Broadway dreams will come true for 47 young, aspiring performers when they take the stage to perform in The Broadway Dreams Foundation's "Take It to the Limit" NYC Showcase at Queen of the Night at the Diamond Horseshoe (Paramount Hotel, 235 W 46th Street) on Monday, November 24, 2014 at 2:00 pm. Under the direction of acclaimed director/choreographer Otis Sallid (Smokey Joe's Café, Black Nativity), all 47 students will perform for the Broadway industry's top casting directors, agents, directors, and producers in the heart of New York City.
"The annual showcase is
a fantastic opportunity for BDF to show the NYC theatrical community what our organization is all about," said BDF Executive Director
Annette Tanner. "We invite everyone to come and see, firsthand, the positive impact the arts and our programs have on students across the country."
Event chair
Rachel Hoffman, CSA of
Telsey + Company said, "It's invaluable to me, as a casting director, to have access to the incredible, young talent BDF fosters. I'm thrilled that my colleagues in the industry, both agents and casting directors, will also get a chance to see these students shine."
"It was at the BDF NYC Showcase that I was discovered by
Bernie Telsey and invited to audition for Bring It On the Musical, my first Broadway show," said BDF alum
Ryann Redmond (If/Then). "The Broadway Dreams Foundation has been an important part of my career, providing me with countless opportunities and tremendous support."
The Broadway Dreams Foundation teaches the next generation of musical theater performers how to kick start their careers through unique, week-long performance intensives taught by Broadway's brightest stars and savvy industry insiders. Forty-seven exceptional students from each of the five cities BDF visited this summer were nominated by the organization's Broadway teaching artists to participate in the showcase. Of the students who participated in BDF's five 2014 Summer Intensives, the following students were chosen to participate: Ben Ahlers, Jordan Andre, Veronica Benton, Doriya Bolton,
Gaby Bradbury, Greta Bradbury, Mariana Bravo, Kate Brugger,
Kaila Cassling, Abigail Cowan, Indigo Crandell, Kayla Cruise,
Sam Faulkner, Carolyn Fluehr, Terrie Goins, Samantha Gorjanc, Khamary Grant, Sean Green,
Alex Greenlee,
Vincent Hooper, Adrianna Jackson,
Jessica Johnson,
Leigh Ellen Jones, Jai'len Josey,
Greg Kamp, Chris Kircher, Lauren Koperski, Morgan Leinwhol,
Ginna Le Vine, Carina Louchiey, Max Mattox, Jonathan Mousset, Kaitlyn O'Leary,
Christina Pasqualone, Mackenzie Perpich, Cierra Potter, Maddie Russo, Sofia Scarsi,
Brooke Singer, Carly Stern,
Edward Sturm,
Jackson Tanner,
Jonah Verdon, Ginna Ward,
Julia Warren,
Helen White, and Samantha Wynn.
The 90 minute showcase, staged by Broadway professionals, will feature musical highlights from "Take It to the Limit" the BDF Performing Arts Summer Intensive concert that was performed at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, PA; the Atlanta Lyric Theatre in Atlanta, GA; New Roads School in Los Angeles, CA; Omaha Performing Arts in Omaha, NE; and the Glimmerglass Opera Festival in Cooperstown, NY.
The 2014 BDF NYC Showcase is sponsored by RISPA, RWS & Associates.
All students will spend the weekend in NYC with BDF's Broadway teaching artists rehearsing the numbers to be performed, and attending master classes lead by Broadway professionals. The Showcase faculty includes BDF Artistic Director
Nicholas Rodriguez (Tarzan), BDF Education Director Craig D'Amico (Annie Get Your Gun),
Telsey + Company's
Craig Burns,
Taye Diggs (Rent, "Private Practice"),
Tyler Hanes (A Chorus Line),
Gregory Haney (Wicked), Clear Talent Group's
Jamie Harris,
Telsey + Company's
Rachel Hoffman, Tony Award-nominated director / choreographer
Dan Knechtges (Xanadu),
Matthew Scott (Jersey Boys), director
Alan Souza, and more.
The Broadway Dreams Foundation offers significant scholarships to hundreds of participants each year, ensuring that all qualified students are able to realize their Broadway dreams regardless of their financial status. This past year, 42% of all BDF students attended programs on full or partial scholarship.
Past students have gone on to star in the Broadway, Off-Broadway and National Touring companies of If/Then, Bring It On The Musical (
Ryann Redmond,
Calli Alden), Annie (Gabby Bradbury), The Book of Mormon (
Rodney Earl Jackson, Paris Nesbitt), Little Miss Sunshine (
Jackson Tanner), Holler if Ya Hear Me (
Ariana Groover), The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess (
Lindsay Roberts), Evita (
Katie Huff), Catch Me If You Can (
Greg Kamp) and more.
The Broadway Dreams Foundation's annual "Night of Dreams" Gala will also take place on November 24, 2014 at 7:00 pm at Celsius in Bryant Park. "Night of Dreams" will bring together patrons of the arts and Broadway's brightest stars for a festive celebration of the country's premier musical theatre training program. Proceeds will allow BDF to continue to offer high-level educational opportunities, theatrical training, and countless scholarships to deserving students across the country.
"Night of Dreams" is generously sponsored by Upsilon Ventures, Alliance Bernstein Global Wealth Management, Celsius at Bryant Park, and RWS & Associates. To purchase tickets, please click here.
For more information on The Broadway Dreams Foundation, please visit:
www.mybroadwaydreams.com.
