HIGH ARTS
THIS SUMMER at NY Summerfest
When Kevin walks in carrying a stolen four-million-dollar painting, he and his friends don’t have many options. Revealed through smoking sessions, ballroom dancing, acid trips, and a radio that nobody listens to, High Arts brings the stoner genre to the stage as Kevin and his friends confront their inner conflicts, both inane and insightful.
What is High Arts ?
The stoner genre meets the stage in High Arts, a one-act play in which a group of friends' typical basement hangout is interrupted by the arrival of a four-million-dollar canvas, stolen by one of their own.
This premiering production will be as fresh and strange as the play itself, written by emerging playwrights Phoebe Tsao and Ezra Burstein.
In Kevin's basement, each young adult grapples with the presence of the famous painting and their own ideas about the accessibility, relevance, and policing of art in its many forms. Their tangled journeys cut between the inane and the insightful as they confront the inner conflicts young adults face in their first years of independence. This is who art belongs to.
About the Playwrights
Phoebe
Writers Phoebe Tsao and Ezra Burstein went to high school together. Now, Phoebe is an actor, writer, and producer in her final year at Tisch School of the Arts, and Ezra is studying creative writing and literary theory in his final year at Wesleyan University.
Phoebe and Ezra wrote High Arts because they wanted to see more accessible work for and about art and young artists. They're immensely grateful and excited to be producing and directing its first-ever production!
Ezra
Help Make
High Arts Happen!
We have a venue and a creative team, but we still need more resources for this all to come together. Throw our team some love in the form of $$$ at our crowdfunding campaign so we can give you the best show possible. We're aiming for a full house, and we want the show to be worthy of the occasion—and to hopefully win some awards! Please help support our production with any amount possible, and get some fun rewards while you're at it!
Head to our GoGetFunding page by clicking the button below:
Want to know what your money’s going toward? Here are the main production expenses:
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Set, Props, and Costumes — because we want our production to look good!
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Promotional Material — because we want to fill the house!
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Marketing and Design — because we want that promotional material to look great!
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Rehearsal Space — because practice makes perfect!
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Cast and Crew Stipends — because artwork is work!
The Cast and Crew
"KEVIN": Jesse Cao
Jesse Cao is a rising senior at Columbia University majoring in Economics and Modern East Asian History, and spent his last semester studying Shakespearean acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. A bit like his character, Kevin, Jesse does currently work at an art gallery—though he has not (yet) committed an act of major art theft.
"CECILIA": Julesy Flavelle
Julesy Flavelle is currently studying Drama at NYU Tisch where she has trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, Stonestreet Studios, and The Experimental Theater Wing. Favorite credits include: Tisch New Theater production of Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Industry Debut of Before This New Year (Haley), NYU Tisch Studentworks production of Crave (C). Julesy is so excited to be performing in High Arts and would like to thank the entire team for this opportunity!
"JASPER": Alvin Sierra
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Alvin Sierra is a writer and actor, making his debut at The Hudson Guild. He was recently credited in Spike Lee’s Oscar winning film ‘BlacKkKlansman’ AND Adepero Oduye’s short film, ‘To Be Free’ (2018). Alvin is a graduate of Cornell University and is currently enrolled in Stella Adler Studio’s conservatory (Class of 2021).
Lighting Design: Ezra Fisher
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Ezra is a jack of (nearly) all theatre trades. He attended the Experimental Theatre Wing at Tisch for his primary training and is continuing his studies with the Production and Design department. He is an avid horror enthusiast and a menace when equipped with a power tool.
"DANIEL": Andrew Gillespie
Andrew Gillespie is a Manhattan-based actor, singer, writer, director and producer. He recently graduated from NYU Tisch where he received a BFA in Drama and a minor in Producing. He featured in the world premiere of Times Square, a new musical, with The Civilians and co-founded 239 Arts Productions, with whom he co-wrote, directed, and starred in Filthy Rich, a comedic mystery series. He is represented by Stewart Talent.
"ASHA": Phoebe Holden
Phoebe Holden is an NYC-based actor and director finishing her final semester at NYU Tisch. Favourite credits include: Echo Room (Daisy), I've Just Seen A Face (One), and Rubbernecking (Mia/Bea). She also writes and produces under her legal name, Phoebe Tsao.
Stage Manager: Devin Wright
Devin Wright is in his final year at NYU Tisch School of the Arts for Drama. He trained in the Experimental Theatre Wing and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, as well as interning at the American Shakespeare Center. Devin would like to thank the incredible creative team for being brilliant creators, collaborators and friends.
Sound Design: Jack Samuels
Jack Samuels is a music producer, actor, and writer about to start his final semester at New York University. He is currently in pre-production for a new pilot he is writing/directing, and just finished boom operating for a feature film. He is grateful for the opportunity Phoebe and Ezra have given him!
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