ABOUT LAUNCH
What is LAUNCH?
LAUNCH is a creative platform that makes collaborations with artists who defy definition.
LAUNCH allows these artists to take flight beyond the boundaries of anticipation, limitations, and expectation.
LAUNCH develops and supports work BECAUSE it is unique to the artistry of each individual we chose to embrace. Each collaboration culminates in a one night only event that celebrates the phenomenal uniqueness of an artist on the verge of fame.
LAUNCH allows these artists to take flight beyond the boundaries of anticipation, limitations, and expectation.
LAUNCH develops and supports work BECAUSE it is unique to the artistry of each individual we chose to embrace. Each collaboration culminates in a one night only event that celebrates the phenomenal uniqueness of an artist on the verge of fame.
How does LAUNCH work?
LAUNCH identifies talent then supports and nurtures the development of a performance piece that honors the phenomenal authenticity of each artist. We plug each artist into a network of art professionals who facilitate their process through production management, design support and marketing. This culminates in a performance called a LAUNCH
A Launch is a one night premier of an artist’s work. The evening is coupled with a RUNWAY, a series of three up–and-coming invited artists presenting fifteen minutes of materials of their own choosing. A ritual toast celebrating the creative journey punctuates the evening.
The evening is curated and hosted by the three founders and creative producers of LAUNCH, Nyakya Brown, Kibibi Dillon and Tamilla Woodard. The evening is attended by industry professionals, fans and other artists.
Following the single evening premier, LAUNCH works along side the artists to create further performance opportunities in partnership with presenters, theatre companies and independent producers and venues.
To inquire about LAUNCH artists please contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
A Launch is a one night premier of an artist’s work. The evening is coupled with a RUNWAY, a series of three up–and-coming invited artists presenting fifteen minutes of materials of their own choosing. A ritual toast celebrating the creative journey punctuates the evening.
The evening is curated and hosted by the three founders and creative producers of LAUNCH, Nyakya Brown, Kibibi Dillon and Tamilla Woodard. The evening is attended by industry professionals, fans and other artists.
Following the single evening premier, LAUNCH works along side the artists to create further performance opportunities in partnership with presenters, theatre companies and independent producers and venues.
To inquire about LAUNCH artists please contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
WHO is LAUNCH?
Launch is made up of our family of Performing Artists, Designers, Production Managers, Choreographers, Photographers, Videographers, Sponsors and Support staff.
The first season family members include: Marinda Anderson, Beat Box Designs, Anthony Mark Booth Jr., Addie Brownlee, James Clotfelder, Phakiso Collins, Charles Coward, Laeticia Emmanuel, Mckenzie Frye, Nicolas Gant, Darya Gerasimenko, Glenn Gordon, Candace Jackson of CJAM Consulting, JTE Spirits, , Perchik Kreiman-Miller, William Oaks,IV, Sean Palmer of Solar Jet Productions, Jammie Patton, Shawn Randall of Symphonics, Gregory Reid, Lee Summers and The Triad Theatre, SV Silk Vodka, Tavi, Michael Wimberly and The Women’s Project.
LAUNCH was founded by
Nyakya Brown,
Kibibi Dillon,
Tamilla Woodard
Nyakya Brown a Writer, Actor, Producer
Nyakya is known best for her dedication to the arts community as a producer and curator. She is noted for having a strong commitment to the personal and creative development of artists across the United States. Nyakya Brown was introduced to the arts community as the co-founder of the Hip Hop Theatre Junction. A company that produced premier works including, "Rhymed Deferred", written and directed by Kamilah Forbes. She was very instrumental in the Hip Hop Theatre Movement, serving as an arts administrator and board member for the Hip Hop Theater Festival (HHTF), an annual 3 week festival taking place nationwide in New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and Chicago.
Nyakya has produced for the National Black Theater Festival, The Kennedy Center and many other arts presenters. It has been under her guidance that hundreds of artists both nationally and internationally have gained exposure, catapulting them into different regions of the world. She continues to use her experience and resources to provide support to individuals and organizations in the arts.
She has performed on the stage of several theaters in New York and Washington, DC. Currently, Nyakya is collaborating with several artists and will be bringing to the stage one of her own plays in the upcoming year. As she continues to build businesses and networks, she looks forward to taking the arts to the next level.
Nyakya received a B.F.A in Theatre Arts from Howard University.
Kibibi T. Dillon
Through her artistry Kibibi is on a steadfast mission to re-build, uplift, and support her community. In 2006 she created and began hosting The Neo Harlem Renaissance Party which was very closely modeled after the legendary Harlem parties Langston Hughes threw in the twenties. Back then and still to this day these parties create safe spaces for the greatest artist of New York City to build and honor each other. Also allowing us all to connect, create, share and celebrate the greatness of each other. The Neo Harlem Renaissance Party became the back drop and the beginning out theater company Launch World Wide. Last year Launch World Wide Produced four of the most amazing shows with four of New York’s Most Talented Artist. Frayed by Cornelius Smith (All My Children), Birth of Power U by Queen GodIs, The Super Star Artist Show by Sherry Boone and Kick N 2 The Beat by Lee Anet Noble.
