Broadway Bound’s History
Broadway Bound Children’s Theater was founded in 1996 by
Jimmy Nixon, a performer in Hollywood and New York City, who appeared in over
100 plays and musicals both on and off Broadway. He is currently the Executive
Artistic Director. This 501(c)(3) performing arts organization’s focus is
staging live theater musicals performed by children and teens, ages 5-18.
Broadway Bound also offers ongoing enrichment programs including dance lessons,
voice coaching, and summer camps. It is located in Seattle and draws
participants from the greater Seattle area. In the 2008-2009 season, the
organization staged six productions for a total of 53 performances, with over
430 student participants, to a total audience of over 13,000.
Professional theatres throughout the city (i.e., ACT, Moore Theatre, Paramount and Broadway Performance Hall) are utilized for student performances. Productions are staged by professional directors, choreographers and music directors from the Seattle
theatrical community and beyond, and are completely realized with professional scenery,
costumes, sound, lighting, musicians and backstage support. Enrolled students have
the opportunity to participate in all aspects of theatre production. Recent
shows in 2009 included “Cats,” “Once Upon A Mattress” and “Peter Pan”. The
organization also participates in many performing arts events throughout the
city as a community citizen in which no compensation is received. In the past
student actors have performed at the Alliance for Education Black and Orange Ball, the Freemont Fair, the Seattle Rotary Club, the SPS Back to School Rally, at the State Capitol in Olympia, and Winterfest at the Seattle Center.
The area and population served by all of Broadway Bound’s programs is the greater Seattle area with the majority of students coming from within Seattle city limits. The population served includes not only the 5-18 year old participants but all the community members such as senior groups, elementary, middle and high school classes, after school clubs, summer youth groups, and non-profit agencies serving children and teens, who
attend a show to enjoy live musical theater.
Milestones for Broadway Bound in the last 15 years:
- In 1996, Broadway Bound’s first musical, “How To Eat Like A Child” opened on the
cafeteria stage of B.F. Day Elementary School (Seattle Public School District) with
25 cast members. The four performances were attended by over 500 family members
and friends. - In 1997, based mainly on the growth of the program, Broadway Bound relocated to the basement of Fremont Baptist Church.
- In 2002 Broadway Bound Children’s Theatre was incorporated as a nonprofit
performing arts organization, and the first Board of Directors was convened.
Jimmy Nixon became the first Executive Director. - In 2005, once again due to the growth of the organization and increased number of participants, Broadway Bound moved the base of operations to the current site
at the University Heights Community Center, where three large rehearsal studios
and administrative offices are in constant use. An off-site warehouse was
leased to accommodate both set building and production storage. - In 2007, student participation leaped by over 300% from the previous year, and
Broadway Bound staged five productions, including seven simultaneous casts of
“Annie” in two theatres, and the Seattle premiere of “High School Musical,”
which drew over 20,000 people at the Moore Theatre. Marka Jenkins Waechter became the Executive Director and Jimmy Nixon the Executive Artistic Director. - In the summer of 2007, Broadway Bound reached out to Seattle’s South End, and
funded the opening of the dormant Paul Robeson Performing Arts Center, which
had sadly lied unused in the Rainier Beach Community for years. The production
of “Dreamgirls” played to sold out houses and was featured extensively in the Seattle Times, Seattle Magazine, and elsewhere. - In 2008 Broadway Bound formed a partnership with the Seattle Public Schools to
assist in the creation of a premier performing arts high school at Rainier Beach
for low-income teens that have had less access to performing arts both in the
classroom and during out-of-school time. In addition, a strategic alliance was
created with the Seattle Theatre Group, Seattle’s largest nonprofit arts
organization. In December of 2008, James D’Asaro, former Director of Production at the New York City Opera and a Yale School of Drama professor, was hired to be the new Executive Director for Broadway Bound. - In 2009, new outreach into the Seattle community and well beyond was initiated. Broadway Bound entered into a formal partnership with the Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan, the world’s premier summer arts camp that attracts over 2500 students each summer from all 50 states and 40 countries who come for intensive training with renowned instructors. A new collaboration was established with the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra, the largest youth orchestra in America, which culminated with a concert at the Moore Theatre in January of 2010, featuring nine Emerging Artists performing a Broadway program supported by a 100-piece orchestra. Further collaborative efforts resulted in the participation of the internationally acclaimed UMO Ensemble as movement specialists with our young artists for a production of PETER PAN.
- In the Summer of 2010, Broadway Bound returned to the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Center at Rainier Beach High School to present GOD LIVES IN GLASS, the company’s first premiere of an original new musical. The project was underwritten by a $75,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The artistic teams working with Jimmy Nixon in 2010 reflected the professional growth of the company, and included Patricia Barker, Choreographer; Etta Lilienthal, Scenic Designer; Ben Zamora, Lighting Designer; Sonia Dawkins, Choreographer; and Barbara Lynne Jamison, Musical Director.
- 2011 saw a record number of students participating in Broadway Bound summer camps, as enrollment topped 900 children for the first time in Broadway Bound history. The school year program returned to the beautiful Falls Theatre at ACT in downtown Seattle for productions of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, JR and 13. Broadway Bound formed a collaborative partnership with ACT and plans were laid to bring back 13 as a special engagement professional production in December, 2011 at the Falls Theatre.
