playbill vip

Welcome back to school! And to the inaugural NYC alumni event of the International Thespian Society, Broadway Back to School. A big thanks to Thespian alumni Hunter Bell, J. Jason Daunter, and Jennifer Tepper for conceiving and performing this benefit, and to our esteemed sponsors for lending their support.

Many of us are here today because of the experiences we had in theatre as children. The initial rush of being on stage in a musical production gave me a thrill and a confidence that I still carry with me. Tonight we share the success of beloved professional artists with aspiring students from the Beacon School Thespian Troupe 6968.

Theatre provides a home for students where they can feel accepted, valued, and part of something larger than themselves, some for the first time in their lives. It teaches critical skills for success in college, work, and life. We know from research and experience that students involved in the arts have better grades, are more likely to attend college, and grow their literacy, empathy, self-discipline, and self-confidence.

Yet only 28% of public high schools in the poorest neighborhoods offer theatre instruction, only 32% of all public schools have professional development for theatre teachers, and only 4% of elementary schools provide theatre.

It is our job as theatre enthusiasts to do something about it. We are here today to bring you into our mission and our circle, and work together to drive access to theatre education for every student.

The future success of the industry, and our world, depends on us.

  Yours sincerely, 

Julie Cohen Theobald

Executive Director

Educational Theatre Association, 

Home of the International Thespian Society