Wanda's Picks Special Broadcast: David Roach & Javier Reyes

We have a prerecorded interview with David Roach, Executive Director and Founder of the Oakland International Film Festival, kicking off its 10th Annual Festival, Apr. 6-8, 2012 at the Oakland Museum of CA in Oakland, 10th and Oak. Visit www.oiff.org

We open with a conversation with Javier Reyes, poet, playwright, activistt who is bringing his latest work and collaboration to the Bay Area for one night before the company heads for New York (smile).

His Each One Reach One & Urban Healing Tour Present "Toy Soldierz," a joint collaboration to raise funds for Bay Area Youth Theater programs on Monday, April 9, 2012, 7-11 p.m. at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, will showcase UHT's critically acclaimed multi-media, hip-hop theater production "Toy Soldierz." UHT will be showcasing One Act Plays written by incarcerated youth working through EORO's award winning theater programs.

Youth poets from Youth Guidance Center Integration Center perform as well. Proceeds from the show help fund travel to the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in May "Toy Soldierz." To Purchase tickets, please go to http://www.thefreight.org/urban-healing-tour-presents-toy-soldierz Tickets are half price for patrons under 25 years old. Also visit http://www.eoro.org/ and http://www.urbanhealingtour.com

Support the project and the campaign to stop teen violence: http://www.indiegogo.com/Toy-Soldierz-in-New-York-City

Urban Healing Tour presents Toy Soldierz

Monday, April 09, 8:00 pm (doors open at 7:00 pm)
a multi-media hip hop theater show benefiting Each One Reach One
$20.50 advance / $22.50 at door
Purchase tickets online

Toy Soldierz is a multimedia production that combines hip hop music, dance, spoken word, and film. Telling the true story of Devon Johnson, a high school student who lost his life in a shooting, the production deals with themes of teen violence and forgiveness in a special performance benefiting two non-profit organizations, Each One Reach One and Urban Healing Project.

Each One Reach One (EORO) and Urban Healing Tour (UHT) have aligned and overlapping goals, and a shared vision of a safer future for the community. EORO provides transformative, mentor-based playwriting workshop experiences and academic tutoring programs for incarcerated youth. UHT is a multimedia hip hop theater platform that supports productions for social change coupled with arts-based workshops centered around the process of recovery and learning to forgive.

Javier Reyes, UHT’s founder and creative director, wrote and directs Toy Soldierz. The performers, Bay Area-based actors, poets, singers, and dancers whose lives have been touched by gun violence, are united by their passion to help heal the community.

Music
I was doing a search for Javier Reyes's poetry and found two pieces videotaped in Atlanta, where he is based now, and then I get an other Javier and I wonder if the Javier I know, poet, playwright is also a musician. It's a different Javier, but the name of the band, Animals as Leaders is poetic and the music, rock--is really great! So. . . here it is. Let me know if the band makes it to California. I want to see them.

Music: Animals as Leaders, an American, Washington, D.C.–based instrumental progressive metal band, formed by guitarist Tosin Abasi in 2007 which now includes guitarist Javier Reyes and drummer Matt Garstka. We play "Tempting Time" and a "New Song" recorded live at Bunters, Truro 26 August 2011, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RYBH3QoIAE&feature=related