New York State Theatre Institute
New York State Theatre Institute (NYSTI) was a
History
In 1974, the
NYSTI was the first state mandated theatre education program for children in the United States.[5] The Theatre Institute's programs were piloted in 1975 at Lake Avenue Elementary School in Saratoga Springs, New York and at the Empire State Plaza MeetingRoom 6. The program officially began in September 1976 and continued on an 11-month basis until December 31, 2009. Following financial difficulties and an official enquiry into alleged nepotism and misuse of funds, the institute closed at the end of 2010.[6]
Mission
NYSTI's mission was fourfold: 1) to produce professional theatre of the highest artistic standards for family and school audiences; 2) to use those productions to provide provocative and innovative arts in education programs; 3) to exchange theatre, culture, and humanity with the people and artists of other nations; and 4) to develop new plays and musicals for family audiences.[citation needed]
Methods and educational programs
Performers, technicians, staff, and guest artists used theatre to motivate school students to find new interest in their daily subjects. The institute's educational services included Pre-Show Intros and Study Guides, Inservices, inter-disciplinary classes following performances, educational outreach programs, a Theatre Arts School, summer theatre programs, and an extensive intern and educator-in-residence program.[1] All members of NYSTI's professional staff participated in educational programs.[citation needed]
Internships
Internships provided
International exchange
The Institute always maintained a commitment to international cultural exchange beginning with the tour of “
New plays and musicals
Eight of NYSTI's premieres were accepted for licensing and publication by
Other new musicals developed with the Warner Music Group grant were “The Silver Skates,” “Magna Carta,” and “The Snow Queen” (which toured to London's West End and won numerous awards for its audiobook).
National touring
In addition to its tour of “A Tale of Cinderella,” NYSTI toured its education programs and performances to New York City, with productions of Institute originals “Sleeping Beauty” and “Beauty and the Beast,” and new stagings of “Narnia” and “Slow Dance on the Killing Ground.” The theatre company also performed at the Kennedy Center, Ford's Theatre, Queens Theatre in the Park, the Fulton Opera House, and the Honolulu Theatre for Youth.[citation needed]
Audio books
In later years, NYSTI, through Family Classic Audio, began producing audio books. Ten of its titles won awards from five national presenters in all kinds of genres: musicals, mysteries, and dramas. Two titles won
Controversy
Several years of budget cuts[4] preceded an investigation ordered by the Executive branch of government. The investigation went on for over a year and led to a report by the New York State Inspector's Office, issued in April 2010, alleging corruption, mismanagement, nepotism and possibly illegal conduct at the theatre. It claimed that the Producing Director improperly used state money to pay herself and her family, and to subsidize trips to Europe.[9][10] The institute was closed down and its statutory status was removed.[11] The enquiry was terminated with a financial settlement in July 2011, with the charges neither accepted nor denied.[6]
See also
- Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund
- Empire State Development Corporation
- New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund Corporation
- New York Racing Association
- Olympic Regional Development Authority
- United Nations Development Corporation
References
- ^ a b c d Chirico, Lorraine. "PRIME DONNE: ITALIAN AMERICAN WOMEN IN THE ARTS." Italian America. Order Sons of Italy in America. October 31, 2002.
- ^ Jessica Anker. "IT MAY BE CURTAINS FOR STATE THEATER TROUPE BUDGET AX COULD FALL ON NEW YORK GROUP THAT STAGED 'WIZARD OF OZ'." The Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY). Dialog LLC. June 15, 1992.
- ^ Snyder, 1991, pp. 11–12.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331.
- ^ McCaslin, 1987, p. 132.
- ^ a b "$200,000 halts probe of NYSTI". Times Union. 30 July 2011.
- ISBN 978-1-58131-291-1.
- ^ "The New York State Theatre Institute. (Brief Article)." American Theatre. Theatre Communications Group. October 1, 2000.
- ISSN 0362-4331.
- ^ "NYSTI head's hiring, spending blasted", Troy Record, April 21, 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-231-54356-9.
Sources
- Snyder, Patricia Di Benedetto (1991). A Study of the Empire State Youth Theatre Institute, State University of New York (Ph.D.). New York University.
- Nellie McCaslin. "Historical Guide to Children's Theatre in America". Greenwood Press Inc., 1987.