New jersey performiNg arts ceNter

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Tell us more about your company’s history. What prompted you to bring Mayhem Poets to the stage? Mayhem Poets the touring group spun out of a poetry open mic at Rutgers University in the early-2000s called Verbal Mayhem, started by Scott Raven T. & Kyle Rapps. They teamed up with 2 other Verbal Mayhem regulars to form Mayhem Poets and began performing in classrooms around NJ thru their own connections in the education realm. Those show grew in popularity, enabling them to move up from classroom shows to full school assemblies. Along the way, the two other performers moved on and a new 3rd member, Mason Granger, was added to the group, forming the core three Mayhem Poets members who took the show even larger, performing not only in schools, but colleges/universities and theaters nationally and internationally. The growth from campus open mic to international tour felt like a natural progression, like the real life version of the saying, "There's nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come".

How do you capture the attention of young audiences, especially those who groan at the “Poets” in your name? The word "poets" is the perfect cover! You tell kids they're going to a poetry show, they're expecting to see old guys in black tights talking about the beauty of a flower (exactly what I thought when I went to my first poetry reading), then BAM-- Mayhem Poets takes the stage and within the first 5 minutes of the show, everything they thought they knew about what "poets" are is tossed out the window and we got 'em.

Your performances are a fusion of hip-hop, theatre and improv comedy. Why do you think this is a successful approach?I think the success of this approach has as much to do with the fact those are things we genuinely enjoy ourselves as it does with those being 'popular' art forms to put together. Sure, when you write them down on an advertisement, it piques the interest; but what makes it truly successful on stage is that it's not a marketing gimmick or three cogs slapped together to make a show. We love hip hop, so when we make art, hip hop will find its way in. Same with theatre and same with improv. So really the success of the approach lies in the fact that they're genuine reflections of who we are so the end result isn't a show that's 1/3 this, 1/3 that, 1/3 the other, but more of a whole show that's a seamless fusion of all three.

How does your professional training and experience inform your performances? Experience has definitely been our most valuable training, and having toured and performed as Mayhem Poets since 2004, we've pretty much seen it all at this point. Just as with anything, with experience and success comes confidence, and with confidence comes comfort and the ability to be completely in the moment with your performance. You can feel it during the show, the moment when the kids realize we're speaking to them instead of at them. That's when they really open up.

Tell us a little more about the “gut-wrenching truths that leave audiences forever changed.” Every single person's life on Earth has funny & serious, beautiful & ugly, easy & hard, etc. For many reasons, the average school setting simply isn't the place where the full range of these things can be addressed and/or confronted and/or spoken about fully. The beauty of theater in general, but especially in our show that's particularly geared towards speaking to young people, is that we know how to 'go there, take you with us, and bring you back'. Without fail, it's those moments in the show that both kids & adults remember most.

How would you like young audiences to approach poetry in the 21st Century? We hope that young people come away from a Mayhem Poets show knowing that poetry is alive; not only in the sense of growing in popularity, but the art form itself is constantly growing/evolving/morphing just like everything else. If you ask a young person to name a TV shows, they'll probably name 10 shows that are currently airing. Ask that same young person to name a poet, chances are they'll name someone between 80-800 years old. We want to show young people that poetry is not some archaic art form that 'used to happen', but that it is happening today, everyday, and all they need to get down with it is a pen and some paper.

What advice would you give to aspiring poets and performers?Big picture advice: Do whatever you want and don't think about whether you're doing it "right". Smaller, more tangible advice: Instead of posting statuses on social media whenever they come to you, write those clever/interesting snippets down in your notebook and try to turn them into poems later. There's obviously some sort of spark there that made you want to say it, so turn that spark into a full fire.

Do your students cringe and moan at the thought of poetry—never mind a full poetry performance? Of course they do—but the Mayhem Poets can change that. Called "an amazing ride" by The New York Times, this mind-boggling performance was described as ‘The Simpsons meets Malcolm X at a Notorious B.I.G. concert.’ These theater-trained, comically-gifted, lyrical virtuosos seamlessly blend raw elements of hip hop, theater, improv and stand-up comedy to tell gut-wrenching truths that leave audiences altered forever.

