Tim Rocks the Studio!

Tim in the Studio from Taro Alexander on Vimeo.

Three weeks ago the Our Time kids went into a recording studio to lay down some tracks for our upcoming CD. Here is a very short video of Tim rockin' the house. Stay tuned for more info. on this exciting project where the Our Time kids team up with recording artists and Broadway stars to record their original songs.

Participating artists include: Ann Hampton Callaway, Michael Cerveris, Adriane Lenox, Jesse L. Martin, Kelli O'Hara, Adam Pascal, Mandy Patinkin, Anthony Rapp, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Sherie Rene Scott, Duncan Sheik, Mary Testa, and cast members from Spring Awakening, Blue Man Group, and The Little Mermaid.

The Our Time Questions with Jonathan Greig

Periodically, we will interview members of the Our Time and Camp Our Time family (company members, alumni, the board, volunteers, staff, donors, parents, campers, counselors, etc.) by asking them the same 20 questions. Which will now be known as THE OUR TIME QUESTIONS.

Our first interview is with Our Time alumnus, Jonathan Greig. Jonathan was a company member for 6 years (2002-2008). He joined Our Time at age 11 and is now in his Freshman year at Dartmouth College.

1. Favorite Food: Rice.  “White rice heals all wounds”

2. Favorite thing about Our Time: Our Time is a place where you can let go of your inhibitions and let you imagination run free. Gone are the social constraints and fears of ridicule. You are free to be who you are. For me specifically, Our Time became a place where I could let out everything I had hidden inside. For so long I kept everything inside; from fears to dreams, everything stayed trapped in my heart, locked in by my stutter. Our Time allowed me to break this lock and let everything out.

3. Favorite place I’ve been: Jamaica

4. Place I’ve always wanted to go: South Africa

5. Favorite Movie: Do The Right Thing by Spike Lee

6. If you were trapped on an island for three years, and you could only listen to one recording artist, who would it be: Stevie Wonder

7. Mac or PC: PC

8. Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate

9. Cats or Dogs: Dogs

10. Favorite Our Time moment: Performing “Our Time Made Us LOUD” with Keith and Andre. I could not have wished for a better last Gala performance than that. Just being onstage with my two best friends and seeing the crowd rock to our song was amazing. I’ve never been as happy and amped up as I was during that song. It was just amazing.

11. What do you want to be when you grow up: I don’t know.

12. Who would play you in a movie: A young James Earl Jones

13. Favorite Book: A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah

14. Favorite sports team: It’s a tie between the Jets and the Knicks

15. What advice do you have for people who stutter: Don’t let it hold you down. Look at it as something that you have to deal with but that shouldn’t stop you from achieving something you want to achieve. It isn’t a dead end. It’s just a temporary roadblock.

16. What advice do you have for people who don’t stutter: Just listen. It’s that simple. You just give the person the time to speak and just worry about what the person is saying not how the person is saying it. Then you’ll be golden. That even goes for people who don’t stutter. They should do it for everyone.

17. Favorite TV Show: A toss-up between Cosby Show and 24

18. Favorite Play or Musical: That’s also a toss-up between The Lion King and Thurgood

19. If you were President, what would your first official act be: I would make an effort to end all wars and I would institute free health care

20. Where do you see Our Time in 10 years: I see Our Time continuing and achieving its goal of spreading awareness about stuttering, as well as just spreading a message of overall tolerance and love and still rocking out in Kingsley and Cherry Lane.

Thank You for Donating to Our Time's Fall Appeal

a standing ovation for the campers at Camp Our Time, 2008

As the economy falters, funding from foundations, corporations, and the government is hard to come by. For small nonprofit organizations like Our Time, this poses a challenge as we rely on every dollar of funding to continue our important work. And while the economy may fluctuate, the need for Our Time's programming remains the same.

In October 2008, Our Time began its Fall Appeal Campaign to fundraise for the organization's 8th season of programming, and it's not too late to participate. To those of you who already contributed to this crucial campaign, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

If you have not yet supported the campaign but would like to, please click here to donate. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for each and every contribution.

Thank you for making this 8th season possible!

One-Act Plays are 2 Weeks Away! Reserve Tickets Today!

To reserve tickets, please e-mail moreinfo@ourtimetheatre.org or call (212) 414-9696.

Behind the Scenes: One-Act Writer/Directors Hard at Work

Danielle Diesu (company member) working with Liz Tuccillo (advisor/professional playwright/Our Time Trustee) as she writes her one-act play A Playlist Worth a Thousand Words.

Edward Mawere (company member) writing his play Mendacity.

Tom King (company member) working with Taro Alexander (Our Time's Artistic Director) as he writes Cherish Every Moment.

Our Time Wishes You a Happy Thanksgiving!

Camp Our Time 2009

Official Announcement

Camp Our Time 2009 will be held from August 9-16, at the beautiful Iroquois Springs in Rock Hill, New York, 90 minutes from New York City. Camp is available for young people who stutter, their siblings, cousins, and friends ages 8-18.

That's right! If you are a kid who stutters, bring your brothers, sisters, cousins, and friends to Camp Our Time with you. Why should people who stutter have all the fun? Let's share the good times with our family and friends. We hope you can join us! Click here to enroll now!

Don't forget to check out the 2008 Camp Our Time blog, to see lots of fun photos and memories!

More Hot Press for One-Acts

Check out this article from Theatremania.com. So hot it sizzles!

