Programs and Events
Rising Circle is dedicated to bringing new works to the community at large. We are continually developing programs for youth, artists and local New York residents who have compelling stories to share about their lives, their histories, and their perspectives. Our goal is to unify diverse communities in order to establish a common ground among all people through the vehicle of theater. We are encouraged by the continual support we receive from our audiences, supportive institutions, creative endowments, in-kind contributors and corporate sponsors.
Q Up
Register Now for Q Up 2011!
Interested in joining in on the fun? Download a copy of this year’s application and information sheet.
Support Q Up 2011:
Please consider supporting Q Up this year. This program is offered free to high school girls in order to eliminate any financial obstacles that may preclude them from participating. Your donation not only helps a young woman attend the program, but also supports the theatre artists who dedicate their time and talent in spearheading this dynamic program. Your donation will make a real impact in the lives of all who experience Q Up.
Passion Coalition’s Human Rights Day with Grace
Grace, written by Sanjit De Silva and Deepa Purohit, and developed with Rising Circle, received a public staged reading at the Irondale Theater in Brooklyn as a part of the Passion Play Festival. In May 2010, Rising Circle, as a part of Epic Theater Center’s Passion Coalition, partnered with Epic, the Lark Play Development Center, the Culture Project, and George Andreopoulos of John Jay College’s Center for Human Rights, to plan and implement an interactive human rights conference for a group of human rights workers and artists. The Human Rights conference used art as its way to spark dialogue about the difficult ground work in the human rights field. The goal of the conference was for all of these artists and activists passionate about human rights to come together and learn more about the experiences of human rights aid workers and the challenges and successes of their work. Scenes from Grace were read before an audience of human rights activists, which resulted in passionate discussion sessions with these activists and artists. The conference culminated with a private, full-length reading of its artistic centerpiece, Grace, before a group of 100 aid workers and artists.
Lift the Circle Higher:
Rising Circle’s Annual Benefit !!
SOLD OUT!!! SOLD OUT!!! SOLD OUT!!!
On Monday, October 24th, Rising Circle Theater Collective’s family of artists, friends, and supporters, will come together for an evening of fine Hors d’oeuvres, wine and dancing to celebrate Rising Circle’s upcoming 2012 season as well as honoring Pulitzer Prize Finalist and Obie Award Winner, Kristoffer Diaz.
Join us as we toast Kristoffer Diaz and a successful year of original theater that has illuminated the unheard stories of people of color on stages throughout New York City, and revel in the exciting artistic collaborations of the past several years as Rising Circle has pursued its mission to broaden and diversify the scope of storytelling on the American stage. We are excited to celebrate Rising Circle Theater Collective’s mission and artistic achievements with you!
When:
Monday, October 24th 2011, Time: 6:30-9:30
6:30pm | Hors d’oeuvres by Playwright/Chef Melisa Tien & drinks
7:45pm | Sneak-peek performances from our upcoming season
8:00pm | Honoring Kristoffer Diaz
8:15pm | Dancing (and more drinks!) as DJ CrushDream spins
Where:
The SoHo Gallery for Digital Art
138 Sullivan St. (bet. Prince and W. Houston)
SoHo, NYC
Nearest Subway Stations:
Spring St (A, C, E)
Houston St (1, 2)
Prince St (N, R)
Tickets:
SOLD OUT !!! SOLD OUT!!! SOLD OUT!!!
Rising Circle is a 501c3 organization. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.
Can’t make it in October? Click here to make a tax-deductible donation and support Rising Circle’s mission to bring stories by and about people of color center stage!
INKtank
Submissions Closed!
Thank you for your interest in applying to the 2012 INKtank Play Development Intensive for Emerging Writers of Color. We are no longer accepting submissions at this time. We will be contacting applicants in late January/ early February with responses.
Goal:
INKtank is Rising Circle’s 12-week playwriting intensive for emerging writers of color. This year, the lab will be facilitated by playwright Sevan Greene. Playwright Melisa Tien will join us as a guest artist for the 2012 lab. During the 12 weeks, selected artists reinvent early drafts in order to produce thought-provoking, fresh and innovative new scripts.
Call for Submissions:
INKtank’s call for submissions will go from November 15th until December 31st this year.
Structural Overview:
The INKtank lab integrates several approaches and tools conducive to a fruitful creative process. The INKtank lab encourages its playwrights to commit to working with responsibility, respectability, accountability and flexibility. The structure of the lab is designed to guide the writers in taking broad strokes in their rewrites, while steering them in accomplishing the goals they voiced in their individual application statements and interviews. The group is guided by the facilitators in giving honest and constructive feedback focused on providing each playwright with clear and helpful next steps.
