JCAL Announces Season Premieres of Theatre and Jazz Series

JCAL & JPAC
  • August 15, 2022


This week, you can be the first to RSVP to two of JCAL's season premieres! Our Theatre series "Meet the Playwright" and our Jazz series "Thursday Night Jazz" have returned for an exciting Fall season. Check out the first performances below.

JCAL Arts Classes' Fall Semester is officially open for registration—and we're inviting you to partake in our upcoming Open House! On September 10th, join us at JCAL as our professional teaching artists host live interactive workshops which preview their classes!

Also, our Making Moves Dance Festival is coming up on Friday, September 23rd and Saturday, September 24th, starting at 7pm on both days. RSVP for the free event to check out the diverse cultural lineup that we have in store.

Check it all out below!

Meet the Playwright Season Premiere

September 26th, 7pm

161-04 Jamaica Avenue

We're pleased to present the season premiere of "Meet the Playwright" a curated script-development series showcasing local Queens theatre artists.

About the Play: When an American soldier on a reconnaissance mission discovers a mortally wounded “enemy”, a conflict between duty and humanity follows as what makes “wartime enemies” is put under a microscope.

About the Playwright: Frank began his journey in the arts with music. Growing up in a household filled with music opened the doors of his mind to the world of creativity within.

As an actor, he performed with the Black Spectrum Theatre group, Side Stage Theatre Co., and Laurelton Theatre Co. As a writer/producer/director, he produced; “Heaven’s Hands”, for Covenant House, “Spirits in Black” for the First Universalist Church, and the film short, “You Never Know.”

Currently, he is the producer of “Around the Fire”; a talk and performing arts show on QPTV.

Thursday Night Jazz Season Premiere

October 13th, 8pm

161-04 Jamaica Avenue

Join us at Thursday Night Jazz's Season Premiere!

The beloved free series brings together jazz musicians ranging from up-and-coming and mid-career artists to Grammy-winning performers.

About the Artist: Declan Sheehy-Moss is a genre-bending saxophone player born and raised in New York City. Influenced by Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Thundercat, and more, Declan blends jazz, pop, funk, and electronic music to produce a searing fusion of sound.

Little Amal Welcoming Festival

September 14th, 12pm

Jamaica Performing Arts Center

We are excited to announce that we’re partnering with @StAnnsWarehouse & @WalkWithAmal to create a festival of art and hope to amplify the voices of marginalized people worldwide. Join us on September 14th, 12pm at JPAC to welcome Little Amal to our city.

The welcoming festival will feature live music, dance, and more!

Free Arts Workshops!

JCAL Arts Classes Open House

September 10th, 12pm - 4pm

161-04 Jamaica Avenue

Join us at JCAL as we kick off our Fall 2022 semester with a day of family-friendly fun!

JCAL Arts Classes Open House will feature workshops with Professional Teaching Artists. Attendees will get a hands-on feel for each of our classes as our teaching artists lead interactive workshops.

Classes include Ceramics, Piano, Acting, Fashion Design, Animation, Voice, Painting, and more!

Vitals Health & Wellness Music Festival

August 20th, 12pm

161-04 Jamaica Avenue

Join us at VITALS, an outdoor health and wellness festival highlighting non-profit organizations advancing health equity amongst communities of color. Featuring musicians from The Dream Unfinished, an Activist Orchestra, in outdoor performances of works by diverse artists and composers.

Making Moves Dance Festival 2022

September 23rd & 24th, 7pm

Jamaica Performing Arts Center

153-10 Jamaica Avenue

JCAL is pleased to announce Making Moves Dance Festival 2022! The theme this year is Carpe Diem (Seize the Day). For 13 years, Making Moves Dance Festival has served as a platform to promote new, emerging, and underrepresented dance companies. The free, two-day event is set to take place on the outdoor stage of the Jamaica Performing Arts Center (153-10 Jamaica Avenue) on Friday, September 23rd and Saturday, September 24th, starting at 7pm on both days.

Making Moves Dance Festival is a testament to the rich diversity of Queens and New York City as it presents both traditional and contemporary influenced dance styles. Stay tuned for our announcement of the selected dancers and RSVP below!

