Join in Support of ArtsPower!

Contributed support to ArtsPower is of critical importance to fulfilling our mission. Simply put, the revenues we generate from our performances and Field Trip ticket sales do not cover our operational costs. We need your support to make our programs possible.

Important Facts About our 2006-2007 Season:

• 1,040 performances in 330 venues in 285 cities throughout 45 states
• 750,000 audience members
• 162 work weeks for 60 Equity actors and stage managers, and 5 Asian dancers

Your gift to ArtsPower will support:

NEW PLAY PRODUCTION

ArtsPower creates two new theatre productions each year. We have received national acclaim for our ability to create new theatre that places our handprint on the hearts of young people and adults alike. In addition to contributing to the American repertoire of new theatre for young and family audiences, ArtsPower aims to create stimulating, values-rich theatre that speaks to the rewards associated with overcoming adversity and champions the American ideals of family, freedom, equality, and respect for others.

Molly Beirne as Madeline and Erin Paige McKenna as Miss Clavel

The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation Funds New Production of “Madeline and the Bad Hat”

The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation is, once again, providing major support to ArtsPower for a significant portion of the creative costs associated with its newest musical, Madeline and the Bad Hat, based on the classic children’s book by Ludwig Bemelmans. Madeline and the Bad Hat traces the adventures of the much-beloved young Parisian girl who – despite starting off on the wrong foot with a mischievous new neighbor – eventually learns that first impressions aren’t everything.

This lively musical, for children in grades K-2 and their families, will open its national tour in January 2008.   All of us at ArtsPower extend our heartfelt thanks to Gene R. Korf, Executive Director of The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, for his continued commitment to our organization and to the many other deserving nonprofits throughout New Jersey and New York that receive the Foundation’s support.

REGIONAL TOURING

Each year, ArtsPower tours most of the nation with at least nine different productions. This year alone, we will reach 750,000 people in 285 cities throughout 45 states.  The ever-increasing costs of purchasing and maintaining five touring vehicles, gasoline, and hotels make our touring operation more expensive every year.

THE FIELD TRIP SERIES

ArtsPower seeks corporate sponsorship support for the more than 175 school-time performances we present, at an affordable price, for more than 100,000 students and teachers in 26 professional theatres, throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. This year’s sponsors include Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Bank of America, and Colgate-Palmolive.

“Curtain’s Up!” with Bank of America

Since 2002, Bank of America has been a major sponsor of ArtsPower’s Theatre Field Trip Series performances for low- and middle-income elementary and middle school students in central and southern New Jersey.  With Bank of America’s generous ongoing support, nearly 4,800 children from Asbury Park, Lakewood, Long Branch, Lower Township, Millville, North Wildwood, Red Bank, Trenton, and Wildwood School Districts have attended Bank of America-sponsored performances in Cape May, Ewing, Lakewood and West Long Branch. Abby O’Neill, Senior Vice President and Market Development Manager of Bank of America’s New Jersey region, believes strongly in the value of the bank’s involvement: “Providing support to organizations like ArtsPower, Inc., which set their own higher standards in service and improve the quality of life in our communities, is key to our strategy to build capacities that truly make a difference.” Bank of America’s Corporate Philanthropy Program has contributed more than $200 million to nonprofit organizations, helping improve the quality of life of the people living in the communities served by the bank.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Picks Up Seven Public Performances

Enterprise Vice President and General Manager Andy Church (far left), and Group Relations Manager Carole Lakin (far right), are joined by the cast of ArtsPower’s Lily’s Crossing following a sold-out Field Trip Series performance at The Community Theatre in Morristown, New Jersey on March 22, 2005.

This year, Enterprise Rent-A-Car (ERAC) is the exclusive sponsor of ArtsPower’s Family Theatre Series performances in seven different theatres in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. As part of its sponsorship, ERAC has underwritten the costs of seven performances in professional theatre venues throughout the tri-state area and Albany, New York. ERAC has also supported the distribution of more than 1,500 free tickets to culturally underserved children who live near the theatres in which ArtsPower is performing.