As a Director and Developer in 2006 Kibibi Collaborated with Cornelius Smith (All My Children) on Musical play FRAYED by Cornelius Smith (Premiered at NYU, Triad, and Cristina Cultural Arts Center). Frayed is a play that takes an intimate look into the secrets of Greek fraternity life and brotherhood on the University level. In 2007 she also directed Read, White and Blue by Jabrai Exum and Baye Harrell. This play premiered at the Hip-Hop Theater Festival in New York City and Washington DC.
As an Actor Kibibi has performed on many stages from California to New York. She began doing improvisation at a very young age and in 2005 she performed at the New York Comedy Club (nick) with the Adults Playground Improv. Troupe. In 2004-2006 She also performed with Sketch crew Saturday Night Re-written at Juvie Hall (nyc). Some of Kibibi’s Favorite acting rolls include Greta in Sans-Culottes in the Promise Land by Kirsten Greenidge, First Witch in Macbeth by William Shakespeare, various women in The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensile and May belle in Before It Hits Home by Sheryl West.
Kibibi T. Dillon Attended Howard University where she received her Bachelors in Fine Arts in 2003. She also attended The Actors Theater of Louisville’s apprentice program in 2004 where she studied acting and theater. Lastly she was an apprentice at B Street Theater where she studied acting directly under Timothy Busfield (2000)
Today Kibibi Can be found somewhere teaching theater to some of the most gifted children all over New York!
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tamilla Woodard a Director, Actor, Adapter.
As director, editor and Adapter, Tamilla has collaborated with artist in the formation of their solo shows, in the development of documentary theatre pieces and the adaptation of non theatrical material to the stage.
Tamilla has co-developed and directed performance pieces with LAUNCH artists Sherry Boone (Super Star Artist Show) LeeAne’t Noble (KickN2theBeat) and Queen GodIs (Birth of Power U). She also developed and directed Carlos Andrés Gómez’s MAN UP (Solo Nova @ PS 122/ Edinburgh Fringe, UK).
Most recently, she directed the critically acclaimed off Broadway vocal musical EXPATRIATE by Lenelle Moise at Culture Project.
She has been a guest director for the Actors Theatre of Louisville’s Apprentice company as well as for Urban Word/Dance Theatre Workshop where she developed and directed the solo performances of young poets. She teaches solo performance and Story Telling at CUNY.
Other directing credits include: the staged reading of Eve Enslers Necessary Targets with Jane Fonda, Ellen Burstyn, Kerry Washington and Lynn Cohen at the Women, Power and Peace conference, VALIANT (The Greenway Court Theatre, Los Angeles; Urban Stages and Syracuse University). Here.This.Now., (Symphony Space, and the 10th New York International Fringe) The Book of the Who(Manhattan Class Company’s Fresh Play Festival) and An Evening Honoring Toni Morrison( Lincoln Center Jazz featuring Sonia Sanchez, Phylicia Rashad, Morgan Freeman, Bill T. Jones and Sweet Honey in the Rock.)
As a performer, her most recent projects include I WANT WHAT YOU HAVE with The Women's Project Theatre, her solo show: The Faith Project: Beyond Belief , Center Stage/Genesis Salon; Keith Reddin's Black Snow at Yale Rep and the feature film, THE PROJECT winner of the audience favorite award at SlamDance! She has acted in productions and readings throughout the US and internationally.
Tamilla is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, former artistic director of the Yale Cabaret, member of The Lincoln Center Directors Lab, The Internationalists Directors Collective, Women’s Project leadership council member and avid supporter of playwright development at the LARK and New Dramatists.
www.tamilla.com
The first season family members include: Marinda Anderson, Beat Box Designs, Anthony Mark Booth Jr., Addie Brownlee, James Clotfelder, Phakiso Collins, Charles Coward, Laeticia Emmanuel, Mckenzie Frye, Nicolas Gant, Darya Gerasimenko, Glenn Gordon, Candace Jackson of CJAM Consulting, JTE Spirits, , Perchik Kreiman-Miller, William Oaks,IV, Sean Palmer of Solar Jet Productions, Jammie Patton, Shawn Randall of Symphonics, Gregory Reid, Lee Summers and The Triad Theatre, SV Silk Vodka, Tavi, Michael Wimberly and The Women’s Project.
LAUNCH was founded by
Nyakya Brown,
Kibibi Dillon,
Tamilla Woodard
Nyakya Brown a Writer, Actor, Producer
Nyakya is known best for her dedication to the arts community as a producer and curator. She is noted for having a strong commitment to the personal and creative development of artists across the United States. Nyakya Brown was introduced to the arts community as the co-founder of the Hip Hop Theatre Junction. A company that produced premier works including, "Rhymed Deferred", written and directed by Kamilah Forbes. She was very instrumental in the Hip Hop Theatre Movement, serving as an arts administrator and board member for the Hip Hop Theater Festival (HHTF), an annual 3 week festival taking place nationwide in New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and Chicago.
