SHOUT! ELEVATE! INSPIRE! — This MOTHER’S DAY, gather your nurturers and loved ones and treat them to a COMMUNITY BUILDING event and heartfelt CELEBRATION on this very special day. Join the Performance Project in celebrating NURTURERS and supporting YOUTH VOICE, SOCIAL JUSTICE and the ARTS!
This event will raise funds for The Performance Project’s First Generation and Ubuntu Arts Community, two programs working with BIPOC, immigrant and refugee youth in Springfield and Holyoke.
First Generation is an arts-based, social justice leadership program. Youth create strong networks of peer and intergenerational support, have life-expanding experiences together, and benefit and blossom through creating professional-level multilingual physical theater.
First Generation youth take the stage, and boldly tell their stories. They step into leadership roles, dream big, establish ambitious life goals, mentor younger children, and contribute to building stronger communities. First Generation youth ensembles perform in colleges, theaters, schools, community venues, national and international social justice conferences, and festivals, inspiring others to tell their stories and take action. First Generation brings their work to Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampshire counties.
Ubuntu Arts Community brings together children, ages nine to thirteen, with high school and college mentors, and artists, in a caring community that focuses on intergenerational mentoring, leadership skills, the arts, social justice, and community engagement. Ubuntu is based at Lt. Clayre P. Sullivan School in Holyoke and is a partnership between the school, The Care Center and The Performance Project.
The Performance Project also works with youth who are incarcerated and in treatment, and initiates many school and community residencies and collaborations focused on arts, social justice and community building. The Annual Benefit supports all of this worthwhile, life changing programming.
The Performance Project’s Shout! Elevate! Inspire! 2022 Annual Benefit Concert invites the public to enjoy an inspiring afternoon of music, poetry and theater, including a sneak preview of First Generation Ensemble’s new work.
You can learn more about the Performance Project on our website: performanceproject.org You can make a donation TODAY at tinyurl.com/TPPDonation
TICKET PRICING
- Suggested Ticket Price – $25
- Feeling abundant! – $35
Support Youth Voices, the Arts & Social Justice! Do you have extra access to re$ources? Can you afford to offer some extra $$? This will balance out our sliding scale and help us make tickets available at a lower price for folks who cannot pay the suggested donation price. Thank you for your support!! - Ticket + “Meet The Artists” Aftershow Reception – $50
“Meet The Artists” Aftershow Reception will take place at R. Michelson Galleries downtown shortly following the performance. Refreshments will be served. - Count me in for $15
Support Youth Voices, the Arts & Social Justice! Can’t pay $25? No worries we gotchu! - I can only do $10 at this time!
Support Youth Voices, the Arts & Social Justice! Can’t pay $15? No worries we gotchu too! - Livestream only – $5
ABOUT THE PERFORMERS
We are excited that renowned musicians and artists are coming together to create this incredible evening of music to support youth leadership, youth voice, the arts, and social justice in Western Massachusetts!
The Lost Tribe is an Afro-funk fusion ensemble, led by multi- percussionist Jocelyn Pleasant. Rooted in West African rhythms, their phenomenal sound travels through history, and moves through many genres. Tribe performances are packed with energy and GROOVE! They have opened for international acts Mokoomba (of Zimbabwe), and Trio da Kali (of Mali), and were a featured artist at the 2018
Bassist, Avery Sharpe, a beloved friend of The Performance Project, returns to share his artistry alongside Springfield native and saxophonist Charles Langford. Bassist Avery Sharpe is known as a major force of his generation. Avery has worked with piano jazz legend McCoy Tyner’s for 20 plus years, playing hundreds of gigs worldwide and appearing on more than 20 recordings with Tyner. Sharpe’s credits also include sideman stints and recordings with jazz greats like Archie Shepp, Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, Yusef Lateef, Bobby McFerrin, Pat Metheny, Billy Taylor, and many more.
Charles Langford has been writing music since his teenage years. Langford came to the Northeast United States after attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He studied with Billy Harper, Donald Byrd, and Barry Harris, Archie Shepp and Yusef Lateef. Langford has become one of the Boston area’s top A-list players, playing with artists ranging from The Toni Lynn Washington Blues Band to The Temptations and Mighty Sam McClain. Langford has also played with Melvin Sparks, Norman Connors, Solomon Burke, and Steve Turre.
Amina “Illypsis Speaks” Jordan-Mendez is a queer AfroLatinx poet from Western MA. As a poet and educator she has performed and facilitated nationwide for over a decade. Amina is involved in developing youth leadership and arts integration for schools, organizations, and the community at large. Amina believes strongly in dynamic advocacy, passion and diving deep.
I-SHEA (MC) is an international performing and recording artist, self- identified global citizen, vocalist/emcee and percussionist, and an associate artist with the Performance Project. I-SHEA comes from the source of hip hop & the sauce of Arabic records, merengue, bolero, rumba, salsa, nyabinghi and West African rhythms. You can find I- SHEA playing with local & regional bands: The Lost Tribe, Pamela Means and the Reparations, The Gaslight Tinkers, Taproots, Ras Denroy Morgan and the Black Eagles, Gokh bi System, and Rebirth.
Taylor Mickens, Performance project alumni and talented jazz vocalist takes the stage with her quartet. Proudly from Springfield MA, Taylor is an actor, singer, dancer, poet, musician, and performance activist currently getting her BA in Theater while also studying Jazz and African American Music at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She was named Top 3 for Season 2 of Broadway World’s Next On Stage Competition in November 2020 where she received glowing feedback week after week for her unexpected spin on traditional musical theater and pop songs.
First Generation members will perform a sneak-preview scene from their current work-in-progress!
Show Date/Time:
Sunday, May 8, 2022 at 2:30 pm
Doors at 2:00 pm
Ticket Prices:
$5 - $50 + taxes & fees
Where/ How Tickets Can be Purchased:
Purchase online using the button on the top right, or you may visit or call our box office at 413-584-9032 ext.105.
Box Office Hours are 3pm - 6pm, Tuesday - Friday. Service fees always apply with purchase.
