FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE COLLABORATES WITH BOOKER MIDDLE

Florida Studio Theatre and Booker Middle School have embarked upon a new project entitled: Creative Connections. Booker Middle School students, families and educators will be engaged with Florida Studio Theatre’s Teaching Artists multiple times a week for the duration of the school year, in specific activities, programs and classes that will improve literacy, and skills in language arts and drama.

"We believe in theatre and the arts as an agent for growth, learning, and understanding," says Beth Duda, Director of Education at Florida Studio Theatre. "Our WRITE A PLAY program has a long history of impacting students, giving them a way to express their thoughts, and emotions through playwriting. We are looking forward to the greater opportunities the Creative Connections project will give us. Utilizing art, we will be able to forge connections for the students across disciplines, giving them a vital integrated way to learn. By collaborating with Booker Middle School, our full-time staff and our guest artists will have a greater connection with our community."

Florida Studio Theatre teaching artists will have a regular presence at Booker Middle School working with Educators in literacy, language arts, and drama. As the project develops, more opportunities in other subject areas will be explored. Initially, Florida Studio Theatre Artists will pilot a Reader's Theatre program, providing writing and reading support for Saturday School, and offer extra-curricular instruction in Acting and Improvisation.

“I am pleased that our collaboration with Florida Studio Theatre will allow us to fulfill our vision of positively impacting our students’ academic performance through the Arts,” says LaShawn Houston Frost, Interim Principal at Booker Middle School.