New Paradigm Theatre and Kids Helping Kids

New Paradigm Theatre (NPT) has chosen nonprofit community partner, Kids Helping Kids in Stamford for their Live August production of FOOTLOOSE!

New Paradigm Theatre (NPT), a company well-known for its inventive productions that are presented with multi-cultural, multi-generational and multi-gendered casting has chosen a community nonprofit that echoes the themes in their upcoming live production of FOOTLOOSE.

Each summer The New Paradigm Theatre Company partners with another non-profit organization that reflects the theme of the summer production to raise money and awareness for issues and organizations surrounding the community. For FOOTLOOSE, NPT is proud to partner with Kids Helping Kids.

Kids Helping Kids mission is to develop leadership skills among students through youth-led service projects. They empower students to have a proactive attitude toward change by taking their passion and turning it into action to benefit low-income children in the community. “Kids Helping Kids is so in alignment with the message provided by FOOTLOOSE, celebrating the wisdom of listening to young people, guiding them with a warm heart and an open mind. Kids Helping Kids has been focused on the power of youth and their voice for the past 10 years.” says executive director, Jennifer Bentley, Over 5,000 kids from 132 local schools have been involved with KHK because KHK gives students a voice, the tools, the belief in themselves and a path to make a difference now.

To kick things off, NPT youth volunteered at an annual Kids Helping Kids event called the “Handle with Care Dress Boutique”.
This annual Handled with Care Dress Boutique project started in 2012 when Allison,16, went out shopping for a prom dress and realized how hard it must be for girls that could not afford to purchase a new dress.

Watch our short partnership video on YouTube (click Website box below)

“We think this will be a powerful partnership because it not only aligns with the show, FOOTLOOSE, but also with our own non profit’s mission of promoting social responsibility and fostering creative problem solvers, leaders, and global citizens through theatre arts education and productions.”

NPT’s Artist Director and Broadway veteran, Kristin Huffman (Milford CT) says, “New Paradigm Theatre believes that we can produce shows and display a social justice conscience. These shows not only entertain with Broadway pros on stage, but they also connect directly to our community. During the rehearsals many youth from both organizations and college interns will participate side-by-side with Broadway pros to learn and to create this production of FOOTLOOSE.”

As partnerships between nonprofits continue to form in order to tackle social challenges from all sides, and as youth lead the way to a better world, this type of collective impact production has become increasingly relevant and a vital component of a community.

For more info on the show which will be performed at Black Rock Church’s state of the art theatre please visit: www.nptheatre.org and for more info on Kids Helping Kids visit: KidsHelpingKidsCT.org