Next Actors students, Tawnie Thompson and Pia Russo with Broadway actor, dance captain and fight captain Cameron Burke.
In April 2025, Next Act Theatre Education Manager Pia Russo and Development Manager Tawnie Thompson took four high school students, all alumni of the Next Actors: Summer Theatre for Teens program, to New York City for three days to be part of the Broadway Student Summit (BSS). This program was provided entirely free-of-charge to the Next Actors – support came from the Forest County Potawatomi Foundation, whose generosity allowed us to pay for our students’ airfare, housing, transportation, meals, theatre tickets and BSS workshops.
The BSS is an “immersive weekend behind the scenes on Broadway that includes tickets to a hit Broadway show, a private Q&A with cast members and interactive workshops in Broadway rehearsal studios with Broadway cast and creative team members.” Our students got to enjoy THE OUTSIDERS, winner of four Tony Awards in 2024 including Best Musical. Additionally, they enjoyed workshops and master classes in “acting, musical theatre auditions, voice, dance, creativity and managing anxiety” from some of “Broadway’s best and brightest performers, choreographers, music directors, directors and teaching artists.” (Language courtesy of Broadway Student Summit.)
Next Actors students at THE OUTSIDERS.
In addition to the BSS workshops and the performance of THE OUTSIDERS, our students also attended AMERIKIN by Chisa Hutchinson Off-Broadway at 59E59. When they weren’t immersed in the best of New York City theatre, our students, several of whom had never visited New York City before, got to see Times Square, stroll through Central Park, ride the subway and more!
“New York showed me that genuine connection occurs when we dare to be simple and original.”
Next Actors students in Times Square.
One Next Actor shared these thoughts about the trip:
“Earlier this year, I had the incredible opportunity to visit New York for the Next Actors program. By the end of the trip, I knew what I wanted to pursue. A career in Theater Business, where my love for creativity and leadership could finally intersect, and I could manage what is happening in the production, and make it possible.
Throughout those three days, I participated in workshops that stripped away the delusion of Broadway and revealed the hard reality: a career in acting, singing, or dancing is often followed by endless auditions, long rehearsals, and unwavering hope. Even though it’s hard work, if there is truly passion and love into it, the hope and dream will come true.
Watching AMERIKIN by Chisa Hutchinson cracked something open inside me. At that moment, I recognized that my heart and soul wanted to help tell stories that are real, honest, and profoundly beautiful. New York showed me that genuine connection occurs when we dare to be simple and original. I realized the importance of both large and small productions; therefore, I am determined to use my future career to raise the quiet voices as much as the loud ones.”
