SerpApi.Org
Kristin Chenoweth's Broadway Boot Camp has grown from a dream inspired by her hometown into a program that's launching careers across the entertainment industry.
The Broken Arrow native reflected on the growth of the annual camp, why giving back to Oklahoma has become one of the most meaningful parts of her career, and how former campers are already making names for themselves on Broadway and beyond.
Broadway Boot Camp Continues to Grow
Chenoweth said this year's camp is the largest in its 11-year history.
Thousands of students submit video auditions each spring, but only a small group earns a spot. This year, the camp expanded to 88 students, up from the typical 60 to 70 participants.
Students audition by singing, acting and dancing before multiple rounds of cuts narrow the field.
"It's the be careful what you wish for thing, champagne problem," Chenoweth said. "I'm so proud of them and I love watching them grow."
She said professional Broadway performers and instructors travel from New York to teach campers every summer.
A Program Inspired by Home
Chenoweth said the idea for Broadway Boot Camp came after Broken Arrow named its performing arts theater in her honor.
She recalled her father encouraging her to think beyond simply bringing guest performers to Oklahoma.
"He said, ‘Think bigger, think bigger, better, more than just you,'" Chenoweth said.
The result was Broadway Boot Camp, which she said gives young performers opportunities she never had growing up in Oklahoma.
"I just want my home state, the state I'm so proud to be from this area, I want people to know what we've got here, what we're doing," she said.
Former Campers Are Finding Success
One of Chenoweth's favorite parts of the program is watching former campers build professional careers.
She pointed to Tatum Hopkins, who made her Broadway debut alongside Chenoweth in The Queen of Versailles before landing a role on a Netflix series.
"We have a lot of those stories," Chenoweth said.
She said the most rewarding moments come when students begin applying what they've learned and discover new confidence in themselves.
Stars on Stage Brings Inclusion to the Spotlight
Chenoweth also highlighted Stars on Stage, a program that pairs Broadway Boot Camp students with young performers who have developmental disabilities.
She said campers mentor participants throughout the program before performing together during the Kristi Awards.
"It's those kinds of ways for them to give back too," Chenoweth said. "Actually the Stars on Stage, they inspire us. They are awesome."
Kristi Awards Cap Off Two Weeks of Work
The camp concludes Saturday, July 25, with the 11th annual Kristi Awards at the Kristin Chenoweth Theatre inside the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center.
The performance begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10, and Chenoweth said some seats are still available.
"It's the culmination of all the work they've done these last two weeks, and we put on a show," she said.
For Chenoweth, the annual camp has become more than just a way to mentor the next generation of performers.
"I've done a lot of work. I've done singing all over the world, but this camp is life-changing, not just for the kids, but for me," she said.
