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It is Theatre Development Fund's belief that future audiences are built by engaging students, first-hand, in the vital and exciting activity of the creative process, as well as providing opportunities to see live performances of great theatre. To that end, nearly 1,800 New York City public high school students from 24 high school, representing all five boroughs, who are participating in TDF's Stage Doors Program will be attending two special matinees of  the new Broadway musical, The Scottsboro Boys on Thursday, November 4 at 1pm and Wednesday, November 10 at 1pm the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street, NYC).

"We're thrilled to have the entire theatre for two special matinees of this remarkable musical for our students," said TDF Education Director, Marianna Houston. "This exciting production, so rich in history and educational merit, will be the perfect introduction to live theatre for these 1800 high school students."

The Scottsboro Boys, which opens this Sunday, October 31, is the thrilling final collaboration by musical theatre giants John Kander and Fred Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret). This critically-acclaimed production comes to Broadway following a sold-out run at the Vineyard Theatre. Directed by 5-time Tony® Award winner Susan Stroman (The Producers) and featuring a book by David Thompson (who adapted the script for Chicago's record-breaking revival), this daring and wildly entertaining musical explores a fascinating chapter in American history with arresting originality. The show is based on the notorious "Scottsboro" case in the 1930s, in which 9 African-American men were unjustly accused of a terrible crime.Their shocking and inspiring story - told though a mix of innovative staging and piercing new songs - demands to be shared. So gather 'round... and join The Scottsboro Boys on their remarkable journey.

The 1,800 students who will see The Scottsboro Boys through TDF's Stage Doors Program are from: the MANHATTAN SCHOOLS - Beacon High School, Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy High School, Landmark High School, City College Academy of the Arts, George Jackson Academy, Gramercy High School, LaGuardia High School of Music, Art and Performing Arts, Manhattan Theatre Lab High School and Millennium High School; QUEENS SCHOOLS - Cardoza High School, Flushing High School, Forest Hills High School, Halsen Jr. High School, Queens High School for Sciences, RFK Community High School and Robert Wagner High School for Arts and Technology; BROOKLYN SCHOOLS - Acorn High School for Social Justice, Brooklyn Theatre Arts High School, High School for Sports Management and Midwood High School; THE BRONX SCHOOLS - Bronx Center for Science and Math, Bronx Early College Academy and Monroe Campus; and the STATEN ISLAND SCHOOL - Susan E. Wagner High School.

TDF's Stage Doors is a project-based arts education program that provides middle and high school students with a meaningful introduction to live theatre.  Each participating class attends a Broadway or Off Broadway performance and participates in eight in-class workshops: four workshops conducted by a TDF teaching artist and the other four conducted by the classroom teacher.  The workshops engage students in discussion, writing, reading and improvisation to prepare them for their experience at the theatre. This program is offered at no cost to the school or students. Over 50,000 students have been served by TDF's Stage Doors since the program was founded in 1995.

For more about TDF's Arts Education programs to go:  www.tdf.org or about The Scottsboro Boys at their official Web site: http://scottsboromusical.com.

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