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‘Smash’ hits the Rock!

NBC, Lowe's, others to rebuild East Rockaway High School auditorium

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After a nationwide search, East Rockaway High School’s hurricane-ravaged auditorium was chosen to be rebuilt as a kick-off for NBC’s “Smash: Make a Musical,” a national effort to restore school theaters that were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.

Partnering with home improvement retailer Lowe’s and iTheatrics, an educational theater consulting firm, “Smash” cast member Jeremy Jordan, Irwin Contracting Inc. and volunteers from the nonprofit organization Rebuilding Together — which repairs and upgrades homes, theaters and community centers at no cost — came to the Ocean Avenue school on Feb. 16 to film three commercials for Lowe’s, the first of which was scheduled to air on Tuesday night’s episode of “Smash.”

With Rebuiling Together volunteers, Lowe’s “Heroes” have been working for weeks to replace the stage and the flooring in the auditorium. Lowe’s sponsors programs that focus on K through 12 public education and community improvement projects. The “Heroes,” Lowe’s employee volunteers who support local community projects and, along with Rebuild Together, are also partnered with Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross. In 2012, Lowe’s and its charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Rebuilding Together is a Safe and Healthy Housing organization whose focus is repairs, accessibility modifications and energy efficient upgrades .

iTheatrics adapts existing Broadway and West End musicals for elementary, middle and high school students to perform. In addition, the firm also provide teachers with resource enhancements such as choreography DVDs, director’s guides and curriculum connections.

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