The American Savings Foundation has awarded The Palace Theater a $27,000 grant to support the after-school character development program “Finding, Defining and Realizing Your Dream.”
Based on the Tony Award-winning musical Dreamgirls, the month-long program explores the historical context and social themes presented in the musical to provide 50 high school students with a performing and language arts integrated experience that increases art appreciation while cultivating a youth voice regarding social issues.
Students will participate in series workshops during which they will study the Civil Rights movement, create visual art projects, write original short stories and poetry, as well as develop a social awareness project based on the musical’s themes, including discrimination, racial and gender biases, social pressures and classism. Students will also receive complimentary tickets to attend the theater’s May 31, 2013 presentation of the Dreamgirls National Broadway Tour,as well as meet the cast in a question and answer session.
Schools and students from the Greater Waterbury area interested in participating in this program, which begins in April 2013, are encouraged to contact Educational Programs Manager Dawn Alger at 203-346-2002.
The American Savings Foundation was established by the board of directors of American Savings Bank to give back to the towns and communities served by the company for over 140 years. An independent, charitable endowment, the foundation is dedicated to strengthening the community by supporting education, human services, and the arts with a special emphasis on meeting the needs of children, youth and families. Since its inception in 1995, the American Savings Foundation has contributed a combined $30 million in grants to local nonprofit organizations, as well as college scholarships to hard-working students in need of financial support.
About the Palace Theater
The Palace’s primary purpose is to revitalize the Greater Waterbury community through the presentation of the performing arts and educational initiatives in collaboration with area cultural and educational institutions. Its mission is to preserve and operate the historic Palace Theater as a performing arts center and community gathering place that provides a focal point of cultural activity and educational outreach for diverse audiences. For more information, visit: www.palacetheaterct.org.
The Palace Theater gratefully acknowledges support by Comcast, Webster Bank, Bank of America,City of Waterbury, Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, Naugatuck Savings Bank,Waterbury Hospital, FOX CT, Republican-American, WATR Radio and WTNH/WCTX.