Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Drama: One Year Later

One year ago today, Nikolas Cruz entered the campus of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. After setting off an alarm, Cruz opened fire at students and teachers, killing 17 people. Melody Herzfeld, Douglas' theatre teacher, hid 65 of her students in a tiny office for two hours before law enforcement arrived.

Herzfeld has led the theatre department at Douglas since 2003. She has directed over 50 plays and musicals at the school and sponsors its Thespian Troupe, Troupe 4879. As an educator, Herzfeld used the performing arts to empower her students as they moved forward following the Valentine's Day tragedy. Herzfeld was presented the Excellence in Theatre Award at last year's Tony Awards and has also received the Thespis Award from the Educational Theatre Association.

In the past year, Herzfeld's students continue to shine in Douglas' drama program and Troupe 4879, emulating the true meaning of #MSDStrong. Last fall, Douglas staged The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and The M Word. The latter production received Critics Choice at the District 7 Thespian One-Act Festival and was selected to attend the Florida State Thespian Festival in Tampa this March. Douglas will also be presenting A Rockin' Midsummer Night's Dream from March 7 till March 9. Tickets are available at seatyourself.biz.

Following the shooting, a group of Douglas alumni and Parkland residents established the Broadway Bound Shining Stars Foundation. This foundation provides scholarships for Douglas graduates pursuing degrees in music, theatre, and dance. Last year, three scholarships were awarded: one in the amount of $3000 and two in the amount of $1000. One of last year's scholarship recipients, Kali Clougherty, is currently a freshman in the BFA musical theatre program at Elon University. For more information on the Broadway Bound Shining Stars Foundation, please go online to broadwayshiningstars.org.

This year, the Foundation will host two major fundraising events. The first is a benefit performance of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This production will take place on February 21 at 7:00 pm, and will be held at the Township Center for the Performing Arts, located at 2452 Lyons Road in Coconut Creek. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students and are available at eventbrite.com. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the Foundation's scholarship fund.

On March 2, the Foundation will host its first ever Sock Hop, an evening of dining, dancing, and fun. This 50's-themed party will be held at the Dauer Museum of Classic Cars, located at 10801 NW 50th Street in Sunrise. Tickets are $75 for adults and $40 for children. Family tickets are also available for $150. Checks are payable to The Broadway Bound Shining Stars Foundation. Send your RSVP's to kidsarebroadwaybound@yahoo.com by February 20 to secure your spot.

If you wish to donate to the Broadway Bound Shining Stars Foundation, please go online to www.donorbox.org/bbssf, or mail your check to:

The Broadway Bound Shining Stars Foundation

9715 West Sample Road

Coral Springs, FL 33065.

We at BroadwayWorld.com send our support to the loved ones of last year's mass shooting victims. We also praise Mrs. Herzfeld and Douglas' drama students for continuing to show their strength in the face of adversity.