Broke Wide Open 500 Names Campaign - Be A Part Of The List & Support

500 Names, Yes, FIVE. HUNDRED. NAMES. YOUR NAME is needed on the 500 Names campaign list ASAP! Playwright, Performer, Composer and Poet Rock WILK, is raising funds to support a commercial run, a full production of a show that is an absolute MUST SEE; a play that is a culmination of 5 years of his unrelenting spirit and hard work. His incredible, life changing, dream awakening, soul penetrating New York City, true life musical, BROKE WIDE OPEN is the story of his Adoption and search for identity and home. Join me in supporting him by getting your name on his 500 NAMES list here.

 A theatrical phenomenon, BROKE WIDE OPEN is one of the best gifts of story that I've encountered LIVE on stage, one that is ready and worthy of a Broadway run, a show that has won the hearts of audiences and supporters who continue to purchase ticket after ticket and attend show after show, and write about it all over his Facebook wall and website. I could sit here and type a mountain of praise, but you deserve to have your own unique experience, free of the full extent of my hype and regard but if you really want to know exactly what was on my mind after I saw BROKE WIDE OPEN for the first time, its available here. All of the information that you could possibly want to know about BROKE WIDE OPEN and the 500 NAMES campaign is on Rock's website here.

Consider supporting an artist who continues to give back and support the people, and who LIVES the change that he wants to see in the world everyday; something that many folks have only dreamed and aspired to do. Rock WILK is not only a committed artist, he is a leader, a brilliant mind, a human from humble beginnings changing lives one show at a time. He is dedication walking and like no other person that I've ever met. I'm not quite sure how I managed to donate to this fundraiser, while knee deep in college debt and other unmentionable financial craziness, let's just say there was a will, and so I found a way - I had to. If you are still reading, thank you for attention and know that your next step is only a link away. Help me, help Rock raise funds and gather the resources needed to mount a full, multimedia musical production of his life story, his musical BROKE WIDE OPEN. Add your name to the 500NAMES list here.

Feel Free to share this information or re-post this article on your site, please be sure link back to this post as source credit. Help me spread the word!
-Ebony Brown

If you're on twitter, find me, lets get the word out!
@fotojunki
#500NAMES
#TeamRockWILK
#BrokeWideOpen

If you're on Wordpress find me at,
www.allthingsebonybrown.com
 
[Design by Ebony Brown]

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Event Card Design by Ebony Brown | Broke Wide Open at the Medicine Show Theatre in NYC 12/12

New York, NY - New York native, Rock WILK, playwright, performer, composer and subway “creative” performs his life’s work, BROKE WIDE OPEN, as a “Thank You” tribute to his audience, supporters and patrons of the arts on Monday, December 12, 2011 at 6pm (doors open at 6pm; show starts at 8pm) located at The Medicine Show Theatre, 549 West 52nd Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10019 (between 10th and 11th Ave.) BROKE WIDE OPEN, written, composed and performed by Rock WILK, is directed by Stephen Bishop Seely and production sponsored by Jack Sharkey. Originally conceived as an album almost five years ago, BROKE WIDE OPEN is an evocative, soul baring musical about the true life story of Rock WILK’s adoption, identity and search for home.

An evening of shared experiences and humble beginnings, this celebration and performance will be live, documented and remembered. Famous Famiglia Pizzeria is providing a generous donation of their world famous pizza – a gesture of support that has come full circle. Rock WILK was their very first customer; loyal since Famous Famiglia Pizzeria first opened their doors to the neighborhood (on 96th Street in Amsterdam Avenue in New York City) in 1986.

High energy, honest, and unforgettable, BROKE WIDE OPEN is a poetic and orchestral unveiling of truth with Rock WILK as both maestro and menace. In BROKE WIDE OPEN, Rock WILK, fostered three times and finally adopted as a baby, takes us on a journey where he recounts and relives life changing consequences and decisions. Like martyr, like savior, like rebel without pause, Rock WILK is insistently fighting to enlighten and protect anyone and everyone in his path. A force, a hurricane, a cyclone of well intentioned chaos, Rock WILK is a tempest of love; he is valor and destruction all wrapped up into one. Testing the limits of every relationship in his life, Rock WILK’s journey to explore cause, and find home, becomes both incessant and reluctant. Emotionally gripping and spiritually giving, BROKE WIDE OPEN is also hopeful with pockets of laugh out-loud, comedic revelation. Rock WILK’s transgressions and triumphs throughout BROKE WIDE OPEN inspire unsolicited introspection; like a mirror and milestone, this theater piece compels many to face themselves and transcend to that which they are open and willing.

