Giving Voice to a Group of Children Often Ridiculed or Silenced By Stuttering
Songs Written By Children Who Stutter Bring Artists Together in a Calling for Compassion. June 23rd Album to Benefit ‘Our Time’ Organization
On June 23rd, a remarkable album, eight years in the making, will be released. ‘LISTEN’ is a collection of 15 original songs, written by children who stutter, and recorded by iconic artists including Carly Simon, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Duncan Sheik, John Forte, Mandy Patinkin and many others. In addition, Jon Bon Jovi donated the use of his studio, so that his state-of-the-art facility could support the recording process. Superstars from the worlds of pop, rock, R&B, Broadway, hip-hop and more joined together to contribute their time and talents to a cause bigger than stuttering – a call for compassion and acceptance, and for respect of one-another’s differences.
In a world where everything — from news to conversations to decision-making — happens so fast that we can hardly catch our breath, ‘LISTEN’ implores us to stop and do just that. Children who stutter are often ridiculed or ignored for not being able to express themselves quickly enough. They’ve finally been given a safe haven via ‘Our Time’.
Our Time is a non-profit organization centered on a one-of-a-kind Arts program that provides children who stutter with an environment of unconditional acceptance…a creative forum, where they can express themselves through art, music, writing and theater, slowly and without risk of being shamed. Founded by Taro Alexander (who has stuttered since he was five years old,) and fueled by the incomparable energy of Musical Director Everett Bradley, Our Time Theatre Company is a free resource for these children and their families. There is no place quite like Our Time.
Their ‘LISTEN’ album will be released on Sh-K-Boom Records, and proceeds will benefit Our Time. Featuring songs written by Our Time Kids aged 8-18 under the stewardship of Everett Bradley and Associate Musical Director Carl Danielsen, ‘LISTEN’ is inspiring proof that these children simply need a few good people in their lives, and they can flourish. It’s also evidence that kids who stutter are eloquent, brilliant, creative young minds, if they’re given a chance to articulate themselves at their own pace. On June 23rd, this CD will give voice to a group of kids who usually don’t get listened to.
The album includes ‘Magical Place,’ a stunning reverie written by Our Time’s pre-teens, aged 8-12, and sung by Our Time kid Julianna Padilla. The lyrics say everything you need to know about the shame these children feel, and the newfound hope they get from being a part of Taro Alexander’s organization: “There is a magical place called Our Time, when you step right in, you will be loved. There’s freedom here in this place…no one makes fun of you. You will be loved.”
From the anthemic ‘You Don’t Know Hurt’, performed by Carly Simon, to the soulful ‘Nothing In This World’, sung by Daryl Hall and John Oates…from John Forte’s rap on ‘Perfect Place’ to Duncan Sheik’s pop groove (featuring Holly Brook) on ‘All I Want Is Love’, to Mandy Patinkin’s ‘Breathe In’, the album delivers an astonishingly polished and diverse array of songs and styles, performed by artists who care. Though these are not ‘kids’ songs’, the fact that the tracks were written by young children makes the achievement of ‘LISTEN’ all the more impressive. Check out a five-song sampler here: http://www.sethcohenpr.com/player/listen/
Other artists who recorded for ‘LISTEN’ include Blue Man Group, Ann Hampton Callaway, Michael Cerveris, Amanda Kravat, Adriane Lenox, Norm Lewis, Kelli O’Hara, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Nicki Richards, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Sherie Rene Scott, Stomp, Mary Testa, Michelle Weeks, Lucy Woodward, Cast Members from Spring Awakening, and the youth of Our Time. Our Time’s Taro Alexander and Everett Bradley provide vocals as well.
