Children are our futures, so when companies step outside of their corporate world and support the arts they should be honored. We have two to highlight. The first; Fidelity Investments, who sponsors 'Fidelity FutureStage Finale,' at the Imperial Theatre, now in its fourth year. This program is designed to bring theater to over 600 NYC students and represents 10 inner-city schools. The year-long theater education curriculum affords students the opportunity to learn from leading playwrights, directors, designers and actors, and ultimately experience the thrill of bringing their own creativity to life on a professional stage. Hosted this year by two-time Academy Award Winner Hilary Swank, six student’s works were honored. Five, 10-minute plays were showcased with a Broadway debut on the stage of the Imperial Theater, home to Billy Elliot the Musical. The 6th play, winner of a Playwriting Contest aimed at giving additional students an opportunity to participate, was open to all high school students attending school in NY, NJ and CT. Students were invited to write a 10-minute, one-act play reflecting the themes from the story of Billy Elliot: fulfilling a dream, discovering a special talent or overcoming adversity. You see Billy Elliot the Musical is one of the sponsors. The Winner; Katarzyna Roszczeda, an 18 year old from Queens, won with a play called Navy Blue Tiles. This romantic comedy tells about regaining lost love as a Vietnam Vet returns to reclaim the past he left behind. Given direction by Broadway director, Michael Bush (Rabbit Hole, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife and others) and Broadway actors Maggie Lacey (The Orphan’s Home Cycle), Jeremy Bobb ( Law and Order and Translations) and Robert Gomes (The last Night of Ballyhoo), Navy Blue Tiles was given the ultimate performance. 

The other plays and writers honored were:

Nasaun Lineszy, 18, 12th grade (Queens) Beautiful Karma: A new take on a Christmas Carol.

Luis Ramirez, 11, 6th grade (Brooklyn) The Basketball Team: Friendship, teamwork and the unit as a whole. Five friends, learn the meaning of team.  

Kathleen Rogers 17, 12th grade  (Queens) Lunch: The contents inside Billy’s lunch come to life. A clever look at what our food thinks until it is eaten.  

Krystal Thomas 17, 11th (Bronx) For the Love of Art: Using the canvas of her body for art, she draws tattoos all over her body. In reality this is a play about isolation.

Nathalie Torrenegra 18, 12th grade (Manhattan) Weapons of Mass Distraction: Distracting herself out of the drama of her life.  A young girl is forced to face the realities of her newly married mother and the stepsister she is now forced to share her room with. 

All of the plays featured in the June 14th finale will be published by Samuel French, the premier play and musical publishing and licensing company serving the Broadway community. For more about Fidelity FutureStage, visit www.futurestage.com.

Tomorrow; Bank of America and Inside Broadway.