International theatre nonprofit grants $10,000 to two local school drama programs

Madeline Mitchell, Cincinnati Enquirer
·4 min read
Alyssa Sears-Baldwin (left) and Saman Oresso of the drama department at Winton Woods High School rehearse an adaptation of the play “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” on Nov. 9.
Alyssa Sears-Baldwin (left) and Saman Oresso of the drama department at Winton Woods High School rehearse an adaptation of the play “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” on Nov. 9.

Makayla Boyd, a 2016 graduate of Winton Woods High School who is now directing the school's fall play, said she experienced "a little bit of a culture shock" when she started attending the University of Cincinnati. She said she was the only girl or the only Black person in some of her classes.

That never happened in high school. Winton Woods has a diverse student body, with nearly 55% of students in the district identifying as Black, according to recently released state report card data.

"Walking on campus that first day I was like, 'Where are any of the other minorities?' " Boyd told The Enquirer. "That can be very uncomfortable."

This fall she's working with students at Winton Woods, directing a play about Lorraine Hansberry's life titled "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" by Robert B. Nemiroff. The text has worked as a springboard to open up conversations about race, the struggles of African Americans and life after high school.

Ndeye Wade of the drama department at Winton Woods High School rehearses an adaptation of the play “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” on Nov. 9.
Ndeye Wade of the drama department at Winton Woods High School rehearses an adaptation of the play “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” on Nov. 9.

Boyd likely wouldn't have found her way back to Winton Woods' theater scene if it weren't for a $10,000 grant from the Educational Theatre Foundation's Pathway pilot program. Two schools in Cincinnati and one in Atlanta were selected for the program, designed to connect students with industry professionals of color while working on shows that encourage dialogue around racial equity. Cincinnati's School for Creative and Performing Arts was also gifted a $10,000 grant.

"Things like this actually benefited me becoming a dancer in the first place," said Jay Goodlett, an SCPA graduate who directed this year's production of "The Wiz." The grant helped cover costumes, set pieces and other technical elements of the show. "They also benefit keeping the arts alive in the city. So I'm just very grateful."

What is the Pathway program?

The Educational Theatre Foundation's Pathway program was inspired by the late producer Craig Zadan. The program's goal is to foster racial equity through school theater, specifically in communities of color. This is the second round of the grant program.

This year, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Atlanta's Alliance Theatre partnered with the foundation to support the selected schools, which must hire at least two professionals of color to work with students during the production.

Students at Winton Woods High School watch as the drama department rehearses its adaptation of “To Be Young, Gifted and Black."
Students at Winton Woods High School watch as the drama department rehearses its adaptation of “To Be Young, Gifted and Black."

The foundation is working to establish a permanent fund of $1.25 million that will fund five Pathway grants per year.

In addition to the grants, Concord Theatricals donated the rights for the selected schools to perform their shows.

“Creating opportunities for young diverse theater makers to thrive is one of our most central values, and it’s an honor to sponsor this year’s Pathway program with (Educational Theatre Foundation)," said Abbie Van Nostrand, Concord's senior vice president of client relations and community engagement.

Michelle Kozlowski (left), head of the drama department at Winton Woods High School, talks with Caneshia Curry during rehearsals of the drama department’s adaptation of the play “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” pictured Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022.
Michelle Kozlowski (left), head of the drama department at Winton Woods High School, talks with Caneshia Curry during rehearsals of the drama department’s adaptation of the play “To Be Young, Gifted and Black,” pictured Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022.

The Educational Theatre Association, which houses the foundation and the International Thespian Society, is an international nonprofit dedicated to theater education.

'The stars have aligned.'

Goodlett said he "fell into" the role of director when the show's original director moved to Washington, D.C. over the summer. She had already applied for the grant, and when he found out SCPA was selected he said "it was kind of like a huge Christmas present."

This year marks the fifth SCPA production of "The Wiz," Goodlett said. He was in the show twice as an SCPA student, portraying the titular role as a senior in 1992. Directing it now feels like a "full circle" moment, he said.

Students at Winton Woods High School watch as the drama department rehearses its adaptation of “To Be Young, Gifted and Black."
Students at Winton Woods High School watch as the drama department rehearses its adaptation of “To Be Young, Gifted and Black."

“It’s kind of a culmination to be an alumni who’s working at the school and gets to direct the penultimate musical that we’re known for," he said. "So all of that is kind of like the stars have aligned."

Boyd also said she's felt nostalgic going back to her high school where she spent years as a "theater kid." She recognized costumes they are using now from shows she was in a decade ago, and tells her students she remembers what it was like struggling to remember lines, too.

Boyd said she didn't have Black mentors in high school. So she hopes she can be that for some of the students she's directing now.

“I can’t brag about them enough," Boyd said. "Sometimes after a busy day at work I’ll come there and they’ll just bring a smile to my face.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Two local school drama programs receive international theater grant