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Math Connections Theater
Presenters
Marija Grove Third-Year Undergraduate Student, B.S. in Mathematics, minor in Physics Bethany Droubay Third-Year Undergraduate Student, B.S. in Mathematics, minor in Computational Analytics
Abstract
Imagine a world in which math is not a source of anxiety or confusion, but a stage for laughter, creativity, and personal transformation. This is the bold vision behind Mathematics Connections Theater (MCT)—a groundbreaking initiative that fuses mathematical thinking with the energy and artistry of live performance, shattering traditional silos between STEM and the arts to ignite a joyful revolution in math education. In the 21st century—fueled by technology, data, and algorithms—more than ever, mathematics is the great equalizer, determining who has the power to shape our world. Join us in raising the curtain for the next generation of innovators!
Project
Experience the transformative power of the arts and mathematics with the Mathematics Connections Theater (MCT) experience! This uniquely designed, hour-long, high-energy performance, created and performed by talented JMU students, combines live theater, comedy, music, and engaging math concepts in a way that captivates and inspires. By supporting the full range of MCT efforts, you help foster a dynamic, cross-disciplinary program that empowers students to connect, create, and share the beauty of mathematics with their peers. At its heart, MCT is more than a series of shows—it’s a movement. It responds directly to the national crisis in math literacy: only 22% of high school seniors are proficient in math, while 91% of adults report math anxiety, and the U.S. lags globally in essential numeracy skills. The implications are profound, affecting economic mobility, health outcomes, and the future workforce and national security. Yet MCT refuses to accept this as an inevitability. Instead, it reimagines how math can be learned, loved, and lived. MCT’s radical, interdisciplinary approach sets it apart. Picture undergraduate students of mathematics, science, theater, and comedy, joining forces to create original, laugh- out-loud productions where math concepts are brought to life on stage. Comedy writers and math content creators collaborate, while directors, designers, and actors from diverse backgrounds craft immersive experiences that turn math from an abstract hurdle into a vibrant, relatable story. Through a JMU Math 167 "Topics in Mathematics" course, students hone their technical and artistic skills and discover the power of teamwork and
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creative risk-taking. As they step outside the status quo, they learn firsthand that the intersection of arts and math is a fertile ground for innovation and growth.
The results of MCT collaborations are extraordinary. The recent "Mathy Night Live" production drew enthusiastic crowds and university-wide attention—entertaining as they enlightened, transforming negative attitudes. Audience surveys and ongoing educational research show that MCT doesn’t just make math fun; it changes minds and hearts. Students and spectators alike report feeling more connected, confident, and curious about mathematics, breaking the generational cycle of math aversion and anxiety. MCT’s impact extends far beyond the stage. Grant and donor support enables paid, career-building roles for students, the creation of reusable scripts and resources, and the pursuit of partnerships with world-class organizations like Second City Chicago for comedy writing training. These investments pave the way for national expansion— taking shows on the road to colleges, high schools, and communities, and sharing the MCT spirit with students across the country. Through collaborations with leading math education researchers and participation in programs like the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates, MCT’s innovative model is poised to inspire a new wave of educators and performers nationwide. By supporting MCT, donors are not just funding a theater program—they are investing in a transformative force for good. They are helping create a world where math is accessible, enjoyable, and empowering for all, where students of every background can discover their potential and step confidently into the opportunities of the 21st century. As acclaimed biographer Walter Isaacson notes, “the people who will be the most successful are the people who can straddle [both the sciences and the arts].” MCT embodies this ideal, cultivating versatile, resilient thinkers who can shape the future. Join us in building a lasting legacy of joy, learning, and possibility—where audiences learn to laugh and laugh to learn, for the love of math and the good of all. Your support can help us write the next act in this inspiring story. In 2018, our long-term vision was to secure significant funding to create a state-of-the- art, high-end performance venue at JMU. By 2026, our ambition remains unchanged, but our approach has evolved: JMU’s physical footprint is now too limited for our growing aspirations. Instead, we seek to leverage Madison Trust Funds to secure major support and bring the MCT movement/model to a national audience. Our combination of entertainment value together with strategic learning and assessment outcomes is incredibly novel and ready to be introduced at other universities and other education levels, including developing shows tailored to elementary and middle school students. Target funders, such as the Gates Foundation and Spencer Foundation, devote significant dollars to the improvement of math education across the country. As Bill Gates notes, not many students share his love of math. “For too many, the subject is a barrier to success instead of a gateway.” Help us be the gateway.
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Benefit to JMU
The MCT project offers an extraordinary opportunity for JMU to lead the nation in innovative mathematics education. By supporting this project, donors will help JMU stand out as the only university offering this unique, collaborative approach to making mathematics accessible and exciting. The program brings together a diverse array of departments and disciplines, fostering a culture of creativity and interdisciplinary learning across campus. Through storytelling and performance, MCT transforms abstract mathematical concepts into meaningful, real-world experiences. Students not only become more mathematically competent, but also develop confidence, communication skills, and a lifelong appreciation for mathematics. This approach has a ripple effect, benefiting audiences who engage with math in new and entertaining ways, and empowering non- math majors to deeply understand and present complex ideas. The recent "Mathy Night Live" show in Wilson Hall exemplified the joy, pride, and commitment MCT inspires in students. Their dedication and teamwork created an inclusive, high-standard environment that truly embodies JMU’s “Being the Change” spirit. With donor support, MCT can expand its reach, helping even more students see themselves as capable and creative mathematical thinkers. By investing in MCT, donors will help JMU address the national challenge of negative attitudes toward mathematics—a challenge that limits opportunities for millions of Americans. Together, we can position JMU as a leader in changing perceptions, improving math literacy, and ensuring our graduates are equipped for success in a world where quantitative skills are more important than ever. Brief survey report: After the October performance, the attendees were invited to participate in a brief survey on their perceptions of the show. The survey included the questions measuring students’ engagement, attitudes and beliefs about mathematics, as well as potential interest in learning mathematics. Over 75% of the respondents of various majors indicated that, because of this show, they now viewed mathematics as creative and enjoyable, developed more positive attitudes towards mathematics, and sparked their curiosity to learn more mathematics. Moreover, over 80% of respondents indicated their interest in attending future productions and agreed or strongly agreed that the MCT performance inspired them to think about how mathematics can be communicated beyond the classroom.
