Pictures from the Epic Talent Show Fundraiser

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I was blown away by the talent in this show. These incredibly gifted professionals volunteered their time to raise money and awareness for our non-profit performing arts/education organization, ViBe Theater Experience. It is truly heartwarming to see such a unique and diversified group of artists come together from all walks of life to support the teen girls of viBe Theater Experience.

An EPIC Talent Show, to benefit viBe Theater Experience
August 2nd, 2012 at 8pm

The Triad Theater
158 West 72nd Street
New York, NY 10023

Learn more about this event: Click here

Letters from the Board of viBe Theater Experience.

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Here are some emails I received from the Board of viBe Theater Experience in response to the money we raised via our Epic Talent Show….

Letter #1

“ANDREA!!! The energy is still a-buzz from last night’s talent show. You all indeed delivered the “EPIC”! You and your AH-MAZING team’s hard word, organization drive and passion for viBe clearly inspired everyone in the room. We are so thrilled and so humbled by your innovation and charge to mobilize so many people. We thank you! And please too share our most viBrant gratitude with your POWERHOUSE team!”

Letter #2

“Woohoo!!! nicely done, Andrea! You raise the bar every time you leave your house. Last night was a spectacular event – I’m not sure I’ll ever listen to “single ladies” in quite the same way. Such fun and energy. AWESOMENESS! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!”

Letter #3

“Kudos to Andrea and her team of amazing folk for creating such a terrific event for vibe – Thank you so much for your dedication and enthusiasm.”

Letter #4

“Andrea! Last night’s event was fantastic and joyful!  I had a BALL!  While there was certainly a wide diversity of talent on stage, the truth is the top talent of the night was you and your crew of organizers off stage. viBe is so fortunate to have your talent, creativity and enthusiasm – and of course your fundraising prowess! Many thanks for a job well done!”

Letter #5

“Dear Andrea: On behalf of the Board, our staff, and all the viBeGirls past and present, I’d like to thank you for your phenomenal work! Last night’s event was not only PACKED, but the show itself was unlike anything I have ever seen! …Your hard work and dedication to making last night’s event a success are greatly appreciated. Our viBrant thanks to you and your amazing team!!”

Epic. Talent Show. Fundraiser. Auditions!

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Help us spread the word! We are hosting an Epic Talent Show Fundraiser for viBe! Do you have a crazy talent? Audition! Enter the talent show for a chance to win $500! 
 
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Calling All:
Singers Dancers Musicians
Fire-Eaters Lion-Tamers Ninjas Etc.
It’s time to dust off those hidden talents and put them on stage for a worthy cause. 
We’re banding together to raise money for an after-school arts program via… 
 
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An EPIC Talent Show!
At the Triad Theater, Thursday August 2nd @ 8pm
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It’s a great opportunity to perform in New York for a great organization,
but did we mention that the winner of the competition will win a $500 prize?
Talk about a win, win, win situation!
Proceeds will benefit viBe Theater Experience, an award-winning, non-profit performing arts/education organization that empowers New York City’s teenage girls through the collaborative process of creating totally original performances.
Will you use your talent to help us fundraise for them?
This is an opportunity for all of you non-marathon runners to collect donations from your friends and family to support a cause you believe in!  We will provide an easy-to-use online fundraising tool and we request that all participants raise a minimum of $50 via online donations. There will even be a prize for the top philanthropist! The race is ON!
If you would like to be part of this blockbuster extravaganza, email JustineABeirne@gmail.com with your name, contact info and a description of your act.
Or fill out this form, to sign-up now!
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At the Top of Our Lungs

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Jessica Stewart, Cindy Keenan, Justine Beirne

So what IS the message of this show…

At the Top of Our Lungs aims to create a crack in the infrastructure of female stereotypes and standards. It is about many aspects of being female, good & bad, and that nothing is simply black and white. Through these pieces we will playfully expose female objectification, address issues women face every day, and push a boundary… or two.

Stereotypes are powerful and omnipresent. They perpetuate positive or negative meanings and are rarely accurate; nevertheless, it is through that subjective response be it by race, gender, body type, hairstyle – that stamps a first impression. Stereotypes stand in the way despite our intention to be objective. Although we may acknowledge the consequences of such sweeping generalizations, the practice continues.

Andrea Bertola & Lauren Balaban

Tonight’s show challenges you to examine the core of our humanity. Once labels, stereotypes, “Us vs. Them” mentalities are stripped away, there are no boundaries or borderlines. The possibilities are infinite. The cost, priceless. We know that when we empower women, helping them develop their voices and confidence, everyone benefits—girls, men, boys, families, and communities.