Facebook RSVP: http://on.fb.me/bworsvp
www.brokewideopen.com

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BROKE WIDE OPEN by Rock WILK, Directed by Stephen Bishop Seely | A NYC Story of Adoption & One Man's Search For Identity & Home

New York native, Rock WILK, actor, playwright, poet, adoptee and subway “creative” brings his life’s work - his play, BROKE WIDE OPEN back home to New York City, from the recently riot-ravaged but resilient London, for the United Solo Theatre Festival, at Theatre ROW, The Studio Theatre, located at 410 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10003 on Monday, October 24, 2011 at 9pm. Written, composed and performed by Rock WILK; Directed by Stephen Bishop Seely; and Production sponsored by Jack Sharkey; BROKE WIDE OPEN is an evocative, soul-bearing musical about the true life story of Rock WILK’s adoption, identity and search for home.

High energy, honest, and unforgettable, BROKE WIDE OPEN is a poetic and orchestral unveiling of truth with Rock WILK as both maestro and menace. In BROKE WIDE OPEN, Rock WILK, fostered three times and finally adopted as a baby, takes us on a journey where he recounts and relives life changing consequences and decisions. Like martyr, like savior, like rebel without pause, Rock WILK is insistently fighting to enlighten and protect anyone and everyone in his path. A force, a hurricane, a cyclone of well intentioned chaos, Rock WILK is a tempest of love; he is valor and destruction all wrapped up into one. Testing the limits of every relationship in his life, Rock WILK’s journey to explore cause, and find home, becomes both incessant and reluctant. Emotionally gripping and spiritually giving, BROKE WIDE OPEN is also hopeful with pockets of laugh out-loud, comedic revelation. Rock WILK’s transgressions and triumphs throughout BROKE WIDE OPEN inspire unsolicited introspection; like a mirror and milestone, this theater piece compels many to face themselves and transcend to that which they are open and willing.

“...I want you to know that I’m open
That I’m always receiving
Expectant of nothing
But hoping for something
Something unforeseen,
Something prodigious
Praying for an accident
Of the most startling kind…”

–Rock WILK, BROKE WIDE OPEN

Tickets are $18 via www.telecharge.com  | 212.239.6200

www.brokewideopen.com
United Theatre Solo Festival 

[Photo Credit: Serge Cashman]

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Design by Ebony Brown for Rock Wilk in the United Solo Theatre Festival

My recent design work.

(Playbill Ad, Postcard, Web Ad /Newsletter Banner)

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Inside the Perfect Circle: The Odyssey of Joel Thome

Inside the Perfect Circle: The Odyssey of Joel Thome, by True Form Pictures will debut a screening of the film as a part of the NJ Film Festival this September!

Who doesn't know composer, professor, Grammy Award Winner, Pulitzer Prize Nominee, sweet heart, and life warrior, Joel Thome?  Music Theory wasn't my favorite class, but Professor Thome managed to become one of my favorite people the semester that I was in his class. His heart, passion and determination not only to show up, despite life's tolls and taunting, regressive temptations of tenor, but to actually be an engaging and committed professor in the classroom is remarkable.  A celebrity and musical phenomena in his own right, he's a musical gem on campus; a nod to the professorial quality at Purchase College.  If you're a student in the Conservatory of Music at Purchase, find Professor Joel and PICK his brain!  http://www.insidetheperfectcircle.com/ 

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Earsay Benefit: Transforming Trauma into Art | Purchase College Faculty Warren Lehrer & Wife, Judith Sloan Makes a Difference in the Lives of Immigrant Teenagers

Earsay Benefit: Transforming Trauma into Art hosted by WNYC's Brian Lehrer held at the Society for Ethical Culture Center in New York City (one block from Lincoln Center), was an evening of monologues, dance, hip hop, music and poetry with performances by: Universes, Carl Hancock Rux, Judith Sloan, Warren Lehrer, Elise Knudson. Musical guests: Jie-Song Zhang and Krussia of the Stone Forest Ensemble and MiWi LaLupa. Also actors read excerpts from Judith Sloan and Warren Lehrer's book Crossing the BLVD. They  included: Bridget Kelso, Chris Kamau, Justin Hudson, Catherine Hanna, Bridgit Antoinette Evans, Vaimoana Niumeitolu, Prerana Reddy, and Jonathan Stuart (from Viper Records), and a special performance by high school students from EarSay’s Transforming Trauma Into Art theatre project.

