SF Playhouse Celebrates The Sucess Of Their 'Rising STARS,' Attend THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

The SF Playhouse (Bill English, Artistic Director; Susi Damilano, Producing Director) are pleased to announce that on October 27th, students from Impact Academy in Hayward and School of the Arts (SOTA) in San Francisco were the first "Rising Stars" to attend The SF Playhouse's World Premier The First Day of School.

Rising STARS is a new program at the SF Playhouse which provides sophomores and juniors from five different schools the opportunity to each see four plays from The SF Playhouse's 2009-2010 season. Our main objective is to inspire a new generation of theatergoers in the Bay Area by exposing them to the art in a professional venue. For many students, the cost of professional theater is prohibitive and the exposure limited due to cuts in the Arts curriculum of most schools.

To make this happen, seventy-five (and growing) generous subscribers have each pledged an extra $100 to cover the cost of one student's four tickets. In addition, the program director (Lindsay Krumbein) provides curriculum for pre- and post-play lessons that focus on anything from theatrical devices to theme to set design. Students from a wide array of classes will participate, including advanced drama, advisory, creative writing and theatre tech. In addition to Impact and SOTA, Jefferson (South SF), Oakland School for the Arts, and Oakland Tech will join this year.

After each show, students write a letter to their donor describing their experience with the play. At the end of the year, participants will all meet when we gather for a closing celebration. Our goal is for each student to then take part in a second year of Rising STARS, seeing a total of eight plays in two seasons of The SF Playhouse. Ultimately, we hope this will motivate these young people to develop a personal interest in theatre and seek out additional opportunities for theatre attendance and participation.

Founded by Bill English and Susi Damilano in 2003, The SF Playhouse is San Francisco's fastest growing and most awarded Theatre Company and hailed as a "small delicacy" by SF Weekly, "eclectic" by the San Francisco Bay Guardian and "local theatre's best kept secret" by San Francisco Magazine. Located in Union Square, The SF Playhouse offers intimate, professional theatre with top-notch actors and world-class design. It has received multiple awards for overall productions, acting and design including the SF Weekly Best Theatre Award, Bay Guardian's Best Off-Broadway Theatre Award. The San Francisco Chronicle raved, "San Francisco's newest theatre isn't just another tiny stage carved out of a storefront . . . it's an enticing introduction to a new company." The SF Playhouse has quickly become the intimate theatre alternative to the traditional Union Square theatre fare, providing a creative home and inspiring environment where actors, directors, writers, designers, and theatre lovers converge to create works that celebrate the human spirit.

Lindsay Krumbein, a newcomer to The SF Playhouse, is the director of Rising STARS. She has eight years of urban teaching experience in San Francisco, Oakland, and Hayward, and has taught both English and Drama to diverse populations. She founded and lead extensive theatre production programs at three different schools, directing nine shows over the past six years, including modern one-act plays and four full-length Shakespeare productions. She is particularly effective at engaging all students, and generating enthusiasm and excitement for the performing arts.

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