How One Children’s Theatre is Making an Impact after Last Year’s Tragedy In Parkland
Broadway Bound is hosting a 1950’s Sock Hop on March 2, 2019 to raise funds for the Broadway Bound Shining Stars Foundation, a scholarship fund for Douglas students pursuing arts in higher education.
“Where words fail, music speaks.” ― Hans Christian Andersen
Broadway Bound is a local children’s theatre school in Coral Springs, Florida. This is where I teach dance and choreograph shows. Many of the families who attend Broadway Bound, including myself, were affected by the tragedy that happened last February. I remember driving to work at the Broadway Bound studio that day. I was so excited to hand out candy to my students to celebrate Valentine’s day, but that excitement soon dwindled as I drove past Douglas. All the emergency vehicles raced by me in the opposite direction. Immediately I began to shake while driving, and I called my Dad and said, “Something horrible has happened.” My heart dropped, as I prayed for everything to be okay. I never saw so many cars heading towards my small hometown of Parkland in my entire life.
The entire Broadway Bound family came together to use music to help heal. On March 9, 2018, Stoneman Douglas and Parkland students and alumni united to launch the Broadway Bound Shining Stars Foundation, a 501(c)(3) for students. The foundation believes in the importance of the arts in healing the performers and entire community following the devastating shooting. The foundation’s scholarships support Stoneman Douglas high school graduates who are inspired to pursue music, dance and theater in higher education (learn more about the foundation here).
Last year we put together a benefit concert to rasie funds for the scholarships. The concert was beautiful, touching, and inspiring. It included uplifting songs like Tomorrow from Annie, and featured an original medley of We are the World and Imagine. The largest scholarship was awarded to Kali Clougherty, who is a graduate of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Class of 2018. She is currently attending Elon University to study Musical Theater. Kali received a $3,500 scholarship from the Broadway Bound Shining Stars Foundation 2018 Scholarship program.
This year on March 2, 2019 Broadway Bound is hosting a 1950’s Sock Hop to raise money for the scholarship fund. This is a family friendly event filled with dining and dancing in hopes to continue to bring the community together. The students will be featuring performances from their upcoming 1950’s musical hit, Grease. 100% of the profits will be donated to the Broadway Bound Shining Stars Foundation. See the flyer below for more information. We hope you can join us!
