The 52nd Street Project


	This program is designed to give the older kids who have graduated from the One-on-One program a new performing challenge. By the time they've reached this program, they know their way around the stage well enough to share the responsibilities of driving a play without an adult on stage. Each kid is partnered with another kid. The two are, in turn, matched up with a pair of adults: a playwright and a director. Although the adult mentors are always present in the wings, Project kids learn to rely on, and support, one another on stage for the first time. After a week or so of working on the plays in the city, the group goes to the country for a three-day weekend of concentrated rehearsal and out-of-town fun. As in most other Project programs, the Two-on-Two's end with a full production in an Off-Broadway theater. From ICE STATION ZELDA by Michael Bernard for Peter Ventura and Carl Moon.
		PROFESSOR FLUEGENBOTTOM
		Ye gods. I have clearly stumbled across some kind of cave man, and possibly a friend. I will try to communicate with him.
	The Professor begins to slowly make waving movements that the Yeti copies. He waves hello, he pats his head, he rubs his stomach he slowly waves his arms and swings his legs. This turns into a little dance. We hear music and the two begin to waltz. The Yeti dips the professor and drops him. The yeti waves his hands to get the Professor's attention and begins to do charades.
		PROFESSOR FLUEGENBOTTOM
		Why don't you just get out! Leave me alone! Go play with your Yeti friends.
		YETI
		I don't... have any Yeti friends.
		PROFESSOR FLUEGENBOTTOM
		Well I can see why seeing how rude you are.
		YETI
		It's not that! There are no more Yetis. I'm the last one.
		PROFESSOR FLUEGENBOTTOM
		Wow, that's heavy. No Yeti friends.
	The Yeti shakes his head.
		PROFESSOR FLUEGENBOTTOM
		No Yeti ladies?
		YETI
		Well, there was one once. ONCE THIS WHOLE LAND WAS COVERED FROM HERE TO THE JETTY YOU COULD NOT THROW A STICK WITHOUT HITTING A YETI BUT SLOWLY WE DIED OUT IT WAS QUITE AN ORDEAL MOST OF US WERE EATEN BY A RABID SEA SEAL SOON THERE WERE JUST TWO ME AND MY WIFE BUT OH HOW I LOVED HER WITH ALL OF MY LIFE THE LOVE THAT WE FELT I CANNOT DESCRIBE WE WERE ALL THAT WE NEEDED WE WERE OUR OWN TRIBE ONE DAY ON A STROLL WHILE OUT FOR A WHIRL SHE TRIED TO HELP A SICK POLAR BEAR SHE WAS THAT KIND OF GIRL SHE WALKED OUT ON A LEDGE TO RESCUE THE BEAR WHEN I HEARD A RUMBLING FROM FAR OFF SOMEWHERE THEN THE SNOW BEGAN TO FALL I JUST STOOD AND WATCHED IT ALL IF I MOVED HER LIFE I COULD HAVE SAVED BUT NOW SHE LIES IN A SNOWEY GRAVE BURIED UNDER THE AVALANCHE MY LOVE MY LIGHT MY DARLING BLANCHE
		PROFESSOR FLUEGENBOTTOM
		Wow, that's gotta hurt.
		YETI
		I wasn't brave enough to save her. (he cries)
		PROFESSOR FLUEGENBOTTOM
		Excuse me Mr. Yeti, um, do you have a first name?
		YETI
		Yeah but it's not pronounceable in your language.
		PROFESSOR FLUEGENBOTTOM
		Try me.
		YETI
		Okay, it's Pete...