The Broadway League, the national trade organization for the commercial theatre industry, announced the 2010 “League Educator Apple Awards” recipients. The awards acknowledge the efforts of local schools and community groups that support programs relating to Broadway or touring Broadway shows, promoting further development of theatre education.

The League is committed to working with its members to develop new audiences and model projects by supporting education initiatives across the country. Now in its seventh year, the League’s Education Committee has honored educators, administrators, and school district leaders from around the country for their commitment to arts education and their work in collaboration with League-member venues that present touring Broadway shows. Through this award, the League encourages the development of theatre education programs around the country while helping to build a future generation of theatregoers.

"We are exceptionally pleased to give out four awards this year," said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League. "Most of the teachers have six to twelve years of working with the schools, which celebrates the long-standing relationships between the schools and Broadway League member venues around the country. The teachers represent a variety of specialties including drama, social studies, and one even highlights technical theatre skills in his program."

THE RECIPIENTS

The 2010 recipients are Mr. Gregg Coats, Visual Art and Theater Coordinator for Memphis City Schools, Ms. Anna-Marie Davis, Social Studies Teacher at Orangewood Elementary School in Phoenix, Arizona, Ms. Ruth Ann Gaines, Drama Teacher at East High School in Des Moines, Iowa, and Mr. Matthew Rund, Performing Arts Department Chair of Fishers High School in Fishers, Indiana.

Mr. Gregg Coats, Visual Art and Theatre Coordinator for Memphis City Schools, Memphis, Tennessee
For the last six years Gregg Coats has collaborated with the Orpheum Theatre. He has enthusiastically encouraged the teachers in Memphis to integrate arts curriculum strategies such as math, critical thinking skills, literacy and experiential learning for visual art and theatre teachers. Participating teachers and students have seen multiple shows at the Orpheum, including the Broadway touring productions of Chicago, The Lion King, Les Miserables and A Chorus Line. Through the commitment Mr. Coats exhibits, each year his teachers bring back valuable arts tools to the classroom, introducing hundreds of students to new ideas and concepts, as well as other year-round initiatives offered by the Orpheum Theatre.

Ms. Anna-Marie Davis, Social Studies Teacher at Orangewood Elementary School, Phoenix, Arizona
Ms. Davis has engaged in an ongoing collaboration with ASU Gammage for the past six years. Anna-Marie Davis has enthusiastically encouraged her seventh and eighth grade students to immerse themselves in lessons relating to the historical and sociological aspects of the participating productions. Her students have seen multiple shows at ASU Gammage, including the Broadway touring productions of The Lion King, Hairspray and Swing. Ms. Davis brings history and culture to life through special guest speakers, innovative hands-on projects and creative collaboration with fellow teachers to help students create connections across the curriculum.

Ms. Ruth Ann Gaines, Drama Teacher at East High School, Des Moines, Iowa
Over the last twelve years, Ms. Gaines has collaborated with the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. She has enthusiastically encouraged her high school students to participate in multi-cultural, in-depth learning and performance experiences. Her students have seen multiple shows at the Civic Center, including the Broadway touring productions of The Color Purple, Twelve Angry Men, The Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King. Ms. Gaines has helped shape and implement curriculum, recruit speakers, and engage participating students in all six Des Moines Public High Schools.

Mr. Matthew Rund, Performing Arts Department Chair of Fishers High School, Fishers, Indiana
Mr. Rund, along with the entire Fishers High School Performing Arts Department, has collaborated with Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University and Broadway Across America for the past two years. This collaboration has built a strong foundation for introducing high school students to the professional work of the theatre. The participating students have observed tour load-ins, participated in backstage tours, and worked with arts administrators and professional technical crew to incorporate the arts into their school's curriculum with their year-end performance, "An Artist's Response to War." Mr. Rund’s students have seen multiple shows at Clowes Memorial Hall, including the Broadway touring productions of My Fair Lady, Happy Days and Stomp.