Supplemental Materials
• Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mctjmu/ • Some clips from the show: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGrc3JB34f- IitvbvUJSDee6uqgauLhlc
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Projected Budget
Paid Student Personnel:
$10,500
Second City Chicago:
$4,250
Travel (Univ/K-12):
$6,000
Stage Supplies:
$3,250
Other:
$1,000
Total:
$25,000
$25,000 would provide 2 years of support for this innovative and important work to write, perform, travel, and pursue external funding from major national foundations. Most of the funds are directly invested into JMU Arts & STEM students and their training. • Personnel include payment to all students involved in the production of “Mathy Night Live,” the Math Connections Theater performance. This includes Maddy Night Live students, actors, designers, and production personnel as well as payment to Wilson Hall for the professional personnel needed to run a production at this high-tech theater (roughly $1,000 per performance). $10,500 is an estimate for personnel for two shows at ~$5,250/show (~$4,250 to students and $1,000 to Wilson Hall each performance). • Second City Chicago offers Online Sketch Comedy Writing Classes at $345/student. We envision teams of three students at a time taking these, so expenses of 3 x $345 = $1,035. With 4 such cohorts, that cost would come in at $4,140 (listed at $4,250 in case of cost increases). See, e.g., https://www.secondcity.com/classes/chicago/online-classes/writing-1-online-vir • Travel includes costs associated to take Mathy Night Live on the road to other universities and K-12 schools. • Stage supplies include microphone rentals, costumes, scenery and props, publicity, and all the nuts and bolts involved with live theater. • Other includes costs related to the education/assessment aspect of the proposal (including documenting our impact with expertise from the Math Education & the Statistics Communities), publishing rights, additional script or personnel expenses, etc. This also covers food for the Green Room on show night and snack food for some other longer rehearsals/brainstorming sessions. With partial funding of $10,000 we can pay personnel for to write new material in FA26 and perform two shows at JMU in SP27 and encore performance in FA27. With partial funding of $16,000, we can pay personnel for the two shows mentioned above and travel to two different universities (VT/GMU/VCU) or high schools and pay show staff. We would pursue cost sharing with destination schools to cover costs associated with
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running a show at their performance venues.
We invest in students to provide career-building opportunities. The October 2025 Mathy Night Live show, which cost over $5,000 to perform, featured many JMU Student Specialists in their craft and included the following students and roles: Show Director: Marija Grove
Stage Manager: Bethany Droubay Properties Master: Lorraine Nida Publicity Manager: Kaitlyn Baldwin Set/Artistic Director: Abby Molloy Musical Director: Brooke McManus MCT Pit Band:
Brooke McManus (8-piece MCT Pit Band lead) Mid-show Musical Artist: DownTime (Paul Clossey, DownTime band lead) Projection Designer: Ryan Michalowicz
Costume Designer: Lily Pinchbeck Lighting Designer: Abby Greenstreet Lightboard Operator: Aaliyah Williams Videographer/Photographer: Quinn Worley
Acting Cast: Maddy Night Live (Student group of 15 hilarious students) Acting Cast Executive Lead: Allie Poole (Maddy Night Live President)
Project Team
• Paul and Debra Warne, both holding Ph.D.s in Applied Mathematics (1993), joined JMU in 2000 and have since become trailblazers in the intersection of mathematics and the performing arts. Paul’s recent recognition with the prestigious 2025 CSM Distinguished Teacher Award, due in part to founding Mathematics Connections Theater (MCT), underscores the exceptional quality and innovation at the heart of their work. With over 65 years of combined experience teaching mathematics and more than a decade actively shaping Harrisonburg City Public Schools Theater programs, their expertise in blending math, live theater, and comedy is second to none. Their vision is bold: to propel MCT to new heights, expanding its reach and impact through both audience engagement and strategic pursuit of fun. • We are thrilled to announce that our new JMU colleague, Vladislav Kokushkin, Ph.D. in Mathematics and a leading expert in Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education (RUME), has already received funding from two notable sources since April 2025 to explore the groundbreaking collaborations and transformative impacts of MCT. Vlad’s innovative CSM and Mathematics Summer 2025 Scholarship Stimulus Program (SSP) proposal, "Math Connections Theater: A Story about the Happy Marriage Between Mathematics and Performing Arts," was awarded $4,699. This summer support empowered Vlad to design three mathematics education studies aimed at understanding the nature and the impact of MCT on its audience, actors, and sketch writers. • Marija Grove is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a Mathematics B.S. with a minor in Physics. Her theatrical experience runs back fourteen years,
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including roles both on and off the stage. • Bethany Droubay, a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Mathematics with a minor in Computational Analytics, focuses her groundbreaking research on disease modeling and has presented at several conferences across multiple universities. She joined the MCT team in Spring 2025 and became the stage manager for "Mathy Night Live," where she used her astute attention to detail to augment the impact of the show both on JMU students and her own experience. • Lorraine Nida is a fifth-year undergraduate student obtaining a B.A. in International Affairs and a B.S. in Mathematics. Lorraine’s training in props mastery and stage setting over the course of four years (2013-2017), served her in helping bring to life the worlds in “Mathy Night Live.”
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