NEWSLETTER | ALMASI 2014, Reflecting And Looking Forward.

Note from the President & Co-Founder

2014 marked a year of great transformation and growth. We saw two American actors: Andre Holland and board member Nyambi Nyambi come to Zimbabwe and teach acting intensives with fantastic results. We facilitated a Zimbabwean, Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi in his pursuit to attend an American Commedia Dell'arte school. He is currently in the New York City engaging in a cultural exchange with our associate artists during his winter break. We also commenced an exciting educational endeavor, our Director Mentor Program where Directors are trained through a series of staged readings. In the New Year our mentees will commence directing their own staged readings under Almasi Associate Artist Julie Wharton's guidance. Looking forward, we aim to more deeply establish our operation systems, to allow for several exchanges to occur at once and to facilitate more talented African artists in reaching their goals. Our organization has grown at an astounding rate and more artists from Zimbabwe and the US alike have approached us for education, facilitation, opportunity and cultural exchange. In 2015 we must strive to meet the demands that our successful track record has brought in the area of artistic collaboration. We look forward to partnering with you to see these goals come to pass and assuring that the African voice is amplified. Do consider giving an end of year gift to support the African artist and intercultural artistic collaborations. Tinotenda! 

In early 2015, ALMASI will partner with OJAI PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL, based in Ojai, California. Artistic Director Robert Egan will head to Zimbabwe to break new ground and commence our first playwrights festival, where he will work with a select number of playwrights and directors and through a series of Master Classes and readings, guide and nurture budding new Zimbabwean voices to create globally viable pieces of theater. Mr Egan will continue the exchange through the selection of an artist's work that will be further developed in Ojai, California at his festival later in the year. This exchange marks a new level of collaboration, direct partnership with an established artistic institution in the US, that is invested in working with African Artists on equal footing | ojaiplays.org

Tafadzwa Bob’s US Journey

Almasi Artist, Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi has been in the US for some months now, studying at a Commedia Dell'Arte International School in Blue Lake, California. We asked him to give us some updates on his experience. Currently he is engaged in a cultural exchange with Almasi facilitators in New York City, he went to his first Broadway show with Almasi Co-founder Danai Gurira this week! We will give you updates on his experiences and thoughts.

NO SKYSCRAPER?

December 20th 2014 by Tafadzwa Bob Mutumbi

My experience so far in NYC has been a great package of discoveries, lessons, inspirations, realities and fantasies. It is like in a dream. That dream which you will always talk about long after you experience it because of its impact in your existence. Meeting some of the world's greatest creative geniuses. Having up-close conversations with them about their craft. Visiting leading creative hubs and watching provocative shows made me slap my creative genius in the face and shout " wake up".
CONTINUE READING

Gideon Jeph Wabvuta is a recent graduate of the University of Zimbabwe Bachelor of Arts program in Theater. He has been a part of almost all Almasi trainings and productions. He is currently one of our Director Mentees. Gideon has a dream. He seeks to attend an American Masters of Fine Arts Program in Acting. Gideon is a very ambitious, hardworking and driven young man. He is relentless in his pursuit of his fullest potential. He cannot, however, reach his goal, without your support. Gideon must come to the US to audition in order to be considered for an MFA program. With your help, he can come to the US, audition, as well as experience a cultural and educational exchange with Artistic Institutions that support Almasi's vision. This goal can be accomplished if $6500 is raised. Help Gideon with his relentless pursuit of his dream. Every dollar counts.   

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!