CATS & Inside Broadway Team with NYC Public Schools for Behind-the-Scenes Events

In celebration of its landmark 35th anniversary season, leading NYC arts education nonprofit Inside Broadway and the Broadway production of Cats will partner with the NYC Public School system in 2016-2017 to provide exciting and enriching arts education programs to thousands of students in over 30 schools, both in the classroom & on Broadway.

On Monday, December 12, the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street) will be visited by more than 2,500 NYC students as Inside Broadway presents its free and popular Creating the Magic program. Featuring the cast and production crew of Cats, the 70-minute program will be offered at 11:00am & 1:45pm.

Since 1982, Inside Broadway has impacted the lives of nearly one million New York City public school students with its one-of-a-kind theatre arts and education programs that enrich, educate and foster new generations of theatergoers.

Providing a unique experience, on December 12 Inside Broadway's Creating the Magic program will be presented to over 2,500 New York City public school students who will get a behind-the-scenes look at the inner world of Broadway and learn about career opportunities in the theater. From exciting set, lighting and sound demonstrations, musical performances from the cast and a Q&A session, attendees will have a special behind-the-scenes look at a Broadway show featuring members of the Cats cast and production crew.

Inside Broadway is also partnering with Cats in over 30 N.Y.C. Public Schools throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens & The Bronx for their 2016/2017 after-school Musical Theater Workshop Program. Students will work with an Inside Broadway teaching artist & musical director to present their own version of the iconic Broadway musical. Students will also work with a professional scenic designer & makeup artist to create a backdrop & learn about theatrical make up. The program is 25 sessions in length & will conclude with a final performance for the school and community. The program is funded by the New York City Council through the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs under the Council's C.A.S.A (Cultural After-School Adventures) Initiative. The first C.A.S.A. school groups begin in November with final performances in January & February; additional school groups begin in January, February & March, 2017.

Michael Presser says "It is a great pleasure to begin our 35th anniversary season with one of our original partners, the Broadway musical Cats. When I started Inside Broadway in 1982 with Bernie Jacobs and The Shubert Organization I certainly had no expectation that a weekly student ticket program with a new musical would develop over 35 years into an organization that would introduce hundreds of thousands of children to their first experience of live theatre. It is a great honor and pleasure to renew our relationship with Cats, one of Broadway's legendary musicals, as we begin to celebrate this important year in our organization's history"

CATS, the record-breaking musical spectacular by Andrew Lloyd Webber that has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and 15 languages is back on Broadway! Based on T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," this wonderfully imaginative show features breathtaking music, including one of the most treasured songs in musical theater - "Memory." Winner of 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Cats tells the story of one magical night when an extraordinary tribe of Cats gathers for its annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn. Featuring a cast of beautiful dancers and singers and the original Tony-winning sets and costumes, this beloved hit is still Broadway's most unforgettable event.

Inside Broadway was established in 1982 by Michael Presser. Today, it reaches over 41,000 New York City students in over 100 public schools each year and develops and produces Equity musical productions that tour to schools as well as a wide range of educational programs that allow participants to interact with professionals in the field and experience theatre hands-on in the classroom. For more information on Inside Broadway, please visit www.InsideBroadway.org.

Programs of Inside Broadway are funded by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York City Council, New York City Department of Education, and numerous foundations and individuals.

Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy