STANDING OVATION GRANT

from Broadway Licensing 2022-23 Catalog

ONE-ACT COMEDIES

Standing Ovation Grant 2022

BROADWAY LICENSING IN THE COMMUNITY

In 2022, Broadway Licensing recognized an exceptional educational theater program that supported our massive transformative purpose to “Make Everyone a Theatre Person” with a $5,000 grant. Congratulations to our recipient, Mission San Jose Universal Performers!

WINNERS: MISSION SAN JOSE UNIVERSAL PERFORMERS

Universal Performers is a student-run group that thrives on the dedication and ingenuity of its passionate members . After the drama program and most choir classes were cut at their STEM-focused school, Mission San Jose’s student artists found a way to continue making theatre . Despite having no funding or teacher oversight, Universal Performers still produces full-length productions with outdoor rehearsals, thrifted costumes, tarp backdrops, fl ashlights, and garden lamps. Universal Performers’ work also allows the student body to see people of color and queer stories represented on stage .

Additional congratulations to our four runners-up, who also received $1,000 for their eff orts in making everyone a theatre person.

BONNABEL HIGH SCHOOL / BRUIN THEATRE

“Unfortunately, late September 2021, Hurricane Ida completely destroyed our theatre space that we had been building, improving, and renovating for thirteen years. We weren’t allowed to move into the our empty theatre space until December but when we did, my students and I worked hard to fi nd any means to build a set and install stage lighting and produce a one night performance of ‘Almost, Maine’.”

DESERT OASIS HIGH SCHOOL / DIAMONDBACK DRAMATICS

“We consider our program to be a part of a renaissance of the current times, and as such, we are challenging long-held beliefs and norms in the industry and making changes in the name of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Our most recent production of ‘The Three Musketeers’ was completely gender-fl ipped—all female roles were played male, and male roles female.”

EASTBROOK HIGH SCHOOL / PANTHER THEATER

“In a recent survey of our high school seniors, we found that more than 70% of our students were involved in theatre in some way. Our art classes create set pieces and props. Diff erent clubs sell concessions at our shows. Our building structures students create our signifi cant builds, putting their set construction skills into real-life projects. And our favorite event is “Popup Theater,” when we create hallway chaos by singing show tunes during school passing periods.”

LOS ANGELES MUSIC AND ART SCHOOL

“We are located in the heart of East LA, an area deeply impacted by high crime rates (74% higher than the national average), low graduation rates (5% college), and one of the worst infection rates of COVID-19 in the nation during the peak of the pandemic. Our program seeks to off er equitable and aff ordable access to high quality musical theatre education, experience and performance opportunities in a supportive environment for students who lack safe and egalitarian access to arts instruction.”