(Photo courtesy of Express Yourself Milwaukee)

Express Yourself Milwaukee presents ILLUMINATE, a one-of-kind performance that celebrates the culmination of creative work done by young people and professional artists working in collaboration through Express Yourself Milwaukee’s year-long multi-disciplinary arts exploration. The performance brings together dance, music, spoken word and visual arts for a powerful explosion of creativity. Express Yourself Milwaukee is a local non-profit that works with low-income youth in Milwaukee’s central city.

ILLUMINATE will be held at the Milwaukee Theatre, 500 West Kilbourn Avenue, on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 6:30 pm. This family-friendly event is free and open to the general public, although donations are gladly accepted. Supporters who make a donation of $50 or more are invited to a special pre-show reception beginning at 5:30 pm in the Milwaukee Theatre’s Kilbourn Hall (RSVP Required).

(Photo courtesy of Express Yourself Milwaukee)

Founder and Co-Executive Director Lori Vance commented that, “This year will be our 15^th annual Express Yourself show. Each year we select a different theme to focus our creative work on throughout the year. Our theme of ILLUMINATE this year speaks directly to the sparks of ingenuity and positive expression that come from creative pursuits. Our program participants are generating rays of hope by using arts as an expressive force for important personal and societal change. By shining light on creativity, ILLUMINATE will be a uniquely energetic and immersive happening that hopes to capture lightening in a bottle and offer the audience a taste of a truly impressive comingling of artistic forms.”

Added Music Director David Wake, “I’m especially excited that we’ll have 120 number of children performers on stage ranging from ages 7 to 21, accompanied by 30 adult musicians and artists. The production will also feature colorful costumes, set and props which our youth create in our own multi-arts studio. We’ll even have some special guest artists this year as well.” David Wake is also a member of the popular Milwaukee band De Le Buena.

Demitris, a 17-year-old student with New School for Community Service high school and Express Yourself Milwaukee participant for two years, stated that, “Express Yourself is basically trying to save the young black community and to stop the violence. To do that you have to have people having self-control and having the right mindset. I like Express Yourself because it’s a way to become a better person through music, dance, spoken word, visual – however you want to express yourself.”

For more information about Express Yourself Milwaukee and their upcoming ILLUMINATE performance, please visit www.exyomke.org or call 414-272-3498.