Project Proposal
With the combined financial resources of the CHS Foundation and Omaha Performing Arts, Central students who meet specific attendance and behavior goals will attend The Lion King musical at the Orpheum Theater. This opportunity will provide exposure to a high-quality performing-arts production that many students may not have the opportunity otherwise to experience.
Amount Funded
$10,000
“I believe you can’t dream it until you can see it. It is about opportunities and access, and I am grateful to the Foundation for their generous support of this experience for our students.”
Ms. Dionne Kirksey, CHS Principal
300 Students Impacted
Commitment to Closing the Opportunity Gap
Experiences and opportunities outside the classroom walls engage learners in a way different from the typical day-to-day academic courses. Attending and immersing oneself in a Broadway show might be the catalyst that sparks students’ interest in the performing arts. The post-performance question and answer session with some of the cast members showed the students the importance of dedication and resiliency which emphasizes the importance of both traits in the classroom and in life. Upon graduation, students will then not only have the academic background, but also the mindset necessary to be successful.
Translation to College and Career Readiness
Broadway shows require a myriad of people with highly specialized experience and talents. Not only are there performance opportunities on stage and in the orchestra, there are also technical elements such as make up, costuming, lighting, sound, set building, and special effects that play a role in each show. There are also opportunities in marketing and advertising as well as logistics, hospitality, and transportation. Seeing a production of this caliber allows for students to imagine and dream of possibilities.
“Thank you, Central High Foundation, for making it possible for us to attend The Lion King at the Orpheum. It was my first Broadway show and the question and answer session where we met some of the performers was so great. Thank you so much!”
Artie Shaw, Class of 2024