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Pioneer Theatre Company
Suzanne Neddo
801-581-7222
Suzanne.Neddo@ptc.utah.edu

Qwest
Vince Hancock
801-237-6902
vince.hancock@qwest.com

$10,000 QWEST FOUNDATION GRANT BRINGS THE DEAD ALIVE FOR UTAH STUDENTS

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 16, 2005 – The Qwest Foundation, Qwest Communications’ philanthropic program, donated $10,000 to support the Pioneer Theater Company’s (PTC) school matinee performances of James Joyce’s The Dead.

Approximately 1800 students will attend student matinees of The Dead, which take place Feb. 23 and March 2. The work is a musical based on one of Joyce’s short stories, which is required reading for many Utah high school students.

“Qwest is committed to supporting education opportunities for students in our communities,” said Jerry Fenn, Qwest president for Utah. “We are proud to partner with Pioneer Theatre Company to allow Utah students to experience this professional production of The Dead.”

The PTC Student Matinee Program introduces six to twelfth graders to live professional theater by offering school groups free or deeply discounted tickets to each production. Students attending the matinee receive a study guide and interact with the characters in a post-performance “talkback” session. Teachers receive information before attending the plays so they can incorporate the themes and articles into their lesson plans.

“The Student Matinee Program is the keystone of Pioneer Theatre Company’s youth education and outreach initiatives,” said Chris Lino, PTC managing director. “Qwest’s funding is key to bringing this production and student coursework alive for Utah students.”

Since 1985, PTC has provided educational programming for students in Utah and surrounding states. A significant facet of the theater’s educational programming is providing young audiences with a unique opportunity to attend professionally produced theatrical productions.

For more information about the Pioneer Theatre Company and the Student Matinee Program, visit www.PioneerTheatre.org.

About the Pioneer Theatre Company
The Pioneer Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theater in-residence at the University of Utah. Currently, PTC is the only resident professional theater in Utah, one of only a small group prestigious theaters in the country associated with a major university, and recognized nationally as a major regional theater.

The mission of PTC is to provide audiences with a theatrical experience of the highest professional standards and to serve as an educational resource throughout the state and region. PTC presents seven productions annually from September to May for a total of 154 performances, including seven free previews and fourteen student matinees.

About the Qwest Foundation
The Qwest Foundation’s core principle is that investing in people and communities provides lasting value for the future. The Qwest Foundation awards grants to community-based programs that generate high-impact and measurable results, focusing on K-12 education and economic development.

The Qwest Foundation’s philosophy is to help build strong communities through investing in people and the places where they live and work. For more information, contact www.qwest.com/foundation.