UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The Broadway Theatre League is launching a new marketing program using local high school students and social media. The Youth Ambassador Program has junior or senior high school students watch the opening nights of shows and then share their reviews on Facebook and Twitter. In exchange they will get a season subscription to watch the shows.

The Broadway Theatre league came up with the idea as a way to get more students involved in theatre.

"There's a lot of kids that are interested in pursuing theatre in some way or another in a college career and moving forward with that, we're hoping to help them along with their decisions but also to get the interest from their age group onward to bring that desire to go to the theatre," said Erica Heintz, Administrative Assistant of the Broadway Theatre League.

With their Youth Ambassador Program, students will post their reviews on Twitter and Facebook right after each shows opening night, as well as comment during the show in special "tweet seats."

"We're going to make sure that they sit all together that they become more of a family and have those connections," said Heintz. "There's 35 area school districts, they probably have never been to some of those areas and try and have a community merge of ideas and families and friends."

To apply, students must be a junior or senior in high school for the 2012-13 school year. Students must have the ability to attend and provide his/her own transportation to the opening night of all five season shows. Students must also have a Facebook and/or Twitter account and be willing to submit their comments through social media within 12 hours of viewing the performance.

Applications to become a part of the program are due Monday, October 15. For more information about the Youth Ambassador's Program, call Broadway Theatre League at (315) 724-7196 or click on 'Youth Ambassador Program' under the ‘About Us’ tab at www.broadwayutica.com.

The Boadway Theatre League's upcoming shows include:
• West Side Story, November 7 & 8
• A Chorus Line, January 8 & 9
• The Addams Family, February 12 & 13
• Rock of Ages, April 16 & 17
• Catch Me If You Can, June 4 and 5