Vital Voices is now in its fifth year of residency at Fordham Arts. Vital Teaching Artists Stephanie Gilman, Jon Stancato, Linda Ames Key, Ian Grunes, John Trevellini and Jack Lowry work with Drama Teacher Marlene May to facilitate residencies in acting, choreography, producing, playwriting, commedia and technical theatre. Fordham Arts students and Vital interns Steven Green and Smarlin Hernandez were featured on Broadway in Tanai Pirela's winning play THE BABY PROJECT through Fidelity FutureStage's annual playwriting competition. Eight Fordham Arts seniors have recieved the first Chancellor's Arts Endorsed Diploma in Theater offered by NYCDOE.

Vital Voices is a Lead Partner in Brooklyn Theatre Arts High School in Canarsie, Brooklyn. Vital Teaching Artists Gwenyth Reitz and John Michael Rossi facilitate student productions and offer 4-12 week residencies that integrate theatre arts into the core academic curriculum in order to fully engage students while simultaneously building self esteem and teaching the skills necessary for creative expression.

Now in its third year, BTAHS offers two student production opportunities per grade, plus one all school musical. Juniors and Seniors can apply for paid internships at Vital through WBL/Learn Program. Theatre Arts integration includes Math/Technical Theatre, Living Environment/Visual Arts, ELA and Theatre Electives support through Guest Artists, and "Hallway Broadway". BTAHS was one of ten national recipients of Disney's HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL:THE MUSIC IN YOU GRANT PROGRAM through the Namm Foundation.

Based in the 4th and 5th Grade’s studies of Henry Hudson, Vital Teaching Artists Suzu McConnell Wood and Max Clark teach students basic theatre skills, lead them through exercises to write scenes and monologues, rehearse, revise and perform their work. They also visit Vital to see MATTHEW TAKES MANNAHATTA and have a Q & A with the writer, composer and lyricist to compare and contrast writing choices.

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Rooted in the 4th Grade’s studies of the Golden Age of Immigration, the entire 4th grade splits into Performance Team or Design Team based on individual interest. Performance Team studies oral histories from Ellis Island and works with Vital Teaching Artist Jessica Genick to learn basic theatre skills, write scenes and monologues, then rehearse, revise and perform their work. Design Team work with Teaching Artist Cherie Cunningham to study scenic and costume design, then design and create backdrops and original costumes for the performers.

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We start with a treatment for one of Vital’s original family musicals. Vital commissions a professional team to write the script and at the same time, hands the entire 2nd grade the treatment. The 2nd graders work with Teaching Artist Jessica Genick to write original scripts and share their final performances with parents, friends and Vital’s creators. Students are able to compare their own writing process with that of the professional team and share their thoughts in a talkback.

Based in the 2nd grade’s study of different New York neighborhoods, Vital Teaching Artists, Dax Valdes and Esra Cizmeci teach each class a different style of dance from each neighborhood. Later paired with spoken word—poetry, literature or choral work, the entire grade performs for parents, buddy classes and friends.