San Diego Unified School District middle schools are eligible to apply for participation in a unique three-year, fully-funded, musical theatre program, education officials announced Friday.
The JumpStart Theatre Program, sponsored by La Jolla Playhouse and the Educational Theatre Association, is designed to foster sustainable musical theatre programs in schools where none previously existed.
Three district middle schools will be selected into the program during the 2018-19 school year, according to the announcement. Those schools will be mentored by La Jolla Playhouse teaching artists throughout the entire three-year program with the goal of building a sustainable, long-term musical theatre curriculum.
“This opportunity will expand access to the arts for many San Diego Unified students, underscoring the district’s ongoing commitment to arts education,” a district statement read.
La Jolla Playhouse was chosen as one of two theater companies in the country to spearhead the national expansion of the JumpStart Theatre Program, established in 2014 by the Educational Theatre Association in Cincinnati. La Jolla Playhouse is considered an advocate of arts education, through such programs as the Performing Outreach Program Tour and the Young Performers series of summer theater training programs.
“We are thrilled to have JumpStart Theatre come to San Diego Unified. What a terrific opfportunity for our middle school students to not only have an arts experience but to develop their 21st century skills,” said San Diego Unified Superintendent Cindy Marten. “We know JumpStart Theatre will continue our vision to transform lives through the arts. Thank you to our great local community partner, La Jolla Playhouse, and to the Educational Theatre Association.”
JumpStart selection criteria includes the commitment of a minimum of three educators from each school who will remain dedicated to the program for the duration. Previous theatre experience is not required. Applications are being accepted through Feb. 23 from all SDUSD middle schools.
“We are honored to be one of the inaugural regional partners for EdTA’s JumpStart Theatre program. La Jolla Playhouse is known for – and deeply committed to – the development of new plays and musicals, and the JumpStart Theatre Program provides a terrific proven method of empowering teachers to produce musicals in their middle schools,” said La Jolla Playhouse Managing Director Michael S. Rosenberg. “The opportunity to partner with EdTA and San Diego Unified in bringing the joy of musical theater to students and teachers in our community while building life skills through participation in the arts, could not be a better fit for La Jolla Playhouse.”
–Staff
