[piano intro] [hip hop music] [sirens blaring] - We were so ambitious, and a part of the whole adventure of this was not exactly knowing what the outcome would be.

And it turned out to be wonderful.

[singers vocalizing] [singers vocalizing continues] [bell ringing] Northwest, unlike a lot of the other schools, we're a magnet program.

We've got gay, straight, Black, white, Hispanic.

The kids at other schools are always striving for assimilation.

And our kids really do celebrate being different.

- The things that come out of this place are mind boggling.

I think that this school should be on this huge pedestal across the country.

- [Teacher] Anybody that really understands this thing called public education's gotta understand that engaged students are better performing students, and one of the best ways to engage students is through the arts.

- [Melody] Well, that's the power of children being able to go to a school to do what they really love.

They want to be here.

And so our graduation rate is above 97%.

- And I don't think people get how different the teachers who work here really are.

We do it because we love the kids.

- One of the reasons that I came to Northwest is because they told me they need a mother.

And it's true.

Some of them have overcome tremendous obstacles just to be here, but you'd never know it because they have that hunger and that drive.

- [Teacher] They love art.

They go with their passion, but they also experiment and they aren't afraid to try something different.

And they're not afraid to work hard.

- Sometimes at other high schools, there is football, then there's basketball, then there's theater.

♪ One, two, three ♪ ♪ Four, five ♪ ♪ Six, seven, eight ♪ - [Corey] This is what "Glee" looks like in real life.

[singers vocalizing] [steady music] [singers vocalizing continues] [steady music continues] [singers vocalizing continues] [steady music continues] - What theater means to me, it means escape from the harsh reality of life sometimes.

It means that I can become somebody else, become like a different person, a different character.

It just means endless possibilities.

- A lot of people, they've been doing musicals since they were like little, and I've just done like a few church plays here and there.

I'm just absorbing everything, taking in everything I can, and trying to be more confident about myself.

I'm going to have my time.

Even if it's not now, I'm going to have it.

- When I was in middle school, I started doing plays, and I just, I started to fall in love with it ever since then.

It's something that I love now and that I can't not do.

- I know I can sing, but I feel like God plays a spirit in my voice.

I don't just sing just because it's a song, but I sing because it's what I was made to do.

- I came to Northwest with the opportunity to be able to have a new start.

And after being baptized and just kind of starting over, I needed that real bad.

When I was 12, my sister had a baby.

So 12, 13, I really had to start learning how to be a second mother.

So I think some of the things that other 13 year olds worried about, I didn't really have the time to worry about.

- Dance has created such a beautiful world for me to express myself.

When I'm upset, I just go and dance, and just all the stress and the anger and the emotion that I hide inside just flies out and I don't even open up my mouth.

It's my life and I want to live it, and this is how I'm gonna live it through dance.

[gentle music] - We're going to do auditions Monday, Tuesday, callbacks on Wednesday.

So it's blank today.

But hopefully, by Monday, both of these will be full.

- Doing "The Color Purple," to be the first high school to do it, it means a lot 'cause it's like, why choose us?

We're in Charlotte, North Carolina.

It's really an honor for someone to even think about us doing it.

- I am so excited.

We are really doing "The Color Purple."

- "The Color Purple" ran into a lot of conflicts, specifically because of the race involved.

- Why do we have to do a Black show?

Why couldn't it be, "Hello, Dolly?"

- Why are you guys doing a all Black show?

Like, we don't do all white shows.

And I'm just like, what is wrong with you?

- This is so relevant.

It is so relevant.

This is carefully crafting a lesson about life that simply has to be put out there.

These kids have to do this.

- [Student] Just because we're Black doesn't mean we can't bring the same kind of artistic talent to the table.

We all have something to offer.

We all have a voice.

- [Student] People, when they see me, they don't know I do musicals.

They just see a Black male in a hoodie, and they're like, oh, I don't wanna walk on the same side of the street as him.

If you have darker skin, you automatically get judged for this.

- [Student] What I think is so special about "The Color Purple," this is an example of being Black and making an impact and doing something positive.

- It was a huge opportunity for us to be like, yeah, we'll show you what we can do.

We're gonna show you what we got too.

- I know these kids' back stories.

I know how many of these kids really come from single parent homes and come from really, really tough situations.

[chorus vocalizing] - My dad, [solemn music] my dad, he wasn't around when I was younger.

When I was 10 years old, the way he passed away, he was shot.

It's basically me and my mom and my sister and my mom has another one coming on the way.

I just start thinking about just the things that I never got to say to him or the things he never got to say to me, 'cause I mean, we never really had that father son bonding time.

- My father is in prison.

He went away when I was two.

It's come, become a lot harder to talk to him, to reach out to him, you know, to almost forgive him for what he's done, 'cause I just, I mean, one of the things that gets to me most is that he's never seen a show that I've done.

Not having my father is what pushed me to work harder.

I could either cry about it or I could accept that that's what my life is.

Those are the cards that I've been dealt.

There's an inner strength that I can do this without my dad.

You know?

- Some of them lived in cars.

Some of them lived in hotel rooms.

There are some who they're still homeless.

Fortunately, we have children of great spirit.

- [Britany] I'm actually in a hotel right now, and I hate it so much.

Well, there's two beds.

Me and my two brothers, we sleep in one bed, and then my mom and her boyfriend, they sleep in another bed.

I don't, like, have the advantages that some other kids have.

Like, a lot of kids have parents who have, you know, jobs, live in a house, they have cars.

I don't know when it's gonna end, but I'm not gonna let it stop me because people go through worse stuff than I do.

- [Javontre] At first, I thought I was supposed to beat myself up about it.

My family's looking at me like, that's not manly, or doing ballet was gonna make me gay, because everyone else did something practical, whether that meant working at McDonald's for the rest of your life.

That was practical for them.

And I knew that life was so much larger than practical.

Although I'm different, I'm going to go above and beyond of what you guys feel like I was destined to be.

- Struggling, it hurts, but struggling can get you through so much, and it's what makes you wanna keep going, 'cause it's like, I got, I can't be going through this for nothing.

