First Stage
Press Release

First Stage announces $70,000 grant award from the Shubert Foundation

General operating support from the Shubert Foundation has been awarded to First Stage for twelve consecutive years.

By - Jun 24th, 2015 11:28 am

Milwaukee, WI – First Stage is proud to announce a grant award from the Shubert Foundation in the amount of $70,000. General operating support from the Shubert Foundation has been awarded to First Stage for twelve consecutive years, during that time funding has grown from $5,000 to $70,000.

Dedicated to sustaining and advancing live performing arts on a national level, the Foundation provides grants to organizations with established artistic and administrative performance, as well as proven fiscal responsibility. Among other factors, First Stage’s commitment to new play development, artistic achievement and contributions to the field of professional theatre, were considered.

“The support provided by the Shubert Foundation is vital to sustaining and advancing performing arts across the nation,” said First Stage Artistic Director Jeff Frank. “We are proud and thankful that the foundation recognizes our commitment to creating innovative new work for young people and the impact we are having on our community and in the field of theater for family audiences.”

First Stage’s upcoming season features four World Premiere productions including Spookley the Square Pumpkin, Just a Little Critter Musical, The Snow and Ella Enchanted. Family favorites like Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Holes and Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse complete the season. First Stage Young Company, the Academy’s award-winning training program for high school actors will present All’s Well That Ends Well and Antigone. First Stage Family Packages – any combination of three or more plays – are available now, while single tickets go on sale September 1, 2015. School group, workshop and Academy reservations are ongoing. More information is available at www.FirstStage.org.

About the Shubert Foundation

The Shubert Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to sustaining and advancing the live performing arts in the United States, with a particular emphasis on theatre and a secondary focus on dance. The Foundation’s Board of Directors believes that the most effective way to encourage the artistic process is by providing the general operating support that reinforces the structure that nurtures its development. Accordingly, The Foundation does not earmark its awards; all allocations are unrestricted.

About First Stage
Since 1987, First Stage touches hearts, engages minds, and transforms lives by creating extraordinary theater experiences for young people and families through professional theater productions that inspire, enlighten, and entertain; unparalleled Theater Academy training that fosters life skills through stage skills; and dynamic Theater in Education programs that promote active learning in our schools and community.  In 2012, First Stage was selected to participate in the Partners in Education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  First Stage is a member of TYA/USA, the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, the Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education, Theatre Wisconsin, and Milwaukee Arts Partners, and is a cornerstone member of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF).

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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