Annette Tanner on a Unique Broadway Mission

New Zealander Annette Tanner, executive director of Atlanta-based non-profit organisation Broadway Dreams Foundation, is one of a “handful of remarkable women who are making their mark on educational theatre” in the United States, the Huffington Post reports.

Tanner explains her “generous and very unique mission”.

“Our dream is to make sure that aspiring performers are given the opportunities to live out theirs, regardless of whatever hurdles they may be facing. We raise scholarship funds throughout the year and in 2014 we had 42 per cent of all students on full or partial scholarship. Our age range has been as young as 6 years and as old as 67 years.

“We believe in innovative theatre, in allowing our directors and choreographers and Broadway teaching artists the freedom to create and to inspire our students to do the same. Each one-week program intensive ends with a fully produced show.

“While Broadway may be their goal, it is their responsibility to use their personal gifts for good throughout their lives. We’ve begun a programme this season called ‘dreamers care’ where we teach our students how to use their talents they have for the better of their communities by taking them out on service trips during their week-long intensive. This summer, we’ve taken students out to senior living homes, shelters, and a Habitat for Humanity block build to share their music and song. The students are left with the challenge of continuing this work once our intensive week is over.”

Originally a casting agent, Tanner co-founded the Broadway Dreams Foundation in 2006. She is also a photographer, and together with her husband, has won numerous awards including the “L’Oreal Look of the Year,” several international hair and fashion photography awards, and “Best Portrait Photographer” for the Nickelodeon Parents Choice Awards.

Original article by Mary Anna Dennard, The Huffington Post, July 8, 2015.