In 2016, a handful of performers from the Broadway community came together in concert to bring music to underserved youth at the Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project in India. That concert gave birth to Broadway for Arts Education, building a bridge for Broadway performers to use their time, talents, and influence to give back to communities in need.

It become immediately apparent that our relationship with the Broadway community had the potential to go much deeper than just one fundraising concert a year. At the performers’ request for more direct involvement with the youth we serve, the Broadway Ambassadors program was born in September 2019.

Photo of Devin Ilaw and Vishal Vaidya live at the Hippodrome - Richmond, VA

Photo of Lauren Chapman live at the Highline Ballroom - NYC

The Broadway Ambassadors program invites 12 diverse Broadway performers to devote one year of their lives to connect with, advocate for, and inspire our youth. Our Broadway Ambassadors have performed alongside our youth in classrooms, school assemblies, school concerts, and special events, including backstage tours, side-by-side concerts, a flash mob with the cast of Mean Girls in Madison Square Park, and even performing for a global TV audience with The Prom’s Caitlin Kinnunen at the GLAAD Awards!

The Broadway Ambassadors program is also the heart of our annual “Live in the Orange” campaign, created to help encourage our youth to step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves to trust their potential as artists and future leaders. More than 100 Broadway performers from over 35 shows have participated!

Photo of Marla Louissaint live at the Laurie Beechman Theater - NYC