Queens schools go Inside Broadway

BY VICTOR G. MIMONI

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 1:25 PM EST

Four Queens public schools and a high school will get to put on a show, thanks to Inside Broadway and the City Council.

Inside Broadway is a professional Manhattan-based children’s theater company committed to producing Broadway’s classic musicals in a contemporary light for young audiences.

Now in its fourth year, its C.A.S.A. (Cultural After-School Adventures) Program, funded under a New York City Council initiative, will give over 500 public school students at 18 different schools citywide the invaluable opportunity to be enriched by theater, music, and the performing arts this spring.

Focusing on arts education, the program’s sessions take place twice a week after school for eight and a half weeks. The students create an original 30-minute musical revue alongside professional teaching artists.

During the program, the students learn dancing, singing, music, acting and theater history, culminating in a performance in their school’s auditorium for their families, teachers, and fellow students.

The kids also help build the scenery and backdrops for their show – and each of them gets an official certificate at the final performance, presented by their district’s councilmember.

The program is supported by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, with additional funding from Councilmembers Elizabeth Crowley, James F. Gennaro, Eric Ulrich and Thomas White.

Participating Queens schools this year are: P.S. 63, the Old South School in Ozone Park; P.S. 87, the Middle Village School; P.S. 113, Isaac Chauncey School in Glendale; Q, P.S. 164, the Queens Valley School in Flushing and August Martin High School in Springfield Gardens.

“Our aim is to pass down the rich legacy of America’s musical theater to future generations so that the magic, music, and universal themes of the genre are not lost, but rediscovered and made relevant for today’s youth,” said Michael Presser, executive director of Inside Broadway.

Established in 1982, Inside Broadway organizes and implements programs that focus on arts education and allow students to interact with professionals in the field and experience theater hands-on in the classroom. It also develops and produces touring equity musical productions.

All schools that participate in this C.A.S.A. Program will receive a performance of Sophisticated Ladies, Inside Broadway’s 2010 touring musical.

For information on Inside Broadway and its programs, please visit www.InsideBroadway.org.