Track listing (subject to change,) is as follows:
All I Want Is Love (written by Our Time member Andre Gillyard, age 16)
Lead vocals – Holly Brook, Duncan Sheik
Background vocals – Original cast members from Spring Awakening
You Don’t Know Hurt (written by Our Time member Linda Gjonbalaj, age 15)
Lead vocals – Carly Simon
Background vocals – Lucy Woodward
Nothing In This World (written by Our Time member Dashawn Taylor, age 12)
Lead and background vocals – Daryl Hall and John Oates
Breathe In (written by Our Time member Naudia Jones, age 17)
Lead Vocals – Mandy Patinkin
When I Am Loved (written by Our Time member Dashawn Taylor, age 14)
Lead vocals – Nicki Richards
Perfect Place (written by Our Time member Keith Russell, age 16 / rap solo written by John Forte)
Lead and background vocals – Adam Pascal, John Forte, Carly Simon
Proud Of You (written by Our Time member Isaiah Fletcher, age 15)
Lead Vocals – Isaiah Fletcher, Michelle Weeks
Flaunt It (written by Our Time member Naudia Jones, age 17)
Lead vocals – Adriane Lenox, Mary Testa
Our Time Made Us Loud (written by Our Time members Andre Gillyard, age 18, Jonathan Greig, age 17, and Keith Russell, age 17)
Lead Vocals – Jonathan Greig, Andre Gillyard, Keith Russell
Special appearance – Stomp
What We Have To Say (written by Our Time members Linda Gjonbalaj, age 15, Yoni Messing, age 15)
Lead vocals – Anthony Rapp
Let Go Of The Past (written by Our Time members Nina Hersher, age 16, Alison Williams, age 15)
Lead Vocals – Daphne Rubin-Vega
Carry On (written by Our Time teens, ages 13-18)
Lead vocals – Sherie Rene Scott, Norm Lewis
Booyaland (written by Our Time members Julianna Padilla, age 10, Victoria Perlman, age 11)
Lead vocals – Ann Hampton Callaway; Special appearance – Blue Man Group
Listen To Your Heart (written by Our Time member Lindsay Campbell, age 18)
Lead Vocals – Michael Cerveris, Kelli O’Hara
Magical Place (written by Our Time pre-teens, ages 8-12)
Lead vocals – Julianna Padilla; Special appearance – William Gallison
Details About the One-of-a-Kind CAMP OUR TIME:
Camp Our Time is an extension of Our Time Theatre Company, and is the first of its kind: an arts camp uniquely tailored for kids who stutter, their young family members, and friends, ages 8-18. This groundbreaking program infuses traditional camp recreation with Our Time’s distinctive arts programming to build confidence that is vital for their developing years. Camp Our Time can have a lifetime impact on kids who have longed for sustained interaction with others who understand their struggle to express themselves. Camp Our Time takes place August 9-16, 2009 at Iroquois Springs, an American Camp Association accredited camp facility located in Rock Hill, NY, 90 minutes north of New York City. Camp Our Time offers an outstanding counselor-to-camper ratio, affordable all-inclusive tuition, and financial aid to all youth in need. Camp Our Time welcomes youth from all over the world. For more information or to register for Camp Our Time, visit www.ourtimetheatre.org/camp <http://www.ourtimetheatre.org/camp> , or Email: camp@ourtimetheatre.org <mailto:camp@ourtimetheatre.org> , or call: 212-414-9696
The History and Mission of Our Time:
Our Time Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has been improving the lives of kids who stutter since 2001. It is estimated that more than 60 million people in the world stutter, and this commonly misunderstood speech disorder causes extreme emotional distress in kids who struggle not only with verbal communication but also shame, discrimination, and social isolation. At Our Time, kids who stutter transform this fear and shame associated with stuttering into confidence and self-esteem.
Through a summer camp that welcomes kids from all over the world as well as local New York City programming, Our Time is the only organization that uses the performing arts to turn stuttering inside out. Our Time serves young people who stutter, their young family members, and friends, ages 8 to 18, from a wide diversity of backgrounds. There is no audition for prospective participants and no performance experience necessary. The company is committed to offering its NYC-based programming free of charge and providing financial aid to all youth in need for Camp Our Time.
Our Time provides a creative community that fosters unconditional acceptance and allows youth who stutter to feel respected and validated. Youth collaborate with others who also struggle to be heard in the everyday world. Our Time participants are assured that what they have to say is important, and they will have as much time as needed to express their unique and valuable voices, free from judgment and ridicule.
One of the tragedies of stuttering is that those who are afflicted often come to believe that voicing their thoughts, feelings, and dreams is not as important as hiding their disorder from the world. The arts brilliantly combat this notion, providing a vehicle for expression for those who have been silenced.
Through Our Time’s artistic programming, youth gain the courage and strength to not let their speech disorders limit their life experiences or quell their dreams.
