The Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative, named after the legendary musical theater composer, has provided students at all levels with enhanced theatre education to initiate meaningful relationships with theatre in childhood, and open doors for pursuing theatre as children become young adults.
By fostering lifelong engagement with theatre through educational avenues the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative provides grant funding directly to under-resourced public schools more like here in East Boston.
These grants provide instruments, dance floors, lighting grids, and other necessary materials to enhance existing in-school theatre programs.
Last week it was announced that the Donald McKay School in East Boston was the recipient of a 2018 Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative grant.
“We are thrilled to be chosen as a recipient of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Grant,” said McKay Principal Jordan Weymer. “ Over the past four years we have worked hard to build a strong musical theater program at the McKay, and this grant has empowered us to continue build and expand.”
Through the grant program, the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative provides classroom grants to create or enhance theatre programs in our nation’s under-resourced schools. Scholarships for afterschool and summer training programs, and tuition support for students pursuing theatre in higher education, and provide support on the individual level to students determined to make a career in theatre.
“Every day we see the benefit of arts participation for our students,” said Weymer. “We see students gain self confidence, take risks and solve problems with peers. Being a recipient of this grant solidifies that the arts are an integral part of our school community. We can’t wait to see where our program goes next.”
Weymer said this grant would allow the McKay to provide more opportunities for students to participate in our annual musicals. “We plan to have a student run tech crew that will operate the lighting and sound equipment provided by the grant,” he said. “Not all students want to be actors onstage so this equipment will provide us with an alternate way of involving students in the musical.”