Event Program
All Write!
ALL WRITE!
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026 | 7PM
EVERYONE HAS A STORY TO TELL
Hosted by Madeline Cohen
STORIES BY STUDENTS FROM COMMUNITY-BASED LITERACY PROGRAMS
READINGS BY
Krystina Alabado, Philip Estrera, Khris Lewin, and Dawn Akemi Saito
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
32BJ Training Fund
Brooklyn Museum of Art
Brooklyn Public Library
Bedford Learning Center
City University of New York
Borough of Manhattan Community College
Bronx Community College
Brooklyn College Adult Literacy Center
College of Staten Island Adult Language and Literacy Program
Hunter College Community Outreach Program in English (COPE)
Hunter College SPELL Program
Lehman College
New York City College of Technology
Family Health Centers at NYU Langone
Family Support Center
Project Reach Youth
Literacy Partners
New York City Department of Education Office of Adult and Continuing Education
Commonpoint: The Hub
Queens Adult Learning Center
Mid-Manhattan Adult Learning Center
New York City Department of Youth and Community Development
Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement
New York Public Library
Washington Heights Adult Learning Center
Philadelphia Adult Education
Queens Public Library
Elmhurst Adult Learning Center
Peninsula Adult Learning Center
Shorefront YM-YWHA
SUNY Syracuse Economic Opportunity Center
THE READINGS
The Streets of New York by Yesabel Reyna Marquez
Queens Public Library Elmhurst Adult Learning Center
Performed by Krystina Alabado
My Comfort Food and New Friends by Wanling (Rhea) Chen
Queens Public Library Elmhurst Adult Learning Center
Performed by Dawn Akemi Saito
New York in Autumn by Jass Stacumbert
Hunter College SPELL Program
Performed by Khris Lewin
Morning Song by Win Win Htwe
Queens Adult Learning Center
Performed by Krystina Alabado
Morning Coffee by Mauricio Garcia
Queens Adult Learning Center
Performed by Philip Estrera
Sundays with Maria by Adela Ochoa
Queens Adult Learning Center
Performed by Krystina Alabado
Food by Zhane Windley
Borough of Manhattan Community College
Performed by Dawn Akemi Saito
A Guinean Restaurant in Harlem by Hadjidjatou Bah
Literacy Partners
Performed by Krystina Alabado
The Last Call by Angel Solano
Literacy Partners
Performed by Khris Lewin
Independent Woman by Josephine Borela-Wilson
Borough of Manhattan Community College
Performed by Dawn Akemi Saito
House or Home, An Untold Story by Linah FNU
Queens Public Library Elmhurst Adult Learning Center
Performed by Philip Estrera
Reasons You Should Not Live in this House by Omar Barbecho, Rufina Gonzalez, Ana Hincapie-Leonardo, Delicia Marquez Tanga, and Ceferino Mejia
Queens Adult Learning Center
Performed by The Company
Where I Am From by Nataly Pena
Bronx Community College, CUNY Language Immersion Program (CLIP)
Performed by Krystina Alabado
Where I Am From by Adriana Gonzalez
Literacy Partners
Performed by Dawn Akemi Saito
Just Run by Quaina Horton
Borough of Manhattan Community College
Performed by Dawn Akemi Saito
Anger: A sensory poem by Rafael Arias
Bronx Community College, CUNY Language Immersion Program (CLIP)
Performed by Khris Lewin
Slippers in the Hallway by Lana Davydova
Queens Public Library Elmhurst Adult Learning Center
Performed by Dawn Akemi Saito
Vivir con My Mother by Maria Marquez
Queens Adult Learning Center
Performed by Krystina Alabado
Delights in my Life by Veronica Jimenez
Queens Adult Learning Center
Performed by Dawn Akemi Saito
Joy: A sensory poem by Clairet Santana
Bronx Community College, CUNY Language Immersion Program (CLIP)
Performed by Philip Estrera
My Cat by Melanie Arevalo
Queens Adult Learning Center
Performed by Dawn Akemi Saito
America Has Changed by Rukie Ibrahim
Literacy Partners
Performed by Philip Estrera
A Journey Through Shadows: My Story by Raju Ahmmed
Borough of Manhattan Community College
Performed by Khris Lewin
A Bowl of Lamb Soup in Hunger and Cold by Sizai (Sam) Weng
Queens Public Library Elmhurst Adult Learning Center
Performed by Philip Estrera
A Private Plot by Chi Choi Cheung
Queens Public Library Elmhurst Adult Learning Center
Performed by Khris Lewin
A Woman Living With A Secret by Corinne Murphy
Literacy Partners
Performed by Krystina Alabado
My School Is by Vimia Colmenares de Martinez
Queens Adult Learning Center
