Xanadu - What We Have Made is Real!
Throughout the Winter of 2024, Broadway for Arts Education produced a production of Xanadu Jr at the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School. This production was the capstone project of Club Curtain Call, an after theater school club in its second year, and the Jr. Producers Internship, a first year program for 12th graders to engage in work-based learning. Hear more from the man behind the magic, Luis Mora:
I started working with young people at the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School in October of 2022 as the director of their after school theater program. The first day of programming I was greeted by two students who were reluctant to meet me. “I’m here to lead a theater program” I said. “We don’t do that here” they replied. They shared that after the 2020 shutdown the school was really struggling to find school spirit and that they didn’t have any after school activities besides sports. Less than two years later the program has grown to the size of a full cast and crew. With the financial help of Ham4Progress, Broadway Rave, and hundreds of small-amount-donations, we put together a production of XANADU. Much like Xanadu itself, this performance is about reviving arts in our community, it is about embracing that arts makes us human and that everyone deserves a chance to engage with art no matter who they are or which zip code they reside in. Together we built our very own Xanadu.
Of course none of this would have been possible without the support from the school:
“The importance of arts in a student's education cannot be overstated. It fosters creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence while allowing students to express themselves in unique and meaningful ways. Broadway for Arts Education is a program that provides students with the opportunity to engage in various forms of artistic expression, from acting and singing to set design and choreography. Through this program, students are able to explore their talents and passions, leading to increased confidence and self-esteem. I am always thrilled to see how students thrive creatively through their participation in Broadway for Arts Education, and I believe it plays a crucial role in their overall educational experience.”
-Izamar Capellan, Leadership and Enrichment Coordinator
Originally we scheduled two performances, but due to popular demand XANADU got extended for an additional two performances! Approximately 1,000 individuals got to experience the show in total. Sound engineer and Broadway Ambassador Josh Kobak noted that at the final performance the audience was so loud that they were only two decibels below the volume of a jet engine.
We are so excited for all that the theater program at this school has in store for the future, and so grateful to all of the supporters who made their first musical in 5 years a possibility!
Video Credit: NB Studios
Photo Credit: Brett Tubbs Photographer
Logo Design: Dominic Grijalba
