Back to Before: Former Broadway Kids Return to the Stage
Have you ever wondered, “what happens to the kids that I see in Broadway shows?”
Do they stay in the business, grow up to be super stars, do they keep performing?
Well, now you can find out, because there is a producer who asked that same question, mainly because she was one of those Broadway kids.
Dara Paige Bloomfield starred in Ragtime as a kid. Now all grown up, still performing with a spectacular voice, Dara has assembled (former) kids from musicals like: Les Miserables, Billy Elliot, The Full Monty, Matilda, Gypsy and many more. Dara books the performers in a show that she produces several times a year, filled with performance and story-telling.
I just saw an incarnation last week, presented by Feinstein’s/54 Below, which sports the elegance of old New York glamour, but, happily, at reasonable prices, with darn good food to boot! On Thursday evening, I had the great pleasure to enjoy “Back to Before: Former Broadway Kids Return to the Stage.” Each performer had a cool video introduction by some of the stars they worked with, including Broadway luminaries like Laura Benanti and Heidi Blickenstaff.
A great concept for a series, I was happy to learn that Dara has another similar night planned.
This time, she will combine the former Broadway kids with current kids in shows.
“Now and Then: Current AND Former Broadway Kids Take the Stage” will take place on Feb. 24 at 9:30 PM. Doors open at 8:45. Tickets are from $30-$65, with a $25 per person minimum.
Definitely something fun and different to do.
For more theatre and food news, interviews and commentary, join Valerie Smaldone on her weekly radio show, “Bagels and Broadway” Saturday morning from 9-10 AM970 Radio, Online, Alexa and Podcast
“The only theatre and food focused radio show in New York”
Valerie Smaldone is a 5-time Billboard Magazine Award winner and is well known for her unprecedented success holding the #1 on-air position in the New York radio market on 106.7 Life-FM, an iHeart station. She has hosted, produced, and created several award-winning nationally syndicated programs featuring in-depth interviews with stars like Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Mariah Carey among others. Her radio talk show "Bagels and Broadway" highlighted theatre and food personalities. She is an accomplished interviewer and voice artist heard on commercials, narrations, promos and audiobooks, as well as a sought after live announcer.
Most recently, Valerie produced and directed a film, The Thursday Night Club, featuring pop diva Gloria Gaynor in her movie acting debut. She is one of the creators and producers of a docu-series, Divine Renovation, starring Erik Estrada, on streaming networks soon.
