Teens on Broadway Brings Students to Circle in the Square Theatre for Summer Program

This summer eight local public performing arts high school students are learning professional performance techniques from outstanding faculty at Circle in the Square Theatre School, during an intensive seven-week program. The renowned conservatory shares the facility and stage with 2015 Best Musical Tony Award Winner FUN HOME.

"Being around the production, the actors and the crew of this great new musical as we work in classes each day is so exciting!" - Rosemarie Manzo, Susan E. Wagner HS (Staten Island)

These eight scholarships are the newest evolution of the Theatre School's Teens on Broadway initiative which celebrates, supports and convenes the community of local public performing arts high schools. Teens on Broadway has been creating a sense of welcome and access to the world of Broadway theater for this collective community since the program was piloted in 2012. Over four hundred students from eighteen schools in all five boroughs have participated in Teens on Broadway to date.

"Returning to Circle in the Square as a conservatory student after having performed here with my high school in 2014 through Teens on Broadway is absolutely amazing. I was overwhelmed at first, but after one week, its home." - Jonathan German, 2015 graduate of Repertory Company HS (Manhattan)

For the first time Teens on Broadway Scholarships are enabling local teens from six local high schools to attend deep and meaningful classes in acting or musical theater this summer at Circle in the Square.

"This great program prepares us for professional work. Like the performers in FUN HOME we have to be on time, we have to be prepared and we all come to this beautiful Broadway theater every day." - Alexia Sielo, County Prep HS (Jersey City)

Principals report that up to 90% of their NYC area public performing arts HS students do not pursue careers in theater after graduation. Teens on Broadway is designed to retain local talent and keep more students on track. Through Broadway League and American Theatre Wing career panels held at Circle in the Square, theater-loving teens also learn about the range of theater industry career and intern opportunities. To help reduce the exodus from the industry by performing arts high school graduates each Teens on Broadway scholarship recipient is creating a career plan for his or her first year out of high school, under the guidance of School Director E. Colin O'Leary. The scholarships are supported by grants from The Pinkerton Foundation and Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation.