Lithgow, Shreiber and Others To Lend Hand With LEAP

Fidelity Investments, in partnership with The Viertel/Frankel/Baruch/Rough Group and Leap (Learning through an Expanded Arts Program), announced today that Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner S. Epatha Merkerson ("Law & Order", Come Back, Little Sheba), two-time Emmy Award winner and Tony Award nominated actor Charles S. 'Roc' Dutton, Tony Award winner Liev Schreiber (Talk Radio, Henry V) and Tony and Emmy Award winner John Lithgow ("Third Rock from the Sun", Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) headline an impressive roster of Broadway luminaries lending time and support for Fidelity FutureStage®, a comprehensive arts education initiative designed to bring professional theater into the classrooms of participating New York City schools. Also lending their support for year two of the Fidelity FutureStage program are award-winning actors Vanessa Williams ("Ugly Betty", Kiss of the Spider Woman), Chazz Palminteri (A Bronx Tale, The Usual Suspects) and Megan Mullally ("Will & Grace", Young Frankenstein).

The school-year program provides a unique playwriting and production curriculum for more than 800 area students, representing 10 underserved inner-city schools. Fidelity FutureStage gives students the extraordinary opportunity to learn from some of the Broadway community's leading playwrights, directors, designers and actors - both in their classrooms and at Broadway theatres - and ultimately experience the thrill of bringing
their own creativity to life on a professional stage. "Fidelity FutureStage is designed to bring theatre to life for these students and to encourage them to explore and develop their own interests and talents in the arts," said Jennifer K. Brown, Executive Vice President of Fidelity Investments. "Having so many renowned artists share their experiences and passion for their craft is a great addition to this year's program." As the presenting sponsor of the current Broadway production of The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, and recent productions of Company (2006-07),  The Fantasticks (2006-07, Off-Broadway) and Sweeney Todd (2005-06), Fidelity first collaborated with The Viertel/Frankel/Baruch/ Routh Group in developing Fidelity FutureStage in 2006. Tom Viertel, one of Young Frankenstein's producers added, "We are thrilled that our relationship with Fidelity Investments continues to grow, both in the theatre with this season's production of Young Frankenstein, and in the community as Fidelity FutureStage brings the world of theatre to hundreds of kids in our local schools."

Over the course of the eight-month program, Fidelity FutureStage students learn the art of playwriting and production through a series of workshops and guest lectures from professionals covering a comprehensive range of theater disciplines. A number of Broadway stars will host workshops at individual schools and visit with students as they attend Broadway shows throughout the spring, including The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, A Bronx Tale, In The Heights, GREASE and Come Back, Little Sheba.

Some of the artists sharing their insights and experiences with students in conjunction with these shows include: S. Epatha Merkerson, ("Law & Order"), star of the recent Broadway production Come Back, Little Sheba, Chazz Palminteri, author and star of the recent Broadway production of A Bronx Tale, Jerry Zaks, director of Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, Little Shop of Horrors and La Cage revivals Roger Bart, ("Desperate Housewives") currently starring in the hit Broadway musical Young Frankenstein, Charles S. Dutton, two-time Tony Award nominated actor of The Piano Lesson and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom,  Frankie Faison, Tony Award nominated star of Fences, Laura Osnes and Max Crumm, the 21 year-old stars of the new Broadway production of GREASE, discovered on the NBC reality series, "You're the One
that I Want"  Kathleen Marshall, director and choreographer of the recent revivals of GREASE and The Pajama Game, Tamara Tunie, Tony Award winning producer of Spring Awakening, current star of the hit TV series "Law & Order: SVU"  Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator, star and lyricist of In The Heights, currently on Broadway

These special guest visits complement the ongoing curriculum that is the foundation of the FutureStage program. Over the course of the eight month program, Leap professional teaching artists work closely with the classroom teachers at each participating school to lead classes in playwriting, casting, acting, set construction, costume design and technical elements, such as lighting and sound. At the conclusion of the playwriting portion of the curriculum, one student-written play is selected from each of the ten Fidelity FutureStage schools. Students then work together to cast, rehearse, direct, design and produce the selected plays for a special finale celebration. Fidelity, The Viertel/Frankel/ Baruch/Routh Group and Leap will host the finale performances at New World Stages in June 2008.

Leap, with more than 30 years of experience and expertise in bringing the arts into city classrooms, worked closely with Fidelity and The Viertel/Frankel/Baruch/Routh Group to select the 10 schools participating in this year's Fidelity FutureStage program.  Leap provides the core playwriting and play production classes at each of the participating schools throughout the school year. "For many students, participating in the Fidelity FutureStage program has opened their eyes to a world far beyond their imagination, and in the process instilled newfound confidence and pride," said Leap Associate Executive Director Alice Krieger. "Writing and developing their own plays, attending Broadway performances and working with professional artists right in their own classrooms - the value of those experiences is priceless."

Fidelity FutureStage workshops and guest lectures are currently underway with instructional elements continuing through the school year. The second year of the program concludes in June 2008, culminating in a gala performance of 10 student-written, produced and acted original plays on a Broadway stage, one from each of the 10 Fidelity FutureStage schools.