevin

[Rock of Ages] made me see that no matter how many times you fail in life and how many times something bad happens to you, you can always get up and do what you have to do for yourself.

--Janelkis

Enlivening the Senses: Arts|Learning at the Core of Education from Arts|Learning on Vimeo.

"This is my first time at the theater.  After seeing American Idiot, I would say that I am a huge fan.  I would have been so sad if I didn't get to come!"

"I was impressed by the Heather character, it wasn't a big part, but she was one of the only people in the show to make good choices.  She did what was good for her and her baby."

"I love Green Day!  So this show was perfect for me.  It was great to see their music come to life."

"I loved everything about this show!  The music was great, the performers had awesome voices, the dancing was great.  I loved how everyone in the cast could play guitar.  In my opinion it was perfect."

Early Stages students practice movement and teamwork.

This week is the UNESCO Second Annual World Conference on Arts Education. Michele and Robert Root-Bernstein discussed their upcoming presentation with Psychology Today.  Included in their main points,

"Arts and crafts-and the thinking tools they exercise-belong at the center of education because they can and will ignite the creative imagination vital to those high-level innovations in science, politics, economics, and culture that must lead us into the future."

At Early Stages we firmly believe that the arts foster literacy and teach vital life skills and are thrilled to see these tenets take center stage at this international forum.