Broadway Bound Kids Expands Free Performing Arts Education for NYC Youth

In May, a lot changed for nonprofit arts organizations like Broadway Bound Kids (BBK), a small nonprofit established in 2004 dedicated to empowering over 1,650 young people from under-resourced New York City communities through high-quality performing arts education. BBK’s students have gone from the classroom to Lincoln Center with Josh Groban to the Rainbow Room at 30 Rock and are currently attending some of the most prestigious performing arts high schools and other stages showcasing their extraordinary talent. However, BBK was hit particularly hard by the termination of grants that were previously approved by the National Endowment for the Arts after being able to count on the NEA for the former three years. They found themselves in unfamiliar territory as BBK tried to navigate a path forward through panic – aiming towards hope and optimism.

Melanie Correa, a BBK high school student, first learned about the organization in an email thinking, “this seems like a nice program – I didn’t even think that it would forever change me.” She joined BBK after auditioning for their free Community Theater Ensembles program in the summer going into the 8th grade. She is now going into her senior year of high school and has appeared with some of the world’s greatest performers like Josh Groban, Cynthia Erivo, Major Attaway, Ali Stroker and appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show with BBK last fall. Through BBK, she was able to perform for her idol, Lin Manuel Miranda, at the Find Your Light Foundation gala.

“My love for theater developed through the support from everyone involved with Broadway Bound Kids. Everyone is so kind and just wants you to be the best artist you can be. I’ve become a better artist with their support and I’ve learned so much about myself thanks to my teachers and peers. After BBK, I hope to apply to college for musical theater and ultimately become an actress.”

As Melanie contemplates her next steps as she progresses into her senior year, the reality of the collegiate system and its approach to the performing arts have become clear. “People cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars alone to find teachers to help you with auditions. It puts a big gap between students who can’t afford it, making it inaccessible for other students – students like me. We are put in a predicament where we have all this talent but we are unable to have the tools provided for us because of how expensive it is.” Students like Melanie inspired Broadway Bound Kids to create new programs to fulfill their needs.

Never slowing down after the NEA announcement and taking inspiration from students like Melanie, BBK started a brand-new free summer program, BBK Bridge to Higher Education, created to equip students with the skills, materials, and confidence needed for college and conservatory auditions. Rooted in BBK’s mission, the program answers a growing need from families seeking accessible audition preparation for higher education. Samantha Parrish-Khan, Education Director of BBK, speaks about the desire for a program of this caliber for NYC youth. “Each year, post-show in our Community Theater Ensembles, there are guardians and family of our students that approach me with tears in their eyes. They see what impact the arts have, and at that moment, are imagining a future for their kid in the arts. But over and over, what I've heard more than praise, was concern. What we have come to understand is that barriers to arts education exist at every single stage of a student's development, and BBK aims to break down those barriers with Bridge to Higher Education. These incredible young artists deserve to study the arts at the collegiate level, and deserve the support needed to get there.”

With the ever-changing economic landscape of America and New York City, where political campaigns are specifically focused on New York City’s affordability, fundraising has become more difficult for small nonprofits even with missions as noble as BBK’s. Many use multiple donation strategies to galvanize new support and interest in important nonprofits and programs that shape the future of New York. To supplement its new initiatives and renew interest in contributing to its groundbreaking programming, BBK introduced a new call-to-action, The Show Must Go On, a fundraiser concentrated in three ways – to support the brand-new free BBK Bridge to Higher Education program this summer, offset the unexpected loss of NEA funding grants, and sustain and grow BBK’s free Community Theater Ensembles. The campaign calls on the community to step into the spotlight to help ensure essential programming for the young artists continues to thrive.

As a direct reaction to BBK’s continuous growth despite adversity, they are also launching Summer Fridays, a membership-based curated set of class visits designed to bring supporters into the heart of summer programming, when educational endeavors usually slow down. Taking place on three Fridays during summer programs, this comes at a time when more and more supporters take interest in hands-on opportunities to observe rehearsals, meet program participants and Teaching Artists, connect with fellow supporters, and chat with BBK’s representatives, becoming more involved in the organizations they are investing in. The series will culminate in a members-only, celebratory BBK Back in Class kick-off event where students will perform.

Broadway Bound Kids continues to build its community and programming to ensure they remain a constant support for their students, current and future. The arts more than ever need the encouragement of audiences and patrons that value creativity and the futures of youth. Nonprofits like BBK are diligently working to engage new audiences and supporters. In that search, BBK persists no matter what comes next, choosing joy and hope as they continue to fight for their community, and to offer all students a place to belong and be heard.