Youth Performance Workshop in Action

On Saturday August 7, Boston All Stars held its first Youth Performance Workshop.

During the six weeks prior to the workshop, Boston All Stars volunteers Diane Whitehouse, Latoya Sankey, Nia Reid, Lorenzo Bentley and committee members Dr. Raquell Holmes and Rita Covan-Reid signed up over 100 youth and adults who expressed interest in building the All Stars in Boston. Antoine Joyce (National Producer of the All Stars Talent Show Network [ASTSN]) and Evelyn Dougherty (Program Director of the Boston All Stars) led the August 7 workshop.

Antoine shared his personal history with the All Stars and the program’s continued growth and success over the last 21 years. After first getting involved with the All Stars in New York City as a 13-year-old, Antoine began a ten-year rise through the ranks, becoming a youth producer, an emcee, the ASTSN’s Assistant National Producer and recently, the ASTSN’s National Producer. Antoine has learned to perform on stage (and in life) and learned how to create environments in which other youth can develop — as performers, builders, leaders and ordinary human beings — who have something to give to each other and their community.

The All Stars Youth Performance Workshop rocked the Bromley Heath Hall as the participants created a mock All Stars audition performing the roles of event greeters, performers and a congratulations chorus.

Poems written by the participants were read and re-created in group skits. Many of the poems addressed the recent shootings in the Boston area and a desire to create (and be a part of) change. The skits transformed shootings into community outreach, muggings into friendly gestures and basketball into creative conversations. It was an afternoon of playful creating community.

The workshop wrapped up with an invitation to the young people to continue building the program, to audition for the next show, to participate in community outreach, help with office work, phone calls, etc. — all essential components in community building. The response was a resounding “Yes” to building Boston All Stars!

If you are interested in learning more, contact the Boston All Stars Committee at 617-357-4411. All are invited to the monthly orientations held in Boston’s Downtown Crossing area.