Community Action

CP-NY does not believe that change should only happen at home, but strongly encourages the cast to take what they have learned outside to their communities and to be instrumental in creating community change.

Twice during the program, participants design and execute community action projects in their communities. Guided by a Youth Council comprised of members of each of our three casts, these dynamic projects bring awareness to the concerns which are most pressing to our young people.

Cast members assign themselves to several teams which are each focused on a specific issue. The Youth Council gives teams a “challenge” based on that issue. Teams have 3 to 4 weeks to research, design, and implement their project. The only constraints are that the project must be interactive, and must be doable in one day.

Below are a few of the Community Action Projects completed by CP-NY participants in 2008:

• Domestic Violence – Team members created a performance piece which highlighted patterns of abuse and options for escaping it. The performed their piece in a busy public square, and distributed statistical information and resources for help to observers.
• Stress Management – Participants commandeered a construction wall in a highly-trafficked area of New York, and divided it into two sections: Stress and Relief. On the “Stress” side of the wall, passers-by were encouraged to write things that stress them out on a sticky note. On the “Relief” side, the same people were encouraged to write how they relaxed.
• LGBTQ Equality – In order to raise awareness around suicide rates among LGBTQ teenagers, participants spent an afternoon in Union Square encouraging passersby to ‘kiss for the camera’ in support of the LGBTQ community. Donations were collected and given to The Center, an organization which celebrates and cares for individuals and groups in need.
• Teen Pregnancy – Team members held a contest: diapering a baby vs. putting on a condom. Passers-by were given bags of condoms and pamphlets on STDs and Teen Pregnancy.
• Body Image – Participants staged a “fashion walk” down Madison Avenue proclaiming that they’re beautiful, regardless of what advertisers might imply.

Join City at Peace-New York

Download an Audition Flier! If you’re 13 to 19 and interested in working with 80 teenagers from all over New York to build a  “CITY AT PEACE”… If you’d like to write and perform an original musical based on your life, learn how to create change in your lives & communities & help to lead projects that work to improve your community, then… Come to a GROUP OPEN AUDITION!

***Participants are not chosen based on performance skills or talent - No prior performing experience is necessary, whatsoever. You do not have to prepare anything. Just come have fun!***

WHEN: SATURDAY September 13th, SATURDAY September 20th, and SATURDAY September 27th 
10:30am sharp until 1:00pm  (You must attend entire 2 hour audition to be considered)

WHERE: East Side Community High School
420 East 12th St. btwn 1st Ave and Ave A
L train to 1st Ave. or 4, 5, 6, N, R, Q, W to 14th St. Union Square

Program Timeline
Auditions held in September 2008. 
Cast meets Saturdays October 2008 through June 2009. 
Premiere Performances in late April 2009. Touring Performances in May and June 2009.

Remember
Participants are not chosen based on talent but on your willingness to create positive change in your lives and your city!

Want us to come to your school?
If you think City at Peace should hold auditions at your school, send us an email with the following information:
Your name
Your school
The name of the person we should contact at your school.

City at Peace-New York Tel: 212 924 9204 kellyc@cpnational.org