Feld Foundation Donates $200,000 to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Feld Foundation Donates $200,000 to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts

News Story Inspires Donation and Partnership To Benefit School's Technical Program

VIENNA, Va., Oct. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Feld Family Foundation and Feld Entertainment, Inc., the largest provider of live family entertainment in the world, producer of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey(R) and Disney on Ice, today announced a donation of funding and equipment totaling $200,000 to benefit the Technical Theater Department of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

   (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071019/4936-a )    (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071019/4936-b )   

"Feld Entertainment is proud to support one of the country's preeminent secondary schools dedicated to arts education," Feld Entertainment Chairman and CEO Kenneth Feld said. "The Feld family understands the value and importance of maintaining a technical theater program for students, and we're delighted to share our background and experience with the next generation of production talent."

The donation was inspired by a recent local news story detailing the school's financial struggles. After learning of the situation, Feld contacted the Duke Ellington School and offered a contribution of funding and equipment to help boost the school's theater tech program.

"We are proud of our new partnership with Feld Entertainment as it will help us further our mission of nurturing our students -- artistically, academically, and personally -- as they consider a career in the arts," said Ellen Coppley, Executive Director of the Ellington Fund. "We thank the Feld family for their commitment and putting their beliefs into actions."

Feld Entertainment Chairman and CEO Kenneth Feld, along with wife Bonnie Feld and daughter and Executive Vice President Alana Feld, presented a check to Chair of the Theater Tech Department and Duke Ellington graduate Ronald Lee Newman and Executive Director of the Ellington Fund Ellen Coppley on Thursday, October 18, at Feld Entertainment's High School Musical: The Ice Tour at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA. Prior to the show, 20 students and staff from the Duke Ellington School enjoyed an exclusive backstage tour and the opportunity to talk with staff and performers about the key elements of the production.

Feld will work with the Technical Theater department in coordinating master classes with key production staff and performers from Disney on Ice and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey touring units. A summer internship program will also help Duke Ellington students obtain practical technical experience at Feld Entertainment.

Duke Ellington is one of the few high schools worldwide, and the only one in the Washington Metropolitan area, that offers a broad, pre-professional education in the practical aspects of Entertainment Arts Production. The Technical Theater department is regarded as the backbone support of all of Duke Ellington's entertainment production needs. The department's student staff works in productions behind the scenes in every area of Ellington's state-of-the-art theater, from building and designing sets, lights, and sound to stage managing and operating sound and lights.

About Feld Entertainment:

Feld Entertainment, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live family entertainment that lifts the human spirit and creates indelible memories, with 25 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment's productions have appeared in 50 countries and on six continents to date and include Disney On Ice, Disney Live!, Doodlebops Live!, High School Musical: The Ice Tour and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.

For more information, please visit www.highsschoolmusicaltheicetour.com. Members of the media are encouraged to visit the Press Room at www.feldentertainment.com.

For more information about the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, please visit http://www.ellingtonschool.org/, or call 202-333-2555, ext. 101.

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PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Feld Entertainment

CONTACT: Steve Payne of Feld Entertainment, +1-703-749-5505,
spayne@feldinc.com; or Kelley McCormick, +1-202-683-3125,
kmccormick@qorvis.com, for Feld Entertainment

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Profile: International Entertainment