BFS Takes a Bold New Turn On Stage
There is an entirely new feeling around the Brooklyn Friends School Theater Department these days. Led by new Drama Teacher & Productions Manager, Somalia Seaton, and All-School Performing Arts Department Chair and Productions Musical Director, Stephen Buck, BFS is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking performance planned for this fall. Below is a piece written by Somalia, giving a rich introduction to the program and the selected show.
This fall, our Middle & Upper School students are taking on Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, a vibrant, music-filled story about courage, self-expression, and the beauty of finding community. Throughout this process, much has been revealed to us, especially the invitation that comes with embracing a musical largely unknown to our community: to explore what becomes possible in the space between courage and the road less travelled.
Inspired by a true story, Jamie follows a young person who dreams of becoming a drag artist and, along the way, learns to embrace who they are with pride. The musical invites students to explore themes of identity, belonging, chosen family, allyship, and joy in the face of adversity.
It has been an honor to work alongside colleagues across all learning communities to develop meaningful companion experiences, including classroom resources, panel conversations with members of the drag and ballroom communities, and Drag Storytime.
We are especially proud to produce this show at a time when, across the country, many students are discouraged or even prohibited from engaging with stories that center queer lives, encourage critical thinking, or challenge the status quo. Here, our students are not only permitted but empowered to think expansively, reflect deeply, and meet people’s lived experiences with curiosity and care.
At Brooklyn Friends, we believe theatre is far more than performance; it is a practice of empathy, healing, and courageous imagination. Drama invites students to step into another person’s shoes, interrogate their own perspectives, and build the emotional literacy needed to navigate a complex, interconnected world.
As students engage with stories like Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, they learn to honor experiences that may differ from their own, and they begin to understand how art can shift consciousness, challenge injustice, and expand the boundaries of what we believe is possible.
In a moment when so many young people across the country are denied access to the full breadth of human stories, especially those centering queer identities, we affirm the right, and the responsibility, to nurture young people who can think critically, love expansively, and advocate boldly.
Through theatre and drama, we are cultivating future thought leaders, compassionate collaborators, and advocates who recognize that their voices matter and that storytelling is an act of care.
Performances run November 20–22. Reserve your tickets at the link. We cannot wait to share this heart-opening story with you and our wider community.
Come as your boldest version of self, with sheer audacity! Glitter, sequins, bold colors, and positive vibes are welcome at our shows!