2012 ANNUAL REPORT

 HISTORY AND OVERVIEW OF COMPANY CYPHER

Company Cypher was formed at the beginning of 2012, inspired by our signature show In The Cypher , which was co-conceived in the winter of 2006 by Gamal Palmer and Sarita Covington. The show was then performed for the first time under the direction of Patricia McGregor in 2007 at the Yale Cabaret, the student run theater for Yale School of Drama MFA candidates. Two years later, In The Cypher would make its NYC premiere. Since then In The Cypher has performed in New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

Company Cypher seeks to end racism by creating and sustaining a platform for dialogical exchange between multi-racial, multi-hue and multi-cultural people. Using Theater, Hip-Hop education and dialogue, we are dedicating to diminishing oppressions founded in racism and skin color prejudices. We challenge superficial and socially constructed differences to emphasize the unity the human race.

In The Cypher is a powerhouse show, part poetry slam, part theater that pushes the boundaries between audience and performer, creating a space like none other for interaction and transformation. Four poets, an MC and a waitress keep the audience jamming to poetic riffs about living in one’s own skin, using slam poetry, improvisation and Documentary Theater. In The Cypher puts skin color front and center while empowering everyone to look within. The show features audience judges, laugh out loud comedy, and spirited dissension to enlighten and enliven the discussion of race and skin color

SUMMARY OF 2012 PERFORMANCES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

• Cypher Reading Series – Reading of Things Went Horribly Wrong, a new play that spans time and place, exploring what happens in revolutions, particularly when they go astray. The play brings to light issues of youth incarceration, youth violence and feminine leadership.

• Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s Manhattan Community Arts Fund -Recipients grant to support our work with In The Cypher for the second year in a row.

• Company Cypher Website – New website highlighting our activities and events. 

• Cyphering Education Workshop in Philadelphia – 2-day workshop for Walter D. Palmer Leadership Learning Academy in West Philadelphia, which included a performance of ‘In The Cypher’ for student body and faculty.

•  In The Cypher/NY (Spring)- Our signature show returns to WOW Café Theater.

• In The Cypher/LA – A Concert Reading of ‘In The Cypher’ with original music! Members of the cast included; YSD grad Bridget Jones ’07, Lesley David Baker of The Office, popular recording artist Cassidy aka Bohem and directed by Shana Cooper YSD ‘08.

• Cyphering Education Workshop at Yale  – (The birthplace of our conceptual beginnings) Led a workshop in conjunction with Yale’s Drama and Divinity’s Master Students inter-disciplinary course The Quest for Social Justice Through Music, Theater & Religion.

• Palmer Foundation Fiscal Sponsorship – Company Cypher enjoys non-profit benefits and tax-deductible donation status with support from the Palmer Foundation.

• Undoing Racism for Artist & Arts Administrators Planning Workshop – Co-sponsored by Company Cypher and Urban Bush Women and facilitated by PISAB.

• In The Cypher/NY (Fall) & launch of From The Stage To The Streets Initiative– Incorporating a whole new cast and programmed post show talk backs with collaborating local activists to move the conversation of transformation from the stage to the streets.

• Network Broadening Initiative– where we successfully grew our network of ethnically diverse performers and technicians, as well as our mailing list and outreach, enlarging our audience by 200%.

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2013

• Company Cypher Documentary – we are embarking on a new journey. Stay tuned for ‘In The Cypher; The Documentary’. Audiences will finally witness the profound rehearsal process that produces our intimate and truth telling play.

Up Coming Events:

• Undoing Racism Workshop For Artist & Arts Administrators –This workshop sold out within the first month of advertising will offer artists tools for understanding and undoing racism in our profession and the media.
• Cyphering Education at the Trevor Day School – Company Cypher will perform and lead a talk-back for high school students at the Upper West Side school.

We encourage all to check out our website companycypher.com for more information.

“Something I learned from the workshop was the different points of view on racism. I also realized how easily I judge people when it comes to race, I never realized that before.”

– Mari, student of Walter D. Palmer high school