The stars shone brightly during the daytime at the 7th annual Shubert Foundation/MTI Broadway Junior/New York City Department of Education "Student Share" event which took place this morning at the legendary Shubert Theatre.

Nick Jonas – the popular singer/songwriter served as master of ceremonies as hundreds of students from middle and intermediate New York City Public Schools performed a song from their school's production of a student version of a Broadway musical including Annie JR., Once on this Island JR., Disney’s Aladdin JR., Guys and Dolls JR., Bugsy Malone JR., Meredith Willson’s The Music Man JR., Dear Edwina JR., Fame JR., Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka JR., and Thoroughly Modern Millie JR.

Photos of the student performances will be available on MTI's Flickr page shortly.

The Shubert Foundation/MTI Broadway Junior program aims to engage as many students as possible in all aspects and areas of the arts. In the first year of the program teachers and students are guided step-by-step through the process of producing a first-ever musical in their schools. In the second year, teachers and students continue to receive support and encouragement on their second musical, but take ownership over their productions. In the third year and beyond, schools present a musical independently, and now serve as inspiration for other schools involved in earlier cycles of the program.

The program was founded in the 2005-2006 school year. To date, 34 schools have participated in the program. Twenty-two schools are currently involved in the 2011-2012 program, including six first-year schools; three second-year schools; and 13 'graduated' schools that have worked to develop and building sustainable theater education programs.

In addition to the fantastic performances from the NYC students, MTI received a proclamation by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg naming May 29, 2012 Music Theatre International Day.  Read more about MTI's 60th Anniversary.