Buffalo Public Schools Based on the innovative program iTheatrics developed with the NYC Department of Education, master teacher Cindy Ripley in partnership with Shea’s Performing Arts Center and Music Theatre International, worked with teachers and administrators to guide three arts-poor Buffalo Public Schools build self-sustaining arts programs in their schools.  Throughout the year long project, the teachers took part in professional development by iTheatrics, the students saw a professional production at Shea’s Performing Arts Center and together the teachers and students produced the first-ever musicals in their communities.  The BPS Goes Broadway program culminated in a final celebration where students performed an excerpt from their show on the main stage at Shea’s Performing Arts Center. Daryl Roth Productions iTheatrics recently consulted on the Off-Broadway premiere of Dear Edwina, the Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler musical at the DR2 Theatre in New York City.  The production was directed by iTheatrics Founding Chairman Timothy A. McDonald and choreographed by iTheatrics chief choreographer Steven G. Kennedy.  iTheatrics also collaborated with Daryl Roth productions to make sure that families, schools and educational groups saw the show as a safe and friendly environment to introduce children to theatre. An environment where children could also learn the skills it takes to be proper audience members in the future.  iTheatrics helped design the whole Dear Edwina “experience” so young audience members felt welcome the minute they arrived. The iTheatrics’ team designed a kid-friendly program, which included pictures of the actors when they were children, fun facts about the actors and crew, a quick run-down of theatre etiquette, and an accessible chart detailing all the jobs behind the scenes that made the show possible. Of course, after every show, the actors came out to take pictures, sign autographs and say hello to their audience. Disney Theatrical Productions Continuing work begun at MTI Education in 2002, the iTheatrics team develops many of Disney’s most beloved film and stage titles into Broadway JR. and KIDS Collection versions for student performance.  Recently added to the collection were Beauty and the Beast JR. and High School Musical JR.  The team is currently developing a Broadway JR. version of High School Musical 2 and Aladdin KIDS. The Jim Henson Company iTheatrics provided creative development for the new musical, Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter.   Timothy A. McDonald, iTheatrics CEO, wrote the book and helped develop the adaptation.  Tony Award® nominated Christopher Gattelli directed the musical’s premiere, which opened at the prestigious Goodspeed Opera House December 2008. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts iTheatrics worked closely with The Kennedy Center to develop the Musicals in Our Schools Project.  This program brought children from DC metro area schools to the Kennedy Center for summer workshops where they learned to create a musical theatre production. Teachers also participated in specially designed professional development workshops centered on incorporating musical theatre into their schools.  In the fall, with the start of the new school year, teachers and students continued their work by introducing a musical theatre program in their schools.  The process was captured by the popular PBS documentary Children Will Listen. This series of professional development workshops evolved into the Broadway Junior Teaching Intensives, which continue to be conducted by iTheatrics throughout the country. iTheatrics also worked with the Kennedy Center’s Theatre for Young Audiences program.  Tim McDonald co-wrote the book for the Kennedy Center’s tour of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, and Tim directed the sold-out Kennedy Center performances of The Phantom Tollbooth, which was developed into a national tour and Broadway Junior production. MacMillan/McGraw-Hill iTheatrics’ involvement with the textbook publisher MacMillan/McGraw-Hill transformed musical theatre, from an after-school activity, to a fully integrated part of elementary and middle school curriculums for the first time in history.  The MacMillan/ McGraw-Hill “Spotlight on Music” textbooks for grades 1 through 8 include 15 minute versions (and performance rights) of classic musicals like Annie, Fiddler on The Roof, Seussical, and Ragtime allowing students at more than 60,000 schools nation-wide to perform shows in schools. The iTheatrics staff adapted the musicals and wrote all of the curriculum and teacher’s guides incorporated into the texts. Music Theatre International iTheatrics oversees and consults on all of MTI Education’s projects, including selecting the shows for adaptation, creating show and support materials for all licenses, and operating the Teacher Hotline.  Recent titles developed by iTheatrics for MTI – in addition to the Disney Collection of shows – include Rent School Edition (developed in conjunction with the Jonathan Larson Estate), Stephen Schwartz’s Captain Louie JR., The Pirates of Penzance JR., Seussical JR., and Thoroughly Modern Millie JR.. New York City Department of Education iTheatrics collaborates with the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE), MTI and the Shubert Foundation on a landmark musical theatre mentorship program, which facilitates educators at New York City public schools to build self-sustaining musical theatre programs. Teachers from selected schools attend three Junior Teaching Intensives designed to meet their specific theatre needs. These iTheatrics Professional Development workshops are accredited by the NYCDOE and fulfill the annual professional development requirements for NYCDOE teachers.  