Universal Self - Poetic Photo Documentary 2012

Written & Performed by: Kilusan Bautista
Photo Credit:  Chauncey Velasco

UNIVERSAL SELF VLOG #4

Audience Ambassadors with The Foundry Theatre

During the Winter & Spring of 2012, I had the opportunity to be part of the first Audience Ambassador groups with The Foundry Theatre.  My group consisted of NYC youth and young adults striving for a GED from Brooklyn to the Bronx.  Our short term goal was to inspire a sense of community for an audience that does not necessarily participate in the NYC theater scene.  The long term goal is working towards social justice and inclusion within the NYC theater scene from Broadway Theaters to Off-Broadway & Off-Off-Broadway venues.

Some of the productions we participated in were:

The Road to Mecca at the Roundabout Theater

Hurt Village at Signature Theaters

This is how we do it, an event produced by The Foundry Theater

Luther at the Here Arts Center

My Children! My Africa at Signature Theaters

In addition to watching these productions, our group had the opportunity to build with playwrights, actors and other working theater arts professionals after each show.  As one of the four Audience Ambassador fellows I also participated in social media trainings in order to develop more current organizing skills.  Overall this was a great experience for me and for everyone who participated in the first ever Audience Ambassador program with The Foundry Theater.

Cheers to all people continuing to put in work towards diversifying all sectors of the entertainment industry and world!

For more information about The Foundry Theatre please visit:  http://audienceambassadors.tumblr.com/

Universal Self @ CUNY New Community College

Special thanks to Carlos Burgos, the staff at CUNY New Community College & the incoming freshmen students for making my visit/performance/talk-back so special!

Universal Self - Educational Program (summer photo shoot)

Since 2008 I have worked within local communities in Brooklyn to support the educational development of youth and young adults.  Performing is not enough for me because my elders and mentors raised me with the sacred indigenous value of giving back through service "by any means necessary!"  Education and entertainment equals community empowerment.

Universal Self began as a solo theater production but through post show artist talk backs and numerous performance workshops throughout America, I decided it was time to go back into the community on a regular basis.  Therefor on January 2012 I was granted the opportunity to teach Universal Self as an elective course for students at the Brooklyn GED Access Center.  From the start it was an engaging exchange within class time because I was not only performing excerpts from Universal Self but I was supporting students in developing an understanding of their own Universal Selves!  I have since taught two elective courses where students presented to the entire school at the end of each 10 week session.  In addition, we went on field trips to Broadway & Off-Broadway productions throughout New York City.  It was amazing to see Universal Self as a living and breathing force.....

Not only do I envision Universal Self produced on a Broadway theater in the near future but I see the audience reflecting the local communities of New York City!

This summer Universal Self participated in a summer photo shoot with community photographer, Chauncey Velasco from Queens.  Maisha Rodriguez will join Universal Self as the co-intstructor focusing on academic literacy standards.  I want to acknowledge Maisha Rodriguez for birthing the name Universal Self when we worked together as young adult Pre-GED teachers with the Brooklyn Public Library from 2008-2010.

Here are a few great pictures with some of our previous students: Carlinho Konpa; Colwayne Sancho; Jamal Carter.  We are excited to continue the Universal Self movement into the 2012/2013 academic year with more educational opportunities for local NYC communities!

ta-ga-logue (preview)

On Saturday July 21st, 2012, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe witnessed the preview of ta-ga-logue, a night of original monologues and theatrical works about Filipino American identity.  Produced by Leslie Espinosa, Precious Sipin and Kilusan Bautista, ta-ga-logue brought together a diversity of NYC based performance artists:

Dr. Kevin Nadal (Host)
Leslie Espinosa
Randy Gener
Precious Sipin
Nicole Ponseca
Julian Portmentilla
Kilusan Bautista

This preview was designed to get people excited about the larger production which is scheduled for Oct 12th & 13th, 2012 at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, honoring Filipino American History Month.

Check out some amazing photos taken by the extremely talented Queens based Photographer, Chauncey Velasco:

Dr. Kevin Nadal, our amazing host performs a few of his original works.

Nicole Ponseca of Maharlika Moderno Restaurant takes over the stage with a breath taking monologue

Kilusan Bautista, wearing a Larry Itliong t-shirt, shares an excerpt from Universal Self

For more information about Ta-Ga-Logue please send questions or comments to:  tagaloguenyc@gmail.com

Universal Self - Collage

To Identify