EMILY RUPP

Here's Emily Rupp! She's a talented young singer, writer, actor and songwriter. Emily is a member of the Project Girl Performance Collective and also serves on our steering committee. She is a recent NYC transplant from Michigan. Enjoy the photos we took in Central Park on one of the first beautiful spring days in NYC!

Who Are You?
I'm a real life cartoon character who's on an adventure to find the pot of gold at the end of her rainbow. A lively, artistic, passionate, and powerful human being.




What do you believe in?
I believe in God, myself, and the people that are around me striving to create a positive image for the rest of the world to reciprocate.

What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?
I want to see something positive. No matter how big or how small. Strive to do an act of random kindness everyday, sooner or later it'll snowball and something astounding will come from something small. I want people to pay attention, not just to listen or hear an opinion...but feel it. People need to listen more with their heart and not with their ears. I fit into this idea by standing out, we all stand out in different ways, no one would fit in if we were all the same. Humans need to share. We need to listen to each other and allow our minds to explore and feel.

If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?
My soundtrack would have everything from birds chirping over a trickling stream to techno bass beats and EVERYTHING in between.

If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?
Touring the world with my mom leading motivational events that would include lunch, speeches, stories, and songs.


I Can't Live Without...
My family & .......my iPhone

What are you craving right now?
I'm itching to grab my guitar and play it.

Talk about a piece of art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...
When I was a sophomore in High School back in Michigan I was able to take a workshop with the Young Americans. They semi tricked people into auditioning, I was just hanging out singing in a room with some other people, but it was actually a test! When they were passing out random solos to people, they called my name down to do the biggest solo of the show. It was part of a mash up of "Eleanor Rigby" & "Let it Be" by The Beatles. It had some melody and a lot of freestyling soul. It was my first time reaLly performing at a large venue (my middle school gymnasium) where there were light/sound techs and a microphone. After I finished singing that song, I knew that's what I'd be doing the rest of my life.

What motivates you to do what you do?
I do. Sure there are people around you to help but in the end you can only really count on yourself. My life and my mind are what motivates me. My past, my experiences, my thoughts, dreams, and creative ideas are what help me to strive to be the best ME there is out there.


If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?
I've recently watched Kirsten Dunst in the movie, Marie Anoinette. I think it'd be so fun to live a life of extravagance. She was a very curious and interesting human being, as am I, I think we'd get along.

If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?
Lucielle Ball, I Love Lucy. My all time favorite TV show. My character would be a mix between Lucy's outrageous, over the top, kooky-ness & Ethel's wiser, more level headed, mentor type. They would be the best triple threat to hit TV screens ever.

Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?
Defining moment in my life. Wow, this is a toughie. The moment when I was sitting on the witness stand, having been a victim, and heard "no further questions, your honor" and was able to step down and feel the weight lifted off of my shoulders knowing that I had undergone the long, brutal, legal process and that I stood up for myself. This moment in my life was something that showed me that I did not completely lose myself, I just put up a lot of walls. Once I was past the process I was able to begin tearing down those walls and use my experience to find myself again and build myself back up to be the incredible woman that I am today.

Talk about the best day ever.
My best day ever would include all of my closest friends, my family, my acquiantences, anyone that I've had a pleasant encounter with. This event would take place somwhere on a lake, preferable a Great Lake around Michigan. We'd cook, and bake, eat food, go dancing, make art, play music. We'd watch the sunset over the water and make a campfire and roast marshmallows until it was so dark only the fire could light our faces and we'd stare up at the stars and whisper stories until we fell asleep and could play in dreamland.



Who is/are your hero(es)?
My family. We all have our own superpowers, and combined we make one lean-mean-family-supporting-machine.

Create a mandatory reading list for the world:
The Bible
"An Alchemy of Mind" - By Diane Ackerman

For more pictures of Emily, visit: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/04/02/

EMILY TEMPLE

I met Emily when she was a freshman at Pace University (and I was a senior). We were in The Trojan Women together. Now Emily is a senior and I'm, well, getting old... haha. Time flies. Emily is multi talented - an actor, costumer and academic. I loved hearing her aspirations beyond graduation from Pace University this spring. She has great plans and a great vision!

