$250,000 in College Scholarships to be Awarded Performing Arts College Symposium This Summer

For the first time ever, 22 of the world's top performing arts schools will come together in Chicago this summer for Chicago-based company, Broadway Break Thru's, College Break Thru summer symposium with more than $250,000 in college scholarships being awarded.

Accepting only 75 of the nation's most elite high school performing artists, College Break Thru will give students unprecedented access to the world's top colleges and instructors, high caliber classes and exclusive auditions. Past pre-college programs created by Broadway Break Thru have a 85% success rate of students getting into their college programs.

"Our son ... learned SO much about auditioning, how to audition, how to prepare for an audition, and how to select songs and monologues that were appropriate for him as a performer. The level of confidence I saw in my son as he walked into his auditions was incredible." Cathy Smith, pre-college program parent.

College Break Thru was created by Broadway Break Thru founder, David Petro, Casting Director and former Broadway performer. It is a summer camp intensive program for elite performing artists from high schools around the country.

"I'm thrilled to be able to provide an opportunity that's never existed before and doesn't exist anywhere else. This program gives students an extra college advantage. There isn't any program that allows talented students to pre-audition and get feedback from the decision makers who will be in their real college auditions." David Petro, founder

Performing arts students learn skills applicable in all areas of life. It is no surprise that many of the student leaders and gun control activists from Stoneman Douglas High School are theater students.

In honor of their leadership and courage, Broadway Break Thru has created the Melody Herzfeld Scholarship for College Break Thru. The scholarship includes airfare to Chicago, full boarding and meal plan, and admission to the College Break Thru program. Mrs Herzfeld will be selecting and naming the recipients. Donations to contribute to the fund to support additional students are being accepted here: https://www.broadwaybreakthru.com/product/melody-herzfeld-scholarship-donations/

College Break Thru will run from June 25 - 29, 2018, in Chicago at the University Center Chicago. Interested students can apply online by April 15 at broadwaybreakthru.com/college-break-thru

College Break Thru Partner Schools include:

American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), Ball State, The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, CAP 21, Carnegie Mellon, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Columbia College, DePaul University, Emerson College, Indiana University, The Juilliard School, Northwestern University, the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, NYU, Pace University, Point Park University, Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts, Texas State, Yale School of Drama, in addition to Stewart Talent agency, Second City Chicago and Broadway's Hamilton cast members.

About Broadway Break Thru (BBT)

Founded in 2009, BBT provides national and local opportunities to all aspiring young performers. The focus is on empowering students to master all the essential elements of musical theatre, film, dancing, singing, acting, and script writing. The performing arts summer intensives, pre-college programs, and weekend workshops give students a chance to meet and learn from celebrities, university faculty members, and entertainment industry professionals, offering them unprecedented opportunities in the world of performing arts.

BBT has brought an elite performing arts education to over 6,000 students in nine different cities and featured over 400 celebrities, casting directors, talent agents, college faculty, and high-level entertainment industry professionals.

College Break Thru is designed for incoming high school freshmen to incoming high school seniors, who have a strong interest in musical theatre, dance, voice and acting. Up to 75 students have the unprecedented opportunity to take classes, audition and receive audition feedback from university faculty members from American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), Ball State, The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, CAP 21, Carnegie Mellon, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Columbia College, DePaul University, Emerson College, Indiana University, The Juilliard School, Northwestern University, the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, NYU, Pace University, Point Park University, Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts, Texas State, Yale School of Drama, in addition to Stewart Talent agency, Second City Chicago and Broadway's Hamilton cast members.