Program Director Leads West Side Story Project

I would like to take this opportunity to share my thoughts in regards to the West Side Story Project. I never knew anything about this musical and quite honestly had no desire to be part of this program. I’m not only a part of this program; I was named the Program Director of this project. The first thing I have realized about myself is never miss the opportunity to try something new and begin to change my perception on things and not just about this project but life in general. Working with the kids is such a gratifying job and to be able to watch a student smile, feel accepted regardless of race, and being able to help change a student’s perception about law enforcement makes this opportunity special. What I failed to realize is this isn’t just about a musical it’s about life 50 years ago. Unfortunately the same social stigmas still exist. This project is not only helping the students but its helping me as well to realize how our perception of law enforcement is delusional. It just goes to show you never judge a book by its cover!!!
-Joe
Program Director
West Side Story Project

A Desmond "Shout Out" on West Side Story Project

The West Side Story Project is a good thing for kids in high school. It helps us to understand the things that effect us in everyday life and be able to be in the same room with a cop and still be yourself and not having to keep your guard up at all times. It’s a good thing to come to when you want to learn about acting and become an actor in your future life.
- Desmond

                    

West Side Story Guest Star Kicks It Up A Notch

Professional Actor, James Tully, who played Dective Schrank in a National Tour of West Side Story dropped in for some intense work with the Phoenix House Students and Suffolk County Police Officers at the Long Island West Side Story Project session last week.  An imposing figure with a booming gravely voice, Tully brought to life one of the more disturbing characters from WSS for the workshop participants.  Playing his signature role several times with a variety of students and officers swapping out to play the other roles, Tully then stepped into gang roles himself within the scene, giving everyone a chance to play Shrank and look at that opening scene over a dozen different ways.  The post-workshop discussion was a vibrant sharing of stories.  The officers, students and Phoenix House Staff members broke down the Shrank scene line by line, beat by beat, and identified body movement, language, objectives and circumstances, and the overall reaction generated by the script for the scene and the performing of it.  The items receiving the most debate were large group fights and how officers deal with this situation.  Officers shared that bringing everything under control and making it quiet quickly was key.  Also, stereotypes were talked about, and how officers are sworn to protect and serve the public is similar to friends and families feeling strongly about sticking up for each other.  Yet everyone agreed, oaths and beliefs were important, but that within groups there are often a few individuals who are not nice and choose to behave in  highly inappropriate ways.  Like Shrank.  Hence, a conflict is born.
Tom Demenkoff
Artistic Director

PossibleArts

The Young Actors from West Side Story Project

When the actors came to our high school a couple weeks ago to do the West Side Story with us, it was a fun thing to do. Tommy helped us learn how act and learn certain type of techniques to let your inner actor come out. He showed us types of ways to make ourselves confident to perform in front of people. Also how to memorize things that are very long. In talking about the dialogue he asked us to act out. Also the types of faces you make and the way you look when talking, your image, by what’s going on in a persons head about what they are doing and thinking.

I look forward to doing more activities and learning about how to handle the police and how they handle our community. It’s all good!!!!!!   - Desmond R.

According to the exercise activity that we did a few weeks ago, I would say that I enjoyed it a lot. It teaches you how to communicate with other people whether they are strangers, friends, girlfriends or boyfriends. The little skits I enjoyed watching because it shows how you can keep a conversation. Also doing thing’s like that brings out your feelings for another person.  I learned that when you are communicating with someone you give them a chances to see who you really are. Anyways I really enjoyed my self; I wish we could do this every year, matter fact if it was class I would never skip. I think doing activities like this helps students get rid of their stress or whatever they feel inside of them. I think acting is very fun. Thanks to my health teacher for telling me about this program.   - Damaris V.

Leonard Bernstein's Music Informs Characters in Valuable Role Play

From Inside The West Side Story Project:  Those instantly recognizable melodic phrases that inform a great many of the moments for characters in West Side Story have proved to be a most valuable point of reference for all participants.  In sessions for the West Side Story Project, Police Officers and Young Adults, are learning about this through a movement  based exercise, building characters from their own daily life, who mirror the characters from West Side Story.  Using the opening prologue as a traditional warmup in the background, this team building exercise has been allowing everyone to observe and discuss: gestures, body language, intentions, misunderstandings, attitudes, fear, hatred, cool and uncool...  This gem of the project, employing improvisation, choreography, and authentic movement, fully engages participants in the importance of music as a key element within West Side Story, and how to use these vibrant splashes of rhythm and melody to arrive at the heart of a character when making choices and decisions from moment to moment.  Tom Demenkoff - PossibleArts