News release: Colorado - Denver/Boulder

February 17, 2004

For more information, call:
C.J. Moore
Kaiser Permanente, Colorado Springs
Phone: (719) 867-2105
E-mail: C.J.Moore@kp.org

Colorado Springs Students See Award-winning Health Programs Free from Kaiser Permanente's Educational Theatre Programs

Denver, CO – For three weeks this spring, Kaiser Permanente's Educational Theatre Programs will present their award-winning shows about healthier living to students in elementary and middle schools throughout the Colorado Springs area. The service is provided free as part of Kaiser Permanente's commitment to give back to our communities.

"What Would You Do?," a show about personal choices for upper elementary school students, will tour local schools Feb. 23-27 and Mar. 15-19. "X-Change," a show dealing with integrity issues for middle school students, will tour to local schools Mar. 8-12.

Since 1985, the popular offerings of the Educational Theatre Programs have been available at no charge to schools and community groups as a community service of Kaiser Permanente. Designed to help improve the health and well being of students, the issues raised in the theatrical performances range from how to make healthy choices to peer pressure topics, such as how to act with integrity and still keep your friends. Performances are tailored to fit the age of the audience.

Kaiser Permanente's Educational Theatre Programs have been recognized many times over the past 18 years for their innovative approach to teaching health and safety messages to the young people in our community. In 2000, the Denver Medical Society presented the Educational Theatre Programs with the prestigious Community Education Award. To date, the Educational Theatre Programs have presented health related messages to more than one million students in Denver and Colorado Springs.

The professional actor/educators, who comprise the acting troupe of Kaiser Permanente's Educational Theatre Programs, are under the direction of Glenna Kelly. Members of the troupe, who will participate in the spring tour, include Laura Chavez, Brian Harper, Corey Jones, Sue Niedringhaus, Curtis Robbins, and Stuart Sanks.

For further details about the Colorado Springs tour, contact the Production Manager, Becky Toma at Kaiser Permanente at 303-761-3920.

Kaiser Permanente is a nonprofit health plan and the largest private health care provider in Colorado. It is rated among the top ten health care organizations in the country by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Kaiser Permanente cares for more than 408,000 members in the Denver/Boulder and Colorado Springs areas. In the Denver/Boulder area, care is provided by a coordinated team of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, mental health counselors and physical therapists. In Colorado Springs, Kaiser Permanente cares for its members through an affiliated network of community-based physicians and other health care providers.

List of Schools and Performances
Colorado Springs 2004

Show: "What Would You Do?" for 4th and 5th grades

Monday, Feb. 23
Shows: 9:30/10:45
Monroe Elementary School

Tuesday, Feb. 24
Shows: 8:30
Madison Elementary School

Wednesday, Feb. 25
Shows: 9:30
Mountain View Elementary

Thursday, Feb. 26
Shows: 9:00/10:15
Martinez Elementary School

Friday, Feb. 27
Shows: 9:30/11:00
Manitou Springs Elementary

Show: "X-Change" for Middle School

Monday, March 8
Shows: 9:15/10:30/noon
West Middle School

Tuesday, March 9
Shows: 11:30/1:00/2:15
Emerson-Edison Charter School

Thursday, March 11
Shows: 2:30
North Middle School

Friday, March 12
Shows: 8:00/9:15/11:30
Timberview Middle School

Show: "What Would You Do?" for 4th and 5th grades

Monday, March 15
Shows: 1:15/2:30
Roosevelt-Edison Charter School

Tuesday, March 16
Shows: 1:30
King Elementary School

Wednesday, March 17
Shows: 1:30
Peyton Elementary School

Thursday, March 18
Shows: 1:00
Washington Elementary

Friday, March 19
Shows: 1:30
Hunt Elementary School