EDUCATION

Shake On The Block

This workshop will help young writers discover the magic, fun and craziness of the immortal bard, William Shakespeare, through play-writing, adaptation and performance. Each session students breakdown a Shakespearean play, which they then adapt for performance by adding street slang and modern English. Students are introduced to the rudiments of the theater making process and develop skills in acting, memorization, adaptation, staging and performance while creating cool, dynamic new characters based on Shakespeare’s plays. The workshop culminates in a dynamic multimedia performance that is free and open to the public.

 About This Program

Running since 2014, Shake on the Block supports students in the Spring and Summer to explore Shakespeare and focus on breaking down the complex dynamics in Shakespeare's existing text. Students gain the skills to adapt a Shakespearean play using contemporary English and street slang. Students are also introduced to all aspects of theater-making, including acting, basic playwriting, memorization, staging, and design in both Shakespearean tradition and contemporary performance expressions.

IN EXPOSING YOUTH TO SHAKESPEARE BY RELATING HIS CLASSIC WORKS TO CONTEMPORARY LIVED EXPERIENCE, OYE GROUP INTENDS TO EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO TELL THEIR OWN STORIES WITH HIS INVENTIVENESS AND SKILL.

summer SHAKE 2023

This year we partnered with NYC Health + Hospitals and students of Guns Down, Life Up for this year’s Shake On the Block program!

• Gallery Exhibit At Material For The Arts

  • A gallery exhibit of the students' photography, film and poetry, and other creations will be on display at Materials for the Arts in Queens from August 17 to September 12. Materials for the Arts is New York City’s creative reuse center, which provides NYC arts nonprofits, public schools, and City agencies with access to free raw arts-related materials. The exhibit is free and open to the public—photography and videos by David Schulder.

  Romeo and Juliet, A modern adaptation

  • Over seven weeks, students of Guns Down, Life Up are participating in workshops led by Kenneth Keng and Yadira Guevera to develop a modern adaptation and performance of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Students adapt the play by adding street slang and modern English. Students are considering the kind of justice they would like to see in their community and how they might represent this through a modern, Bronx adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Students are introduced to the rudiments of the theater-making process and develop skills in acting, memorization, adaptation, staging, and performance while creating dynamic new characters based on Shakespeare’s plays. The performance will be on, August 25.

• Showcase at Carnegie Hall: On November 14, Carnegie Hall’s Resnick Education Wing will host an interactive performance of Flako’s and the students’ work. The showcase will include a performance of scenes from Romeo and Juliet, written and performed by the students of Guns Down, Life Up; poetry readings; a rough cut of the documentary; and an opportunity to help paint the mural designed by Flako and Ski. The event will be free and open to the public.

• Documentary: A documentary about Flako’s residency highlighting violence prevention programs at NYC Health + Hospitals will be shown later this year and made available to the public for free. Produced by Oye Group and directed by Flako. 

2017

 2016