The Broadway League Announces 'League Educator Apple Awards'

 Today, The Broadway League, the national trade organization for the commercial theatre industry, announced the recipients for the 2008 "League Educator Apple Awards."

Now in its sixth year, the League's Education Committee has honored educators, administrators, and school district leaders from around the country for their commitment to arts education, and their work in collaboration with League-member venues that present touring Broadway shows. Through this award, the League encourages the development of theatre education programs around the country, while helping to build a future generation of theatregoers. This year's award recipients have been recognized for their leadership and creativity, as well as their dedication in bringing arts education into the classroom. 

The 2008 recipients are Paul King, Director of Theater Programs, New York City Department of Education (nominated by 321 Theatrical Management and the Broadway production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee); Serena Coleman and Peggy Holmes of Amory High School in Amory, Mississippi (nominated by the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, TN); and Chris Maly, Patsy Koch-Johns, Joann Davis Yoakum and Kathy Marsgall of Lincoln High School in Lincoln, Nebraska; Vernon Miller and John Mangan of the Umonhon Nation Public School in Macy, Nebraska; and Mike Morris of Crete High School in Crete, Nebraska (Nominated by the Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln, NE).

To continue to develop this and future generations of theatregoers, the League engages in various audience development and marketing activities. Among these programs are "Kids' Night on Broadway" (www.KidsNightOnBroadway.com), a program in which parents take their children for free to the theatre, and "Family First Nights," a national program providing underserved families with the opportunity to attend theatre on a regular basis.

The Broadway League, founded in 1930 and formerly known as the League of American Theatres & Producers, is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. The League's 600-plus members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers in 240 North American cities, as well as suppliers of goods and services to the theatre industry. Each year, League members bring Broadway to nearly 30 million people in New York and across the U.S. and Canada.

For further information on the League Educator Apple Awards, call Rachel Reiner at (212) 703-0215 or email rreiner@broadway.org.