Journalism

The Network of Ensemble Theaters presents MicroFest USA: Detroit.

Although Detroit’s community is fraught with limited resources and its socio-economic narrative dominated by devastation, the city has become a model for artist/activist-led collaborative, guerilla-style, grassroots action and community-driven revitalization. From “block clubs” that tackle issues surrounding blighted properties to artists working within their own neighborhood to engage youth in beautification projects, Detroiters across the city are active in creating the culture and home they envision and doing so through dialogue and collaboration.

MicroFest USA: Detroit will zoom into the activity and efforts happening in Detroit to springboard into an exploration of similar national efforts around issues such as urban planning, food issues, sustainability, prison issues/reform, and performance.

The following schedule is for all the events, performances, panels, and conversations that will livestream on #NEWPLAY TV during these three days at the MicroFest. Follow @NewPlayTV and @HowlRound as well as the hashtag #newplay in Twitter to get the latest on-the-ground news about the livestreaming and what's happening at the MicroFest. (This schedule is subject to change due to internet connectivity issues that may be encountered at certain venues.)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17 2012

Opening at Art Effect Gallery at 6:30pm EDT / 5:30pm CDT / 3:30pm PDT / 22:30 GMT.
Featuring: jessica Care moore

Art, the Avant Garde, and the Realities of Resurrecting an American City, a Rogue HAA Panel at 7pm EDT / 6pm CDT / 4pm PDT / 23:00 GMT.

Featuring:
Oya Amakisi, Detroit Women of Color International Film Festival/US Social Forum Jela Ellefson, Eastern Market
Mike Han, Street Culture Mash
Philip Lauri, Detroit Lives!

Detroit Performances at 9pm EDT / 8pm CDT / 6pm PDT / 01:00 GMT.

Featuring:
DJ Stacey Hotwaxx Hale
Detroit Dance Collective
Hardcore Detroit
Invincible
Monica Blaire
Ryan Meyers Johnson
Tawana “Honeycomb” Petty
Will See

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18 2012

Art Impact on an Issue: The Justice System at 9:30am–12:30pm EDT / 8:30am–11:30am CDT / 6:30am–9:30am PDT / 13:30–16:30 GMT.

A performance and panel discussion about artists working in the prisons, with returning citizens, families of the incarcerated, and lawyers/judges. 4TheatrSake presents Cell/Ships, a dance/theatre piece based on interviews with people who have been incarcerated.

Featuring:
Buzz Alexander
Hasan Davis
Prison Creative Arts Project
Yusef Shakur
Facilitated by: Sari Adelson & dream hampton

Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit: In Action at 2pm–3:30pm EDT / 1pm–2:30pm CDT / 11am–12:30pm PDT / 18:00–19:30 GMT.

This workshop will provide tools for creating original performance. Insights into evaluation processes used in youth development will be shared.

Reflection at 3:45pm–4:45pm EDT / 2:45pm–3:45pm CDT / 12:45pm–1:45pm PDT / 19:45–20:45 GMT.

Daniel Banks facilitates a session to share responses and reflections from the morning tracks and afternoon workshops.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 2012

Town Hall: How do you know the work is having an impact? at 11am–12pm EDT / 10am–11am CDT / 8am–9am PDT / 3pm–4pm GMT

A participatory discussion focused on reflections of impact and articulating the various elements of community cultural development.

Closing at 12pm–12:30pm EDT / 11am–11:30am CDT / 9am–9:30am PDT / 16:00–16:30 GMT.

Closing thoughts from the weekend and preview of the next MicroFest in Knoxville, TN/Harlan, KY.

#NEWPLAY TV is a knowledge commons stewarded by HowlRound.com / Center for the Theater Commons. The channel is at newplaytv.info and is an international, shared-resource for live events and performances relevant to the new works’ theater field. Its mode of production is open-access and open source and its mission is to break geographic isolation, promote resource sharing, and to develop our knowledge commons collectively. Follow and use hashtag #newplay on Twitter to participate in a community of peers revolutionizing the flow of information and knowledge in our field. We’re fans of the Creative Commons License BY-SA. Co-produce with us by contacting @NewPlayTV on Twitter, emailing newplaytv (at) howlround.com or by calling Vijay Mathew at +(1) 917.686.3185. Host a watch party by using this tool and let us know about it.