TADA! Youth Theater Receives NEA Grant

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $82 million to fund local arts projects & partnerships in the NEA's second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2016. Included in this announcement is an Art Works award to TADA! Youth Theater, now celebrating its 30th Anniversary. The Art Works category supports the creation of work & presentation of both new & existing work, lifelong learning in the arts & public engagement with the arts through 13 arts disciplines or fields.

"The arts are all around us, enhancing our lives in ways both subtle and obvious, expected and unexpected," said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. "Supporting projects like the ones from TADA! offers more opportunities to engage in the arts every day.

"As we look forward to our 30th Anniversary Gala on May 23, honoring Chita Rivera, Sheldon Harnick & Stephen T. Rodd, TADA!'s current Board Treasurer & former Board President," said Artistic Director Janine Nina Trevens. "We look forward to working with the NEA to finalize the grant paperwork & are appreciative of the agency's support for TADA!"

TADA!'s current production, UP TO YOU, is a musical about who will be elected as the Student Council President at Hamilton High in 1977. Will it be the cheerleader who promises a disco homecoming, or the girl who wants to stop the Pirate pranks? With today's presidential campaigns, UP TO YOU is the perfect show for the whole family to see to help promote a discussion of the election process.

TADA!'s 30th Anniversary Gala will be on May 23rd at Tribeca 360, 10 Desbrosses Street in New York City. For further information about the Gala & TADA!, go to www.tadatheater.com

To join the Twitter conversation about this announcement, please use #NEASpring16. For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, go to www.arts.gov