Valley native produces PBS theater miniseries

Valley native produces PBS theater miniseries

Staff report

A three-part documentarySFlbminiseries about the top high school musical theater performers in the U.S. produced by Columbiana County native Lance K. Shultz premieres Sunday at 8 p.m. on PBS.

“Broadway or Bust” follows 60 student-actors as they arrive in New York for an intensive week of theatrical boot camp and to vie for a shot at stage stardom in a national theater competition.

The miniseries is the first to capture the behind- the-scenes coaching and grueling rehearsal schedule leading up to the National High School Musical Theater Awards, commonly known as “The Jimmy Awards” — in honor of renowned Broadway theater owner and producer James M. Nederlander.

The competition culminates in the make-or-break week of rehearsals, coaching and auditions that are capped by an awards event on a Broadway stage in front of a live audience and a panel of high-profile judges.

“Broadway or Bust” was produced by Shultz, who now lives in Calcutta, in southern Columbiana County, and WGBH Boston. Shultz, who also wrote and directed the miniseries, said “Broadway or Bust” is full of captivating performances, compelling characters and dramatic storylines.

“This series will pull back the curtain to show viewers the whole process — the talent, ambition, drive, vulnerability, discipline, resiliency, dreams dashed and dreams fulfilled — of what it takes to make it to Broadway,” he said.