Theatre Development Fund, Broadway's Hell's Kitchen, and the New York City Public School Arts Office have partnered on a new initiative that will give all graduating seniors from public and charter schools in NYC free TDF memberships. The move will give graduates access to low-cost theatre tickets on Broadway and at theatres across NYC. Students will be able to sign up for the program beginning in May on a date to be announced.
Every student who participates in the program will also be entered to win a free ticket to see Hell's Kitchen, the Alicia Keys musical currently in previews at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway. The winning student will attend a special evening performance June 26. The performance will be preceded by a graduation party by the red steps of TDF's TKTS booth in Duffy Square.
“At TDF we believe that it is the birthright of every New Yorker to be able to attend the performing arts,” says TDF Executive Director Deeksha Gaur in a statement. “We have served over 150,000 students through our education programs, and now, we hope to be a part of the lives of New York’s young people as they enter adulthood. We know that our lives are richer for participating in the arts, and we are excited to work with our incredible partners to cultivate these vibrant, life-changing relationships for the next generation of audience.”
“We are hugely inspired to be partnering with TDF and the New York City Public School Arts Office to bring this inaugural gift of theatre to all of these deserving high school graduating seniors,” adds Hell’s Kitchen Executive Producer Aaron Lustbader. “Hell’s Kitchen brings to the stage the story of a 17-year-old native New Yorker at the beginning of her dreams—and is a quintessentially New York story. We can’t wait to experience an entire theatre full of New York seniors who will be able to see a version of themselves and their stories on a Broadway stage.”
Inspired by 15-time Grammy winner Keys' life, Hell's Kitchen centers on 17-year-old Ali and her mother, sharing a cramped apartment near Times Square. Ali wants to live out her NYC dream, but Mom is scared her daughter will repeat her own mistakes. The musical, opening April 20, features a score of Keys' chart-topping hits along with new tunes, and a book by Kristoffer Diaz. The cast is led by Shoshana Bean (Wicked) as Jersey, Brandon Victor Dixon (Hamilton) as Davis, Kecia Lewis (Ain't Misbehavin') as Miss Liza Jane, Chris Lee (Hamilton) as Knuck, and Maleah Joi Moon as Ali. Michael Greif is at the helm.
