HAMILTON's Syndee Winters to Visit Homeless Youth at Brooklyn Children's Theatre

The Brooklyn Children's Theatre (BCT) is an after school musical theatre program serving over 1000 children in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Children's Theatre aims to bring children from all socio-economic backgrounds together through musical theatre. Its cast of "Disney's THE LION KING JR." has 15 homeless, low-income, and affluent children singing and dancing side by side.

Syndee Winters is a Broadway actress currently playing the Schuyler sisters in Hamilton, which received 16 Tony award nominations, more than any play in American history. Ms. Winters debuted on Broadway in 2010 as Nala in Disney's THE LION KING, traveling North America in the role. Also on Broadway, she played Diana Ross in "MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL and The Leading Player -- a role originally made famous by Ben Vereen - in PIPPIN.

On Monday, December 19, at 6pm, Ms. Winters will join the BCT cast of THE LION KING JR. to tell her story as an artist, provide creative feedback to the teen performers, and inspire them in their musical theater pursuits.

"Absolutely anything is possible in music, in theater -- and in life," Ms. Winters said. "It doesn't matter where a young person starts out, if you can dream big and work hard, there's no limit to what you can achieve."

Chris Heller, BCT's Artistic Director, said, "The teens have been working so hard on their performances--singing, dancing, acting, drumming. To meet with someone who actually performed in the show on Broadway will serve as an inspiration for them and will help them to connect more deeply to the material."

Lila Sternoff, age 13, who plays Zazu, is particularly enthusiastic for Ms. Winter's visit: "I'm so excited, because I love Hamilton and I love THE LION KING. I'm really excited to meet her and hear her feedback on our show."

Thirteen-year-old Sophia Davis, who plays Nala, exclaimed, "Anyone who has been in Hamilton and on Broadway has already stolen a large portion of my heart," to which her cast-mates cooed and "aww"ed in sympathy.

Watch a rehearsal video of the cast performing "Shadowlands" below!

DISNEY'S THE LION KING JR. will be presented at the Brooklyn Music School Playhouse, 126 St. Felix Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217 (btn Hanson Pl and Lafayette Ave). Click here for Brooklyn Children's Theatre's Lion King Jr tickets.

Brooklyn Children's Theatre (BCT) is an after school musical theatre program serving over 1000 children in Brooklyn. We believe that theatre should be for EVERY child, not just those who can afford it. This year we are giving away 200 BCT scholarships to homeless and low-income children so they can reap the benefits of a theatre arts education.