Sistah Tribe Theater Group - Serving the Humanities
Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW is the Founder/Creator of the philanthropic Theater Group Sistah Tribe. Sistah Tribe is a collective of women and men committed to bringing therapeutic theater to disenfranchised, traumatized women and girls in the public sector. Sistah Tribe members Laura Gosheff and Sheri Heller authored "Let the Phoenix Rise," a dynamic autobiographical production which tells the story of four troubled teenage girls , and their personal trials and tribulations through adversity. Guided by "The Counselor/Archetypal Mother", they struggle to make sense out of the circumstances they were born into. As they embark on their journeys within, Their stories become imbued with fairy-tale and life affirming directives, conveyed in Greek Chorus tradition. Through comedic and dramatic re-creation, music and imagery, Sistah Tribe strives to convey that challenging oppressive forces can liberate the life-giving creative energy, which leads to surrender and acceptance. Through this performance Sistah Tribe hopes to impart that faith, vigilance, and hard work can result in lives of emotional, creative, and spiritual fulfillment. Under the artistic direction of Pamela Scott, Playwright, Actor, and Founder of Aching Dogs Theater Co,"Let the Phoenix Rise" was presented in two staged readings by the Aching Dogs Theater Company and Actors from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. A rehearsal/perfomance was also performed by Sistah Tribe for girls from Phoenix House Residential Program and Represent Magazine at the Center Stage Theater. On Sat. April 30, 2011 Sistah Tribe performed "Let the Phoenix Rise" @ The Producers Club Grand Theater, introducing music and lyrics written by Laura Gosheff and Daniel Neiden. The April 30th Producers Club performance took place with the endorsement from the organization GEMS, allowing us to share "Let the Phoenix Rise with the girls they mentor. The Sistah Tribe Theater Group presented at Fordham University's Sept. 24, 2011 "Be the Evidence Project" forum on the use of arts for individual and social change. On going artistic direction has been picked up by composer/actor/director Daniel Neiden.
Projects in 2012: It is an honor, and a tremendous gift to be joining forces with MoMA and their art educator Rebecca Goyette, and my Sistah Tribe cohorts Laura Gosheff and Daniel Neiden for the collective purpose of utilizing "Let the Phoenix Rise" as a reference and a catalyst for the young women in recovery from Caron, to tell their own stories via poetry, fairytale, mask work, dramatization, and through a variety of fine art mediums that will morph their ideas and words into visual form. Our plan is to begin with the Caron women receiving a staged reading of LTPR, so as to establish a foundation for the work to follow.
Also, Be on the look-out for future readings and performances!
Below the 'Let the Phoenix Rise slideshows' offer visuals of our work conveyed through the images of Carolyn Karsten and Gleb Osatinski. Let the Phoenix Rise/A Sistah Tribe Production is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization.
"The Sistah Tribe-Let the Phoenix Rise" campaign seeks to raise funds to finance ongoing efforts with bringing "Let the Phoenix Rise" to mainstream audiences and disenfranchised traumatized women in the public sector. All contributions will go towards financing theater rentals, technical costs and other related expenses.
You can also visit the Sister Tribe Theater Group / Let the Phoenix Rise Blog
Check out the Sistah Tribe / Let the Phoenix Rise Review in June 2011's issue of Scene4 Magazine!
The Sistahs
Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW Founder / Author
Daniel Neiden, Artistic Director
Pamela Scott, Artistic Director
Laura Gosheff Author / Actor / Lyricist
Vanessa Verduga Actor
Let the Phoenix Rise is Sponsored by Fractured Atlas
Fractured Atlas is a non-profit organization that serves a national community of artists and arts organizations. Our programs and services facilitate the creation of art by offering vital support to the artists who produce it. We help artists and arts organizations function more effectively as businesses by providing access to funding, healthcare, education, and more, all in a context that honors their individuality and independent spirit. By nurturing today's talented but underrepresented voices, we hope to foster a dynamic and diverse cultural landscape of tomorrow. Let the Phoenix Rise/A Sistah Tribe Production is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas. Contributions on behalf of "Let the Phoenix Rise/A Sistah Tribe Production" may be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Donations via check should be made payable to Fractured Atlas, with "Let the Phoenix Rise/A Sistah Tribe Production" in the memo line. Online donations by credit card can be made through the Fractured Atlas website, via the provided Fractured Atlas icons on this page. Thank you for your generous support.
