Over 450 student actors from New York City Public Schools made their Broadway debuts May 22 onstage at the Ambassador Theatre for the 20th annual Broadway Junior Student Celebration. The Shubert Foundation and Musical Theatre International's annual presentation of young talent was hosted by actors Nicholas Matos (Smash) and Aline Mayagoitia (Real Women Have Curves).
The performance was the culmination of a mentorship program that helps build sustainable theatre education programs in NYC public schools. Hundreds of students who participated in the program brought a musical number from their fully produced school show to the finale performance May 22, giving them a chance to sing and dance on a Broadway stage. See the finale performance in the video above.
Students from all five boroughs were represented this year, with shows including Disney's Aladdin Jr., Disney's Alice in Wonderland Jr., Annie Jr., Disney's High School Musical Jr., Disney's The Lion King Jr., Madagascar 鈥� A Musical Adventure Jr., Roald Dahl鈥檚 Matilda The Musical Jr., Disney's Newsies Jr., Seussical Jr., and Shrek The Musical Jr.
The program is sponsored by The Shubert Foundation, Music Theatre International (MTI) and New York City Public Schools (NYCPS). President of The Shubert Foundation Diana Phillips and President and CEO of Music Theatre International Drew Cohen amongst the attendees at the event, as well as representatives from the NYC Public Schools Arts Office, prominent NYC arts educators, and leading members of New York鈥檚 professional theatre community.
鈥淵outh today navigate a rapidly changing world. Theatre in our schools provides a space and time to process events socially and emotionally, to explore big issues safely and creatively with their peers daily in classes, rehearsals, and on all of life鈥檚 stages," shared NYCPS Director of Theater Peter Avery in a statement. 鈥淲e are so fortunate to partner with the Shubert Foundation and Music Theatre International who for 20 years have supported impacting positive school culture one musical at a time!鈥�
For more information about theatre in NYC schools, visit
