Broadway League Awards Grants to THE MIRACLE WORKER, TIME STANDS STILL

The Broadway League has awarded coveted New York Education Grants to the Broadway productions of Manhattan Theatre Club's Time Stands Still, by Donald Margulies, and The Miracle Worker by William Gibson. Each production receives a $5,000 grant towards its 2010 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 $720,000 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 inspiring professional and personal development," said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League. "This year's granted programs encourage students to open their eyes to the relevance of art, how art reflects life, and how theatre can help students better understand the human condition. 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."

Time Stands Still
Manhattan Theatre Club's production of Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies at the Friedman Theatre on Broadway will serve as a model of playwriting and production for approximately 670 high school students and classroom teachers participating in MTC's education initiatives. This program encourages students to develop original plays based on the themes and issues in Time Stands Still and culminates in a performance of the students' plays by professional actors who have been part of the developmental process. Through the hands-on theatre-based process, students will first explore key questions and ideas raised by the play - about the morality of wartime journalism and about how trauma affects relationships; this exploration will lead to the students' creation and development of original dramatic work.

The Miracle Worker
Approximately 60 middle school students will participate in a three-part, two-day educational series including attendance at The Miracle Worker at Circle In The Square Theatre. The archivist of the American Foundation for the Blind's Helen Keller Archives will offer a hands-on presentation at the chosen school highlighting Keller's childhood triumph over insurmountable odds, her lifelong achievements, and the impact of her life today. Students and teachers will attend a matinee performance of The Miracle Worker, followed by an interactive workshop at the theatre facilitated by a teaching artist who will stimulate dialogue to demonstrate that ‘disabled' does not mean ‘unable.'

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.