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Setting the stage
Preparando el escenario

Setting the stage

Story by Gregg McQueen


Gloria and Emilio Estefan, creators of Get on Your Feet, with a young fan.
Gloria and Emilio Estefan, creators of Get on Your Feet, with a young fan.

Long before the award-winning musical, they were bringing their own Hamiltons to Broadway.‎

For the past decade, low-income families have been provided affordable and unprecedented access to Broadway shows, thanks to an innovative program that seeks to instill a love of theater and cultivate audience members within underserved communities.

Launched in 2005 by The Broadway League, the Family First Nights program places those who might otherwise miss out on high-end performances front and center in some of the most vaunted theaters of the Great White Way – and also offers unique opportunities to engage cast and crew members.

“The purpose is to send families who normally wouldn’t be able to afford Broadway shows due to financial constraints,” said Rachel Reiner, Senior Manager of Audience Engagement for The Broadway League.

Participating families can purchase tickets for $10 apiece to three different Broadway musicals in a year.

In 2015, Family First Nights sent more than 300 people to shows including Wicked, Aladdin, Memphis and Matilda.

Attendees also engage in post-performance discussions and get to meet the cast.

Families are selected by social services organizations partnering with The Broadway League.

While several programs exist to send students to Broadway on discounted tickets, The

Broadway League arranges for families to attend together.

“It’s an amazing experience,” said Harlem resident Cynthia Haynes, whose family attended shows including Matilda and Wicked in last year. “For many folks, they wouldn’t be able to afford a Broadway show except for this program.”

In 2015, Family First Nights sent more than 300 people to shows.
In 2015, Family First Nights sent more than 300 people to shows.

By sending families to a trio of shows, rather than hosting a one-shot deal, Family First Nights allows people to make live theater part of their cultural heritage and family routine, Reiner said.

“By making it a repeated experience, it becomes ingrained into the family lexicon,” she remarked. “And getting young people to a show could help inspire students with a career path.”

Haynes said her nine-year-daughter Courtney, a student at East Harlem’s Amber Charter School, is enamored by theater.

“She loves singing, acting, you name it,” remarked Haynes. “It’s her dream to be a performer. I was watching the faces of my children during the shows, and they were completely lit up the entire time.”

The Broadway League secures top seats for participants, either in the orchestra or front mezzanine.

“We really want the families to feel welcome from the moment they walk in the door,” said Reiner. “They’re not in the last row of the balcony.”

Currently, The Broadway League sponsors the program with organizations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.

In Northern Manhattan, it is conducted in partnership with several organizations including Community Association of Progressive Dominicans (ACDP), Amber Charter School Parent Association, Broadway Housing Communities and the Harlem Children’s Zone in Manhattan.

"It's an amazing experience," said Cynthia Haynes.
“It’s an amazing experience,” said Cynthia Haynes.

“Our social service partners hear from their families that parents don’t always have the time and opportunity to do things with their kids,” commented Reiner. “It’s really important to them that we help make that happen.”

Soledad Hiciano, ACDP’s Executive Director, said the program had proven exceedingly popular with member families.

One of the 2015 shows visited.
One of the 2015 shows visited.

“The response has always been overwhelmingly positive,” she observed. “They enjoy the experience, they learn from it. That they do it together as a family makes it richer, especially as many come from immigrant, working class backgrounds that are not necessarily reflective of your typical Broadway audience.”

Family First Nights is supported by private donations and City Council funding.

"They enjoy the experience, they learn from it,” said Soledad Hiciano, ACDP's Executive Director.
“They enjoy the experience, they learn from it,” said Soledad Hiciano, ACDP’s Executive Director.

The program once existed in the Bronx and Staten Island, though it is currently on hold for lack of sufficient funding‎. Administrators said they are looking forward to reinstating them.

“We’ve had the programs in those boroughs before, and hopefully will again,” Reiner said.

Since its inception, Family First Nights has been expanded to 17 other cities.

There are “talkback” sessions with cast and crew members after the shows; here, a 2013 Q and A at Cinderella.
There are “talkback” sessions with cast and crew members after the shows; here, a 2013 Q and A at Cinderella.

The Haynes family joined others from Northern Manhattan at a performance of Wicked on December 1, followed by a meet-and-greet with the cast.

It was as memorable as it was inspiring.

"The purpose is to send families who normally wouldn't be able to afford Broadway," said The League’s Rachel Reiner.
“The purpose is to send families who normally wouldn’t be able to afford Broadway,” said The League’s Rachel Reiner.

“One of the cast members was telling the kids not to give up on their dreams,” recalled Haynes. “I know that message will stick with my daughter.”

For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/1ZMgQAs.

Preparando el escenario

Historia por Gregg McQueen


"The purpose is to send families who normally wouldn't be able to afford Broadway," said The League’s Rachel Reiner.
“El propósito es enviar a familias que normalmente no podrían pagar los espectáculos de Broadway”, dijo Rachel Reiner, de la Liga de Broadway.

Mucho antes del galardonado musical, ellos ya traían a sus Hamilton a Broadway.

Durante la última década, familias de bajos ingresos recibieron acceso asequible y sin precedentes a los espectáculos de Broadway, gracias a un innovador programa que busca inculcar el amor por el teatro y cultivar miembros de la audiencia en de las comunidades marginadas.

