Photo Flash: The Broadway Star Project Celebrated Its 1st Anniversary With A Fabulous Holiday Show!
By: Stephi Wild Nov. 16, 2018
As part of its First Anniversary Celebration, The Broadway Star Project produced its first Christmas Musical for The Holiday Star Experience MMXVIII.
Complete with a storyline, dialogue, songs, and choreography, the show allowed each one in the cast of 21 talented young performers to showcase the full range of their talents.
The story, inspired by the returning of the legendary toy store F.A.O. Schwartz to the city, celebrates toys, games, singing, dancing, along with real human interaction and emotions, as opposed to living life through the screen of a smartphone.
Young Broadway stars such as School of Rock's Gianna Harris, Luke Bonenfant, and Diego Lucano; Keira Belle Young (The King and I), and Lilyana Cornell (Les Miserablés), with young film actress Phoebe Young (Weightless) and up-and-coming actor Blake Sheridan, recorded a full album, shot a promotional video, and rehearsed and performed the show together with The BSP's young actors Chaise Anderson, Ryann Davis, Aidan Duver, Kaileigh Fiorillo, Nita Josée Hanna (from Canada), Finley Hayden (from Florida), Anekeeesta Ironwood, Josiah Jacoby, Amyah Maze (from Maryland), Danny Peña, Emily Seanor, Genevieve Seanor, Sammie Smith, and Coco Whelan, with a special appearance by the award-winning voice of vocal coach and Music Director, Peter Thoresen.
Choreographer LaMar Baylor (The Lion King) performed magic on the stage, creating -among many other great moments- a sleigh pulled by reindeer for Leroy Anderson's holiday classic "Sleigh Ride", and bringing a toy soldier to life in a moving interpretative dance that takes him from the battlefield back to his loving wife at home, in Meghan Trainor's "I'll Be Home".
Coty Manriquez, Director of Admissions at The BSP said "Recording 12 songs, shooting a music video on location in New York City, along with rehearsing and performing a one-hour long show with everything in it in only three days is a monumental task! But nothing is impossible for these children, thanks to their talent, passion, and to the challenging training and professional-like experiences that we provide for them at The Broadway Star Project". Then, with her characteristic smile, she finished with, "We cannot be more proud of them."
The Broadway Star Project will release their cover of Pentatonix's "That's Christmas To Me" and its promotional music video to the public on Thanksgiving day. The complete Holiday Star Experience MMXVIII album will be available soon after at CD Baby and all the Digital Platforms with the proceedings of all the digital downloads going directly to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
And the Celebration continues with a featured performance by The Holiday StarExperience MMXVIII cast and The BSP's own Bonale Fambrini (now appearing as Patrick at the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular) on "Carols And Keys", Friday, November 30, 11:00 pm, at Feinstein's 54 Below.
At The BSP, we believe in community building and human connection.
Choreographer LaMar Baylor (The Lion King) worked with The HSE cast in 12 musical numbers for the show.
Writer/Director Eduardo Jimenez Pons fine-tuned the already compelling performances of the actors.
At the Recording studio, Music Director Peter Thoresen participated with the cast in the promotional music video.
We are recording a Holiday album so... It's a party at the recording studio!
LaMar Baylor directing from the house at the Acorn theater on New York's legendary 42nd Street!
Coty Manriquez, Linda, and Ron Harris, co-founders of the BSP, together with the children and their parents helped decorating the Christmas tree... We are all family!
Then... Magic happens! A winter scene complete with skaters, snowboarders, and a sleigh pulled by 7 reindeer!
After three of the most exhilarating days of their lives, there's nothing but smiles on these children faces.
A look at the stage where we celebrated toys, board games, singing, dancing, and the human connection.
The amazing cast (Including Peter Thoresen) of The Holiday Star Experience MMXVIII.
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