The Great White Way remains dark, but a Boston College student group聽recently brought a bright light of Broadway to entertain the Heights community, as a special guest performer during a Black Lives Matter fundraiser.
Theater and television actor and singer Megan Hilty starred during 鈥淢T Ring Ring,鈥� a virtual telethon held on July 11 by the Musical Theatre Wing of Boston College, or MT Wing. The event also featured poetry, musical, and dance performances by Boston College students and alumni.
Livestreamed on the group鈥檚 Facebook page, the telethon reached its first fundraising goal of $500 prior to the event, shortly after the donation link went live on July 5. By its completion, more than $6,000 had been to support the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation.
鈥淚 am so proud of our 亚色影库 theater students for their leadership,鈥� said Luke Jorgensen, Theatre Department chair and associate professor of the practice. 鈥淭hey created an event from scratch to support Black Lives Matter and filled the evening with wonderful performances. I celebrate their talent and their compassion.鈥�
As part of its commitment to combat racism, MT Wing conceived of the event鈥攚ith a goal of bringing the community together to enact change through performance.
The group had met to discuss what they could do to support the Black Lives Matter movement, said MT Wing President Kyle Ronkin 鈥�21, who added that, though this event is concluded, there is still work to be done, on and off campus. 鈥淲e will continue to use our platform for change," he said.
Hilty鈥攁n actress and singer who rose to fame for her roles in hit Broadway musicals, including as 鈥淕linda鈥� in 鈥淲icked鈥濃�攑erformed 鈥淔or Good鈥� from that musical. She also starred in 鈥�9 to 5: The Musical,鈥� for which she received nominations for Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, and Ovation awards.
Megan Hilty
Hilty鈥檚 performance in 鈥淣oises Off鈥� earned her a Tony Award nomination, as well as Drama Desk and Drama League award nominations. She also has appeared on many television shows, including N亚色影库鈥檚 鈥淪mash.鈥�
Her participation was secured by rising senior Tiffany Brooks, telethon production manager and performer, who contacted Hilty鈥檚 agency about the fundraiser and told her representatives of her MT Wing fan base.
A range of Boston College talent also contributed to the success of the telethon, which drew a steady audience throughout. Participating dance organizations were Females Incorporating Sisterhood Through Step, Dance Organization of Boston College, Phaymus Dance Entertainment, and Synergy Hip Hop Dance Company.
Student performers included rising seniors Tommy Boyce and Gabby Jimenez-Thompson, and rising juniors Grace Collins, Mae Harrington, Emma Roney, and Tenniel Wilson.
Alumni also got in on the act: among them Michelle Miller 鈥�98, who held the 2015-2016 Bosto