Inside Broadway to Premiere Video Documentary, 3/13

On Tuesday, March 13th at 7pm at Marine Park Junior High School (1925 Stuart Street, Brooklyn, NY 11229), the Great White Way's leading arts-education not-for-profit Inside Broadway will premiere a special video documentary, "The Road to Opening Night" which chronicles the school's spring 2011 production of Bye, Bye, Birdie which Inside Broadway helped coordinate and produce at the school last year. The documentary is produced by noted video producer Mark Dichter (who donated his services to Inside Broadway) and features students from Marine Park Junior High School. The screening will be part of an "Evening of the Arts" at the school which will also include live student performances with the entire school, faculty and parents in attendance.

The focus of "The Road to Opening Night" is 8th grader Tyriq Nelson (who was in the cast of Bye, Bye, Birdie last year) and his journey during the rehearsal process up to the final performances. Now in its landmark 30th year of providing New York City public schools with vital arts-education programs, Inside Broadway has worked with Marine Park Junior High School for the past four years.

"We are excited to get to share this remarkable film with the talented and hardworking students and teachers at Marine Park Junior High School and it is sure to be a wonderful evening as the entire school community comes together to celebrate the arts" says Inside Broadway's Executive Director Michael Presser. "It was a privilege to work with the students and their enthusiasm and excitement for theater inspires us all and comes across beautifully in the documentary" says producer Mark Dichter.

Also taking place throughout the spring in 19 schools in Brooklyn, Manhattan the Bronx and Queens is Inside Broadway's C.A.S.A. (Cultural After-School Adventures) Program, one of many under the New York City Council initiative. This program gives over 500 New York City public school students the invaluable chance to be enriched by and exposed to theater, music, and the arts. The 19 schools have been split into two different sessions, one taking place from January 17th to March 21st, and the second taking place from March 21st to May 30th.

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 sponsoring council member.

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.