Touring Company
Extraordinary Talent! Socially conscious theatrical professionals.
IlluminArt Productions is extremely proud of the diversity, education and artistic talent that represents our Professional Touring Company. Our performances encourage self-examination of barriers and ultimately result in open communication that transfers to the audiences we reach. The Touring Company performs shows in repertory at elementary, intermediate, high schools and senior centers throughout Staten Island and beyond.
Our touring company of professional actors will come to your school or community center.
All performances are followed by an interactive talk-back between our performers and the audience. Our shows include:
PreK- Grade 2
Asking Alex
Asking Alex
Asking Alex is a series of short scenes following our puppet friend Alex on their daily adventures. Alex is purposely gender non-specific so all students can relate to their experiences. Follow Alex as they; start their first day at a new school, face bullies, deal with stress, and make new friends.
Grades 2-5
What's Up?
What's Up?
What’s Up? is a series of scenes that revolve around naming and expressing emotions in a more clear, productive, and positive way. Through these scenes, students will be given the language to define their feelings and are encouraged to begin the process of self-examination.
Grades 5 - up
A Nation of Immigrants
Nation of Immigrants
Nation of Immigrants is a 20-minute play performed in classrooms that debates sound bites students pick up from news outlets and discussions around their communities. The characters attempt to differentiate fact from sensation in regard to ever-changing immigration policies. They discuss their impressions and personal experiences concerning undocumented immigrants as well as refugees, sharing family stories, and coming to the realization that perhaps they have more to learn before they form opinions on the subject. We encourage students to become intelligent consumers of information. A class discussion follows.
Sometimes I Just Want Ice Cream
Sometimes I Just Want Ice Cream
Sometimes I Just Want Ice Cream by Randy Barrett Topper, an IlluminArt original play takes a look at grief and loss through the eyes of young people.
- Based on discussions with alumni of Camp Good Grief of Staten Island
- Explores the different ways people experience loss and the range of conflicting emotions people feel when confronted with loss.
- Uses a combination of heartfelt moments, humor, and songs to explore what it means to be alive and coping with the death of a loved one.
- Includes 8 insightful scenes and music and lyrics by Broadway composer and music director David Friedman.
Grades 6 - up
Can I Ask You Something?
Can I Ask You Something
Can I Ask You Something is a series of vignettes originally created by students in the Staten Island community. In the fall of 2019, it was revised and expanded by IlluminArt’s Professional Touring Company. The play revolves around social, and emotional issues that teens face and gives them an access point, through the scenes, to feel empowered to start a conversation by simply asking “can I ask you something”?
Prescription for Addiction
Prescription for Addiction
Grades 8 - up
Rewriting The Story:
Perceptions Of Love
Rewriting the Story: Perceptions of Love is based on the testimony of survivors of intimate partner violence, this original series of vignettes addresses; red flags/green flags, power dynamics, the cycle of violence, and empowerment.
Grades 8 - up
Legacy Talks, We Listen
“Legacy Talks, We Listen” is IlluminArt Productions’ original theatrical piece investigating the question “How can we honor one’s legacy?” Each season the IlluminArt Touring Company explores this question through short scenes, monologues, dances, and songs they have created.