By Gladys Ramirez , the Project [theatre]

October already?! Maybe it was just a mild case of heat stroke, but our busy summer seemed to fly by! In case you missed everything that led up to our season kick-off this September, here’s an update on the behind the scenes action at the Project.

First of all, we’d like to give a big Project [theatre] shout out to former company members/founders Jackie Rivera and David Hemphill! Over in the Big Apple, Jackie begins training with the prestigious SITI Company’s conservatory this month joining 15 other students from 11 different countries that make up the second EVER SITI conservatory class of 2015. David has moved to La La Land, Los Angeles, to continue pursuing his acting and producing career and is working as a Producer and Studio Manager for Mykitta Bros. Productions. We couldn’t be more proud of our founders!

Back here in the 305, Gladys Ramirez stepped up into a co-artistic director role. She’ll be sharing this role with Project’s newest member and past-collaborator Stephen Kaiser.

Steve was born and raised in the county of Dade. He attended New World School of the Arts and received his BFA in Acting from SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts. He’s an actor, director and teaching artist. He’s ride or die 3-0h-5 and fiercely committed to the growth of Miami’s cultural community and the Project’s mission to redefine the theatrical experience.  Steve, or Steve-OH as he’s known in the hip hop world — oh wait! Didn’t you know? Steve-OH’s has a secret past slaying mics as a hip hop maverick. Be careful where you drop the beat ‘cause Steve-OH’s liable pick it up and break it down.

Steve will direct the December production of US DRAG by Gina Gionfriddo and in July of 2015, Steve will put on his acting sweater vest and collaborate with company member Gladys Ramirez on the creation of The Project [theatre]’s summer blockbuster. It’s an original hip hop musical set in Miami and centered around the rise and fall of a fictional hometown hip hop hero.

Steve will direct the US DRAG by Gina Gionfriddo this December. In July of 2015, Steve will put on his acting sweater vest and collaborate with co-artistic director Gladys Ramirez on the creation of The Projects summer blockbusteer.

IN OTHER NEWS:

On September 23rd, special guests, fans, and artists joined the Project for their 2014/15 season kick-off event, The Project [PEEP SHOW]. The evening included a monologue from Gina Gionfriddo’s US Drag which will runs Dec 6 – 21 and ended with a rap medley preview of our summer blockbuster, a world premiere Hip Hop Show.

While we have you here, we’d like to send a very special THANK YOU to our of our wonderful collaborators, partners and friends. First, The Bakehouse Art Complex for being such wonderful hosts, The Dude Brews for his good looks and even better beer, and our new friends at Mad Chiller for their fantastic coffee, waffles and gelato. We also couldn’t forget to thank our collaborating artists Peter Mir, Marquise Rogers, and Ashley Chang for keeping the evening sexy and of course Marcelo Ferreira because without  him, we would have been doing it in the dark. If you didn’t make it out to the [PEEP SHOW], hopefully the photos on our Facebook page by photog Mitchell Zachs can help mend your broken hearts.

As you can see, lots of things are poppin’ in the Project world, so hang onto your knickers- our upcoming season is going to be a wild ride!