Save the date: ‘Broadway Comes to Greeneville’ on March 24

On Sunday, March 24, “Broadway Comes to Greeneville” will showcase young talent from Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia performing with professional Broadway stars. The Broadway-style show, now in its eighth year, raises awareness for Niswonger Children’s Hospital.

Broadway stars Jeannette Bayardelle (“Hair,” “The Color Purple”), Jay Armstrong Johnson (“Out of Town,” “Phantom of the Opera”), LaKisha Jones (“Dreamgirls,” “The Color Purple”), Gary Mauer (“Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Miserables”) and Elizabeth Southard (“Phantom of the Opera,” “The Sound of Music”) will travel to Greeneville to perform at Niswonger Performing Arts Center (NPAC) on March 24 at 3 p.m.  

“Broadway Comes to Greeneville” is presented by the Ballad Health Foundation and Consumer Credit Union. Tickets to the event are $25, $30 and $35, depending on the seating section.
Lydia McCraw, last year’s talent search winner, said, “It’s so special to know that, as student actors along with the Broadway stars, we are helping children. I feel so blessed to help other kids by doing something I absolutely love – singing, dancing, and being on the stage!”

There will be five featured student performers accompanying the Broadway stars and 21 ensemble cast members, all of whom were chosen through auditions earlier this year. The featured student performers are:

Gracie Bostic, Cornerstone Christian Academy
Mylee Doty, Greeneville Middle School
Charles Maxie, Science Hill High School
Abby Raper, Liberty Bell Middle School
Tori Smith, homeschool

The youth ensemble includes: Aylin Ballard, homeschool; Leah Beddingfield, Greeneville Middle School; Olivia Castle, Ridgeview; Madalyn Cozart, homeschool; Sawyer Franklin, Fairmont; Owen Griffith, Homeschool; Madelyn Hedrick, homeschool; Sarah Hedrick, homeschool; Emma Jenkins, homeschool; Noah Johnson, Mary Baldwin University; Emily Lyon, Indian Trail Intermediate; Lauryn McCoy, Pikeville Middle School; Lydia McCraw, homeschool; Baleigh McKeehan, Indian Trail Intermediate; Sabrina Layne Nelson, Gray School; Elliott Price, University School; Xari Elan Roots, Hal Henard Elementary School; Shelton Tison, homeschool; Hattie Wallis, Cornerstone Christian Academy; Jorja Ward, Greeneville Middle School; Madelynn Wedding, Greeneville High School.

The Niswonger Foundation – a philanthropic organization dedicated to creating opportunities for individual and community growth through education – will award college scholarships to the top five performers. Four finalists will be awarded $1,000 scholarships, and the grand prize winner will be awarded a $2,500 scholarship. The awardees can use the scholarships toward the college or university of their choice.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call NPAC at 423-638-1679 or visit www.NPACgreeneville.com. You can also call the Ballad Health Foundation at 423-302-3131 or 423-230-8550.