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.
Madison Trust 2026 Project Proposal
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