Detroit has long been a city where rhythm meets resistance, and where stage lights have shined brightest when our young people are at the mic, telling their own stories. On Thursday, August 1, at the historic Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, that tradition continues with purpose and power as The S.O.N.G. Project (Saving Our Next Generation) presents its annual Youth Theatre Showcase.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with a 7:30 p.m. curtain time that promises to deliver more than a performance—it delivers proof. Proof that when young people, especially Black youth, are mentored, invested in, and given the tools to express their truths, they show up ready to lead. They show up transformed.
For three weeks, youth from across the country have gathered right here in Detroit, immersing themselves in a performing arts experience grounded in excellence, discipline, and love. They’ve studied music, dance, acting, piano, and drumline. They’ve rehearsed scenes, written lines, learned harmony and movement. Many entered the program with no prior experience—90% were beginners. But they are walking onto that stage with pride in their posture and purpose in their voice.
At the heart of this initiative is Carles Whitlow, Founder and CEO of The S.O.N.G. Project. A mentor, artist, and visionary who understands that it’s not enough to keep saying “our youth are the future”—you have to build systems that save them now. Whitlow’s model does just that. Through structured instruction, social-emotional learning, and real-world guidance, he and his team help students develop not only artistic talent but also confidence, academic motivation, and cultural awareness.
The Youth Theatre Showcase is not about perfection. It’s about process. It’s a culmination of weeks spent pushing through doubt, learning to breathe through stage fright, and discovering strength through art. These young artists aren’t just putting on a show. They are offering a reflection of what’s possible when Black youth are given space to grow in environments that see them as brilliant from the beginning.
Each performance will be original—shaped by the voices, movements, and perspectives of the students themselves. These are not characters borrowed from someone else’s script. These are stories rooted in real life, told through the lens of youth who have spent the summer learning how to honor their voices and each other.
More than just a summer camp, The S.O.N.G. Project is a year-round mentoring program that centers academic and personal growth. Its arts curriculum becomes a tool for developing life skills. Whether it’s through perfecting a monologue, keeping rhythm on a drumline, or holding harmony in a group vocal, every lesson becomes a way to strengthen focus, discipline, and communication.
And Detroit is the perfect backdrop for this work. The city is home to Motown’s legacy, Broadway-bound talent, and a rich history of performance that continues to shape national narratives. For many of the youth stepping onto the Music Hall stage, this performance marks the first time they’ve seen themselves reflected in a space with that kind of history. It won’t be the last.
Programs like The S.O.N.G. Project serve as reminders that performance isn’t simply about applause—it’s about agency. These youth are not waiting to be discovered. They are discovering themselves, together, through collaboration, mentorship, and the transformative power of the arts.
Detroiters are invited to witness this moment firsthand. To show up. To clap loud. To see what happens when possibility meets preparation. The Youth Theatre Showcase is an invitation—not just to an event, but to a movement.
Because when young people are allowed to dream and equipped to deliver, they don’t just perform—they lead. And Detroit leads with them.
The S.O.N.G. Project Youth Theatre Showcase
Thursday, August 1, 2025
Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts
350 Madison St., Detroit, MI 48226
Doors open at 6:30 PM | Showtime at 7:30 PM
Admission is free. Families, educators, artists, and supporters are encouraged to attend.