BMO Harris Bank Donates $10K Grant to Florida Studio Theatre's 'Write A Play' Progam

Florida Studio Theatre has announced that BMO Harris Bank has approved a $10,000 grant toward funding the WRITE A PLAY program at several Title 1 schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties, including Emma E. Booker Elementary, Gocio Elementary, Daughtrey Preparatory School of Arts and Sciences, and Tillman Elementary Magnet Schools.

FST's WRITE A PLAY program impacts over 55,000 students a year. With the generous support of BMO Harris, FST will expose these students to the arts and allow children to tap into their own creativity by writing original plays. Dawn Clayton, Principal at Emma E. Booker Elementary, speaks to the rewarding effects of the WRITE A PLAY program, stating "WRITE A PLAY has been at Emma E. Booker for many years now, and as a result, we have witnessed a consistent improvement in the writing ability of our students. Not only has their understanding of drama improved, but also the impact of playwriting on their other assignments has been noticeable."

In recent years, Title 1 schools have come under budget cuts and restrictions that might have made it impossible for WRITE A PLAY to continue in their classrooms. BMO Harris Bank has continually been a supporter of the arts, and of FST. Their recent $10,000 grant will support WRITE A PLAY in various Title 1 schools, making it possible for lower income districts to continue arts education. "We believe that supporting fine arts in schools is one of the ingredients which help our youth become well-rounded, productive citizens," commented Dave Maraman, Regional President of Florida's BMO Harris Bank. "I am thrilled that BMO Harris Bank can help bring theater to students whose schools might not otherwise be in a position to provide it to them."

Due to BMO Harris' generosity, WRITE A PLAY will have the opportunity to conduct a full residency program at Emma E. Booker and Gocio Elementary, as well as a tour and workshop at Daughtrey Preparatory School of Arts and Sciences and Tillman Elementary Magnet School.

Beth Duda, Director of Education at FST, expressed her gratitude to BMO Harris, "For many students, particularly the students from low income areas, seeing a show at Florida Studio Theatre is their only exposure to Live Theatre. Traveling to the theatre, or having the actors come right into their school gives them an experience they will draw upon for years to come." In these districts, WRITE A PLAY may be the first example of theatre they will experience in their formative years. BMO Harris Bank has made it possible for FST to provide children with their very first exposure to the arts.

About BMO HARRIS BANK: BMO Harris Bank provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through over 600 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Arizona and Florida. BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S. Banking products and services are provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. and are subject to bank or credit approval. BMO Harris Bank is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with approximately 1,600 branches, and $549 billion in assets (as of July 31, 2013).

About Florida Studio Theatre: Known as Sarasota's Contemporary Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre was founded in 1973 by Jon Spelman. Starting out as a small touring company, FST traveled to places such as migrant camps and prisons. The company eventually settled down into a permanent home, acquiring the former Woman's Club building - now renamed the Keating Theatre. In the years that followed, Florida Studio Theatre established itself as a major force in American Theatre, presenting Contemporary Theatre in its four theatre venues: the Keating Theatre, the renovated Gompertz Theatre, the Goldstein Cabaret and the John C. Court Cabaret. Soon to come in January of 2014, FST will open its fifth theatre venue, the Bowne Lab Theatre.

Even with its growth, Florida Studio Theatre remains firmly committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to a broad-based audience. Under Richard Hopkins, Artistic Director and CEO, FST develops theatre that speaks to our living, evolving, and dynamically changing world. As FST grows and expands, it continues to provide audiences with challenging, contemporary drama and innovative programs.

To post a comment, you must register and login.