For Immediate Release: April 1, 2013

For information contact:

Meg Sullivan, Artistic Director

(401) 331-7007

“In MAP TO THE FUTURE: Kid playwrights tackle time travel!”

(Providence, RI) The Manton Avenue Project will stage its next performance, “MAP TO THE FUTURE: the time travel plays” during the weekend of April 20 at The Media and Arts Center at Met Public, 325 Public Street, in Providence.  Performances are Saturday at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM, and Sunday at 3:00 PM.  The Manton Avenue Project (MAP) is a non-profit organization that unites children living in Providence’s Olneyville neighborhood with local theater professionals to create original theater together.  The Manton Avenue Project’s mission is to unleash the creative voices and unique potential of kids living in Olneyville.

“MAP TO THE FUTURE” is the culminating performance of The Manton Avenue Project’s Playmaking program, a 6-week afterschool playwriting class held at MAP’s new clubhouse in Olneyville. Ten third-grade kid playwrights (ages 8-9) have each written a ten-minute play. The resulting production will be directed and performed by the wonderful talents of local adult theatre artists.  The theme of the kids’ plays is Time Travel.

The Playmaking program is for first-time kid playwrights who have joined The Manton Avenue Project this year. The focus is of this program is letting kids’ imaginations soar through playwriting.

“We are thrilled to present MAP TO THE FUTURE, another example of Olneyville kids expressing their amazing imaginations on the public stage with incredible adult artists supporting them,” says Artistic Director Meg Sullivan. “Our goal is to show our kids the value of their voices and, through the long-term commitment that MAP makes to each child, help them reach their full potential as the creative thinkers and leaders in the community.”

The Manton Avenue Project’s 2012-13 season is supported by a general operating grant from The Rhode Island Council on the Arts, by the Andrade Faxon Charities for Children, and by a Senate Legislative Grant of the State of Rhode Island.

Tickets are free but reservations are encouraged.  For reservations, call (401) 331-7007.  For directions to Met Public, and for more information about the Project, go to www.mantonavenueproject.org

-Meg, Adrienne, and all of us at MAP

Sonnet #1 by Vianey

Love is scary as everybody knows.

There are two people I care about

They are really odd and one of them has good clothes.

Of course its my mom and dad without a doubt.

My dad loves to see moives

Also he like to wear leather sneakers

he loves the bakery because of the goodies

but he doesn’t know what is a beaker.

My mom doesn’t like what I wear.

I tell her I don’t like what she wears too

She tells me she doesn’t care

but sometimes she has no clue.

I love them day and night anyway

because they are always here to stay.

Sonnet #2 by Michael

True love has no true face

Beauty is the inside love

Don’t be fooled and follow beauty’s outside trace

So take the face and make sure its removed.

Go out and search of what love you seek.

It only matters who makes you smile.

Who cares if others say they’re a geek.

Chase after them, no matter if its even a mile.

Look out in this very world.

Nature is very nice looking

It doesn’t even have a story told.

Its beautiful but look you weren’t even seeking.

Prove me if I”m wrong, which I think I’m not

But if you follow beauty’s outside, you might get caught in a knot.

Sonnet #3 by Victor

I love my fishes.

I’ve had them for two years.

I wonder if my fishes ever have wishes.

I also wonder if they have any fears.

I have six of them.

There are four gold, one orange and one white.

Most of them are slim.

The good thing is they don’t bite.

My fishes are the best.

I wonder if my fishes sleep.

One of my fishes has a fat chest.

I wonder if any of them are a creep.

They sometimes chase each other.

I wonder if they ever miss their mother.

Sonnet #4 by Randy

Love is like a flower

but a bunch of those.

It is bigger than a tower

and bigger than my uncle’s toes.

My heart beats fast and fast,

is like falling out of my beddy,

and then I get a cast,

but its better to get a teddy.

Our  love is big and red

no matter what it takes.

I love you more than my bed.

I will even do a thousand cakes.

Love will never end

just like gold that never bends.

Sonnet #5 by Stephanie

Love is really beautiful.

Don’t break nobody’s heart.

If you do it would be pitiful.

It’s like a work of art.

Love is in many places.

It’s in between family.

Don’t fall in love with only people’s faces.

