Lundstrum Performing Arts, Minnesota’s premier training program for dance, voice and drama, will present its 25th Annual Gala, Broadway Meets West Broadway, at 6 p.m., on Saturday, May 10. Located in North Minneapolis at 1617 North Second Street off Broadway, the evening supports Lundstrum’s Northside Strong Scholarship Fund, ensuring that local youth can access excellent performing arts training. The Gala features one-of-a-kind performances by Cameron Wright, The Voice contestant (Season 26, one of Michael Buble’s “Fab Five”) who grew up in North Minneapolis; Jada Monè, professional singer and Lundstrum alumnus; and Broadway actor/singer John Brink, who is now a Lundstrum teaching artist. The evening also celebrates Lise Houlton, who was the artistic director of Minnesota Dance Theatre for nearly 30 years, as the 2025 Community Honoree. Tickets and info are available at Lundstrum.org.
From a single studio to a thriving arts campus in North Minneapolis, Lundstrum Performing Art’s 10,000+ alumni are working and performing across the industry as Broadway dancers and actors, recording artists, writers, musicians and more. Lundstrum recently opened its North Wing studio space to expand training capacity.
Lundstrum Performing Arts 25th Annual Gala is on Saturday, May 10: 6 p.m. Cocktail reception and at 7:30 p.m. is the performance, honors and auction.
Lundstrum’s Northside Strong scholarship program ensures that any student who lives on the Northside (including near North, Golden Valley, Brooklyn Center or Robbinsdale) is eligible to take performing arts classes for a pay-what-you-can rate, up to the full cost of classes. No student is turned away because of financial reasons. Removing these barriers means more young people will have access to the power of the arts. For info visit lundstrum.org/academic-year-classes.
“Lundstrum Performing Arts is a symbol of quality, of the transformative capacity of the human spirit in the life of a child,” commented Don Samuels, Northside Leader.
Gala Performers:
Cameron Wright was a lauded contestant on The Voice during Season 26, and one of Michael Buble’s “Fab Five.” Wright grew up in in North Minneapolis with a touring musician mother who guided vocal training and was a local sensation by age 11, performing at many local venues. A recorded demo heard by Stevie Wonder, led to a concert duet with Wonder. After high school, Wright lived with grandparents in St. Louis, and started writing songs. By 2015, Wright built on a strong social media presence with a move to Los Angeles. Within months, major shows were booked with artists such as The, and a performance at Beyoncé’s Beychella. In 2023, Wrights’s renewed family relationships led to a return to Minneapolis, The Voice competition in 2024, a reconnection with the Minnesota music scene and a new interest in Lundstrum Performing Arts.
John Brink, an actor/vocalist who is now a Lundstrum faculty teaching artist, performed in the 2014 Tony nominated Broadway revival of Les Misérables and appeared with the cast on “Good Morning America.” As part of Les Misérables 25th Anniversary National Tour, he was an understudy for Jean Valjean and Enjolras. He was also part of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Winter Tour for almost two decades, performing in Radio City Music Hall and other major U.S. arenas. Brink is credited on the RIAA certified Platinum recording of Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Night Castle. Regionally, he has performed at The Ordway, Goodspeed Opera House and The Bushnell with Hartford Symphony Orchestra.
Jada Monè, a professional singer and Lundstrum alumnus, began her Lundstrum studies at age eight. Her passion for singing and dancing led to leading roles there in Cinderella, Annie Jr. and Aladdin, Jr. With hard work and training, she earned roles in Children’s Theatre Company productions and at Hampton College, where she was the youngest actor to be cast as a freshman, performing in The Wiz, For Colored Girls and Ain’t Misbehavin.” Monè has since started her own business as an early childhood educator and has come full circle at Lundstrum where she teaches students ages 4-6 in Sing and Dance.
As part of its training programs, Lundstrum produces two full-length musicals each summer. This year, performances of Oliver, Jr., featuring students ages 10-14 years, will run June 26-27. Disney’s High School Musical, with students ages 14-18, will be performed on August 1, 2 and 3. Both productions result from weeks of intensive rehearsals in dance, acting and singing. General admission tickets will be available soon at Lundstrum.org or by calling 612-521-2600.