THE KING AND I, CONSTELLATIONS & 'CURIOUS INCIDENT' Awarded Broadway League's 2015 NYC Education & Engagement Grants

The Broadway League has awarded the coveted New York Education Grants to the Broadway productions of Constellations, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and The King and I. Each production received a $5,000 grant towards its 2015 educational and engagement initiatives. The grants aid the growth and development of theatre education in the city in an effort to encourage Broadway productions to create more opportunities for young people.

"The submissions this year were of such high quality that it was challenging to select only two programs, so we awarded three," said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League. "As shows continue to create more innovative educational programs than ever before, it's important to provide support for the Broadway industry to encourage students of all ages to learn, grow, and continue to experience theatre."

The Broadway League established the New York Education and Engagement Grants in 2002 to recognize education initiatives and to support related programs for Broadway shows. As the national trade organization for the commercial theatre industry, the League also sponsors a grant program supporting education and engagement programs for Touring Broadway productions. The two programs combined have to-date awarded $975,000 to theatres in New York and across the country. Both grants were established by The League with generous additional financial support from Theatre Development Fund.

CONSTELLATIONS

Between January and May 2015, Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) will engage more than 830 students, teachers, and families in initiatives centered on Nick Payne's Constellations. By exploring the show's themes (choice and destiny, time and mortality, and the infinite possibilities in human relationships) through professional development and writing workshops along with intensive classroom preparation, MTC will introduce learners of all ages to the unique power of live theatre and deepen their understanding of themselves and the world. Participants attended the show in February at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time's "Our Curious Community" Program will partner with New York City institutions including the MoMath Museum of Mathematics, the World Science Festival, and the New York Public Library. The program will immerse 60 students over the course of a year into the world of the show and topics related to mathematics, science, literature, theatre production, and fitness. Following the sessions, participating students will attend the show at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.

THE KING AND I

In the Spring of 2015, 1,200 students and 25 teachers will attend an all-student matinee performance of the Lincoln Center Theater (LCT) revival of the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein musical The King and I at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. All teachers will attend four training sessions and devise lesson plans for their students. To prepare students for their experience, LCT teaching artists will conduct three pre-show workshops in all participating classrooms. The program will explore the show's themes including the different cultural backgrounds of the protagonists and the political conflicts between the East and the West in the 1860's.

Photo by Paul Kolnik