The schedule of performances appears below. All performances begin at 11:00 am, except the March 24th performance which begins at 1:00 pm.

ArtsPower is grateful to Andy Church, ERAC’s Vice President and General Manager, and Carole Lakin, Group Multi-Cultural Relations Manager, for their enthusiastic support. “We at Enterprise Rent-A-Car are pleased to partner with ArtsPower, an organization as committed to quality and service as we are in this cultural outreach effort on behalf of our neighbors and customers in the tri-state region,” said Lakin.

ERAC is the largest car rental company in North America and arguably the world. They have revolutionized the car rental industry by giving their customers a ride to their rental car. We thank them for their continued and generous support.

LITERACY PROGRAMS AND EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

Each year, ArtsPower forges partnerships with schools in order to deliver in-class programs and workshops for students and teachers that promote literacy and encourage the use of drama techniques in the classroom.

The Edith Glick Shoolman Children’s Foundation Provides $21,000 for ArtsPower’s Theatre Literacy Connection (TLC)

ArtsPower received a $21,000 grant from The Edith Glick Shoolman Children’s Foundation for its Theatre Literacy Connection (TLC) program, a two-year pilot program that addresses the critical need to provide teachers with training to bring drama techniques into the classroom. Students will also benefit from in-class instruction provided by three professional actors.

The Edith Glick Shoolman Children’s Foundation supports programs which the trustees believe will foster the development of healthy children with the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical skills necessary to achieve their full potential and become competent, happy and productive adults. “We are happy to welcome the Shoolman Children’s Foundation to the ArtsPower family and thank Executive Director Deborah Breznay and the Foundation’s trustees for their enthusiastic support,” said Mark A. Blackman, ArtsPower’s Founding Co-Director.

Verizon Grants ArtsPower $20,000 for Theatre Literacy Connection

Verizon has awarded ArtsPower $20,000 to help fund the Theatre Literacy Connection (TLC) program. Having successfully created and completed three teacher-training and student literacy-building projects since 1997, ArtsPower has demonstrated that drama in the classroom is an effective method to challenge students, stir their emotions, and teach a range of subjects – including language arts, social studies, history, the fine and performing arts, and science – that will improve their literacy skills. TLC will be implemented in two fifth grade classrooms in an elementary school in Newark beginning in October 2007.

My Heart in a Suitcase Receives Foundation Support

From left: Nancy Nagrant (Mrs. Lehmann), Jennifer Rubins (Anne), Dr. Heini Halberstam (Kindertransport survivor), Gabe Bettio (Mr. Lehmann), and Shelly Willis (Dorit).

My Heart in a Suitcase, ArtsPower’s compelling one-hour, one-act drama based on Anne L. Fox’s courageous autobiographical account of her experiences as a 12-year-old girl on the Kindertransport out of Germany in 1938, was granted funds from an anonymous donor for a DVD supplement to the production’s Study Buddy educational guide. This professionally-produced DVD is entitled My Heart in a Suitcase: Creating a Story of Hope, and it provides teachers and students who see the performance a “behind-the-scenes” look into how and why ArtsPower created this important production. The DVD features scenes from the show that were filmed at the University of Pennsylvania’s Irvine Auditorium, and interviews with Anne L. Fox, ArtsPower’s Artistic Director Greg Gunning, and each member of the cast.

In addition to funding the DVD, ArtsPower received funding from the same donor to present 10 free performances of My Heart in a Suitcase, followed by question and answer sessions with the audiences conducted by surviving Kinder, in 10 New York City and Newark, New Jersey middle schools. Additional funding for free performances of My Heart in a Suitcase and live appearances by Kinder comes from Stephen Spielberg’s Righteous Persons Foundation and The Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation.

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As ArtsPower is a 501(c)(3) organization, your contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law.