I have to be going through this to get somewhere.

- "The Color Purple" is going to be my 44th musical that I've worked on since I've been at Northwest.

And after a while, it becomes just an ocean of other shows.

But this one is one that's got to stand out.

♪ Like a honeybee ♪ ♪ Like a waterfall ♪ ♪ All a part of me ♪ [steady music] - All right, number seven through 12.

- [Corey] This is the most exciting day because this is the one that's really open to possibility.

- [Student] I think it's gonna be a lot of competition.

- If I see the cast list and it says Harpo and Phillip Johnson, I would, I would probably scream like a girl.

- I'm gonna audition for Mister.

I always like a challenge.

I never back away from a challenge.

- I really want to be Shug Avery.

- I want to be Shug Avery so badly it like burns inside of my soul.

- I would love to try out for Celie.

- I'll be a floor piece in the show.

I just want to be in it.

♪ To part with you, more than I can bear ♪ - Okay, guys in the hallway, keep it down.

- [Corey] Of course there are anxieties.

I had one or two that walked out because it was gonna be too tough.

- [Student] My nerves will get to me and it'll ruin everything.

- I think that "The Color Purple" is a, is gonna be a great opportunity for me.

I think it's gonna just push me forward so much.

I'm gonna audition my butt off.

I have to be in the show.

I can't see myself doing anything else.

- All right, you guys.

Let's get ready to go.

- You will do this twice.

So you'll do it in this formation.

Please make sure you're holding formation.

You can make some noise if you want to.

Okay?

You can smile.

But in smiling, get it right.

[jazz music] Let me see what you got now.

[jazz music] - Quite confident.

- Tired, but I feel kind of good about it.

[jazz music] - It was kind of hard.

Nerve wrecking.

[jazz music] - [Corey] If y'all will come back to one line for me real fast?

[jazz music] Thank you all.

- I'm excited about doing my song and my monologue.

Feel like dance is a little bit more of a stretch for me.

So now that that's out of the way, I can sort of relax a little bit more.

[crowd chattering] - And my song, I'm just not confident yet, but I'm gonna get there.

I'm gonna get there.

- Everything that I have to pull from in my life, that's what I'm gonna put into it.

- I'm singing "The Color Purple" and I'm doing the two Shug monologues, so I'm going for it.

So we'll see what happens.

- You can't be going to visit your sister all the time!

And, and, and, and, and, you can't, you can't be going all these places.

♪ Big-eyed, brown-legged ♪ ♪ Whatever she is, that girl sho is fine ♪ ♪ So tell me how a man do good ♪ ♪ When all he know is bad ♪ - God taking his time getting around to you, I'll admit.

But look what he give us.

Laughing and singing and sex.

[laughs] Sky above our heads, birds singing to us.

- My name is Keston Steele, and I'll be singing, "Somebody's Gonna Love" after my monologue.

Dear Netty, dear Netty, oh, excuse me.

[crowd chattering] - Take a deep breath.

Breathe in through your nose, let it out through your mouth.

Okay.

Go ahead.

♪ To part with you more than I can bear ♪ ♪ 'Cause somebody gonna love you ♪ ♪ Sweet, baby, sweet ♪ ♪ Sweet, baby, sweet ♪ ♪ Yes, I'm always gonna love you ♪ - Thank you.

- Will you, - I didn't realize she could sing that well.

- Oh.

- Oh, uh.

[cheers] She could sing now.

She could sing.

Now, if Celie just sang the whole show, - I only see her dancing.

- If this was "The Color Purple" the opera?

[group laughing] - Do we want to give her a chance?

- She is a maybe yes or a maybe no.

Those three girls got to sang.

She can't, no, no, no.

- So ensemble then?

- Yeah, ensemble.

- Hi, my name is Britany Bowens, and I will be singing "Hell No" after my monologue.

- [Corey] Everybody that I've heard from said, Britany wants this more than anybody.

- You told Harpo to beat me?

I love Harpo.

God knows I do.

But I'll kill him dead before I let him or anybody beat me.

All my life, I had to fight.

I had to fight my daddy.

I had to fight with my brothers, my uncles, and my cousins too.

But I never, never, never, never thought I would have to fight in my own house.

♪ If a man raise his hand ♪ ♪ Hell no ♪ ♪ Hell no ♪ - Okie doke.

Thank you.

She really seems to be determined.

And this is Britany's first year at Northwest.

She's coming in as a 10th grader.

She's 18 years old and is still in the 10th grade.

And she's worried about being able to finish before they actually tell her she has to leave.

But one of the things that she said is, before I go, I really want to do a show.

- That was great, Britany.

- Both of you guys, oh my gosh.

I wanted to clap for both of you.

- You really just like stood, - You stood out.

- Put it all together in a cute little package.

- I really wanna get it.

I'm feel like I'm ready, and I just, I want it so bad.

I just want to go for it.

I mean, it took a lot for me, but I was the best me that I could be.

So I'm happy about that.

- We're gonna do callbacks Wednesday.

So you can either check Facebook or you can check before school Wednesday morning.

Okay?

- I checked Facebook last night, and I saw the call back list at about 10:30, and I was kind of disappointed that I didn't see my name on it.

- I inadvertently left Mekhai's name off the list.

So this morning, when I posted the list, he seemed very crestfallen.

Where's Mekhai?

Come here.

So I had to tell him personally.

Yes, I do need you.

Actually, I definitely need you at that.

Messed up.

Okay?

All right, don't hug me, you stupid boy.

Okay, okay.

Yes, I do need you on call.

Okay?

- Okay.

Okay.

- You okay?

All right.

- Yeah.

Yeah.

I'll be there, I'm here.

- All right.

Good.

Okay, kid.

[upbeat music] [crowd chattering] [student shouting] [upbeat music] [crowd chattering] - Well, Celie, like, her character is just like, I don't know, it kind of reminds me of me.

Not so much the husband thing and, you know, but the fact that, you know, you have people around you that are good people that are trying to be like, you're beautiful, you're, be confident about yourself, you're awesome.

And you not being able to see that.

