Among the 25 students who took the stage to perform “Newsies: The Broadway Musical” in the Center for the Arts on May 14, 15 and 16 were a few who had never acted, sung or stepped foot in front of a live audience.

Dhruva Tailam ’27 took the risk and decided to join the production — after having played soccer, basketball and tennis as well as run cross country during his previous afternoon activities at Brooks — because he said, “I wanted to challenge myself and try something completely new.”

Participating in the Firetrail Theatre company this spring ended up changing more than just his routine. (Tailam was in the community service program in the fall and winter). It changed his outlook and gave him the opportunity to sing his first solo in his first-ever musical.

“It was definitely nerve-wracking at first, but it ended up being one of the most rewarding moments because it gave me confidence in myself and showed me what I’m capable of when I push past my fears,” he said. “I discovered that I’m capable of more than I thought, and I realized that I genuinely enjoy performing and being part of a creative community.”

Perhaps it also helped that with him onstage were three teachers, one member of the school’s security team and an elementary school child (the son of Director of Theatre Meghan Hill), in addition to six students who studied technical crew behind-the-scenes.

“It was a great show to pull the whole school together,” said Director of Theatre Meghan Hill about the musical, based on the true story of hundreds of young newspaper distributors who staged a strike in New York City in 1899 after publishers Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raised the price of newspapers and slashed the children’s ability to profit.

“We had students from all different parts of the student body, athletes and visual artists and kids who identify as ‘science and math people,’ …mixed with members of Brooks’ administration, college counseling office and security team,” she said. “We touched every area of campus, almost, which was pretty cool.”

Learn more about the theater program at Brooks.