| 2007
-2008 |
TWAS Inc. presents [4] productions - - 3 Staged Readings and 1 Mainstage;
Fall 07 - NBT hosts 2007 TCL Reading Series. Producer Debra Ann Byrd; Associate Producer Jackie Jeffries; Winter 08 - TWAS Theatre Project: Euripides' MEDEA - - Producer and Artistic Director: Debra Ann Byrd; Producer: Jackie Jeffries; Associate Producer: Flora Gillard. |
| 2007 |
Tony Award Winning Actress LILLIAS WHITE joins the TWAS Classical Actors of Color in Steve Carter's PECONG. Company celebrates 5TH YEAR LANDMARK SEASON with an opening reception. |
| 2007 |
NATALIE CLARKE, KEVIN CONNELL, BRIGITTE WAITES, and THE HON. DAVID WEAVER elected to serve as BOARD MEMBERS of TWAS Inc. |
| 2007 |
TWAS Inc. receives [3] Vivian Robinson AUDELCO Award Nominations for “HAMLET” Winner: Best Sound Design; Winner: Best Costume Design; Nominee: Best Actor in a Lead Role, Timothy D. Stickney. |
| 2006
-2007 |
TWAS Inc. presents [2] productions - - 1 Staged Reading and 1 Main stage production. Fall 06: NBT hosts 2006 TCL Reading Series; Spring 07 – TWAS Theatre Project: Shakespeare's HAMLET - - Producer and Artistic Diretor: Debra Ann Byrd; Producer: Jackie Jeffries; Producing Associates: Flora Gillard, Norman A. Small and Natalie Clarke. EARLE HYMAN honored with Take Wing And Soar Spirit of Excellence Pioneer Award. |
| 2006 |
TWAS Inc. receives [2] Vivian Robinson AUDELCO Award Nominations for “THE DARKER FACE OF THE EARTH” | Best Scenic Design, Best Choreography. |
| 2006 |
Take Wing And Soar Productions becomes a professional theatre arts company in Residence at the National Black Theatre's Institute of Action Arts. |
| 2006 |
TWAS Inc. presents Second Annual TAKE WING AND SOAR SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS. [3] Community Leaders receive Community Service Awards. JANE WHITE honored with TWAS Spirit of Excellence Pioneer Award. |
| 2005
-2006 |
TWAS Inc. presents [4] productions - - 3 Staged Readings and 1 Main stage.
Fall 05 - NBT hosts 2005 TCL Reading Series; Spring 06 - TWAS Theatre Project: Rita Dove's THE DARKER FACE OF THE EARTH - - Producer and Artistic Diretor: Debra Ann Byrd; Jackie Jeffries joins DAB as Producer | General Manager; Associate Producers: Flora Gillard, Yvette Reed, Roz D. Fox and Brigitte Waites. |
| 2005 |
TWAS Inc. presents First Annual TAKE WING AND SOAR SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS. [7] Women Community Leaders receive Community Service Awards. RUBY DEE honored with inaugural Take Wing And Soar Spirit of Excellence Pioneer Award.
NBT Sponsors Awards Presentation Venue
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| FY05 |
TWAS receives 1st Government Grant | NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. |
| 2004
-2005 |
TWAS Inc. inaugurates new program: The TWAS Classical Lab Reading Series featuring the TWAS Classical Actors of Color. 50 Artists participated in 3 shows: Lord Arthur Salville's Crime, Juilus Caesar and Oroonoko; Spring 05 - TWAS Inc. presents CORIOLANUS: The African Warrior -- Producer: Debra Ann Byrd; Associate Producers: Flora Gillard, Yvette Reed, Roz D. Fox, and Jackie Jeffries.
