Broadway League Awards Education Grants to WIT & WICKED

The Broadway League has awarded coveted New York Education Grants to the Broadway productions of Wit by Margaret Edson, and Wicked by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman. Each production receives a $5,000 grant towards its 2012 educational initiatives. The grants are important to the growth and development of theatre education in the city as they encourage theatres to create more opportunities for young people and to exchange ideas about education.

The Broadway 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 over $800,000 to theatres in New York and across the country. Both awards were established by the League’s Education and Community Engagement Committee and are also generously supported by Theatre Development Fund.

“The New York Education Grants have been extremely successful in inspiring professional and personal development,” said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League. “Our mission will continue to be expanded upon through the programs provided by this year’s recipients. Outstanding programs such as these are crucial for the growth and survival of Broadway as they educate students and motivate a lifelong appreciation of the arts.”

Manhattan Theatre Club offers four different youth learning initiatives in conjunction with their recent Broadway production of the Margaret Edson play Wit, starring Cynthia Nixon. Sponsored by the MTC education department, the initiatives Writing on The Edge, The Core Program, The Family Matinee Workshop, and The Teacher Workshop provide a catalyst for students to explore themes of perseverance, authority, legacy, and compassion. The participants create original plays and engage in workshops and talk-backs with the cast and other key artistic staff.

The Broadway production of Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre has partnered with BullyBust and The National School Climate Center to use the show’s theme of “Defying Gravity” and standing up for what you believe to support bully prevention in schools. The program includes two co-branded resources—a student supplement and an educator companion guide. Approximately 550,000 students, teachers and individuals will participate in the program by using the resources to develop a student-led bully-prevention and awareness campaign within their communities to promote positive “upstander” behavior among students and adults. Additionally, one school will be selected to attend a performance of Wicked and participate in an anti-bullying workshop led by Wicked cast members.

The Broadway League, founded in 1930, is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. The League’s 700-plus members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers in over 240 North American cities, as well as suppliers of goods and services to the theatre industry. Each year, League members bring Broadway to nearly 30 million people in New York and on tour across the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.BroadwayLeague.com, or follow The Broadway League on Twitter @TheBwayLeague or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BroadwayLeague. Download the free ILoveNYTheater app and free IBDB app for iPhone, iPad, and iTouch on iTunes.

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