New York City
Broadway-based programs will head to local communities across the U.S.
The Broadway League has announced the recipients of its 22nd annual National Education and Engagement Grants. These grants support inspiring and inventive programs for a wide range of participants to experience and understand Broadway performances as a form of artistic expression and a powerful educational tool.
The National Education and Engagement Grants program presents 10 organizations with grants of $5,000 each to help them develop and maintain programming associated with touring Broadway productions. The list of recipients is as follows: Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, Inc. (Appleton, WI); Shea’s Performing Arts Center (Buffalo, New York); Cincinnati Arts Association (Cincinnati); Des Moines Performing Arts (Des Moines, Iowa); Peace Center for the Performing Arts (Greenville, South Carolina); California Musical Theatre/Broadway Sacramento (Sacramento, California); Seattle Theatre Group (Seattle); Washington Pavilion (Sioux Falls, South Dakota); Straz Center/Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (Tampa, Florida); Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (West Palm Beach, Florida).
Touring Broadway shows participating in this year’s recipient programs include Aladdin, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Chicago, The Color Purple, The King and I, The Lion King, Something Rotten!, and Waitress.
The recipients of this year’s grants will take part in a range of activities to involve local communities with theater. These diverse programs use the conventions of theater to celebrate culture, develop creativity, and support access to arts-based education and learning. Some the activities include songwriting, puppetry, costume design, essay writing and group discussions, among many others.
"It is a great honor to support arts organizations that are doing the important work of engaging regional communities around the country," said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League. "These Broadway-based programs consistently have a significant impact on underserved populations by encouraging arts curriculums, offering performing arts-based school field trips, promoting inclusion and providing life-long learning. Our member organizations' dedication to bringing Broadway to their whole communities ensures that the magic of theater reaches everyone."
For more information about the 2017-18 grant recipients, click here.