And they're trying to pull you, but you don't wanna take anybody's hand because you're afraid to step out because you don't know, you know, what to expect when you do get out there.

And I'm still learning who I am, and I'm kind of scared still.

- A kid who really surprised me, who was really fantastic was Britany Bowens.

She really brought her A game to the auditions.

As a matter of fact, a few days ago, Brianna Cleggett, who I've also called back to read for Sofia, said, "Mr. Mitchell, I'm worried."

And I said, "Why?

What are you worried about?"

She said, "Britany is hungry."

And I said, "Well then, you need to skip some meals too."

So I think it's going to be a real battle between Britany and Brianna this afternoon in callbacks.

Reading for Sofia, I would like to hear Britany.

Yes, Britany, and I would also like to hear Cleggett.

♪ Britches till they look brand new ♪ ♪ Now is there anything ♪ ♪ I can do for you ♪ [students cheering] ♪ Any little thing you might want me to ♪ - [Corey] Good.

Stop there.

Let's do you two.

♪ Is there anything I can do for you ♪ [dramatic piano music] ♪ Anyone ♪ ♪ That I should ♪ - Let's try that again.

Let's try that again.

♪ Now is there any little thing ♪ - I thought he had another.

- [Corey] Okay, and so there's, Britany, be ready to come in.

- [Britany] I will.

- [Corey] All right?

♪ Now is there anything ♪ - [Corey] That's you.

- I was done.

♪ I can do for you ♪ [dramatic piano music] ♪ I milked 12 heifers by the early morn ♪ ♪ And then I shucked about 100 ♪ - [Corey] Drop your, I, I can't hear you.

♪ I scrubbed all your britches till they look brand new ♪ ♪ Now is there anything ♪ ♪ I can do for you ♪ ♪ Anything you might want me to ♪ - Keep going.

Ah.

Let me get my Celies and Shugs.

- You ain't never enjoy it ever?

- No.

He think I'm ugly.

- He make me laugh.

- You like to sleep with him?

- Oh, I love it.

Don't you?

♪ Got my house ♪ ♪ It still keep the cold out ♪ ♪ Got my chair ♪ ♪ When my body can't hold out ♪ - [Teacher] No, this is not what we practiced.

- Okay.

- All right?

- Come on, girl.

You better sing.

Sing, sing, sing.

Just go ahead and belt.

Listen, don't worry about anything else.

Just sing for me.

Okay?

Are you good?

All right, come on.

♪ Got my hand doing good like they supposed to ♪ ♪ Showing my heart to the folks that I'm close to ♪ ♪ I've got my eyes ♪ ♪ Though they don't see as far now ♪ ♪ They see more about how things really are now ♪ - [Teacher] I wanna do that build again.

Okay?

Again, like the practiced.

- [Corey] Yes.

♪ Got my eyes ♪ ♪ Though they can't see as far now ♪ ♪ Show more about how things ♪ ♪ How things really are now ♪ [dramatic piano music] - You two, come here, both of you.

Come here.

You are both wonderful.

It is gonna be really, really difficult picking a Celie out of this.

What is the most important to me is that the two of you remain close and that the two of you know that I just love you both.

And that I think you're both really, really phenomenal.

Okay?

Thank you.

You both really brought it.

- Thank you.

[inspirational music] [inspirational music continues] [inspirational music continues] [crowd chattering] - Here we go, guys.

[crowd chattering] So guys, before I post this, I want to tell you a little bit about my childhood.

[crowd shouting] [crowd cheering] - Oh my God!

Me?

I did it.

You know, I got it, and I'm just so happy.

Like I've never been this happy in my life.

- We did it.

Oh my God!

I'm really happy now.

Oh my gosh.

- Yes!

Oh my gosh, yes.

- And Keston is Celie!

[student screaming] - Come here.

Come here.

Come here, Keston.

- I'm so happy.

Oh my God.

[Keston yelping] If I died right now, I would be the happiest dead person.

- Oh my God.

Danielle, we got it.

- Yes.

- We got it.

- I'm Shug Avery.

Oh my God.

- Oh man.

[crowd chattering and shouting] - Danielle!

Danielle!

- But wow, I'm just, I didn't get the part I wanted, but I got the part that I need to have.

I'm right where I need to be and I can't wait.

I'm gonna work my butt off.

- If you will notice, by the first day of school, we will have learned this whole show.

- Amen.

[cast murmuring] - Okay?

By tomorrow, we will have the first 26 pages of this show blocked.

This is not a small undertaking, which means you've gotta come in with an attitude to work and to push and to just focus.

- Folks, the music is difficult.

It's going to be difficult to put together what I consider probably one of the hardest scores I've ever worked on, okay?

So coming to rehearsal's not enough.

If you have not started using the show ready kit, you're behind already.

Learn your parts.

The hardest parts in this show are the ensemble parts.

Those vocal lines are hard, hard, hard.

And finding your note and following your note is difficult.

So you don't have two months to do that.

You have two and a half weeks to do that.

[jazz music] - The kids are so dedicated.

They're here on Saturdays.

They're here till six or seven o'clock at night, and sometimes I'm just like ready to collapse, and they're ready to keep going.

And they take stuff home at night.

They take stuff home on weekends.

- Yeah, we're always here.

- Always, morning and night.

- We're here all the time.

- [Crew Member] It's a never ending job.

- Mr. Mitchell told us, the ensemble, that's the foundation of the story.

I mean, we're working from the time we get there to the time we leave.

- [Keston] We never do a show this fast.

You don't have time to be lazy.

You're just learning, learning, learning, and every day, all day, just "The Color Purple."

- One of my biggest wishes has been to be able to take a show and showcase what we do at Thespian Festival.

In order to get invited to the festival, 'cause if you see there, it's superior, excellent, good, fair.

We've got to score superiors in at least 80% of this entire adjudication sheet.

Boom.

[upbeat music] You're rushing the hell out of that.

Slow down.

[upbeat music] They look at every aspect.

Technical, costumes, sound design, lighting design, orchestra, ensemble, leads.

Everything has to set a standard that is far above what people think of as being the average high school show.

