Students shine in summer musical

Hundreds of parents, students, educators and community members recently gathered at the Naomi Bruton Theater for the Arts to show their support for students participating in “Hip Hop Broadway: The Musical,” based on some of Broadway’s most popular show tunes.

The performance was the culmination of the 40th Annual Summer Youth Arts Institute, a collaboration between The Black Academy of Arts and Letters and Dallas ISD’s Summer Enrichment Extended Learning. 

For three weeks, 400 students ages 10-18 took courses in music, dance, theater, costume design, make-up, lighting, stage management, photography and film/video. Team members from Dallas ISD’s Extended Learning Opportunities Department partnered with TBAAL and provided the funding for students to participate in the institute. Students who were not from Dallas ISD, either had to pay tuition or received scholarships from private funding to be part of the program.

The students’ repertoire included Broadway hits from musicals such as Chicago, Purlie, Dream Girls, MJ The Musical, The Wiz, and others. Click on the links to view a clip of students performing with a live orchestra to the famed Michael Jackson song “Thriller” as well as the closing number. 

In years past, many Dallas ISD graduates have participated in the Summer Youth Arts Institute and have gone on to find fame in their musical careers. They include: Erykah Badu; Roy Hargrove; Regina Taylor; Skye Turner, who played young Tina Turner on Broadway and young Aretha Franklin in the Aretha Franklin movie; and Broadway star Rachel Webb. 

This partnership between TBAAL and Dallas ISD has existed for over 30 years, starting with the Christmas/Kwanzaa concert. 

For more information on The Summer Youth Institute and other opportunities available through the Extended Learning Opportunities Department, click here. For more information about the Summer Youth Arts Institute, visit https://www.tbaal.org/education/.