In five days, the on-line world will be treated to twelve straight nights of a digital festival featuring theater, music, and dance. These performances will be streamed live by Wired Arts Fest from February 19 to March 2, 2013. Tickets are just $2.50 and can be purchased on-line from this url: http://virtualarts.tv/
First a disclaimer: In making this announcement, I am not promoting any close friends or family members. I simply encountered a troupe of young actors who will be part of this festival and who have been rehearsing in a space adjacent to my home in the Bronx. This troupe, calling itself Mind the Art Entertainment, is one of twelve groups selected to present at the festival.
I hardly know these actors, but their work is compelling, and I am always interested in the work of young artists and in supporting their creative endeavors.
The future, after all, is theirs, and they deserve our support and encouragement. I also know that this future will look and feel quite different from the one I entered when I was their age, and that future will be defined by their sensibilities and values.
And so, I here introduce you to a few of the members of Mind the Art Entertainment and to the play that they have been rehearsing, Die: Roll to Proceed.
Clearly, my experience of theater differs from what they will be presenting. I go out to a theater which is located in an actual building other than my living space. I also expect to watch a play that is tightly scripted, that I may have read previously, and whose trajectory I already know.
In contrast to my theater experiences, Die: Roll to Proceed has been described as “a play with 240 different outcomes, an adventure comedy where the audience chooses how the story plays out every night.” And then, as part of the Wired Arts Fest, this play may be watched in our homes, on our computer, or on our mobile device as we walk down the street (although I wouldn’t advise this latter option).
![]() |
Justin, Christian, Amanda seen from my window in February, 2012, Mott Haven, The Bronx |
![]() |
Vic (owner of the sign shop), February 2013, Mott Haven, The Bronx |
![]() |
Ariana (in Vic’s room), February 2013, Mott Haven, The Bronx |
![]() |
Vic’s sign shop, 4th floor storage area, February 2013, Mott Haven, The Bronx |
![]() |
Vic’s sign shop, 4th floor storage area, Mind the Art in rehearsal, February 2013, Mott Haven, The Bronx |
![]() |
Mara, Vic’s sign shop, 4th floor storage area, February 2013, Mott Haven, The Bronx |
Mara studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, as did several other members of Mind the Art. They also had worked for NiteStar Program, a New York community based organization which focuses on sexual health education theater for young people and at-risk audiences.
![]() |
Scene set, Vic’s sign shop, 4th floor storage area, February 2013, Mott Haven, The Bronx |
![]() |
Christian & David, Observing a scene, 4th floor storage area, February 2013, Mott Haven, The Bronx |
David (standing) is a poet, actor and educator and a graduate in Theater Arts from Florida State University. He also worked with the NiteStar Program and is an active performer in both theater and poetry. He lives in the Bronx.
![]() |
Joe, Justin & Christian, Scene rehearsal, 4th floor storage area, February 2013, Mott Haven, The Bronx |
![]() |
Joe & Justin in rehearsal, 4th floor storage area, February 2013, Mott Haven, The Bronx |
![]() |
Robb in rehearsal, 4th floor storage area, February 2013, Mott Haven, The Bronx |
![]() |
Justin in rehearsal, 4th floor storage area, February 2013, Mott Haven, The Bronx |
![]() |
Christian watching a scene, 4th floor storage area, February 2013, Mott Haven, The Bronx |
To the play’s audience, he says: “Tonight you get to relish in the sheer pleasure of making someone else’s choices for them with no consequences whatsoever to yourself. Our characters tonight rely on you to decide their destiny. So cast off the pressures of your own life choices and play someone else’s game. Tonight it’s their fate… your hands… Roll the Die.”
And with this, I remind you, readers of Wassup This Week, to go on-line to VirtualArtsTV and participate in the live streaming of Die: Roll to Proceed, starting next week.
A wonderful story. Thank you so much for visiting us!
You are most welcome, Joe. Had I time to get to know you, I could have made it much more personal (and compelling, I imagine). Good luck next week with the streaming.
Well Said