Dallas Students Light Up Buena Vista Social Club
Broadway Dallas and Dallas ISD continue an annual STEAM program that has students design lighting for a Broadway production.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Broadway Dallas and Dallas ISD have continued an annual district-wide STEAM education program built around the musical Buena Vista Social Club. Theater students and teachers from 42 Dallas ISD middle and high schools take part in the program.
Why it matters
The program gives students hands-on exposure to professional theater technology and interdisciplinary subjects tied to a real Broadway production. It grew from a partnership between Broadway Dallas and Dallas ISD aimed at bringing the spirit of Broadway to students.
Students design a lighting show for one song from Buena Vista Social Club using a six-instrument plot and code their designs in ETC Nomad, the software used in professional theater houses. The production plays at the Music Hall at Fair Park November 3-15, 2026, after winning 5 Tony Awards.
The players
Broadway Dallas
Broadway Dallas is the local presenter of Broadway touring productions in Dallas and a partner in the district's STEAM education program.
Dallas ISD
Dallas Independent School District is the public school district serving Dallas, Texas, and a partner in the annual STEAM program.
The details
Students complete eight customized lessons covering color theory, physics, algebra, Cuban history, and financial literacy. They then create final lighting projects and attend a dedicated performance where their own work is shown on digital displays throughout the Music Hall.
Timeline
November 3-15, 2026: Buena Vista Social Club plays at Music Hall at Fair Park.
November 2, 2026: Broadway Dallas and Dallas ISD announce continuation of the program.
Season Trajectory
The program previously centered on the national tours of HAMILTON, AIN'T TOO PROUD, BEETLEJUICE, HADESTOWN and THE WIZ. This continuation moves the program's focus to Buena Vista Social Club, a show that has won 5 Tony Awards and a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album.
Students at participating Dallas ISD middle and high schools receive eight customized lessons and create a lighting design using professional-grade software. Families and residents can see the students' work displayed at the Music Hall at Fair Park during the November 3-15, 2026 run of Buena Vista Social Club.
The takeaway
Programs that tie classroom subjects to real professional work, like theater lighting design, give students a concrete look at careers that combine art, physics, and technology. Families interested in similar opportunities can ask their local schools whether arts partnerships are available.
Further reading
For more on how schools are building these pathways, explore Secondary Education coverage across the site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Broadway World.
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