News Summary
Twelve high schools across the U.S. have been awarded ‘The Young Are at the Gates’ grant to support the production of Shaina Taub’s musical ‘Suffs’. This initiative, presented at the International Thespian Festival, empowers students to share their stories through theater while providing resources amidst funding challenges. Schools will stage ‘Suffs’ in the 2025-26 school year, fostering community engagement and artistic growth.
New York, NY – Twelve U.S. high schools have been awarded “The Young Are at the Gates” grant, which supports the production of Shaina Taub’s musical Suffs. This inaugural grant was announced by the Educational Theatre Foundation and Music Theatre International (MTI), following a presentation at the International Thespian Festival, where Taub was present to unveil the initiative.
The grant winners were selected based on the creativity and meaningfulness of their outreach programs related to the theme “the young are at the gates.” As part of the grant, these schools will receive complimentary licensing and production materials to stage Suffs during the 2025-26 school year. This initiative is designed to empower students to tell their stories through theater, especially in light of ongoing challenges related to public funding and access to the arts in schools.
The twelve schools awarded the grant include:
- Alexandria Senior High, Alexandria, Louisiana
- The Beacon High School, New York, New York
- Cherry Hill High School West, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
- Dublin Scioto High School, Dublin, Ohio
- Forest Hill High School, West Palm Beach, Florida
- Indiana Thespians All-State Production, Avon, Indiana
- Jamestown High School, Williamsburg, Virginia
- Middle Creek High School, Apex, North Carolina
- North High School, Denver, Colorado
- Thomasville High School, Thomasville, Georgia
- Vestavia Hills High School, Vestavia Hills, Alabama
- Woodmont High School, Piedmont, South Carolina
John Prignano, the Chief Operating Officer of MTI, expressed enthusiasm for making Suffs accessible to these remarkable high schools, highlighting the importance of the production in fostering educational growth. Jennifer Katona, Executive Director of the Educational Theatre Association, noted the opportunities for advocacy and community engagement that this grant will foster for participating students. Additionally, Taub emphasized her belief in the transformative power of theater, inspired by the passion demonstrated by drama teachers across the country.
Suffs, which narrates the story of women’s fight for the 19th Amendment and their right to vote, was a significant work in Taub’s career. She made history as the first woman to solely win the Tony Awards for Best Book and Score for the musical. The initiative aims to merge art and advocacy, encouraging school communities to unite these elements in meaningful ways.
Applications for the grant opened on June 23, 2025, and had a submission deadline of August 1, 2025. Schools were encouraged to develop programs that not only showcased their production but also engaged students in outreach efforts that resonated with the thematic elements of Suffs.
The selection committee for the grant included representatives from the Broadway production of Suffs as well as members from MTI. Those chosen to receive the grant exemplify innovative thinking and commitment to enhancing the role of theater education within their communities. As a result, these twelve schools now stand at the forefront of a movement aimed at inspiring youth through the arts.
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Additional Resources
- Playbill: These Schools Won Free SUFFS Licenses
- Wikipedia: Theater in Education
- BroadwayWorld: 12 Schools Win Free License to Produce SUFFS
- Google Search: Suffs musical
- New York Theatre Guide: Meet the SUFFS Broadway Cast
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Musical Theatre
- NY Times: SUFFS Broadway Closing
- Google News: Suffs Broadway Theater
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