IMPACT

IlluminArt Productions has performed for over 30 schools and community organizations across Staten Island during the 2015-2016 school year - reaching over 7,000 youth and adults! Administrators, guidance counselors, school support staff, parent coordinators, teachers and parents have all given our
​Professional Touring Company and theatrical programming rave reviews!  
Take a look at what people are saying about IlluminArt Productions! 

​"The performance was absolutely amazing in its social emotional education value and in its top notch performances by your high caliber performers.  Everyone spoke so highly of the interactive aspect and the ability of the students to speak so candidly, given the availability and connections made through your group to the audience."

- Janice Earle, Director of Guidance, Staten Island Academy
"The topics that IlluminArt Productions gives a voice to are relevant to the students in Staten Island. They shed light on the challenges that many of my students have to face on a daily basis; challenges that many of my students find it hard to talk about until someone tells them it's O.K. It also provides a stage for students, who would not, under traditional circumstances, be interested in theater. 

​- Danielle Buttacavoli, 8th Grade School Counselor, William A. Morris, I.S. 61
About Write-A-Play
​"The challenges that students had overcome while engaged in the work and opportunities that IlluminArt’s team created were challenges that many adults avoid or have yet to conquer.  However, I assure you that if every child had a chance to engage in the learning opportunities that IlluminArt’s work lends itself to, the world would be a better place. "  

​- Christopher Allen
Assistant Principal,
P.S. 16
 
​"Our kids loved the show! It was wonderful to see the students engaged and captivated by the show for the entire hour. To have almost 250 elementary students in one auditorium actively engaged, singing along, and listening respectfully was a beautiful sight to see. The performance was well written and covered relevant topics and scenarios that the students could relate to. Your performers had great talent and positive energy!" 

- Stephen Bennett
Director of Prevention Programs
United Activities Unlimited, Inc.

​"There are theater groups, and then there are theater groups. IlluminArt Productions, a Staten Island non-profit organization led by executive director Arlene Sorkin, is special in that its primary focus is to educate and enlighten the community about topics that hit home: Bullying. Violence. Drug abuse. Obesity. Alcoholism. Real topics for real people."
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 - Dr. Gracelyn Santos, Staten Island Advance

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"The students really enjoyed and learned from your presentation and the teachers were really grateful because it opened up the door to more discussion regarding substance abuse.  I just heard the news on the radio this morning that overdosed induced death has become the number one cause of death for people below the age of 50.  This is really blowing out of proportion.  Thank you for the great work and the manner in which you are teaching our children is the best!"

- Emily Donado,M.S.,Ed.
School Psychologist
South Richmond High School
"He never smiled. He was never disrespectful, but I did sense a resistance. I knew this kid had so much to offer so I always made sure he did sit with the rest of us and showed us his face. In the beginning he didn't voluntarily participate, but did respond when asked questions. In an early brainstorming session about theme and characters he presented a story about two kids who both have problems at home that meet in a park and become best friends and when they get older they open up a community center at the park together. There was something about the way he presented this idea that I knew there was more behind it. After class, I handed him the piece of paper I wrote his idea on and I asked him if he would go home and write more about it. He quietly agreed. I was uncertain whether or not he would, but at that point I was just happy that he finally opened up and shared. The following week he comes up to me on his own, hands me the piece of paper and tells me,"I did what you asked." It was a page front and back of a story he entitled "Depression and Love." He wrote more about the two characters who are best friends. He wrote about how this park is a refuge for the characters. About how at home his parents constantly argue, ignore him and never acknowledge his existence and how that affected him in school. I asked him if he wanted to share it with the class or if he wanted me to keep it to myself. He told me I could share it. It was a beautiful and emotionally moving story that the class agreed should be the framework of their play. This Write -A-Play participant is completely supportive of the play as a whole and I see all the other kids looking up to him. The thing that makes me happiest is that, now he smiles. "

​ - Victoria Venezia, IlluminArt Teaching Artist

Children, teens and even senior adults have all participated in IlluminArt's unique programming that includes: Project TRUST, Write-A Play, ACTive Adults, and musical theater workshops. The personal impact our participants experience can be life-changing.  By harnessing the power of play-writing, dramatic arts and musical theater, IlluminArt helps others to find their voice.  

IlluminArt helps our participants tell the stories that may otherwise go untold.  
IlluminArt promotes unbridled imagination and creativity.
IlluminArt fosters creativity amongst all of our participants - both young and old! 
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Take a look at what some of our participants have said about IlluminArt's various programming! 
"This program has me thinking about things that happened more than 20 years ago - things I never told anyone. Working with IlluminArt has helped me finally want to share these memories with my own daughter.  
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- ACTive Adults participant