New York City-based Playbill has received the Standing Ovation Award which recognizes a corporation or organization that makes significant contributions to theatre education on the national level through philanthropic efforts or its programs and activities.
Playbill is one of the theatre world’s most iconic and ubiquitous brands, providing a magazine with the bold yellow and black masthead at theatres from coast to coast, as well as in London. It’s been published monthly since 1884. Total circulation of the print magazine is more than 3.5 million monthly. The company launched a website in 1994 with theatre industry news. Playbill.com operates PlaybillEDU.com with a database of college information for students, parents, and educators as well as PLAYBILLder.com, the self-publishing arm for schools and art organizations.
In presenting the award EdTA executive director Julie Cohen Theobald praised Playbill’s participation in growing awareness about the value of theatre education. She cited their placement of EdTA’s print public service announcements (PSA) in the Playbills of at least two Broadway houses every month, plus in the Tony Awards book. “Thanks to this effort,” she said, “more than 600,000 people a year are exposed to relevant information about school theatre, such as the fact that 95 percent of school administrators believe that theatre experiences improve students overall academic skills.” EdTA’s public service messages about theatre education also appear on the company’s website twice a year, reaching an audience of 250,000. The PSAs guide readers to the advocacy section of the EdTA website for additional information.
Sarah Jane Arnegger, Educational Programs Business Manager, Playbill accepted the award at the International Thespian Society alumni fundraiser, Broadway Back to School held at 54 Below in New York.
