Broadway In Their Future

The Ms. Foundation inaugurated Bring Our Daughters To Work Day in 1993. Since then, many other organization have gotten involved, offering glimpses of the working world to curious young female minds in fields ranging from finance to the arts.

This year Live Broadway, The League of American Theatres and Producers hosted thirty young women from the New York City Housing Authority in a Broadway Theatre workshop at the New Victory Theater on 42nd Street.

Theater artists Wendy Wasserstein, Julie Taymor, Marin Mazzie, and Karen Ziemba encouraged the girls to cultivate their interests and pursue work in fields that they are passionate about and that allow them to use their creativity.

The girls spent the afternoon in workshops learning trade secrets from costume designers, set designers, lighting designers, dancers, lyricists, choreographers and press agents.

In one day they were challenged to pull together a short production. They reworked a script, designed and built their set, staged the play, printed tickets, and wrote original lyrics for a musical number.

The girls' individual talents emerged as each became comfortable in her group. Girls who had never been to a Broadway show before were behaving like confident veterans. A young girl explained to the crew of a German television station the intricacies of operating the spotlight.

Come showtime, the young stage manager was calling cues like a seasoned professional. Young press agents shared in the enthusiasm by drumming up support, both for the production and for Take Our Daughters to Work Day.

The show came together with all the hoopla of a Broadway show. The press interviewed the aspiring stars in the green room. And the production, put together in just under four hours, was over almost as soon as it began.

The play itself carried the message of the event, that young girls should not be afraid to decide on a dream and pursue it in the real world. The choir closed with an inspirational number:

"Its time to go out in the world
Dont be afraid
Its time to live your dreams
Its time to go out in the world
There are choices to be made
It's easier than it seems..."

If you are interested in learning more about and getting involved in the Take Our Daughters to Work Day, visit the Ms. Foundation at www.takeourdaughterstowork.org, or call (800) 676-7780 if you are interested in this particular workshop sponsored by Live Broadway