'HEDWIG' & Hasty Pudding to Host Workshop for NYC Students, 5/18

The Hasty Pudding Institute of 1770 announced that on Sunday May 18th, it will hold an exceptional educational workshop for a group of New York public school students, in collaboration with the Broadway production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

With this initiative, the Hasty Pudding Institute combines its philanthropic efforts with the work of is production arm, Hasty Pudding Presents. As part of its philanthropic efforts, earlier this year the Hasty Pudding Institute partnered with the Arthur Miller Foundation and Institute of Play to fund the design and pilot of an exportable theater and film program to re-envision the role of arts in middle and high school education. The first pilot program debuted earlier this week at the Quest To Learn School in New York City. Meanwhile, the Hasty Pudding Institute is a supporter of the Hedwig and the Angry Inch production, and star Neil Patrick Harris was named the Hasty Pudding Theatricals Man of the Year in February 2014.

As a complement to their newly implemented theater-film program, 15 9th and 10th graders from Quest to Learn and their teachers have been invited to participate in an exceptional one day "Hedwig / Hasty Pudding" workshop which will allow them to gain an invaluable insider look at the business of the theatre and enhance their learning experience by gaining access to seasoned professionals.

The day will include a master class during which the students will learn from a panel of Broadway professionals from Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and undergraduate members of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals at Harvard, covering all aspects of producing a show from writing to costuming, set designing, band-playing, acting etc.

Following the class, the students will attend a matinee show of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Belasco Theatre, followed by a talk back with the cast and a backstage visit. As a follow up to their experience, the students and their teachers will produce a short film highlighting how this day has inspired them and informed their creative process.

"We are excited to expand our collaboration with HEDWIG THE ANGRY INCH and offer a unique opportunity for young students to gain unprecedented access and invaluable insight into the theater world." said Andrew Farkas, Graduate Chairman and Grand Sphinx of the Hasty Pudding. "We hope to inspire and foster the next generation of artists and encourage them to express themselves without censure - which is something that HEDWIG also stands for."

"The "Hedwig/Hasty Pudding" Workshop is the perfect opportunity for our students. One of the central goals of our program is for students to understand and appreciate that theater making is a complex, collaborative and creative process combining the talents and hard work of so many -- often unrecognized -- professionals. I can't imagine anexperience that could better fit our goals!" said Jeremy Engle, Program Manager, Institute of Play.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus