American Place Theatre, Inc.
630 9th Avenue
Suite 809
New York, NY 10036
http://www.americanplacetheatre.orgLITERATURE TO LIFE's mission is to advance literacy in American communities by producing theatre-based programs of the highest quality for under-served audiences.
Donations allow us to provide this vital program to underserved students and schools at no or subsidized cost.
Ray Bradbury's classic American novel, Fahrenheit 451, paints a picture of a world without free thought, a world where citizens don't read. What if that came true?
We must keep reading and writing a primary component of the education of young American citizens, and The American Place Theatre's Literature to Life program is doing just that for over 30,000 middle and high school students every year.
"The dramatization of novels is exactly what students need to "turn on" to reading a book. It is an effective concept and was executed perfectly in the series of performances and workshops conducted by The American Place Theatre." - Lee Klein, Irvington Middle School classroom teacher
Over 80% of the American students reached by this vital program live below the poverty line, and a studies show that a majority of families living in poverty in this country own one or no books in their home. Following the experience of seeing a Literature to Life performance, 85% of students want to read the book. Providing this life-changing opportunity costs only $18 per student, and even better, providing these same students with a series of workshops as part of a six week in-school residency costs only $61 per student.
"This is the most important program I know to get kids to want to read. - Bridget Marmion, Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
In this new economy, we receive calls from teachers and principals every day, many of whom have been able to budget for these educational programs in the past, who say they now cannot find the funding. We are responding by inviting the public, caring friends and supporters of our community here in New York and across America to take on the charge and help us provide these invaluable programs at no cost to deserving and needing schools. Every contribution will ensure another student the opportunity to exchange apathy for empathy.
"You really brought literature to life by becoming the character. It made me realize that there are more than just words and letters in a book." – Amy Zhan, Grade 8, NYC public school student |
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