The Mayhem Poets' unique approach to spoken word won the group First place and a $100K grant in the Microsoft Idea Wins Challenge in 2006. They were subsequently featured on The Today Show and Eyewitness News, and have been touring internationally at legendary venues such as Lincoln Center, the Apollo Theatre, and Broadway's New Victory Theatre as well as hundreds of universities, locals schools of all grades, and group homes and correctional facilities. The Mayhem Poets are:

Scott Raven: A graduate of Rutgers University with a double degree in Acting and Journalism, Scott Raven co-founded The Mayhem Poets. An actor in commercials, plays and films and member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), he has performed for Fiat, Purina, CNN, and The Today Show. Scott was published in The New York Times and New York Post. He is the author of Sconnettts, a collection of poems based on his romantic relationships, family, and athletics; The Polygons, Surrealist Poems: Volume 1; and the upcoming 6 Piece Chicken (performable poems and stories from on tour). Scott grew up in Edison, NJ, and lives in Harlem, NY, where he runs and puns with his imaginary man's best friend, Spott.

Mason Granger: Born in Philly, raised in Willingboro, and currently living in Queens NYC, Mason Granger joined The Mayhem Poets in 2005. He created SlamFind, the world's first mobile app dedicated to performance poetry,

allowing poetry fans to discover and connect with poetry venues and poets throughout North America. SlamFind poetry videos were featured by The Huffington Post, Upworthy, Buzzfeed, Cosmo and many more. As a spokesperson for New Era Caps, Mason was featured in magazines such as Vibe, Complex, Fader and Rolling Stone.

Mikumari Caiyhe: An established actor, emcee, spoken word poet, and arts educator and advocate, Mikumari Caiyhe is a native of Washington, DC, graduating from the Duke Ellington School for the Arts with a focus in Theatre. He completed his acting education at Rutgers’ Mason Gross School of the Arts. Mikumari was cast as the lead actor in the musical Revelations while in London in the role of God/MC. He was one of the first emcees/rappers to perform a Hip Hop concert at Shakespeare's Globe and was a member of NYC's Nuyorican Poets Cafe 2013 Competitive poetry team. Mikumari works with The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Boys and Girls Club of America, and the YMCA to facilitate art residencies and workshops teaching literary arts, acting, and ballroom dance. Mikumari wants to use art to liberate individuals from fear, emancipate and empower the light within and...illuminate forever.

Kyle Rapps: Co-founder and producer of Mayhem Poets. His hip-hop styles and theatrical presence earned him poetry slam victories across the nation, and brought him all the way to the Grand Slam finals at the legendary Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City. As a rapper, Kyle has recorded with Action Bronson, Talib Kweli, KRS-One and Joell Ortiz. After touring for more than 10 years with the group, Kyle recently moved to Mexico City to spread the Mayhem Poets message across the border.

about the performance in the spotlight: an interview with Mayhem Poets

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TeaCHeR foCuS STudenT aCTiviTY

PRePaRe for the performance

Introduce the concepts,history and relationships between Spoken Word, hip-hop and comedy improv.

Find and play a video clip from – The Revolution Will Not be Televised by The Original Last Poets, Spoken Word and Hip Hop’s pioneering performance group. Reflect on the video/audio clip Multiple Choice Voice by Mayhem Poets on its style of delivery, choice of backing music and the choice of lyrics used for the poem and determine the time period it was created.

Find and play a video clip from the play Hamilton. Reflect on the video/audio clip and reflect on its style of delivery, choice of backing music and the choice of lyrics used for the poem and determine the time period it was created.

After reviewing both videos and exploring the styles each artist uses , choose your favorite stand-up comedian, rapper, hip-hop performer, or one that helped to pioneer the genre. Choose one selection from their repertoire to reflect upon. Make a short presentation in class on this artist’s contributions.

How is the delivery and performance of your chosen artist compare to those that represent the past (The Last Poets, George Carlin, Redd Foxx, etc)?

How is similar is the delivery? How does the material affect the type of delivery provided by the artist? How is it different?

ExPeRienCe the performance

As you are waiting for the performance to begin, ask your students to experience the performance with all of their senses.

How does the performance make them feel?

What parts of the performance speak to them most strongly?

Observe how the performance unfolds.

How does performing this fusion of poetry, hip-hop and comedy change your expectation of the performance? Observe how the audience around you reacts. How does listening to this type of performance make them feel?

RefleCT, ReSPond and Read

Reflect on the performance and lead the class in a discussion.

What is the difference between spoken word/Slam poetry and traditional poetry?

What techniques can you identify were used to deliver the poems?

