Make your own Lantern and Join us for First Night Grand Procession

Please join our First Night Austin Project!

We have been working with area youth and community members for the past few months on our exciting new project commissioned by First Night Austin called “Keep the Night Alive: celebrating Texas’ endangered nocturnal animals” which aims to educate and raise awareness about local Owls, bats, Spiders, Wolves and Ocelots that are at risk of disappearing.

To learn more about Keep the Night Live, Click Here!

Download these instructions that will walk you through how to make your own beautiful paper lantern. Watch the Grand Procession roll down Congress Avenue and jump in with us (we are the finale!).

March with your lantern to Auditorium Shores and help us to shine a light on Texas’ Endangered Nocturnal Species! Click Here!

Happy New Year!

 

End of Fall Semester at Ann Richards’ School for Girls

TAP Teaching Artist, Amy Downing, talks about her first semester at The Ann Richards’ School for Girls
My experience as a Youth 4 Youth teacher has been amazing this semester. The definite high light was taking the students from The Ann Richards’ School for Girls to the One Act Play Festival at Akins High School. The girls were fabulous at the festival. They grew so much over the semester. Their attention to detail, sharp blocking, commitment to the story and to one another was so apparent. Above all, they definitely felt great about their work and are fired up for next semester.
All the girls listening to Amy during rehearsal.

This group started out very creative, but there were definitely a few more daring girls. What has impressed and excited me the most is how many of the students who started out more timid have grown! They dared to do things they never dreamed of and after facing the challenges of this semester, they seem even more eager to take more artistic risks. Many of them were motivated to bring up their grades to perform. They also want more lines as their stage confidence grows. And many of the girls who barely spoke at the beginning of class are now talking about writing a play next semester!

Over all, I am so inspired by their bravery, their commitment, their passion, and their creativity. I cannot wait until next semester!

Lantern Making Workshops

Our lantern making workshops at area H-E-Bs went off beautifully. Parents and kids alike were excited and enthusiastic about learning to make the lanterns for the First Night grand procession in downtown Austin on New Year’s Eve.

We also created a workshop for the downtown Austin stroll on Congress Avenue after the tree lighting at the capitol. It was great to see the community participate in a project we are so proud of and been working so hard on this semester. We are also eager to see the culmination of all our work in the community and in area schools on New Year’s Eve.
First Night Austin
Here’s a link to the H-E-B Presents First Night Austin website. Check it out and come see us in the parade on New Year’s Eve! We’ll be the grand finale!

TAP in the News

Theatre Action Project is featured in Community Arts Network API news!!!
check it out: http://www.communityarts.net/apinews/archivefiles/2008/12/changing_lives.php

We’re looking forward to Changing Lives Youth Theatre Company’s upcoming tour in the Spring!

Also, check out the online debate about arts education from ArtsJournal.com: http://www.artsjournal.com/artsed/

H-E-B Twilight Lantern Making Workshop

Tomorrow, Saturday December 6th, Theatre Action Project will be constructing paper lanterns with the community at 10 area HEBs as part of our newest community-based project, “Keep the Night Alive: Celebrating Texas’ Endangered Nocturnal Species,” commissioned by HEB presents First Night Austin 2009.

Come check it out and make a lantern with us.
We’ll be at these 10 H-E-B locations:
William Cannon & I-35
Hancock, 1000 E. 41st Street
E. 7th & Pleasant Valley
North Central Market
South Central Market
Lamar & Rundberg
Hwys 620 & 2222 (Four Points)
Brodie and William Cannon
S. Congress & Oltorf
Slaughter and Escarpment

At the Central Market North location, Bat Conservation International will be joining us to talk about the importance of bats to Austin and Texas. They will also be bringing kid-friendly bat, Zoe for all to see.

We’re excited for this wonderful opportunity to fulfill our mission to engage and connect with the community through arts and education.