1. Who Are You?
Emily Temple, a 21 year old senior BFA acting major, Women’s and Gender Studies minor at Pace University.

2. What do you believe in?
God; true equality and acceptance of all people no matter what background they come from, what color their skin is, or what their sexual orientation is; instant gratification takes too long; and sometimes there is nothing like a good book or a good movie to make a horrible day better.

3. What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?
I would love to see people begin to take a more active and educated role in government instead of blindly following what the media tells them is right, as well as a move away from discrimination that stems from race, sexual orientation, or religious background. Coming from a small town in the south I know how damaging this kind of blind ignorance can be, and I have done my best and will continue to strive to open people’s eyes to the fact that we aren’t really all that different when you get down to it, every person deserves to be loved for who they are and what they believe regardless of what that is.



4. If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?
More Beautiful You-Jonny Diaz, Rhapsody in Blue, Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra (yes I’m old school), Boondocks-Little Big Town, Breathe-Anna Nalick, and Love Song-Sara Bareilles.

5. If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?
Working on Broadway as an actress or a costumer or back in India teaching in orphanages and doing street theater.

6. I Can't Live Without...
Music, old Julie Andrews’ movies, chocolate, and my friends and family.


7. What are you craving right now?
A chance to move beyond Pace and work professionally in the arts that I love so much, and some good old fashioned southern cooking.

8. Talk about a piece of art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...
The first time I read The Miracle Worker by William Gibson I realized just how impactful theatre can really be; as actors we take real people and real stories and make them accessible to an audience in a way that they may not have previously been able to experience. At the time I was babysitting a little girl who had been born with half a heart and had delayed motor skills due to damage from extensive surgeries she’d had, and who’d been told she would never speak. I began teaching her sign language (much like Anne Sullivan teaches Helen in The Miracle Worker) as a way to teach her to communicate, and within four months she was speaking, my name was the fifth word she learned to say. Several years later I was fortunate enough to play Anne Sullivan in a production of the show with the Virginia Courthouse Players, and I can truly say that show and that little girl changed the path my life has taken.

9. What motivates you to do what you do?
“To whom much is given much is expected” I have been very blessed in my life and I feel it’s my responsibility to not take those blessings for granted, but to instead make an effort to make someone else’s life better.

10. If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?
It’s impossible to pick just one so I have a few:
Anne Sullivan because she was a brilliant teacher, thinker, and woman and I’m so in awe of the work she did, Mother Teresa because of the incredible work she did in India, specifically with the Dalit caste that I hold so dear to my heart because of the limited work I got to do with them when I was 17, and finally Emily Dickinson because there is just something so fascinating and mysterious about her that I think it would be interesting to be one of the few confidants she had in her life.

11. If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?
As cliché as this is, I’d want to be in The Sound of Music (the film not the play), maybe as one of Maria’s friends, just some excuse to be in a movie singing with Julie Andrews and running around the hills in Austria. There’s just something really happy about that movie (even though the ending is a bit of a downer) that would be fun to be a part of.


12. Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?
I recently found out that I have a life threatening heart condition that is pretty much nonexistent in people my age, and this revelation made me look at my life in a whole new way. I could have found out about this condition much sooner and been able to prevent it from worsening to the level it has by altering the way I lived my life, but then I would have missed out on so much of my life that has made me who I am. I never would have been able to play sports as a kid, go swimming in the river and water skiing with friends after school, I wouldn’t have been able to spend the summer before my senior year of high school in India working with orphans and lepers (an experience which truly changed my life), and I never would have been able to move to New York and become the woman I am today. I have a greater understanding of the importance of life because of the way I have lived it thus far and now because I know my life may be shorter than that of the average person, and I’m incredibly grateful I didn’t find out about it until now because it allowed me to have a well rounded childhood and early adulthood, and it gives me something to fight for now that I know I have to fight.

