Broadway Bound Kids' third annual Broadway Bee, which took place on Monday, May 7, 2018 at Le Poisson Rouge, was a major success, raising over $40,000 in funding for performing arts education opportunities for NYC youth. A comedic adult spelling bee, the Broadway Bee, featured actors from hit Broadway shows competing in a hilarious live event. Lee Aaron Rosen from the Tony Award nominated Broadway revival of Angels in America took home the coveted Broadway Bee trophy.
"The Broadway community rallied around arts education in a big way again this year," said Broadway Bound Kids founder
Erin Glass. "Thanks to them and all of our generous supporters we'll be able to serve even more students this year, and further our mission of providing a transformative and inclusive community that inspires and empowers students through the performing arts, regardless of their financial resources. The funds raised will be put to use immediately, and all of us at Broadway Bound Kids would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the talented Broadway stars who participated in the event!"
The celebrity spellers included
Paige Davis ("Trading Spaces," Chicago),
Benny Elledge (Waitress), Damon Gillespie ("Rise"),
Susan Heyward (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child),
Sasha Hutchings (
Lincoln Center Theater's My Fair Lady),
Donnie Kehr (Jersey Boys),
Karl Kenzler (Three Wise Guys),
Alex Mandell (The Play That Goes Wrong),
Will Roland (Dear Evan Hansen),
Lee Aaron Rosen (Angels in America),
Evan Todd (Beautiful - The
Carole King Musical), and
Brynn Williams (SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical). Husband and wife team
Donald Webber (Hamilton) and
Rebecca Covington Webber (Beautiful - The
Carole King Musical) served as co-comfort counselors, consoling spellers as they were disqualified from the competition. Special guests included
Shirine Babb (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child),
Lauren Nicole Cipoletti (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Danya Jarae Dantzler (Waitress),
Matt DeAngelis (Waitress),
John Doman ("Gotham"),
Joshua DeJesus (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child),
Molly Jobe (Waitress),
Adeola Role (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child),
Salisha Thomas (Beautiful - The
Carole King Musical),
Stephanie Torns (Waitress), and
Alex Weisman (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child).
Hosted by the original creator of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,
Jay Reiss, joined by
Carol Johnson, the annual Broadway Bee enlists twelve teams to pull out all the stops and correctly spell the words presented. The more funds each team raises, the more lifelines or "cheats" they earn to help them win the coveted trophy at the Bee. The fun is fast, furious, and contagious!
For more information or to make a donation, please visit:
www.broadwayboundkids.org
ABOUT BROADWAY BOUND KIDS
Broadway Bound Kids (est. 2004) is a non-profit arts education organization based in Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs. Our mission is to be a transformative and inclusive community that inspires and empowers young lives through the performing arts. We know that involvement in the performing arts increases confidence, builds relationships, encourages respect, teaches empathy, and promotes self-expression. These important skills help kids use their voices and unique gifts to make a positive impact in the world. We offer after school and summer programs, trips to see Broadway shows, a free youth theatre ensemble for students who don't have access to the performing arts, master classes with Broadway performers, Saturday classes and more.
Photos by Michelle Kinney/Christine DiPasquale
Sasha Hutchings
Damon J. Gillespie
Will Roland
Paige Davis
Erin Glass and John Doman
Lee Aaron Rosen, with his wife, Adria Vitlar
Donald Webber Jr., Lee Aaron Rosen
Team Angels in America takes home the 3rd Annual Broadway Bee trophy
Angels in America's Lee Aaron Rosen. Wins the 3rd Annual Broadway Bee
Brynn Williams
Will Roland
Paige Davis
Evan Todd and Susan Heyward
Alex Mandell
Donnie Kehr, Karl Kenzler
Paige Davis, Lee Aaron Rosen
Damon J. Gillespie
Rebecca Covington, and Donald Webber, Sasha Hutchings
Paige Davis
Lee Aaron Rosen and Karl Kenzler
Jay Reiss
Carol Johnson,
Alex Mandell,
The Spellers of the 3rd Annual Broadway Bee with Broadway Bound Kids Creative Team
Erica Ayala, Erin Glass, Katy Finn, Andrea Kehler, and Jessica Canuelle
Adeola Role, Lauren Cipoletti, Alex Weisman, Susan Heyward, Malika Samuel, Josh DeJesus, and Alanna Saunders
Andrew Fitch, Molly Jobe, Matt DeAngelis, Benny Elledge, Stephanie Torns, Victoria Collett, and Anita Shastri
Salisha Thomas and Evan Todd
