Hundreds of middle school students across the country are taking a pledge to be a "respectful and positive person", to recognize that "each person is unique," to "be more accepting" of people "and make no snap judgments about them". And stars of Broadway's family-favorite musical The Addams Family will headline a Live National Internet broadcast to 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade classrooms that will encourage and promote students to take the "No Snap Judgments" pledge. The event takes place today from 11:30AM - 12Noon EDT.
Airing in the middle of national Anti-Bullying Month, this 30-minute, direct-to-the-classroom, Internet broadcast, streamed live from New York Institute of Technology's Auditorium on Broadway, will be hosted by Alexandra Robbins, the award-winning author of The Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth and will feature prominent leaders from the performing arts and education worlds. The program concludes with The Addams Family cast members
Jackie Hoffman (Grandma),
Zachary James (Lurch),
Brad Oscar (Fester) and
Adam Riegler (Pugsley) leading students in the No Snap Judgments pledge. By taking the pledge, students promise to "be a respectful and positive person...celebrate the differences among my friends, family, teachers and peers...be more accepting of each person...and make no snap judgments about them. (snap, snap)."
The New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) and Safari Montage, leaders in education reform and new digital technologies, will present an innovative theatre arts program entitled The Addams Family: No Snap. This direct-to-the-classroom broadcast will be streamed live from the NYIT Auditorium on Broadway in New York City through Safari Montage Live servers into middle school classrooms across the country. Rochester, NY; Baltimore, MD; Orange County, CA; Chicago, IL; and New York, NY, are just a few of the cities being represented in this event.
All 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade classes across the country and invited to view the broadcast and are encouraged to participate by signing the No Snap Judgments Pledge at http://stagenotes.net and to upload individual and class pledges to the No Snap Judgments page on School Tube (http://www.schooltube.com/channel/nosnapjudgments/). Viewing information for the free live broadcast is available at
www.StageNotes.net.
The event will also introduce The Addams Family: No Snap Judgments learning module, a grade-banded teaching tool that combines character developing concepts inspired by
Charles Addams cartoons and the themes in the musical with media-rich educational projects that are a snap for teachers to use in the classroom. The module, produced by Camp Broadway LLC and written by
Karen Mack, Curriculum and Technology Integration Specialist, is featured on Stagenotes.net, an online education resource for teachers. This module is the first in a series of Broadway inspired lessons, project plans and grade-appropriate activities, all aligned to the new National Common Core Standards and can be viewed at
www.StageNotes.net.
"Digital technology and multi-media equipment in the classroom now enables students to delve deeply into content," says
Stanley Silverman, Director, Technology Based Learning Systems, New York Institute of Technology. "Stagenotes.net and the No Snap Judgments initiative enables teachers all over America to use the tools available to them to connect with Broadway-to its producers, actors, creative artists and technical professionals -- and bring these rich resources directly into the classroom."
Now playing at the Lunt-Fontanne-Theatre on Broadway,The Addams Family: No Snap Judgments coincides with the launch of the national tour that will be playing at performing arts centers in over 40 major cities. "Although they may look different, the members of the Addams family struggle with the same sorts of issues that every family faces," said producer
Stuart Oken. "These characters inspired us to create a program that schools everywhere could offer. We hope that while students are entertained by these seemingly outlandish personalities, each with a quirky sense of humor, they are learning that acceptance and tolerance are important values."
"The Addams Familyis one of many Broadway shows playing in Nederlander theatres in New York and around the country that have educational themes relevant to students," says
SuSan Lee, Chief Marketing Officer and founder of Camp Broadway LLC. "Stuart and his creative team recognized the opportunity to showcase the themes in their show through engaging and informative theatre arts inspired curriculum that is relevant in many subject areas. Working collaboratively with technology experts, curriculum specialists and theatre professionals around the country, they are paving the way for the Broadway industry to be a proactive partner with schools in an ongoing effort to restore theatre arts education in the classroom while at the same time addressing core curricular needs."