13.Talk about the best day ever.
Sleeping in, having breakfast with my family, going for a walk by the river, spending the afternoon reading and hanging out with friends, going out for a relaxed dinner with my closest friends and family and seeing a show or watching a movie-just a simple relaxing day.

14. Who is/are your hero(es)?
My mother

15. Create a mandatory reading list for the world:
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Persuasion by Jane Austen
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Because of Romek by David Farber


For more pictures of Emily, visit: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/03/10/

ROBERT GONYO

It's my pleasure to introduce one of my favorite people in the world (and partner in crime), Robert Gonyo. He is the co-founder/artistic director of Co-Op Theatre East (www.cooptheatreeast.org), a brilliant musician, writer, director and actor. Most importantly, Robby is probably one of the kindest and genuine person you'll ever meet. He holds his Master's from NYU-Tisch in Performance Studies and undergraduate degrees in theatre and political science. It was a well known fact in graduate school (and still stands today) that Robert makes the BEST blueberry muffins you'll ever have (from scratch). If you're lucky enough to get hold of one of these muffins or any of his Caribbean cooking, you'll be very satisfied. You can check out some of his acting work in COTE's next show, "Decadent Acts". Additionally, you can find out more about Robby by visiting www.robertgonyo.com.

Who are you?
A theatre artist & musician currently living in Brooklyn, NY.

What do you believe in?
Democracy and art.

What kind of change do you want to see?
Engagement with the political process by every citizen of every nation everywhere. A more rigorous, challenging, interesting, and fair public education system. Less screens/more scenes. Less arts bureaucracy, more art.


If you could be doing anything with your life right now, what would it be?
I'd almost like to be able to skip a few steps of the journey on my way to being a respected director, actor, and songwriter, but I think I've finally learned that there's no way to be where I want to be without the slog I'm in now. This slog, however, is so much better than other slogs I've been through...


I can't live without...
Good theatre, good music, my best friends, black licorice, delicious congrís, my cat Compay, and a little Havana Club now and again.

What are you craving right now?
A new play to direct. Something in the lineage of great American playwrights like Miller, Albee and Mamet, but which is completely original. I don't claim to be of that ilk, but I might just try to write one of my own.

Talk about a piece of art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life.
Seeing the Classical Theatre of Harlem's 2006 production of Waiting for Godot. It was then that I realized that theatre could actually make things happen outside of the theater's walls, because that production actually made me go to St. Bernard Parish in Louisiana for 10 days to volunteer with post-Katrina clean-up efforts.

What motivates you to do what you do?
A feeling that I should be doing more.



If you were best friends with any historical figure,
who would it be and why?
St. Francis of Assisi. I bet he was a blast to hang with, even (or especially) after his partying days. No matter what you think of his association with the church, he was the ultimate environmentalist, peace-monger, and wise-man (after Jesus, I suppose), and on top of it all, the cat was just down.


If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline, who would it be? how would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?
I've always heavily identified with Vladimir from Waiting for Godot. I even wrote a song about it.

Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?
I don't know that I could pick any particular moment; that's just not how my memory works. For me, something will happen in the present, and I'll remember something really important from my past because of it. I often worry that I don't remember anything; but then a moment like this will come along, and a particular memory will rise. I think I'm the accumulation of a lot of experiences, but I'm not sure I could identify the major ones.


Talk about the best day ever.
Greasy diner breakfast somewhere in Clinton County before kicking out some jams with friends in Brooklyn, 'una de cebolla' from Pizza Celina in Havana for lunch, a wander through Balboa Park in San Diego with friends, a late afternoon rehearsal of T.O. techniques with both old hands and folks who've never tried it before, dinner with friends of pork, rice & beans that I've cooked, catch a new play before it's back to Cuba for a mojito or three in Havana Vieja with friends, then a stroll by the Seine with Nicole.


Who is your hero?
Batman.

Create a require reading list for the world:
Theatre of the Oppressed by Augusto Boal
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
The Good Woman of Setzuan by Bertolt Brecht
Everything in print by J. D. Salinger
Slaughter-House Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons

Robby's Cat

For more pictures of Robby visit: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/02/07/people-who-want-change-robert-ak-gonyo.html

REGINA GENNARI

A proper introduction of Regina would take its own blog. Here is a girl who is all action. Regina is a 1L (first year Law Student) at Cardozo (Yeshiva University) in New York City. In addition to her academic achievements (highest GPA in her undergraduate class at Pace University, Recipient of Pace's Board of Trustees Award in addition to numerous other department honors) she is a humanitarian. Having traveled extensively throughout South Asia, Africa and Central America, Regina is committed to working towards peace, justice and equality for all. Look for her on the Supreme Court in 30 years!

1. Who Are You?
I'm Regina Gennari, a 23 year old law student from New York.

2. What do you believe in?

Social change, equality and the importance of positive thinking.

3. What kind of change do you want to see?

I want to see widespread, sustainable change in all sectors, so its hard to pinpoint a specific area. I'm working towards a law degree so I can work on international human rights issues, specifically those affecting women and children in developing countries.

4. If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?
Exactly what I'm doing right now. I'm satisfied with where I am and where I'm going.

5. What are you craving right now?

I'm sitting in a Belgian airport, after a two week study abroad trip through Rwanda and Tanzania. Right now, I'm craving New York and a hot shower.

6. Talk about a piece or art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life.
Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird inspired me to pursue law. Don't we all want to be Atticus Finch one day?

7. What motivates you to do what you do?
My faith and belief in a better world.

8. Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?
I worked at the Palm Tree Orphanage in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2008. My life has not been the same since then. My experience changed my perspective on the world and I realized how privileged I was, simply by being born in the US. Deeply affected by the poverty and corruption overtaking Cambodia, I was inspired to work on issues pertaining to developing countries.

9. Create a required reading list for the world:

To Kill a Mockingbird, A Problem From Hell by Samantha Power and the New York Times.


For more pictures of Regina, check out: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/01/18/

MARIAH MacCARTHY

There's really no need for me to introduce Mariah, because (as you will see by her answers) she speaks for herself. She is a NY based playwright and activist, working hard to end violence against women and for gender equality. Mariah is a force that will soon take the NYC theatre scene by storm (she's already started!). Remember her name because she'll be among the next Eve Enslers and Sarah Ruhls. When you're done here, check out her blog at www.nicefeminist.blogspot.com.

1. Who Are You?
Well, the intro to my blog describes me as "just your average uppity, moderate-liberal, occasionally androgynous, pansexual, vaguely Christian, feminist, humanist, sensualist, gender activist/ playwright/ lover of human beings." So that's a good place to start. I suppose I write "feminist" plays, but I try to approach feminism as a broader thing than just "hey stop oppressing us please." "Optimist" should probably be in there too.

2. What do you believe in?
I believe in listening. I believe in laughing at ourselves and at tragedy. I believe in some higher something or other, and I believe that this higher something is neither male nor female (or both), and that it has a sense of humor. I believe that every feeling you create, good or bad, comes back to you at the end of your life. I believe that a little androgyny is good for the soul. I believe that art can and does change the world, but not often enough. I believe in gratitude. I believe in forgiveness. I believe in paying it forward.

3. What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?
I want America to have a healthier relationship to gender. Not that America is unique in its unhealthiness in that regard, but it's a great place to start, since we pride ourselves on being the Greatest Place On Earth. I hope that by the time I'm a grandma, it will seem absurd that gay marriage was ever illegal; that in 2009 there had never been a female president; and that sexual and domestic violence statistics were as bad as they are today. I hope people become more open to the idea that gender is fluid; I hope idiotic gender stereotypes in sitcoms and romantic comedies and commercials become passe (not only are they frequently boring and unfunny, but they also become self-fulfilling prophecies). And I hope that we can let go of the notion that only psychos and supervillains ever commit rape, come to a clearer understanding as a culture of what rape is, and, ultimately, eliminate it.