They invite the best of the best to perform on that stage.

So you'll hear more about it.

Don't worry about it.

If we get invited, that's a whole bunch of money I gotta raise 'cause it'll cost about $120,000 to get there.

Okay?

[upbeat music] [singer vocalizing] - [Teacher] When you get, - [Danielle] You know, when you're acting, eventually the character becomes you.

And I'm trying not to let that happen.

- [Corey] And back, and one, two, three, four, five, six.

Boom.

- [Teacher] So guys, listen.

[shushes] It needs to be, I don't wanna say nasty, it needs to be tastefully dirty.

[cast laughing] - [Corey] When I cast her as Shug, Danielle came to me and said she didn't think she could do the show.

She couldn't play Shug.

She couldn't do the kiss.

She couldn't do any of those things.

- I was nervous that I didn't know how to be sexy.

I was nervous that I was gonna upset God.

I thought, you know, what does that say about me if I'm willing to put myself on stage in that way?

I dunno, it's been definitely something that's on my mind constantly.

And just like this morning, when they're asking us to just get out of our comfort zone like right away, Like I literally just, honestly, I sat back and prayed for a minute and I was like, God, just help me to just humble myself right now and not, you know, to get outta my head for a little bit.

It's really hard though because I'm not around that all the time, and I choose to be that way.

I set myself apart.

[jazz music] [cast cheering] - Now, you can't look down and smile.

You gotta look at us and smile.

I gotta see that smile that it's like, ooh, I like this.

Yes?

- [Danielle] There's also the conflict of kissing a girl and having, being intimate with another girl.

And that's a little weighing on my convictions.

- Oh, you're good for that?

- Yes.

- Okay.

We, that's good.

I push a lot, and I mean I push a lot, and I'll push their buttons.

I will push their limits and their talent, and I will push their thresholds as far as what they think they can do physically.

- [Teacher] Come on, guys, wake up, let's go angle.

- [Corey] Energy.

- [Teacher] Feet apart.

Feet apart.

- [Britany] There are people that are much better dancers than me that didn't get into the show.

So I just feel like I have to do good because I don't want Mr. Mitchell to regret putting me in the cast.

- [Teacher] Britany, gimme some energy.

You're fading big time.

I gotta have some more energy for you.

Here we go.

Right on this, gonna do, - It's just something I'm passionate about and I want to do it so well, because I mean, I love doing this and, I don't, I just, I don't wanna be that person who brings or slows things down.

I just know I can do better and I have to do better.

- Sometimes I see a lot of myself in Britany.

There is such a drive, and she's gotta fight for it more than anyone, and she's gotta fight for something that is really and truly foreign to the rest of her family.

Britany is my underdog.

Britany is the one who is going to have to do it against all odds.

But I think that if she can keep the fire, I think that she can succeed.

But there's a lot to overcome.

There's a lot to overcome with her.

[solemn music] - [Mekhai] It's been me and my mom and my sister really against the world for a very long time.

So my dad wasn't around.

I feel like if I didn't have the arts, I probably would be off doing some God knows what, you know?

So I feel like the arts keeps me grounded and it gives me motivation to stay outta trouble.

It gives me motivation to do the right thing and to make sure that college and academics is a priority.

[solemn music] I don't even know what I would do if I didn't have Northwest.

Me and Phillip talk about it sometimes because I don't even know, would I be going just straight into the workforce?

You know?

I mean, like surviving but not completely happy.

I know I wouldn't have, I wouldn't feel like I had a purpose.

It would just be a completely different life for me right now.

♪ So tell me how a man do good ♪ ♪ When all he know is bad ♪ It was important to show, as Mister, that he's not evil.

He's been hurt.

And I think that's what I see in my family.

Hurt people who have to try harder to give love.

People only lash out or show hatred when they've been hurt.

You know?

- There are some serious issues that our students face.

And when we go into theater and you talk about emotional memory, you talk about sense memory, you talk about all of those elements of acting that where you're trying to tap into yourself and become more of yourself through this other character.

As a director, I walk a tightrope.

I'm trying to get their best without it tearing them to pieces.

- [Mekhai] I have to hit Keston in the face, and I really don't like that part.

I don't, when I go off stage, I'm conflicted with myself.

I'm like, you know Mekhai, you gotta understand it's just acting.

But I get mad at myself 'cause I hate it when I see like stuff like domestic violence.

I don't like that.

So having to do it myself as a character is definitely a trial and a process.

[Keston shouting] Mister didn't have the father that he needed, and it really shows in how he treated the women around him.

So I felt like that's what I drew on for Mister, the missing father figure.

Mister and I had something in common.

[body thudding] - Why you do this?

- [Corey] Theater is not instant.

You do have to dig deeper.

You have to find that.

And there is a lot of pressure, and I do apply a lot of pressure to say, dig deeper.

- [Mekhai] Mr. Mitchell gives us a thick soul and thin skin, so that we can be affected by what we're doing but still be able to withstand it.

[slow piano music] - Yesterday in rehearsal, well my home, like I broke down, like I started crying.

We don't really have a home right now because we lived with my auntie for a little bit and there was like 13 people in that house and we were like staying in the garage.

And it's me, my stepdad, my mom, and my two sisters.

And it's really hard because like I try to, I, it's hard to sleep on like a floor, you know?

And like, that may not be like too, I'm not trying to seem like, you know, I'm whining or complaining but like it's kind of hard to do that and then come to rehearsal and then like try to have a good attitude and then, you know, just a whole bunch of, it's a whole, a lot going on at home and like just yesterday, I couldn't handle it anymore.

I couldn't.

I broke down.

And yeah.

Even though it may be harder sometimes, I still believe that, with faith in God, it'll all come through and everything will be better.

- Go.

♪ It's Sunday ♪ - Ha ha!

♪ It's Thursday ♪ - No!

No!

Energy, energy.

This whole thing's gotta just blow up with energy.

Otherwise, those people have no reason to come out on stage and dance.

[cast members clapping] [singer vocalizing] ♪ The Lord works in mysterious ways ♪ - 10 days.

10 days before the show.

