Christmas 2009 Photos

Changes ( Trailer)

Born to Sing in November

Dumb Luck News

Born to Sing Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Karen Muntu
347-275-9685
August 10, 2009

THE HARLEM ENSEMBLE COMPANY
DEBUTS “BORN TO SING”

NEW YORK, NY-- On Saturday, August 29th, 2009, The Harlem Ensemble Company (HEC) will premiere an original musical production, Born to Sing, at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Peter Norton Symphony Space.

Born to Sing ponders death, the after-life and the notion of continuing to love life after losing the most important person in the world: Your mother. It explores the idea that our loved ones continue to live and speak to us in the subconscious, and that a relationship with a loved one can sustain if you listen to your dreams, providing abundant lessons and enormous comfort.

Born to Sing was written by Evelyn Collins. Her last production was the Tony award-winning musical Raisin. The production marked the 35th anniversary of the production and was the first time the musical was presented since its Broadway debut. The production was notably attended by original Broadway cast members Joe Morton and Ernestine Jackson, and Raisin’s composer, Judd Woldin, all of whom later joined the cast and director onstage for its curtain call.

“This is a topic that hasn’t been explored in the theatre until now,” says Collins. “The death of one’s mother probably is the singular most earth-shattering experience of our lives, yet we rarely want to discuss it. The play offers a fresh perspective and hope on how to deal with death—that it is not necessarily final.”

Born to Sing features Nadia Chanoine, Markita Prescott, Terri Cann, Shakinah Montoute, *Carlton Terrance Taylor, and *Charles Browning. The musical is produced and directed by Evelyn Collins and music directed by Gregg Payne. Performances are at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM. Tickets are $25, and are available at the box office or www.symphonyspace.org. (*Actor’s Equity)
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Evelyn Collins has been involved in theatre most of her life. She has directed more than 50 theatrical productions in Detroit, Ann Arbor, and New York. Her audiences have labeled her “New York City’s undiscovered gem.” In 2005, the Professional League of Theatre Women presented her with its first-annual Josephine Abady Award for her work with the Harlem Ensemble Company. Presently, Evelyn is entering her fourth year as principal of the Manhattan Theatre Lab High School – a high school for the performing arts located in the Lincoln Center community.

The Harlem Ensemble Company was founded in 2002 as a not-for-profit theatre company. It made its New York City debut in 2002, with the award winning drama The First Breeze of Summer by Leslie Lee.

The Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Peter Norton Symphony Space is located 2537 Broadway at 95th Street. For more information call 212-864-5400.

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Behind the scenes of Born to Sing the Musical

Pictures of behind the scenes and preparation for the show.

Born to Sing Update

HARLEM ENSEMBLE COMPANY presents BORN TO SING the stage musical Book, Lyrics, and Directed by Evelyn Collins Music and Music Directed by Gregg Payne Two performances only! August 29th @ 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM Tickets $25.00 www.symphonyspace.org Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Peter Norton Symphony Space 95th Street and Broadway NYC join us on FACEBOOK for more updates, photos, and blogging...Born to Sing Coming soon - our website www.borntosingthemusical.com www.HarlemEnsembleCompany.org

Born to Sing the Musical

Born to Sing: an original stage musical in concert

Directed by Evelyn Collins
Music by Greg Panye

theatre
Sat, Aug 29 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm
Leonard Nimoy Thalia
$25

Location:
Symphony Space
2537 Broadway at 95th Street, New York, NY 10025-6990
Tel: 212.864.5400 | Fax: 212.932.3228 |

Born to Sing The Musical on Facebook

Born to Sing tells the story of Ella Jackson, a fourteen-year teen who has lost her mother. She later finds strength in the company of a stranger who later emerges to be her guardian angel.

Be Little

SYNOPSIS: A young woman reclaims her voice as a "little one" from the past evaluates her current friendship.

Beauty Marks

Available on DVD NOW!!!

SYNOPSIS: Beauty Marks explores an incidence of self-harm in the life of a young woman who is misunderstood by her father and is forced to move in with her older sister, niece and nephew.

Festival History:
Dusty Film Festival
Reel Venus Film Festival,
WINNER Best Student Film at the African American Women In Cinema
S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase

Aired on BET J “The Best Shorts” April - May 2007
“The Best Shorts”

Changes

Available on DVD NOW!!!!

SYNOPSIS: A short film that centers around best friends that have to make their transition into a harder, more mature world.

A Chocolate Love Affair

Crystal is working on two projects right now. She just started writing a play called " A Chocolate Love Affair", so definitely get ready to be seeing that on broadway in a couple of years! Also, she starting is working on a screen play, so get ready to see that in theatres. She is doing bigs things right now and no one is getting her way. Watch OUT!!!!!

