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 Lantern Theater Company selected for prestigious NEA program Shakespeare for a New Generation brings residency program to area schools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2008 Lantern Theater Company has been awarded a $25,000 grant and selected to participate in Shakespeare for a New Generation, a major initiative sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Lantern Teaching Artists with diverse backgrounds in education and theater will lead classroom lessons at schools in each region of Philadelphia beginning February 4, 2008. Following the lessons, students will attend matinee performances of Othello from March 24 - May 4, 2008. The award supports activities targeting students from 10 schools in the Philadelphia area that would not otherwise have arts exposure in school. The Lantern is one of only 35 theater companies in the nation to receive this prestigious grant which provides the entire program, including tickets and transportation to Othello, at no cost to participating schools or students. Shakespeare for a New Generation gives high-school and middle-school students throughout America the opportunity to experience Shakespeare's works through high-quality productions and educational activities. It is the fifth phase of Shakespeare in American Communities, launched in September 2003, which has already reached more than 1,300 communities, 18 military bases, and over 2,200 schools across all 50 states. This is the largest Shakespeare tour in American history. The project combines the presentation of art with arts education through scholastic programs and classroom materials. In addition, educational materials developed by the National Endowment for the Arts and showcasing some of the greatest actors of our day will continue to be distributed, free of charge, to thousands of classrooms. "What is most remarkable about our Shakespeare for a New Generation program is that it not only benefits students across the nation by bringing them to live theater, often for the first time, but that the program also helps their teachers by making their English assignments literally come to life – from the page to the stage." –Dana Gioia, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts The NEA funding extends the work of Illumination, the Lantern's Education Program. This Barrymore-nominated program, introduces the next generation of theatergoers by educating and engaging more than 1,500 local students in the world of theater in three vital ways: matinee performances, outreach in area schools, and city-wide after-school drama programs. The Lantern also offers deeply discounted student prices and post-show discussions for groups of local middle, high schools and university students. To schedule a visit to a participating school or a student matinee, please call 215.829.9002 x106. Participating Schools
The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Arts Endowment is the largest national funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. About Arts Midwest Based in Minneapolis, Arts Midwest connects people throughout the Midwest and the world to meaningful arts opportunities, sharing creativity, knowledge, and understanding across boundaries. Arts Midwest connects the arts to audiences throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. One of six non-profit regional arts organizations in the United States, Arts Midwest's history spans more than 25 years. About Lantern Theater Company Founded in 1994 by Charles McMahon and Michael Brophy, Lantern Theater Company has emerged as one of the most successful professional theaters in the Philadelphia region. Lantern Theater Company is committed to an authentic and intimate exploration of the human spirit in its choice of classic, modern and original works. The Lantern commits itself to being a vibrant, contributing member of its community. To that end, each season the Lantern produces four main stage productions, a variety of special events, and Illumination, the Barrymore nominated education program designed to engage local students and adults alike in the world of theater and nurture their own artistic expression. This program reaches the Greater Philadelphia area in four vital ways: outreach in area schools, matinee performances for students, training teaching artists for after school programs, and our audience enrichment series of lectures, discussions, and symposia for each production of our season. Lantern Theater Company has been in residence at St. Stephen's Theater at 10th & Ludlow Streets in Center City Philadelphia since 1996, managing the performance space and developing it into an affordable multi-purpose performing arts venue. Since the inception of Philadelphia's Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre in 1995, the Lantern has received 10 awards and 46 nominations, including nominations in 2006 and 2007 for the Excellence in Theatre Education and Community Service Award. Recent Barrymore wins include Outstanding Overall Production of a Play (for Richard III) and Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play (Peter Pryor in Richard III). The 2007/08 Season at Lantern Theater Company marks the company's 14th season of creating high-quality professional theater in Philadelphia. For More Information
 
Header Photo: Lawrence Stallings in the world premiere of Me and the Devil (2021); Anthony Lawton and Dave Johnson in Travesties (2022); Melissa Rakiro and Joanna Liao in Twelfth Night (2023); and Paul L. Nolan, Sally Mercer, and Charles McMahon in Copenhagen (2018). Photos by Mark Garvin.
Lantern Theater Company acknowledges that it is situated on Lenapehoking, the ancestral and spiritual homeland of the Unami Lenape, and we pay respect to them as this region's original storytellers. ©2024 Lantern Theater Company Privacy Policy |
