Performers, Playwrights, and Pajama-Pop
BY DANA SPECTOR / WEB/ASSISTANT EDITOR//
Atlanta Jewish Times: How would you describe your job?
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Chris Moses: Wonderful. I have the opportunity to be part of the most creative team. We get to create world-class Theatre for every age group, from the very young to nonagenarians, in incredibly innovative ways.
Our programs always engage the audience; my favorite is when young people become part of the show.
AJT: Can you tell me about some of the programs the Alliance Theatre offers young children?
CM: Sure, one of our current programs is Little Raindrops. It’s an Alliance Theatreer original piece by Mike Haverty with musical accompaniment from Japanese pajama-pop
AJT: Pajama-pop?
CM: Yes, it’s a new genre named after its lullaby-like qualities.
AJT: That’s cool, how did Alliance Theatre and Mr. Havery connect with the pajama- pop group?
CM: We have a great relationship with The Japan Foundation, and many other international organizations. We hope that by blending languages and cultural experiences audiences, young children especially might become more open to new creative avenues and develop into more global citizens.
Our most recent research proved that children who find themselves immersed in the arts, be it language, drama etc., actually make better learning connections throughout their developmental years.
AJT: Wow, how can the community get involved?
CM: Well, our most popular program for students is our summer camp program. We have an annual sale for the summer camp programs on Jan. 14, but we also have workshops and classes for all ages and levels throughout the year.
AJT: I looked on Alliance Theatre’s website and found something called ArtsVibe, could you describe the program?
CM: I’d love to. ArtsVibe is a new partnership between Wells Fargo and the Woodruff Arts Center to get metro-Atlanta teenagers engaged with the arts, from visual art to music to theatre and more.
All four divisions at the Woodruff Arts Center are participating—the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, High Museum of Art, and Young Audiences.
ArtsVibe is designed to work for teens that are already active in the arts and those that might be less familiar with art. The program offers events and activities for students in grades 6 –12. They design projects and work with local professionals.
Have you heard of “The Gellar Girls”? It’s a piece the Alliance Theatre is putting on, about turning expectations. Well the students in ArtsVibe have created their own digital stories inspired by “The Gellar Girls” and will display their stories in a teen exhibit alongside “The Gellar Girls.”
AJT: That’s intense!
CM: Actually, our teen program gets better! On May 10, we [the Alliance Theatre] will be hosting our annual Teen Festival, with workshops and classes. One of the crazy things about working at Alliance Theatre is how I wish I had a chance to be a teen again to be able to experience some of our great programming.
AJT: You mean there’s more?
CM: Yes. Our Collision Project for high school students is celebrating its 13th anniversary.
Every summer, the Alliance Theatre assembles a group of teenagers from metro Atlanta to explore and unpack a classic text under the guidance of a professional playwright and director.
Then the teenagers create a new piece inspired by the classic text but perceived through their own utterly unique and contemporary lens.
AJT: What types of programs are available for those of us who have left the high school scene?
CM: The Alliance Theatre invites the entire community to their events and classes! We welcome all skill levels and ages.
We have a saying around here at Alliance Theatre, “Alliance Theatre is a cultural institution for anyone 1 to 100 years old”, and we stand by that.”
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