New World School of the Arts makes its return to the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts showcasing over 200 students in its Broadway venue-style production, RISING STARS. This vibrant and professionally staged showcase, partially sponsored by Bank of America, features an array of performances from NWSA high school and college students, highlighting their artistic achievements throughout the academic year. A significant moment of the evening is the presentation of the NWSA Rising Stars Alumnus Award, which honors a distinguished graduate making notable contributions to their field. This year, the award will be bestowed upon acclaimed actress and singer Andréa Burns, a proud NWSA high school theatre alumna from the class of 1989.
Rising Stars begins this year at the New World Gallery with an innovative visual arts exhibition that highlights the talents of high school and college students across various disciplines. This significant event for the community features a diverse array of artistic expressions, including painting, drawing, photography, visual technology, sculpture, graphic design, and installations, providing visitors with a rich experience of emerging young artists.
The following evening at the iconic Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, the celebrated Rising Stars performance, directed by NWSA Dean of Theater, Alan Patrick Kenny, promises to captivate audiences with selected excerpts from works presented by NWSA students throughout the academic year. The Dance Division will highlight an excerpt from award-winning choreographer Darshan Singh Bhuller‘s new piece, Zeitgeist, which explores individual dynamics within a powerful ensemble. Additionally, the program will include excerpts from a new work by Robert Battle, NWSA alum and former Artistic Director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, as well as a segment from Paul Taylor‘s exquisite work, Airs. The lineup also features a new piece by guest artist Joan Rodriguez from the Los Angeles-based dance company Body Traffic, alongside a work by NWSA alum and faculty member Gentry Isaiah George, titled Flowers, set to the nostalgic music of Peter, Paul and Mary.
The Music Division will present a variety of pieces, including The Finale from D-O-N-E, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad’s completion. STARS, a unique performance piece featuring wine glasses filled with water, each tuned to specific pitches designed to provide an accompaniment for the choir. Commissioned by the Salt Lake Vocal Artists in 2011, it is set to the poetry of Sara Teasdale. Additionally, the NWSA Symphony Orchestra will present the vibrant third movement of Brahms’ Allegro giocoso from Symphony No. 4. This symphony is renowned as one of the most significant works of the Romantic era. The evening’s program will also include selections from Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito, and Duke Ellington’s Portrait of Louis Armstrong.
From the Theater Division, attendees will enjoy carefully curated scenes and songs from a variety of plays and musicals from the department’s theatrical seasons. Among other performances, the audience can expect an excerpt from Machinal, a 1928 expressionist drama by Sophie Treadwell. Inspired by the true story of Ruth Snyder, the play examines the protagonist’s struggle for freedom within a mechanized society. Curated monologues and short powerful scenes and songs from other acclaimed shows will round off the evening’s selections.
“A crucial aspect of the artistic training at NWSA involves providing opportunities for students to showcase their talents in professional settings,” said Dr. Jeffrey Hodgson, Provost and CEO of New World School of the Arts. “Rising Stars represents the pinnacle of this effort. Organizing such a high-quality showcase entails extensive rehearsal, preparation, and resources, which the faculty and administration carefully plan for each academic year. The partnership with Bank of America along with our three educational partners, enables New World School of the Arts to enhance this vital stage of students’ artistic development, fostering their growth while connecting the next generation of artists with the South Florida community.”
The NWSA Rising Stars Alumnus Award will be presented to Andréa Burns during the annual Rising Stars Performance, honoring a graduate from New World School of the Arts who has made significant contributions to their artistic field. A celebrated professional actress and singer, Burns is renowned for her portrayal of Daniela in the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights, for which she received a Drama Desk Award. Recently, she costarred in the Broadway adaptation of The Notebook and earned an Outer Critics Circle nomination for her dynamic performance as Gloria Fajardo in On Your Feet! Her impressive career began at the age of 18 when she toured Europe as Maria in West Side Story, and she has since appeared in various notable productions, including Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and the original company of Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for a New World. Additionally, Burns has showcased her talent in concert at Carnegie Hall and has been featured in television series such as The Equalizer. Her recent film and television work includes roles in Steven Spielberg’s film remake of West Side Story and in Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez’s musical series on Hulu, Up Here, alongside fellow NWSA alumna, Katie Finneran.
A Florida center of excellence in the visual and performing arts, New World School of the Arts is an educational partnership of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami Dade College, and University of Florida. NWSA provides a comprehensive program of artistic, creative, and academic development through a curriculum that reflects our community and the rich multicultural state of Florida. Through our partners NWSA confers the high school diploma, Associate of Arts degree, and Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Music college degrees in programs accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance, Music, Theatre and Art & Design. NWSA’s rigorous eight-year curriculum and conservatory-style teaching has empowered students in our community and our nation to become leaders in the arts for more three decades.
Information about New World School of the Arts at 305-237-3135 or nwsa.mdc.edu.
RISING STARS EXHIBITION
On view February 12-27
Opening Reception
February 12; 6-9PM
New World Gallery
25 NE 2 Street, Miami
Free and open to the public
RISING STARS PERFORMANCE
February 13; 7:30PM
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
Ziff Ballet Opera House
1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami
Admission $15 – $30
(Tickets will go on sale at Arshtcenter.org on January 6, 2026)
RISING STARS PERFORMANCE WITH VIP RECEPTION
February 13; 6PM
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
Ziff Ballet Opera House
1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami
Admission $150 – $250
(Register now with Codes VIPGOLD ro VIPSILVER at nwsa.mdc.edu)