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| 2004 |
Take Wing And Soar Productions launches the Official TWAS Inc. web presence: TAKE WING AND SOAR PRODUCTIONS ONLINE | www.takewingandsoar.org [Site Built and Maintained by dabgrafix designs ltd] |
| 2004 |
ROSLYN D. FOX and JACQUELINE L. JEFFRIES elected to the board of directors and join The TWAS Team. |
| 2004 |
Debra Ann Byrd creates new program | TAKE WING AND SOAR SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS |
| 2004 |
Debra Ann Byrd creates new program | The TWAS CLASSICAL LAB READING SERIES |
| 2004 |
TWAS Inc. receives first [5] Vivian Robinson AUDELCO AWARD Nominations for “RICHARD III”. TIMOTHY D. STICKNEY and DEBRA ANN BYRD invited to perform for the 32nd Annual Awards Show. Click image to view slide show. |
| 2004 |
TWAS Inc. receives Federal Trademark Status-TAKE WING AND SOAR™ | ® 2004 |
| FY04 |
TWAS Inc. receives first Foundation Grant | KATHERINE DALGLISH FOUNDATION |
| 2003
-2004 |
THE TWAS THEATRE PROJECT Produces Inaugural Production of Shakespeare's RICHARD III starring Daytime Televison Star, TIMOTHY D. STICKNEY as Richard. Producers: Debra Ann Byrd and Andrea Ghersetich; Associate Producers: Yvette Reed, Flora Gillard and JoVon Seymore; NORMAN ANTHONY SMALL, JR. joins TWAS Team as an apprentice and sound tech. |
| 2003 |
TWAS Inc. Granted TAX EXEMPTION STATUS as a 501(c)(3) | Official Date: May 15, 2003; DAB obtains Employer ID Number for Take Wing And Soar Productions, Inc. [TWAS Inc.]; TWAS Inc. Granted tax exemption from NYS and Local Sales and Use Taxes; TWAS Inc. Granted tax exemption from NYC General Corporation Taxes. |
| 2003 |
Take Wing And Soar Productions, Inc. is incorporated and established as a New York State Theatre Arts Corporation | FOUNDING BOARD MEMBERS: President: Debra Ann Byrd, Treasurer: Andrea Ghersetich, Secretary: Yvette M. Reed; Members: Flora Gillard and JoVon Seymore. |
| 2002 |
DAB secures corporate office space at the Historic National Black Theatre after DR. BARBARA ANN TEER, Founder & CEO of the NBT, Inc. agrees to proposal. |
| 2002 |
DAB accepts offer from JENNY J. SHERMAN, ESQ. to become attorney of record for the theater company. DAB drafts mission, vision and purpose of Take Wing And Soar Productions. DAB asks professional business women and long time friends; YVETTE M REED, FLORA GILLARD and JOVON SEYMORE to become members of 'The TWAS Team'. |
| 2002 |
Debra Ann Byrd [DAB] reserves Official Corporate name with NYS Department of State Division of Corporations and State Records for TWAS Inc.; DAB asks theatre colleague ANDREA GHERSETICH [AG] to join her as a member of “THE TWAS TEAM”. TWAS secures domain name www.takewingandsoar.org; DAB begins YOUTH Theatre Arts Training Program. DAB & AG provide Theatrical Support Services to the feild. |
| 2001 |
Debra Ann Byrd chooses who new theatre company would serve. Outcome: grass roots theatre companies, women, youth and classically trained actors of color; DAB attends and completes intensive training program at the New York Shakespeare Festival’s SHAKESPEARE LAB, The Joseph Papp Public Theater. |
| 2000 |
Debra Ann Byrd creates basic idea for how company would be formed and run, via submission to two educational award grant programs [The Women’s Forum Educational Award & Zonta Women's Club of NY]. Ms. Byrd won the awards in the form of grant money, which was used to further theatrical studies. |
| 1999 |
DAB ENTERTAINMENT becomes a theatre company renamed TAKE WING AND SOAR PRODUCTIONS. Take Wing And Soar Productions continues Theatrical Support Services to the field while planning its producing arm. |
| 2001
-1997 |
Debra Ann Byrd enrolls and graduates from MARYMOUNT MANHATTAN COLLEGE in order to get formal education and training with respect to working in and running a professional theatre. |
| 1991
-1997 |
Debra Ann Byrd begins to gather information and form relationships within the theatrical and business communities. DAB founds her entertainment company -- DAB ENTERTAINMENT -- which performs theatrical support services to the field. |
| 1991 |
DEBRA ANN BYRD has an idea to build and run a theatre company. |
