All school children should get to see CATS
“Every child should get to see CATS in live theater,” said Jim Crabtree, producing director of the Cumberland County Playhouse. “In our desire to make that possible, we have decided that any classroom that would like to come to any scheduled performance of CATS can do so for $11 per child,” said Crabtree. “One complimentary ticket is earned for every 20 tickets purchased. Up to four additional chaperone tickets can be purchased at the $11 rate,” said Crabtree.
“Our regular ticket prices for CATS are $14 for students and children and $28 for adults. Many people will think that is high until you compare costs. If you saw CATS on Broadway it would cost from $60 to $100 per ticket. The Broadway touring companies charge $40 to $60 per ticket and you have to travel to a major city which is also more expensive. Our $14 to $28 ticket price, in comparison, is the lowest ticket price we know of for CATS anywhere in the nation. So we hope that people will understand that our $11 special rate for school children to see CATS is a once in a lifetime bargain for this play,” he said.
For any teacher or principal who would like to pursue their students getting to see CATS at any scheduled performance through CATS last show date of Sept. 28, call the Cumberland County Box Office at 931-484-5000 and ask for Katie.
“And please hang on to your orange brochure that was sent to every school in the state the week school started,” said Crabtree. “It explains our regular school matinees at $5 per student,” said Crabtree. “If your school can’t find your orange School Matinee brochure, ask Katie and she will send another one to you,” he said.
There are also additional ways for schools throughout the state to get funds so that school classes can enjoy and learn from live theater and the arts.
“Many people aren’t familiar enough with the wonderful job that the Tennessee Arts Commission does,” said Crabtree. “The Tennessee Arts Commission’s ticket subsidy program was established with strong support from our former state legislators Rep. Shirley Duer and Senator Anna Belle O’Brien. That subsidy program provides funds statewide to help defray the cost of students attending live performances. Any teacher or principal can go onto their website and find out how to apply: http://www.arts.state.tn.us/grantprogram.htm.
“Now is the time to be looking into it,” he said. “The grant program run on a July 1 through June 30 fiscal year. They’ll soon be looking at grant applications for the 2003-2004 fiscal year, but won’t accept applications for anything until after Sept. 15. If they receive any applications before taht date, they’ll return them. Deadline for submission is 30 days prior to the selected event and they will send a check to the school up to 30 days after the school receives notification of approval.
Schools ranging from pre-school through 12th grade are eligible,” said Crabtree. During the first two weeks of school, as the Playhouse has done for 40 years, every school in the state received an orange tri-fold brochure about the $5 school matinees the Playhouse is offering this year: 42nd Street, the greatest Broadway tap musical of them all; A Sanders Family Christmas, the gospel/bluegrass musical set in 1941 in the Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in the mountains around Asheville, N.C. just before young Dennis is shipped out for boot camp in WWII; and Scrooge, a musical Christmas Carol based on Charles Dickens’ Scrooge. Each of those plays is made available to every class in the state at $5 per ticket which is half price.
“The Playhouse and our School Matinee Sponsor, Kroger Food and Drug Stores, make that possible,” said Crabtree. “We even have lesson plans for teachers based upon the live theater experience,” he said.
“When it comes CATS and our school program, things are a little more complicated and expensive because CATS is such a famous play, world-wide, and is so much more expensive to produce than any play we have ever done,” said Crabtree. “Still is it so important that every school child get the opportunity. CATS is an uplifting, joyous play that reminds us to respect all “cats”—even lonely, stray outsiders. It is a major part of the history of theater in the world,” said Crabtree.
“There are all kinds of ways to help Tennessee school children live and learn the live theater experience,” said Crabtree. “We hope that interested parents, teachers, and principals will go online to the site address provided above and do what you can for the children of your community,” he said. “Also, for individuals and families, as well as schools in any community who are not currently receiving our Spotlight (which publishes our play schedule four times a year), we hope you will call and ask to be put on our mailing list?931-484-5000 or email [email protected],” said Crabtree.