COVID-19 Canceled Their School Performances, Not Their Passion

After working tirelessly for months to cast and rehearse for their big day, COVID-19 canceled performances all across the country. We are hearing music and theater students who have had their dreams postponed—or even canceled—because of the school closures.

Tony Award-winner Laura Benanti recently used her status to bring attention to these students.

Dark times for all. Trying to find some bright spots. If you were meant to perform in your High School musical and it was cancelled please post yourself singing and tag me. I want to be your audience!! Sending all my love and black market toilet paper. 💛 pic.twitter.com/BVYR4t3dJE

— Laura Benanti (@LauraBenanti) March 13, 2020

Since these students won’t be able to perform in front on their teachers, friends, and family, we compiled a few of our favorite performances shared across the web. ❤️

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These students are definitely our heroes. COVID-19 canceled performances didn’t stop them!

Our Production of Footloose was just postponed. These kids have worked very hard! pic.twitter.com/FXtpaISMOh

— Kels (@kle1101) March 14, 2020

Paramus HS – Footloose – Opening Night cancelled tonight. Lead Bella Dores Amy my daughter Caitlyn Andersen (left) and cast pic.twitter.com/uJDkg1K6FC

— Denise Andersen (@gehmgirl) March 14, 2020

Whether on a live stage or a livestream, West Side Story always has a special place in our hearts.

Since we couldn’t perform on stage tonight, we are sharing a taste of our “West Side Story in Concert” here! Kudos to these talented and dedicated singers for making our first virtual choir a reality! Shout out to @graceander13 for making the video! @RMFineArts @RMHSMUSTANGS pic.twitter.com/lFrcw0PSMG

— RMHS Choirs (@RMHS_Choir) March 20, 2020

My son…a senior…so close to being the Nebraska Jimmy Awards nominee last summer…and our production of West Side Story postponed…oh…and I’m the director. So heartbreaking but trying to home on to hope! pic.twitter.com/wRWKa8jOS2

— Leah Purdy (@NPHSChoir) March 13, 2020

These virtual performances are giving us all kinds of emotions.

These students recreated their choir concert virtually. Give their beautiful version of ‘Over the Rainbow’ a listen 🌈 pic.twitter.com/VEolNg19Nd

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) March 23, 2020

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euSHfiiix8Y[/embedyt]

At BCC, we believe in the power of music to connect communities. In this time of physical distancing, we see this power at work in our virtual meetings and lessons. Singers, alumni, and staff come together to perform our anthem, “We Sing” by Jim Papoulis for BCC’s debut virtual choir.

Social distancing is only making our students get more creative.

Quarantine? More like “Quarantime” to practice! Let’s get those #PicksUp wherever you are, Miners! #UTEPBands @UTEP @UTEPAthletics @UTEPFB @UTEP_MBB @UTEPWBB @UTEPCheer @UTEPDANCE pic.twitter.com/uB06zcJ7o3

— UTEP Bands (@UTEPBands) March 19, 2020

My 12yo was supposed to play at Carnegie Hall on Friday. Then Carnegie closed, so we did a living room concert. No fancy stage or accompanist, but we’re grateful for music today. Be safe, everyone. ❤️ Full video: https://t.co/z9GJRt4uXB #SunshineSongs #LivingRoomConcerts pic.twitter.com/WQNNV7HL6x

— Karina Yan Glaser (@KarinaYanGlaser) March 18, 2020

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QagzdvzzHBQ[/embedyt]

Just a little something to brighten your day. What started as an idea on my flight home from college ended in a collaboration with some of the most incredible people. I couldn’t be more grateful. Please share to help us promote positivity and optimism while we need it most. 💜

These students made sure to give one last performance.

less than 18 hours before our flight to Ireland, my choir found out that our tour was postponed several months and as I am a senior, I may not be able to go. We sang this at the exact time we were meant to be getting on our bus to the airport. pic.twitter.com/jClhMTx9rH

— Rachel Elizabeth Potter (@repotters) March 14, 2020

We were supposed to go to an a capella jazz festival today until it got cancelled last night. We have been working so hard and although we are all heartbroken, we are proud of how far we’ve come. We asked if we could perform it for our Freshman Choir this afternoon. Here it is. pic.twitter.com/OW2Ui7CX6U

— Jasen Cummings (@jasen_cummings) March 14, 2020

thank you 🥺 I was supposed to be belle in my school’s musical this weekend and my heart is sad pic.twitter.com/LpSMzeF7vx

— campbell 🦋 (@_campcoke) March 13, 2020

You can really feel the passion from these students, even just during practice.

I attend Union High School and we are doing Once On This Island. As of now our show is postponed but we don’t know how long. This is a little snipbit of Waiting For Life pic.twitter.com/isdwSj17ho

— Khadija Sankoh (@khadija_sankoh) March 13, 2020

@UMMusket was supposed to open The Wiz in a week 🥺 pic.twitter.com/iw0dx07cQ1

— Alexandra Niforos (@aaniforos) March 14, 2020

my school was supposed to do rent school edition next week, and i was mimi, as my first lead role in hs. i’m heartbroken but i’m so grateful that you’ve given me a chance to share the show im so ridiculously passionate about. (i also just got over a cold, so it’s not perfect lol) pic.twitter.com/u9pbgbqzdp

— sarah kathleen (@skathleenmax) March 13, 2020

My baby brother doesn’t have Twitter so I’m sharing for him! He says that he’s ready if @Lin_Manuel ever decides to do a Hamilton for kids! pic.twitter.com/sp2ceyEkzU

— Jordyn Linsay (@jordynlinsaywi1) March 14, 2020

What COVID-19 canceled performances did we miss? Share your videos and links with us!

Also, be sure to check out the creative ways teachers are building a classroom community online while social distancing.