Building on the Early Success of the NYC program, #EduHam, Students in Select Cities Including Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. Will Have the Opportunity to Benefit from the Innovative Educational Partnership Between The Rockefeller Foundation, HAMILTON and The Gilder Lehrman Institute
NEW YORK—The Rockefeller Foundation President Judith Rodin, alongside HAMILTON creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, announced the Foundation’s commitment to fund a $6 million national expansion of its educational partnership that provides inner city students with tickets to the Tony-award winning show. The $6 million commitment to the #EduHam program will allow 100,000 public school children in cities across the United States to see HAMILTON and be part of this innovative educational partnership.
The increased financial commitment was announced at the Foundation’s Insight Dialogues symposium today. It will provide resources to work with local school districts, mirroring the program piloted in New York City. The program will be scaled to include Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. among other cities. Additional cities will be announced as HAMILTON tours the country. As part of their American History studies, students will experience history and see the show for just $10. They will attend special matinee performances and interact with cast members during the program.
The partnership between The Rockefeller Foundation, HAMILTON, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the New York City Department of Education was announced in October 2015 and was initially funded through a $1.5 million grant to bring 20,000 public school students from the five boroughs—with large numbers of students eligible for free and reduced price lunch—to see the Broadway sensation. Students in New York benefited from an integrated curriculum developed by Gilder Lehrman that informed their experience of the play. The program was such a monumental success, that The Rockefeller Foundation decided to fund the partnership, nationwide.
“Our initial partnership was such a success, we knew that as HAMILTON expanded across the country, we needed to expand the opportunity for students to see it. Our goal is to not only bring history to life for students throughout the country, but to have them relate to the actors who make this show what it is; demonstrating that everything is possible for them, no matter what neighborhood they live in, what school they attend, or where they come from. This program is one of the Foundation’s most impactful and we are so excited to be able to export it across the country,” said Judith Rodin, President of The Rockefeller Foundation.
“The HAMILTON student matinees on Broadway have been such a rewarding experience for all of us at the theatre, thanks to the creativity and the passion the students bring to them,” said Lin-Manuel Miranda. “The performances that they come up with are unbelievable! It’s phenomenal that through the continued support of The Rockefeller Foundation the program will now reach students in classrooms across the country. Who knows what they will create?”
“I am very thankful for Judith and The Rockefeller Foundation. Their generosity and their belief in our education program made it happen, and their continued commitment to the next 100,000 students is extraordinary. As the musical begins to tour the country, we are steadfast in our mission to expose students all over America to HAMILTON.” said Jeffrey Seller, the Producer of HAMILTON.
Thanks to the initial commitment from The Rockefeller Foundation, the Gilder Lehrman Institute developed the “HAMILTON Education Program,” an in-class curriculum designed around the musical. As this program continues to expand, it will be integrated into Title I schools where the majority of students are eligible for free and reduced price lunches. The program includes a “HAMILTON Student Performance and Study Guide” and an online “HAMILTON” portal for students and teachers that offers students a creative platform for developing and producing their own original performances of poetry, rap, songs, scenes and other art expressions, to be performed at the theater prior to watching a performance of HAMILTON.
“The generosity of The Rockefeller Foundation and the genius of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s HAMILTON enabled us to develop a new model for learning history, which will now roll out nationally. Rooted in rigorous research, the student projects are creative, personal, and inspiring. Kids who didn’t before suddenly care about America’s past, and see their own connection to it,” said James Basker, President of the Gilder Lehrman Institute.
The HAMILTON producers are making tickets for this educational partnership available for $70 each, $60 of which is being subsidized by The Rockefeller Foundation.
Luis A. Miranda, Jr. who is spearheading the national fundraising efforts for the program, and is the father of HAMILTON creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, said “Thanks to The Rockefeller Foundation and the gravitas and commitment they bring, it will be easier to find funding partners in every market throughout the country.”
With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, directed by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical direction and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s biography. HAMILTON is the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander HAMILTON, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary. HAMILTON’s score blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway—the story of America then, as told by America now.
For performance and ticket information to HAMILTON visit www.HAMILTONbroadway.com.