Blogs

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 in Cincinnati, Ohio. To view previous updates, click here. 

National Expansion news:

JumpStart Theatre expansion cities, San Diego and St. Louis, are excited to announce they have each selected three schools and are planning a spring orientation meeting to kick off their programs. Read more about the schools selected:

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

La Jolla Light

With the addition of these six schools, JumpStart Theatre will be in five states!

Take a Bow

Oyler School in Cincinnati produced Annie JR. earlier in April to complete the 2017-2018 season of JumpStart Theatre school performances. Their theatre was packed with proud friends, families and community members for their public performance. After the curtain call, the cast led the audience in an enthusiastic sing-a-long of "Tomorrow." Filled with the kind of energy and excitement that can only be fueled by applause, the students burst into cheers backstage, bringing a few happy tears to their teachers' faces.

Students perform in the 2016 finale number

Theatre in the Classroom

Justin Ratliff, a JumpStart Theatre teacher at Dater High School in Cincinnati, was thrilled to share that his administration has approved a technical theater class that he will teach next year! He plans to recruit students to be in it this year, and then have devoted class time and a core group of students who will be involved. It will be a fantastic way to increase interest as they head into their third year in the program.

Justin (right) participates in a JumpStart Theatre Bootcamp

Queen for a Day

Bizzy Robertson, the JumpStart Theatre director at Felicity-Franklin Middle School, was nominated by her student, Zander, for a Broadway in Cincinnati teacher award. Zander played Harold Hill in their production of Music Man JR. last month and Drake in Honk! JR. last year.

Bizzy was announced on the local news, treated to 4 tickets to The King and I the Musical, dinner at a popular local restaurant, a school supply shopping spree, and a spa treatment.

In his essay, Zander wrote about Bizzy's role in JumpStart Theatre:

"Last year, Mrs. Robertson and two other amazing teachers secured a grant from JumpStart Theatre, which allowed our school to put on a Broadway musical for three years. This put theatre back into our school. Mrs. Robertson was our director and, without her, our musicals couldn't be as good as they are. Over 70 kids from our school joined the musical this year, and last year there was only about 40. Each year, we do three performances, performing one for the school and two for the public, bringing in 300+ audience members at each performance. This huge growth showed what our small community can do and it was all because of Mrs. Robertson. Mrs. Robertson has brought Broadway to our small town of Felicity, Ohio. During the play this year, many struggled with lines and forgot them, but with Mrs. Robertson encouraging all of us and pushing us to our full potential, she made it possible for an outstanding performance. With her dedication and commitment, we as a school know she will keep this going even after the grant is gone."

Congratulations, Bizzy! The royal treatment is well-deserved!

Thanks to all of our partners and supporters on JumpStart Theatre:

• Allstate Foundation
• Eleanora C.U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee
• ArtsWave
• Barnes Dennig
• Benefits Network Insurance
• Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights Aids
• Cincinnati Arts Association
• Community Arts Initiatives
• Duke Energy
• The Fine Schneider Charitable Fund
• The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
• Robert Greenblatt
• The Donald C. and Laura M. Harrison Family Foundation
• Hilton
• iTheatrics
• The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation
• Lila Gallimore Trust
• The H.B., E.W., and F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank and Narley L. Haley, co-trustees
• James and Lauren Miller
• Music Theatre International
• Ohio Arts Council
• The Daniel and Susan Pfau Foundation
• William O. Purdy, Jr.  Foundation Fund
• The Shubert Foundation
• Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

All of the individual donors