Education
Mission
An essential part of The Skylight's programming, Enlighten aims to enhance arts curricula at area schools. With the addition of a full-time Education Director in 1999 and a full-time Education Manager in 2007, we have been able to widen the scope of our outreach activities and continue to expand the spectrum of our current offerings. We are constantly working to fulfill the mission of this vital program, which is to: " instill an appreciation of the arts, develop future audience members, encourage and guide aspiring young performers, and establish arts education as a vital component of a well-rounded curriculum."
Student Matinee Series proudly supported by
Student Matinees
The Student Matinee allows us to reach the most youths in our community and provides an exciting opportunity for interaction between students and performers. The Student Matinee Series provides reduced price admission to schools, Audience Development Guides for teachers and a post-performance Q & A session. To attend a Student Matinee, please call the Education Manager at 414-291-7811 x226.
Tour the Broadway Theatre Center
The Broadway Theatre Center, owned and operated by The Skylight , was completed in 1993. The complex includes the Cabot Theatre and the Studio Theatre, The Skylight Bar, the Salon and three rehearsal halls.
Partner Schools
The Skylight is committed to serving students throughout the Milwaukee Public School system, providing programming that includes touring shows, workshops and residencies to over 25 MPS schools. The Skylight works with teachers at seven MPS Partner Schools to bring multiple programs for different age groups throughout the school year. Partner schools are chosen by The Skylight Education Department staff based on need, level of commitment and effectiveness of previous programming.
The Standard Songbook
The Standard Songbook is a 35 minute program that introduces students in grades 1-3 to music and musical theatre concepts through an interactive performance with Skylight Artists. Students hear various songs from musicals and learn about concepts such as rhythm, tempo and melody by becoming “musical detectives.”
KidsWrites
KidsWrites, serving grades 4-7, promotes reading, writing, and listening skills through creative writing exercises and composition.
KidsWrites Residency
Students at five participating partner schools will work with a Skylight Teaching Artist to generate additional writing from their initial KidsWrites workshop and perform their own writing.
Stories that Sing Residencies
Focusing on the concepts of rhythm, rhyme, creative writing, and stage presence, elementary and middle school students in the Enlighten Program’s MPS Partner School initiative collaborate with Skylight artists to write original poems, scenes and stories.
Original Opera
This project, in collaboration with Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra ACE program, allows students at Tippecanoe School to create an opera with a professional composer about subjects they have studied in class.
TeenWrites
TeenWrites is a creative writing workshop and student performed project for Milwaukee Public Middle and High School students.
Musical Theatre Residency
The Musical Theatre Residency takes place at Milwaukee High School of the Arts and Vincent High School and provides students an introduction to musical theatre.
Teacher and School Information
Teacher Workshop
As part of The Skylight’s ongoing outreach to schools, the education department held their first teacher conference entitled: KidsWrites - Creativity for the Classroom. It’s purpose was to give teachers more strategies on getting their students interested in writing and incorporate the arts into their curriculum. Feel free to use or change these so that they can best suit you and the needs of your classroom.
To download a copy of “How to Write a Play or Musical with your class” click here.
For scripts, songs, poems and stories that have been created for the classroom click here.
Enlighten supports MPS Learning Targets and Wisconsin Academic Content and Performance standards and provides a resource for general curriculum teachers who are seeking to keep art and music in their classrooms. The elements of musical theatre- story, music, song and movement become teaching and activity tools that delight and inspire, enhancing children’s overall learning experience, and serving students who may not respond to traditional teaching methods.
To see how our programs line up with MPS Learning Targets and Wisconsin Academic Content and Performance standards click here
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High School Musical Celebration
The High School Musical Celebration is an event that showcases student performances from high school musical productions in southeastern Wisconsin. Schools typically select a number from their musical, to rehearse and perform in the Cabot Theatre at The Broadway Theatre Center, for parents, friends and patrons. This provides students an opportunity to perform their work in a professional venue and meet other students their own age with interest in musical theatre. This event is a fundraiser for the many free education programs The Skylight presents in schools throughout the year.
For more information contact The Skylight's Education Manager at 414-291-7811 x226