Arts & Entertainment
Young at Arts Brings Broadway to Bronxville
Students perform with celebrated artists to benefit the organization.
Christ Church on Sagamore Road was filled with angelic voices on Monday evening, but it wasn’t hymns being sung—it was show tunes.
The students of Young at Arts, a program that offers performing arts education to Mount Vernon public schools students, held benefit to help raise money for busing to and from the program and to celebrate their incredible talents.
What made this night particularly special was that the students were joined by other notable performers, Glen Seven Allen (Caberet, Pirates of Penzance, The Light in the Piazza); Adrienne Danrich (Carmen, Turandot, Don Giovanni); and Djordje Nesic (of the Juilliard School).
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The artists put on a great show. Allen and Danrich each performed several numbers that took full advantage of the church’s acoustics. Their duet of O soave fanciulla from “La Boheme” inspired a standing ovation.
But the real stars of the night were the Young at Arts students. Mount Vernon High School senior, Cailen Jimenez, gave an almost pitch perfect performance of Part of Your World from “The Little Mermaid.” Jerlisa Ware performed a rendition of Your Daddy’s Son from “Ragtime” with a maturity beyond her years. Jaela Cheeks Lomax sang “Don’t Rain on my Parade from “Funny Girl,” giving a performance that could probably rival the seasoned performers who will audition for the upcoming Broadway revival, and Jerome Ware gave a soulful performance of Waitin’ for the Light to Shine from “Big River.”
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The students and the featured artists performed Katy Perry’s song Firework for the show’s finale, a closing number that truly entertained the audience.
Rector of Christ Church, Michael Bird said at the end of the performance that “In singing, we are fully ourselves.” That was definitely exemplified in the seasoned performers who took the stage on Monday night and the young students who may one day follow their example.
If you wish to see the Young at Arts program in action, they will be performing “Guys and Dolls” Friday June 24 and Saturday June 25 at Taylor Hall (18 Kensington Road) at 7 p.m. for $10 a ticket.