WHAT IS EARSAY?

EarSay is an artist driven 501 (c) 3 non-profit arts organization dedicated to uncovering and portraying stories of the uncelebrated. Founded by Warren Lehrer (Purchase College SUNY School of Art+Design, Graphic Design Professor) and (accomplished wife) Judith Sloan in 1999, their projects bridge the divide between documentary and expressive forms in books, exhibitions, on stage, in sound & electronic media. They are committed to fostering understanding across cultures, generations, gender and class, through artistic productions and education. They bring their work to theatres, museums, schools, prisons, festivals and universities. [info courtesy www.earsay.org, visit the links provided at the end of this post]


EarSay Arts and Activism Workshops for Youth Founded by Judith Sloan from EarSay Inc on Vimeo.

A NOTE OF THANKS 

Judith and Warren, what an experience!!! I'm honored to have been in the presence of such powerful artists, activists and youth! What unfolded this Saturday evening was concentrated, creative, collaborative, eye-opening insanity (the good kind) with the perfect dose of humor and gravity. Anyone who cares about meaningful theater, education, music, graphic-literary performance art, youth and the immigrant experience aught to know about Earsay and support, support, support!

I can still hear Brian Lehrer's voice:  "If two hundred people gave $10 a month on their credit cards the program would have 50% of its budget. It costs $500 per child for the entire year when the program is at full capacity."  When put in this perspective, I think  many would agree that giving becomes less of a question. [Image from facebook via Judith Sloan]

Thank you Judith and Warren for the work that you do! Keep Going!!!

Here are some video clips of Earsay's previous events similar to what transpired last night at the Society for Ethical Culture on West 64th Street in New York City (when new videos become available, I'll post them):


Warren Lehrer performs excerpts from Bleu Mobley from EarSay Inc on Vimeo.


Performance Only of Crossing the BLVD from EarSay Inc on Vimeo.

LINKS:

• More Earsay Videos: http://bit.ly/eoOYDS
• Earsay Website: http://bit.ly/f8Y1oU  
• About Warren Lehrer & Judith Sloan: http://bit.ly/f9Jh9N 
• About Brian Lehrer: http://bit.ly/g4PzJR
• About WNYC Radio: http://bit.ly/hMe1YH
• About Viper Records (Johnathan Stuart): http://bit.ly/h2bkks 
• Donate to Earsay: http://bit.ly/eb1MVI

[ All images: from facebook via Judith Sloan]

...and Remember:

"If two hundred people gave $10 a month on their credit cards the program would have 50% of its budget. It costs $500 per child for the entire year when the program is at full capacity." ...more info: http://bit.ly/eb1MVI

your comments are welcome!

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Last Minute Marvel; A Black History Month Celebration at Purchase College, SUNY | by Ebony Brown

With two days notice to rehearse for a Black History Month Celebration, the Purchase Soul Voices Ensemble stepped up the plate to observe and honor the trials and tribulations of the African American experience through poetry & song. I applaud my fellow Choir members for doing an outstanding job, especially Dana who performed an unrehearsed solo as requested on the spot for "Lord Help Me To Hold Out!"

"Lift every Voice & Sing" brought the campus community (in attendance) to their feet; everyone joined hands and swayed to the mellow, falsetto vocals of Miss Adrian whose delivery was nothing short of conviction and emotion. Even she had to gather herself midway through the song.

This afternoon's celebration included some old favorites such as Bob Marley's "Three little Birds", Sam Cooke's "This Little Light of Mine" and a stunning solo performance by Theater Art and Film's Brittany West who sang, "Keep Your Eyes On the Prize." Yes, it's my hunch that you, me or we will 'keep our eyes on the prize' and 'hold on' even in the face of impossibility.

I'm honored to hone and share my alto vocals as well as be witness to such unity and excitement on Purchase College Campus; a performance well received. The passionate piano execution of "His Eye is on the Sparrow" played by a student of the Conservatory of Music certainly had a few fanning themselves and sighing in awe.

I'm so proud of everyone and appreciate those who showed up and supported our performance. I hope to see you at the next show.

Thank You!
Save the Date: Soul Voices performs on April 9 (Purchase NY) & April 30 (New York, NY)

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