Florida Studio Theatre's Education Department Wins A Pay It Forward Award From The Patterson Foundation

Florida Studio Theatre is pleased to announce its Education Department has received a Pay it Forward award from the Patterson Foundation. The award was received on May 10th and is entitled "Technology Pioneer." The award acknowledges that Florida Studio Theatre is among the first Arts and Cultural institutions to utilize Safari Montage Live technology as an education resource.

The Pay it Forward award recognizes the FST Education Department for utilizing new technology in classrooms, specifically though Safari Montage Live streaming video technology. Beth Duda, FST's Director of Education said, "This technology has allowed FST to deepen our connection with students and educators. We can enhance the student's understanding of the shows they see, with additional workshops, opportunities to meet and question artists and follow-up activities that happen right in their classrooms. We are able to provide support to the classroom teachers and specific guidance to the students as they are creating their plays for our WRITE A PLAY program." The Patterson Foundation is recognized as an outstanding organization that embraces EdExploreSRQ with Pay it Forward awards, which are cash awards that are used to fund student explorations and to create new and enhanced explorations for the 2013-2014 school year.

The award particularly highlights the work being done by FST's WRITE A PLAY program. WRITE A PLAY is designed to inspire students from all backgrounds in grades K-12 to write plays through high energy, interactive performances, workshops and in-school residencies. WRITE A PLAY, which supports Florida Sunshine State Standards and National Standards for Arts Education, has been proven - through over a decade of outcomes and analyses - to inspire creativity, promote literacy, strengthen language and communication skills and instill an appreciation for the arts. Since WRITE A PLAY's inception, the program has impacted children and teens in 61 of 67 Florida counties, and the program continues to grow.

This year, FST has expanded the program to new audiences. Aided by the support of Safari Montage Live technology, FST teaching artists have taken the WRITE A PLAY program to military bases in the Southeastern United States. Associate Director Kate Alexander said, "FST is honored to receive this award. Our WRITE A PLAY program and Education Department is one of the core programs at FST. Every day we have teams of teaching artists working across Florida and beyond to inspire children to create. Technology is now allowing us to expand our reach and provide ongoing enhancement to classes and students who would not otherwise be affected. "This wonderful Pay it Forward award gives funding for us to continue our enrichment efforts through technology. The award will be used to enhance existing explorations listed on Edexploresrq.com, a website designed to give teachers and principals access to 'explorations' that connect classroom learning to community arts, science and history experiences," said Duda.

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 Goldstein Cabaret, the Gompertz Theatre and the John C. Court Cabaret.

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.