Ancient Chinese Culture Comes To Life On The PlayGround Theatre Stage

ANCIENT CHINESE CULTURE COMES TO LIFE
ON THE PLAYGROUND THEATRE STAGE
The PlayGround Theatre Receives $100,000 Knight Arts Challenge Grant

MIAMI SHORES (Nov. 29, 2010)--- Thousands of South Florida school students, teachers, and families will have greater access to an innovative, cross-cultural, live theatrical production thanks to a $100,000 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, as part of its Knight Arts Challenge. This is the first grant awarded to The PlayGround Theatre by Knight Foundation.

The grant is a primary funding vehicle for The PlayGround Theatre's world premiere production, The Red Thread. This production, developed from ancient Chinese folktales and rewoven for a contemporary audience by Stephanie Ansin and Fernando Calzadilla, highlights a young woman's heroic efforts to rescue her father's miraculous masterpiece. Her ensuing adventures challenge her mind, body, and spirit, and ultimately bring her true love, inner strength, and a glorious reunion. The Red Thread is geared for children aged eight and older.

"Learning about different peoples and cultures help us better understand our community and ourselves. The PlayGround Theatre's production is a true example of how the arts can be used to bring people together," said Dennis Scholl, Knight Foundation's Vice President/Arts.

Stephanie Ansin, PlayGround Artistic Director and Co-Writer/Director of The Red Thread states, "The PlayGround Theatre is honored and excited to be working with Knight Foundation, and all of South Florida's children, educators, and families, to bring artistic excellence to our stage, and make it available and accessible to all who are interested."

"Our community is extremely lucky to have a great theatre company for children that is growing in importance, locally and nationally," said Michael Spring, Director, Miami-Dade Dept of Cultural Affairs, about The PlayGround Theatre to The Miami Herald this year. The Parent Academy has said, "Families leave the theatre with memories to savor and relish. Many, many thanks to The PlayGround Theatre for enriching the lives of parents and children of all ages."

The PlayGround Theatre proudly creates high-quality, innovative, theatre for South Florida's children and their families. Founded in 2004 by Artistic Director Stephanie Ansin, the company has produced nine plays that delight, provoke, and inspire audiences of all ages and abilities. Its shows reflect the international flavor of the community and expose audiences to the literature, art, and culture of England, Italy, China, and beyond.

The Theatre Inclusion Program ensures that performances are accessible to all children and adults, and workshops, classes, and camps provide a variety of theatre education opportunities in parks, schools, and hospitals as well as at its own venue.

For more information on The PlayGround Theatre or to purchase tickets, call 305-751-9550 or visit www.theplaygroundtheatre.com. Become a fan of PGT on Facebook, or on Twitter @PlayGroundMiami for a behind-the-scenes look at everything happening at the theatre.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation's Knight Arts Challenge is a five-year, $40 million initiative to bring South Florida together through the arts.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation advances journalism in the digital age and invests in the vitality of communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Knight Foundation focuses on projects that promote informed and engaged communities and lead to transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.

FALL IN LOVE TODAY!  ADOPT A PET FROM YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER

To post a comment, you must register and login.