Zions Bank Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah; May 8, 2018 — Emery High School students from Castle Dale joined more than 40 other Utah high schools for an all-student matinee performance of “Hamilton” at the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City on May 4. After weeks of studying a special integrated curriculum about Alexander Hamilton, the performance provided more than 2,100 students an opportunity to experience the musical in person.
Special funding through the state of Utah, Zions Bank and other organizations allowed these students to attend the matinee performance for just $10 — a Hamilton bill. They also participated in a Q&A with members of the “Hamilton” cast, and watched peers perform songs, poetry, rap, scenes and monologues about the Founding Fathers on stage.
“It was a thrill for us to meet the students from Emery High School who had the chance to experience this important musical and to dive deep into this chapter of history through the Hamilton Education Program we were so proud to support,” said Rob Brough, Zions Bank executive vice president. “Because the arts bring value to our community, we wanted to make sure students from across the state had the chance to see ‘Hamilton’ on tour.”
The Hamilton Education Program, nicknamed “EduHam,” is one of several history education programs at the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Its president, James G. Basker — who devised the education program in New York in tandem with “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, producer Jeffrey Seller, The Rockefeller Foundation and the NYC Department of Education —added, “This project is transformative. ‘Hamilton’ has struck a chord with our nation’s students because it embodies what great history education is all about: bringing the past to life and fostering connections with the exceptional individuals and moments that have made us who we are. This program empowers students to reclaim their own narrative and empowers teachers to bridge classroom learning with the stage.”
The Rockefeller Foundation provided an initial grant that funded the educational partnership in New York City, then committed an additional $6 million to the effort to support the national expansion of the program.
“Hamilton” is the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, “Hamilton” is the story of America then, as told by America now. With book, music and lyrics by Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, “Hamilton” is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.
About The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Founded in 1994 by philanthropists Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is the leading American history nonprofit organization dedicated to K–12 education, while also serving the general public. Drawing on the 65,000 documents in the Gilder Lehrman Collection and an extensive network of eminent historians, the Institute provides teachers, students, and the general public with direct access to unique primary source materials.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is supported through the generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations. The Institute’s programs have been recognized by awards from the White House, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Organization of American Historians. For information on the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, visit www.gilderlehrman.org.
About Zions Bank
Zions Bank, a division of ZB, N.A., is Utah’s oldest financial institution and is the only local bank with a statewide distribution of financial centers, operating 97 full-service centers. Zions Bank also operates 24 full-service financial centers in Idaho and Wyoming. In addition to offering a wide range of traditional banking services, Zions Bank is also a leader in small business lending and has ranked as the No. 1 lender of U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) loans in Utah for the past 24 consecutive years. Founded in 1873, Zions Bank has been serving the communities of Utah for more than 140 years. Additional information is available at www.zionsbank.com.