Mentorship Programs Bring the Next Generation to Broadway
The Young Women’s Leadership School of Manhattan is a school in our Young Women’s Leadership network. Two-time Tony Award-winning actor Kara Young is an alumna of the school.
By Barry Petersen, Vidya Singh, and Kerry Breen
Originally broadcast on CBS News on June 7, 2025
Broadway is where dreams come true for theater lovers. Mentorship programs are working to bring young audiences, creatives and performers to the Great Bright Way.
The Theater Development Fund’s Wendy Wasserstein Project connects mentors to students around New York and takes kids to Broadway shows. This year, eight of those students are from the Young Women’s Leadership School of Manhattan, a public all-girls school in Harlem. Their mentor is Tony Award-winning lyricist David Zippel.
Ramona Fittipaldi, the students’ math teacher, encourages participation in the program. She said she’s had students be moved to tears by what they’ve seen on stage.
Growing up as a young Black woman, to see myself presented in media, especially live media, is something that I do take pride in. —Student participant
Recently, the students, Zippel and Fittipaldi, saw “Purpose,” a play about a troubled Black family grappling with faith, legacy and identity. Afterwards, the group met to share some pizza and discuss what they’d seen. Zippel said these “pizza discussions” have led to candid talks about the students’ lives.
This year, “Purpose” actor Kara Young made a surprise appearance at the pizza discussion. Young is Tony-nominated for her performance. It’s her fourth straight year being nominated for an acting award. She graduated from the same leadership school as the students. Mameawa T., one of the students, said she was excited to meet Young after watching her onstage.
“Growing up as a young Black woman, to see myself presented in media, especially live media, is something that I do take pride in,” Thiaw said.