Nyakya has produced for the National Black Theater Festival, The Kennedy Center and many other arts presenters. It has been under her guidance that hundreds of artists both nationally and internationally have gained exposure, catapulting them into different regions of the world. She continues to use her experience and resources to provide support to individuals and organizations in the arts.
She has performed on the stage of several theaters in New York and Washington, DC. Currently, Nyakya is collaborating with several artists and will be bringing to the stage one of her own plays in the upcoming year. As she continues to build businesses and networks, she looks forward to taking the arts to the next level.
Nyakya received a B.F.A in Theatre Arts from Howard University.
Kibibi T. Dillon
Through her artistry Kibibi is on a steadfast mission to re-build, uplift, and support her community. In 2006 she created and began hosting The Neo Harlem Renaissance Party which was very closely modeled after the legendary Harlem parties Langston Hughes threw in the twenties. Back then and still to this day these parties create safe spaces for the greatest artist of New York City to build and honor each other. Also allowing us all to connect, create, share and celebrate the greatness of each other. The Neo Harlem Renaissance Party became the back drop and the beginning out theater company Launch World Wide. Last year Launch World Wide Produced four of the most amazing shows with four of New York’s Most Talented Artist. Frayed by Cornelius Smith (All My Children), Birth of Power U by Queen GodIs, The Super Star Artist Show by Sherry Boone and Kick N 2 The Beat by Lee Anet Noble.
As a Director and Developer in 2006 Kibibi Collaborated with Cornelius Smith (All My Children) on Musical play FRAYED by Cornelius Smith (Premiered at NYU, Triad, and Cristina Cultural Arts Center). Frayed is a play that takes an intimate look into the secrets of Greek fraternity life and brotherhood on the University level. In 2007 she also directed Read, White and Blue by Jabrai Exum and Baye Harrell. This play premiered at the Hip-Hop Theater Festival in New York City and Washington DC.
As an Actor Kibibi has performed on many stages from California to New York. She began doing improvisation at a very young age and in 2005 she performed at the New York Comedy Club (nick) with the Adults Playground Improv. Troupe. In 2004-2006 She also performed with Sketch crew Saturday Night Re-written at Juvie Hall (nyc). Some of Kibibi’s Favorite acting rolls include Greta in Sans-Culottes in the Promise Land by Kirsten Greenidge, First Witch in Macbeth by William Shakespeare, various women in The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensile and May belle in Before It Hits Home by Sheryl West.
Kibibi T. Dillon Attended Howard University where she received her Bachelors in Fine Arts in 2003. She also attended The Actors Theater of Louisville’s apprentice program in 2004 where she studied acting and theater. Lastly she was an apprentice at B Street Theater where she studied acting directly under Timothy Busfield (2000)
Today Kibibi Can be found somewhere teaching theater to some of the most gifted children all over New York!
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tamilla Woodard a Director, Actor, Adapter.
As director, editor and Adapter, Tamilla has collaborated with artist in the formation of their solo shows, in the development of documentary theatre pieces and the adaptation of non theatrical material to the stage.
Tamilla has co-developed and directed performance pieces with LAUNCH artists Sherry Boone (Super Star Artist Show) LeeAne’t Noble (KickN2theBeat) and Queen GodIs (Birth of Power U). She also developed and directed Carlos Andrés Gómez’s MAN UP (Solo Nova @ PS 122/ Edinburgh Fringe, UK).
Most recently, she directed the critically acclaimed off Broadway vocal musical EXPATRIATE by Lenelle Moise at Culture Project.
She has been a guest director for the Actors Theatre of Louisville’s Apprentice company as well as for Urban Word/Dance Theatre Workshop where she developed and directed the solo performances of young poets. She teaches solo performance and Story Telling at CUNY.
Other directing credits include: the staged reading of Eve Enslers Necessary Targets with Jane Fonda, Ellen Burstyn, Kerry Washington and Lynn Cohen at the Women, Power and Peace conference, VALIANT (The Greenway Court Theatre, Los Angeles; Urban Stages and Syracuse University). Here.This.Now., (Symphony Space, and the 10th New York International Fringe) The Book of the Who(Manhattan Class Company’s Fresh Play Festival) and An Evening Honoring Toni Morrison( Lincoln Center Jazz featuring Sonia Sanchez, Phylicia Rashad, Morgan Freeman, Bill T. Jones and Sweet Honey in the Rock.)
As a performer, her most recent projects include I WANT WHAT YOU HAVE with The Women's Project Theatre, her solo show: The Faith Project: Beyond Belief , Center Stage/Genesis Salon; Keith Reddin's Black Snow at Yale Rep and the feature film, THE PROJECT winner of the audience favorite award at SlamDance! She has acted in productions and readings throughout the US and internationally.
Tamilla is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, former artistic director of the Yale Cabaret, member of The Lincoln Center Directors Lab, The Internationalists Directors Collective, Women’s Project leadership council member and avid supporter of playwright development at the LARK and New Dramatists.
www.tamilla.com
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