A Tacoma teen has earned a rare invitation to an elite Broadway training program in New York City—she just needs some help getting there.
Jaleesa Holmes, 17, a senior at Fife High School, was selected for the OpenJar Institute’s College Intensive, a week-long, invite-only program that trains aspiring performers in music, dance, and acting.
“This is a chance of a lifetime to train with industry professionals in music, dance, and acting,” Holmes said.
The opportunity came after attending a workshop through the Washington State Thespian Society, where she participated in a dance call tied to the Broadway musical Death Becomes Her.
“The instructor handed me more information and said that the workshop would basically be an audition for their summer musical theater intensive that’s happening in New York City,” Holmes said.
The program is highly competitive, with only about 60 students accepted each year out of hundreds of auditions, according to Holmes.
The audition process included learning choreography, performing a dance call, and completing a short singing audition.
Holmes is currently president of her school’s Thespian Society troupe and has performed in more than 25 productions since starting theater in seventh grade.
Her path to the stage wasn’t always clear.
“The start of my theater journey was rocky as it was in the middle of the COVID-19 quarantine,” Holmes told Puget Press. “I was in a dark mental state before-hand and didn’t really feel like pursuing anything.”
That changed after her mother signed her up for a summer program with Neverland Theater.
“I felt important and talented and the moment I stepped on the stage for opening night, I fell in love with the bright lights, cheers, and impact I had over the audience,” Holmes said.
She said the sense of community kept her going.
“Being a part of such a loving community was the cherry on top,” Holmes said. “I instantly fell in love with it.”
Now, Holmes said she hopes to bring that same sense of belonging to others—and expand representation in the industry.
“I am an African American and Korean actor who has seen how the industry seems to be mainly white-dominated,” Holmes said. “By having a career in performing I wish to create a platform that advocates for diversity in theater spaces.”
The OpenJar intensive includes more than 40 hours of training with Broadway professionals, one-on-one vocal coaching, and Q&A sessions with working actors.
Holmes has already committed to attending New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she plans to continue pursuing theater.
“Stepping into a Broadway training environment will not only prepare me for my dream of being a Broadway actor, but also prepare me for college as well,” Holmes said.
She has launched a fundraiser to cover the costs of tuition, housing, meals, and travel to New York City. Those interested in helping Holmes on her journey to Broadway can donate via GoFundMe here.
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