NY ARTISTS UNLIMITED, founded in 1982, is dedicated to taking professional theatre and art to under-served audiences. The company focuses on works that evoke dignity of the individual and sanctity of the human spirit. A multicultural nonprofit touring company, we travel self-contained to NY's inner city and ethnically specific neighborhoods as well as to remote regions of New York State in order to create an appreciation and understanding of the arts through performances, discussions and workshops.

Description:
In the fall, we open at our new home, Downeast Arts Center, 203 Avenue A between 12th & 13th, granted to us by the City of New York. Audiences are composed of people who, because of economics, geographical location, disability, age, and the like, cannot afford tickets or gain access to thought-provoking entertainment. A company of 22 actors, directors and playwrights, representing cultures of Africa, Europe, North, Central and South America, we work in three areas of programming: developing new works, performing repertory, and mainstage touring. We perform for adults and children in unusual spaces, such as dining rooms, gyms and community rooms in senior centers, nursing homes, women's centers, community centers, parks & recreation centers, and public libraries. Occasionally, productions end up on spectacular stages, such as Round Lake Auditorium, Camden Opera House and Saratoga Music Hall. We average 85 performances/year for an audience of approximately 15,000. Arriving self-contained at performance sites, we put up a set, not unlike a traveling circus. Performances are interactive and followed by a discussion/ workshop. While we load out, company members assist viewers with evaluations, which help us determine if the project 'speaks' to them.

History:
"Song of the Simple Truth - El Canto de Julia de Burgos" has been touring for three years and was featured at the Donnell Public Library's World Languages Collection, Queens Theatre in the Park's AT&T Latino Cultural Festival, NYU's RISE: Latina Conference, and the Aetna Theatre at Hartford's Wadsworth Athenaeum. Tours to Northeastern universities and Hispanic organizations are ongoing, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. Local theatre performances have been at the H.E.R.E. Arts Center and Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Also touring: the bilingual children's presentation "The Prince & the Moon," and for seniors and elderly: "Voices of the Town - A Vaudeville Salute!" Also in our children's series: a pop/ hiphop "Little Red - Girl from the Hood" ("fresh & funny," NY Times) which premiered at the Queens Museum of Art in Flushing Meadows, followed by a tour of special ed daycamps for minority autistic children. It then went on a tour of libraries and parks & recreation centers, supported by City Parks/ Mellon Foundation. In this nontraditional, interactive version, Little Red is a Latino teenager who dreams of being a popstar and Grandma is a very lively African-American gospel singer. The Wolf is a scruffy street character/ popstar manager wannabe. Last summer, we were selected for free promotion on WNYC's S.T.A.R. Initiative.

NY Artists Unlimited is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Gannett Foundation/USA Weekend, NY Council for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Nancy Quinn Fund, A.R.T./New York-Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Arts Relief Fund, Puffin Foundation, Twelfth Night Club, City Parks/ Mellon Foundation, Bossak-Heilbron Charitable Foundation, and individual donors. The company holds a Volunteers for Youth award from the NYC Department of Juvenile Justice. Artistic Director Melba LaRose is a Fulbright Senior Specialist Roster candidate, listed in the current Who's Who of American Women, and Who's Who in Executives & Professionals.

Contact people:

Melba LaRose, Artistic Director, (212) 242-6036, (email) Gladys Perez, Administrative Assistant, (212) 242-6036, (email) Elson de Faria, Managing Director, (212) 242-6036, (email)

Address:

203 Avenue A New York, NY 10009 (See a map)

Directions:

L train to 1st Avenue & 14th Streets, then walk east one block and south 1 1/2 blocks. Eastside trains to Union Square, walk east several blocks on 14th Street and south. All 14th Street crosstown buses stop. . . (more)   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: L at 1st Avenue/14th St.,   Walk distance (in minutes): 2   Nearest Bus Stop: 14th Street/Avenue A, 1 minute walk