
When students experience quality theatre education, it becomes a catalyst for real transformation. They grow in confidence, learn to resolve conflicts, strengthen their literacy skills, and build emotional intelligence—all while forming deeper bonds with their school and community. The positive impact isn’t just immediate; it shapes who they become and resonates throughout their lives.
As the charitable arm of the Educational Theatre Association, which is home to the International Thespian Society, the Educational Theatre Foundation is dedicated to expanding access to theatre education nationwide. Through targeted grants, scholarships, and field research, the Foundation empowers students everywhere to experience the transformative power of theatre.
Learn more about ETF’s work to achieve its mission.
Jay Gerlach
Interim President
Janie Slavens
Interim Executive Vice President
Cheyenne Asahina
Coordinator
The Educational Theatre Foundation is supported by the full staff of the Educational Theatre Association. View all EdTA Staff.
ETF’s National Board of Trustees is a group of committed volunteers, patrons, and leaders. The mission of the board is to support ETF’s work by expanding its philanthropic potential, raising its profile, and connecting it to the entertainment industry and community nationally and internationally.

Disney Parks Live Entertainment
Vice President, Disney Parks Live Entertainment
Anaheim, CA

McKinsey & Company
Head of Marketing and Communications, Enterprise Agility
San Francisco, CA

Concord Theatricals
Senior Vice President, Client Relations & Community Engagement
New York, NY

Educator, Former Broadway Licensing Company Owner
New York, NY

AKA
Head of Partnerships and Community Engagement
New York, NY

Lively McCabe Entertainment
Founder & CEO
Ridgewood, NJ

Playbill
Vice President, Chief Digital Officer
New York, NY

Concord Theatricals
VP, Amateur Licensing
New York, NY

EdTA Board of Directors
Past President
Claremont, CA

EdTA Board of Directors
President
Warner Robins, GA

Evoke Collaborative
Founder
New York, NY

Playwright and Screenwriter
Los Angeles, CA

Emerging Markets, Inc.
President
Kresge Foundation
Presidential Scholar
Los Angeles, CA

Actor
Los Angeles, CA

Broadway Licensing
Director of Amateur Play Licensing
New York, NY
Princess Grace Foundation-USA
President & CEO
New York, NY

Apples and Oranges Arts and IT Mentors
Co-Founder
New York, NY

iTheatrics
Founder & CEO
New York, NY

Actor
New York, NY

Music Theatre International
COO, Director of Education & Development
New York, NY

Senior Communications Executive
Los Angeles, CA

Broadway Media
President & Founder
Sacramento, CA

Disney Theatrical Group
Director of Theatrical Licensing
New York, NY

Production Stage Manager and Producer
New York, NY

Hilton
Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Luxury Brands
McLean, VA

Stage Write Software
Creator & Founder
Open Jar Studios
President
New York, NY
Members of the Educational Theatre Foundation’s Honorary Board include luminaries in theatre, entertainment, business, and other professions who passionately support access to school theatre and support the Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF) financially or through endorsements and special events.

Award-winning actor and playwright

EGOT award-winning actor and producer

Music Theatre International
Co-Chairman

Entertainment Executive

Zadan/Meron Productions
Producer

Award-winning composer and lyricist

Award-winning operatic soprano
We are pleased to acknowledge the following donors for their generosity and support of the Educational Theatre Foundation in 2022 to date:
Nancy & Ken Duffy
Gai Laing Jones & Wendell Jones
Amy Bennett Foundation
Kaplan Family Foundation
Marion Combs & Dr. Diana Combs
Ken Davenport
Danny StrongT
John Abodeely
The Allstate Foundation
Lydia Diamond
Fullerton Union High School
Dean Pitchford & Michael Mealiffe
Pleasant Valley High School
Lori Valentine
Hans Weichart
Elizabeth Young
Tony Adams
Allison Dolan
Mimi Miller
Mary SchuttlerT
Cammy BihlT
Taylor DavisT
Aaron Deakins
Maryann Fiala
Ruth Hemming
The Kirkpatrick Family
George Paine
Halcyon Person
Gracy & Todd Robinson
Christie Sasso
Dennis Steckley
Corey WarrenT
Angel Wuellner
Jeffrey Blanchfield
Maria Frias-Lopez
Christina GomoljakT
Richard & Joanne Hoffman
Shawn Melamed
Kimberly Messer
George Paine
Abbott Laboratories
Apple, Inc.
The Bank of America Charistable Foundation, Inc.
Caterpillar Foundation
KeyBank Foundation
Magid Glove and Safety
Manheim, Inc.
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLC
Pella Rolscreen Entertainment
Prudent Financial, Inc.
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Walt Disney Company Foundation
Weingart Foundation
Eleanora C.U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
The Diller-Von Furstenberg Family Foundation
The Ford Foundation
Robert Greenblatt
Bequest of Melba Day Sparks Henning (1993)
The Lehere-Seller Family Fund
The H.B., E.W., and F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank and Narley L. Haley, Co-Trustees
NBC/Universal
Ohio Arts Council
Oregon Thespians
Dean Pitchford & Michael Mealiffe
The Shubert Foundation
The Wunderkinder Foundation
T denotes Thespian alumni and member of Club 29, the International Thespian Society alumni annual giving program.
We greatly appreciate each gift given in support of the Educational Theatre Foundation, and we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this listing. Please notify us of any inaccuracies or omissions by contacting the Educational Theatre Foundation at edtfoundation@edtf.org