Teens Discovered Non-Performance Professions in Commercial Theatre

The Broadway League’s 12th annual High School Broadway Shadowing Program successfully concluded this season as 18 students from across various New York City public high schools participated in this unique behind-the-scenes theatre experience. The High School Broadway Shadowing Program connects students from racially diverse and underrepresented backgrounds with industry professionals working in marketing, advertising, press, technical, management, and creative teams, who share what goes in to launching and maintaining a Broadway production.

Between March 5-7 and March 12-14, the selected group of students shadowed Broadway professionals in careers that go beyond the stage. As the only commercial theatre program of its kind, individual students with aspirations of exploring non-performance careers in the arts were paired with a Broadway General Management team, from seven different offices, to comprehensively learn about the many components of producing a show over the course of six days. The students joined marketing and management meetings, toured backstage and box offices, attended rehearsals, and met with stage managers and other professionals working on each production.

“The High School Broadway Shadowing Program makes it possible to provide New York City students with the opportunity to gain direct experience and learn about the business of Broadway. It is our hope that through this program, students can envision themselves pursuing careers as theatre professionals,” said Jason Laks, Interim President of The Broadway League. “We are thankful that our partnership with the NYC Public Schools Arts Office allows us to reach the next generation of the Broadway workforce.”  

This year 17 Broadway productions participated in the program, including:

Aladdin
Back to the Future: The Musical
The Book of Mormon
Days of Wine and Roses
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Hell’s Kitchen
Kimberly Akimbo
The Lion King
Merrily We Roll Along
MJ
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
The Notebook
Patriots
SIX
Spamalot
Water for Elephants
Wicked

The High School Broadway Shadowing Program is a collaboration between The Broadway League and the NYC Public Schools Arts Office. Additional League efforts that support education in the arts include: Broadway Bridges®, The Jimmy Awards®, Careers.Broadway, The Broadway League Internship Program, The Rising Stars Professional Development Program, The League/ATPAM Diversity Initiative, and The Broadway League’s Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship Program. For more information, please visit www.BroadwayLeague.com.