The PROJcast

"I didn't know what was gonna be in store for me...and then I really came to love this place." - Giovanni , age 10. Our latest Playmaking production PIECE OF CAKE, The Slice of Life Plays , is here. In this episode you can listen to the six Playmakers who created the show. The production will have a hybrid presentation, live and in-person, as well as streaming, on Friday, December 10  @ 7:30 PM an...

"I'm looking forward to find friends. I'm just looking forward to have the best life here" - Valerie, age 9. Three of the newest members to join the Project reflect on their experiences creating our current production WALKING ON SUNSHINE, The Radiant Plays, Step Two - the companion production to last week's Step One. The production will have a hybrid presentation, live and in-person, as well as st...

"You take your imagination to another place that you've never been to. It's like another universe ...of you." - Gloria, age 9. Four of the newest members to join the Project reflect on their experiences creating our current production WALKING ON SUNSHINE, The Radiant Plays, Step One. The production will have a hybrid presentation, live and in-person, as well as streaming on-line Friday, August 13t...

"You have to admit that you're different, as well. Can we be different together and make music?" - Jai-Lyzz, age 11. The premiere of a new program at The 52nd Street Project. We brought four young members together with adult volunteers and tasked them with creating a monologue for audio. The young people worked on the scripts, sound design, and editing. Some even perform themselves. Also, our virt...

"It's really cool to come here because you get to let out your feelings after school." - Khailey, age 9. It's time for the other half of our latest Playmaking production SMOKE & MIRRORS, The Tricky Plays, Part II. Here are five more the Behind the Pencil interviews with our most recent Playmakers ahead of the live stream of their production, Thursday, March 25, 7PM. (For the interviews and informa...

"I'm less bored than I used to be. Because in middle school, I would tell myself I was bored 24/7. I've only been bored one day this whole year because I stopped telling myself, 'I'm bored.'" - Darby, age 16 The Teen Ensemble is putting together one of their last productions (ME & U., The Teen One-Acts, Streaming 2/25, 7PM). So, we sat down with them virtually to look back on their careers with th...

"I want to be who I am. I want to be free, free, free. I just want to be free." - Antonella, age 11 Three more songs from our Songmaking concert, back in November, 2019. Songmaking teaches the kids about the art of writing songs as they collaborate with with graduate students from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts Musical Theater Writing Program. - - - - - Project Members: Andrew, Antonella, & Ayah....

"It's okay to speak up for yourself ... even if you're going through some stuff." - Faith, age 10 When we had to suspend operations in March 2020, we were about to premiere our latest Playmaking production. Now, those plays will be presented on Zoom in a two part production, with Part I on Thursday, January 28, 7PM. This episode features four of our young playwrights reflecting on their experience...

"Mixin' it, riskin' it, creatin' it!" Ayah, age 10 We're showcasing three performances from the November 2019 Songmaking concert, Take It From the Top. Also, the Project's newest Playmaking production, SMOKE & MIRRORS, goes virtual on live stream Thursday, January 28, 7PM. Visit https://52project.secure.force.com/ticket/ for a reservation - it's free. - - - - - Project Members: Ayah, Crismell, & J...

"I don't think it's impossible to heal yourself from that trauma, and take that good stuff that you learned and continue on." Ariel Estrada, Actor, Project volunteer In the final episode of our mini-series of Radiomaking stories created during the Coronavirus Quarantine, Karen interviews Ariel Estrada about his time in a Martial Arts cult, and how he came through that experience. - - - - - Project...

"What is some advice you can offer people during Covid-19?" Chyanne, age 18 In the third of our series of Radiomaking stories created during the Coronavirus Quarantine, Chyanne interviews clinical psychologist Dr. Ernesto Lira de la Rosa about career options in the mental health profession and tips for self-care. - - - - - Project Member: Chyanne Project Volunteers: Ashley Marie Ortiz & David Truj...

"Do you see being younger as a disadvantage in the film industry?" Sofia, age 18 In the second of our series of Radiomaking stories created during the Coronavirus Quarantine, Sofia interviews filmmakers who are at various stages of their careers in order to get an idea of what awaits in her chosen profession. - - - - - Project Member: Sofia Project Volunteers: Sean Eads & Jacqueline Raymond. The P...

"Compared to your past hardships, where would you rank the Coronavirus right now?" Kai, age 17 Our first Radiomaking story created during the Corona Quarantine is an interview by Kai. He talks with his mother about the challenges to her health that she's faced, and what the current crisis means for her. - - - - - Project Member: Kai Project Volunteers: Lydia Breckon & Lynne Marie Rosenberg. The PR...

