Huntington and Northeastern University form Alliance for 2017-2018 Season

The Huntington Theatre Company and Northeastern University will form a new educational alliance focused on professional experiential learning for young theatre artists beginning with the 2017-2018 season. The relationship will allow the Huntington to continue its educational mission of preparing students for careers in the theatre industry while aligning with Northeastern's commitment to integrating academic study with real world experience.

Through the new alliance, the Huntington will provide Northeastern theatre students with diverse opportunities for meaningful engagement with the Tony Award-winning regional theatre company. Initiatives will include the development of specially designed co-ops for students to work full-time for six months at the theatre; master classes with Huntington artists for the "NU Broadway" series; curricular connections between Huntington productions and Northeastern courses; faculty participation in Huntington Humanities Forums; free and discounted ticket opportunities for Northeastern students and staff to attend Huntington performances; and the possible development of new graduate programs in conjunction with the Huntington's apprentice program.

"Teaching is in the Huntington's DNA, and we look forward to the start of this new alliance with our professional colleagues and neighbors on the Avenue of the Arts, the Northeastern University Department of Theatre," says Huntington Theatre Company's Managing Director Michael Maso. "We look forward to mentoring and helping to train students in both classroom and co-op settings, on stage and in our new production center. In this way, we will continue the Huntington's 35-year-old tradition of helping bring out the best in the next generation of theatre professionals, while building new relationships with the entire Northeastern community."

Housed within the College of Arts, Media and Design, the Northeastern Department of Theatre has been undergoing a period of tremendous growth. Award-winning director Scott Edmiston was appointed department chair and Professor of the Practice in 2014 and previously served as the Huntington's artistic associate from 1997 to 2003.

"Since Northeastern is focused on professional experiential learning through co-ops, a relationship with the Huntington makes perfect sense," says Edmiston. "Our students will greatly benefit from increased interaction with the nationally acclaimed professionals at the Huntington and from greater access to some of the most exciting and innovative work in contemporary theatre."

The Huntington and Northeastern alliance is the beginning of a new relationship for the two organizations. Both institutions will work together to cultivate young theatre artists and to connect faculty scholarship with contemporary theatre practice.

"Education and artistry are the primary focus of the relationship, but we are also neighbors," says Edmiston. "Connecting our two communities on the Avenue of the Arts will enlarge the benefits to both institutions and to the cultural life of Boston."

"Our alliance with the Huntington really emphasizes our strengths," says Elizabeth Hudson, dean of the College of Arts, Media and Design. "It highlights our commitment to increase professional training, experiential opportunities, and the interdisciplinary nature within the creative and professionAl Fields."

ABOUT THE Huntington Theatre Company

Celebrating its 35th season, the Huntington Theatre Company is Boston's leading professional theatre and one of the region's premier cultural assets since its founding in 1982. Recipient of the 2013 Regional Theatre Tony Award, the Huntington brings together superb local and national talent and produces a mix of groundbreaking new works and classics made current to create award-winning productions. The Huntington runs nationally renowned programs in education and new play development and serves the local theatre community through its operation of the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA. The Huntington has long been an anchor cultural institution of Huntington Avenue, the Avenue of the Arts, and will remain so on a permanent basis with plans to convert our current theatre into a first-rate, modern venue with expanded services to audiences, artists, and the community. Under the direction of Artistic Director Peter DuBois and Managing Director Michael Maso, the Huntington cultivates, celebrates, and champions theatre as an art form. For more information, visit huntingtontheatre.org.

ABOUT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global, experiential research university. Our tradition of partnership and engagement creates a distinctive approach to education and research built on the values of experiential learning, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Northeastern is the recognized leader in experiential learning, powered by the world's most innovative cooperative-education program. We offer students opportunities for professional work, research, service, and global learning in 131 countries on seven continents. The same spirit of engagement guides a use-inspired research enterprise that is strategically aligned with three global imperatives: health, security, and sustainability. Northeastern offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools, and select advanced degrees at graduate campuses in Charlotte, North Carolina, Seattle, Silicon Valley, and Toronto.

Northeastern's Department of Theatre offers a distinctive university experience uniting elements of a traditional liberal arts program with the career preparation found in conservatories. Housed within the College of Arts, Media and Design, the department has expanded its scope with a new curriculum, new faculty and staff, renovated performance spaces, and seven new interdisciplinary programs. The theatre department has more than 40 professional co-op partners and offers courses in London and Paris. In 2016-2017, Northeastern launched the "NU Broadway" series with master classes from the Tony Award-winning star of Hamilton, Renee Elise Goldsberry, and Tony Award nominee Moritz von Stuelpnagel, who directed the Huntington's production of Tiger Style! For more information, visit camd.northeastern.edu/theatre.

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