Writers on Stage Celebratory Publication

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New York City Writing Project PresentsWriters on Stage


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Writers on Stage Presents: Salman Rushdies Haroun and the Sea of Stories

Sponsored by the New York City Writing ProjectErick Gordon, Director

CASTHAROUN, our hero: Kerby Marcelin

RASHID, the famed storyteller: Omar YoussefSORAYA, Harouns mother: Kristin G. Gayagoy

KHATTAM SHUD, the enemy of speech: Stuart A. Burton Jr.MISS ONEETA, Mr. Senguptas long suffering wife: Bellanise Estrella

IFF, an unusual water genie: Saru NandaBUTT, our versatile bus driver: Tykeah Baker

MALI, Floating Gardener First Class: Jabari MatthewBLABBERMOUTH, page of Gup City: Alexa Lambertis

BATCHEAT, princess of Gup: Francesca Chaney

PRODUCTION STAFFProgram Facilitators: Adele Bruni, Tricia Clarke /Program Intern: Monica Valentin

Technical Director: Jess Pfeffer

GUEST ARTISTSTimothy Cooper (improvisation)/Donna Costello (movement)/Brian Dolphin (Indian music)

Sara Grundman (Indian dance)/Cannon Mapp (voice/ performance)

Third Rail Company (movement)

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There was once, in the country of Alifbay, a sad city, the saddest ofcities, a city so ruinously sad that it had forgotten its name. It stood by amournful sea full of glumfish, which were so miserable to eat that they

made people belch with melancholy even though the skies were blue...

And in the depths of the city, beyond an old zone of ruined buildingsthat look like broken hearts, there lived a happy young fellow by name

of Haroun, the only child of the storyteller Rashid Khalifa, whosecheerfulness was famous throughout that unhappy metropolis, and

whose never-ending stream of tall, and winding tales had earned himnot one but two nicknames. To his admirers he was Rashid the Ocean

of Notions, as stuffed with cheery stories as the sea was full of glumfish;

but to his jealous rivals he was the Shah of Blah.

Salman Rushdie, Haroun And The Sea Of Stories

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I always thought storytelling was likejuggling. You keep a lot of differenttales in the air, and juggle them up anddown, and if you're good you don'tdrop any.

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All names mean something.

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A little bit of one story joins onto an

idea from another, and presto, notold tales but new ones. Nothing

comes from nothing.


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What's the use of stories that aren'teven true?

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A figure of speech is a shifty thing; itcan be twisted or it can be straight.

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In the language of an actor, to know issynonymous with to feel

Constantin Stanislavski

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He knew what he knew: that the real world was fullof magic, so magical worlds could easily be real.

Salman Rushdie, Haroun And The Sea Of Stories

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Writers on Stage is a special program of the New York City Writing Project at Lehman Collegein the Bronx. This summer institute brings together a group of talented high-school writers tocarefully study a single piece of literature, ultimately crafting their interpretations as an originalplay. Students study with a team of writing teachers, acting coaches, dramaturges and dancers,

ultimately taking their production to the stage.

The photographs in this book document the 2012 production of student written responses toSalman Rushdies, Haroun and the Sea of Stories.

Through the generous support to the NYCWP from a family foundation, students participate in Writers on Stage at no cost to themselves or families.

Our heartfelt thanks for believing in the value of this program.

Documents

Writers on Stage Celebratory Publication