Broadway Theatre League’s Executive Director, John Fehlner, and President of the Board of Directors, Dr. Frank Dubeck, announced today that Broadway Theatre League of Utica (BTL) will offer an exciting new program next season designed to get young people involved in theatre. The Youth Ambassador Program will create a vehicle for local school students to discuss Broadway Theatre League’s shows and the organization itself. 

Specifically, BTL’s Youth Ambassador Program will provide free subscription tickets to area high school students in exchange for their review of the shows through social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter.

“We want to get young people talking about theatre to other young people, and how do they talk to each other these days? They use social media. We want to become a part of that communication chain,” said Fehlner.  

Demographics provided by the Broadway League’s website, the national trade association of the Broadway industry, state that the average age of a Broadway theatregoer in 2010-11 was 44.

“This is a hurdle the Broadway industry is facing nationwide,” said Dubeck.  “However, with programs such as this, we can reach out to a whole new demographic and get them excited about Broadway.” he added. 

In addition to revealing the Youth Ambassador Program, Fehlner and Dubeck also discussed the exciting new schedule set for the 2012-2013 Broadway Theatre League season, which includes:

• West Side Story, November 7 & 8
• A Chorus Line, January 8 & 9
• The Addams Family, February 12 & 13
• Rock of Ages, April 16 & 17
• Catch Me If You Can, June 4 and 5

Subscriptions for the new season are currently on sale and begin at $141 per person for all five shows.

Tickets for two additional shows, Elvis Lives, March 12, 2013 and Midtown Men, October 13, 2012, will be sold separately.  For more information about the Youth Ambassador Program or to purchase subscription tickets, call (315) 724-7196 or visit www.broadwayutica.com.