So that's a lot of grandiose stuff to hope for, and on one level it seems kind of silly that I'm pursuing these ends by writing plays - hardly a means of reaching the masses anymore. But I don't appear to have much choice in the matter. Whether it's a lesbian riff on Romeo and Juliet (Ampersand: A Romeo & Juliet Story), a deconstruction of gender stereotypes (The All-American Genderf*ck Cabaret, coming up at Under St. Mark's in March 2010!), or a neo-noir play about a man who'll do anything for the woman he loves (A Man of His Word), I kind of can't help writing plays about sex-'n'-gender politics. But, it does no good to paint these issues as black and white, or to pretend that people who do terrible things aren't people. If we don't ask why, if we only vilify and refuse to probe, nothing will change. I want to provoke and unravel, not preach.

I'm also of the opinion that the world needs as much joy as possible, so my plays are often full of things that make me happy. So there's often a party scene, and dancing, and lots of making out. And I think my plays get funnier as time goes on, or at least goofier. I believe in more carrots than sticks- if you lure people in with funny or sexy, you can sneak your message on 'em.

4. If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?
Nina Simone. Amanda Palmer. Some badass-sounding stuff from the Matrix soundtracks, to make me feel cool when I'm just walking around. Pink Floyd. Some crazy cello tracks by Apocalyptica or the Vitamin String Quartet. Imogen Heap would probably score the love scenes. Murder By Death. It would be an extensive soundtrack. I think most things should happen to music.

5. If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?
I'd be getting paid to write plays that reach lots of people and change people's perceptions about themselves, and have the means to pay my favorite artists what they're worth to collaborate with me. And right at this moment someone would be feeding me grapes.

6. I Can't Live Without...
Music, hugs, or the Internet. Oddly enough I could probably live without theater for a while and be OK. I go months without movies, or books, but I need music.

7. What are you craving right now?
A Depeche Mode song, "Wrong," and sleep.

8. Talk about a piece of art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...
Pink Floyd's The Wall infiltrated my head and my life somewhere around my sophomore year of high school, in all its epic glory. I love that album for so many reasons, but a few of them are: it allows you to fill in some blanks yourself; it ends ambiguously, putting the power in the hands of the listener to decide what happens; and it doesn't take itself too-too seriously. And it rocks out like whoa. There's probably nothing I've written since that hasn't been subconsciously or consciously influenced by The Wall.

9. What motivates you to do what you do?
As a theater artist, if you haven't seen anything great in awhile, it's easy to forget why you're doing what you're doing, but then you see a totally transcendent play and remember, oh! That! I'm supposed to do that! That happens maybe 5-10 times in a year (if you're a persistent theatergoer), but those 5-10 times are worth the mediocrity of everything else you saw that year. As an activist, I have to admit, I get burnout sometimes and I don't want to read any articles about which group of women in the world is getting raped or tortured today. But eventually, I just have to keep doing what I do because my apathy-guilt will consume me otherwise. Plus, some dude will most likely catcall me at some point and get me angry enough to start activist-ing again.



10. If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?
Probably Lord Byron. He was a troublemaker.

11. If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?
I want to be in a Lady Gaga music video. I'd be an alter-ego of Ms. Gaga, in some kind of chainmail tutu and 2-feet-wide sunglasses, maybe killing somebody or eating strawberries.

12. Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?
When I was in The Vagina Monologues, we watched a documentary about how music videos contribute to a rape culture, and it contained a very graphic rape scene from a movie whose name escapes me now. I wasn't a rape survivor at the time, but had to leave the room crying. The girl who followed me out tried to calm me down, explaining that she knew that sometimes memories were triggered by this documentary. When I tried to explain that no memory had been triggered, that it hadn't actually happened to me, she seemed to lose concern. This confused me, even though I couldn't put it into words then. Why did the fact that I didn't have a directly correlating life experience make my response less significant? I didn't realize at the time that it would be a defining moment, but since then I've been more acutely aware of the occasional hypocrisy of compassion - how we pick and choose who is most worthy of our concern, and lose interest if people's experiences haven't been awful enough for our standards. And I try not to do that.


