The All Stars Project, Inc. (ASP) has introduced its Artistic Advisory Council (Council), made up of four theatre artists and cultural figures who will guide the artistic direction and stage programming for the ASP's Performance Lab (PLab) at its multi-theatre venue and youth development center on West 42nd Street in New York.

The Council is led by Gabrielle L. Kurlander, actor, director, producer, PLab founder and founding CEO of ASP (1989-2023). Additional members include actor and director Madelyn Chapman, actor and playwright Reynaldo Piniella, and actor and producer John Rankin III.

"We are excited to establish a fresh cultural space where theatre artists and creatives can push limits and ignite new ideas through performance," said Kurlander. "At a time when nonprofit theatres and their artist development initiatives are vanishing from New York, the All Stars is strengthening its commitment to theatrical performance as a driver for human creativity, connection and community building."

Two Council members, Piniella and Chapman, developed and started Untitled, a monthly play-reading series and playwriting intensive backed by PLab. More than 35 plays and 200 theatre artists have participated to date, creating a space for emerging talents and joint experimentation.

Council members bring decades of experience from Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway stages.

Kurlander is a dedicated theatre artist who has helmed over 50 productions, earning six AUDELCO Awards, including Outstanding Director of a Musical for Sally and Tom (The American Way). In 2023, she was honored with the Humanitarian and Social Justice Advocacy Award from Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre.

Chapman, a founding member of the Castillo Theatre, trained at Drama Studio London and has worked extensively as a performer, director, producer and educator. She recently directed Lost Sock Laundry by Ivan Faute at UP Theater and appeared in Sheltered by Cate Wiley at the Cell Theatre, while mentoring new playwrights via Untitled.

Piniella has appeared on Broadway in Trouble in Mind (Roundabout Theatre) and Thoughts of a Colored Man (Golden Theatre). His recent honors include the Thomas Barbour Award for Playwriting and recognition on the "50 under 50" notable alumni list by the City University of New York. Piniella has built a broad career in film, TV and stage, with TV credits including Reservation Dogs, Law and Order: SVU and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Originally from East New York, Brooklyn, he is an alumnus of the ASP's Development School for Youth and Youth Onstage! programs.

Rankin serves as Director of Performance Programs for ASP of New York and has long been part of both the NYC Rep Ensemble and Castillo Theatre ensemble. His producing credits include the AUDELCO Award-winning Sally and Tom (The American Way), Katori Hall's Children of Killers and The Donut Play (A Love Story in 24 Conversations). He is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.

The Council's launch aligns with a key achievement for the ASP. On June 13, ASP will hold a Mortgage Burning celebration to mark the full payoff of the mortgage on its West 42nd Street Center. Theatre artists and youth will perform at the event, signaling the next stage in reimagining the center as a hub for performance, youth development and cross-sector collaboration in New York City.

"We are building a center where young people, artists, business and community leaders can form new bonds, broaden access and foster creativity through the developmental strength of performance," said Shadae McDaniel, President-Elect of ASP. "The Artistic Advisory Council strengthens ASP's ties to top-tier artistry and ensures that the West 42nd Street Center keeps evolving as a center for collaboration, innovation and human growth through the arts."

About the All Stars Project
The All Stars Project is a privately funded national nonprofit organization with 45 years of grassroots organizing and community building. Using the power of performance, ASP transforms the lives of youth from poor and underserved communities in partnership with caring adults, giving everyone the opportunity to grow. ASP's award-winning programs bring people from all racial, economic and social backgrounds together to create something positive, new and transformative for all involved. In addition to operating in New York City, NY, ASP runs programming nationally in Dallas, TX; Newark and Jersey City, NJ; Chicago, IL; the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond - thanks to virtual programming - with volunteers and partnerships in over 20 states.

Press Contact
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SOURCE The All Stars Project