NCTF Announces Finalists for Theater Education Video Competition

This week the National Corporate Theatre Fund (NCTF) announced four finalists in its video competition aimed at highlighting the importance of theater education's contribution to crucial skill development needed for the 21st century workforce. Over 5,000 votes were cast on NCTF's Facebook page, which received over 13,000 visits during the competition.

Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, RI, Alley Theatre in Houston, TX, Actors Theatre of Louisville in Louisville, KY, and Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, CT were ultimately selected as the four finalists from the 13 submissions. A distinguished panel, consisting of theater dignitaries such as playwright Henry David Hwang, Executive Director of the Educational Theatre Association Julie Woffington, and President of the Jim Henson Foundation Cheryl Henson, will soon review the four videos and choose the overall winner. The winning theater will receive $10,000 for its theatre education program, which will be announced at the NCTF Annual Chairman's Gala on April 30.

"Each of the theaters in the competition were challenged to submit a video that unfolds the story of why theater and arts education is critical for our students-taking arts education out of the abstract and personalizing the impact," said Bruce Whitacre, Executive Director of NCTF. "All of the selections were extraordinary in their reflection of the impact of theater education on young people and in developing the necessary skills needed to assemble the creative workforce critical to America's viability in the 21st century workplace. We are amazed at the tremendous level of participation thanks to our member theaters and voters. We eagerly await the announcement of the overall winner at our gala on April 30."

The competition comes on the heels of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities 2011 landmark report, "Reinvesting in Arts Education: Winning America's Future Through Creative Schools," which was led by Committee Co-Chairwoman and Broadway producer Margo Lion.

A major focus of the Committee's work on the national level has been set on the importance of arts and humanities education for the future of our national economy. At a recent NCTF sponsored luncheon with corporate executives, Lion underlined the growing importance of arts education to American companies and culture, saying "It really is up to corporate America to step forward and ensure that theatre arts education, which is now only available in about three percent of our nation's schools, is restored to its place as a foundation of our economy, and our society. Efforts by NCTF to put a spotlight on these programs and demonstrate the link between arts education and our future are badly needed."

For more information, visit www.nctf.org.