A caravan of 61 school buses transported thousands of students from 46 schools across Central Texas to Bass Concert Hall recently for a special performance of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, “The Outsiders” during its Texas Performing Arts’ Broadway in Austin run. This event is part of the Texas Performing Arts’ education and outreach initiative.
A caravan of 61 school buses transported thousands of students from 46 schools across Central Texas to Bass Concert Hall recently for a special performance of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, “The Outsiders.”
Trevor Scott stopped by Bass Concert Hall to chat with Bob Bursey, Artistic and Executive Director of Texas Performing Arts, who explained the significance of the event. Scott also caught up with a local student and Central Texas Theatre teacher to get their reaction to the show and this unique opportunity.
Trevor Scott stopped by Bass Concert Hall to chat with Bob Bursey, Artistic and Executive Director of Texas Performing Arts, who explained the significance of the event.
“We’ve invited students from 66 schools across Central Texas, from as far away as San Antonio and College Station, to attend a special student performance of the Broadway musical The Outsiders,” Bursey shared.
“It won the Tony Award for Best New Musical and has a lot of Austin connections as well. The music is by the Austin-based band Jamestown Revival, and we even have an Austin graduate from Leander High School in the cast right now performing in the show as part of the national tour. It is so incredible, so many kinds of full-circle moments happening for this particular performance.”
A caravan of 61 school buses transported thousands of students from 46 schools across Central Texas to Bass Concert Hall recently for a special performance of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, “The Outsiders.”
“For many of these students, it’s going to be their first time in a professional theater, certainly the first time seeing a first-class Broadway production. And what’s really important to us at Texas Performing Arts as part of UT Austin, a public institution here to serve the public and we want to provide that access to the arts for students from across Texas,” said Bursey.
A caravan of 61 school buses transported thousands of students from 46 schools across Central Texas to Bass Concert Hall recently for a special performance of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, “The Outsiders.”
Students who attended the show were thrilled to experience the magic of Broadway right in their own backyard.
Scott also caught up with a local student and Central Texas Theatre teacher to get their reaction to the show and this unique opportunity.
Rouse High School Senior Jacob Zunigas shared his reaction to the Tony Award-winning musical, “It was perfect, down to like everything about it. I love the book. I love the movie. I did a scene from the play even, and just this year, I haven’t really cried that much after shows. This show made me cry.”
Zunigas also reflected on what theatre means to him. “One of my favorite things is being able to play another person. Really get down and just really understand someone else’s perspective, and just being able to send a message out to people, a positive one is really important.”
He also showed gratitude for the School Day performance and the event’s ability to inspire young creatives, “I think it just shows you how many opportunities there are. If you want to start, just do it. Just go for it. And if this is what you’re truly passionate about, then it’s just about getting the ball rolling.”
Dozens of central Texas teachers and theatre professionals were also present for this special performance.
Scott also caught up with a local student and Central Texas Theatre teacher to get their reaction to the show and this unique opportunity.
Rouse High School Theatre Director Cheryl Painter reflected on the show and the meaningful experience for her students, “It’s a gorgeous show. We wept all the way through Act Two. The cheers, the screams, they’re just so excited just to sit there and be so close to the action. It was just such a beautiful story.”
Painter recalled how access to the arts encouraged her to follow her passion as a young actor, “I remember that first traveling show I got to see, and it opened my eyes and made me realize that I could go do this, that this could be my life and my world, and actually connected me to my passion. So to have this opportunity for my students, Texas Performing Arts, all of our amazing administration, everybody that took part in helping my kids get here today to have this experience, like there’s not enough thank yous in the world for that.”
{p}Scott also caught up with a local student and Central Texas Theatre teacher to get their reaction to the show and this unique opportunity.{/p}