Dallas Summer Musicals and Dallas ISD announce groundbreaking district-wide STEAM education program themed to Broadway smash HAMILTON
Posted on October 5th, 2021
Dallas Summer Musicals and Dallas ISD announce groundbreaking district-wide STEAM education program themed to Broadway smash HAMILTON
3,400 Dallas ISD theatre students and teachers to participate in bespoke in-classroom STEAM-based curriculum and attend a dedicated performance of HAMILTON during its Dallas engagement
Underwriting provided by the T.D. Jakes Foundation, Frito-Lay, Moody Foundation, Meadows Foundation, and others
Dallas, TX (October 4, 2021) – Dallas Summer Musicals, Dallas Independent School District and a consortium of generous underwriters announced today a district-wide STEAM education program themed around the Broadway musical HAMILTON.
Over the course of multiple weeks, 3,400 theatre students and teachers from 25 Dallas ISD High Schools will participate in specially created curriculum that relates to the HAMILTON production. The lesson plan culminates with all the participating students and teachers attending a full performance of HAMILTON at the Music Hall at Fair Park, where the show will play from November 16 through December 5, 2021.
The program was borne of a growing partnership between DSM and Dallas ISD, which strives to provide students access to “the spirit of Broadway” through a wide array of programs and initiatives.
“We fundamentally believe that theatre education programs can be transformative for students, and not just those that hope to pursue acting. Theatre work teaches collaboration, empathy, logic, and a myriad of other life and career skills,” said Ken Novice, DSM President. “DSM takes great pride in its education programs and in the consortium of partners we have brought together to make this particular program happen.”
“As educators know, and research has repeatedly confirmed, the performing arts have an amazing potential to reach students in ways that make a lasting impact on their lives,” said Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa. “We are fortunate and grateful for generous partners such as Dallas Summer Musicals and the T.D. Jakes Foundation whose support is underwriting this project. In-class technical theatre instruction followed by the opportunity to view an award-winning performance of this caliber promises to make this experience one our students will long remember.”
The T.D. Jakes Foundation, a Dallas-based nonprofit that focuses on exposing young people in underserved communities to STEAM education and careers, will furnish access to the STEAM curriculum, provided and developed by iD Tech, the world leader in youth STEM education, as an extension of the foundation’s virtual STEAM Academy and has provided funding for this project, with the support of Frito-Lay.
The curriculum was developed to prepare students for college and 21-century careers and includes a sequence of lesson plans that will take students from conception to designing a professional marketing strategy for HAMILTON, honing creative and technical skills on industry-leading tools.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to support this program,” said Chairman T.D. Jakes, founder of his eponymous foundation. “I’ve always believed that the arts can serve as a conduit to STEM careers. We are grateful that, with the help of iD Tech and funding through Frito-Lay, we are able to expose children from underrepresented communities to the majesty of performing arts while also providing them with the tools and skills to succeed in an increasingly digital world.”
Inspired by the opportunity to create collective impact in serving the youth of our community, The Moody Foundation and The Meadows Foundation have also made significant contributions to underwrite this project. Funding from The Meadows Foundation honors Eloise Meadows Rouse, a former schoolteacher and a long-time member of DSM’s board of trustees.
Additional project funding is being provided by The Addy Foundation, The Eugene McDermott Foundation, Fichtenbaum Charitable Trust, Dallas Independent School District, the Holloway Family Foundation, H-E-B/Central Market, Dallas Education Foundation, and the DSM Women’s Ensemble and the Give A Kid A Seat campaign.
About Dallas Summer Musicals:
Since 1941, the non-profit Dallas Summer Musicals Inc. (DSM) has presented the Best of Broadway to North Texas audiences. Located in the historic Music Hall at Fair Park, DSM promotes excellence in live musical theatre with year-round performances for diverse audiences of all ages, impacting the lives of children and families through education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of North Texas and the Southwest Region.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to offer affordable ticket prices, preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and develop impactful community programs.
DSM gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors, annual fund donors and corporate partners Germania Insurance, American Airlines, Texas Instruments, The Dallas Morning News, and WFAA TV Channel 8. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214-421-5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.
About Dallas ISD
The Dallas Independent School District sits in the heart of a large, diverse and dynamic region with a metropolitan population of 6.5 million people in the 12 counties in North Central Texas. Dallas ISD comprises 384 square miles and encompasses the cities of Dallas, Cockrell Hill, Seagoville, Addison, Wilmer, Hutchins and parts of Carrollton, DeSoto, Duncanville, Farmers Branch, Garland, Highland Park, Lancaster, Mesquite, Balch Springs, and Combine. The district is the second-largest public school district in the state and the 16th-largest in the nation.
We are proud of our award-winning schools, outstanding teachers and staff, committed parents and volunteers who comprise the dedicated team that serves approximately 145,000 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, in 230 schools, served by 22,000 dedicated professionals.
About the T.D. Jakes Foundation
The T.D. Jakes Foundation is committed to building bridges to opportunity in the United States and around the world. For 40 years, T.D. Jakes has connected diverse communities across socio-economic divides. With the launch of his eponymous foundation, Chairman Jakes is harnessing decades of resources and connections to prepare people for success in the 21st-century workforce, lift underserved populations and connect corporations to new, highly skilled pools of talent amid increasing global competition. For more information, visit: www.tdjfoundation.org.
About The Moody Foundation
The Moody Foundation was established by W.L. Moody Jr. and Libbie Shearn Moody in 1942 to share their good fortune and make a difference in the lives of the people of Texas. Since then, the Foundation has pledged and awarded more than $1.8 billion in grants throughout the state to organizations that have educated, healed, nurtured and inspired generations of Texans. The Moody Foundation continues with a board of three trustees: Frances Moody-Dahlberg, Ross Moody and Elle Moody. Learn more at www.MoodyF.org and follow the Foundation on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
About The Meadows Foundation
Established in 1948 by Algur H. and Virginia Meadows, The Meadows Foundation exists to assist the people and institutions of Texas improve the quality and circumstances of life for themselves and future generations. The Foundation has disbursed more than $1.29 billion to 3,600 organizations serving Texas. Grants are awarded for programs in arts and culture, civic and public affairs, education, health, human services, and initiatives in the environment, mental health, and public education.
About iD Tech
iD Tech is the world leader in STEM education where kids and teens learn from the best. With live learning and mentorship from experienced instructors, iD Tech converts real-world interests into lasting STEM careers. Curriculum developed in partnership with professors from top universities and tech entrepreneurs covers topics like coding, 3D modeling, artificial intelligence, robotics, game design, and entrepreneurship. Family-founded 22 years ago, iD Tech is one of the first purpose-driven companies to come out of Silicon Valley, granting life-changing educational experiences to underrepresented communities. In 2021, iD Tech was acquired by Emeritus, the global leader in making high-quality education accessible and affordable to adults, companies, and governments, in order to facilitate a lasting STEM pipeline to prepare individuals of all ages to succeed in the workforce. For more information, visit www.iDTech.com.
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