NEWSLETTER | A Year Of Cultural Connection & Artistic Breakthrough
A Note from the President & Co-Founder
A Year of Artistic Breakthrough
Last year marked a year of vision turned possibility, turned reality. When we started this journey we foresaw true opportunity being afforded to the Zimbabwean artist. We foresaw their talents receiving tangible rewards, we foresaw an awakening in Zimbabwe’s dramatic arts, where greatness would be realized, excellence would be achieved and legacies would be born. We foresaw cultural interaction between Africans and Americans where walls of division would be demolished and rich, revolutionary art would result. We foresaw a new realm in the arts. 2013 made it clear that these hopes were tangible and obtainable. We conducted three successful cultural exchanges with one Zimbabwean coming to America for mentorship and two Americans coming to Zimbabwe to direct and teach. We had two highly successful productions, one American director led, presented staged readings to Zimbabweans for the first time, creating a cycle where great works are explored and shared; employed and trained more than thirty Zimbabwean artists and ignited a previously untapped sector of society into audiences and invested persons. The vision has started to feel tangible.... CONTINUE READING
My “Convert” Experience
by Elizabeth R.S Muchemwa
Working on the African premiere of The Convert by Danai Gurira was a deeply worthwhile experience. Each and every job I take on is an opportunity to grow and to learn something new. Before coming on to the job as an Assistant director, some asked me why I was going to take this on since I have been directing for some time and have undergone some training; but seeing director Adam Immerwahr in the rehearsal room with the actors and the stage management team; in production meetings with the technical and production team made me realize another aspect of directing that I had not been able to experience. This confirmed to me that I had made the right decision. I had always wondered what would it be like to have all the personnel that you need when you are making a stage production, because one does not relish being part of a production where as a director you are doing almost everything; that is what I have had to put up with working in Zimbabwe. And coming from that experience I appreciated the importance of a functioning producer, a playwright who is available to answer questions that the actors have concerning the script, a stage manager who is present for all rehearsals and is capable of running the show and technical crew that have had enough meetings with the director, and are deeply familiar with the play and can deliver work that complements the show... CONTINUE READING
Elizabeth R.S Muchemwa was the assistant director of "The Convert" directed by Adam Immerwahr
This was Kuda's first time working in the theater. He proved a crucial part of the team, going above and beyond to ensure the production was protected and successful. He symbolized Almasi's "Excellence" ideology to the utmost.
Kuda Kanenmbirira was Front of House and Ticket Sales person for "The Convert" directed by Adam Immerwahr
An Artist we are Invested In
Meet Gideon, you may have met him, he has been in all of our works thus far. Gideon is a final year BA student majoring in dramatic arts who recently starred as Chilford in Almasi's production of The Convert here in Harare. He played Walter Lee in our Staged Readings of Raisin in the Sun and Sterling in our Radio Golf. He wishes to obtain his MFA in the US and Almasi is dedicated to helping him see this goal through to its fruition. LEARN MORE
"Acting is a passion, and studying MFA acting would address the need I have to further my acting skills. My desire is to set a standard for my fellow country men that we have what it takes to make it all over the world as Danai has done. I would be delighted to fulfill this dream as I know it would also benefit everyone in Zimbabwe. My mission is to faithfully tell stories that will resonate with our day to day lives and it will focus people on addressing the flaws that exist within particular institutions and individuals. I also seek to speak for and with the marginalised and oppressed within society; all this I want to do through the exploration of the mind. My work should question norms and never strengthen stereotypes but always seek to bring a new knowledge and light."
Upcoming News & Events
Almasi partners with Reps Theater. Reps Theater will house Almasi productions and trainings.
Almasi artist Gideon Jeph Wabvuta applies to US MFA Programs
Next Staged Reading: August Wilson's Fences. Stay tuned...
Become a Cultural Ambassador!
Almasi works to build tangible, long term, collaborative relationships
between American and African artists. It seeks to professionalize Zimbabwe's
dramatic arts industry; to bring real opportunity and employment to Africans
who are talented and dedicated to their craft.
Create an opportunity today!
