Bingham McHale is proud to sponsor the community conversations for I Love to Eat and Nobody Don’t Like Yogi. I was fortunate to be able to lead two of the conversations following performances of I Love to Eat, a look at the life of James Beard, the first TV chef. The lively discussions from foodies of all backgrounds touched on their unique connections with food as well as learning more about James Beard.   – Read More of Jim Reed’s Blog Here

ProLiance Energy has served as the title sponsor of the IRT’s “A Christmas Carol” for the past three years. “A Christmas Carol” serves nearly 10,000 students annually – 4,000 of which were able to attend the performance through the ProLiance sponsorship each year. Now, through their strategic sponsorship change, ProLiance will expand its commitment to education across the state.

“We are very happy to support a program that enhances the traditional classroom learning experience provided to Indiana’s youth,” said John Talley, President, ProLiance Energy. “We feel like this new partnership allows us to do our part to support arts education and helps make the communities in which we serve, live and work more vibrant.”

The Youth Education and Outreach Programs provide Hoosier students the ability to experience live theatre and then integrate their experiences into learning opportunities crossing multiple disciplines including language arts, social studies, history, visual arts and character education. The unique program transcends a typical day at the theatre by providing instructors with performance specific curricula used to prepare their students for what they will see and hear while at the theatre.

“The significant support the IRT receives from ProLiance Energy speaks volumes to their commitment to the arts and to our communities across the state,” said Steven Stolen, managing director, IRT. “We are tremendously grateful to ProLiance for not only valuing the work we do at the Theatre, but for joining with us to share our work with nearly 50,000 students and hundreds of schools and communities that the IRT serves annually through our education programs.”

Each year, the IRT offers several opportunities for young people to explore the many aspects of theatre. The IRT’s multi-faceted Youth Education & Outreach Programs includes:

·    Student Matinees, selected matinee performances for all IRT productions for students and families, which also includes auxiliary educational activities and curricular support materials.
·    “Artists in the Classroom” program, which provides students with hands-on, highly interactive learning sessions led by professional artists.
·    YPiP – Young Playwrights in Process, a program that challenges junior and senior high school students to write original plays.
·    Summer Conservatory for Youth, designed to develop and train young talent in a supportive and creative environment.
·    Summer Quest, an introductory program for young children exploring creative dramatics, movement and storytelling.
·    The Bonderman National Youth Playwriting Development Workshop, aimed at fostering playwriting for youth audiences.

Indiana’s students are always at the forefront of everything the IRT does, including selecting its plays for the upcoming season. Students will have the opportunity to enjoy The Heavens Are Hung in Black, The Giver, A Christmas Carol, Love Letters, Romeo and Juliet, Pretty Fire, The Year of Magical Thinking, After Paul McCartney, Becky’s New Car and Around the World in 80 Days as part of this year’s season. The Heavens are Hung in Black opens the 2009-2010 season on Oct. 13.

The IRT education staff carefully aligns its plays with Indiana’s Academic Standards across the curriculum, supporting classroom instruction and student achievement through the art form of theatre. The ProLiance Energy Youth Education & Outreach Programs at the IRT provides Indiana educators and their students with an outstanding educational and theatrical experience – turning field trips into memorable field lessons.

“When I ask my students at the end of the school year what learning experiences have had the most profound impact on their education, they invariably bring up our field trips to live performances at the Indiana Repertory Theatre,” said Michael E. Armbruster, teacher, English Department, Arsenal Technical High School.

For more information call the IRT at 1.888.553.8109 or visit www.irtlive.com.