The Broadway League has awarded coveted New York Education Grants to the Broadway productions of Manhattan Theatre Club’s The American Plan, by Richard Greenberg, and to 9 to 5: The Musical. Each production receives a $5,000 grant towards its 2009 educational initiatives. The grants are important to the growth and development of theatre education and audience development in the city as they encourage theatres to create more opportunities for young people and to exchange ideas about live performance.

The League established the New York Education Grants in 2002 to recognize education initiatives and to support further programs for Broadway shows. As the national trade organization for the commercial theatre industry, the League also sponsors a grant program supporting educational programs for touring Broadway productions. The two programs combined have to date awarded $660,000 to theatres in New York and across the country. Both awards were established by the League’s Education Committee and are also generously supported by Theatre Development Fund.

“The New York Education Grants have been extremely successful in cultivating diversity and inspiring audience development,” said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League. “This year’s recipients will continue to expand our mission with their outstanding programs. Education programs are crucial for the growth and survival of Broadway, as they encourage a lifelong appreciation of the arts.”

THE AMERICAN PLAN
Manhattan Theatre Club’s production of The American Plan by Richard Greenberg serves as an excellent model of playwriting and production for approximately 670 participating high school students and classroom teachers from all five New York City boroughs and Westchester.

MTC’s comprehensive educational initiatives encourage students to examine the play and its themes of the Jewish immigrant experience, class division and a teenage girl’s struggle for identity and independence. Students will be able to connect and engage with the play and its characters while they investigate their own emotional and creative impulses, and improve their writing and communication skills.

In a joint statement Manhattan Theatre Club’s Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove said, “We are so grateful to The Broadway League for its support of our Education initiatives for The American Plan. Our Education Program, under the inspired direction of David Shookhoff, will provide students with little previous exposure to the performing arts a unique opportunity to experience the excitement of live theatre. The continued generosity of the League is an invaluable vote of confidence in our work to reach New York City high school students with high quality arts education and develop the audiences of tomorrow.”

9 to 5: THE MUSICAL
Nina Lannan Associates continues its partnership with the Howard University Department of Theatre Arts in its education efforts, this year with 9 to 5: The Musical. A trip to New York City in April is being planned where students will engage in workshops and discussions that will center on the upcoming production of the show.

The students will be afforded the opportunity to meet with executives from all aspects of the production gaining insight on how each area works individually as well as collectively to ensure a high quality production from development to opening night and beyond. This partnership also assists in further preparing more African-Americans and women for careers in commercial theatre.

Charles A. Coward, Assistant Professor, Howard University Department of Theatre Arts, said, “Continuing the Howard University partnership with Nina Lannan Associates, the Broadway production of 9 to 5: The Musical offers students an excellent compliment to their rigorous program. The knowledge of theatre management that the students possess enables the workshops to move at a quick pace because the presenters are not required to teach the “basics” to the students. In addition, the partnership has opened the doors of opportunity for the students as they have been able to shadow professionals based on their interests as well as interview for internships.”