How do other artists use spoken word, hip hop techniques similar to the Mayhem Poets?

How are other spoken word artists different from them?

Go back to your research on your chosen spoken word artist or comedian. Re-read their material keeping the performance you just saw in mind. What are the similarities and differences between the artists researched and those you’ve just seen? Which performance techniques does your chosen artist use to convey their art?

FoCuS How does spoken word and comedy enhance poetry?

Have your students consider the different types of spoken word and re-interpret a poem or piece of literature which speaks to them most strongly.

In small groups, discuss how you and your

classmates can use spoken word or comedy to make something that is personal and meaningful to you. Decide if you want to work alone or in a group.

ORiGinaTe Prepare the students to compose and perform spoken word or stand-up comedy in your classroom. Talk to them about using their imagination and life experiences to create a new artistic expression inspired by the art form they’ve just experienced.

Consider something that excites or bothers you, either individually or as a group. Use the techniques of hip-hop or comedy to really get to the core of the problem. Write a piece that really reveals something personal. Use your imagination and take a risk— both are a part of creating art!

ReHeaRSe Introduce the concept of rehearsal which allows students to build confidence and grow as an artist.

It’s time to practice. You might have improvised at first, but now it’s time to prepare to share with an audience. Make a video recording to help you remember what you’ve done: not just the words, but also which hand and body motions were most effective, and when your pauses were too long or not long enough. Watch the recording and critique your performance. Practice again, to refine and polish your ideas.

MaKe magic

Create a stage area and an audience area in the classroom.

Introduce and reinforce positive response and constructive critiquing.

It’s time to share your creation. After you’re done, be sure to talk with your audience to hear what they thought. Listen to their reactions. Were they were inspired by your creation?

nJ aRTS STandaRdSnaTional aRTS STandaRdS neW JeRSeY STudenT leaRninG STandaRdS

nJ arts Standards1.1 The Creative Process1.2 History of Arts & Culture1.3 Performance1.4 Aesthetic Response & Critique

national arts Standards1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas

and work. 5: Develop and refine artistic techniques and

work for presentation. 6: Convey meaning through the presentation

of artistic work.7: Perceive and analyze artistic work 8: Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.11: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal,

cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding

english language artsSL 8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussionsSL 8.2 Interpret information presented in diverse mediaSL 8.4 Presentation of Knowledge and IdeasRL.8.2. Determine the key details in a story, drama or poem to identify the theme and to summarize the text. RL.8.3. Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).RL.8.7. Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem).RL.8.9. Compare, contrast and reflect on (e.g. practical knowledge, historical/cultural context, and background knowledge) the treatment of similar themes and topics (e.g., opposition of good and evil) and patterns of events (e.g., the quest) in stories, myths, and traditional literature from different cultures.

Social Studies6.1.12.D.14.f Determine the influence of multicultural beliefs, products and practices in shaping contemporary American culture

find THe STandaRdS – For more detailed information on the standards, visit these websites:

NJ LEARNING STANDARDS ELA - http://www.state.nj.us/education/cccs/2016/ela/NJ SOCIAL STUDIESSTANDARDS – http://www.state.nj.us/education/cccs/2014/ss/NJ ARTS STANDARDS – http://www.state.nj.us/education/cccs/2009/1.pdfNATIONAL ARTS STANDARDS – www.nationalartsstandards.org

ReSouRCeSTHe MaYHeM PoeTSwww.mayhempoets.com/

Click Media link for: • Performance video promo• New York Times article: “Mayhem Poets”

Scott Raven: www.scottraven.net/To purchase Scott Raven’s published poetry: www.scottraven.net/merchandise

Mason Granger’s Slamfind mobile app: http://www.slamfind.com/Slamfind on Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/SlamFindMason Granger for new era Caps: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEloGW71U0g

Mikumari Caiyhe performing "Sunshine" www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1s3tX0pKo0

on HiP-HoP, RaP and SPoKen WoRdCan’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation by Jeff Chang, DJ Kool HercHip Hop America by Nelson George