In the first year teachers and students are guided step-by-step through the process of producing a first-ever musical in their schools.  In the second year, teachers and students continue to receive support and encouragement on their second musical, but take ownership over their productions.  By the end of the two-year program teachers and students can present a musical in their schools independently, and now serve as inspiration for other schools involved in earlier cycles of the program. North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center For the North Carolina Blumenthal Center for the Arts, iTheatrics created teacher workshops in conjunction with the TYA tours (produced by Work Light Productions) iTheatrics also worked with the Blumenthal to create a one-day Junior Theater Celebration based on the Junior Theater Festival, which enables students and teachers to gather at their local performing arts center to meet and collaborate with others who are involved in the arts in their community. Roald Dahl Literary Estate iTheatrics began its relationship with the Roald Dahl Literary Estate with Tim’s work as playwright on the musical Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, co-writing the book with Leslie Bricusse and adapting the score from the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory by Bricusse and Anthony Newley.  The premiere production set attendance records at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and went on a three-year national tour. The iTheatrics team has since created a Junior version of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka as well as the study materials and teacher’s guides for the show.  Tim is currently developing a musical adaptation of Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach. Theater of the Stars (Atlanta)/ The Junior Theater Festival In conjunction with Theater of the Stars, iTheatrics works each year to co-produce the Junior Theater Festival, the leading festival dedicated to young people and musical theatre. The festival offers an enthusiastic environment for students and teachers to interact with thousands of others who share their passion for musical theatre. Each group performs a selection of a musical for adjudication by a distinguished panel of international theatre professionals. In addition, groups participate in interactive workshops led by Broadway and West End professionals, meet celebrities ranging from Thomas Schumacher (JTF 2009 guest), Zac Efron (JTF 2007 guest) and Christy Carlson Romano (JTF 2005 guest), enjoy professional development, fellowship, and attend a world-class professional production at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. Educational Advising to Broadway, Off-Broadway and Touring Productions iTheatrics works with producers to customize educational initiatives designed to extend the reach of a shows’ brand in school-age markets.  iTheatrics develops long-range educational planning that follows a production through its Broadway debut and First National Tour then propels it into the secondary and licensing markets. The iTheatrics’ team works side-by-side with the producers to ensure the show’s educational initiatives are seamlessly incorporated.  iTheatrics provides support and refinement of educational programs based on the evolving needs of the production as well as providing quality educational content management that exceeds state and federal standards while creatively addressing the unique needs of each production. iTheatrics wrote and designed the educational study guide for Thurgood, starring Lawrence Fishburn.  The play follows the remarkable and triumphant story of Thurgood Marshall, who rose from a childhood in the back-streets of Baltimore to become the first African-American to be appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States.  The study guide features thought provoking details of Justice Marshall’s life, including the significant legal cases of his career.  Classroom activities deepen audiences understanding of the pivotal nature of the 14th Amendment and the NAACP. iTheatrics serves as an artistic advisor to Work Light Productions for its Theatre for Young Audiences and family theatre national tours, including the shows The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, Frankly Ben, and The Ant and the Elephant.  iTheatrics wrote and designed a study guide for each of their touring shows, including the guide for Work Light’s First National tour of A Year With Frog and Toad.  In conjunction with their TYA production, Broadway Junior on Tour, iTheatrics pioneered a twenty-city professional development workshop, which was designed to empower teachers with the skill building necessary to create a musical theatre program in their school.  With Disney Theatrical Productions and Work Light Productions, iTheatrics developed the touring show Disney’s Discover Theater!, along with a twenty-eight city professional development workshop created to introduce and brand the Disney’s KIDS Collection of musicals available for elementary school students.