20 Elementary and Middle Schools Experience "Global Warming" and Live Theatre

WASHINGTON--- Pepco and The National Theatre for Children (NTC) today announced a new partnership to bring an energy education showcase to elementary and middle schools in Washington, D.C., and the Maryland suburbs. Professional actors from NTC's nationally touring troupes will descend on the region the week of October 5 and present live interactive theater in local schools to educate students about global warming, clean energy and their role in the nation's energy future .

The theater company provides similar education to millions of students around the nation each year. However, this regional tour is especially important at a time when Congress is debating legislation aimed at reducing global warming and encouraging new clean energy sources.

"The program is a perfect fit with our ongoing initiatives to promote the EmPOWER Maryland program aimed at reducing energy consumption," said Thomas Graham, President, Pepco Region. "NTC presents valuable information to students and makes it fun along the way. We are proud to partner with them on this important project."

The actors will visit 20 schools during the weeklong event including a special demonstration performance at the U.S. Department of Education.

Every student at each school attends the show and the performances are further supported by in-class activities and take-home assignments that require parents and children to further explore their energy use patterns.

"NTC performances engage kids in an interactive and fun way that all too often doesn't occur in their day-to-day school experience. We are making some pretty complex topics very accessible to elementary and middle school students," said Ward Eames, president of NTC.

"We make them laugh, help them learn and leave students with knowledge they weren't expecting when they first sat down to see the show."

NTC's success has been well documented through university studies and testimonials from the thousands of teachers who host the troupe each year. Independent studies report that 99 percent of these educators agree that the use of live theater increases their student's ability to retain information.

"We are charged with delivering reliable power to our customers," said Graham. "These days, we also have an equal responsibility to educate our customers about the realities of their energy usage. NTC's program will help both today's customers and our future customers become more informed about their energy choices."

About Pepco

Pepco, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), delivers safe, reliable and affordable electric service to more than 750,000 customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

About The National Theatre for Children

Founded in 1978, The National Theatre for Children, Inc. (known at that time as Small Change Original Theatre, Inc.) is dedicated to educating young people on important and timely curricular subjects by offering educational live theater in our nation's schools. Based in Minneapolis, Minn., NTC has developed the art of teaching through live theater into an evidence-based science of its own. NTC has pioneered extremely successful programs in health, science, social studies, reading and math. Each year, dozens of troupes perform live educational theater programs in front of millions of students, in thousands of schools, nationwide.