LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A CCSD middle school student is now staring as a young Michael Jackson in the theatrical production of MJ: The Musical on Broadway. He spoke exclusively to FOX5 Monday from New York about his rapid rise to stardom launched by a theater program in Las Vegas that uses the stage to build dreams of students especially those from difficult backgrounds.
Austin Rankin, a 13-year-old from Cram Middle School, is now basking bright lights of Broadway.
“I play the role of young Michael Jackson…It is just really my passion,” shared Rankin. Though he’s been singing and dancing since just after he could walk and talk, it wasn’t until three years ago Rankin found local theatre company Broadway in the Hood. His first role was in the musical Annie.
“After that I was like, ‘Oh this is really fun. I want to keep doing this,’” Rankin recounted.
The theater company focuses on youth between the ages of 10 to 20 from tough neighborhoods. Rankin’s dad, a pastor in the community, says his son worked hard for this opportunity.
“I am just super, super proud of him because he practice on everything that he does he studies it, and he goes after it,” Anthony Rankin beamed. The Rankins say none of this would have happened without Broadway in the Hood founder and artistic director Torrey Russell.
“When he joined Broadway in the Hood and auditioned for me, I instantly knew that there was a light about him,” Russell revealed. In January, Russell went to see MJ: The Musical on Broadway.
“At intermission I called him I told him you have to do this show…Within 48 hours he had an audition tape ready…Two to three weeks later, they were flying him to NY… Austin is our 7th young person in 12 years that we have had go on to Broadway,” Russell explained.
Broadway in the Hood is currently hosting their summer camp and regularly holds open auditions. It is always free to participate. If you would like to learn more visit: Broadwayinthehood.org
If you are traveling to New York and want to catch MJ: The Musical on Broadway it runs is six days a week. Tickets on sale through April of next year.
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