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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. 

Annual Report - JumpStart Theatre's Year in Review

Introducing the JumpStart Theatre Annual Report! Take a closer look inside the program and the impact that we made during the 2017-2018 school year:

Recognition for Holmes' Students

Congratulations to JumpStart Theatre graduate, Holmes Middle School! Holmes recently received a New Troupe Charter Grant from the International Thespian Society. The grant will allow Holmes to recognize and reward the three years of hard work their students poured into building their musical theatre program through JumpStart Theatre. Fellow graduate, Finneytown Middle School, received the grant and chartered their Junior Thespian troupe last fall and has already inducted 13 students!

Holmes students take a bow

Arts and Humanities Day in Kentucky

Lead JumpStart Theatre Mentor, Dee Anne Bryll, and JumpStart Theatre Program Manager, Ginny Butsch, led a workshop and attended an Arts Fair for the Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services Arts and Humanities Day. Kentucky teachers attended a variety of workshops taught by local arts and education professionals, covering topics on everything from physical education to creating rubrics to using technology in an arts classroom. Dee Anne's workshop was an abbreviated version of a full-day JumpStart Theatre bootcamp, generating excitement and plenty of laughter as attendees learned some great warm-ups to use in any classroom and five dance steps in five minutes. 

Dee Anne shares some musical theatre basics with NKCES attendees

Congratulations, Ligia!

This summer, the Cincinnati Reds recognized Roberts Academy teacher, Ligia Cuevas Johnson, as the game's honorary team captain at its Great American Ball Park game against the Miami Marlins. The honorarium was in recognition of Ligia's work with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers to engage students in the school's Robotic Club. Ligia is a key member of the JumpStart Theatre team at Roberts and plans to use theatre to help her students who are English Language Learners. A well deserved recognition for Ligia, as she works to ensure that all of her students find a welcoming place to learn and grow.

You're Invited!

Want to get a first-hand glimpse into the JumpStart Theatre program? Join us for the first Bootcamp of the year on Friday, September 28, 2018 from 9:00am-4:00pm. The Bootcamp will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio and will be led by Dee Anne Bryll and Becca Kloha Strand.

This unique professional development opportunity will cover the basics of teaching musical theatre in a fun and interactive manner. All of the current Cincinnati JumpStart Theatre teachers will attend, but it is also open to any interested educator, administrator, artist or professional. Attendance is complimentary, but space is limited. Guests must register in advance by emailing JumpStartTheatre@schooltheatre.org. You'll find a video from a previous bootcamp here.

Teachers participate in a JumpStart Theatre Bootcamp.

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

• Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

• 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

• The Lehrer-Seller Family

• 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