Sunday Funday with BAE
Broadway Buddies posing in celebration of an incredible school year
Sunday Funday: Celebrating the Broadway Buddies Behind the Work
On a Sunday evening this spring, Broadway for Arts Education gathered artists, supporters, volunteers, board members, and friends for Sunday Funday, a celebration of the Broadway community and the incredible artists who helped make BAE's work possible throughout the school year. While the event included food, drinks, photos, and plenty of opportunities to reconnect, its true purpose was simple: to recognize the Broadway Buddies who spent the year showing up for New York City students.
This year marked an exciting evolution in BAE's programming. Rather than engaging Broadway artists primarily through fundraising performances and special events, we significantly expanded opportunities for them to work directly with students in classrooms, rehearsal rooms, and workshops across the city. Week after week, Broadway Buddies served as mentors, teaching artists, coaches, and role models, helping young people develop confidence, creativity, and a sense of belonging through the arts.
Sunday Funday provided an opportunity to celebrate that work and, perhaps more importantly, to celebrate the artists themselves.
Throughout the evening, Broadway Buddies reflected on what they had gained from the experience. Many spoke about the practical realities of teaching in New York City public schools and how eye-opening it was to witness the challenges educators and students navigate every day. They talked about the complexities of shared school buildings, chronic absenteeism, scheduling challenges, and the countless obstacles that can stand between a young person and a meaningful arts experience.
They also spoke about the impact of consistency. For many artists, the experience reinforced the importance of simply showing up. A single workshop can be exciting, but meaningful relationships are built over time. By returning week after week, Broadway Buddies saw firsthand how their presence affected students' confidence, engagement, and willingness to take creative risks. What may have felt like a small commitment to an artist often became a significant source of support and encouragement for a young person.
The experience proved transformative for many of the artists as well. Some shared that teaching provided meaningful employment during periods between contracts and allowed them to utilize their professional skills in new ways. Others described gaining a deeper understanding of the public school system and the realities facing students and educators throughout the city. Nearly all spoke about the joy of connecting with young people and the fulfillment that comes from helping students discover their own potential.
Perhaps the most exciting outcome of the evening was the growing sense that this work is only beginning. Again and again, conversations returned to a simple question: How can more members of the Broadway community get involved? The artists gathered at Sunday Funday know firsthand the difference a mentor can make. They have seen students find their voices, take creative risks, and grow in confidence. They have experienced the rewards of sharing their expertise beyond the stage and into classrooms where young people are eager to learn from professionals who have achieved the dreams many of them are just beginning to imagine.
Sunday Funday was ultimately a celebration, but it was also an invitation. An invitation to Broadway artists to see themselves not only as performers, but as educators, mentors, and advocates. The students may not have been in the room that evening, but they were present in every conversation. Their stories reminded everyone why this work matters—and why the Broadway community has such an important role to play in shaping the next generation of artists, leaders, and changemakers.
