KITTY HAWK Returns to the Arsht Center

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County announces the second season of Kitty Hawk, a STEAM-focused (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) program that is part-curriculum, part-performance and all inspiration. Kitty Hawk is a part of the Center's Learning Through the Arts initiative, which reaches nearly 60,000 students annually. The program aims to bridge the STEM gap by integrating the arts through a musical performance, an art-infused curriculum and a series of hands-on workshops for seventh graders in Miami-Dade County. Kitty Hawk kicks off Oct. 1 with two weeks of performances of the musical created by the Center which tells the story of Wilbur and Orville Wright's historic first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903.

The Musical

The Kitty Hawk structure aims to inspire, motivate and encourage current Miami-Dade County's seventh graders following the success of last year's program and through the support of several organizations within the aviation industry including The Boeing Company, Airbus and WorldFuel. The original, Broadway-style production created by the Center is a musical adventure with themes of ingenuity and persistence and is written by playwright Tom Bryant, with music and lyrics by Erik Della Penna and Artistic Director Nathan Allen, founder of The House Theatre of Chicago.

"Kitty Hawk has highlighted the importance and need to build the STEAM pipeline, and the program's increased support from new and existing partners has allowed us to deliver a unique arts experience to expose seventh graders to STEAM careers during a crucial time in their cognitive development," said John Richard, president and CEO of the Arsht Center. "Florida is home to thousands of aerospace and aviation companies, many of whom will want homegrown talent to continue its mission of discovery and innovation."

Beyond the Stage

Once students experience the show on stage, a select group of underserved youth throughout Miami will participate in arts-integrated curriculum, workshops, activities and enriching aviation-centric field trips developed by the Arsht Center in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Designed to encourage innovative thinking through drone creation and airplane design, the students will work with STEM professionals beginning this month over the course of 10-13 weeks and engage in pre-performance activities, discussions and debates - all influenced by the Wright Brothers' persistence to explore the world of flight.

In addition, the Arsht Center is collaborating with community partner Code Fever, a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching kids from underrepresented communities about entrepreneurship, coding and STEM fields. A select group of local students will be working alongside Arsht professionals and instructors to develop a Kitty Hawk website - coding the site, documenting their experience and maintaining the website throughout the fall.

Supporters

Kitty Hawk relies on the collective generosity of foundations, individuals and corporations who support the Arsht Center's vision for strengthening education through the integration of the arts. The program is supported in 2018-2019 by Betsy and George Sherman; Mary Spencer; The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation; The Boeing Company; World Fuel Services; Airbus; 630 Aerospace; The Kirk Foundation; South Florida Aviation Maintenance Council; ATR; Ansin Foundation; AAR; Greenspoon Marder; Key Biscayne Community Foundation; Coral Gables Community Foundation; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

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