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New York, NY – January 17, 2025 – To build the audience of tomorrow, TDF is offering free one-year TDF Memberships to all graduating seniors from NYC public and charter high schools for the second year in a row. TDF Membership provides access to the performing arts in New York City—Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off Broadway, music, and dance performances—at deeply discounted ticket prices.

Joining TDF in this partnership to forge a lifelong relationship with the arts for the next generation are the hit Broadway musicals Hell’s Kitchen and SIX along with the New York City Public Schools Arts Office. In addition to the free TDF Membership, every student who signs up can enter a drawing to win up to two free tickets to see Hell’s Kitchen at the Shubert Theatre or SIX at the Lena Horne Theatre on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 7 p.m. At those performances, the full houses will be offered to graduating seniors and their guests. Earlier that day, there will be a graduation party by the red steps of TDF’s Times Square TKTS Booth, which will include music, an opportunity to take graduation photos, and other fun activities.

NYC public and charter school principals will send all seniors information about TDF’s Graduation Gift with details on how to sign up. To prove eligibility, students will be asked to provide their NYC DOE Student ID number (OSIS number). To learn more about this program, go to tdf.org/gradgift.

TDF’s Graduation Gift launched last year in partnership with Hell’s Kitchen and the New York City Public Schools Arts Office and provided free TDF Memberships to more than 2,200 graduates.

For Hell’s Kitchen production photos, click here. For SIX production photos, click here.

“We are thrilled to be launching the second year of TDF’s Graduation Gift after a successful inaugural 2024,” said Ginger Bartkoski Meagher, TDF’s VP of Programs. “TDF believes that the theatre belongs to all of us and that it’s every New Yorker’s birthright to have access to the amazing wealth of arts and culture in the City. Together with our continuing partners the New York City Public Schools Arts Office and Hell’s Kitchen on Broadway, as well as our new partner SIX on Broadway, we welcome the next generation of theatregoers with open arms!”

“We are thrilled to join forces once again with our partners at TDF and the New York City Public Schools Arts Office, following the great success of last year’s inaugural Graduation Gift for NYC high school seniors,” said Hell’s Kitchen Executive Producer Aaron Lustbader. “The story of Hell’s Kitchen is so deeply rooted in the birth and realization of big dreams and the support system around young dreamers to be able to realize their full potential. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner again and support the NYC senior class with an opportunity that may inspire some new dreams of their own.”

“In the spirit of empowering students to find their unique voices, SIX is honored to support graduating seniors as they boldly take their next steps in their lives and careers,” said SIX Producer Kevin McCollum. “Con-grad-ulations to every single high school senior, we are thrilled to share this enlightening and entertaining her-storic musical with you.”

ABOUT HELL’S KITCHEN: Ali is a 17-year-old girl full of fire–searching for freedom, passion, and her place in the world. How she finds them is a New York City coming-of-age story you've never felt before–Hell’s Kitchen, a new musical from 16-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys, whose songs and experiences growing up in NY inspire a story made for Broadway.

Rebellious and stifled by an overprotective single mother, Ali is lost until she meets her mentor: a neighbor who opens her heart and mind to the power of the piano. Set to the rhythm of the ‘90s, Hell’s Kitchen is a love story between a mother and daughter. It's about finding yourself, your purpose, and the community that lifts you. Come remember where dreams begin.

The “powerhouse cast” (Variety) is led by Tony Award nominee Brandon Victor Dixon, Tony Award winner Kecia Lewis, Phillip Johnson Richardson, Jessica Vosk, and Tony Award winner Maleah Joi Moon. Hell’s Kitchen is directed by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif, with choreography by Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown, a book by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz, and the music of Keys, featuring new songs and her greatest hits.

Hell’s Kitchen began performances on Thursday, March 28, 2024 and opened on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre (225 West 44^th Street). Tickets for Hell’s Kitchen are available at HellsKitchen.com and Telecharge.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the Shubert Theatre box office.

ABOUT SIX: From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix 500 years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st century girl power! This original musical by Tony Award winners Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over!

SIX is the winner of 23 awards including the 2022 Tony Award for Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics) and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. The New York Times says SIX “TOTALLY RULES!” (Critic's Pick) and The Washington Post hails SIX as “Exactly the kind of energizing, inspirational illumination this town aches for!"

SIX is currently running on Broadway at the Lena Horne Theatre (256 West 47th Street). Tickets are available at www.SixOnBroadway.com.

ABOUT TDF: Founded in 1968, TDF (formerly known as Theatre Development Fund) is a not-for-profit service organization dedicated to sharing the power of the performing arts with everyone. TDF’s mission is to engage a broad and diverse audience by removing the financial, physical, and invisible barriers to participation in the performing arts. TDF’s initiatives include the TKTS by TDF Discount Booths; TDF Memberships; the TDF Costume Collection; and TDF Accessibility, Education, and Public Engagement Programs. Those Programs include open captioned, audio described, and ASL-interpreted performances; Autism Friendly Performances; the Veterans Theatregoing Program; school programs serving more than 11,000 NYC public school students annually; and partnerships with over 150 NYC community organizations serving 18,000 people in the tristate area. TDF envisions a world where the transformative experience of attending live theatre and dance is essential, relevant, accessible, and inspirational.

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