Each month, we’ll be sharing a story of impact that shows how Rodman for Kids supports youth-focused organizations and how that support ultimately brightens futures for the kids they serve.
This month, we’re highlighting how our Theatre for Kids program brings learning beyond the stage through the CUE Model, our approach to turning access to the performing arts into meaningful, lasting impact:
Every trip to the theatre is an educational experience, but its lasting impact depends on how well it’s reinforced beyond the performance. That belief is what shaped the Theatre for Kids CUE Model, our guiding methodology for turning access into meaningful, lasting impact.
The CUE Model is built around three intentional stages:
-
Connect: Providing context before the show so students understand why they’re going and what to think about.
-
Uplift: The live theatre experience itself – designed to be accessible and inclusive for all kids.
-
Empower: Reflection and follow-up that help students process what they experienced and apply it to their own lives.
Students from Brooke Charter School moved through each stage of the model during their experience attending “Hamilton” with the Theatre for Kids program back in October.
- Before the performance, students engaged with guided prompts that asked them to think critically about the show’s themes – including whose stories are told in history, how background shapes identity, what it means to leave a legacy, and what motivates people to use their voice.
- 30 students from Brooke Charter School attended the performance and were in “the room where it happens.”
- After experiencing the show itself, students were empowered to reflect and lead. At a school-wide community meeting, they presented their insights, shared personal takeaways, and discussed lessons learned – from the importance of every role in a community to the value of persistence and self-belief.
Take a look below at the presentation they put together:
This is what the CUE Model makes possible. Not just a night at the theatre, but a structured, reinforced experience that deepens understanding, builds confidence, and empowers students to lead.
Throughout the year ahead, we’ll be sharing stories that show how Rodman for Kids brightens futures through access, intention, and reflection.