13.Talk about the best day ever.
Last year, my mother secretly flew me and all my siblings home for my Dad's 70th birthday, and we all surprised him at a ballgame. When he saw us, he screamed every old-guy-non-obscenity in the book (i.e. "holy jumping catfish"). It was the cutest thing ever. We spent the whole weekend eating, drinking, and going to the beach. I wish Dad would turn 70 every year.

14. Who is/are your hero?
The first person who comes to mind is Amanda Palmer. She's not a balls-to-the-wall activist, but she's all about creating community, and setting up environments where people can connect with each other (and with her) and spread as much love and joy as possible. I also have to give it up for Joan of Arc - former farmgirl leading an army at age 17 = badass. And Lenelle Moise is the kind of do-it-all goddess I'd give anything to emulate; everything she creates just glows. She's got the Midas touch.

15. Create a mandatory reading list for the world:
The Gendered Society by Michael Kimmel - an incredibly smart yet fun approach to gender roles, by a straight white dude.
The entirety of Neil Gaiman's Sandman comics series - some of the finest, most imaginative storytelling I've ever encountered, with a scope that encompasses basically EVERYTHING. Really. Everything.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides - a gender-bending, uber-American (in the way that immigrant stories are the most American stories of all), gorgeously written epic.
Repeat 7 Times (or anything) by Lenelle Moise. Read her poems out loud to yourself. You'll feel loved.
The completed plays of Sarah Kane, which you should also see whenever you get the chance (but bring a friend - you'll need a hug)
Fight Club, because even if you don't like it, this book and movie defined a generation (for worse, I think)
That Pretty Pretty, or, The Rape Play by Sheila Callaghan, if you missed it at Rattlestick. Some of the most cruelly hilarious, inventive skewering of sex politics I've ever seen.
The Vagina Monologues, if somehow you've managed to avoid seeing or reading it thus far.
Angels in America (see above).


For more pictures of Mariah, visit: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/01/12/people-who-want-change-mariah.html

ANDREA

I met Andrea at an audition for Co-Op Theatre East a few years ago. We've been working on projects together since and I'm happy that she was willing to be part of this one. She is a regular in GirlPower (as both a performer and director) and is now a sophomore at Pace University where she's studying theatre. Andrea has a very bright future ahead of her. I look forward to seeing where life takes her.

Who Are You?

Andrea , 19 years old, college sophomore, sister, daughter, aunt, friend, listener and observer.

What do you believe in?

I believe in individuality, respect for each being and appreciation towards each other and the world we live in.

What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?

I would like to see more human politeness and understanding of the differences of others. I would like my niece to not grow up being concerned about being herself and worrying if she will be accepted for her looks, interests or otherwise. I see myself taking my ideas one step at a time, right now I am at a standstill. I am observing, listening, recording and testing the people that surround me everyday, taking whole heartedly into consideration the things people say and do.

If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?

I don't have any specific artist in mind but definitely just tones and instruments mixed together forming funky rhythms, sounds, and beats.

If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?

Attending school or traveling somewhere I have never been and learning from it.

I Can't Live Without...

Honestly, peanut butter and the internet.

What are you craving right now?

Now that I mentioned peanut butter what do you think?

Talk about a piece of art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...

I am currently reading a novel called, Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann and I am not even half way through it and within the first 20 pages I had to stop and call my parents to thank them for the life they have given me.

What motivates you to do what you do?

When I am inspired by something I have seen, read or been apart of. I want to give someone else that feeling and help them notice or see something they didn't know before.

If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?

I recently watched the film Milk and I was blown away by the confidence, certainty, bravery and beauty of Mr. Harvey Milk. I would want to be his best friend and stand up for something important.