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| Slideshow created with Smilebox |
Living Our Creative Vision - Six Week Experiential Support Group
Humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow wrote, " The key question isn't "What fosters creativity?" But it is why in god's name isn't everyone creative? Where was the human potential lost? The birthright of the real self is creativity. The gift of creativity emerges from our choosing to express our deepest selves. Our spirits long to fulfill our creative aspirations. This requires courage and commitment. Fear and uncertainty inhibits us from opening up to our creative real selves. We are afraid of leaving the comfort zone, and risking the consequences of revealing all that we are. Creative expression can often cause anxiety and depression as it opens us up to unknown places in our archetypal depths. An inner crisis may emerge in which the pull towards creative actualization and the pull towards safety occur simultaneously. Stagnation results. If we are courageous, this inner crisis can precipitate a creative journey, which involves finding oneself, and allowing a new consciousness to emerge. From this place the creative real self can make original, unique, and effective rearrangements of one’s interior life, which in turn are expressed outwardly in new, adaptive and harmonious ways of living. Together we will support one another in identifying one's personal creative vision, the inner/outer blocks impeding manifestation, and take steps towards catalyzing the creative process.
Rev. Heller's article on Living Our Creative Vision
Rev. Heller's article on Discovering my Voice and my Creative Expression
Rev. Heller's Interview with The Intuitive Edge
Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love ---- Rumi
Rev. Heller's article on Living Our Creative Vision
Rev. Heller's article on Discovering my Voice and my Creative Expression
Rev. Heller's Interview with The Intuitive Edge
Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love ---- Rumi
Women's Empowerment Group
A pervasive theme and concern often occurs in my work with female clients, which pertains to the question; What hinders a woman in her quest to fulfill her intrinsic nature? Clearly, our relationship to our female power is influenced by many personal and cultural elements. Sexism, oppression, the media, and historical narratives with omit women's contributions, negatively impact a woman's ability to realize her callings. Embracing one's boldness and authority as a women can be fraught with societal subterfuge and conflict. Yet courageous women challenge oppression, be it internal or external in nature. A collective of women dedicated to supporting the sacredness of full actualization and vitality can offer the necessary support and inspiration so that myriad forms of oppression can be consciously managed, and accordingly power can be freed up and given creative expression. There is great power in female solidarity. This 90 minute bi-monthly group is designed to afford female solidarity and empowerment for women who are committed to manifesting personal potentials and life-affirming visions.
Rev. Heller's article on "Resurrecting the Great Mother"
Rev. Heller's article on "Resurrecting the Great Mother"
Healing Childhood Trauma/Six Week Dynamic Support Group
What happens to the child trapped in an abusive corrupt world? How does the repetitive intrusion of terror and helplessness impact the traumatized child’s development? In this six week psychodynamic, supportive, and educational group experience we will share personal traumatic life events from childhood, and explore their impact on one’s identity formation, capacity for intimacy, and the courageous quest to find hope and meaning amid darkness and despair.
All participants must be actively engaged in therapy with either Rev. Heller, or with another seasoned therapist for a minimum of one year. Full sustained remission from all addictive disorders is required.
For registration and details please call Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW 212-594-9801
Cost: $360/six 90 min. sessions
Rev. Heller's article on Healing from Childhood Trauma
“We cannot live in a world that is not our own, in a world that is interpreted for us by others. An interpreted world is not a home. Part of the terror is to take back our own listening, to use our own voice, to see our own light.” -- Saint Hildegard de Bingen
All participants must be actively engaged in therapy with either Rev. Heller, or with another seasoned therapist for a minimum of one year. Full sustained remission from all addictive disorders is required.
For registration and details please call Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW 212-594-9801
Cost: $360/six 90 min. sessions
Rev. Heller's article on Healing from Childhood Trauma
“We cannot live in a world that is not our own, in a world that is interpreted for us by others. An interpreted world is not a home. Part of the terror is to take back our own listening, to use our own voice, to see our own light.” -- Saint Hildegard de Bingen
