#Alex Alpharaoh

[fountaintheatre]

VIDEO: Funny and poignant 'Body Beautiful' explores love, aging, and gender confusion

VIDEO: Funny and poignant ‘Body Beautiful’ explores love, aging, and gender confusion

The Fountain Theatre will host a workshop production of a new play by Leigh Curran,  Body Beautiful on June 5-6 and 12-13 at 8pm.

Thayer, a 72-year-old, gay psychotherapist and his ex-wife and great friend, Emma, decide to move back in together to take care of each other through their old age. Emma is still secretly in love with…

[penclique]

The Liner Notes: Ep 03

Liner notes from Episode 03 ft. Alex Alpharaoh, written by Alex Alpharaoh.

Working with Daniel and (Kuya) David on Pen Clique was a reminder of why I do what I do: love of the work. Their passion, drive, and expertise is only rivaled by their love for the spoken word. When they both approached me about the concept for a new podcast, we were backstage at one of my shows. Daniel, David, and I had engaged in several conversations about the state of poetry in America...

The observations ranged from slam-poetry, to hip hop music, to emceeing, to rap, and traditional poetry (both written and expressed). Although all of it is valid because it is creative expression, not all of it is good. David and Daniel were concerned that the state of affairs has placed the written and spoken word in direct danger of extinction. It began with mass commercialization. What was once an art form used to express release and relief from oppressive systems rooted in colonialism has now become a tool for popular culture to implement ignorance and superficiality as societal norms to the youth that the genre has used as a vehicle of expression for several decades. 

There are several things I appreciate about how Daniel and David are approaching the genre. They are using conventional forms of media (I.e. radio) in unconventional ways (such as streaming both a podcast and vlog cast simultaneously). They are also amazing wordsmiths that use their knowledge and expertise to not only craft stories, but breakdown everything from structure, to meaning, allowing the viewer/listener to often times gain insight on the process of writing, get history lessons on the origins of the genre, and bringing in guests that are true staples of the work and their respective communities. Kuya David and Chubby Fat da God are not personalities, they are genuine people with unique perspective that have chosen an altruistic approach to the work by sharing their ideas, creativity, critiques, and in the process, providing a fresh perspective on the continual evolution of poetry and spoken word. 

When I first met David, he has doing trial runs of Prime Poetry League’s poetry-clash. It was a bold concept where he combined competitive elements of emcee battling with the essence of spoken word poetry. This is where and when I met Daniel: a passionate poet whose work felt raw, volatile at times, and ultimately, under appreciated. The three of us have been friends ever since. It is my sincerest belief that in order for the genre to grow and maintain a sense of importance in this digital age, innovators such as David and Daniel must be bold and courageous enough to steer the ship in a new direction. This is what they are doing with Pen Clique, and if you care about the work, this is but one of many reasons why you should tune in.

–Alex Alpharaoh

Connect with Alex via:

Instagram

Facebook

[prweigand]

While not exactly demonstrating the way a nonprofit is formed to respond to government failure, this is certainly an example of how the work of a nonprofit can be a response to government failure. This also provides an insight in to the ways art can provide a voice to those who may otherwise be underrepresented. Political climate and public policy decisions can impact programming decisions as well as financial resources.

[jennymanrique]

Actor con DACA explora miedos y vulnerabilidad en tiempos de Trump

Alex Alpharoah en la gira nacional de 'WET: A DACAmented Journey', un espectáculo de inspiración autobiográfica para una sola persona escrito y realizado por Alpharoah, presentado por Cara Mia Theatre Company y SMU Ignite / Arts Dallas en Theater Too. Foto suministrada por la compañía de teatro Cara Mia.

La obra “WET: A DACAmented Journey”, de Alex Alpharaoh presentó su última función en Dallas, y cerró con un panel sobre lo que está en juego en estas elecciones.

“El ser humano en mí no quiere hacer este show. Este show apesta”. Alex Alpharaoh, el actor y productor detrás de “WET: A DACAmented Journey”, que presentó su última función en Dallas este miércoles en el Texas Theater, lleva a escena sus peores miedos.

“Yo odio este show porque tengo que venir aquí a decirle a la gente: miren este (joven con DACA) es un ser humano. Déjenme ponerle un rostro a un tema bastante politizado al que mucha gente no le da una segunda mirada. Solo piensa: son los pobres dreamers, los pobres ilegales”.

