The Hanover Theatre Named To Kennedy Center's Partners In Education Program

The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts was recently selected to participate in The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' Partners in Education Program, a nationally recognized program designed to help arts organizations develop and expand education partnerships with local school systems. The theatre is the first venue in Massachusetts to be accepted into this prestigious program, which will assist in the expansion of The Hanover Theatre's relationship with the Worcester Public Schools.

It is rooted in the belief that supporting the professional learning of teachers is an essential component of promoting the inclusion of arts in education.
"Being able to provide professional development in the area of arts education will extend the reach the arts can play in the lives of children, as well as the community at large, and provide opportunities for understanding the commonalities and diversity across cultures that are essential to understanding and thriving in our interconnected world," said Maureen Binienda, superintendent of Worcester Public Schools.

The Hanover Theatre and the Worcester Public Schools currently collaborate on a variety of programs. Hundreds of Worcester middle and high school students attend the annual production of "A Christmas Carol," teaching artists from The Hanover Theatre conduct theater workshops at multiple schools and each year high school seniors are brought to the theatre to see a Shakespeare production that complements curriculum in their English classes. The recent addition of an outreach programs coordinator has helped to increase this effort to work with teachers on integrating additional artistic concepts into their core curriculum.

One of the theatre's most successful outreach initiatives is the innovative "Adopt-a-School" program. Created by director of education Meghan Montaner, the program brings together a national Broadway tour and two public high schools in Worcester, about 2,400 students in total. Working with school administrators and teachers, a curriculum-based arts integration program is developed whereby all students participate in lessons that incorporate the themes, historical and sociological facets, artistic elements and musical score into their classes.

"The Kennedy Center Partners in Education program will help us to strengthen our relationship with the Worcester Public Schools and the 25,000 students served in this district," Montaner said. "We are confident that this partnership will be instrumental in helping us to establish arts-based professional learning that directly addresses student needs and expands upon the work we are already doing."

Deputy superintendent Sue O'Neil, along Montaner and The Hanover Theatre's president and CEO, Troy Siebels, will attend the Kennedy Center Partners in Education Institute in Washington, D.C. April 23-26.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is the national champion for arts learning and creativity. Committed to increasing opportunities for all people to participate in, learn about and understand the arts, the Center offers programs and events that strive to reflect the nation and its communities and that are accessible and inclusive for all. From the Center's stages to classrooms and communities across the country, to online resources accessible nearly anywhere, the Center serves the burgeoning artist, the curious explorer, the student of any age, the teacher and teaching artist, and any person interested in arts learning and utilizing the arts for positive change.

As an essential component of the living memorial to President Kennedy, the Center's Education programs utilize the arts to embrace the ideals of service, justice, freedom, courage and gratitude, and to cultivate the "Citizen Artists" in all the people we serve. For more information, please visit kennedy-center.org/education.

Partners in Education, part of the Rubenstein Arts Access Program, is generously funded by David M. Rubenstein. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the U.S. Department of Education. About The Hanover Theatre

The Hanover Theatre continues to draw over 197,000 patrons annually with world-class performances and headlining acts including Broadway hits ("Les Misérables," "Kinky Boots"), comedians (Dave Chappelle, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld), musical acts (Neil Young, Aretha Franklin, John Legend, Tony Bennett) and everything in between ("A Christmas Carol," Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Alton Brown, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson).

POLLSTAR consistently ranks The Hanover Theatre as one of the Top Theatres in the World. After nine seasons, the award-winning, historic theatre continues to establish its place as a world-class performing arts venue, acting as a catalyst for the economic development of downtown Worcester. The Hanover Theatre's recently acquired 551 Main Street houses new function space, offices, rental space for a restaurant on the ground floor and The Hanover Theatre Conservatory for the Performing Arts on the lower level.

Worcester Center for Performing Arts, a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, owns and operates The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

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