National Endowment for the Arts Honors CMT San Jose

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $80 million in grants as part of the NEA's second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018. Included in this announcement is an Art Works Musical Theater grant of $10,000 to CMT San Jose for their summer Mainstage production of West Side Story. The Art Works category is the NEA's largest funding category and supports projects that focus on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and/or the strengthening of communities through the arts.

"The variety and quality of these projects speaks to the wealth of creativity and diversity in our country," said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. "Through the work of organizations such as CMT San Jose, NEA funding invests in local communities, helping people celebrate the arts wherever they are."

CMT's summer production of West Side Story will feature local high school and college-age performers, ages 14-20, with direction by Artistic Director Kevin Hauge and choreography by five choreographers, four of which are CMT alumni, who will each choreograph individual dance numbers. More on CMT's West Side Story.

"CMT is honored to be acknowledged with financial support once again by the National Endowment of the Arts," says Kevin Hauge, CMT's Artistic Director. "In this present political climate, national support for the arts is more important than ever. We are proud of the work we create featuring the gifted youth of Silicon Valley and humbled to receive our 11th award from the Endowment during this milestone 50th Anniversary Season."

CMT San Jose was the first youth arts organization to receive a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. That initial recognition has been followed by an unprecedented 10 additional NEA grants, a distinction no other youth arts organization in the country can claim. CMT remains dedicated to providing the highest possible caliber of musical and theatrical training to children from ages 4 to 20, spanning all abilities, and stands behind its commitment to never turn a child away, regardless of financial or physical limitations. What distinguishes CMT from all other similar theater organizations is their commitment to the highest quality of a production and inclusivity - every child who auditions for CMT participates.

About Artistic Director Kevin Hauge In his 22nd season as Artistic Director at CMT San Jose, Kevin has led the nation's premier theater company for youth in taking on increasingly challenging and professional-quality productions. His innovative approach to productions includes incorporating modern techniques and technology, culminating in recognition of artistic excellence from the National Endowment for the Arts for ten consecutive years. Recently, Kevin was honored by Silicon Valley Creates receiving their 2016 Legacy Laureate Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement and Community Impact. A recipient of the prestigious Lin Wright Special Recognition Award by the American Alliance for Theater and Education, he's been the guest speaker at the International Association of Theater Educators Conference in Washington D.C., and the Education and Technology conference in New York City. Kevin has collaborated on productions in a variety of venues all over the world. He's staged ice shows, magic shows, musical revues, industrial shows, corporate parties, television specials and book musicals for a variety of companies, including Tropworld (Atlantic City), Harrah's (Reno), Six Flags Parks (nationwide), and Royal Viking Cruise Lines (worldwide). Some of the unique productions Kevin has worked on include You're in the Movies (MGM Grand) in Las Vegas, World of Wonders (Everland) in Seoul, South Korea, and a special Easter Celebration (The White House) in Washington D.C. Kevin has appeared several times as a guest artist with the San Jose Symphony, and has served on the Exhibits Committee at the Tech Museum of Innovation.

About CMT
The 2017-2018 Season marks the 50th year for Children's Musical Theater San Jose, the nation's largest musical theater and training program for youth of its kind. CMT San Jose strives to foster a lifelong love of the theater in their participants, their audiences, and the community.
Take a look.

Children's Musical Theater San Jose (CMT San Jose) is world-class theater featuring local talented youth. It is a nationally acclaimed theater company honored 11 times by the NEA and the oldest operating performing arts organization in San Jose. Now in its 50th season, CMT remains committed to train and educate today's youth through musical theater, to set and achieve high artistic and personal goals, and to inspire them to become exemplary artists, patrons and citizens of tomorrow. Inclusiveness and quality are the two touchstones of CMT's vision. CMT is dedicated to providing the highest possible caliber of musical and theatrical training to children from ages 4 to 20, spanning all abilities and stands behind its promise never turn a child away, regardless of financial or physical limitations. http://www.cmtsj.org

To post a comment, you must register and login.