Photo Coverage: Backstage at the The 4th Annual High School Theatre Festival
By: Walter McBride Mar. 20, 2018
One hundred and fifty talented NYC public school students made their Broadway debuts last night at the 4th annual SHUBERT FOUNDATION HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE FESTIVAL for NYC Public Schools at the fabled Shubert Theatre (225 W. 45 St. -- currently home to the Broadway smash HELLO, DOLLY!) This high-energy arts and education experience for students is presented by The Shubert Foundation and NYC Department of Education.
Over the course of the day on March 19, students from five NYC high schools - Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens, Talent Unlimited High School in Manhattan, William Cullen Bryant High School in Queens, Professional Performing Arts High School in Manhattan, and LaGuardia High School for Music, Art, and Performing Arts in Manhattan - made their Broadway debuts from 7:00 to 9:00 pm performing selections from iconic musicals and plays, after having spent the afternoon in rehearsals on stage, as well as attending a full day of acting workshops and technical guidance with teachers, DOE volunteers, college PA's and professional Broadway backstage crews, musicians and actors, according to Shubert Foundation President, Michael I. Sovern.
The Festival, a celebration featuring five outstanding high school student productions from the 2017-2018 school year, were selected from over 25 schools across the city by a panel of professional theatre artists and theatre educators. Over the course of the festival's four-year history, school productions from all 5 boroughs have performed at the event. This year, student presentations from the following schools will present excerpted scenes and musical numbers as follows:
Frank Sinatra School of the Arts (Queens) - RAGTIME; Talent Unlimited High School (Manhattan) - MACHINAL; William Cullen Bryant High School (Queens) - HENRY'S LAW; Professional Performing Arts High School (Manhattan) - WEST SIDE STORY; LaGuardia High School for Music, Art, and Performing Arts (Manhattan) - 42nd STREET
The High School Theatre Festival showcases the ongoing and excellent theatre work currently taking place in NYC public high schools, as well as highlighting the positive effects of theatre study on skills for the stage and in life: collaboration, artistry, discipline, focus, literacy, student voice, self-awareness, presence, active listening and empathy. The evening focuses on the impact that a full theatre program can have on students and school communities, and enables students to see theatre and the arts as a potential career path.
Check out photos from backstage below!
Photo Credit: Walter McBride
The Fourth Annual High School Theatre Festival at The Shubert Theatre on March 19, 2018 in New York City.
Molly Griggs and Charlie Stemp
Baayork Lee and Sasha Hutchings
Molly Griggs, Charlie Stemp, Baayork Lee and Sasha Hutchings
Molly Griggs, Charlie Stemp, Baayork Lee, Sasha Hutchings and John Cariani
Phil Weinberg, Charlie Stemp, Molly Griggs, Peter Avery, Baayork Lee and Sasha Hutchings
Phil Weinberg, Molly Griggs, Charlie Stemp, Philip J. Smith, Robert E. Wankel, Baayork Lee, Sasha Hutchings, Amy Dorfman Wine
Phil Weinberg, Molly Griggs, Charlie Stemp, Philip J. Smith, Robert E. Wankel, Baayork Lee, Sasha Hutchings, Amy Dorfman Wine and Peter Avery
Students from Frank Sinatra School of the Arts
Students from Frank Sinatra School of the Arts
Students from Frank Sinatra School of the Arts with Phil Weinberg, Charlie Stemp, Molly Griggs, Peter Avery, Baayork Lee, Sasha Hutchings
Students from Frank Sinatra School of the Arts with Molly Griggs, Charlie Stemp, Baayork Lee, Sasha Hutchings, Peter Avery and John Cariani
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