MAKE IT HAPPEN PERFORMING ENSEMBLE AT ARTPLAY
Something amazing happens in the hands of young actors through the Make It Happen Performing Ensemble (MIHPE) at the Alys Stephens Center. ArtPlay’s Make It Happen Performing Ensemble is a partnership between Make It Happen Theatre Company and ArtPlay, the Education and Outreach Program for the Alys Stephens Center on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Under the direction of founding Artistic Director, Alicia Johnson Williams, the MIHPE program is comprised of local students, ages 6 to 18 from the greater community who engage in research, acting classes, voice and dance lessons in order to prepare for a stage production celebrating Black History Month. The performance is packed with memorable songs, spoken word, and dances that bring the production to life. Through voices of the past and the present, the ensemble tells stories that not only inspires, but educates audiences of all ages.
This is a program for young people interested in learning more about the performing arts, but don’t necessarily have the resources in their schools or communities to get exposure in this area. MIHPE members get training in acting, voice, creative writing, dance and the overall production process. They are also taught how to view live performance by participating in the Martin Humes Mentoring Program where they are assigned a mentor to walk them through the performance process on stage and behind the scenes.