The Performance Process for July 4th

This video of the Declaration covers various rehearsals
and final performances of the process so far. Stay tuned
for more. Record your own version and post it here.

July 4th Event

Hope you had a wonderful July 4th.
To those of you who chose to participate or witness our performance, Thank you all for making the July 4th memorable.
After six presentations in 3 tunnels and a park bench we did our bit to spread the word.

The chorus members have invested a fair bit of time to make the Declaration formidable. As I mentioned before, I want to continue to rehearse and grow the group. This is with the aim of:
1. Memorizing the text so the real drama of it can come out and
2. Grow the chorus to 50 or so members by the end of October
3. Present the document to more groups and be part of existing and future events designed to raise awareness of our history and our civic responsibilities as citizens.

Our next meeting will be at:
Tunnel number 1:
7:00pm on Wednesday July 9th.
see map below!
Its a pleasure to work with all of you. Please continue to invite friends and colleagues. As you have seen it does not take long to incorporate new people.

Regards,
Jesai

Where we are on the 4th

July 4th: Where to go!

WHAT: CHORAL SPEAKING PERFORMANCE OF
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

WHEN: FRIDAY, JULY 4, 2008 at 1:15, 1:45, 2:15

WHERE: Three Central Park Pedestrian Tunnels off 64th Street (between Columbus Circle and 64th Street) - Central Park West, see map.

This site specific event will be the first of many such readings by a growing group of concerned citizens organized by the project director, Jesai Jayhmes. The passages will be arranged in a choral speaking format to augment the power of the text and:

to introduce the general public to the entire document
to engage people emotionally in the struggle for independence
to alert the audience to the relevance of the document today

The project is sponsored by the Ethical Communications Committee and the Social Service Board at New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 W. 64th Street,
Central Park West

Doing it in the tunnels

July 4th is pretty close. We are taking our project to Central Park and picnicers and passersby will hear the powerful chant of the Declaration of Independence emerging from pedestrian tunnels just inside the park at 64th and Central Park West. Come by and check it out.
email freedom@yourdeclarationofindependence.org for your script.
record your own on youtube, read it with your own group.

Next Rehearsal June 21st 2-4pm, NYC

We had an excellent first rehearsal. Thanks to all who were able to make it. We began with a vocal warm-up that included some breathing, body alignment exercises and vocal projection practice. These strategies really help to control and overcome fear and nervousness when speaking.

We then progressed to the text of the declaration itself and developed it in a variety of ways, musical, rhythmical, oratorical and personal. Various strategies for bringing the text to life and making it relevant and vital for listeners were explored. We were all struck by the timeliness of the message in the declaration in these days of usurpations of the Constitution.

PLEASE, join us at the next rehearsal. It does not matter if you are going to be here on July 4th or not. Each of our sessions is a stand alone experience as well as a continuous development towards public presentations.

Sat. June 21st 2:00 to 4:00pm
NY Society for Ethical Culture
Room 507 (5th floor) Elliot Library
email to say you are coming: freedom@yourdeclarationofindependence.org.

Bring friends, family and colleagues, and your sense of fun and adventure.
I will be performing the Declaration in New Haven, June 20th at the Neighborhood Music School with a wonderful eclectic band. I'll post it here.

Regards,
Jesai

Your Declaration of Independence Performance Project: Your freedom of speech?

Your Declaration of Independence Performance Project: Your freedom of speech?
Make sure you scroll down and see this whole blog.