When we started this journey back in February of 2011, we had absolutely NO IDEA what was in store… We wanted to put on productions that would give us a creative outlet and enable us to raise money for important local organizations in the arts. What we found was so much more. Through this process we have unlocked a door into what is now a beautiful, supportive community of creative women.
Our message is simple; our mission steadfast. Join us, as we raise awareness through an eclectic mix of pop songs, Broadway favorites, spoken word poetry, monologues, burlesque and more! Thank you for coming out tonight to support our mission to empower underserved women and girls through this theatrical event. Every donation makes a difference and NO amount is too small. Tonight these women perform at the top of their lungs for you, and for women everywhere. 
Your Creative Team,
Andrea Bertola &
Lauren Balaban


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Performance Dates:
December 8th at 7:00pm
December 10th at 9:30pm
December 11th at 3:00pm Click here to buy tickets:
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/209106Our proceeds will go towards viBe Theater Experience, a local organization that empowers teenage girls through the creation and production of original performances.

At the Top of Our Lungs: Production Pictures

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December 2011: our cast from The Vagina Monologues and some new talent joined together to create a new show At The Top of Our Lungs, a lively production aimed at tackling stereotypes that women confront. It’s hysterical and heartwarming, sassy and uplifting. This show is an eclectic mix featuring pop songs, Broadway favorites, spoken word poetry, monologues, burlesque and more! Grab a table with friends, enjoy some cocktails and be entertained by this insanely talented cast.

Read more about this production: click here

Click a Thumbnail to View the Gallery

Support our show!

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I’m thrilled to be directing a very special benefit production that is working to raise money to support viBe Theater Experience, a local organization that holds free afterschool arts programs with underserved teenage girls in New York City.
On December 8th,10th and 11th, we will be performing a benefit production of “At the Top of Our Lungs: An Uncensored Collection of Scenes, Songs and Monologues” at the well-known Triad Theater. We are humbled by the outpouring of support we have received already! Our last benefit production completely sold out, and we anticipate this show will do the same.
Our proceeds will go towards viBe Theater Experience, a local organization that empowers teenage girls through the creation and production of original performances.



About Our Show:

Our cast from The Vagina Monologues and some new talent joined together to create a new show At The Top of Our Lungs, a lively production aimed at tackling stereotypes that women confront. It’s hysterical and heartwarming, sassy and uplifting. This show is an eclectic mix featuring pop songs, Broadway favorites, spoken word poetry, monologues, burlesque and more! Grab a table with friends, enjoy some cocktails and be entertained by this insanely talented cast.


For Tickets Click Here

"At the Top of Our Lungs"

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Announcing our next show…..
“At the Top of Our Lungs”
An Uncensored Collection of Scenes, Songs and Monologues
Raising Money and Empowering Women in the Arts
Directed by Andrea Bertola
Performance Dates:
December  8th at 7:00pm
December 10th at 9:30pm
December 11th at 3:00pm
Our Mission:
We believe women should be provided with an enriching environment to nurture and generate new ideas. To accomplish this goal, we have organized theatrical events to give every day women a creative outlet to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of local organizations that empower under-served women & girls. We have fun crafting cutting-edge theatre while giving back to the community. Sounds like a win-win to us!
Our Show:

The cast from The Vagina Monologues and some new talent joined together to create a new show At The Top of Our Lungs, a lively production aimed at tackling stereotypes that women confront. It’s hysterical and heartwarming, sassy and uplifting. This show is an eclectic mix featuring pop songs, Broadway favorites, spoken word poetry, monologues, burlesque and more! Grab a table with friends, enjoy some cocktails and be entertained by this insanely talented cast.

Support our mission. Make a donation!
To cover production costs we have set up a donation site to accept any and all contributions of any amount. Support this fearless cast and watch as they “pay it forward”….
On that note, if you care about making a difference then GIVE A BUCK and do something!  If every family member and friend donates ONE DOLLAR then it will help promote our cause and meet expenses (naturally, if you can give more, well, please do…)
It’s easy and quick.  Here’s all you have to do:
Visit www.gofundme.com/andreabertola and make a donation!
Thanks for your support!!! Check my website for updates about tickets!




"My Vagina Was My Village"

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V-Day New York City, Triad Theatre, 2011. Eve Ensler’s
“The Vagina Monologues”
Actress: Justine Beirne
Directed by: Andrea Bertola
Cinematography: Russ Geltman
About the monologue:
Bosnian women refugees were interviewed during the war in Yugoslavia, in refugee camps and centers. Twenty to seventy-thousand women were raped in the middle of Europe as a systematic tactic of war. This monologue is based on one woman’s story.

