An educator who is a member of the Educational Theatre Association may be treated to a trip to New York City for the opening night performance of Hadestown on Broadway compliments of On The Stage, an online ticketing, show promotion, and audience engagement system for schools, which was inspired to offer this opportunity as a way to salute and celebrate theatre teachers during Theatre in Our Schools Month.
The contest runs from March 4-17, 2019. The winner will be selected by a random draw of entrants and active membership will be verified by EdTA. The winner will be announced on Facebook on March 15 and will receive a trip for two to New York City to attend Hadestown Broadway opening night at the Walter Kerr Theatre, including airfare or other travel costs, a hotel stay for the winner and a companion, two tickets to the April 17, 2019 opening night performance, and invitations to the producers’ after-party.
The opportunity is open to EdTA educator members who:
- Like/follow On The Stage on Facebook to be sure you see the announcement post. (Not required for entry into the giveaway.;
- Like the contest announcement post on On The Stage’s Facebook page;
- Comment (250 words or fewer) in that post detailing an original, fun, and/or successful promotion or audience engagement activity you created to build energy around a school theatre production for which you served as Director or Producer. Photos and/or video are strongly encouraged, but not required;
- Share additional stories in separate comments for more chances to win.
Hadestown, a new musical by singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell and director Rachel Chavkin, reimagines an ancient tale as a timeless allegory for our world. It follows two intertwining love stories—that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of Hades and his wife Persephone—as it invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back.
Hunter Arnold, producer of Hadestown and co-founder of On The Stage with Stephanie Yankwitt, casting director and alum of Thespian Troupe 6294, Plantation High School in Florida, says, “Theatre teachers put me on my path, but they also shape the lives of countless others who don’t go into the performing arts as professionals. By giving students opportunities to develop skills in communication, collaboration, and critical thinking, they enable individual success in school and in life and contribute greatly to our wider culture. We are huge fans and supporters of the TIOS initiative, so this felt like the perfect way to recognize and give back to theatre teachers who have given so much to us.”
Theatre in Our Schools Month, (TIOS) a grassroots effort to draw attention to the benefits of having theatre in schools, as well as the need for more access to quality programs for all students, is jointly led by the American Alliance for Theatre & Education (AATE), the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), and the International Thespian Society (ITS). Disney Theatrical Productions sponsors Theatre in Our Schools Month.