People in love would be jolly.

Love would always be forever.

Never underestimate love

Sometimes you’ll feel like you’ll have a fever.

A symbol of love is a dove.

Love is all over the world.

It’s a new door.

Sonnet #6 by Ayline

I’ll never let anyone hurt you

though sometimes I’ll mess up.

I’ll do my best to protect you.

You’ll be my buttercup.

You can love anyone or anthing

and you can love them in many ways.

Even if they have many pet peeves

or if they don’t have the prettiest face.

If you love someone you feel happy.

If that person doesn’t love you, you feel bad.

But try to give them something fluffy,

or maybe a hat.

So you see love is not that easy,

it’s in fact very cheesy.

http://www.anneharriganphotography.com/People-Events/Manton-Ave/23385778_9wCzsb#!i=1888701326&k=DXDV3mh

http://www.providenceonline.com/stories/Theater-Manton-Avenue-Project-childrens-play-,4446?category_id=59&town_id=1&sub_type=stories,packages,photos,blogs

Go to:

http://www.motifmagazine.net/#/26

Press release for our upcoming BE MAP’s VALENTINE show!

“In BE MAP’S VALENTINE, kid playwrights tackle love, compassion, and sonnets”

(January 20, 2013, Providence, RI) The Manton Avenue Project will stage its next performance, “BE MAP’S VALENTINE” during the weekend of February 15th at The Media and Arts Center at Met Public, 325 Public Street, in Providence.  Performances are Friday evening at 7:00 PM, Saturday at 7:00 PM, and Sunday at 3:00 PM.  The Manton Avenue Project is a non-profit organization that unites children living in Providence’s Olneyville neighborhood with local theater professionals to create original theater together.  The Manton Avenue Project’s mission is to unleash the creative voices and unique potential of kids living in Olneyville.

“BE MAP’S VALENTINE” is the culminating performance of The Manton Avenue Project’s Tag Team program.  Eight of our kid playwrights (ages 9-13) have each written a ten-minute act in a full-length play about love and compassion inspired by Valentine’s Day. The resulting play will be performed by the wonderful talents of local adult actors and directed by MAP regular Nicole Maynard.

The Tag Team program is for kid playwrights who joined The Manton Avenue Project in the 3^rd grade and have completed at least two of our programs. Tag Team’s focus is collaboration and teamwork within the creative process of playwriting.

“We are thrilled to present BE MAP’S VALENTINE, another example of Olneyville kids expressing their amazing imaginations on the public stage with incredible adult artists supporting them,” says Artistic Director Meg Sullivan. “Our goal is to show our kids the value of their voices and, through the long-term commitment that MAP makes to each child, help each child reach their full potential as the creative thinkers and leaders in the community.”

The Manton Avenue Project’s 2012-13 season is supported by a general operating grant from The Rhode Island Council on the Arts.

Tickets are free but reservations are encouraged.  For reservations, call (401) 331-7007.  For directions to Met Public, and for more information about the Project, go to www.mantonavenueproject.org

Since it’s inception THE MANTON AVENUE PROJECT have been lucky enough to receive free-of-charge space for our playmaking classes, Playwriting Weekends and performances thanks to the William D’Abate School and Moses Brown.

But we have longed for a home of our own, a place that would not only house our offices and classroom, but give the MAP Kids a place that they could come to throughout the year after school to work on their plays or their homework. A five-days-a-week MAP Clubhouse that belongs to them.

Well, our days of dreaming are coming to an end! On February 2nd we will be moving into our very own digs, thanks to the generosity of our friends at Olneyville Housing Corporation!! We are so excited!!

Interested in helping us cover new heating/cooling expenses and furnish our clubhouse with office supplies and classroom materials? You can donate via our Causes.com page: http://www.causes.com/actions/1665107

Levels of giving:

$1000+ MAP Comforters: Support heating/cooling/alarm costs at MAP Clubhouse

$500+ MAP Connectors: Support internet access and telephone service at the Clubhouse

$250+ MAP Builders: Support new storage system prop and costume inventory

$50+ MAP Artists: Support for supplies for props/costumes and kids’ projects.

$25+ MAP Providers: Support for healthy snacks for our classes and events.