Community invited to help create Bushwick-based play

Bushwick is set to be the focus of its own play.

The Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council (RBSCC) will be hosting a residency of The Working Theater as they join together with the Bushwick community to develop a new theater piece focused on Bushwick and Brooklyn.

Throughout Working Theater’s residency at RBSCC, there will be many opportunities for the Bushwick residents to participate and help create the final theatrical production.

“Community participation is central to the development of this theatrical production,” said Brigette Blood, community organizer at RBSCC. “Working Theater and RBSCC will collaborate to engage the Community in Story Circles and Workshops to ensure the final script for a Bushwick-based play reflects the real-life narratives and experiences of our Bushwick Community.”

The Working Theater is an off-Broadway company that has been creating theater for and about working people throughout the five borough for the past 30 years. For the last 1 ½ years, Working Theater has been New York City communities, finding out what is important to them and creating plays based on their responses.

Bushwick residents will have the chance to tell their stories, hopes and dreams during three scheduled story circles. The first story circle took place on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 10 Forrest St.

The two upcoming story circles will be held on Thursday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 10 Forrest St. and Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 87 Melrose St.

“RBSCC is excited to bring more creative opportunities and arts programming to our residents and neighbors while activating our residential Community Rooms with new and creative uses,” Blood said. “The Story Circles will be a time for the Community to learn about and participate in the creative process of developing a play; those joining the Story Circles will work with playwrights and other theater professionals to share stories from their lives and hear stories from their neighbors as they think about how to share these experiences with a broad audience.”

The residency will culminate with a reading of the Bushwick-based play and a full performance of a complete Bronx-based play, which was developed by Working Theater and the Bronx community. A performance of the Brooklyn play take place sometime in 2016 and will be based on the Bushwick community’s participation during the RBSCC/Working Theater residency.

For more information on the Working Theater and its RBSCC residency, visit the Working Theater website, www.theworkingtheater.org.