After the Storm (2009)

Synopsis: On the second day there, they discovered St. Mark's Community Center. Situated on the edge of the historic French Quarter, like most of New Orleans the center had been hit hard and was forced to... On the second day there, they discovered St. Mark's Community Center. Situated on the edge of the historic French Quarter, like most of New Orleans the center had been hit hard and was forced to close after the storm. The challenge now was to reopen its doors.

Back in New York, funds were raised to turn on the electricity, make structural repairs and bring back a small staff to get things running. The center re-opened in August 2006 and the children of St. Mark's once again had a safe place to meet. The work did not stop there. St. Mark's needed more than money to get it back on its feet - it needed care and attention. The children needed to feel part of a community and an enterprise that was larger than themselves in order to once again find meaning in their lives. The New York crew came up with the idea of having the kids of New Orleans put on a few performances of the Tony-nominated musical, Once On This Island (based on the novel My Love My Love by Rosa Guy), and to make a documentary film of the process.

Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, writers of Once On This Island were contacted, and immediately jumped on board, generously offering the rights to their musical and their support of the project. This was the spark we needed to create After the Storm. A non-profit film & theatre project, After the Storm is dedicated to restoring and revitalizing New Orleans' St. Mark's Community Center and the people it serves.

After the Storm produced Once On This Island with the St. Mark's community, and documented the production for a feature-length film, After the Storm. The film will be used as a fund-raising tool for the foundation. All funds raised for the After the Storm foundation will be used to help existing relief organizations devoted especially to the youth of New Orleans.

Our goal is to raise $500,000 or more in 2007. This would allow us to pay off the costs of the film and still have money to give to St. Mark's and several other organizations in New Orleans that are working with kids. Already many have stepped up to the challenge. The Broadway support organization Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids has become a major supporter as well as the award-winning writer-activist Eve Ensler (The Vagina Monologues), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Doug Wright, and award-winning film producers, John, Ed and Mark Priddy. True to the spirit of New Orleans, After the Storm is serving as a catalyst to help individuals and artists from all walks of life to join forces and make a difference for the sake of the children of the storm. --© Official Site [More]

Director: Hilla Medalia

Director: Hilla Medalia
Screenwriter: Hilla Medalia
Studio: MoMA