How to Rap by Paul Edwards Understanding Rap by William Buckholz The Spoken Word Revolution: Slam, Hip-Hop and the Poetry of the Underground by Mark Eleveld, Marc SmithResources on Spoken Word for the Classroom: www.edutopia.org/blog/film-festival-national-poet-ry-month-spoken-word5 Tips on Spoken Word:www.powerpoetry.org/actions/5-tips-spoken-word

on CoMedY and iMPRovThe Improv Handbook by Jeff Chang, DJ Kool HercTruth in Comedy: The Manual for Improvisation by Charna HalpernBossypants by Tina Fey Improvisation Starters by Philip BernardiThe Comic Toolbox: How to Be Funny Even If You’re Not by John VorhausCompass americas first improv Theatre #1 (documentary) www.youtube.com/watch?v=gooZ7HO42XoThe Second City YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/user/TheSecondCityNetwork

Mayhem Poets www.njpac.org/education 5

The P.E.R.F.O.R.M. activities will enable students to get the most out of a SchoolTime performance

vocabulary

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cultural connections

Hip Hop: also called hip-hop or rap music, is a music genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted.

improv: a form of theater where most or all of what is performed is created at the moment it is performed. In its purest form, the dialogue, action, story, and characters are created collaboratively by the players as the improvisation unfolds in present time, without use of an already prepared, written script

Rap: a style of popular music, developed by disc jockeys and urban blacks in the late 1970s, in which an insistent, recurring beat pattern provides the background and counterpoint for

rapid, slangy, and often boastful rhyming patter glibly intoned by a vocalist or vocalists.

Spoken Word: poetry intended for onstage performance, rather than exclusively designed for the page. While often associated with hip-hop culture, it also has strong ties to storytelling, modern poetry, post- modern performance, and monologue theatre, as well as jazz, blues, and folk music.

Stand-up Comedy: a comic style in which a comedian performs in front of a live audience, usually speaking directly to them. The performer is commonly known as a comic, stand-up comic, stand-up comedian, or simply a stand-up.

The art of spoken word has existed for millennia. This global tradition of oral traditions passed on the history, culture and traditions of different civilizations. In African, Native American, and Aboriginal cultures, spoken word also included drumming and dancing. The Ancient Greeks included Greek lyric contests in the Olympic Games similar to today’s slam poetry competitions.

Modern North American spoken-word poetry stemmed from the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance, blues music, and the 1960s beatniks. Modern-day spoken-word poetry became popular in the underground Black community in the 1960s with The Last Poets, a poetry and political music group born out of the Civil Rights movement.

Contemporary hip-hop and slam poetry artists were inspired by poets such as Langston Hughes in their phrasing. The experimental and often radical commentary of the Black Arts Movement developed force with cutting-edge jazz and funk music that expanded the boundaries of the black cultural persona, providing an arena for increasingly alternative political ideologies to be raised, discussed, and acknowledged.

Hip hop as music and culture formed during the 1970s when block parties became increasingly popular in New York City, particularly among African American youth residing in the Bronx. The first such was in 1973, where artists Cindy Campbell and DJ Kool Herc presided. Later that year, the culture gathered momentum when Afrika Bambaata formed the Zulu Nation organization in the Bronx River Houses.

Hip hop music in its infancy has been described as an outlet for the disenfranchised youth of low-income areas. As the culture developed, it reflected the social, economic and political realities of their lives. In 1979, the first rap record (King Tim the 3rd, FatBack Band) was released, followed by Rappers Delight Sugar Hill Gang (First Gold/Platinum Rap top 40 song).

The earliest documented improvisational theatre in Eastern history is found in the Atellan Farce of Africa 391 BC. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, Italian commedia dell'arte performers improvised based on a well-known story line. In the 1890s, theatrical theorists and directors such as the Russian Konstantin Stanislavski and the French Jacques Copeau, founders of two major streams of acting theory, both used improvisation techniques in training and rehearsing.

Modern theatrical improvisation games began as drama exercises for children, part of drama education in the early 20th century. In the 1970s in Canada, British playwright and director Keith Johnstone invented Theatresports, which has become a staple of modern improvisational comedy and is the inspiration for the popular television show Whose Line Is It Anyway?

The first generation of modern American improvisers were at The Compass Players in Chicago, which led to The Second City. They were the first organized troupes in Chicago, and the modern Chicago improvisational comedy movement grew from their success, including such well-known comedians as Elaine May, Mike Nichols, Ted Flicker, and Del Close. Many of the original cast of Saturday Night Live came from The Second City, including such comedy stars as Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Bob Odenkirk, Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, Eugene Levy, Jack McBrayer, Steve Carell, Chris Farley, Dan Aykroyd, and John Belushi.

