Camp Bway and Panasonic Offer StageNotes LIVE Program

Camp Broadway, a leader in the field of experiential arts education, and Panasonic, the market and technology leader in Plasma HDTV, are pleased to announce that they have joined forces to test an innovative multimedia educational program called StageNotes LIVE, which gives educators nationwide access to theatre arts-based content designed to enable them to teach core curriculum in the areas of Social Studies, Language Arts, Behavioral Studies, Life Skills and the Arts.

Dubbed the "Classroom of the Future," the Fort Pierce Magnet School of the Arts in St. Lucie, Florida worked with Panasonic to install a full range of Panasonic multimedia equipment – with components that include DVD players and recorders, laptops, digital video cameras and displays, as well as audio equipment from Panasonic partner Audio Enhancements - which will give teachers at the school remote access to a wealth of educational material and tools which they can easily implement and make their own.

Beginning today, students in grades 3-8 and faculty at the Fort Pierce Magnet School will take part in a test of the program.  The five-day program will consist of 45-minute classes using elements from Disney Theatricals' Broadway production of The Lion King.  Camp Broadway, in conjunction with the Disney Theatrical Productions' Education Department, has developed four interactive lesson plans on African storytelling, design, rhythm and movement based on Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor's critically-acclaimed Broadway production of The Lion King. The curriculum features background on African culture and historical photography coupled with interviews from the show's creative team and designs of the sets and costumes. The online course is led by professional storyteller Papa Keet (Keith Johnson), who guides the students through African society and its folktales as inspiration for the students to create their own story and design props and costumes.

To enhance their learning experience, teachers are provided with a downloadable video and detailed curriculum guide for participating students and teachers.  On April 30th, The Lion King cast members Bongi Duma and Lindiwe Dlamini (also members of the Zulu Tribe) will conduct an interactive workshop on African chants live from Panasonic's North American headquarters in Secaucus, New Jersey to an assembly of 427 students at the Ft. Pierce Magnet School.  And on May 1st, The Lion King cast members Cornelius Jones, Jr. and Lisa Lewis, along with percussionist Rolando Morales will conduct a live web-cast workshop with students featuring music from the production and using African dance techniques.

As a finale to the program, all students in grades 3-8 will attend a live performance of The Lion King at the Broward County Center for the Performing Arts on May 2nd.

"This program embodies Panasonic's company-wide focus on creating 'Ideas For Life'," said Robert Greenberg, Panasonic's Vice President of Corporate Brand Marketing.  "We are proud to work with Camp Broadway and apply our technological know-how to the creation of a program that delivers educational, engaging and fun lesson plans to teachers.  We feel the possibilities for this program are endless."

"American schools have seen a perilous decline in arts education" said Rhona Silverbush, Director of Educational Content for Camp Broadway.  "Camp Broadway believes that Panasonic's technology will enable us to provide teachers in schools across the country with creative curriculum that addresses their requirement to teach state mandated curriculum.  Working in collaboration with Disney Theatrical Productions (DTP) and some of their most dynamic artists on Broadway from The Lion King, Camp Broadway is thrilled by Disney's commitment to arts education, to the students and to this endeavor."

Camp Broadway, according to press materials, "provides life-long learning through theatre related special events, educational programming, professional development and corporate training, as well as its published study guide series, StageNotes®. The company serves as a vital link between Broadway's many theatrical productions, estates and libraries to families, schools and social organizations. Now in its 12th year, Camp Broadway has enabled over 200,000 school children to attend a Broadway show through its educational programs and has hosted over 6,000 theatre-loving kids from every state and over 40 countries at its annual summer camp in New York. Camp Broadway is the recipient of the 2002 Standing Ovation Award from the Educational Theatre Association for program excellence."

In the fall of 2007, Camp Broadway intends to introduce similar programming across the country as part of the StageNotes LIVE Learning Series. For more information, please visit www.broadwayeducationalliance.org.  Visit www.campbroadway.com, www.disneyonbroadway.com or www.panasonic.com for more on Camp Broadway, The Lion King and Panasonic.