BROADWAY IN THE HOOD

Nine years ago my life changed when Broadway In The Hood cast me as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in my very first theater production. That run was a hit and opened doors I never imagined. That opportunity gave me purpose, confidence, and a belief that the arts could be a path to something extraordinary. I know my story is not unique.

For more than 15 years Broadway In The Hood has poured into inner-city youth in Las Vegas. They have mounted over 100 productions and created a space where hundreds of kids find discipline, mentorship, and the chance to discover their talents. This organization does more than teach performance. It transforms lives through free arts education, workforce training, and a community that believes in these young people.

They recently opened The Legacy Theatre of Excellence, Nevada’s first African American-owned and operated theatre and education complex, complete with a dance studio, recording and podcast studios, technical training spaces, and the African American Entertainment Museum. Now they are in the final stretch of paying off the building. Finishing this work means the doors stay open, programs stay free, and futures keep being changed.

Please give what you can and share if you can’t give. Your support helps bring this home for our kids, our community, and the next generation of artists and leaders. Join me in making sure The Legacy Theatre of Excellence can continue to uplift and empower every young person who walks through its doors.

Mr. Russell believed in my stage play, I GOT THE LAST LAUGH Jackie MOMS Mabley, and his faith changed everything for me. He saw my vision, encouraged my voice, and invested in the possibility that stories like ours belong on stage. I want to honor his belief by continuing the friendship and the work we began together — by lifting up the next generation of artists who need someone to believe in them.

Broadway In The HOOD is more than a theater. The Legacy Theatre of Excellence is Nevada’s first African American-owned and operated theatre and education complex, home to the African American Entertainment Museum and a place where underserved youth receive free training in acting, music, dance, technical theatre, and more. We offer mentorship, workforce development, and real pathways to careers in the arts. I know firsthand how one person’s encouragement can change a life, and that is the promise we make every day here.

Your support helps keep those doors open for aspiring performers, technicians, and storytellers who might never otherwise have access to professional training or a stage to call their own. When we pay forward belief like Mr. Russell showed me, we build a community where young artists can heal, grow, and shine.

Please join me in honoring Mr. Russell and investing in the Legacy Theatre of Excellence. Your gift will help sustain free arts education, live productions, and mentorship programs that change futures. Donate now to keep this vital work alive and give the next generation the chance to hear someone say, I believe in you.

I believe in the power of the arts to transform young lives. Creativity taught me that talent is more than performance; it builds confidence, dignity, and the belief that you matter. That is why I support youth in the arts and why I stand with BROADWAY IN THE HOOD.

Broadway In The HOOD is protecting and expanding that opportunity through The Legacy Theatre of Excellence, Nevada’s first African American-owned and operated theatre and education complex and home to the African American Entertainment Museum. This space provides FREE arts education, live theatre, mentorship, workforce development, and professional training in acting, music, dance, and technical theatre for underserved youth and families. It is a place where young people find their voice and begin to imagine new futures.

When we invest in this theatre, we are not just supporting shows. We are creating life-changing pathways: a dance studio where a shy child discovers confidence, a recording booth where a teen’s voice becomes a career, a classroom where mentorship opens doors to opportunities they never thought possible. The Legacy honors a proud history while building new stories for the next generation.

Please join me in keeping this dream alive. Your gift will help sustain free programs, strengthen mentorship and training, and ensure every young person who walks through The Legacy’s doors has a chance to shine. Donate now and be part of giving our youth a stage to become somebody.

Broadway in the Hood has been my home and heart for as long as I can remember. It is where I found my voice, learned to step into the light, and discovered that I belonged. More than classes and rehearsals, it has given me a family that welcomes everyone for who they are, flaws and all. I am fundraising because I want that safe, creative space to be here for the next generation the way it has been for me.

The Legacy Theatre of Excellence stands as a powerful symbol of what Broadway in the Hood offers: free arts education, professional training, mentorship, and a place where young people of color and families can see themselves reflected on stage and behind the scenes. This theater is Nevada's first African American-owned and operated theatre and houses the African American Entertainment Museum, studios, and resources that transform lives through the arts.

When students walk into the Legacy, they find opportunity—skills in acting, dance, music, lighting, sound, and stage management, along with the confidence and community to pursue their dreams. This is not just about performances; it is about opening doors to careers, healing, and hope for underserved youth. I am proud to be part of a program that gives so much to so many.

Please join me in supporting Broadway in the Hood and the Legacy Theatre of Excellence. Your donation will help sustain this vital home for creativity, mentorship, and community so countless more young people can find their place, their voice, and their future.