The Educational Theatre Foundation will launch Storyline: A Craig Zadan Legacy Program, aimed at expanding access to theatre education at the district level. The new program's pilot launch is being made possible via a grant from The Kresge Foundation.

Named in memory of late pioneering stage and screen producer Craig Zadan, the program builds on the existing work of ETF, newly focusing efforts on district-level partnerships that the group hopes will ensure new theatre programs are not only launched but get fully integrated into school systems. Organizers are planning for implementation to start in selected districts beginning in 2027.

ETF has recruited Arizona State University Professor of Creativity and Social Impact Dr. Maria Roasario Jackson as the project's senior advisor, working in close consultation with ETF board trustee Elwood Hopkins to shepherd the program's early vision and strategies.

"Theatre education doesn’t just teach performance—it teaches empathy, confidence, and collaboration," says Jackson in a statement. "Through Storyline, we’re ensuring that these vital and unique transformative experiences are not dependent on a school’s zip code or budget."

"Storyline represents the next chapter in our mission to make theatre education accessible to all," adds Educational Theatre Foundation President and Educational Theatre Association Dr. Jennifer Katona. "We are deeply grateful to The Kresge Foundation for its support in helping us realize Craig Zadan’s legacy—one rooted in the belief that the arts are essential to developing empathetic, creative, and civically engaged citizens."

Visit Foundation.SchoolTheatre.org for more.