GRATEFUL FOR THE DREAM
Theater lovers should set aside Friday night, from 7-9PM, for
a very special free concert.
This Friday night at 7PM, these luminaries join Hamilton’s
George Washington, Tamar Greene, Hadestown’s Jewelle Blackman and
Kimberly Marable, and Lindsay Roberts from Carmen Jones, in concert.
Running about two hours, the concert will stream live on YouTube and is free.
Here’s the link to reserve your seat for the YouTube livestream: https://gratefulvtc.funraise.org
Dreier is co-hosting and producing the concert with Victoria
Ludwig, who recently performed in Vanguard Theater Company’s production of Spring
Awakening, in January 2020.
Says Dreier:
Vanguard
welcomed me into their diverse community 3 ½ years ago, and I’ve seen
first-hand how their work reaches beyond their own youth and teen theater
programs, working to shape theater as a whole. And theater shapes our
perceptions of the world.
Ludwig, who performed opposite Dreier in several Glen Ridge
High School shows, adds:
Though
Spring Awakening was my first show with Vanguard, I learned values that have
left a lasting impact on me. Through the cast I learned passion, activism, and
pure love for our craft. It was incredible to see so many people of so many backgrounds
come together and create art that’s so powerful, and watch each of us grow
because of it. Vanguard has harnessed a safe space in the theater community and
that is so important for young performers. I couldn’t be more excited to have
the opportunity to work with them again.
Dreier and Ludwig decided to organize the concert because
they believe in Vanguard’s mission, and have seen it in action.
On
March 1, 2020, the theater company, a not for profit with a mission to change
the narrative through theater dedicated to DREAM: Diversity, Reciprocity,
Education, Activism and Mentorship, signed a lease on the first space of
its own in Montclair. This was a critical step toward creating a
community-cultural hub in a highly diverse region. Unfortunately, the
timing coincided with the onset of the pandemic, halting renovation plans, and
leaving the space empty for months, while earned income stalled and bills
accumulated. At a time when the arts are struggling to stay alive and
viable, Dreier and Ludwig wanted to support Vanguard’s mission by organizing
this special concert.
More information about the livestream can be found through this link:
https://gratefulvtc.funraise.org/