Birthday Bash II

21st Birthday Bash I

(Tyesha,Patrick,Crystal, and Eric at Melodia June 12,2009.)
Crystal had a wonderful time on her birthday! She dance the night away with her family and friends eventhough Diloo was not able to make it but, he definitely will make it to the next bash. Crystal stated she was really excited to be turning 21 years old. She still has that beautiful glow and youthful spirit like a 13 year old. Nefertari was not able to get in that night due to personal reasons. Crystal was really upset and willing to go home and relax on her birrthday but she gave Nefertari her keys to her house so she could have somewhere to go. See, that is wahat real friends are for.

Crystal Hanton 21st Birthday Bash

Come Celebrate Crystal's 21st Birthday on June 12th, 2009!!!

Dumb Luck

“DUMB LUCK”
a short film directed by BRET KERVEN
with JAMES PANTOJA and VICTOR VERHAEGHE

Official selection of the 2009 Staten Island Film Festival, playing in a 53-minute program,“Strange Strokes for Quirky Folks,” with other short films.

Friday, June 5, 2009 12:00 p.m. --– College of Staten Island Concert Hall
Saturday, June 6, 2009 7:00 p.m. – College of Staten Island Lecture Hall
Tickets: $10 via Ticketweb http://www.ticketweb.com/snl/Search.action?query=staten+island+film+festival&x=6&y=10/
http://www.sifilmfestival.org/

All Falls Down

Synopsis
Three best girlfriends hang out together every day on their subway commute to and from school. It's during this daily commute that they encounter a group of boys. Relationships form, decisions are made and each person is challenged to figure out who they are and what they want from a relationship.

All Falls Down addresses decision-making by looking at the influences of friendship, communication, peer pressure, substance abuse, and self-esteem.

Credits
All Falls Down was written by Chantel Woolridge (15 years old) from Brooklyn, New York. Directed by David Koepp (Secret Window), shot by Mark Benjamin (Slam) and produced by Ezra Swerdlow (Wag the Dog).

The film is followed by a behind the scenes look at All Falls Down. It includes interviews with Chantel Woolridge, director David Koepp, the actors and Scenarios USA's co-founders. It was directed by Verena Faden, a Scenarios USA alumnus, 2002.

Click here for the full cast and crew.

Honors
•2004 New York City Contest Winner, New York City, NY
•Aired on Showtime, Manhattan Neighborhood Network, Free Speech TV, Chat The Planet, SNAP TV, Varsity Television, and local public cable channels across the country
•Screened at the 2007 Urban Film Series Tour in Washington, DC as part of the 4th annual Black History Month Film and Discussion Series
•Selected and Screened as part of the prestigious 2005 IFP Market
•Screened at the Westport Youth Film Festival, Independent's Film Festival, Miami Short Film Festival, Black Harvest Film Festival
•Used in school districts across the nationCheck it out Crystal Hanton is definitely in several scenes.

Reel

reel from catherine on Vimeo.
This Reel was done by Catherine Young. It has severval combinations of films that she have directed including Changes , starring Crystal Hanton. Check it out!

YouTube

Follow Crystal Hanton on YouTube. There are amazing videos on there!!!

Dumb Luck

Run time: 5 min. | USA
Jesse, a fun-loving, high school teen--who's not the brighest bulb in the box--is threatened with expulsion by a loathsome teacher who's got it in for him if he fails today's test. Using an unusual scheme and against all odds, Jesse passes in a big way.

cast & crew
Director
Bret Kerven
Writer
Bret Kerven

Producer: Bret Kerven
Composer: Danny Rubin
Cinematographer: Olivier Bernier, Samuel Herbig

Cast:
Brian Rific
Crystal Hanton
Donaciano Garcia
Ernie Biegacki
Evans Velasquez
James Pantoja
Kaelyn McParland
Marina Sgroi
Michael Small
Tanishka Thomas
Victor Verhaeghe
Zach Hollenbeck

Check Out Crystal Hanton Art Website!

Emanuel Birthday Party

Crystal Hanton, Nefertari Kydd, Emanuel Campbell.

Crystal went clubbing with her bestfriend Nefertari Kydd to celebrate Emanuel birthday party. Emanuel intended to have over four people to come out and celebrate his birthday with him, but evenually they did not have their IDs. LOL. He was enjoying himseld that night until he was drinking a little too much. He began dancing with several females, took his money out of his pockets and started throwing it in the air when Busta Rhymes song came on "Getting Arab Money". Later that night he went home with about five dollars in his pocket.

Lesson of the Day: Always carry your ID with you at all times.

Raheem DeVaughn

This is the most recent drawing Crystal did in 2009 of Raheem DeVaughn.

Delray Beach Film Festival 2009 : Dumb Luck

Delray Beach Film Festival 2009 : Dumb Luck