Wow.

- With the truncated amount of time that we have to put something together, there's no such thing as resting.

You have to work.

You have to work.

You cannot stop.

You have to keep it up.

One job is over, the next one picks up again.

- You can't curse nobody.

You're poor, you're Black, you're ugly.

- Don't you back down from him.

Girl, you move, I will break your legs.

You hear me?

♪ None of us know what the Lord's got planned for us ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ No sir ♪ ♪ So I want you to stop your moaning ♪ ♪ Quit your groaning ♪ ♪ Throw away your handkerchiefs ♪ ♪ Put your hand in his ♪ - That reads.

This at the roots, does it?

- I can wash it and not do nothing to it.

- Yeah, so, that, honey, it's a wig anyway.

- They got a nappy wig?

♪ That's what I'm talking about ♪ [upbeat music] ♪ Lord is walking with you ♪ - Hey, guys!

I have had enough of all the talking.

Jordan will say, be quiet, and I've watched you.

It's not even like it's registering in your eyes to be quiet.

How can you retain anything when you're so caught up in yourselves?

The Saturdays, the nine to six rehearsals, the constant after school, the do it again even though you're exhausted and you feel like you're going to drop, that is what the business is all about, especially stage.

And the second you say, I can't, there will be someone else behind them saying, I can.

- [Keston] That's the kind of teaching you'll get from him.

You know, he'll push you to your limits to make you better.

[upbeat music] [singers vocalizing] - [Corey] Reach.

Reach Gesture.

- Me and Mekhai, we were always like, I can't wait to go to rehearsal.

If I had a bad day, I know I could come to this rehearsal and I can be happy.

[singers vocalizing] ♪ Unto ♪ ♪ The ♪ ♪ Lord ♪ [bell ringing] [solemn music] - When I was upset and nobody else was there to hold me, my brother was the only person there to make me laugh and to make me forget about it.

And so today, I thank my brother for everything he could ever do for me because he was the best.

My brother was the best.

- [Mekhai] I think Javontre's brother got caught up with the wrong people and they convinced him to do something crazy.

But instead of coming home that night, he lost his life.

- [Student] That could have been Tre.

It could have so easily had been him had he not started dancing.

Had he not found something that he loved to do, he could have been the one who got shot.

- [Student] I think, from that, we pull some kind of strength and drive to keep performing because we see that it keeps us out of the craziness.

- [Student] I can't imagine my life without Northwest because when you have great friends with great decisions and they're in the same art form as you are, you guys just share a special bond that no one can take away.

[solemn music] - [Javontre] I'm performing for my brother because this is what he wants me to do.

And now that I know that it's within me, I have no choice but to succeed.

- I think, when you find something that you truly love and that you love to do and that makes you incredibly happy and when you find people that make it worthwhile, you'll do anything to keep it in your life.

And I think that's what we all, including Phillip and Britany, I think that that's what keeps them fighting and keeps them part of it.

Like they really, really enjoy what they're doing.

And their testament is what they go, what they fight and what they struggle with to continue to be at rehearsals or continue to make it to a dance class.

I love that about them, and I love that they inspire me to do that.

- [Keston] There's a light in Britany.

Everybody sees that in Britany, and I think, now, Britany's starting to see it for herself.

She was so busy trying to catch up with everybody else instead of, you know, just being herself.

- It's bringing us closer together.

- And Mitchell said that this would be our biggest audience yet, so, oh God.

- But the load in, load out, it's gonna be tough.

We'll see how it goes.

- I'm gonna just try to be calm and not worry about anything.

It is all gonna work out, you know?

- Oh sweet Jesus.

[cheerful music] [singers vocalizing] [cheerful music continues] [singers vocalizing continues] Take it out.

Take it out.

There, stop.

Stop, stop, stop!

[cheerful music] [singers vocalizing] [cast cheering] - [Teacher] All right, folks, listen.

Listen!

- Guys, take a moment and look around.

Today is the day.

All of you, I am grateful to.

And I want you to be grateful towards each other.

Tonight's word is shine.

I want you guys to go out and give them a big gift, okay?

Shine.

Be your full, wonderful selves.

Okay, break a leg.

[cast cheering] [cast chattering] [singers vocalizing] [singers vocalizing continues] Guys, curtain in 10 minutes.

Places in two.

- Yes.

[singers vocalizing] - [Corey] Quiet backstage.

- [Student] There are plenty of people rolling in.

- Amen.

- I am very, very, very nervous.

It's my first full musical ever, and this is one of the biggest stages I've ever been on.

But I'm gonna do good.

- Run it around there.

Run it, run it, run it, run it, run as fast as you can.

[triumphant music] - My name's Squeak.

[Phillip cheers] ♪ Gonna make you holler like a wild cat do ♪ ♪ Oh, brown Betty ♪ ♪ When I throw my mojo ♪ [crowd cheering] ♪ Got, got, brown Betty ♪ ♪ Whatever she is, that girl sho is fine ♪ ♪ Whatever she is, that girl sho is fine ♪ ♪ Is fine ♪ [crowd shouting] - What?

- [Student] Tell her, yeah, she accidentally punched her for real.

- [Corey] Is she, and she's bleeding badly?

- [Student] I don't think so.

I don't think it's bad.

Is it?

Did you, it come back?

- It was a thing.

I was just thinking, that fight, that punch doesn't look real.

[laughing] [slow music] Okay.

There was the lesbian kiss.

We shall see what the principal has to say about that.

Oh my god.

This needs to be faster or the audience is going to walk out.

Wait, what's going on?

- I don't know.

- Let's just leave it on.

- He's gonna kill me.

[steady music] [fingers snapping] - Oh God.

Slow down.

[steady music] [fingers snapping] Okay, I need to fix this.

[steady music] [fingers snapping] Oh, this is a mess.

This is a mess!

[jazz music] Oh my god, this is killing me.

- It's just messy.

It's messy.

- I don't know, I just feel like the energy's kind of down.

I dunno.

I dunno how to feel about it yet.

- It's frustrating, but it's okay.

It's just not our best.

- I get it.

