Gamm Theatre Receives $25,000 NEA Grant

The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre (The Gamm) has received a prestigious $25,000 Shakespeare in American Communities grant to perform its Season 29 production of Macbeth (March 6-April 13, 2014) to students from at least 10 Pawtucket, Central Falls and Providence public and charter schools, free of charge or at a greatly reduced cost. The award will also help pay for accompanying educational activities including in-school residencies, workshops and post-performance discussions.

The 11-year-old Shakespeare in American Communities program, managed byArts Midwest in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA),introduces middle- and high-school students to the power of live theater and the masterpieces of William Shakespeare. The Gamm is one of 40 non-profit, professional theater companies in 21 states, plus the District of Columbia receiving a $25,000 award totaling $1 million for performances between August 1, 2013 and July 31, 2014.

"For over 25 years, The Gamm Theatre has brought the arts to life for Rhode Islanders," said U.S. Senator ShelDon Whitehouse, who serves as an ex-officio member of the National Council on the Arts, the advisory body of the National Endowment for the Arts. "I congratulate The Gamm on this well-deserved award, which will help a new generation of Rhode Island students discover the time-honored work of William Shakespeare."

Gamm Artistic Director Tony Estrella added, ""This is a landmark for The Gamm. Receiving our first major NEA grant from what is an incredibly competitive field is proof positive of our growing reputation for high-quality Shakespeare and for our incredible educational outreach activities, which are making a bigger and bigger impact to the young people in our community year after year. Thanks to the NEA for recognizing that growth and enabling us to make an even bigger impact in 2014."

Founded in 1984 as Alias Stage, the non-profit Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre creates the finest of live theater, engaging the audience intensely in current and recurrent issues of consequence. The Gamm further serves the public with educational outreach programming designed to support the theatrical experience, and help sustain and enhance the intellectual and cultural life of its community. The Gamm is a member of New England Area Theatre (NEAT), a bargaining unit of the Actors Equity Association.

The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. For more information, visit arts.gov

Arts Midwest promotes creativity, nurtures cultural leadership, and engages people in meaningful arts experiences, bringing vitality to Midwest communities and enriching people's lives. Based in Minneapolis, Arts Midwest connects the arts to audiences throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. One of six nonprofit regional arts organizations in the United States, Arts Midwest's history spans more than 25 years. For more information, visit artsmidwest.org.

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