Theater students who lost school in Eaton Fire raise funds for Broadway trip

ALTADENA, Calif. (KABC) — The students at Eliot Arts Magnet Academy in Altadena lost their campus to the Eaton Fire last January.

But that didn’t stop them from recently performing at the Ahmanson Theatre in downtown L.A.

“I asked the students, ‘You just got to perform on this iconic stage. What else would you like to do in the world?’ There was like a resounding, ‘We want to go see Broadway,'” said Mollie Lief, drama teacher at Eliot.

Dance teacher Billy Rugh said the experience will inspire his students on their journey as performers, plus so much more.

“But also after the fires, that people are still there supporting them, that they’re there still helping make their dreams come true, and trying to find ways to keep their passion going forward,” Rugh said.

The students at Eliot “eat, sleep, and breathe musical theater” so a trip to Broadway would be “transformative” for them, Lief said.

There is a GoFundMe set up to help his students raise enough money for the trip. If you would like to donate, click here.

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