Michael Presser facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Presser
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| Born |
Philadelphia, PA, USA
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| Alma mater | Temple University |
| Organization | Inside Broadway |
| Known for | Founder of Inside Broadway |
Michael Presser, born in Philadelphia, USA, is the person who started and leads Inside Broadway. This is a special New York City theatre company that teaches young people about plays and musicals. In 2022, he celebrated 40 years of working with Inside Broadway and being a big part of the Broadway world.
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Inside Broadway: Bringing Theatre to Kids
Inside Broadway was started by Michael Presser in 1982. A theatre leader named Bernard B. Jacobs asked him to create a way for students to get tickets to the famous Broadway musical Cats.
What Inside Broadway Does
Today, Inside Broadway creates its own touring musical shows. It also has many educational programs. These programs let students in New York City experience live theatre. They also get to learn directly from professional actors and theatre workers. Each year, over 70,000 students take part. They come from 90 schools across all five areas of New York City.
Past Shows and Learning
Inside Broadway has put on many different shows. These include:
- On the Town by Leonard Bernstein
- Sophisticated Ladies by Duke Ellington
- My Town by George M. Cohan
- Free to Be... You and Me by Marlo Thomas
- All Kinds of People by Oscar Hammerstein
- Land That I Love by Irving Berlin
- Bye Bye Birdie by Charles Strouse
- The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan
- Cinderella by Rodgers and Hammerstein
- You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
- The Gershwin's Real Magic
Inside Broadway gets money from different New York City and New York State government groups. This helps them keep their programs going.
Awards for His Work
Michael Presser has received several awards for his dedication. In 2010, he got the Humanitarian Award from Theater Resources Unlimited. This was for helping young people discover theatre. He also received the Theatre Museum Award in 2005 for his work in arts education. In 1999, he earned the Encore Heart to Heart Community Service Award. The group called The Broadway League has also thanked him for his many years of service to the Broadway theatre world.
Michael's Theatre Journey
After finishing college at Temple University, Michael Presser worked as an arts helper for different opera houses and theatres. He worked in places like Geneva, Switzerland, and Düsseldorf, Germany. He also worked in Prague, Czech Republic, and Berlin, Germany.
He has worked with many famous artists. These include the conductor Karl Richter and the guitarist Carlos Montoya. He also worked with the pianist Peter Nero. Michael has also worked with groups like the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Munich Bach Choir.
Life in New York City
Michael Presser has been very involved in his local community in New York City. For over 30 years, he was a member and leader of Community Board #5 in Midtown Manhattan. This board helps make decisions for the local area.
He is also a member of several important theatre and arts groups. These include The Broadway League, The Broadway Association, and The Producers League of Theatre for Young Audiences, Inc. He is also part of The New York City Arts in Education Round Table, ART/New York, Opera America, and Theatre Communications Group.
