AFH Youth Have Front Row Seats As Curtain Rises on The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess at the American Repertory Theater

For weeks there has been a buzz in the theater world about the A.R.T.'s revival and bold new "re-imagining" of the American classic, Porgy and Bess. How exciting was it that AFH and A.R.T. are working together to introduce our young artists to experience theater as part of their arts experience.. and that 30 AFH youth and staff were invited to the August 17 opening preview? Amazing, really.

The evening started off with an AFH pizza picnic on the grounds of Radcliffe College across the street from the theater, followed by a welcome at the A.R.T by Outreach and Education Associate Brendan Shea and then on to the show, and front row seats!

For some, this was their first live theater experience and for many, the word "opera" (which is how the performance is described) created an uneasiness. So how did it go? Beyond wonderful. Those who were hesitant, expressed surprise at how engaged they were not only by the story, music, and choreography and strong cast lead by Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis ...but by the staging and sets and costumes. Everyone sensed that they were witness to an exciting evening in the theater ....

As a PS, we invited Brendan Shea to our End of Summer Bash at the EpiCenter the next night. He came and in his words...FANTASTIC and BLOWN AWAY by the talent on display. This was a wonderful beginning to a new relationship for AFH.