Arsht Center Hosts Fifth Graders For Musical ROCK ODYSSEY

THE ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

PROUDLY PRESENTED

ROCK ODYSSEY

The magical theatrical spectacle transforming Homer's Odyssey into a rock musical for young people! 

Center hosts another 26,000 local fifth-graders for free live performances  

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County hosted 26,000 fifth grade students from local schools for this year's presentation of ROCK ODYSSEY presented by Wells Fargo, the original rock ‘n roll musical based on Homer's Odyssey. ROCK ODYSSEY, the flagship program in the Center's "Learning Through the Arts" education initiative, was created in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Now in its third season, ROCK ODYSSEY has reached more than 70,000 students from hundreds of public and private schools across Miami-Dade County. To kick off the show, Miami Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and presenting sponsor Wells Fargo were honored for their commitment to the Center's Learning Through the Arts program during a special breakfast on September 22, 2011. 

ROCK ODYSSEY ran from September 19 - September 30, 2011, in the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall, with a special performance open to the public during the Center's free Family Fest on October 1. 

"Rock Odyssey is a text book example of how a public-private partnership should work," said Adrienne Arsht Center President and CEO M. John Richard. "Miami-Dade County's strong support for this program will be complemented this year by Wells Fargo, which is setting an example for corporate leadership in our community. We hope to expand our Learning Through the Arts initiative with additional private sector support as early as next year."

The Center has produced ROCK ODYSSEY as a Broadway-style musical created especially for fifth graders and provides free bus transportation for all students. In addition, the experience extends beyond the theater and into the classroom through an in-class curriculum package, designed by show creator Douglas Love in partnership with World Book. As part of the program, free Professional Development Sessions are made available for all 5th Grade teachers at the Arsht Center's Peacock Education Center prior to the students attending the performances. The professional development sessions provide 5th Grade teachers with arts integration strategies for using Rock Odyssey as a primary pathway for learning traditional subjects, ultimately increasing knowledge of a general subject area (math, science, language arts, etc.) while fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the performing arts for their students. The pre- and post-show curriculum is in line with Florida's Sunshine State Standards for learning. When it debuted in 2010, ROCK ODYSSEY became the first partnership of this nature between a performing arts center and a public school system.

This year's performance was made possible in part by Lynn and Frank Scaduto, as well as a $150,000 sponsorship by Wells Fargo Bank that will enable the Center to expand its reach. "Wells Fargo is proud to support the Adrienne Arsht Center and its educational programs," said Jason P. Williams, regional managing director for southeast Florida for Wells Fargo Wealth Management. "Our sponsorship of the Center's Learning Through the Arts program is just one example of our company's commitment to our communities, arts, and culture. We're proud to help bring performing arts to the students of Miami-Dade's schools, affording them the opportunity to experience live theater in Miami's renowned performing arts center." 

ROCK ODYSSEY combines the drama of ancient Greece with the flair of Broadway to create a spell-binding adventure for young people! Charged with interpreting the classic tale of Odysseus' epic journey from a modern, rock ‘n roll perspective, the artistic team is comprised of a cast of all local actors from South Florida and award-winning theater and music innovators.

The Adrienne Arsht Center's Learning Through the Arts initiative provides live music, theater, and dance experiences to the Miami-Dade Public School system's Passport to Culture program. The Adrienne Arsht Center hopes to expand Learning Through the Arts over the next five years, with the goal of ultimately reaching 100% of the County's fifth, seventh, and ninth graders - providing students countywide with live performance experiences three times over the course of their education. This expansion would eventually provide arts adventures for over 75,000 young people each year. The goal of this ambitious program is to provide a hands-on, accessible and inviting experience in the performing arts for the youth of Miami-Dade County, enriching their studies, enhancing their exposure to the arts, and cultivating their creativity. 

In addition to direction/choreography by Douglas Love, ROCK ODYSSEY also features an original rock-inspired score created by Emmy Award-winning musician Billy Straus; book by Kleban Award winner Stephen Cole; puppet design by Heather Asch; and set design by Laura Brock.

www.arshtcenter.org

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