Eight exceptional educators from schools and performing arts centers around the country will work one-on-one with Broadway greats at the 3rd Annual FREDDIE G BROADWAY EXPERIENCE July 12th - 15th.  Again this year, the event has been underwritten by Myrna and Freddie (“G”) Gershon, Chairman and CEO of leading theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI).  The weekend honors instructors and teachers who are working to make a difference for their students and communities through the process of staging musical theatre productions in their schools and educational theatre groups.  The teachers will attend special workshops led by director Jeff Calhoun, lighting designer Ken Billington, music director Kristen Blodgette, choreographer Lisa Stevens and scenic designer Tobin Ost.

“The weekend will fully immerse the teachers in the Broadway world and provide one-of-a-kind learning opportunities for the teachers to take back to their schools, students and communities,” says Gershon.  “These teachers do inspiring work with limited financial resources.  We want to give them the opportunity to live the Broadway experience and interact with top professionals to reward them for all they do to introduce the next generations to Broadway and musical theatre.”

Dozens of educators attending the 2012 Junior Theater Festival applied for the program, and eight total were selected (a full list follows).  Six teachers were selected as Freddie G Experience recipients on the basis of what the professional development opportunity would mean for them as teachers, as well as for their students and greater community.  Two additional educators were selected as winners of the Freddie G Broadway Junior Spirit Award and the 2012 Freddie G Broadway Junior Community Service award at the 2012 Junior Theater Festival.

The Junior Theater Festival is the world's largest musical theatre festival dedicated to educational musical theatre groups that work with elementary and middle school students.  The 2012 festival was sponsored by MTI, Disney Musicals and NBC’s “Smash” and was presented by the Junior Theater Project.

The eight educators will participate in dynamic, hands-on master classes with some of Broadway leading choreographers, directors, producers, actors and designers covering a wide range of topics including directing, choreography, music, design and marketing.  They will attend the Broadway show Peter and the Starcatcher and watch a developmental performance of Legally Blonde JR., go on backstage tours and experience Broadway theatre behind-the-scenes.

“I feel strongly about personally investing in these teachers by immersing them in experiential skills they can take home and share with students and other teachers,” added Gershon.  “It’s crucial we keep theatre alive in this country by working with both educators and children.  Myrna and I feel that America’s teachers should be honored and appreciated.  Our future is in their hands.”

Following are the eight teachers attending the 3rd Annual Freddie G Broadway Experience

• Dina Sarno Slawson - Academy of Theatre Arts and The ATA Theatre, Williamsville, NY – Freddie G Experience Award

• Kevin Quillinan – Riverside Children’s Theater, Vero Beach, FL – Freddie G Experience Award

• Becky Morris – Casper Children’s Theatre, Casper WY – Freddie G Experience Award

• Neeahtima Dowdy – Wood Acres School, Marietta, GA – Freddie G Experience Award

• Albert Carter – Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School for Innovation, Lynchburg, VA – Freddie G Experience Award

• Rhonda Cato – Magic Curtain Productions, Orlando, FL –Freddie G Experience Award

• Bakari King – University School of Nashville, Nashville, TN - Freddie G Broadway Junior Community Service Award

• Patsy Riley – Central Elementary School, Mayfield, KY – Freddie G Broadway Junior Spirit Award