Educational Theatre Foundation presents:
A Craig Zadan Legacy Program
Building healthy communities through theatre education, one district at a time
: A Craig Zadan Legacy Program, is the ETF’s national initiative designed to strengthen, sustain, and expand access to theatre education at the district level.
Storyline is designed to address one of the most serious challenges facing young people today: the epidemic of loneliness. This brand new-program aims to foster a sense of belonging, connection, and shared purpose for our K-12 students, using school-based theatre as a community-centered solution.
This new initiative applies a place-based approach, incorporating multi-year planning, strong district involvement, teacher development, and lasting community partnerships. Connecting schools, local cultural organizations, parents and caregivers, and community groups, Storyline builds a clear K-12 theatre education pathway rooted in equity and long-term sustainability. This collaborative network will set each district up for long-term success – when students are engaged in school theatre, the whole community benefits.
Supported by a generous grant from The Kresge Foundation, Storyline is being advised by Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, former Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts and Elwood Hopkins, ETF board trustee and Kresge Fellow.
Educational Theatre Foundation is currently researching the Storyline program with Detroit Public Schools and JumpStart Theatre Michigan, with plans to extend to other communities in future years.