Peace Hero of the Week Jack Freiberger
Because peace begins at home and in-community, Jack Freiberger deserves this week’s Peace Hero of the Week Award for his peace building with youth and their families in poverty stricken areas where gangs and violence would seem too tough for most people.
Freiberger's play, "THEY CALL ME MISTER FRY" rightfully earns all the accolades audiences give to it: touching,
gritty, inspiring, heartfelt, MUST SEE!, endearing and charismatic,
uniformly excellent, talented blend of emotion and comedy, plus those
the critics give such as:
- "Freiberger wins over his audience and his real-life students... He masterfully portrays two problem students." --LA Weekly
- "Solo
performance is difficult to pull off, but Mr. Freiberger does it with
style... He has a marvelous stage voice and tells a story that is
fascinating as it is timely." --LATheatre.com
- Freiberger
wants to share the profound impact of his experiences— and does so with
passion and commitment. He speaks from his students' hearts and it
affects ours." --Backstage West
One
event can transform us, leaving us no choice but to utilize our
untapped potential so we can have a positive impact on the world, bringing peace where there was none, MR. FRY is one such event, thanks to Jack Freiberger. All of our children deserve such a gifted teacher.
Mister Fry high-quality edutainment Sunday afternoon in Culver City
If
you cherish hilarious and inspiring true stories, highest quality
off-broadway theatre, great escapes and an amazing way to fill your
soul with what the world needs more, compassion, reserve this Sunday
afternoon for last chance to see MR. FRY in the LA area before its summer tour starting in July.
MR. FRY,
the true-life story of a first-year teacher in South Central Los
Angeles, teaching a 5th-grade class, powerfully represents the
relationship between Mr. Fry, two challenging students plus numerous
school system personnel.
This is a
one-man show, but that one man, Freiberger, portrays so many
characters, not only did time fly but I soon wanted to mentor the two
student main characters or students like them. It really does take a
village. We were also reminded that all "education should be
entertaining and all entertainment should be educational" - and that's edutainment! Why shouldn't learning be fun since we all learn better when we are enjoying the learning experience?
A must for teachers, administrators, parents and especially for students
Freiberger
stated, “Teachers are the foot soldiers in our community. They are in
the trenches, trying to light the sparks that could ignite a meteoric
rise in perspective and the quality of life. Everything that you are is
a result of what was learned when you were young. Teachers are behind the curtain in
every level of society.”
You’ll
laugh with and cry for the white boy from Indiana who ends up teaching
in South Central Los Angeles, and his inner-city 5th-grade students with needs
far beyond the reality of most WestSiders, that is, until they see MR.FRY.
Freiberger is telling a story of which most teachers, parents and students
identify yet few have opportunity to discuss, debate or gain support to
overcome. Few young teachers are prepared for the reality of todays'
classroom. Freiberger and his play brilliantly helps fill all these gaps.
After
seeing Mr. Fry, I was even more inspired to support inner-city
students and their teachers. I wasn’t the only one. It seemed everyone
was equally moved according to their comments while leaving the
theatre, precisely as the show's trailer documents. Goodness knows how important that kind of support is for teachers and youth who are our future, our communities and our nation.
Standing ovations
Critically
important, this production, written by and
starring Freiberger, has been getting standing ovations before packed
houses in New York and Los Angeles.
Teachers will not learn in university
classes what they learn from this play, yet they need the huge dose of
reality and the even greater doses of inspiration and examples of
creativity that Freiberger delivers.
Jack Fry is the Patch Adams of education, bringing creative gifts of peace and joy to empower learners of all ages.
Learn More:
See MISTER FRY. It was extended in LA before heading to Washington DC
and Boulder, Colorado. Its final show of this season is at 3:00 Sunday
afternoon, June 14 at FanaticSalon Theater, 3815 Sawtelle Blvd, Culver
City, CA. The theater seats only 45 and sells out, so it's important
to make a reservation here or phone 1800.838.3006. (The play earned a 4 out of 4 stars on Goldstar.)
Also consider learning by doing - such as volunteering your unique
gifts, talents or skills at your local school or joining a mentor
program. You'll know why after you see Mister Fry.
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