Rosie's Broadway Kids

Rosie’s Broadway Kids is a non-profit arts education organization started by actress and comedian Rosie O’Donnell. RBKids was founded in 2003 and continually provides training in dance, music, and drama for students attending New York City public schools.

Mission

Rosie's Broadway Kids is an arts education organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children through the arts.Using professional teaching artists, Rosie's Broadway Kids offers classes in dance and music and a professional theater experience for children who might otherwise not have the opportunity.Its goal is to inspire excellence, motivate learning, uplift the human spirit, and to instill a lifelong appreciation of the arts.

Programs

PS Broadway

PS Broadway is the RBKids in-school program for NYC public school fifth-graders. During the year, RBKids staff members teach dance and music as part of a 15-week program that serves 22 schools throughout Manhattan. As part of this program, every class of students takes a free trip to see a Broadway musical and then participates in a question-and-answer session with performers, directors, conductors, and members of the production’s technical staff. Each semester this program is wrapped up with a school assembly where the kids can perform for their peers, parents, and teachers.

ACTE II (A Commitment to Excellence)

ACTE II is Rosie’s Broadway Kids scholarship program in which outstanding graduates of PS Broadway get the opportunity to receive further training in free after-school classes in ballet, tap, jazz, voice, and drama. Part of ACTE II is the Summer Intensive: an all-day, Monday through Friday summer program that provides group classes and private lessons, preparing the students for a final performance for family, friends, and industry professionals.

potlight on Fitness

Developed in collaboration with a school-based health care program and the NYC Department of Education, Spotlight on Fitness (SoFit) is a physical education program that fulfills state and local curriculum requirements in both the arts and physical education.

A+

The newest initiative of RBKids, A+ (Arts-Plus) provides supplementary tools to enhance the academic achievement of the ACTE II students at the secondary level. This program includes after-school tutoring, High School admission guidance, private coaching and preparation for performing arts school auditions (both high school and collegiate), and professional PSAT and SAT preparatory classes. So far, with the individual coaching and assistance from RBKids, 100% of the 8th grade students were placed in competitive New York City performing arts high schools for the past two years.

History

In April 2003, Rosie’s Broadway Kids was founded by Rosie O’Donnell, Kelli O’Donnell, and RBKids Artistic Director, Lori Klinger. Since introducing the program to its first school in Manhattan, RBKids has expanded to serve over 5,000 students at 22 schools in Harlem, Midtown West, Chelsea, Lower East Side, East Village, Chinatown, and Brooklyn.The ACTE II program has also expanded, with new 5th grade students added annually from PS Broadway classes to a new “team” of students each year. Currently ACTE II has four teams: Excel, Broadway, Applause, and Bravo.

Appearances

Off-Broadway

"Brundibar", 5/7/06 – 5/21/06

Television

"The Martha Stewart Show", 10/31/07

"The View", 12/21/06

Benefit Performances

Gilda’s Club Benefit, 5/17/07, 5/15/08

National Foundation for Facial Reconstruction Gala, 3/12/07

Career Transition for Dancers Gala, 10/23/06

Northside Center for Child Development Gala, 5/30/06

References

[http://www.rosiesbroadwaykids.org Rosie's Broadway Kids Homepage] , "rosiesbroadwaykids.org"

Stasio, Marilyn (May 7, 2006). [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117930435.html?categoryid=33&cs=1 Brundibar] . Variety (magazine).

External links

* [http://www.rosiesbroadwaykids.org Official Site]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/rosiesbroadwaykids Rosie's Broadway Kids] on YouTube
* [http://rosiesbroadwaykids.blogspot.com Rosie's Broadway Kids Blog]