The PROJcast

"She supports me when I'm emotional … so 'emotional support buddy'" - Mia, age 12. The program year is coming to a close, and Smart Partners Mia & Nancy are looking back at their first year together. Also coming up at the Project the Dancemaking concert EXPRESS YOURSELF, this Friday, June 12 @ 7:30 in our Five Angels Theater. Visit www.52project.org for free tickets. - - - - - Project Member: Mia,...

"I want people to take away that everyone that you look at on the street has different lives and you never know what they go through" - Cae, age 15. Wondering what to do this weekend, look no further. The Teen Ensemble is presenting UP, DOWN, ALL AROUND, a new full-length work of devised theater this Friday night and Saturday afternoon May 29 & 30 in our Five Angels Theater here in Hell's Kitchen....

"That's why I joined up, because I want people to feel joy and happiness out of my play, too." - Berniece, age 10. Cards on the table, our Playmakers are talking about what inspired their latest show UP THE ANTE, Plays That Go All In. We're offering 3 free performances, this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 27 - 29 in our Five Angels Theater here in Hell's Kitchen. Visit www.52project.org for fr...

"Time, time, time. Crazy!" - Mateo, age 12. A Smart Partner talk between Mateo & JJ, looking back on their past year together, quizzing each other on what they know about the other's generation and slang, and talking about what they see for the future. - - - - - Project Member: Mateo Project Volunteer: JJ Wilks The PROJcast theme song was written by Justin & Eric March, and is performed by Rebecca...

"Follow your dreams, and don't forget to bring your kids to The 52nd Street Project." - Zaire, age 11. Our new production SUGAR & SPICE, Plays to Savor, is performing this weekend Dec. 12-14. Here are the newest Project members talking about their inspirations and their hopes for the shows. - - - - - Project Members: Dylan, Kaylee, Kaylie, Lalune, Chad, Penelope, Matt, & Zaire.  The PROJcast theme...

"When you write a song, you can pour your heart out into it." - Sophia, age 11. Our Songmaking program teaches the young people the basics of creating their own songs, and pairs them up with adults from NYU Tisch School for the Arts Musical Theater Writing Program, or BerkleeNYC's Power Station, to create a concert of new music performed by amazing adult professionals. In these "Behind the Keyboar...

"I think that's what makes Smart Partners an interesting relationship for both. You see your partner grow." - Sarah, age 17. Sarah and her Smart Partner Lynne Rosenberg return to the podcast for one last conversation before Sarah goes off to college in the fall. Listen to their reflections on what it's meant to them to be a pair these last 8 years. - - - - - Project Member: Sarah, with her Smart P...

"I feel like me being here in the Project has helped me mature in the way I appreciate everyone around me." - Naseem, age 16. The cast of our upcoming Teen Ensemble production, discuss their experiences with the Project's programming, and what has gone into WRITING ON THE WALL, in our Five Angels Theater, NYC, May 30 & 31. Free tickets at 52project.org. - - - - - Project Members: Adolfo, Aiden, Et...

"There is no just not winning." - Katty, age 12. Previously on the PROJcast, Smart Partners Katty & Adaire were in the lead of the Project's version of The Amazing Race, only to lose out to Katty's sister Sarah in the end. Now, it's their last chance to come out on top, before Sarah heads off to college. Listen to their planning and determination in this episode. Also don't miss Adaire Kamen's lat...

"It's kind of fun playing around with all of the imagination that you have. There's a lot of flexibility. That's how I like it." - Jaaziel, age 11. In this episode, go "Behind the Pencil" with eight young people joining the Project with their Playmaking production this weekend, ON TOP OF THE WORLD, The Triumphant Plays, in our Five Angels Theater, NYC. Free tickets at 52project.org. - - - - - Proj...

"Honestly, don't take a risk unless you know the outcome." - Xavier, age 17. A couple of pairs of Smart Partners sit down to answer some randomly selected questions. One pair reflecting on their first year together, and one pair six years into their partnership. You'll hear from Xavier about what the Project has meant to him, and from Matteo, who is a part of our current production SETTING THE TON...

"It's a place that imagination is basically key to everything." - Ethan, age 11.   Our new Playmakers give us a look Behind the Pencil, discussing their inspirations and experiences creating the new production TO THE MOON, Plays That Blast Off, performing Friday through Sunday, December 13 - 15 in our Five Angels Theater here in Manhattan. Free tickets are available at www.52project.org and the sh...

