Inside Broadway Begins 6th Year of Arts Programs To 19 NYC Public School

Now in its sixth year, Inside Broadway's C.A.S.A. (Cultural After-School Adventures) Program, one of many under the New York City Council initiative, will give over 500 New York City public school students at 19 different schools the invaluable chance to be enriched by and exposed to theater, music, and the performing arts this winter and spring. The 19 schools will be split into two different sessions, one taking place through March 21st, and the second taking place from March 21st to May 30th. Inside Broadway is currently celebrating its landmark 30th year of providing New York City public school students with vital arts education programs.

Taking place twice a week after school for eight and a half weeks (for each session), in this specific C.A.S.A. Program that focuses on arts education, students create an original 30-minute musical revue alongside professional teaching artists. Over the course of the program, the students learn dancing, singing, music, acting, and theater history, culminating in a final performance of their original show in their school's auditorium for their families, teachers, and fellow students to see. Participating students also help build the scenery and backdrops for their show, and each student gets an official certificate at the final performance, presented to them by their district's council member.

This year, the theme for the students' shows will be "The Fabulous Fifties Sock Hop," a compilation of songs from the musicals Smokey Joe's Café, All Shook Up and Grease, featuring songs like "Jailhouse Rock," "Shakin' at the High School Hop," "We Go Together" and many others. The students will also learn about the 1950's (slang, dress, cultural happenings).

The C.A.S.A. Program is made available to schools by the generous support of New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, New York City Council Members Dominic Recchia (Chair of the Finance Committee and former Chair of the council's Cultural Affairs Committee), and James Van Bramer (current Chair of the Cultural Affairs Committee).

In the Bronx, support for Inside Broadway's C.A.S.A. Program comes from Council Members Annabel Palma, Joel Rivera, Larry Seabrook, and James Vacca, and participating schools in the Bronx this year are P.S. 72X, P.S. 100X, P.S. 108X, M.S. 142X, P.S. 182X, and P.S. 214X.

In Brooklyn, additional support for Inside Broadway's C.A.S.A. Program comes from Council Members Erik Martin Dilan and Vincent J. Gentile, and participating schools in Brooklyn this year are P.S. 45K, P.S. 102K, P.S. 151K.

In Manhattan, support for Inside Broadway's C.A.S.A. Program comes from City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Council Members Margaret Chin and Daniel R. Garodnick, and participating schools in Manhattan this year are P.S. 41M, P.S. 77M, P.S. 116M and Richard Greene High School.

And in Queens, additional support for Inside Broadway's C.A.S.A. Program comes from Council Members Elizabeth Crowley, Daniel Dromm, James F. Gennaro, Mark Weprin and Peter Vallone, Jr., and participating schools in Queens this year are P.S. 26Q, P.S. 69Q, P.S. 87Q, P.S. 113Q, I.S. 126Q, and P.S. 164Q.

Inside Broadway was established in 1982 by Michael Presser at the invitation of The Shubert Organization. Today, Inside Broadway reaches over 30,000 New York City students each year and develops and produces touring equity musical productions 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 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, New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, and numerous foundations and individuals.