Performed by Dawn Akemi Saito
The Block I Remember (before they changed it) by Luis Rivera
Borough of Manhattan Community College
Performed by Philip Estrera
Life of Aisha by Binta Barry
Literacy Partners
Performed by Dawn Akemi Saito
You Never Forget Your Home by Gregory Criado, Gabriel Desgraviers, Win Win Htwe, Sandra Lopez, Adela Ochoa, Daniel Pena, Rocio Pogo, Kembang Rembulan, Reynalda Rios, Yangdu Sherpa, and Claudia Umpierrez
Queens Adult Learning Center
Performed by The Company
New York Is My Home Now by Jacqueline Abarca, Fidela Bolanos, Irina Brazhenko, Karen Castellon Vindell, Yokchi Chang, Umut Durmus, Domingo Garcia, Rosa Garcia, Tatiana Garcia, Maria Guadalupe, Nora Hernandez, Yelyzaveta Kozar, Halyna Levkovych, Daisy Montalvan Hernandez, Adrianne Ortiz Gonzales, Cristina Pazmino, Nubia Penuela, Katarzyna Perkowski, Yoseline Rosas, Heidi Siachoque, Erika Silva, Jass Stacumbert, and Greicy Triana
Hunter College SPELL Program
Performed by The Company
The Performers (in alphabetical order)
Krystina Alabado
Krystina Alabado was last seen starring in Regency Girls at The Old Globe, in Mystic Pizza at Papermill Playhouse, and as Dot in Sunday in the Park with George at the Pasadena Playhouse. Her Broadway credits include the role of Gretchen Wieners in Mean Girls, as well as roles in American Psycho and Green Day’s American Idiot. She has performed in the national tours of Evita, American Idiot, and Spring Awakening, and off-Broadway in The Mad Ones, This Ain’t No Disco, David Bowie's Lazarus, and Camp Wanatachi. Her film and television credits include If You See Something, Disney’s Better Nate Than Ever, A Killer Party, Sunny Day, God Friended Me, First Reformed, FX’s Tyrant, Mecha Builders on Max, Voltron Legendary Defender on Netflix, and most notably the voice of Cherri Bomb on Amazon Prime's hit animated series Hazbin Hotel. Alabado can be heard on the cast albums of The Mad Ones, A Killer Party, Goosebumps The Musical, Star Crossed, and more.
Krystina Alabado was last seen starring in Regency Girls at The Old Globe, in Mystic Pizza at Papermill Playhouse, and as Dot in Sunday in the Park with George at the Pasadena Playhouse. Her Broadway credits include the role of Gretchen Wieners in Mean Girls, as well as roles in American Psycho and Green Day’s American Idiot. She has performed in the national tours of Evita, American Idiot, and Spring Awakening, and off-Broadway in The Mad Ones, This Ain’t No Disco, David Bowie's Lazarus, and Camp Wanatachi. Her film and television credits include If You See Something, Disney’s Better Nate Than Ever, A Killer Party, Sunny Day, God Friended Me, First Reformed, FX’s Tyrant, Mecha Builders on Max, Voltron Legendary Defender on Netflix, and most notably the voice of Cherri Bomb on Amazon Prime's hit animated series Hazbin Hotel. Alabado can be heard on the cast albums of The Mad Ones, A Killer Party, Goosebumps The Musical, Star Crossed, and more.
Madeline Cohen
Madeline Cohen is the Director of Symphony Space’s adult literacy program, All Write! She held the position of Education Director at Symphony Space from 1989 - 2022, and has been working in arts education for 49 years as a teaching artist, staff development leader, administrator, and consultant at Lincoln Center Institute, United Federation of Teachers, and Teachers College, among others. In addition, she is a costume designer.
Madeline Cohen is the Director of Symphony Space’s adult literacy program, All Write! She held the position of Education Director at Symphony Space from 1989 - 2022, and has been working in arts education for 49 years as a teaching artist, staff development leader, administrator, and consultant at Lincoln Center Institute, United Federation of Teachers, and Teachers College, among others. In addition, she is a costume designer.
Philip Estrera
Philip Estrera is a NYC-based actor whose theater credits include Orphan of Zhao at La Jolla Playhouse and Monstress at the American Conservatory Theater. He appeared in the Sesame Street Thanksgiving special as Anton the bus driver, which introduced the first Asian American puppet to the series. He can be seen in episodes of Blue Bloods and New Amsterdam, and is active in the New York indie film community. Estrera is a graduate of the American Conservatory Theater’s MFA program.