"I want them to laugh because I like making people laugh and it just makes me feel good. Because then I feel like I made someone's day." - Grace, age 10. The Songmakers have spent the past few weeks collaborating with adult composers, creating all new songs for our free concert MUSIC TO MY EARS, this Friday, November 1, in our Five Angels Theater in NYC, 7:30 p.m. In this episode, the young member...

"This is a great place to help your kid build their development of who they are growing up to be." - Naseem, age 15. Our current Teen Ensemble has been working since September 2023, and they are ready to share their latest piece of devised theater, MORE THAN WORDS, this Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1, in our Five Angels Theater in NYC. In this episode, some of the Ensemble members reflect on...

"To meet new kids and just write a play, which is like a totally, just awesome experience to have." - Milo, age 11. Our current production A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, The Breezy Plays, is fresher than springtime. Listen to the young members discuss their inspiration for the new show. Then get your free tickets for the performances this Friday to Sunday, April 5, 6, & 7. If you can't be with us in perso...

"I just look forward to coming here everyday. Or even the days I can't, it's nice just to think about here." - Xavier, age 13. Our current production SKELETON IN THE CLOSET, The Secretive Plays, is all about what's below the surface. So venture Behind the Pencil with these Playback creators and performers. Then get your free tickets for the performances this Friday to Sunday, February 9, 10, & 11....

"One thing is, don't be rude to others, because in The 52nd Street Project, we don't want to be rude." - Angela, age 11. New Behind the Pencil interviews with the Project members who have created our latest sold-out production FOOD FOR THOUGHT, The Scrumptious Plays, this Friday to Sunday, December 8, 9, 10. If you can't be with us in person in NYC you can catch the live stream on our YouTube Chan...

"I want them to get that feeling, that excited, groovy feeling." - Josiah, age 9. We have a new version of Behind the Pencil that we're calling Behind the Keyboard. Five Project members have created a bunch of new songs for our Songmaking Concert, TUNE IN, this Friday, October 27, 7:30pm in our Five Angels Theater Free tickets to the show are available at  https://52ndstproject.my.salesforce-sites...

"We were just strangers - now we're bestest of friends" - Logan, age 11. Our final Smart Partner conversation from the 2022-2023 school year. This time we're featuring Logan and his SP John Manolis. Logan is a cast member of our current production ON THE MOVE, Plays That Will Transport You. Free tickets to the show are available at https://52ndstproject.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket - - - - - Pro...

"Even the most difficult, challenging one was still something I loved" - Xavier, age 16. Our Teen Ensemble is getting ready to share the full-length show that they've devised, EYE OF THE STORM, the Friday & Saturday, June 2 & 3, as the culmination of their time with the Project. Here three of the cast members share their memories and inspirations from being Project members. Free tickets to the sho...

"It's so strange how my perception and understanding of time as a concept has changed" - Sarah, age 15. In a follow-up to the previous episode of the PROJcast, Smart Partners & Amazing Racers Sarah & Lynne reflect on their years-long partnership, their feelings about the Project, and perhaps most importantly, who's going to win the race this year. - - - - - Project Member: Sarah with her Smart Par...

"I think I might have to go to the newspaper companies about this story" - Katty, age 10. The Smart Partner Amazing Race is on, and our first pair to record a conversation for the podcast are Katty & Adaire. Listen to their recounting of adventures in plumbing, arcades, ice cream and the subway. - - - Project Member: Katty with her Smart Partner Adaire Kamen (Instagram: @AdaireKamen, Twitter:  @Tr...

"It's pretty cool to make your imagination just blop out." - Josiah, age 9.   Our latest Playmaking production A WHALE OF A TALE, Plays That Make A Splash, is here. In this episode you can listen to the Playmakers who created the show. The production will have a hybrid presentation, live and in-person, as well as streaming on our YouTube channel, on Friday, March 31 @ 7:30 PM, Saturday, April 1 @...

"Every time you see them, or you see anyone here, it's just like, happy-mode is just on." - Samaria , age 9. Our latest Playmaking production OFF THE WALL, The Zany Plays , is here. In this episode you can listen to the Playmakers who created the show. The production will have a hybrid presentation, live and in-person, as well as streaming, on Friday, December  9  @ 7:30 PM and Saturday, December...

"I just want to stop by and say a happy, 'Hi!'." - Logan , age 9. Our latest Playmaking production PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, The Priceless Plays , is here. In this episode you can listen to the Playmakers who created the show. The production will have a hybrid presentation, live and in-person, as well as streaming, on Friday, April 1  @ 7:30 PM and Saturday, April 2 @ 3 & 7:30 PM. Visit https://52p...