JCAL Arts Classes Fall Semester is Now Open for Registration! Check Out Our Class Lineup Below

Comic Books, Cartooning, Portfolio, and Stop Motion Animation

A class for teens (and advanced pre-teens) in comic book and graphic novel creation and cartoon and anime drawing as well as portfolio development. The class includes the option of creating stop motion cartoon animation which may include traditional hand-drawn cell animation, white board animation, cut paper animation, flip books, claymation, and object animation.

JCAL members get 20% off of classes! Become a member here.

Intro to Acting

This class is designed to stimulate, excite and inspire a young person’s naturally creative self. Students will engage in theater games and improvisation as a basis for exploration. The class teaches ensemble-building skills to establish a safe environment for the students to play and explore.

JCAL members get 20% off of classes! Become a member here.

Acting Out

Our preschool classes turn the spotlight away from the teachers as the children take the stage. Be part of the action while students develop rhythmic coordination, language, and storytelling skills through games, song, and dance. Students will explore the joys of improv, singing, movement, and voice & speech, transforming their stories into tales to share and tell.

JCAL members get 20% off of classes! Become a member here.

Piano Beginner and Intermediate


This keyboarding class is an intensive 6-week class for beginning and intermediate piano students. Each student will practice rhythmic fluency, note reading, and piano technique, all while preparing an individual piano piece to practice and perform at the end of the class. This small-group class will allow each student to get individualized guidance and instruction from the teacher no matter their level.

JCAL members get 20% off of classes! Become a member here.

Voice


During this JCAL voice class, students will learn about the voice as an instrument, the fundamental techniques of singing, music history, and harmony - all while building a joyful community through music! Singers will work on repertoire from many different musical genres and will work on techniques for ensemble and solo singing. Singers of all levels and abilities are welcome and encouraged to join! This class is for students ages 9 to adult.

JCAL members get 20% off of classes! Become a member here.

Fashion Design 101


Students will learn the fundamentals of fashion design, including fashion illustration and machine and hand sewing. They’ll learn to draw a 10-figure head, texture/fabric rendering, and create their own design using a sewing machine (provided by JCAL) as well as by hand with a needle.

JCAL members get 20% off of classes! Become a member here.

Drawing & Painting

Learn fundamental elements of drawing and painting with pen and ink, watercolor, painted-paper collage, printmaking, and acrylic and tempera painting. Students will be encouraged to develop their own personal style while building their art-making vocabulary and strengthening their fine motor and problem-solving skills.

JCAL members get 20% off of classes! Become a member here.

Ceramics

If you can imagine it, you can create it in JCAL’s ceramics studio. This is an introductory course designed to give students a hands-on educational and artistic experience using the medium of clay. Students will begin with basic hand-building techniques and ways of shaping clay—including coil, pinch, and slab methods. Students will also gain experience with various decorating, glazing, and firing techniques.

JCAL members get 20% off of classes! Become a member here.

We Finna Write

August 19th, 7pm

161-04 Jamaica Avenue

JCAL is proud to present ‘We Finna Write’ a Creative Writing Workshop featuring an Open Mic! at the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning on August 19th, 2022- for the first time ever! ‘We Finna Write’ will center Queer BIIPOC folks that want to explore creative writing techniques.

Comedian, Actor, and Writer Michelladonna will lead the event by sharing writing prompts, providing insight about different approaches to writing, and supporting community members as they create their own works throughout the workshop.

Throughout the event, community members will have the opportunity to have their headshot taken by a photographer.

For our second part of the night, Michelladonna will be hosting an Open Mic open to all guests. Community Members are welcome to share any art form they would like! Throughout this part of the event, community members will have the opportunity to have their reels filmed by a videographer as they perform.

Photos of the Week - Last Week at JCAL/JPAC

Check out some moments from last week including Festival of Cinema at JPAC and the current mural at Daniel M. O'Connell Playground.


Thank you to our sponsors!

JCAL thanks the below businesses for sponsoring our 50th Anniversary year! Tap the logos to learn more about each business and support!