Theatre League Awards Education Grants to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Rabbit Hole

The League of American Theatres and Producers has awarded its coveted New York Education Grants to education programs for the hit musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and the recently opened play, Rabbit Hole. Each production receives a $5,000 grant towards its 2006 educational initiatives. The grants are important to the growth and development of theatre education in the city as they encourage theatres to create more opportunities for young people and to exchange ideas on education.

The New York Education Grants were established by the League in 2002 in recognition of education initiatives and to support further programs for Broadway shows. As the national trade organization for the commercial theatre industry, the League also sponsors a grant program to support education programs for touring Broadway productions. The two programs combined have to date awarded $550,000 to theatres in New York and across the country. Both awards were established by the League's Education Committee and are also generously supported by Theatre Development Fund.

"The New York Education Grants have been extremely successful in helping to provide unique Broadway experiences to young people, many of whom may not have had the opportunity to go to the theatre before, " commented Jed Bernstein, President of the League of American Theatres and Producers. "This year's recipients will build on this success with their outstanding programs. Education programs are crucial for the growth and survival of Broadway as they encourage young people to develop a lifelong appreciation of the arts."

The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc., founded in 1930 and operating under the trademark "Live Broadway," is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. The League's 500-plus members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers in over 140 North American cities, as well as suppliers of goods and services to the theatre industry. Each year, League members bring Broadway to nearly 30 million people in New York and on tour across the U.S. and Canada.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

The producers of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels are offering an exclusive and comprehensive student education program for the show, along with discounted tickets. The program's education coordinator, StudentsLive, Inc., estimates 3,000 to 5,000 high school students will participate in its "Great Big Stuff" programs in New York in 2006, including exclusive student workshops and matinees.

The education program contains a comedy writing lyric contest, utilizes a game show format, and explores the geography of the French Riviera. Master classes include writing from the perspective of a victim of a con or real-life historical con artist. This program will provide a rich theatrical experience that instills a stronger appreciation and understanding of the theatre, while also helping the students develop the skills they need in their academic classes and in their daily life.

Rabbit Hole

Rabbit Hole will serve as an excellent model of playwriting and production for the over 800 high school students, teachers and family members that its program will reach. Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) is proud to produce this bittersweet play about a couple dealing with loss in the aftermath of a life-shattering accident that takes their young son. MTC's educational outreach serves students from all five New York City boroughs, with a goal of providing access to an artistic culture otherwise unavailable.

The Core Program, Project InterAct and Write on the Edge (WrOTE) are each built around the attendance of a Student Matinee performance of Rabbit Hole, marking a pivotal point in the educational process and giving many students what may be their first experience of a Broadway play. The Family Matinee Series also culminates in a performance, but here students bring a family member, guardian or mentor with them which encourages communication between adults and adolescents regarding the themes addressed in the play. In advance of these student driven activities, MTC will hold a Professional Development Workshop for all participating teachers in each of its programs to acquaint them with the material and provide teaching techniques to be used in the classroom.