Philip Estrera is a NYC-based actor whose theater credits include Orphan of Zhao at La Jolla Playhouse and Monstress at the American Conservatory Theater. He appeared in the Sesame Street Thanksgiving special as Anton the bus driver, which introduced the first Asian American puppet to the series. He can be seen in episodes of Blue Bloods and New Amsterdam, and is active in the New York indie film community. Estrera is a graduate of the American Conservatory Theater’s MFA program.
Khris Lewin
Khris Lewin is thrilled to return to Symphony Space, where he has enjoyed performing in Selected Shorts and as part of many Bloomsday celebrations. NYC theatre credits include Richard II with Fight or Flight Theatre Company, Extreme Whether at La Mama ETC, Personnel Best at the Secret Theatre, Horatio in the world premiere of Boris Akunin’s Hamlet. A Version, Oliver! at Harbor Lights, Fêtes de la Nuit at the Ohio Theatre, and a new translation of Brecht's Private Life of the Master Race at Walkerspace.
Khris Lewin is thrilled to return to Symphony Space, where he has enjoyed performing in Selected Shorts and as part of many Bloomsday celebrations. NYC theatre credits include Richard II with Fight or Flight Theatre Company, Extreme Whether at La Mama ETC, Personnel Best at the Secret Theatre, Horatio in the world premiere of Boris Akunin’s Hamlet. A Version, Oliver! at Harbor Lights, Fêtes de la Nuit at the Ohio Theatre, and a new translation of Brecht's Private Life of the Master Race at Walkerspace.
Dawn Akemi Saito
Dawn Akemi Saito is an actor, writer, director, and teacher whose credits include Insects in Heat, Suns Are Suns, Blood Cherries, HA, Knock on the Sky, Suicide Forest, Hiroshima Maiden, Arden/Ardennes, My House Is Collapsing Toward One Side, and Deshima. Her multi-disciplinary works have been performed at the Walker Art Center, Orpheum Theatre in Austria, the Whitney Museum, Dance Theater Workshop, New York Theater Workshop, LaMaMa, New World Theater, the Public Theater, and Aaron Davis Hall. Saito is a Clinical Professor at Fordham University/Lincoln Center, is on the Physical Acting faculty at Juilliard, and serves as co-director of the Summer Theatre Devising Intensive at Bard College in Berlin, Germany.
Dawn Akemi Saito is an actor, writer, director, and teacher whose credits include Insects in Heat, Suns Are Suns, Blood Cherries, HA, Knock on the Sky, Suicide Forest, Hiroshima Maiden, Arden/Ardennes, My House Is Collapsing Toward One Side, and Deshima. Her multi-disciplinary works have been performed at the Walker Art Center, Orpheum Theatre in Austria, the Whitney Museum, Dance Theater Workshop, New York Theater Workshop, LaMaMa, New World Theater, the Public Theater, and Aaron Davis Hall. Saito is a Clinical Professor at Fordham University/Lincoln Center, is on the Physical Acting faculty at Juilliard, and serves as co-director of the Summer Theatre Devising Intensive at Bard College in Berlin, Germany.
MORE INFORMATION
The All Write! adult literacy program is made possible by the generous support of the Seedlings Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Charles D. Fleischman Charitable Trust, Susan Bay Nimoy, The Isambard Kingdom Brunel Society of North America, Allan Miller and Family, PECO Foundation, Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, Michael Tuch Foundation, Joseph and Joan Cullman Foundation, Jody and John Arnhold and the Arnhold Foundation, The Grodzins Fund, and the Seedtime Foundation.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
All Write! also receives support from an endowment established by the Steven Aresty Foundation.
Symphony Space thanks our generous supporters, including our Board of Directors, Producers Circle, and members, who make our programs possible with their annual support.
Kathy Landau Executive Director
Peg Wreen Managing Director
Isaiah Sheffer*
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director (1978-1990)
Artistic Director (1990-2010)
Founding Artistic Director (2010-2012)
Allan Miller
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director (1978-1990)
Lulu Fogarty Director of Education
Regina Larkin Manager of Education Programs
Madeline Cohen Director of All Write!
Jennifer Brennan Director of Literary Programs
Drew Richardson Lead Producer of Literary Programs
Vivienne Woodward Senior Producer of Literary Programs
Mary Shimkin Director of Broadcast & Literary Initiatives
Matthew Love Consultant for Literary Programs
Magdalene Wrobleski Program Associate
Lili Raynaud Literary Intern
Gabriela Weaver Literary Intern
LITERACY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Teresa Bell The New School
Madeline Cohen Symphony Space
Solange Farina City University of New York–Borough of Manhattan Community College
Mary Esther Malloy Consultant
*in memoriam
