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Chandler Online Academy student returns after performing on Broadway
After spending several months performing in the ensemble cast of the “The Music Man” Broadway revival in New York City, Chandler Online Academy (COA) student JT Church, arrived back home to reprise his role as an Arizona teenager.
Despite being new to Broadway, JT is not a novice when it comes to dancing and singing. He grew up in Virginia and started dancing and competing when he was 5 years old.
“I was always dancing around the house,” the 16-year-old actor said. “My parents always say that they knew I’d be a performer of some kind.”
One of JT’s big breaks was competing and finishing in second place on “So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation” in 2016. Through this experience, he said he met the lead choreographer from “The Music Man,” Warren Carlyle.
“The Music Man,” which originally debuted on stage in the 1950’s, is currently playing in NYC and stars Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. The musical is about a fast-talking travel salesperson named Harold Hill (Jackman) as he cons residents from River City, Iowa into purchasing instruments and uniforms to create a children's band he leads. COVID-19 delayed performances until the show officially premiered in February 2022.
“Hopping straight into Broadway opened lots of doors. It felt right, and I felt like I was home,” JT said.
Balancing school with COA
There were plenty of actors near JT’s age going through a shared experience of balancing academics with work. However, for JT the Chandler Online Academy made his experience a bit easier. Chandler Online Academy is a school in the Chandler Unified School District and serves students in grades 7-12.
“In the musical rehearsal process, we were in a room with tutors who helped oversee our studies since we had to do school for a certain number of hours per day,” JT said. “But I was on my own when the show started. Some kids were in person for school, and they were stressed out while doing eight shows per week. So, I am glad the online school fits my schedule. I would even bring my computer to the theater to get work done and take notes in between. It was a lot less stressful, and I will say it certainly taught me a lot of time management skills.”
After moving west to Arizona, JT refined his talents while attending Chandler Unified School District’s Elite Performance Academy from sixth through eighth grade. He attended Perry High School his freshman year before transferring to Chandler Online Academy in tenth grade.
“I’m extremely grateful I have the time to do online school with COA,” he said.
JT did not have upcoming projects at the time of this interview, but he planned to fly to Los Angeles next week to keep up with singing, acting, and dance lessons while attending COA for his junior year.
Interested in enrolling with Chandler Unified? Visit cusd80.com/enroll.