Beginning on Sept. 9th, a host of new acting, singing and dancing classes will be taught at Broadway Brings Joy, a musical theatre training program for youth, teens and adults based out of Holyoke.

Founded in 2022 by former Broadway professional and Radio City Rockette, Debra Vega created Broadway Brings Joy after her then 8-year-old son encouraged her to start a new program when all the other local summer programs were full.

“This program started as a camp, and it literally was just a fun experiment that I did for my son, who’s very into musical theater, and as well, for my Holyoke community, which didn’t have too much theater,” said Vega. “I took that camp and turned it into an after-school program that was just once a week, and it was for youth and teens.”

Rehearsals for BBJ are conducted at the Massachusetts Academy of Ballet in Holyoke, where Vega also teaches dance. Anyone can participate in BBJ and no prior experience in musical theatre is required.

In the youth/teen (ages 7 to 17) and adult classes, students can sing, dance and act while exploring various musical theatre selections from well-known Broadway productions and movie musicals. All adult classes are performance-optional, meaning that students can take the class and opt out of any actual performance.

“I’ve tried to go with what I feel the students have an interest in that gets them excited and piques their interest. So we have done pieces from ‘Hamilton’ and classics like ‘Annie,’” said Vega.

Dance classes are taught in a variety of styles, including musical theater, jazz and tap. Vega also offers adult dance party fitness classes and private dance coaching.

Acting classes include storybook acting, movement and song classes offered to ages 4 to 7, improvisation, character work and monologues for ages 7 to 17, and show business classes ( like how to self-tape or put together a reel) for adults.

“I try to make sure that each individual, no matter what their skill level, feels that they are an important part of the storytelling process,” said Vega.

Classes at BBJ are taught by a staff of performers with an immense amount of background work in the world of musicals; including performing on Broadway, off-Broadway, and in national, regional and local tours.

“I’ve gathered a team that has tremendous skills to be shared in this community and that way, it’s not just me and my skills,” said Vega. “I think that educating the students, not only as theater performers but just theater lovers in life, no matter if they want to do it professionally or not, to have an understanding of what it takes to put on a show like that is, I think, a great education.”

Debra Vega can be contacted at broadwaybringsjoy@gmail.com. For more information, visit www.broadwaybringsjoy.com.

UMass Amherst journalism student Paige Hanson is arts and features intern for the Gazette and Recorder.