FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Syracuse Stage Benefit for Partners for Arts Education Showcases Teachers, Artists, and Students

(Syracuse, NY, February 3, 2006) – On Wednesday, March 1st, theater-goers will have the opportunity to see an award-winning play, celebrate arts in education in local schools, and view the art work of Nottingham High School students who are using theater and visual arts as a way to explore issues of culture and status.

At 7:30 pm, Syracuse Stage presents a special performance of Intimate Apparel by Obie Award-winning playwright Lynn Nottage. Intimate Apparel received the New York Drama Critics Circle and Outer Critics Circle Awards for best play of the season in 2004. Proceeds of this performance will benefit Partners for Arts Education (PAE), a local not-for profit agency that provides funding and support to deepen and enrich educational experiences in and through the arts for students, teachers and artists.

At a 6:30 pre-performance reception, State Senator John DeFrancisco and David Ridings from the New York State Council on the Arts will be on hand to congratulate the recipients of this year’s art$TART grants. Granted schools receive up to $2500 in matching funds to partner classroom teachers with artists of varying disciplines for projects that help students meet New York State’s education standards. The grants are funded by PAE through the New York State Council on the Arts. The reception is free and open to the public.

One such project is happening this semester at Nottingham High School. Students in 10th – 12th grade are using Intimate Apparel as a springboard for theater and fiber-arts study, working with both theater artist and Syracuse Stage Director of Education Lauren Unbekant and fiber artist Ann Clarke. After reading the script in English class, students have analyzed scenes, focusing on the cultural context of the work. They’ve done improvisations exploring culture, status, and metaphor with Ms. Unbekant, and are creating written performance pieces with their English teacher. Then, working with Ms. Clarke, they are creating visual interpretations of their texts. Those fiber pieces will be on display in the Syracuse Stage lobby throughout the play’s run.

You can see pictures of the students at work and get more information on the project at PAE’s website.

The public is invited to attend the celebration at 6:30, see the play at 7:30, or both. You can order tickets for this special performance for $30 each by calling Kristin at PAE at 234.9911, or email her at kristin@arts4ed.org. Please make your reservations by Friday, February 17.

Addendum:
Here is a list of art$TART funded partnerships for 2005-06 and 2004-05:

2005 - 06
Onondaga County:
Cicero-North Syracuse High School 11th graders with Onondaga Historical Association, Vanessa Johnson, storytelling, Quraysh Ali Lansana, poetry
Morgan Road Elementary 5th and 6th graders with Ginger Dunlap-Dietz, ceramic arts
The New School K – 6th graders with Tom Huff, sculpture
Nottingham High School 10 – 12 graders with Syracuse Stage, Lauren Unbekant, theater arts, Ann Clarke, fiber arts
Nottingham High School 10th graders with NYS Early Music Association, Peter Hedrick, music
Madison County:
Hamilton Central School 12th graders with Glenn McClure, music
Chenango County:
Norwich High School 10th – 12th graders with Bonnie Gale, willow basketry
Cortland County:
McGraw Elementary 3rd graders with Nancy Preston, puppet theater

2004 – 05
Onondaga County:
Ed Smith Elementary with Stephen Mahan, photography
Nottingham HS with the Everson Museum and Ryan Tebo and Sejal Patel, video
Solace School with Lauren Unbekant, theater arts
Van Duyn Elementary with Open Hand Theater
Jowonio School with Kate Woodle, visual arts
Montessori School of Syracuse with Robyn Tomlin, visual arts
The New School with Tom Sieling, music
Fabius Elementary with Tim and Reggie Harris, music
Jordan-Elbridge Middle School with Ginger Dunlap-Dietz, ceramic arts
West Genesee High School with Jerome Durr, visual arts
Cayuga County:
Millard Fillmore Elementary with Bells and Motley, music
Chenango County:
Greene Middle/High School with Jacque Tara Washington and Robert Weinberger, music
Cortland County:
McGraw Elementary with Regi Carpenter, storytelling / puppetry
Oswego County:
Oswego High School with Marj Hahne, poetry

Partners for Arts Education
Delavan Center Suite 221  501 W. Fayette St.  Syracuse, NY  13202
315.234.9911  info@arts4ed.org  www.arts4ed.org

State of the Arts

NYSCA