What do you get when you mix four star-crossed lovers and recreational drugs; an inept college staff and a sexual-safety musical; two feuding professors and one fourth wall-breaking, love-life orchestrating, badass narrating, queer T.A.? If A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Rent had a baby, it might sound something like MIDTERMS, the boundary-smashing new musical by teen prodigy, Isabel Kate Culpepper. View photos from Midterms by Isabel Culpepper below MIDTERM BIOS (2019)
JILL DeARMON (Director) has served as the Artistic Director for Developing Artists since the company was founded in 1999, and has taught theater and movement all over NYC, including at The Lee Strasberg Institute and the Vineyard Theatre Student Ensemble. She was the Managing Director of LAByrinth Theater Company (Artistic Directors: Philip Seymour Hoffman & John Ortiz) from 1999-2002. Some of Jill's New York choreography credits include: STOPLESS (LAByrinth Theater Company, Artistic Directors: Philip Seymour Hoffman & John Ortiz), Erin Cressida Wilson's TRAIL OF HER INNER THIGH (Center Stage, NY), John Patrick Shanley's first musical, A WINTER PARTY (Labyrinth), A TASTE OF HONEY (Theatre 22), and Vanessa Hidary's CULTURE BANDIT (Nuyorican Poets Cafe). Some of her directing credits include: Mikael De Oliveira’s THE CONSTITUTION (Saudade Theater Company), Craig SirmuMsila Grant’s LOVENESS, Megan Mostyn Brown's WE SAID OUT LOUD, Developing Artists' REBEL VERSES (at Hip Hop Theatre and Vineyard Theatre) and LAByrinth Theater Company's THE FAIRY TALE PROJECT by Webb Wilcoxen (The Public Theatre).
ALI SKYE BENNET (Co-Producer) has been writing, performing, and creating theatre since childhood. As a playwright, she has been awarded residency to the HBMG Foundation’s 2018 National Winter Playwrights Retreat, and her first full-length play, RAFETUS, was a Finalist for the 2017 National Playwrights Conference at The O’Neill, the 2018-19 Woodward/Newman Drama Award, the 2019 Blue Ink Playwriting Award, and the 2019-2020 New Light New Voices Award, and a Semi-Finalist for the 2019 Bonnie and Terry Burman New Play Award (Barrington Stage). As the current Associate Producer of Vineyard Theatre, Ali has helped bring to life new work by some of the most celebrated artists in history, including Paula Vogel, John Kander, Susan Stroman, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Michael Mayer, and countless others. As an actor and dancer, Ali has appeared on stages all over NYC and in dozens of commercials, short films, and guest star roles on TV, and was a member of Labyrinth’s 2012 Intensive Ensemble under the guidance of playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis. Ali is also an award-winning photographer with international publication, documenting her world-travel adventures through photos and journals. She is currently developing an episodic documentary series with CompassNeedle. Learn more at www.aliskyebennet.com. LIANNE BECKER (Assistant Director) is the Associate Artistic Director of Developing Artists. In addition to her work with DA, she is also an actor, director, producer, visual artist, production designer, writer, and teaching artist whose work has been seen throughout New York and around the country. Lianne is also a filmmaker and the founder of Keep or Destroy, an independent film production company. Examples of her latest work can be seen at keepordestroy.com MYKA CUE (Producing Assistant) DEVELOPING ARTISTS (Producer) is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to providing opportunities for underserved teens to reach their full potential through a practical application of the performing arts. We teach culturally and socioeconomically diverse students to proclaim themselves as Artists and Activists (ARTIVISTS), to find their place and their connection in their community, and to bring about positive social change through participation in the arts and to create a supportive young artist community through our innovative signature program such as REBEL VERSES Youth Arts Festival. Developing Artists bridges the disparity of arts education for students from underserved communities by providing youth between the ages of 13 through 19 who attend High Schools in New York metropolitan area the opportunities to study performing arts at the highest level. We impact students by creating a forum to navigate life's increasing challenges; to find their voice in dealing with issues like rage, fear or frustration; and channel that energy into self-expression and self-confidence. Over 95% of our students go on to graduate college.
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About NewsHere you will find the most recent news (as well as some archived information) on what our ARTivists are have been up to -- classes, events, REBEL VERSES, and more! Archives
March 2021
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