While some teens her age spend their summers at the beach or hanging out, 16-year-old Julia Stewart has been organizing a group of musically inclined friends to perform to help other children.
Julia and 20 other area teens will perform as part of the first Kids for Kiwanis Cabaret at 7 p.m. Friday in the Peoples Security Bank Theater on Lackawanna College’s Scranton campus. Proceeds from the show, with Kelly Jean Graham as emcee and Ken McGraw as accompanying pianist, will go to the Kiwanis Club of Scranton, which will give them to area organizations that benefit children.
The rising North Pocono High School junior, who lives in Moscow, was inspired to put the show together when she was looking for a community service project to do during her summer break. Her aunt, Rosemary Broderick, a longtime Scranton Kiwanis Club member, suggested partnering with the club to put on a show. It was Julia’s idea to make it one highlighting the teens’ musical talents.
“I said, ‘Better than a show, we might as well do the cabaret,’ because I have friends from everywhere that would be interested in doing this,” Julia said.
Julia is no stranger to the stage, participating in theater since age 5, with appearances in North Pocono High School musicals and in the community with the Creative and Performing Arts Academy of NEPA, the Scranton Shakespeare Festival and the Scranton Fringe Festival. Many of her fellow performers also have appeared in the Scranton Shakespeare and Fringe festivals.
Those performing come from as far away as Stroudsburg, Wilkes-Barre and Clarks Summit, and Julia figures every school in Northeast Pennsylvania has a student represented in the show. She has been friends with many of the performers for a long time and said she’s excited they are participating.
“It’s really great and they’re some of the most talented people I know,” she said.
The show will feature a group performance of “Seasons of Love” from the musical “Rent,” as well as solo performances, including a clarinet piece, and duets. The songs they will sing include popular songs by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, and songs from musicals, television shows and movies.
“We pretty much have a wide variety of what we’re performing,” Julia said.
Julia and Broderick said the show is unique because it is being done by kids to benefit kids.
Julia said she hopes the show will inspire others to help groups that benefit youth and the arts.
“I think giving back to the community with our talent will inspire people to go out and continue to donate to all these programs,” she said. “I’ve met most of my friends through these types of programs that we’re donating out to.”
Violet Martin and Isaiah Davitt perform in “Alice by Heart” in the Scranton Shakespeare Youth Ensemble. They will perform in the Kids for Kiwanis Cabaret. (Photo by Jacob Layland, courtesy of Julia Stewart)
Kids for Kiwanis Cabaret performers, from left, Addison Getts, Julia Stewart and Riya Novak perform in “Little Shop of Horrors” in August 2025 during the Scranton Shakespeare Festival. (Photo by Jacob Layland, courtesy of Julia Stewart)
Nevaeh Ramirez, Denia Lucia-Stubbs, Erin Carey and Violet Martin perform in “Hadestown” during a Youth Arts Coalition performance at the Scranton Fringe Festival in November. They will perform Friday in the Kids for Kiwanis Cabaret at the Peoples Security Bank Theater at Lackawanna College in Scranton. (Photo by Jacob Layland, courtesy of Julia Stewart)
Show Caption
1 of 3
Violet Martin and Isaiah Davitt perform in “Alice by Heart” in the Scranton Shakespeare Youth Ensemble. They will perform in the Kids for Kiwanis Cabaret. (Photo by Jacob Layland, courtesy of Julia Stewart)
Broderick said the show has inspired the club to support programs that involve the arts and theater, particularly those that involve youth and the arts.
Julia said the show was organized quickly, with many businesses and organizations providing financial support and other donations, including the venue and programs. The teens, who have been rehearsing on their own, will rehearse together for the first time Friday before the show.
Organizing the show was challenging, she said, because of the number of people involved. In addition to the 22 who will be on stage, there is a backstage crew of 10, plus those involved in setup, selling tickets and securing sponsors. It was a challenge for Julia, who, in addition to putting the show together, also competed in mock trial and has a part-time job.
“Trying to balance everything was a challenge, but it’s nothing that I don’t do during the typical school year anyway,” she said.
Performing is also a chance for many of the teens to be on stage before heading to college. Julia said some are moving in the day after the show and many will be studying performing arts.
“These are some of the most caring and compassionate people that just adore the art of theater,” she said. “It’s a celebration of everything that we’ve done throughout our years.”
Julia also said she’s happy to see the show helping local kids.
“I’m hoping for a great turnout, big audience, lots of smiles, great performances,” she said. “It’s going to be very bittersweet because a lot of my friends are going off to school, but it’s all going to be so worth it because we’re benefiting the community.”
Broderick also said she’s grateful the teens are dedicating their time, energy and talent to undertake such a big project.
“These kids could have been doing something else with their time,” she said, “but they chose to share their talent with us, which will result in funds raised to support children’s programs.”
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at www.ticketsource.com/Kiwanis-Kids or at the door. Videos of the show will also be available to purchase.