Using Theatre to Teach Financial Literacy Pays

The National Theatre for Children Performs 'Mad About Money' at Jump$tart's
Educator Conference

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The words "theatre" and "financial
literacy" aren't typically used in the same sentence. However, The National
Theatre for Children (NTC) based in Minneapolis has worked hard to change that
and it's paying off. Now, the country's largest in-school educational theatre
company has been invited to perform at the Jump$tart National Educator's
Conference, the first national educator conference devoted entirely to
personal financial education. NTC will present Mad About Money on Saturday,
November 7, for conference attendees and the media in the ballroom of the
Capitol Hilton at 8:30 p.m.

The Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy was established
because the average student who graduates from high school lacks basic skills
in the management of personal financial affairs. Many are unable to balance a
checkbook and most simply have no insight into the basic survival principles
involved with earning, spending, saving and investing. Jump$tart's objective
is to encourage curriculum enrichment to ensure that basic personal financial
management skills are attained during the K-12 educational experience.

Recognizing the same need, NTC created a series of multi-platform financial
education programs - utilizing live theatre, the Internet and television shows
- to help the nation's schools teach important concepts around money. While
these programs teach very specific curriculum points, they are also funny and
entertaining. Performances of Mad About Money for middle schools, Crazy About
Credit for high schools and Showdown in Cash Canyon for elementary schools
have encouraged students to save a little more, spend a little less, and use
credit wisely.

While student and teacher feedback has consistently indicated that the plays
make an impact, a recent study by Dr. Lewis Mandell of the University of
Washington provides empirical evidence that NTC's productions are influencing
student attitudes on personal finance. Professor Mandell's research showed
that watching the Mad About Money play - and using the student workbooks and
Web site aligned with the program - significantly increased a student's
knowledge of personal finance concepts. "The intervention increased knowledge
by more than 13 percent, which was highly significant," writes Dr. Mandell in
his report.

Financial institutions have taken notice. In the past two years, no fewer
than eight corporations have sponsored a Mad About Money tour into schools in
their service territories including Bank of the West, CoVantage Credit Union,
and Wachovia (now Wells Fargo). "These companies understand that helping
educate students is a good thing to do," says NTC President Ward Eames. "They
also understand that doing 'a good thing' has a positive impact on their brand
image with teachers and parents, as well as with the young people who grow up
to be potential customers. It gives companies a chance to be good corporate
citizens and smart business people." State agencies in North Dakota,
Tennessee, Washington and Iowa have also sponsored NTC financial literacy
programs for students in their communities.

About The National Theatre for Children (NTC)
Founded in 1978, NTC is the largest in-school touring company in the world.
They are dedicated to educating our nation's students on important, timely
subjects by offering live professional theatre tied to curriculum and using
multiple learning platforms. Based in Minneapolis, NTC has developed the art
of teaching through a combination of live theatre, television, print and Web
learning into an evidence-based science of its own. NTC has pioneered dozens
of extremely successful programs in health, science, social studies, reading
and financial literacy. Each year, dozens of troupes perform live educational
theatre programs in front of millions of students, in thousands of schools,
nationwide. For more information, please visit the NTC Web site at
www.nationaltheatre.com or call 1-800-858-3999.

For more information: Katie Griep, Director of Sales and Marketing,
kmgriep@nationaltheatre.com or 612-341-0882 x202

SOURCE The National Theatre for Children

Katie Griep, Director of Sales and Marketing, +1-612-341-0882, ext. 202,
kmgriep@nationaltheatre.com