MAP: Kids as Entrepreneurs and Playwrights

(Providence, RI) The Manton Avenue Project (MAP) is proud to present its next production: “OPEN FOR BUSINESS: the entrepreneurship play!” February 13-15, 2015. Performances will take place at 7pm on Friday and Saturday, and at 3pm on Sunday, in the Media and Performing Arts Center at the MET School at 325 Public Street in Providence. There will be a talkback with the playwrights and actors following the Sunday performance. The Manton Avenue Project (MAP) is a non-profit organization that unites children living in Providence’s Olneyville neighborhood with local theater professionals to create original plays together.  The Manton Avenue Project’s mission is to unleash the creative voices and unique potential of kids living in Olneyville through playmaking. Each of MAP’s out-of-school time programs is focused on playwriting education, mentorship, and bringing kids’ voices to the stage.

“OPEN FOR BUSINESS ” is the culminating performance of The Manton Avenue Project’s Tag Team program, an afterschool playwriting class held at MAP’s Clubhouse in Olneyville. Seven young playwrights, 5^thgraders at William D’Abate elementary, have collaborated on a play about starting a business, in this case a homeless resource center and ice cream/pizza parlor in Olneyville Square. For this project, The Manton Avenue Project partnered with the Business Innovation Factory, and the playwrights learned about creating an ethical and sustainable business model for their community. The resulting production will be directed by Brien Lang, and designed and performed by the wonderful talents of local adult theatre artists, including Lang, Clare Blackmer, Kelly Seigh, Kristin Elliott, and MAP’s Artistic Director Meg Sullivan.