En una conversación abierta y descarnada con el público y cuatro panelistas que hablaron sobre inmigración y política a propósito de las elecciones del 6 de noviembre, Alpharaoh de 36 años compartió porqué se siente vulnerable cada vez que presenta su obra: una historia real de lo que significa ser un estadounidense en todos los sentidos de la palabra, excepto en el papel.

WET captura la implacable lucha de un hombre para permanecer en el único hogar que ha conocido: Estados Unidos. Sus miedos, sus preguntas, sus interacciones con sus padres, su hija, sus amigos, sus compañeros de colegio, y hasta la ley.  Todos personajes que Alpharaoh interpreta él solo con maestría, provocando suspiros, risas y llanto. Una experiencia que él considera “terapéutica” y a la vez “espantosa”.

“Recuerdo un show en Connecticut en el que tuve que escuchar de una mujer toda la retórica anti-inmigrante: me llamó ilegal, me pidió reconocer que fue la culpa de mis padres por traerme a este país, me dijo que yo tomaba ventaja de los beneficios sociales públicos, me recordó que el presidente (Barack) Obama fue la persona que deportó mas gente en la historia de este país… y yo tuve que escuchar digerir todo eso. Realmente apesta”.

La inspiración para escribir la historia nace de su propia experiencia y de un momento que relata en la obra. Originario de Guatemala, Alpharaoh se encontraba en su país para conocer a su abuelo que estaba enfermo. Llevaba un pasaporte vencido, un permiso de trabajo que expiraba en menos de tres meses y muy pocas garantías de volver a entrar a este país, en momentos en que ya Donald Trump había anunciado que rescindiría DACA en septiembre de 2017.

“Yo le prometí a Dios que si me daba la oportunidad de regresar, yo iba a emplear mi talento para contar esta historia. Para ser esa voz que no pueden ser los 14 millones de inmigrantes de este país, los 7,000 que están atrapados en la frontera con México y Guatemala y no tienen a un país al qué volver”.

Alpharaoh presentó su última función en Dallas para seguir hacia West Hartford, Connecticut, Denton y Boston en un gira nacional de 10 semanas producida por Cara Mia e Ignite / Arts Dallas.

El miércoles en el Texas Teather, César Blanco, representante en la Legislatura de Texas por El Paso; Trisha Freshwater, miembro de la Junta del Colegio de Abogados Hispanos de Dallas; Liz Cedillo, directora de la Oficina de Comunidades Hospitalarias y Asuntos Migratorios; y Jennifer de Haro, abogada de RAICES; se sentaron junto a Alpharaoh para debatir lo que está en juego para la comunidad inmigrante en las elecciones del 6 de noviembre y la pertinencia de su obra.

“Una de las formas de mostrar el privilegio es no participar en política”, dijo Alpharaoh. “La gente da las cosas por sentado como tener una licencia de conducir o una tarjeta de crédito, pero no es así. Si eres una minoría, indocumentado o no, latino, afroamericano, transexual, tu comunidad está siendo atacada y hay que votar”.

Para Cedillo, de la oficina de comunidades hospitalarias, la única manera de cambiar el stato quo es “demandar nuestros derechos en las urnas” pues no hay un solo aspecto de la inmigración que no haya cambiado en esta administración.

“No hay nada que no haya sido tocado: las leyes de asilo, DACA, el programa de reasentamiento de refugiados, incluso los ciudadanos ahora tienen que preocuparse de tener sus casos readjudicados… tenemos que ser vigilantes de lo que está pasando, interpretar las políticas para hacerlas entender a nuestra comunidad, pero sobre todo compartir nuestras historias porque eso hará a la gente sentirse obligada e ir a votar temprano”.

La abogada Freshwater, del Colegio de Abogados Hispanos de Dallas, coincidió con Cedillo en que su trabajo se ha vuelto más difícil en esta administración pues tiene que estar actualizándose en los cambios diarios de las políticas migratorias.

“A diario recibo llamadas de pánico de cada cliente porque creen que todo lo que ven en los medios aplica a sus casos”, aseguró Freshwater. “Hay mucha confusión e incertidumbre sobre el futuro y aunque siempre les damos la información más precisa, sólo los funcionarios electos podrán abogar por nuevas políticas que protejan realmente a la comunidad”.

Freshwater recordó que aunque la inmigración es una política federal, los funcionarios estatales pueden hacer la vida de los inmigrantes más difícil. En Texas por ejemplo, a los indocumentados no les permiten tener una licencia de conducir (como sí sucede en California) o se han aprobado legislaciones como la SB4, que prohibe a ciudades, condados y universidades adoptar políticas “santuario” que prevengan que las agencias del orden pregunten a las personas sobre su condición migratoria.