INKtank’s structure includes weekly rewrite and circulation deadlines, along with weekly meetings of approximately 3 to 4 hours where each play is discussed. One day is selected by the INKtank participants as the weekly rewrite submission deadline. Another day is selected for weekly lab meetings. All rewrites are to be read prior to the weekly meeting. Every individual is responsible for both weekly rewrites and the reading of all fellow lab partners’ rewrites.
After the 8th week of lab, each playwright selects 30 pages from their scripts for a reading with professional actors in order to hear how their new scripts sound in the mouths of real people. The readings give each of the writers a clearer idea of how they will spend their reflection period, the next phase of INKtank, rewriting their new full-length drafts.
A incubation/ reflection period occurs immediately following the 8th week private readings. This component is designed to give the writers an opportunity to create text separate and apart from the group. It is during the reflection period the writers digest all of the feedback they have received up to this point in their work’s development. The writers create without interruption or feedback during this time away from the group, unless they otherwise arrange to communicate with their fellow artists.
Group meetings then resume the final month of INKtank in order to review the major rewrites that occurred during the reflection period, and to streamline preparations for the public showcasing of these reinvented and exciting new plays: PlayRISE.
The Participants:
We receive several scripts from our call for submissions. We look for innovative works with clear voices that are in harmony with Rising Circle’s mission statement. Plays that pass our initial round of reviews are then followed up with candidate interviews.
The playwrights who are selected to participate in the lab also work alongside a Collective member who is developing new work. This component has served as being beneficial for participating playwrights, for Collective member involvement enables the other playwrights to experience a connection with Rising Circle, as they observe one of its members exposing their writing to the group.
Our Supporters Help Lift the Circle Higher
Like all non-profit arts organizations, Rising Circle Theater Collective succeeds in fulfilling its vision and mission through the generous contributions from its many donors. Your gift today helps build an artistic home for artists of color, and supports the development and presentation of theater that strives to inspire communities seeking to learn more about themselves and others.
All donations to Rising Circle are tax deductable and extremely appreciated. Thank you for lifting the Circle higher.
“When one strives alone, the obstacles are many. Linked with others, the circle rises together.”
Donation Options:
Just click on the button below to make a secure online donation now!
Corporate Sponsorship
Many companies wish to fulfill their role as responsible and culturally aware citizens by giving back to the community and public at large. Rising Circle is a platform that enables many corporate entities to accomplish that mission, and we are always seeking corporate sponsorship.
If your company believes in Rising Circle’s mission, appreciates the passionate work of one of Rising Circle’s artists, or is deeply interested in developing a project that Rising Circle supports, there are many ways for you to be involved.
- Direct financial support to Rising Circle Theater Collective as a non-profit institution.
- Sponsor a writer as they develop their work. When you sponsor a writer, you are playing a role in diversifying the cultural fabric of our community.
- Sponsor the development of a project that aligns with your company’s interests/mission. You can be a part of fostering the growth of important new works.
- Sponsor a production, and help us bring amazing and diverse perspectives to the American stage.
- Donate merchandise for Rising Circle charitable events and to its administrative needs.
If you are interested in finding out more about Rising Circle and its current projects, submit an e-mail to Deepa Purohit at deepa@risingcircle.org.
“When one strives alone, the obstacles are many. Linked with others, the circle rises together.”
Wish List & in Kind Donations
In-kind contributions help keep our company’s focus on generating new works and programs to inspire artists and educate the local community. By donating your products and/or services you directly contribute the mission of our company and aid in our creation of inspiring works and experiences for the communities we serve. Below are just few ways you can help:
- Provide free rehearsal and performance space. Free rehearsal and performance space to develop and present work frees up our funds to compensate the awesome talents of our artists.
- Donate food and/or drinks at low or no cost. One thing Rising Circle artist meetings, rehearsals, community events and annual benefits have proven: good food strengthens connections and relationships. And we are always faithful in publicizing great businesses.
- Donate office supplies. Post-its go like hot cakes at Rising Circle. As does paper, ink, staples, binders, etc. All office supplies donations are greatly appreciated.
- Provide low or no cost printing. Playbills and posters just don’t pop on a bubble jet ink printer. Don’t even think about printing a banner on one. We are always looking for quality printers with a yen for non-profits.
- Technical Support, Savvy, and Software. We are always in need of technical support, equipment, and up to date software that helps us keep Rising Circle a smooth running organization.
- Graphic Designers – With each show and event, we continue to need promotional posters and images that tell a story at a glance.
Click here to fill out a form that acknowledges your in-kind contribution.
“When one strives alone, the obstacles are many. Linked with others, the circle rises together.”