broadwaybuddies
Providing a unique opportunity for underserved youth in the Bluegrass community to be introduced to professional Broadway theater at the Opera House is the goal of Broadway Buddies. The program, which was first launched last year, seeks to offer complimentary tickets for a select performance from the Broadway Live series to community youth groups and their chaperones, in addition to backstage theater tours and and an introduction to theater etiquette.
Opera House Fund Board member, and long-time Broadway Live subscriber, Linda Carey inspired this initiative through her donation of her own tickets last year, to the production of Shrek, The Musical. Other subscribers were invited to donate their tickets or purchase additional tickets for the cause. Corporate sponsors also stepped up to offer financial support to buy Broadway Buddy T-shirts for the students to wear to the performance, so they could be identified as special guests at the Opera House.
Last year’s campaign awarded 66 tickets to Shrek, The Musical, targeting middle-school students and serving six organizations, including 4Kids, Chrysalis House, Big Brothers, Sunshine Children’s Services, University of Kentucky Placing Leaders Among Youth and Leestown At Risk Program.
Group leader Carole Gullett from 4Kids said, “Light and life now live in the eyes of several new kids because of the Shrek experience. Not only was the message of the play important, it was the whole experience of being in the theater with the sneak-peek backstage and dressing room tour. They became someone special, even if just for a few nights.”
The 2012-2013 Broadway Buddies program will target high school students, with complimentary tickets to see Catch Me If You Can, the new musical based on the movie of the same title.
Opera House Program Director Luanne Franklin is quick to point out that the goal of Broadway Buddies extends beyond free tickets to a Broadway show.
“We give careful thought to select a show that has a relevant message to our young people. We also want our Broadway Buddies to gain a deeper understanding about the art of theater, careers in theater and to learn an appreciation and respect for artists and Lexington’s historic venue.” With those objectives in mind, the participants are offered a backstage tour of the theater, along with study guides when available, and are required to attend a theater etiquette class prior to attending the production. The Opera House has extended an invitation to Frank Abagnale, whose life story inspired the movie and the musical Catch Me If You Can, to attend the opening night performance. If he is able to visit Lexington, the 2013 class of Broadway Buddies will also be special guests for a Q&A with Abagnale following the performance.
“We are anxious to see the Broadway Buddies program grow,” Franklin said. “We began soliciting donations in late October and have already matched last year’s numbers. We will continue to accept donations through December, with the production scheduled for Jan. 31, and we are hoping to partner with a local business to provide the T-shirts again this year. Broadway Buddies is presented through Broadway Live with the Opera House Fund, and donations are tax deductible. Contributors are acknowledged through a special program insert in the Broadway Live playbill for Catch Me If You Can.
Broadway Live at the Opera House is currently seeking applications from area youth groups to participate in the Broadway Buddies program. Youth must be between the ages of 14 and 18 years old; transportation and adult supervision is required. The pre-production backstage tour and etiquette class is scheduled for the evening of Jan. 24, followed by the opening night performance of Catch Me If You Can on Jan. 31. Additional information is available at www.lexingtonoperahouse.com, and the deadline for application is Dec. 21. Selected organizations will be notified by Jan. 4.