I gotta get my energy back up, get, put myself in the right mode, I guess.

Gonna get my mic.

[footsteps thudding] ♪ I'm gonna hold my head up ♪ ♪ I'm gonna put my shoulders back ♪ ♪ And look you straight in the eye ♪ ♪ I'm gonna flirt with somebody ♪ - Yes!

♪ When they walk by ♪ ♪ I'm gonna sing out ♪ ♪ Sing out ♪ [crowd cheering] ♪ I believe that I have inside of me ♪ [singers vocalizing] - Oh my God.

They need to move.

They need move, because the lights go out.

They need to move.

♪ Amen ♪ - Oh my god.

Heads up.

Heads up!

[cast whispering] Okay, I need to fix this.

[cast chattering] Let's talk.

It was really tough, going in and literally working until the very last second in which we had the opportunity to stop and appreciate the space that we were in and the accomplishments that we've made.

I take that upon myself, and there are things that we will do to make that better, okay?

- Keston and I just sat for a second.

We were just so frazzled 'cause everything was just all over the place, but it wasn't its best.

And so how can we hold each other accountable and hold ourselves accountable to make sure we're constantly putting our hearts in this show 100%?

- Because we can't continue through the rest of this week feeling like we are less than, like we are not quite a family.

We are, but as with all families, there is dysfunction.

But everything that we're doing is in preparation for us to be the best.

Okay?

We need absolute focus.

The legacy of this show happens in tonight's performance.

The adjudicators who are coming are here tonight.

The theater critics who are coming are here tonight.

This is it.

Okay?

Everything.

But it doesn't happen if you are not focused, if you're not alive and you're not absolutely energized.

You guys have the ability to move people.

Don't take it lightly, guys.

Please don't.

[singer vocalizing] - There's very strong criteria, and if we say yes to a show and it ends up on that main stage at International, it better be good.

If it bombs, - Everybody looks at us.

- The harshest bomb in the world.

But when it sails, you cannot believe the energy in that theater.

It's a high like you've never seen.

[chiming music] [chiming music continues] [chiming music continues] - [Corey] I think these kids are lucky, because they are just as much as at risk, but they figured something out and they've tuned into something that they really love.

[chiming music] - I like, went for it and pushed the button.

- He was like, gimme something hot.

Ooh!

- [Corey] Danielle was always afraid.

And for the first time, I think that she was really beginning to feel triumphant in what it is that she could do.

- I love you.

- My stomach hurts from when, I love you too.

- You ready to do this thingy?

- We're gonna do this.

- We get to kiss one last time.

♪ Whoa ♪ - Make it good.

- [Corey] For some reason, it clicked with her.

She looked Keston in the eyes and started to feel that love.

And I really think that Danielle, who talks so much about her faith, was finally beginning to embrace the love.

- [Danielle] I was really focused on the physical aspects of it.

And Mitchell helped me to focus on the aspects of it that are more inward, about the fact that this is a musical about love.

And he's like, what is God?

God is love.

And that really sat with me, and I was like, that's what I want to give.

[crowd cheering] [dramatic music] - I don't wanna say, but we're going Nebraska.

We're gonna Nebraska.

There's no doubt about it in my mind.

We're going to Nebraska.

I'm so excited.

Like, I can't stop talking right now.

So somebody needs to shut me up 'cause I'm gonna keep talking.

I'm so excited, y'all.

The show is so good.

I'm so excited.

[cheers] [crowd chattering] - I would love to take this to nationals.

I would love to show the country what we can do.

We've got such a stellar program here with some fantastic kids.

- We all knew that we had a great product, but now we can say, look at what we're doing here, that we have something really, really special that we hope will inspire other places to start putting together schools like Northwest.

You bring in great educators like Corey, Bonnie, Matt, if you make that investment in your school, the talent from the students will come, and it will grow into something that's, I've never seen anything like it before.

It's pretty amazing.

- When a student is involved in the arts, they're more motivated.

So their attendance is higher, the graduation rates are higher.

And then we also see correlations with English and math and SAT scores.

- What does training in the theater give you as a student?

On time, organized, focused, gives you work ethic.

All this stuff can lead to so many things in life.

- The research proves it over and over again.

If you want good results, then you need a strong arts program in your school.

You want strong academic children, then you need an arts program for them to enter.

- People fail to realize how important the arts is and how creativity is the best thing that anybody who's trying to learn can have.

At our school, we really do have great teachers that nourish our creativity and it allows us all to be really good kids, you know?

- With "The Color Purple," a part of what we did was we had the show adjudicated for the International Thespian Festival.

The last time there was a show from North Carolina to perform on the main stage was, - 32 years.

- 32 years since there's been a show from North Carolina.

So the other part of it is that only 11 shows get invited to go.

Well, they called me from the office, and they said, there's really no need to wait to tell you that we got straight superiors.

[crowd cheering] [bright music] [crowd cheering continues] [bright music continues] All right, everybody take a collective deep breath.

Breathe in through your nose, let it out.

Okay, listen up.

There is, so there is a lot of work to be done.

Okay?

- We going to Nebraska!

- We are going to Nebraska!

[crowd cheering] - To go and then do a show there and then have all these theater workshops all around the campus of the college?

And it would just be a great opportunity, and I'd love to take my family with me.

- I hate talking money, but it is necessary that you know.

It is just under $5,000 just for the rights to do the show.

And we are renting some of the Broadway costumes and some of the sets.

The costumes for Africa Homeland are coming directly from the Broadway show.

- Wow.

- And, that is another $5,000 right there.

- First, when Mr. Mitchell said $400, I thought my mom was gonna get mad at me.

She's like, I'm not gonna pay $400.

But I think she just, she felt that this was something that she wanted to do for me.

So she just said, you know, I'll do it.

I'll just take it all.

And she did.

- Work hours, long hours.

Worked for, I worked for Interstate Contact Cleaning Service.

I worked it seven days straight.

I kept working and counting my hours, counting them up.

So I made sure I came up with $400.

- Our school has financial problems as it is, and having to raise that much money, Mr. Mitchell is going up to almost every door, asking.