A letter from our beneficiary!

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“viBe has taught me to take all my negative experiences and turn them into positive artistic pieces. viBe is a place where I can grow. viBe is my escape, a fantasy island, where everyone has a chance to show who they truly are. I don’t know where I would be or what I’d be if viBe hadn’t showed me the way.” –Elba 17
June 11, 2011
Dear Andrea and everyone involved with V-Day NYC Triad Theatre,
On behalf of viBe Theater Experience, I need and want to express the most massive and exuberant THANK YOU to your amazing, inspiring and absolutely successful fundraising efforts with your glorious production of The Vagina Monologues! As a small, struggling nonprofit organization, it is always challenging for us to raise the money to support our work running free afterschool arts programs with underserved teenage girls in New York City. We celebrate our 9th birthday this summer and for the past few years have been aggressively searching for a home/office. We have produced more than 55 different performance-based projects and productions since 2002 and have always relied on donated or subsidized rehearsal spaces, even at times rehearsing in my own apartment or in city parks when we lacked the resources to pay for space.
This past winter, we found our dreamhouse! The Brooklyn YWCA had recently completed an extraordinary renovation and has rented several rooms in their building to organizations with a girls-based, social justice mission. They accepted viBe and we were nervous about how we could afford to pay the rent. We knew being in a building with fierce, feminist neighbors such as Girls for Gender Equity, Planned Parenthood’s Teen Advocates program, Center for Nonviolence Education and Dwa Famn (among others) and also home to the Brooklyn Girls Coalition, a group of more than 20 organizations that serve girls in Brooklyn was just too amazing to pass up.
But we were worried. We knew we had raise at least $5000 to make the move happen and so many of our foundation partners don’t want to pay for “rent” or “overhead,” they only want to fund our direct program expenses. But we knew that this move would transform viBe and make it possible for us to offer so many different programs for girls. Then Andrea came along and offered to produce the Vagina Monologues. We immediately said yes, and hoped that maybe they would raise $3000 for viBe. But… Wow!
They absolutely exceeded our expectations and the funds they raised have made it possible for viBe to move into this gorgeous new home! Also, just as important as the money, Andrea and her team have built an amazing network of viBe volunteers and supporters who we will work with for many more years and will continue to support our efforts to provide spaces for girls to express themselves through the performing arts. In fact, we are so impressed with Andrea’s work that we invited her to be a member of viBe’s board of directors.
None of this would have been possible without VDAY. Thank you most viBrantly!
Dana Edell, PhD
Executive Director
dana@viBeTheater.org

PO BOX 1478 • NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10027 • (917) 647 0326 • http://www.vibetheater.org



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From Cindy…

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As part of the follow-up report for the V-Day campaign, I asked the cast to detail how the project impacted their lives (if they wished to contribute). Once again, these women blew me away. Their testimonials were so heartfelt and beautiful, I asked if I could share them. It’s easy to understand the positive impact that our fundraising had on our beneficiary organization, but it’s hard to grasp how the making of the actual production greatly influenced the lives of those involved.

Over the next few days I’ll be posting some of the cast testimonials, I encourage you to leave a comment. We’d love to hear your feedback! -Andrea
Cindy’s Testimonial:
This project has been a beautiful treasure in my life. Graduating from an all-women hight school and being a woman’s studies minor in college, I have never under-estimated the power of ‘women in groups.’ Yet, as an adult I have made less opportunities to – see such a thing in action!! Our cast was simply – love. As a whole, we were an open book within our group and onward. We shared stories of hardship and of happiness- we truly became a UNIT. And our respect for each other made everything that we did on stage all that more poignant.
The Monologues themselves were also life-changing– I felt as though we really got to know them women who owned those memories. And our audience got to know those women too… hopefully, shedding permanent light on issues they would have felt distant from otherwise. Through the Vagina Monologues- I came to love my vagina! I never had a problem with her… but now, gosh- she’s got much more personality!!
I believe much of this production’s success can be attributed to our director, Andrea Bertola.. From the 1st minute, she fostered an environment of love, safety, support and even-affection. Our director, Andrea Bertola, walked us through activities at the top of every rehearsal- which reminded us why we were there- who we were there for- what we were hoping to accomplish…both for ourselves and for women across the globe. Andrea Bertola’s vision for this show excited us!! She made us feel alive and important- she taught us to believe in our RALLY and that if our words could affect one audience member, we were accomplished. I think Andrea Bertola’s approachable, current vision for the show- screams how talented she is as a director, a creative visionary, and a medium between experience and art. I am so proud to have worked with this director- she, and her vagina, are very special!
-Cindy Keenan
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