Broadway Dallas News | JULY 2024
Posted on July 30th, 2024
Dear Friends,
In our last newsletter, I shared that Broadway Dallas hosted our annual High School Musical Theatre Awards (HSMTA) ceremony, commemorating the year-long program providing resources and mentorship to hundreds of talented students across North Texas.
Now, I have even more exciting news to share about our program. Our two Outstanding Lead Performer winners went on to New York City to compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the Jimmy Awards. Both emerged as finalists among 102 selected participants from 51 cities.
I have the privilege of attending the Jimmys each year and experiencing the national version of the High School Musical Theater Awards. Each year, I am beyond impressed with the talent, professionalism and teamwork exhibited by these amazing students. And I am doubly proud of our own program and the incredible talent right here at home in Dallas.
So, how did our students do? Damson Chola Jr. (Cleburne High School) took home the biggest award of the evening as the recipient of the 2024 Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor. Fabiola Caraballo Quijada (Tyler Legacy High School) received a $5,000 scholarship and the SCAD Achievement Scholarship, a $10,000 annual scholarship to Savannah College of Art & Design, contingent upon acceptance and enrollment.
Congratulations, Damson and Fabiola!
I was forever moved by both Damson’s and Fabiola’s performances here in Dallas and on Broadway and I encourage you to watch both using the following links: Damson’s performance and Fabiola’s performance.
Keep your eyes out for these two on the Broadway stage!
See you in the lobby,
Ken Novice
Broadway Dallas President and CEO
CitySquare Partnership
As a proud partner of CitySquare, one of the largest resource centers in Dallas for our neighbors who are suffering from the effects of poverty and homelessness, we continue to collect high-demand items in the lobby when you attend a Broadway show.
We are proud to report that patrons donated an astounding 232 pounds of dental hygiene products during Hamilton, and more than 350 pounds of hair care items during Hairspray! For Funny Girl, we are collecting women’s bath, body, and hygiene products. Items can be dropped off in the lobby at the Music Hall at Fair Park.
dALLAS PRIDE
We had a blast celebrating Dallas Pride at Fair Park with our Hairspray themed float and special guest Caroline Eiseman who played Tracy Turnblad in the national tour!
TOUCH TOURS
Immersive Touch Tours for our blind and visually impaired Broadway fans continued with Hamilton and Hairspray! Before the performance, they were able to interact with props and costumes from the shows to enhance their theater-going experience and to add a new layer of understanding and excitement for the production. Together, we’re ensuring theater is truly for everyone.
MUSICAL THEATER CAMP
Broadway Dallas made history by hosting its first-ever middle school musical theater camp for Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School from Dallas ISD! Talented campers gathered at the Music Hall and immersed themselves in songs, dances, and scenes from Hairspray Jr. The young performers honed their skills in voice, dance, and acting under the expert coaching of Jenci Pavageau, Angela Stidham, Dr. Sherry Boyd, and Ashley Ragsdale.
A special highlight was a visit from three Hairspray cast members who shared invaluable advice. The camp concluded with a heartwarming performance for family and friends, followed by a matinee show on June 29. Bravo to all the campers for an unforgettable week!
Cirque Du Soleil: Songblazers
The State Fair of Texas is right around the corner, and your ticket to Cirque Du Soleil: Songblazers will admit you to the fair on the day of your show! Delivering the perfect harmony of guitar grooves and breathtaking moves, Songblazers is a one-of-a-kind theatrical production celebrating country music that pays homage to its legendary and modern day trailblazers.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
“The Curlett family is proud to support the High School Musical Theatre Awards through Broadway Dallas. It’s an honor to attend The Jimmy Awards in NYC as a representative from our region. Every year we continue to see our incredible local talent move to the national stage and shine in the lights on Broadway. We are passionate about supporting this program because these students represent the next generation of theater arts.
The HSMTA program also offers an incredible opportunity for cross-pollinating theater programs. As an audience, we sit and are taken captive by each school that steps onto the stage, but as students they are inspired by one another, and new relationships are made.
Art connects people. Through storytelling, music and design, theater arts creates a unique setting for people to share deep and meaningful experiences. We encourage all families to find a way to support the next generation of theater arts, whether it be to attend local shows, volunteer behind the scenes or to financially support scholarship programs like HSMTA.” –Joshua Curlett, CEO of Sound Productions Inc.
COMING NEXT
FUNNY GIRL
August 6-18
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