Bryan Adams student ‘Razzle-Dazzles’

By Shari Goldstein Stern

White Rock local Willie Austin, Jr. may have identified his career path after performing in Bryan Adams High School’s (BA) production of “Chicago: Teen Edition.” Austin was just named “Best Featured Actor” by Broadway Dallas at its annual High School Musical Awards ceremony (BDHSMA). 

The 15th Annual Awards show received a standing ovation for its May 2 production at the Music Hall at Fair Park. Schools entered and competed with 75 productions this year. The program features more than 70 school productions annually, with participants competing in more than 15 categories, including Best Musical, Best Direction and Best Lead Performers.

According to the energetic BA ’27 student, now a junior, participating in theater is important because it helps teens face life’s challenges. “It provides an outlet and mode of expression for me,” Austin said. 

Austin added that his role was primarily dialogue and movement. “With our ‘Teen Edition’ concept of ‘Chicago,’ I had the opportunity to flex my improvisation skills as the club owner, a newly created role for the Teen Edition.”

“Chicago: Teen Edition” is a licensed, specialized adaptation of the iconic Broadway musical that was created for young performers. It features the famous, showstopper song “Razzle Dazzle,” a flashy number sung by the smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn to explain how spectacle and entertainment can distract people from the truth. 

As is the original story, “Chicago” is set in the roaring 1920s. It follows Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, two rival murderesses who navigate the celebrity-obsessed criminal justice system. “Teen Edition,” however, is carefully adapted for young actors. 

While the teen version retains the same great jazz, satire and choreography as the original, some of the more mature thematic content has been streamlined for youth theater productions.

Austin has plenty of vocal talent, and regrets that BA’s choir program was cut last year, as it was at other Dallas ISD schools. 

“Thanks to my tremendous theatre directors, Annie R. Such and Brittany Lindsey, I’ve had the opportunity to work on my skills with them and guest artists. I’m working very hard to be the best singer I can be, and I get to practice at Texas Thespians.” Texas Thespians is the largest chapter in the nation of the Educational Theatre Association, which sponsors the International Thespian Society.

Austin added: “I really enjoyed the comedic aspects of the role. I found many opportunities outside the script to be funny and to play with the relationships among my fellow actors.”

The young character actor has performed in other school shows, including Macduff’s son in “Macbeth,” the pig in “Shrek, the Musical,” and one of the lost boys in “Peter Pan, Jr.” He added, “I recently joined BA’s theatre company at the UIL regionals for our One Act Play production of ‘The House of Bernarda Alba.’”

“I need more singing and dancing training, but I am confident in my acting skills.” Austin explained. “What I like most about acting is the way it allows me to express myself creatively and explore worlds outside of my life.”

“I am so humbled and honored to receive this award,” he added. “What an incredible opportunity, and I couldn’t be more grateful. The recognition shows me that I have a chance to succeed in this business.”

The BDHSMTA program inspires and honors excellence in high school musical theater and recognizes the importance of musical theater and arts education within the North Texas community. Founded by Leah and Jerry Fullenwider, the program has grown into one of the largest of its kind in the nation, often referred to as the “Tony Awards” for local high school theater. 

Since 2011, Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM), which was rebranded Broadway Dallas (BD) in 2022, has recognized hundreds of high school and middle school students in North Texas for their theatrical, production and musical accomplishments in their respective schools’ fall and spring musicals. The first awards ceremony was in 2012. The program (DSMHSA) began with 33 high schools competing during its first year. The program has grown to accept junior high, middle and high schools from North Texas, Oklahoma and as far away as Lubbock. According to a BD spokesperson, “[The competition] has become one of the largest of its kind in the nation, often referred to as the ‘Tony Awards’ for local high school theater.”