Free performances of Larger Than Life: The Supersized Plays run through Dec. 13 at The 52nd Street Project’s Five Angels Theater.
The Playmaking series offers youth living in New York City's Hell's Kitchen area the opportunity to work with theatre professionals in the making of new plays, beginning with a nine-week playwriting course. At the end of the course, the kids are taken to a writer's retreat in the countryside where they work with a professional cast and mentors. This weekend's production marks the first time that their works are being shown to the public.
The young playwrights featured in Larger Than Life include Lauren Amador-Cruz, Lily Kuzminski, Ayman Musa, Bryanna Ohene Kari-Kari, Leonel Perez, Derek Rey, Selena Sanchez, Gage Simmons and Beyonce Thomas.
Joining Cannavale, Falco and Wood, the performers include Jose Aguila, Lisa Benavides-Nelson, Jonathan Bock, Nehassaiu DeGannes, Sofiya Akilova, Bjorn DuPaty, Arielle Goldman, Ceci Fernandez, Carl Hendrick Louis, Mozhan Marnó, Bhavesh Patel, Carra Patterson, Joe Paulik, Mallory Portnoy and Joe Tapper.
The adult dramaturge-directors are Chelsea Hackett, Korey Jackson, Garrett Kim, Sarah Krohn, Kareem Lucas, Rebecca Martinez, Alexandra O'Daly, John Sheehy, Jeremy Stoller and Emma Weinstein. Avi Amon composes original music for the show.
The 52nd Street Project’s Five Angels Theater is located at 789 Tenth Ave., 2nd floor, New York City. Performances are free, but reservations must be made by calling (212) 333-5252 or visiting 52project.org.