If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?

This is a bit of a silly answer, but I would like to be in the movie Mean Girls(2004). I would like to be the sarcastic, dry and Janeane Garofalo-esk character. I would like to be intertwined with the story line as the voice of reason always telling the obnoxious characters how it is.

Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?

A defining moment for me was this past summer when I got to show my parents some of the work I have done and things I have learned. "EMERGENYC" at The Hemispheric Institute @ NYU introduced me to a whole new world I had never known. I got to spend a month out my summer vacation learning, creating and bonding with 20 other artists who are just as passionate as I. When we had our end of the program presentation I got to express my feelings and experience through a spoken word piece I had developed throughout the process. It meant a lot to have my parents be there and to finally share with others the work I had done.

Talk about the best day ever.

I do not have a specific day in mind, but I do know that when I am having a great day it is because I have accomplished something, begun something, learned something or interacted with someone. When I can go to sleep feeling like I have put myself to use, that is the best day ever.

Who is/are your hero(es)?

I am in the process of studying and learning not only academically but about myself. I cannot say who my heroes are because I find it difficult to clarify who I am and what I stand for. I do know what I feel in my heart and that I am often inspired by many people, specifically Anna Deavere Smith. I read two of her books over the summer and she makes me feel that I am right in expressing myself in the way that I do and that it is worth something.

See more of Andrea: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/12/19/

ZACHARY CRUZ

What can I tell you about Zach? He is a fantastic teacher, beautiful dancer and most importantly, a great friend. Very few people are as loyal and genuine as he. Zach has become one of my favorite people to photograph (you'll see why below). Last year, we did a shoot where we went throughout Williamsburg in the 20 degree weather (you would never know)

Links from last year's photos: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/02/17/ and http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/02/18/zach-cont.html . During our last shoot, Zach brought along his girl Marissa, who you'll see below and a few of his other dancer friends. In a few weeks we'll be doing a dancer photo shoot at the theater that Marissa works at. I hope you enjoy the time we spent together and can guarantee that there will be many more Zach photos.

Who Are You?
A city slicking Newyorican from the lower east side Manhattan.

What do you believe in?

That a man creates his own destiny.

What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?

Making a positive influence in a young persons life in creating new future.

If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?

‘Wouldn’t change a thing’ by Coke Escobedo.

If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?

What I’m doing right now or traveling around the world with my skate board in my hand.

I Can't Live Without...

NYC pizza!

What are you craving right now?

The waves in Hawaii under my surf board.

Talk about a piece or art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...

George Balanchine’s “Prodigal son ballet”

What motivates you to do what you do?

The NYC under ground dance scene, my students that come back all grown up, my friend, family and mentors that all inspire me.

If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?

If I could, I would befriend the Zulu nation. The Universal Zulu Nation is an international hip hop awareness group formed and headed by hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa.[1]:101 Originally known simply as the Organization, it arose in the 1970s as reformed New York City gang members began to organize cultural events for youths, combining local dance and music movements into what would become known as the various elements of hip hop culture. By the 1980s, hip hop had spread globally, and the Zulu Nation has since established (autonomous) branches in Japan, France, the UK, Australia, Poland and South Korea.

If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?

“Peter pan” young spirited and always searching for a new adventure.

Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you Take away from it?

Mom getting sick and having to dance to support are family...

Talk about the best day ever.

9am community service with the kids at coy & girls club of Santa Barbra. 11am surfing at the point, 1pm having $! Beers And $2 tacos with the drummer of the butt whole surfers, 2pm skate to the beach, 5pm clime a mountain, 6pm skinny dip, 6:30 chill with a sea lion,11pm last call at the bar while dancing with some random women.12:30am past the fu#k out.. (True story)

Who is/are your hero(es)?

People who make a positive influence without sweating it.

For more pictures of Zach (and Marissa) check out: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/12/10/people-who-want-change-zachary-cruz.html