KUNTU'S T.A.C.T. PROGRAM INTRODUCES INNER CITY YOUTH TO THEATER Children from 5 Pittsburgh housing communities to act in Nzinga and the Festival of Gifts

July 30, 2001

PITTSBURGH—Through the Fund for Children's Programs, youngsters from five Pittsburgh public housing communities will experience the thrill of performing in a fully staged theater production of Nzinga and the Festival of Gifts, produced by the University of Pittsburgh's Kuntu Repertory Theatre.

Performances are free and open to the public. They will be held at 8 p.m., on Friday, August 10, and at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., on Saturday, August 11, in the 7th floor auditorium of the Masonic Temple, 4227 Fifth Avenue, on the Pitt campus.

The play, set in 18th century Africa, explores issues of class and gender through words, music, and dance. The actors–children ages 7-12–all reside in the Second East Hills, Garfield, Hamilton Larimer, Homewood North, and Hawkins Village public housing communities, which developed the idea of creating a summer theater production that would give children living there a first-hand experience of the joys and challenges of acting and theater.

Residents in the five housing communities, all of whom participate in the Fund for Children's Programs, contracted with Kuntu Repertory Theatre to produce Nzinga and the Festival of Gifts. The Funds for Children's Programs provides safe, enriching, and enjoyable opportunities for children living in public housing communities. Members of the housing communities create, govern, and implement the Fund's programs in their communities. Kuntu Repertory theatre will produce Nzinga and the Festival of Gifts through its Teaching and Creating Together (T.A.C.T.) Program.

The Fund for Children's Programs is supported financially by the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Office of Children, Youth and Families; The Pittsburgh Foundation; and the Allegheny County Housing Authority. It cooperates with the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, as well as the Allegheny County Assistance Office. The programs are staffed by housing community residents.

Kuntu Repertory Theatre is Pittsburgh's oldest African American theater company and the second oldest African American theater company associated with a university. For more information about Nzinga and the Festival of Gifts or Kuntu Repertory Theatre, call 412/624-7298 or visit the web site, www.kuntu.org.

### 7/30/01/mgc