A quick update about our online gala: Game Changers, Celebrating Two Key Players - Crystal Dickinson & Brandon Dirden. We're entering our last week - visit: give.52project.org/GameChangers - - - - - The PROJcast theme song was written by Justin & Eric March (Twitter: @eriqmarch), and is performed by Rebecca, Nicole, and Marinda Anderson (Instagram: @marindaanderson, Twitter: @marindanderson). - -...

"We're just here to help with the rabbit." - Derek, age 14 Wildlife Research and Social Media collide in Derek's audio drama "Rabbit Jungle." Created in last year's Radiomaking program. Also, please check out to Game Changers, our online gala - visit: give.52project.org/GameChangers - - - - - Project Member: Derek Project Volunteer: Ali Ahn, Bryan Blaskie, & Jose Gamo. Original music for the episo...

"I mean, at the end, it's always going to feel like it goes by quick." - Carlos, age 13 The follow up to our previous bonus episode, Carlos & Cody LeRoy Wilson recount their experiences as Smart Partners and participating in the Project's version of the Amazing Race. - - - - - Project Member: Carlos Project Volunteer: Cody LeRoy Wilson. Original music for the episode by Avi A. Amon. The PROJcast t...

"I liked it because I got to beat you up." - Carlos, age 13 In our newest bonus episode, Carlos & Cody LeRoy Wilson recount how they met, and how working together in programs at The Project led them to becoming Smart Partners. - - - - - The Member: Carlos Project Volunteers: Cody LeRoy Wilson . Original music for the episode by Avi A. Amon. The PROJcast theme song was written by Justin & Eric Marc...

"...'Cause New York is here to stay, and just won't go away." - Jayleen, age 16 For the first of our new series mini episodes - while we're all socially distanced - we're sharing some of the content that we've got saved up. Today we have "HERE TO STAY," a song from our 2018 Songmaking Concert, "Songs from Hell's Kitchen," with lyrics by Project member Jayleen, music by Richard C. Walter, and perfo...

"Then I got into a relationship and another part of me came out that I didn't know about myself" - Tiniah, age 18 In this season of candy hearts and Valentine's Day we're featuring a pair of pieces about heartbreak - Tiniah's radio story "Now This Is Living" and Antonella's song "Goodbye."  - - - - - The Members: Tiniah & Antonella Project Volunteers: Sam Dash (Social:@Sam_Dash_), Lydia Breckon, J...

"What's the point of living if you don't put up a fight?" - Amari, age 12 We've got an especially cool episode this month: Sevan interviews professional hockey player Brett Howden of the Rangers, and we have a performance of "Put Up A Fight" with lyrics by Amari - who is appearing in our current production. - - - - - The Members: Sevan & Amari Project Volunteers: Marina Kondo (Social: @marinakondo...

"Brain, I love you. We are SO smart! Thanks for all of that help 15 years ago" - Ethan, age 15. Bringing you holiday magic, Project-style, we have Ethan's fiction piece from Radiomaking; an interview between Smart Partners Nikolai & Alex Gould; and Nora Fox's performance of Money, lyrics by Kiara, music by Jarrett Murray, from our Songmaking concert 2018 - Songs of Hell's Kitchen. - - - - - The Me...

"I thought it would be very fun, and I don't think I was wrong in any sense of the word." - Longan, age 9 Previewing our newest Playmaking production, we have a conversation between brothers Emmanuel and Logan. Emmanuel joined the Project seven years ago and Logan is one of the latest batch of writers about to make their debut on the Project stage. We're also highlighting a performance by Jon-Mich...

"If you haven't seen a family member for like a long time - introduce yourself. Be kind to them. Treat your family right." - Gilbert, age 15 In time for the Halloween season, we have a spooky story, a song about changing your identity, and an interview with one of our Playbackers about his experience in a corn maze, apple picking, and working on his show -- which premieres this weekend! - - - - -...

"High school was like a learning experience for me." - Tatiana, age 18 As the school year launches, we bring you some perspective from our young people. From  last spring's Radiomaking program, we have Derek's non-fiction piece interviewing a couple of his fellow Project members on their feelings about school. We revisit the conversation that Smart Partners Tati and Krystel Lucas had on their last...

"There's a whole New York City, full of rats, waiting to be explored" - Justin, age 18 This time we're spotlighting a couple of our graduating seniors. We have a monologue from our Radiomaking program about a stressed out teen trying to escape into the memory of her first kiss. Then we're bringing you a conversation between Smart Partners Justin & Eric March about how they got started, and what th...