92NY Launches Educational Initiative: Broadway Spotlight Program with “Hell’s Kitchen” and NYC Public Schools

Photo Courtesy of 92NY

NYC public high school students will attend the October 29 matinee of Hell’s Kitchen followed by talkback
The ten-week program will serve up to 900 students

The 92nd Street Y, New York (92NY) will launch Broadway Spotlight, a ten-week arts residency for New York City public high school students. Developed by 92NY’s School Engagement team in collaboration the Broadway production of Hell’s Kitchen, the program provides classroom-based instruction and direct exposure to professional theater.

Beginning October 2025, Broadway Spotlight will reach up to 900 students in 13 public high schools, the majority of which are Title I schools. The curriculum will be integrated into Theater and English Language Arts classes and will cover storytelling, design, rehearsal processes, and production roles. The goal is to build students’ knowledge of theater practices and broaden awareness of career pathways in the field.

Students will research Hell’s Kitchen as a primary case study, examining narrative, design, and production elements. Working with professional teaching artists, students will create original work related to themes in the show. On October 29, 2025, participants will attend a Broadway matinee of Hell’s Kitchen followed by a talkback with artists from the production, and a Q&A moderated by 92NY Teen Producers. 

“We’re thrilled to partner with Hell’s Kitchen to launch Broadway Spotlight,” said Lily Mannon, Associate Director of 92NY’s School Engagement in the Arts. “Spotlight bridges classroom learning with the energy and inspiration of live performance – empowering students to discover their potential, express themselves creatively, and engage with one of the most dynamic art forms in the world. Broadway belongs to everyone, and we want every student to feel its magic and see themselves in this extraordinary community.”

Program Highlights
Participants: Up to 900 NYC public high school students in grades 9 to 12, with a focus on Title I schools.

Instruction: Four to five professional teaching artists embedded in classrooms over ten weeks.

Performance and Talkback: October 29, 2025 matinee of Hell’s Kitchen the musical with a post-show conversation moderated by a 92NY Teen Producer.

Student Work: Scripts, songs, design models, and costume concepts developed during the residency.

Artist Engagement: Potential in-school visits by members of the Hell’s Kitchen company.

Broadway Spotlight affirms 92NY’s commitment to accessible, high-quality arts education for students across New York City. This spring, 92NY’s School Engagement in the Arts will keep the excitement going by spotlighting the smash-hit Broadway musical & Juliet!

ABOUT HELL’S KITCHEN
Hell’s Kitchen, the multi-award-winning Broadway musical created and inspired by 17-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys, takes you on the journey of Ali – a 17-year-old girl full of fire.

Relatable, raw, and refreshingly fun, it’s a celebration of finding yourself, your purpose, and the people who lift you up. The music—a mix of Keys’ classics and new songs written exclusively for the show—and exhilarating choreography bring to life a story that speaks to you no matter where you’re from, where you’ve been, or where you’re going. Come experience where dreams begin: Hell’s Kitchen. 

The “powerhouse cast” (Variety) is currently led by Amanda Reid, Jessica Vosk, Tony Award® winner for the role of Miss Liza Jane, Kecia Lewis, Tony Award nominee Christopher Jackson and Phillip Johnson Richardson. Hell’s Kitchen is directed by five-time Tony Award® nominee Michael Greif, with choreography by five-time Tony Award® nominee Camille A. Brown, a book by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award ® nominee Kristoffer Diaz – and the music of Keys, featuring new songs and her greatest hits.

Tickets for Hell’s Kitchen are available at HellsKitchen.com and Telecharge.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the Shubert Theatre box office.

About The 92nd Street Y, New York: The 92nd Street Y, New York (92NY) is a world-class center for the arts and innovation, a convener of ideas, and an incubator for creativity. Now celebrating its 150^th  anniversary, 92NY offers extensive classes, courses and events online including live concerts, talks and master classes; fitness classes for all ages; 250+ art classes, and parenting workshops for new moms and dads. The 92nd Street Y, New York is transforming the way people share ideas and translate them into action all over the world. All of 92NY’s programming is built on a foundation of Jewish values, including the capacity of civil dialogue to change minds; the potential of education and the arts to change lives; and a commitment to welcoming and serving people of all ages, races, religions, and ethnicities. For more information, visit  www.92NY.org.