FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2017
CONTACT:
Carin Brastow
Managing Director
215-496-9160 (office)
carin@enchantmenttheatre.org
ENCHANTMENT THEATRE COMPANY SELECTS MUSICOPIA AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2017 EDEN AWARD
Philadelphia, PA—Enchantment Theatre Company has selected Musicopia as the recipient of its 2017 Eden Award. Since 2009, Enchantment has presented this award to an individual or organization that exemplifies the values that guide Enchantment – imagination, originality, transformation and community. This award will be presented at our Annual Benefit on May 7, 2017 at the Philadelphia Zoo. Enchantment Theatre Company’s signature fundraiser, the Benefit brings in children and families from all over the Philadelphia region to celebrate the power of theater and arts education. This year’s event will include a special performance of our newest Enchantment Everywhere production, The Bremen Town Musicians; a buffet reception; an instrument petting zoo; and other creative music and theater activities for children (and adults) of all ages.
“We are thrilled to recognize Musicopia with our 2017 Eden Award,” says Carin Brastow, Managing Director of Enchantment Theatre Company. “Musicopia is dedicated to bringing the joy of music to thousands of underserved children across the Greater Philadelphia Region. Today, with fewer state and federal dollars supporting school districts, arts organizations like Enchantment and Musicopia are stepping up to fill the gap in order to keep the arts a part of children’s lives, regardless of their ability to pay.
With our premiere production of The Bremen Town Musicians, based on the classic Grimm fairy tale about individuals working together to discover their purpose and becoming musicians, it seems only fitting that we honor Musicopia. We feel that Mrs. Eden would have been proud of the Committee’s choice!”
“We are delighted to receive such an honor. Musicopia and Enchantment Theatre Company share complimentary missions to make the arts accessible to all children,” says Musicopia Executive Director Denise Kinney. “Both organizations work to provide artistic experiences to help children develop the socio-emotional skills necessary for a 21st century workforce. Our sincere gratitude to Enchantment Theatre!”
The Eden Award was established in 2009 to honor the late Judith S. Eden, friend, Advisory Board member and faithful supporter of Enchantment Theatre Company. Eden, a resident of Center City, was a zoning attorney and civic activist who died of cancer in August 2008. Eden was an exceptional leader in many civic organizations and causes, including the Society Created to Reduce Urban Blight. This award keeps alive the memory of an extraordinary woman who devoted her energies to her family, her work and her community in a way that was truly transformational.
About Musicopia: Musicopia’s mission is to provide opportunities for children to experience, learn, perform, and appreciate music. Offering a wide range of in-school and out-of-school programs spanning Pre-K through 12th grade, and with a focus on economically underserved communities, Musicopia gives all children the opportunity to learn to play an instrument and be a member of a musical community. Through the operation of the Gift of Music instrument donation program, Musicopia collects and repairs used instruments to place them in the hands of a needy child or school.
About Enchantment: Enchantment Theatre Company is a professional non-profit theater company with a reputation across the country for excellence in both theater and arts education. Since 1979, Enchantment has inspired children to dream, explore, think and connect through imaginative storytelling onstage and in the classroom. We accomplish this by transforming great stories into great theater using our signature performance style, which blends music, puppetry, dance, magic and masks into an engaging theater experience. Our vision is to share Enchantment’s unique artistry with as many children and families as possible. This includes 50+ schools and nearly 20,000 children in the Philadelphia region reached by Enchantment Everywhere who many not otherwise have access to theater and also the more than 100,000 children reached by its national tours.
For tickets to Enchantment’s Annual Benefit, “Play with us at the Philadelphia Zoo,” visit http://enchantmenttheatre.org/benefit/
