A program designed to build sustainable musical theatre programs in underserved middle schools that currently have none.
This is a series of monthly updates about the JumpStart Theatre pilot program launched this year in Cincinnati, Ohio. To view previous updates, click here.
Was there a “magic moment” when you realized you wanted to be involved in theatre?
When I was in fourth grade, my 4-H troop put on a 20 minute version of Peter Pan. I played John and I was able to make my own top hat. There was lots of singing and dancing and most of all, a lot of fun at rehearsals. While I no longer have the top hat, I do remember loving everything about the experience and from that point on theater has been a big part of my life.
Tell us about your career path and how you landed at iTheatrics.
So I was one of those young people who kind of always knew what I wanted to do. In third grade, I decided I wanted to be a teacher. In fourth grade, I tried theater for the first time (see above). I loved it, so I added that to the plan. Then in eighth grade, I started directing plays and musical with kids while I was a summer camp counselor. It was amazing! Not just telling people what to do, but finding ways to bring out the best in everyone. So adding that to the mix led to receiving a graduate degree in Theatre For Youth from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. From there, I was fortunate to work at a number of regional theaters across the country, including North Shore Music Theater outside Boston. This job really connected me with NYC and eventually led to me working in the Education Department at Music Theater International, where I was right before coming to iTheatrics.
What does your job at iTheatrics entail?
I oversee all of the educational programs at iTheatrics which includes:
- Directing the iTheatrics’ Junior Theater Academy where we workshop potential new titles for the educational market.
- Adapting new educational titles for the Broadway JR Collection as well as other organizations.
- Planning and implementing Professional Development Workshops for teachers and students with such partners as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the President’s Committee on The Arts and the Humanities, the New York City Department of Education, and of course EdTA!!
- Overseeing all programming and scheduling for our Junior Theater Festivals (Atlanta, GA and Sacramento, CA) and Celebrations (Charlotte, NC; Buffalo, NY; St. Louis, MO; New York, NY; Lynchburg, VA; Newcastle, Australia; and Leicester, England)
- Writing and supplying content for educational support materials for iTheatrics products including everything from Broadway JR Director’s Guides, to study guides for Broadway shows, to our soon to be released textbook, The iTheatrics Method – The Quintessential Guide to Creating Quality Musical Theater Programs.
What can teachers attending their first Bootcamp expect to learn?
First and foremost - they will learn how to be a storyteller. That is the basis of all musical theater. In order to do this, they will first learn how to sing, dance and act themselves, and then to apply what they have learned to teach singing, acting, and dancing. Additionally, they will learn techniques to empower students to become active members of the artistic process so the teachers aren’t doing all the work themselves. And beyond all of that (which is already a lot!!), they will leave the Bootcamp with the confidence that they can do this in their school.
Is there anything exciting about beginning the second year of the JumpStart program?
I am so excited for the first year schools to not only continue building their own programs, but to take on the role of mentors and local leaders for the second year schools. They will be able to share first-hand knowledge with the new schools that are now going through the same process they went through just last year. Seeing a network of community support built through the arts and created to ensure the success of musical theater programming is truly one of my favorite aspects of the program.
Meet Marty! Marty will be leading the first JumpStart Bootcamp of the year on Friday, September 30, from 9:00am-4:00pm. All of the JumpStart teachers will attend, but it is also open to any interested educator, administrator, artist or professional. Attendance is complimentary, as space permits. Guests must register by emailing Ginny Butsch, Community Manager, at gbutsch@schooltheatre.org. You’ll find footage from last year’s bootcamp here.
Performance Dates:
- Dater High School, Schoolhouse Rock JR. March 17 (matinee and evening performances).
- Gamble Montessori High School, Annie JR. March 17 & 18.
- Aiken New Tech High School, Once on This Island JR. March 22 & 23.
- Felicity-Franklin Middle School, Honk! JR. March 24 & 25.
- Finneytown Middle School, The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley JR. March 30 & 31.
- Holmes Middle School, Schoolhouse Rock JR. TBD.
- JumpStart Theatre Showcase. May 2.