The League of American Theatres and Producers awarded its annual arts education grants to ten road presenters of touring Broadway shows this year for a total of $50,000.
Each grant provides $5,000 in support of education initiatives run during the year, beginning Sept. 1, 1998. The program, now in its third year, was developed by the League and co-funded by Theatre Development Fund.
The League honored the following programs:
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale's Free Rising Stars Summer Theatre Camp -- for providing campers with a full day workshop with Beauty and the Beast.
Fifth Third Bank Broadway Series of Columbus, OH, for a ten-week community learning and workshop series centered around the productions of Sunset Boulevard, Victor/Victoria, and Footloose as well as subsidized tickets to the shows.
Indianapolis' Murat Theatre/Pace Theatricals' trip to Showboat for the Indiana School for the Blind, which will include a talk back with a musician and a cast member.
"Dream 'da Dream" from North Carolina Blumenthal Performance Arts Center of Charlotte, NC, which brings 85 African-American youth to Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk for the exploration of the historical and cultural context of the show.
The Peace Center for the Performing Arts in Greenville, SC, for a peer leadership pow-wow and original play scripting with the cast of Fame, as well as a partnership program for local arts students with the cast and crew of Fame.
Cleveland's Play House Square Foundation's "Broadway Buzz", a series of free, informal background talks prior to each of the eight shows in the playhouse's season.
The Sacramento Light Opera's "Arts Alive" program, with Miss Saigon tying together Vietnam War issues. Also, tickets were subsidized and distributed free to students.
The Shubert Theatre in New Haven, CT, whose program with The Civil War's pre-Broadway run will include a chance for 50 inner-city students to study US history and Civil War literature, see the show, observe rehearsals, and speak with producers and the creative team.
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's African-American history perspective on music and dance with Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Noise.
Green Bay's Weidner Center's presentation of Cats and The Jungle Book to 70 fifth graders who will then write original scripts for school assembly performance.
-- By Christine Ehren