Get your tickets today ... call 212-414-9696 or email moreinfo@ourtimetheatre.org.

We'll see ya at the beautiful Cherry Lane Theatre.

PS - We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow. All of us at Our Time are forever thankful to you and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Our Time Mother & Son Get Excited Over Upcoming One-Acts

Taro Alexander interviews brilliant actor and company member Joe Popovich, Jr., 12, who is set to star in the One-Act play Cherish Every Moment, written and directed by fellow company member Tom King. Also in this clip, Joe's mother Kate beams with pride over her son's involvement with this highly anticipated show.

Be sure to reserve tickets to catch Joe's upcoming performance! It's going to be INCREDIBLE!

Our Time Kids Break it Down

Our Time kids have a blast dancing to Crazy in Love at a recent Saturday Workshop. Check out their moves!

Message from One-Act Writer/Director Tom King

This message is from Our Time company member Tom King who has written and directed Cherish Every Moment, a powerful one-act play about a family's loss. Performances of this play and follow-up Q&A sessions with the writer/director will take place on Friday, December 12 at 8pm and Saturday, December 13 at 2pm & 8pm. Cherish Every Moment will feature actors Jace Alexander (I'm Not Rappaport, Assassins), Taro Alexander (STOMP) , Maddie Corman (Some Kind of Wonderful), Joel Higgins (Silver Spoons) and Our Time company member Joseph Popovich, Jr.

Please call (212) 414-9696 to reserve tickets.

Stars Record for Album Project!

Greg Parratto, Kelli O'Hara, Taro Alexander, & Everett Bradley

Our Time and Broadway stars alike are working hard in the recording studio to create Our Time's sophomore album! This photo was taken when the amazing and fabulous Kelli O'Hara (South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza, The Pajama Game, solo concert at Carnegie Hall, etc.) just finished recording Listen To Your Heart, a song written by Lindsay, the first-ever Our Time company member.

A few weeks later, the outstanding Michael Cerveris (Sweeney Todd, Lovemusik, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Assasins, etc.) came into the studio and recorded his part for this spectacular duet. And apparently, somehow these two Broadway stars had never worked together before. All of us at Our Time were delighted to be the catalyst of their first collaboration!

(Stay tuned for more fun pics and info on the kids and professional artists who are
participating. Hint, the list of amazing performers is long and impressive!)

One-Act Enthusiasm is Spreading through the Media

Click here to read an article from Broadwayworld.com about our December One-Acts. Word is spreading about these must-see shows! Please reserve your tickets today!

Buzz about Upcoming One-Acts!

Read this awesome article featured on Playbill.com about Our Time's One-Act plays that will be held on December 12th & 13th. So exciting!

Reserve your tickets today!

Call 212-414-9696 or email moreinfo@ourtimetheatre.org.

Our Time's Board Chairman Celebrates 90th Birthday!

Budd Mayer, Our Time's beloved Chairman of the Board, celebrated his 90th birthday in October. He was surprised with a blazing birthday cake at the organization's fall board meeting. We wish our Chairman a very Happy Birthday and thank him for his incredible dedication and service to Our Time.

Our Time Launches Blog!!!

Jonathan jumping for joy at the 2006 Gala rehearsal

Our Time is excited to offer its members, friends, and family of supporters a new, hip, and interactive way to stay informed and involved with the organization's events and activities. This company-wide blog has been inspired by the great success of the Camp Our Time blog that we did this past August.

You can expect to see a fun variety of posts, such as:

• Announcements relating to our 8th Season of Saturday Workshops in NYC, the December One-Acts, the Album Project, the April Benefit Gala, the teen and pre-teen June shows, summer touring, and Camp Our Time.
• Photos of our amazing young company members, volunteers, staff, and other friends of Our Time
• Videos of Our Time performances
• Press that Our Time receives
• Information on stuttering and resources for help and support

And much, much more!

Please give us feedback so that we know how this blog can best serve you! Simply e-mail comments or suggestions to moreinfo@ourtimetheatre.org.

Happy reading!

Paul Rudd Speaks With USA Weekend Magazine About Our Time

Paul Rudd and Company Member Dashawn, 2006 Gala

Click here to read an interview by USA Weekend Magazine in which Board Member Paul Rudd speaks about Our Time.

Our Time Kicks Off 8th Season with Teen & Pre-Teen Play Programs

On October 4th, Our Time gathered for its first Saturday workshop for the NYC Teen & Pre-Teen Play Productions. And this 8th season is off to a rocking start!

We are thrilled to welcome 4 new Teens and 6 new Pre-teens into the company! 4 of these new members attended Camp Our Time in August and loved it so much that they decided to join our New York City programming this fall. These new members are all amazing additions to the Our Time family, and we look forward to seeing them grow personally and artistically as the year goes on.

Of course, we are so happy to have 18 Our Time members return to the program this year, ready to learn more about theatre and music and share their artistic perspectives with the world.

We can promise that this year's Teen & Pre-Teen groups are going to have tons of fun and create awesome plays and musicals for their performances next June.

Here are some pictures taken at this seasons' first Saturday Workshop at the Flamenco Latino Dance Studios:

Pre-Teens Creating a "Group Sculpture"

Musical Directors Everett Bradley & Carl Danielsen

Artistic Director Taro Alexander

Pre-Teens Terrell & Adam writing in their journals
about their hopes for the year

Teen Members Edward & Alison

Volunteer Meg Hart & Teen Members Ned & Dashawn