National Theatre of the Deaf Announces Performances in Four Hartford Schools Thanks to Funding from The Hartford Group

From: National Theatre of the Deaf - Oct 17, 2005

THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP SPONSORS NATIONAL THEATRE OF THE DEAF PERFORMANCES FOR FOUR HARTFORD SCHOOLS OCTOBER 24TH -28TH

Hartford, CT, October 17, 2005- The National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) is excited to announce that its children's wing, the Little Theatre of the Deaf will be performing at four Hartford schools thanks to the grant given by the Hartford Financial Services Group.

NTD credits the dedication of Senior Vice President, Lynda Godkin and Michael Gannon, Grants Program Specialist of the Hartford Financial Services Group. The National Theatre of the Deaf received a $5000 Grant that funded the opportunity for four schools in the Hartford Area to experience the deaf awareness and culture of the Little Theatre of the Deaf.

***The performances are as followed: ***

Monday, October 24th at 1:30 pm, Burns Elementary School

Tuesday, October 25th at 12:00 pm at the Hartford Financial Services Group-Simsbury

Wednesday, October 26th at 1:15 pm, Dwight Elementary School

Thursday, October 27th at 1:00 pm, J.C. Clark Elementary School

Friday, October 28th at 10:00 AM, West Elementary School

The Hartford's Corporate Contributions program's top priority is to have a positive impact on Public K-12 education. The company's main focus is on programs that improve educational opportunities for students in the Hartford Public School system, especially those who reside in Hartford's Asylum Hill neighborhood.

Scholarships are a significant part of The Hartford's education grants. The Alliance for Academic Achievement - The Hartford Straight A Program targets top scholars in the three Hartford High Schools and provides scholarships to Howard University, the University of Connecticut and Trinity College, summer employment and mentors at The Hartford. The Hartford's oldest and most successful continuous initiative, The STAG (Skills Training Advancement Group) work-study program started in 1966. It provides students from Hartford area high schools the opportunity to earn a wage while they learn basic workplace skills. Qualified STAG graduates going to college are eligible for a STAG scholarship. The Donald R. Frahm Hartford Scholar Program targets students pursuing a master's degree in business administration. There are scholarship possibilities for summer interns and a variety of other scholarships at The Hartford.

"We at The National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) are most appreciative to the Executive Grant Committee from The Hartford." said Dr. Paul L. Winters, Executive Director of NTD, "It provides NTD the opportunity to continue performing for elementary school children in the Hartford area using our unique form of entertainment and education."

Founded in Connecticut in 1967, the National Theatre of the Deaf is the oldest continually producing and touring professional Deaf Theatre Company in the United States. It was the first theatre company to perform in all 50 states, has toured to all seven continents and in 32 countries. NTD's professional acting company is made up of both Deaf and Hearing Artists working together as an ensemble. The audience sees and hears every word through the NTD's signature performance style, which combines American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken word. The unique double-sensory experience has expanded the boundaries of theatrical expression and is considered to be the only new art form to be developed in the 20th century. To learn more about the National Theatre of the Deaf, visit www.ntd.org .

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Contact: Pamela Holden
Director of Media
National Theatre of the Deaf
Tel:(860) 236-4193 ext.3015
Email: pholden@ntd.org

***NOTE*** THE FOLLOWING PERFORMANCES MENTIONED ARE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
PLEASE VISIT WWW.NTD.ORG FOR OPEN PERFORMANCES***

EDITOR'S NOTE: Interviews with the creators and actors of LTD are welcomed. Please call Pamela Castle Holden, Director of Media at 860-236-4193, ext. 3015 to make arrangements.