Sarasota News Leader

09/20/2013

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Sarasota News Leader September 20, 2013 Page 110 VAN WEZEL PARTNERING WITH BOOKER HIGH LAW ACADEMY The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, which has been a partner in education with the Sarasota County School Board for 16 years, has received a highly competitive education grant given to just 10 theatres across the country by The Broadway League, "the national trade association for the Broadway industry," the hall's staff has announced. The Broadway League is composed of more than 700 theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters and general managers in North America, a news release notes. The grant will enable the Van Wezel to collaborate with the new Booker High School Law Academy, "a program that offers students the The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is located opportunity to receive an educational founat 777 N. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. Photo dation in the legal profession and criminal by Arielle Scherr justice system at the local, state and national level," the release continues. The project will tion strategies [in] a law and criminal studies curriculum. We … look forward to exploring focus on Chicago: The Musical. the ethics and glamorization of today's legal "The main objective of the program is to con- system through the lens of the Broadway pronect Chicago: The Musical's provocative dra- duction Chicago: The Musical. I think this will matic themes and characters to contemporary be a truly innovative approach and model how issues in criminal law while reinforcing the arts organizations can partner with school students' knowledge and ability to participate programs to provide content-rich experiences in the 'theatrics' of the Academy's mock tri- [for] students." al proceedings," the release points out. The goal also is to stimulate "an appreciation of The project, which will begin in October, will the value of Broadway theatre," especially include five monthly workshops featuring among high school students "who may other- guest speakers with expertise in the legal syswise lack meaningful arts experiences," the tem, journalism and the arts; those speakers will facilitate discussions on topics such as release points out. "the celebrity criminal," the release points out. Kelli Bragdon, the Van Wezel's director of education and community engagement, said in After the March performance of Chicago: The the release, "This is a very exciting opportuni- Musical at the Van Wezel, a wrap-up roundtaty, to partner with Booker High School's Law ble discussion will be held and a project evalAcademy to provide innovative arts integra- uation will be conducted, the release says. %

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