La abogada De Haro, de Raíces, invitó a los votantes a que vean las posturas de los candidatos en varios temas de inmigración porque aunque públicamente alguien diga que está en contra de la separación de familias, -tema en el que su organización trabaja fervientemente-, ese sentimiento no se extiende a temas como detenciones de grupos familiares o cambios en políticas migratorias de la era Obama.

“Nuestra propia voz está en juego. Si no podemos votar, al menos podemos tocar puertas o hacer campaña por los candidatos que ven la inmigración como un tema humanitario y no solo criminal”, dijo De Haro.

Y es en esa arena en la que la obra de Alpharaoh, toma mayor relevancia. Mientras todos en su familia son ciudadanos naturalizados o nacidos aquí, él día a día recuerda lo que es ser indocumentado y las elecciones no son un momento diferente.

Si bien DACA lo salvó cuando tenía 30 años, todavía se siente vulnerable cada vez que presenta la obra.

“Mi situación migratoria no resume la totalidad de quién soy como ser humano , no define quién soy como artista o cómo me presento a ante el mundo”, reflexionó el actor.

“Pero es una circunstancia de mierda con la que tengo que vivir y me ha causado la más grande vergüenza y miedo en mi vida con la dicotomía de que hoy estoy aquí, disfrutando de este público y pidiéndoles que por favor vayan a votar, ya que yo no lo puedo hacer”, concluyó.

Originalmente publicado aquí

[photojscho]

Alex Alpharaoh for the Los Angeles Times in his play “Wet: A DACAmented Journey.”

© Jenna Schoenefeld

[kalynalanguagepress]

Alex Alpharaoh put his own DACA story onstage, and the audience keeps on growing https://t.co/5HYI61RjhE

Alex Alpharaoh put his own DACA story onstage, and the audience keeps on growing https://t.co/5HYI61RjhE

— KalynaLanguagePress (@KalynaPress) September 23, 2017

from Twitter https://twitter.com/KalynaPress September 23, 2017 at 04:07PM via IFTTT

[venusinorbit]

His journey begins as a 3-month-old infant when he is carried by his then–15-year-old mother on a near-fatal, epic trek from Guatemala to San Ysidro that serves as an astonishing profile in courage. In Los Angeles, they join his father and settle into the precarious routine of Angelenos struggling to scrape a living in the underground economy. His father becomes a manual laborer. His mother pursues sweatshop work in L.A.’s Garment District. And Alpharaoh undergoes the wrenching childhood rites of passage that come with growing up under the stigma of second-class citizenry.

[penclique]

Episode 03 ft. Alex Alpharaoh

Also available as audio-only on iTunes, SoundCloud, & wherever* you get podcasts

*Except Spotify (yet) ‘cause they on some country club invite ‘ish...

Take a journey through skid row with critically acclaimed poet Alex Alpharaoh as your guide during “Threads and Lines”. The Clique touch the heavens and the bottom of the barrel with the highest and lowest “2 Piece combo” scores yet! Alpharaoh closes us out by shutting ‘Merica down during the “Five For Ya Eye”. 

Episode index & more info after the jump...

 [Episode Index] 

0:40 - "Spare Change" by Alex Alpharaoh 

4:41 - “Threads and Lines” 

14:34 - 2 Piece Combo | Harlem 'Round Midnight by Jeffrey Almonte 

34:43 - 2 Piece Combo | @loveandbruise 

43:20 - 5 For Your Eye 

[Footnotes]

2 Piece Combo: "Harlem 'Round Midnight" by Jeffrey Almonte of TheAlmonteFilms 

2 Piece Combo: #poetry piece by @loveandbruise 

Music by The Dope Spot Studios Produced by Dom V: thedopespotstudios.com 

Intro title animated by Seth Garnes: sethgarnes.com 

[Clique Up]

Pen Clique on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter​ 

Alex Alpharaoh on Instagram 

Daniel Hees on Instagram 

Kuya David on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

[penclique]

Season 1 of the most CRACKIN poetry podcast available NOW

Season 1 Episode List:

01: David Romero | iTunes | Pocketcast | YouTube

02: Charles Williams | iTunes | Pocketcast | Soundcloud | YouTube

03: Alex Alpharaoh | iTunes | Pocketcast | Soundcloud | YouTube

04: Shelley Bruce | iTunes | Pocketcast | Soundcloud | YouTube

05: Myron Woods | iTunes | Pocketcast | Soundcloud | YouTube

06: Tryone Stokes | iTunes | Pocketcast | Soundcloud | YouTube

07: Arianna Basco | iTunes | Pocketcast | Soundcloud | YouTube

08: Matt Sedillo | iTunes | Pocketcast | Soundcloud | YouTube

09: Kito Fortune | iTunes | Pocketcast | Soundcloud | YouTube

10: Angela Peñaredondo | iTunes | Pocketcast | YouTube

11: Bess Kepp | iTunes | Pocketcast | YouTube

[penclique]

The Liner Notes: Ep 02

Liner notes from Episode 02 ft. Charles Williams, written by Daniel Hees, edited by Kuya David.