Stand-up comedy stretches back as far as classic Parrhesia in 400 B.C. Stand-up comedy in the United Kingdom began in the music halls of the 18th and 19th centuries. North American stand-up comedy has its roots in various traditions of popular entertainment of the late 19th century, including vaudeville, music hall, burlesque or early variety shows; minstrel shows, humorist monologues by personalities such as Mark Twain, and circus clown antics.

The founders of modern American stand-up comedy include Moms Mabley, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, George Burns, Fred Allen, and Milton Berle, all of whom came from vaudeville. They spoke directly to the audience as themselves, in front of the curtain. As vaudeville died in the 1950s and 60s, nightclubs and resorts became the new venue for stand-ups. Notable comics from this era include Woody Allen, Phyllis Diller, and Bob Newhart. Some Black American comedians such as Redd Foxx and Bill Cosby began to cross over, entertaining both Black and white audiences alike. From the 1970s to the 90s, different styles of comedy began to emerge, from the madcap improvisations of Robin Williams, to Jerry Seinfeld and Ellen DeGeneres, and the mimicry of Whoopi Goldberg and Eddie Murphy. Today’s generation of comedians include Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Margaret Cho, Louis C.K., Kathy Griffin and Sarah Silverman, among many, many others.

nJPaC STaff liSTinG (PaRTial liSTinG)

BRinG THe aRTS To YouR SCHoolin-School Residencies: Drama + Social Studies. Dance + Math. It all adds up in NJPAC’s In-School Residencies in which professional teaching artists partner with educators to bring the arts into the classroom. Each 7- to 10-week program culminates in a student performance or an interactive family workshop. All programs address state and national standards. NJPAC is the regional provider in New Jersey for international arts programs like the Wolf Trap Institute’s Early Learning Through the Arts Program and Dancing Classrooms Global.

assemblies: NJPAC presents engaging school assembly programs that are presented by professional artists that invite students into the enchanting world of live performance. NJPAC’s assembly series promotes cultural awareness and invigorates learning by presenting works that are connected to your’s school’s curriculum.

STudY THe aRTS aT nJPaCafter School and Saturday Programs: NJPAC’s after school and Saturday programs are geared towards students at every level—from those who dream of starring on Broadway to those who are still learning their scales. Students work with professional artists to build technique and develop their own creative style in chorus, contemporary modern dance, hip hop, jazz, musical theater and symphonic band.

Summer Programs: Want to begin to explore the arts? Or immerse yourself in the study of one genre? Then join us at NJPAC next summer in one of seven programs that spark the creativity in every child through the study of music, dance and theater.

John R. Strangfeld, ChairJohn Schreiber, President & CEOAlison Scott-Williams, Vice President of Arts EducationDanielle Thompson, Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Arts EducationKristina Watters, Manager of Operations and SystemsCaitlin Evans-Jones, Director of Partnerships, Performances, and Professional Development Rosa Hyde, Manager Arts Education PerformancesPatricia Sweeting, Coordinator, Performances and RecruitmentJennifer Tsukayama, Senior Director of Arts EducationJamie M. Mayer, Director of In-School Programs

Victoria Revesz, Manager of In-School ProgramsKyle Conner, Coordinator of In-School ProgramsMark Gross, Director of Jazz InstructionAlexis Almeida, Coordinator of Music Programs and New InitiativesTara Baker, Office Manager, Arts EducationRaven Oppong-Boateng, Program Assistant, Arts Education

Teacher Resource GuidesMichelle Cameron, The Writers Circle LLCJudith Lindbergh, The Writers Circle LLC Lia DiStefano, Graphic Design liadidadesign.com

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call our education sales team at 973-353-7058 or email us at artseducation@njpac.org. Visit us at www.njpac.org/education.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center • One Center Street • Newark • NJ 07102

NJPAC Arts Education programs are made possible through the generosity of our endowment donors: The arts education endowment fund in honor of Raymond C. Chambers, The Joan and allen Bildner family fund, albert and Katherine Merck, and The Sagner family foundation

Generous annual support for NJPAC Arts Education Programs is provided by:nJ advance Media/The Star-Ledger, McCrane foundation, inc., care of Margrit McCrane, John and Suzanne Willian/Goldman Sachs Gives, MCJ amelior foundation, amy liss, Jennifer a. Chalsty, Johnson & Johnson family of Companies, Panasonic Corporation of america, and atlantic, Tomorrow's office, Stewart and Judy Colton

New jersey performiNg arts ceNter