On March 19, 150 New York City public school students will make their Broadway debuts at the Shubert Theatre, home to the hit revival of Hello! Dolly, as part of the 4th annual Shubert Foundation High School Theatre Festival. The students will spend the day attending workshops led by Broadway's leading professionals before taking to the Broadway stage to perform selections from iconic musicals and plays.
Students participating in the festival will receive guidance and teaching from the likes of Tony recipient Baayork Lee and Hamilton's Sasha Hutchings, among others. Additional guests will be announced at a later date.
The five participating schools were selected from over 25 schools across the city. They are: the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens, Talent Unlimited High School in Manhattan, William Cullen Bryant High School in Queens, Professional Performing Arts High School in Manhattan, and LaGuardia High School for Music, Art, and Performing Arts in Manhattan.
The festival performances will take place from 7 PM to 9 PM. Students will perform selections from Ragtime, Machinal, Henry's Law, West Side Story, and 42nd Street.
“Theatre instruction teaches students the importance of rehearsing, while building self-confidence and strengthening public speaking skills,” says New York City Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña in a statement. ”These are critical skills that prepare students for college, careers and beyond. That's why I'm so pleased that we continue to expand access to theatre programs and arts education across the City. In particular, we are committed to leveraging the incredible connections we have to New York City's rich cultural resources and developing meaningful arts partnerships with organizations like Shubert.”
“We are so proud to have supported this Festival since its inception,” says Philip J. Smith, Chairman of the Shubert Organization. “The extraordinary talents of the students continue to astound year after year upon our Broadway stages.”
Sponsored by The Shubert Foundation, the festival is presented in partnership with the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE).
