Mas
at Sesame began at the interception of the organization with the
children and adults both being involved in the production and
participation. Since no one in the organization was really
versed in the actual mas making, we decided to do something
simple with printed Tee Shirts and sailor caps with Silhouettes
Steel Orchestra supplying the beautiful music and we looked
fantastic. Although the production was a big hit with our
members and supporters, the adults lost interest in playing mas
the following year.
In
1991, while President of Sesame Flyers International
Incorporated, Winston Munroe was approached by Derrick Noel at
the Hawks' Christmas Dance to start an Adult Mas Band
collaborative effort with his production company "Deck
Production".
I
approached my Executive Committee with the idea and they
welcomed it, with one reservation (who will produce the mas?).
Hyacinth Williams agreed to make a trip to Trinidad to scout out
some of the mas producers including Wayne Berkley, Peter
Minshall, and Steven Lee Young. We made the decision to
work with Steven Lee Young, since he seemed to be the most
accommodating. Steve produced 1,000 costumes for us in
1992 with the theme "Excerpts Of The New World". Needless
to say we were a big hit on the parkway, the production changed
the face of Mas in Brooklyn, New York.
We
placed third in the competition that year and we have not looked
back since.
