After a three-month selection process, Mountain City Center for the Arts has awarded and named Broad Ford School as the newest selection for the Jumpstart Theatre program 2025/2026 season, and the third elementary school in the nationwide program. The Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF), in collaboration with New York City-based companies iTheatrics, Broadway Media, and Music Theatre International (MTI), created JumpStart Theatre, a three-year scalable program designed to build sustainable musical theatre programs in underserved schools that previously had none.
The Broad Ford School Theatre Program will be led by Mrs. Annalea Burgess, Mrs. Kendra Rinard, Mrs. Paula Browning, Mrs. Amy Egress, and supported by school Administrators Mrs. Rachel Wise and Ms. Laura Dahlen.
“I am so excited for the opportunity to bring more theatre to our school and put on our first school play! I can’t wait to see our Broad Ford Broadway Bobcats shine on stage. A huge thank you to Jumpstart and Mrs. Burgess for making this possible!” ~Mrs. Rachel Wise, Principal Broad Ford School.
The selection process included a formal written application, site visits to the schools, and interviews with administrators and the faculty who would be spearheading the program. Jenn Katona, President of the Educational Theatre Foundation and Executive Director of the Educational Theatre Association, says, “The JumpStart Theatre program is a transformative initiative that empowers schools to create sustainable theatre programs, fostering creativity, teamwork, and confidence in students who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Through Mountain City Center for the Arts, the Educational Theatre Foundation is delighted to provide resources for teachers and schools needed to ensure every student can experience the magic of theatre. Involving children in JumpStart Theatre programs creates spaces where every student belongs in their school community.” Each school will receive services and materials valued at $12,000 in the form of training, mentoring, and production support for a full-scale show for their community. Students will be involved in every aspect of the production, and Mountain City Center for the Arts, with the ETF, will also host an annual JumpStart Theatre showcase, bringing all the participants together to share their work. “We are thrilled to help build this incredible program at Broad Ford,” states MCCA CEO and owner Coty Forno. “The team at Broad Ford is incredible, and the students and community are going to thrive and grow from this unique experience.”
The selected schools make a three-year commitment, and teams of three or more teachers from each school will participate in professional development “boot camps” in a variety of areas led by a master teacher in the fall, winter, and spring. These workshops will provide training in all areas of musical theatre production, with the goal of empowering the teacher teams to guide the programs independently.
For questions about the JumpStart Theatre Program and application process, visit https://www.mymcca.com/jumpstarttheatre.