- [Corey] Ticket sales, sponsor sales, it's all of those things.

But the word is getting out slowly but surely.

Sell, sell, sell, sell.

Sell everywhere.

And talk to everyone.

- You often hear the term, it takes a village to educate a child.

It does take partnerships.

And we have one of the best educational partners here today with us.

- Is we'd like to present you with a check for $50,000.

[crowd cheering] [singer vocalizing] - The whole community came together just to give, just to let us go to Nebraska.

[steady music] [crowd chattering] [steady music continues] [crowd chattering continues] [steady music continues] [crowd chattering continues] - [Teacher] This is their journey.

And here they've had an opportunity to travel halfway across the country to be part of an institution that is international in scope.

And they never would've made it if they'd had small ideas.

Now that's a tribute to Corey because Corey had this planned like the invasion of Normandy.

- [Student] When we got to Nebraska, everybody's head was turning.

- [Student] We first arrived in Nebraska, the population of Black people doubled.

- [Student] We proved all the stereotypes about Black teens wrong.

Like, we shut that down.

♪ And make a joyful noise ♪ ♪ Unto ♪ ♪ The ♪ ♪ Lord ♪ [student claps] - College auditions, we signed up for college auditions.

- Ariel.

- They're gonna get the opportunity to audition for some of the great performing arts schools in this country.

Like, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music is, probably, the best musical theater program in the country.

And they're here.

- [Commentator] This could mean the world to them.

I mean, they have a great audition, and it could be in scholarship money or financial aid, and for some of them, this may be the only chance they have to go to college.

- College auditions?

That's a scary thought as far as knowing what your future's gonna be.

The college that I go to might be a college I auditioned for in Nebraska.

So that's a really turning point in my life right now.

[Mekhai sighs] Good afternoon, everyone.

My name is Mekhai Lee.

M-E-K-H-A-I L-E-E. - Isn't there any kind of discussion?

I'd just like to say a few words because I think this idea scares a lot of people.

It shouldn't.

See, from the oldest of times, people danced for many reasons.

They danced so that their crops would be plentiful or so that their hunt would be good.

They danced to show the community spirit and they danced to celebrate.

And that's the kind of dance we're talking about.

- Mama, I'd end up worse than daddy because I wouldn't be doing what I know I've got to do.

I mean, I've seen your life, and now I see Daddy, and look, look, I love you both.

I do, but I've got my work to do.

[contemplative music] [contemplative music continues] - [Corey] I told Britany, your GPA is such that they're not going to allow you to audition.

But I said, you go and you talk to the schools anyway.

- I have to open my mouth and I have to make it happen myself.

And I'm trying harder and harder to just, you know, not be so scared to just get out there and, you know, just do it, so.

[contemplative music] - Britany came to the table and said that some of the students were auditioning, and she says, I don't know if I can go to college.

I says, why not?

You know?

And so she told me a little bit about herself.

I says, well, of course you can.

- [Corey] Britany has gotten used to overcoming obstacles.

And that's exactly what she did.

- She was so cute because as I was telling her, okay, we're gonna count this as your audition.

We're gonna be able to offer you a callback scholarship and talked to her about the theater scholarship.

And she kept asking me, okay, are you sure?

And I said, of course.

That's what I'm telling you.

So she hugged me.

I started crying.

I mean it was just, it was one of the experiences you look for when you do this.

- I want to make it happen for her if I can.

[happy music] [happy music continues] [happy music continues] - 22 callbacks.

- 22?

- I'm really excited now to go talk to these colleges.

Oh my god!

[crowd chattering] - Time for a festive day.

- [Corey] I'm chasing a dream right now.

I went to Thespian Festival 10 years ago and said, someday I want to bring a show here.

All right, guys, they're about to let us in.

- After starting where they started and enduring what they endured, to be able to do this for the largest and perhaps the most critical audience they're ever gonna face, once they've done this, there's nothing they can't do.

- Ready?

You ready?

- [Corey] We're ready.

- [laughs] Even the wall is beautiful.

- [Student] Wow.

- We did it!

- We did it.

[crowd cheering] Everybody that I have walked by has talked about how excited they are to see you.

Guys, give them the show of the week.

[crowd cheering] There I go.

I've said this before, I've said this before, but I don't know if I've said it to you.

[crowd cheering and laughing] They say, a mountain climber climbs that mountain to see the view from the top of the world.

This is that view.

- Yes.

Amen.

[crowd oohs] - Enjoy it.

Okay?

Go get ready.

Okay.

[crowd clapping and chattering] - We are in the mountains, y'all.

Y'all, we in the mountains for real.

Like, we in the mountains.

Look at this stage!

- Let's get to work, guys.

Let me get some hands on here.

[steady music] [signers vocalizing] - Hey, we need hands on this drop.

- Bounce, bounce.

- Now you have to stay right here and hold onto this.

'Cause if you don't, this is gonna rip all the way down.

Okay?

No pressure.

[singer vocalizing] [steady music] [ensemble humming] - Keep the whole thing in tune.

Pretend like you have an orange in your mouth.

Nice and open.

Nice open hum.

Up.

[ensemble humming] And go, one.

[steady music] [crowd chattering] - Coming on a scene, like this is a legitimate stage.

This is like, I'm Broadway bound right now, you know?

Broadway bound, baby.

Broadway bound.

- All right, Darien, please bring up 119.

Go ahead and take those down.

[dramatic music] [singer vocalizing] - [Corey] We have worked really hard.

I couldn't have done this show three years ago.

I wasn't ready.

I don't think that our team was ready, and we put together the right team, the right tools to make sure that we could make this climb up the mountain the right way.

- Hey!

Guys, gotta get you to clear the stage.

- Clear.

Go, go, go.

Clear the stage.

House has gotta open.

[crowd chattering] [upbeat music] - Can you tell me what this baby?

- Yeah, how do you wanna get it out?

- I don't wanna get it out.

I need to get it in.

- You wanna get it in?

- I was thanking God for all of our gifts and, - Yes.

- The opportunity to share it with this festival and the rest of the world.

