Photo Flash: New York City Children's Theater Announces New Name, 2014-15 Season

New York City elected officials Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Staten Island Deputy Borough President Ed Burke, WPIX's Emmy-award winning "Morning News" host Sukanya Krishnan and other esteemed friends and supporters attended a press reception where New York City Children's Theater (formerly Making Books Sing) announced their new name and 2014-15 season on Tuesday, October 21st at the Vineyard Theater. Scroll down for photos from the announcement!

"As founder of the Vineyard, I'm thrilled to return to my original home, where our children's theater was born in 1996, to make this announcement," says Barbara Zinn Krieger, New York City Children's Theater Artistic Director and Founder. "We've been creating original, entertaining and enriching theater for young audiences and adults to enjoy together for almost 20 years now, and serve children in all communities across the five boroughs. As a result of our accomplishments and expanded programming, the Board and staff felt that we needed a new name that more accurately reflects the breadth of our work."

New York City Children's Theater announced its 2014-15 season of productions and programs including:

*The world premiere of The Amazing Adventures of Harvey and The Princess, a new family musical with music and lyrics by Laurie Berkner, opening Nov. 15th at Theater 3.

*A new production of the Civil War-era musical A Band of Angels, originally premiered by New York City Children's Theater in 2005 and opening April 25, 2015 at Theater 3.

*Pre-K programming, including the expansion of the company's signature arts education residency Literature at Play and the world premiere of the musical Two Bugs Are Better Than One, which will tour to preschools and elementary schools.

*The "Send A Kid to Theater" program, offering underserved schools free performances of New York City Children's Theater mainstage productions and touring shows.

In addition to the aforementioned speakers, the reception also welcomed Stacey McMath (NYC Department of Cultural Affairs,) Lynn Cole (Queens Public Library), Laurie Berkner (Sprout TV) and Alton S. Murray (ConEdison).

About New York City Children's Theater - New York City Children's Theater (formerly Making Books Sing) is a nonprofit organization that creates original, entertaining and enriching theater for young audiences and adults to enjoy together. We believe a city as culturally rich as New York needs a children's theater that produces high-quality original productions and develops robust arts-in-education programs, serving children in all communities across the five boroughs. In 1996, New York City Children's Theater began as the family theater and education program of the Tony Award-winning Vineyard Theatre. It became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2001.

Over the last 18 years, our local and nationally recognized arts-in-education programs and professional theater productions have served over 100,000 children and adults across all five boroughs and surrounding communities in the tri-State area. By partnering with more than 400 urban schools, and providing subsidized tickets to over 20,000 students for our professional shows, we have increased arts accessibility for underserved communities in New York City. In addition, we have taught more than 2,000 teachers here and in California creative ways to integrate theater into their classroom instruction and distributed over 4,500 Curriculum Resource Packets and Anthologies to supplement course material. Visit www.nycchildrenstheater.org for more.

Photo Credit: Antoine Debrill