[NEohioPAL] Knight Foundation Grant supports "Take Your Parent to the Theater" at Actors' Summit

[Neil Thackaberry]

Actors’ Summit, a professional theater.

*103 S. High Street**, Sixth Floor Akron, Ohio 44308*

*TEL: 330-374-7568*

*EMAIL: **info at actorssummit.org* <info at actorssummit.org>**

*www.actorssummit.org                      *

*CONTACT: Neil Thackaberry, Artistic Director*

* *

*October 17, 2011                             *



*THE **“Take-your-parent-to-a-show!”** **PROJECT*

In August, 2010, Actors’ Summit, a professional theater, moved from Hudson,
Ohio to downtown Akron.   The organization faced the challenge of expanding
its audience in its new home.  Actors’ Summit has developed an innovative
approach to increase attendance by students and families.



Actors’ Summit recently received a significant grant from The Knight
Foundation, for a project called, *“Take-your-parent-to-a-show!”*  This
project enables and encourages students to bring their parents to the
theater, instead of the other way around.
*“Take-your-parent-to-a-show!”*project allows any full-time student
(middle school, high school, or
college) to buy his ticket for the regular student rate of $9 and receive a
*free ticket* for his accompanying parent to the performance.



In addition to seeking attendance by younger audiences, Actors’ Summit
encourages local schools to attend performances as a school field trip and
include the show as part of their curriculum.*  *Arts Integrated Instruction
has become an area of interest over the past decade.  Schools across the
country are discovering the power of the arts when used as a catalyst for
teaching across the curriulum.  **



Actors’ Summit has created and disseminated *free* Teacher/Student Guides to
local schools for the academically appropriate shows in their season.  Schools
throughout Summit County, both public and parochial have been contacted.



This project encourages student attendance at regular public performances,
however Actors’ Summit schedules school day matinees, offered at the time of
the school’s choosing.  “We can’t offer as many school day performances as
we would like,” said Co-artistic Director Neil Thackaberry, “because our
professional actors still need to work their day jobs.”



Schools taking advantage of the school day performances can also take
advantage of free pre and post performance in-classroom presentations. “Our
commitment is to making history, literature, and theater memorable for the
average student,” said Thackaberry. “We try to bring professional theater
experiences to students at the lowest possible cost.”  The classroom support
allows students to connect with the artists.  The study guides support
teachers in achieving State of Ohio standards in history, social studies,
and the arts.  The free pre and post performance discussions with the
artists can lock in the emotional and intellectual experience, creating
memories that foster achievement on standardized tests. Parents and students
experiencing live performances together create additional learning
opportunities and encourage family participation in the arts.  Altogether,
the project focuses on the social and communal aspects of the arts
experience and supports arts integrated instruction.



The shows that Actors’ Summit identifies as academically appropriate and may
serve as a support to core curricular objectives are:



*Woody Guthrie's American Song*
October 6 – 30

Woody Guthrie, the American troubadour, gave a passionate voice to the
nation during the Great Depression. Five talented actor/musicians sing
Woody's story from New York's skid row to the ravaged dustbowl to the
orchards of California. "So Long It's Been Good to Know Ya," "900 Miles,"
and "This Land Is Your Land" and 20 other songs from the heart of the
heartland will fill your mind and touch your heart.

*Bully*
January 19 – February 5

Military hero, President, cowboy, Secretary of the Navy, Nobel Peace Prize
winner, conservationist, trust buster, police commissioner, Vice-president,
explorer, big game hunter, author, governor. It could be a list of things a
child might want to be when they grow up. It actually is a list of some of
the things that Teddy Roosevelt did become in the course of his 60 years.
One actor attempts to explore some of the roles Teddy lived.

*The Importance of Being Earnest*
March 29 – April 22

In the 112 years since its premiere this *Trivial Comedy for Serious People*
 play has probably generated more laughter than any other piece of dramatic
literature. Jack is Jack in town, but Ernest in the country. His ward,
Cecily is deeply in love with Ernest's ne'er-do-well brother who doesn't
exist. Lady Bracknel rules all and is certainly not going to allow her
daughter to "form an alliance with a handbag." Naturally everything works
out perfectly and everyone lives happily ever after.

Our season, in its entirety, and more information about Actors’ Summit can
be viewed at:

*www.actorssummit.org***

If you would like more information about Actors’ Summit’s *
“Take-your-parent-to-a-show!”* project and/or getting *FREE* educational
support for your classroom, please feel free to contact Neil Thacakberry,
Co-Artistic Director or Aubrey Caldwell, Education Project Coordinator at *
330-374-7568.*

-- 
Neil Thackaberry
Co-artistic Director
Actors' Summit, a professional theater
103 South High Street
6th Floor
Akron OH 44308
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