backstage.com: While the NBC drama "Smash" shines a spotlight behind the scenes of a Broadway-bound musical, the show also promotes the importance of arts education for students and teachers across the country. The network has partnered with iTheatrics' Junior Theater Project for NBC's "Smash": Make a Musical, a philanthropic initiative that aims to help create self-sustaining musical theater programs in underserved schools nationwide, with a goal of creating 1,000 such programs in schools over the next five years.
Thursday, April 05, 2012
High Schools Across the Country Vie to 'Make a Musical'
backstage.com: While the NBC drama "Smash" shines a spotlight behind the scenes of a Broadway-bound musical, the show also promotes the importance of arts education for students and teachers across the country. The network has partnered with iTheatrics' Junior Theater Project for NBC's "Smash": Make a Musical, a philanthropic initiative that aims to help create self-sustaining musical theater programs in underserved schools nationwide, with a goal of creating 1,000 such programs in schools over the next five years.
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4 comments:
I have mixed feelings on this idea.
My initial thought was, "It's sad that we need a reality TV show for everything today." Once, I guess in a land far away, kids joined the local theatre group because they were interested in making art. Some of them even grew to love it. Some of them came to Carnegie Mellon. Some did some other great things and went on to live very fulfilling and respectable lives. They were never on TV. They didn't need to be. That wasn't the appeal.
However, upon further reflection, I thought, "At least this is getting kids interested in art." Because, that's what youth is about now. It's about being a part of something bigger that one doesn't quite fully understand. Like reality TV. So it's a mixed bag. What matters more, appeal factor or genuine interest?
I agree with Kassondra in her disappointment for needed to be on TV. That being said, it is good that we are trying to infuse an art program, specifically musical theater into under-privaledged schools. Art programs everywhere are being cut because of budget. While focusing on other studies is important, the arts are just as important to some and have a healing or focusing effect on those that don't wish to pursue it on a professional level. There is a reason that art has survived for this long. It is a way for a person to connect to another person and it is a way to convey a message or emotion that might not be heard in any other medium.
What I think other people who have commented on this article thus far have missed (or at least, not talked about) the fact that the focus of this program is to build long-lasting theatre programs in schools which otherwise couldn't or wouldn't have them! The reason the kids are getting involved is not actually as important as the fact that they want to get involved and are getting the opportunity to do so. I admire that the "Make a Musical" project is founded on the ideas of education and long-term sustainability of educational programs. NBC and its co-sponsors are really paying it forward here. All kids should be given the opportunity to learn about and participate in the arts in elementary, junior high, and high school, not just kids who live in wealthier areas or who can afford to go to a private school or transport themselves to an arts magnet high school. I was also pleased that there is beginning to be some focus within the program on the technical aspects, so that kids who want to be a part of theatre but don't feel comfortable or aren't ready to be onstage can still be involved and find out if there is a career in the industry that would be right for them. I think this is a fantastic idea and that NBC and others involve seem to really have their hearts in the right place here.
I think that this is a wonderful program. As more and more budgets are being cut more and more schools are losing their arts programs. Students are losing a way to express themselves and I think that it is important to get people involved in the arts and help them develop their passions. These sorts of programs give them more confidence and a better sense of community. I think that any way to spark people’s interest in theatre is important. TV shows are more easily accessible so why shouldn’t they be used.
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