Sweaty bodies, poetry, and capoeira surround Charles Williams on the regular. A man whose physique is only paralleled by his spiritual build and whose heart has helped this whole project along way back when a poetry podcast was just a small talk “what-if” topic.  But before Kuya David or I had ever met, we had both known Charles ‘C Wils’ Williams, who operates what I consider to be my LA open-mic home, “Freedom of speech Thursdays.” If it wasn’t for this shared space, the Pen Clique would never have had a launch pad to blast off from.

What had happened was…

Years ago, Kuya had an idea of this battle-rap styled 1-on-1 poetry “clash” in the vein of URL/KOTD super LIT rap battle leagues currently popping, but needed poets to test the idea. Kuya hit up a couple folks, one being Alex Alpharaoh who would later compete in the clash, the other being Charles Williams. The stars aligned for that conversation, and my name came up as a possible contender. After some prompt exchanges and logistics discussions via DMs, I finally met Kuya David in person the day of the clash. I was new to the scene and had been frequenting open mics, rarely missing a Thursday in Hollywood with Charles at Freedom of Speech, but I was apprehensive; I had never slammed and I had only been taking this pen game seriously for less than a year, but I was constantly looking for collaborators in the community like Charles to help strengthen my craft. So if he thought it would be good for me to do it, I knew I could only benefit from this experience.

Trailer of the poetry clash, watch the whole clash here.

I lost the clash to Alex Alpharaoh. But in that moment, I never would have guessed what Charles had unknowingly done for this little poetry podcast idea I had been kicking around. After the clash, Kuya and I had a brief conversation about the potential of doing a show together and we kind of left it there for some time. Kind of your typical LA-artist conversation; you kick ideas to the replies of “oh, that’d be nice”, and end it with a “yeah let’s hangout sometime.” Whether that actually happens though is up to the stars. But with whatever planet in retrograde and whichever zodiac wildin out, this conversation evolved into an actual google doc. It was written. Development between the two of us later moved into throwing everything against the poetry podcast wall and keeping the ideas that were sticky enough to build on. We knew Charles, the godfather of this damn thing, had to be an early guest and he quickly scheduled a date to come through and clique up.

Footage from the first time Kuya met Charles, Kuya asked for his favorite line he's ever written

When Charles arrived my mind was occupied with production worries; we had still been trying to lock down the video aspect of the show, and it was Charles that made a lot of this possible. We wanted to do right by him, and produce a great show. But in the midst of all of this I was planning a wedding, I had just cut 12 years of dreads locks off, and I was trying to find my place in the world with this new identity of “poet” and “husband.” Charles started the show with “Going In,” a piece I had heard and appreciated time and time again, but it was therapeutic in that moment more so than ever. That day, it was more like a message and mantra than just a piece for the show. To me, his poem reminded that we can go into ourselves to pull out some piece of God, or potential locked away by the hardships of life. Wanting and working to create an access point to these empowering poets for the world has been our goal, and getting hit with all the power and inspiration that is Charles Williams during the shoot gave me a huge boost of not only confidence, but focus as well.

As we kicked into the Threads and Lines segment, we started having the conversations I always loved to have with Charles; what are these ideas of God and self, and how does it apply to this thing called poetry we attempt at making our own? We never got an answer, had some disagreements, followed by a short debate about ego. But then we found a bit of the capital-T Truth in a conversation about poems and self, and what the two can do for (and with) each other.

Charles remains a valued part of not only the LA Poetry Community and the Pen Clique, but he is a fixture in my heart and mind. A source of inspiration when I need to find the courage to go deeper into my potential and the potential of poetry. Pen Clique would never have happened without Charles Williams, and without his influence on me personally, it wouldn’t be what it is today. There’s undoubtedly a lot of unaddressed potential in the world, waiting to be tapped into in people like Kuya and me. It’s individuals like Charles that help unleash our inner gifts, this podcast being one of them.