JumpStart Theatre Update 44: Rehearsals Underway

By Ginny Butsch posted 02-28-2019 00:00

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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 .

Rehearsals Underway

Rehearsals at JumpStart Theatre schools in Cincinnati, San Diego, and St. Louis are well underway as they gear up for performances in the coming months. Clark Montessori, Cincinnati has been working on Annie JR. They’ve added an exciting dance element to their production-tapping! Their technical funding was used to purchase tap shoes for the students, who have been diligently practicing, along with their enthusiastic teachers.

Clark Montessori students in rehearsal.

Roberts Academy, Cincinnati has been taking a magic carpet ride with Aladdin JR. and were able to reuse the multipurpose stage cubes they built for Schoolhouse Rock Live! JR. with their technical funding last year:

Aladdin and Jasmine sing "A Whole New World" at Roberts Academy.

Communicating the Rules of Theatre

In theatre, props are sacred. They may only be touched by approved individuals, have specific places to live, and must be treated with the utmost care. To a middle school student, however, a toy sword or stuffed monkey can be an irresistible temptation. One JumpStart Theatre school was having difficulty with "vanishing" props, so they posted a visual reminder above their prop table and review the list at the beginning of each rehearsal. Posted lists, schedules, and rules have proven to be very effective for students who are working on a play for the first time.

Updates from Graduates

Gamble Montessori, Cincinnati:

Last year, Gamble Montessori received a $10,000 NBC R.I.S.E. America grant to continue their theatre program into grades 9-12. They are preparing to produce Romeo and Juliet in the coming weeks. This is especially important to Gamble students who graduated from 8th grade and feared they wouldn’t have performance opportunities as upperclassmen. Their middle school grade levels are currently working on James and the Giant Peach JR.

Holmes, Cincinnati:

Holmes Middle School is gearing up for their production of Willy Wonka JR. next month. They have a cast of 21 students and 10 on crew. Some of the students were involved in past JumpStart Theatre productions, so it’s exciting to see them back on the stage.

Professional Show Posters

Subplot Studio, a company that partners with Music Theatre International to produce professional quality show posters, graphics, and more, has generously offered to provide free posters/artwork for all JumpStart Theatre schools. The posters have generated plenty of excitement and several schools have already received their shipment and started hanging them around their communities.

ETF, in collaboration with New York City-based companies iTheatrics and Music Theatre International (MTI) has created JumpStart Theatre, a three-year scalable program designed to build sustainable musical theatre programs in underserved schools that previously had none.

JumpStart Theatre aims to:

· be sustainable and implemented in underserved middle schools nationwide, engaging as many students as possible in all aspects of theatre,

· prepare students for high school, college, and the workforce by instilling the 21st-century skills of collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and creativity.

Thanks to all the JumpStart Theatre Partners and Supporters

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