Drama Students Shine at Broadway in Beacon Open Mic

Singing show tunes on stage with an award-winning accompanist? It’s just another Tuesday for Millbrook thespians, Blake Frost ’26, Olivia Biller ’27, Charlotte Withers-Clarke ’27, Marina Greenberg ’28, and Emily Brien ’28, who courageously demonstrated their theatrical talent in front of a sold-out crowd at The Yard for Broadway in Beacon.

Broadway in Beacon is an open mic show run by experienced actors and musicians Will Reynolds—who is also the music director of the upcoming Winter Musical Matilda at Millbrook School—and Jen Malenke.

Millbrook Theater Director Elaine Lifter orchestrated the field trip to Beacon for the open mic, and our dance teacher and choreographer, Zoe Thomas, who lives in the area, also joined the group. Lifter said students were initially nervous but overcame their stage fright and had a great time practicing their craft.

Highlights from the evening included Blake Frost wowing the crowd with a bit dancing and Olivia Biller delivering a beautiful rendition of “Just Around the Corner” from The Addams Family. Olivia drew from her Millbrook experience, as she was a cast member in the school’s production of The Addams Family in winter 2024.

Lifter said she plans to make Broadway on Beacon a regular activity for her acting students. Performing outside their Millbrook campus comfort zone will boost their confidence and skill, along with helping them to start building an industry network.

The open mic underscores how Millbrook’s Mid-Hudson Valley location is perfect for aspiring performers. We’re just 90 miles from New York City’s wealth of performing arts resources, giving our students direct access to industry professionals and opportunities. For example, acclaimed director and writer Neil LaBute led a week of acting and playwriting classes this past fall, inspiring and guiding students to write and perform dozens of monologues.

So, keep an eye out for the next Broadway in Beacon show. You might just see a Millbrook star working out their material ahead of the next performance at the Chelsea Morrison Theater.