This is a much bigger deal than any of us thought it was going to be.

- You guys worked very hard this time.

We got a whole set done in like less than six hours.

It was pretty fantastic.

[Keston laughing] - I'm never having a baby.

[singer vocalizing] - Where's the prop boxes?

Is the prop box back here?

[hair dryer whirring] - Don't need no shine.

- Shoes, shoes.

Where's the shoe?

- They're over here.

- Are they starting?

[crowd chattering] - Like, this is the first time I saw.

It's packed.

[slow music] [slow music continues] [slow music continues] - [Corey] I know there will be colossal fails.

I've had my fair share of colossal fails, but sometimes, the biggest risks are the ones that yield the biggest rewards.

And I'm so grateful that the kids did exactly what I knew they were capable of doing.

[dramatic music] [singer vocalizing] [dramatic music continues] [singer vocalizing continues] [dramatic music continues] [singer vocalizing continues] - [Student] I've never felt love like this from a cast.

When you're doing the show with them and you're with them 24/7, it's like the most amazing thing.

- Any harsh realities that we deal with at home or outside of school, I think the arts and the stage is an escape.

It's an outlet.

It allows us to express ourselves.

I feel like, if we didn't have that, you know, God knows what we would be doing.

If I didn't have this outlet, I can't even think of how I would be coping.

This is how I cope.

- I wouldn't say theater will help me escape, but it helps me get through.

♪ Most of all ♪ ♪ I'm thankful for ♪ ♪ Loving who I ♪ ♪ Really am ♪ ♪ I'm beautiful ♪ ♪ Yes, I'm beautiful ♪ ♪ And I'm ♪ ♪ Here ♪ [audience cheering] [audience cheering continues] - So I can tick off my bucket list of dreams that have come true.

I just hope that they're able to access the euphoria that they're feeling when they're in their dark spaces because dark times will come.

There are some who are living through them right now, but this is one of those times that, when I ask them to think of a time that is just joy, and this is one of those moments.

[crowd chattering] - [Student] Oh my God!

[bright music] ♪ This is the day the Lord has made ♪ ♪ He calls the hours his own ♪ ♪ Lord has made, this is the day ♪ ♪ His own, the Lord has made ♪ ♪ And praise around the Lord, this is the day ♪ ♪ This is the day the Lord has made ♪ ♪ He calls the hours his own ♪ ♪ This is the day ♪ ♪ This is the day ♪ ♪ The Lord has made, yes, it is ♪ ♪ Praise around the Lord ♪ ♪ This is the day ♪ ♪ Every day, I will rejoice every day ♪ ♪ I will rejoice ♪ [singers harmonizing] ♪ The Lord has made ♪ - We're just outside of the red carpet at Radio City Music Hall and I'm about to walk into the 69th Annual Tony Awards.

- The first ever winner of the Excellence in Theater Education Award presented by Carnegie Mellon University and the Tony Awards, from Charlotte, North Carolina's Northwest School of the Arts, teacher Corey Mitchell.

[audience clapping] [audience clapping continues] - Thank you.

Thank you all.

I don't accept this just for me.

I accept this on the behalf of every theater teacher and every young student out there who aspires to this stage and to Broadway.

Thank you for legitimizing us.

Theater education matters, and art matters.

And we thank you.

Goodnight.

[audience clapping] ♪ This is the day ♪ ♪ I will rejoice every day ♪ ♪ I will rejoice ♪ ♪ The day that the Lord has made ♪ [singer vocalizing] ♪ Hear my song tonight ♪ ♪ It says all the things I want to say ♪ ♪ And tells the story right ♪ ♪ Life hasn't been perfect ♪ ♪ And that's just the surface ♪ ♪ Celebrate tonight ♪ ♪ For the chance of a lifetime ♪ ♪ Never stop me from being myself ♪ ♪ Pick me back up ♪ ♪ Whenever I fell ♪ ♪ And you always write my name in the sky ♪ ♪ So thank you ♪ ♪ For the chance of a lifetime ♪ ♪ I've been restless ♪ ♪ Always looking for a breakthrough ♪ ♪ You know I always want to impress ♪ ♪ You helped me more than you had to ♪ ♪ Now I want you to know ♪ ♪ From the bottom of my heart ♪ ♪ This is a song that I wrote ♪ ♪ It's like a little thank you card ♪ ♪ Never stop me from being myself ♪ ♪ Pick me back up whenever I fell ♪ ♪ And you always write my name in the sky ♪ ♪ So thank you for the chance of a lifetime ♪ ♪ One chance, one life to live ♪ ♪ Let's dance ♪ ♪ Let's make the most of this future ♪ ♪ One day at a time ♪ ♪ This super, we are the realest troopers ♪ ♪ Standing tall, fought the wall ♪ ♪ We beat the odds ♪ ♪ With your support, we showed them all ♪ ♪ And then we threw up juices ♪ ♪ Boom, now recognize what we do ♪ ♪ We overcame and we grew ♪ ♪ Those obstacles not stopping us ♪ ♪ They focus in ♪ ♪ Do you ♪ ♪ Keep chasing onto that dream ♪ ♪ As warped as it may seem ♪ ♪ There will always be a way ♪ ♪ All you have to do is believe ♪ ♪ Hear my song tonight ♪ ♪ It says all the things I want to say ♪ ♪ And tells the story right ♪ ♪ Life hasn't been perfect ♪ ♪ And that's just the surface ♪ ♪ Celebrate tonight ♪ ♪ For the chance of a lifetime ♪ ♪ One chance ♪ ♪ One chance, chance, chance ♪ ♪ One chance of a lifetime ♪ ♪ You never stopped me from being myself ♪ ♪ Picked me back up whenever I fell ♪ ♪ You always write my name in the sky ♪ ♪ So thank you, thank you ♪ ♪ Tonight ♪ ♪ You never stopped me from being myself ♪ ♪ You picked me back up whenever I fell ♪ ♪ Whenever I fell ♪ ♪ And you always write my name in the sky ♪ ♪ So thank you, thank you ♪ ♪ For the chance of a lifetime ♪ [crowd cheering]