SPECIAL EVENT: Panel Discussion "Erase Hate, Choose Love" at THE LARAMIE PROJECT June 26, 2014

We’re honored to welcome Lila Smith, Lasheen Williams, and Qamrosh Khan to The Seeing Place, where they will be our special guest speakers on Thursday, June 26, 2014, immediately following a performance of the award-winning play, THE LARAMIE PROJECT.

This talkback will be an intimate post-show discussion about personal experiences, confronting prejudice and taking a stand in everyday life. The three speakers will talk about their personal experiences with prejudice and bullying and lead the audience through a conversation on making a positive impact in their community.

EVENT DETAILS

What:

THE LARAMIE PROJECT, followed by the talkback: “Erase Hate, Choose Love."

When:

Thursday, June 26, 2014 (8pm)

Where:

The Seeing Place @ ATAs Sargent Theater

(314 W 54th St, 4th Floor - look for red sign outside, then proceed to rear elevator)

Tickets:

$12 General Admission

Purchase Online: www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showcode=larB32

Purchase by phone: 212-868-4444

(Note: be sure to choose June 26 as the event date)

Running Time:

The play runs 2 hours 25 minutes including two brief intermissions. The talkback will start immediately following the play and will last 20-30 minutes.

Note: if you cannot attend this event but would like to see the play on another day, you may choose any date June 13-29, 2014, Wed-Sat 8pm & Sat-Sun 2pm. Click here for full details.

About Our Speakers:

Lasheen Williams was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, in the East New York section. As a child, he had limited exposure to other cultures but had the drive to branch out from his neighborhood and broaden his Horizons. As an adult, in the "dating game" his preference is Caucasian females. Throughout his dating experiences and life in general, he has encountered numerous roadblocks, negativity, and profiling, but he doesn't allow them to stop him in his pursuit.

"…I was messaging a few women. One white girl responded, 'What makes you think that you can date a race that will never accept you and never want you?' "

Qamrosh Khan is a Middle School and High School English teacher in New York City. She holds a Bachelors degree in English Literature with a concentration in creative writing, and a Masters degree in English Adolescent Education (grades 7-12). Her interests include writing short fiction & poetry, teaching, her love for the theater, and is currently working on her novel. Her goal is to provide inspiration through her writing, and build togetherness, and tolerance between people and communities around the world. She has recently created her own blog cite to inspire and address issues that people go through in everyday life at:www.thejourneyintoyourself.weebly.com. She appreciates all the support she has received from her family and friends.

"Clearly, all HE saw when he got on that bus was two women wearing Hijab (head scarf), and thought he could bully us... this is just plain sad, that things like this still happen."

Lila Smith is a born-and-raised New Yorker who is grateful for having been exposed to diversity and culture her entire life. It is this background, along with a passion for inclusiveness, which brings her to lead this talkback. Her hopes are that this evening's discussion will leave us all feeling more aware of our own behavior, and more prepared to embrace others for the differences between us. Lila is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association, a women's personal-garment fit expert with TrioFit Technology, and a company member of The Seeing Place, of which she is also Outreach Manager.

"I have to check myself every time I make a snap judgment about someone I don't know. I do it way more often than I'd like to admit. Being conscious of it is the first step."

About The Seeing Place:

Now in its 5th Season, The Seeing Place is an actor-driven company: built by actors and managed by actors to be a base for actors who want to grow & hone their craft in a creative and supportive artistic home. We are forcefully committed to four elements of theatre-making: developing actors into thriving self-producers; honoring the craft of the actor’s process through rehearsal and into performance; bringing organic, “fully lived” storytelling to our community; and making theater accessible for all New Yorkers by keeping ticket prices low and affordable.

Questions? Email outreach@seeingplacetheater.com. For more information, please visit www.seeingplacetheater.com