NBC, iTheatrics, and Lowe’s have partnered up to help needy
schools in the U.S. make advancements to their musical theater programs through the “NBC’s ‘Smash’:Make a Musical constructed by Lowe’s” initiative. In January of last year, The program started
with a pilot group of 20 schools located in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver,
Los Angeles, Houston, Nashville, and Seattle.
After the success of the pilot schools, the program
officially launched February 19th, 2013. Schools from all over the country applied to be apart of
this amazing initiative. The program
awards funding to five high schools in need of major improvement to their theater
program and productions.
More than 1,800 public and charter schools across the country
applied for the “Make a Musical” program.
In March, the competition was narrowed down to 30 schools based on criteria
including the need of improvement to performance space, a demonstrated use of
the performance space for arts programming, and a plan for making improvements
to the theater. Once the 30 finalists
were announced, the competition was taken online. Each of the schools in the finals competed to receive the most
online votes. The five schools that received the most votes would be deemed the winners.
In April, the winning high schools for the “Make a Musical”
program were announced. One of the winning schools was East Rockaway High School, a school that
endured devastating damages during Hurricane Sandy. Their
auditorium was exposed to over four feet of water, destroying their theater. The damages amounted to around $10 million.
Since the winners have been announced, NBC’s “Smash” Make A
Musical has been making great improvments in these high schools. Each school received a $3,000 gift card to
Lowes, theatrical donations, and professional reconstruction. They are also giving educators and students
the tools and training they need to have a successful theater program. The program was awarded a Thalo Critic’s Choice Inspiration Award in
2012 and iTheatrics has gone on to produce 170 “Make a Musical” programs in
schools in the U.S. They are responsible for creating thirty additional theater
programs across the country and expect next year's efforts to be bigger and
better.
