The John Lennon Peace Wall | Prague 2010

The John Lennon Peace Wall | Prague 2010
John Lennon Peace Wall | Prague 2010 | Photo by Deborah S. Greenhut

About Me

United States
Deborah S. Greenhut, PhD, is a playwright, arts documentarian, and educator who began teaching in a one-room school house in rural New England during 1970. These days you can find me collaborating with urban educators and students, seeking new ways to make education artful. I have consulted on management skills and communication arts in 44 of the United States and 5 provinces in Canada. I believe that people learn more effectively through drama-assisted instruction, and I exploit the Internet to deliver it. The views expressed here are entirely mine and not those of any other institution or organization.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Really Free Shakespeare: Riverbank State Park in Harlem

Kudos to Pulse Ensemble Theatre for presenting Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream at the beautiful amphitheatre on the Hudson in Riverbank State Park. No tickets required, but first-come, first served, so once they open on July 5, make sure to go early and enjoy the Park. You enter at 145th St., and you will be amazed by this beautiful facility, designed for sports and cultural events and walking. Pulse, one of NY's longest running ensemble theatres, is now in its 8th year of presenting Harlem Summer Shakespeare, and this production will delight people of all ages. I saw the play on preview night, July 2, and the actors were pumped, their diction beautiful, and the production values professional. Moreover, in both cast and audience, the evening was multi ethnic, fun, and surprising in its application to contemporary New York. See my review on Suite101. Happy Fourth of July, and thanks to Alexa Kelly for making Shakespeare accessible to all. Here's the schedule. Don't miss out!

Sunday, June 10, 2012

There is still time to take in the soloNOVA Arts Festival. I've posted a review of unFramed, an especially moving piece by talented poet-artist Iyaba Ibo Mandigo. Earth, paint, anger, and humor make up a rich memoir of life as an Antiguan immigrant struggling against an America unkind to immigrants. Yet he persists as an American artist, and his work is a testimony to the rewards of persistence.

soloNOVA is entering its ninth year, and they have produced more than 300 individual artists. Performances continue through June 17 at the New Ohio Theatre on Christopher Street.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Muller Works Gala June 4

The annual gala and silent auction for Jennifer Muller | The Works will occur on June 4, 2011. Celebrity Committee includes Audra MacDonald and Michael Cerveris. This program will feature a recreation of Jennifer Muller's Lovers, plus special guests Drew Jacoby and Elisa Monte Dance! Check out Jennifer Muller on Facebook!
Tired of bullying in your school? You might want to bring this artful music to everyone's attention:
Up To You by 2004 Drama Desk Nominee for music, Eric Rockwell. The best revenge is composing well!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Children, Art, and Dreams

Here's an inspiring story from a woman who rocked Jazz at Lincoln Center last night. Toshiko Akiyoshi, born in Manchuria in 1929, she discovered jazz while playing in a Japanese dance hall, and this discovery began a love affair that earned her fourteen Grammy nominations. Jazz, she explained for program notes,was something that just agreed with me." Together with husband Lew Tabackin, she tours with Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. The concert climaxed with the final movement from one of her signature compositions,"Hope," from the suite, "Hiroshima." Akiyoshi explained that since 9-11, she has closed every concert with this piece. There's something beyond words that is magical about the arts in a young person's life. This cannot be measured by Access or counted as widgets. Keep the arts alive in your community and your schools. Listen. Connect. We need the arts to help us make sense of the best and the worst of us. To find a way to improvise and move on.




Jennifer Muller | The Works---Getting ready for the June Gala

Open House on April 17...sneak previews and more! Find out about the choreography of this American icon: www.jmtw.org



Monday, April 2, 2012

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Dramatizing the Partition of India: Play by Riti Sachdeva

How difficult it seems to be to compress centuries of history into an evening of heightened drama. Riti Sachdeva renders an epitome of the long-term religious tensions of South Asia in her play, "Parts of Parts of Stitches," currently running at the 14th Street Y. Here's a link to a review.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Jennifer Muller | The Works at Ailey Center March 19

Monday is a great night to catch Jennifer Muller | The Works performing the beautiful "Aria" to the accompaniment of the excellent Da Capo Chamber Players at the Ailey Center. Tickets at Smarttix.
Don't miss it!

Romantic Ireland's Dead and Gone

See two compelling Irish plays at The Cell in Chelsea this weekend just in time for St. Patrick's day! Here's a brief review of "Blood" and "Dancing at Lunacy."

The theater space is excellent and the writers are passionate. Wear green.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

No Child Left Behind--But Where Are We Going?

Test your knowledge of American History at the eighth grade level provided by CNN here.


Now take your turn with an example of a test taken by eighth graders in Kansas during 1895. The Smoky Valley Genealogical Society also provides a link to answers on that same page.

What do students need to know? What do teachers need to learn? Next week, the American Congress is considering the topic again for K-12 students. This informative blog from Education Week outlines the ongoing debates nicely. Costs keep rising, but we cannot put our heads in the sand. No Child Left Behind, in its unexamined consequences, could have put all of our schools out of business. One hundred percent is a nice round number for a quiz grade, but children are not learning objects. I hope we don't shoot ourselves in the collective foot by not thinking about the consequences and building in some opportunities for review and reconsideration. That's the least a thoughtful, well-educated person can do.

I'm off to see CQ/CX a play about the media and plagiarism today. What are you doing for the arts this weekend?

Friday, February 3, 2012

Review of TADA Youth Theater's History Mystery

Read this review of History Mystery at Suite101.com. If you are looking for something to do with school-aged children aged 6 and above, TADA! offers an excellent showcase in New York City. Here's a link to their website.

In the Mood for Muller--Valentine's Day 2012!