THE BARDAVON PRESENTS HIP HOP THEATER WITH BABA ISRAEL & YAKO 440
One Performance Only on Thursday, May 19 at 7pm at the Bardavon
(Poughkeepsie, NY) – The Bardavon is pleased to present for the eleventh straight year of Hip Hop Theater with legendary hip-hop veterans: Baba Israel and Yako 440 on Thursday, May 19 at 7pm. The theme of this performance is UNITY and is the culmination of a two-week arts residency program with Poughkeepsie’s Columbus Middle School, led by Baba Israel and Yako 440 – an accomplished pair of actor/rapper/playwright/cultural activist teaching artists.
During the workshops that precede the show, the middle school students will explore emotions that will allow them to create characters and develop stories. Their characters come alive for the show with the help of the professional actors, musicians, and DJs in a galvanizing rhythm-filled evening. Funding is provided by TDBank Foundation, Millman, Harris Romano Foundation, and the Poughkeepsie City School District.
Baba Israel was raised in New York by parents who were core members of the Living Theatre. He developed as a young artist exploring spoken word, Hip Hop, and experimental performance. He lived and worked in Australia working on major community theatre projects, Hip Hop festivals and co-founded the group Meta Bass 'n Breath . He has toured as an emcee, beat-boxer, and theatre artist across North and South America, Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia.
Yako 440 is a multi-instrumentalist, beat-boxer, producer, graffiti artist, and burgeoning video maker.
Tickets for Hip Hop Theater: UNITY with Baba Israel and Yako 440 and students from Poughkeepsie’s Columbus Middle School on Thursday, May 19 at 7pm are just $6. Purchase tickets at the Bardavon Box Office (35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, 845.473.2072) or through TicketMaster 800.745.3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.
The Bardavon 1869 Opera House, Inc. (the Bardavon) is a New York State nonprofit corporation that owns and operates two historic theaters – the 944-seat namesake theater in Poughkeepsie and 1500-seat Ulster Performing Arts Center (UPAC) in Kingston – and the region’s premiere orchestra, the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. It presents top-notch music, dance, theater, and classic films for diverse audiences in both its venues; stages free annual outdoor events in local communities; and partners with regional schools to offer unique arts-based learning experiences. The Bardavon also continues to restore and preserve its historic theaters for today’s audiences and future generations to enjoy. Please visit www.bardavon.org.