Lanzado en 2005 por la Liga de Broadway, el programa Family First Nights coloca al frente y al centro a los que de otro modo podrían perderse las lujosas actuaciones en algunos de los teatros más cacareados de la Great White Way, y también ofrece oportunidades únicas para convivir con el elenco y los miembros del equipo.

“El propósito es enviar a familias que normalmente no podrían pagar los espectáculos de Broadway debido a limitaciones financieras”, dijo Rachel Reiner, gerente senior de compromiso con la audiencia de la Liga de Broadway.

Las familias participantes pueden comprar boletos por $10 dólares cada uno para tres diferentes musicales de Broadway en un año.

En 2015, Family First Nights envió a más de 300 personas a los espectáculos incluyendo: WickedAladdinMemphis y Matilda.

There are “talkback” sessions with cast and crew members after the shows; here, a 2013 Q and A at Cinderella.
Hay sesiones de “talkback” posteriores a la presentación; aquí, un sesión de 2013 después de la producción Cenicienta.

Los asistentes también se involucran en discusiones posteriores a la presentación y conocen a los actores.

Las familias son seleccionadas por las organizaciones de servicios sociales que colaboran con La Liga de Broadway.

"They enjoy the experience, they learn from it,” said Soledad Hiciano, ACDP's Executive Director.
“Ellos disfrutan de la experiencia, aprenden de ella”, dijo Soledad Hiciano, directora ejecutiva de ACDP.

Si bien existen varios programas para enviar a los estudiantes a Broadway con boletos de descuento, La Liga de Broadway arregla que las familias asistan juntas.

“Es una experiencia increíble”, dijo la residente de Harlem Cynthia Haynes, cuya familia asistió a diversos espectáculos incluyendo Matilda y Wicked el año pasado. “Muchas personas no podrían pagar un espectáculo de Broadway, excepto por este programa”.

Enviar a las familias a un trío de espectáculos, en lugar de organizar un trato individual, Family First Nights permite que la gente haga del teatro en vivo parte de su herencia cultural y de la rutina familiar, dijo Reiner.

“Convirtiéndola en una experiencia repetida, se arraiga en el léxico familiar”, comentó. “Y llevar a los jóvenes a un espectáculo podría ayudar a inspirarlos con una carrera”.

Haynes dijo que su hija Courtney, de nueve años de edad y estudiante en la escuela chárter Amber de East Harlem, está enamorada del teatro.

One of the 2015 shows visited.
Uno de los espectáculos de 2015.

“Le encanta cantar, actuar, lo que sea”, comentó Haynes. “Es su sueño ser artista. Yo miraba las caras de mis hijos durante los espectáculos y estaban completamente iluminadas, todo el tiempo”.

"It's an amazing experience," said Cynthia Haynes.
“Es una experiencia increíble”, dijo Cynthia Haynes.

La Liga de Broadway asegura los mejores asientos para los participantes, ya sea en la orquesta o el mezzanine frontal.

“Realmente queremos que las familias se sientan bienvenidas desde el momento en que entran por la puerta”, dijo Reiner. “No están en la última fila del balcón”.

Actualmente, La Liga de Broadway patrocina el programa con organizaciones en Manhattan, Brooklyn y Queens.

En el norte de Manhattan se lleva a cabo en colaboración con varias organizaciones, entre ellas la Asociación Comunitaria de Dominicanos Progresistas (ACDP por sus siglas en inglés), la Asociación de Padres de la escuela charter Amber, Broadway Housing Communities y la Zona Infantil de Harlem en Manhattan.

In 2015, Family First Nights sent more than 300 people to shows.
En 2015, Family First Nights envió a más de 300 personas a los espectáculos.

“Nuestros socios de servicios sociales escuchan de sus familias que los padres no siempre tienen el tiempo ni la oportunidad de hacer cosas con sus hijos”, comentó Reiner. “Es muy importante para ellos que nosotros les ayudemos a que esto suceda”.

Soledad Hiciano, directora ejecutiva de ACDP, dijo que el programa demostró ser muy popular entre las familias miembro.

“La respuesta siempre ha sido abrumadoramente positiva”, observó. “Ellos disfrutan de la experiencia, aprenden de ella. Que lo hagan juntos como familia hace que sea más rica, sobre todo porque muchos vienen de orígenes inmigrantes, familias de clase trabajadora que no necesariamente son un reflejo de su audiencia típica de Broadway”.

Family First Nights es apoyado por donaciones privadas y financiamiento del Ayuntamiento.

Gloria and Emilio Estefan, creators of Get on Your Feet, with a young fan.
Gloria and Emilio Estefan, creadores de la producción Get on Your Feet, con una joven fanática.

El programa alguna vez existió en el Bronx y Staten Island. Aunque se encuentra actualmente suspendido debido al financiamiento, los administradores dijeron que están esperando su restablecimiento.
“Hemos tenido los programas en esos condados antes y espero que suceda de nuevo”, dijo Reiner.

Desde su creación, Family First Nights se ha ampliado a otras 17 ciudades.

La familia Haynes se unió a otros del Norte de Manhattan en una presentación de Wicked el 1 de diciembre, seguido de un meet-and- greet con el elenco.

Fue tan memorable como inspirador.

“Uno de los miembros del reparto les decía a los niños que no renunciaran a sus sueños”, recordó Haynes. “Yo sé que ese mensaje se quedará con mi hija”.

Para mas informacion, favor visite http://bit.ly/1ZMgQAs.

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