After making waves as Nemo in a school production, West Hartford’s Serena Hoffman took the stage in a prestigious Broadway intensive, training with top performers and finding her place in the spotlight.

By Mia Jaworski

Serena Hoffman may be just 11 years old, but the incoming sixth grader from West Hartford is already making her Broadway debut – sort of.

After starring as Nemo in Renbrook School’s production of Finding Nemo, Serena was accepted into the prestigious Broadway Artists Alliance summer intensive in New York City – a competitive, audition-only program that has trained the likes of Ariana Grande.

Serena was one of just 200 students accepted out of more than 2,500 applicants nationwide, a testament to the program’s elite status and her standout talent.

“It was surreal,” said Serena. “There were kids from all over the country.”

Held in the heart of Manhattan’s Theater District, the program draws top-tier Broadway directors, casting agents, choreographers and performers to coach rising stars in voice, acting and dance. Serena’s training lineup was a who’s who of Broadway: she took a solo voice session with Arbender Robinson (Hairspray, Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, etc.), an improv masterclass with Tyrick Wiltez Jones (Finian’s Rainbow), and vocal coaching with Lily Kauffmann.

Each day, she arrived at the Ripley Grier Studios on 38th Street, PB&J sandwich and fruit in hand, ready for rehearsals from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Her schedule featured two masterclasses, group music rehearsals, staging, and even time with an advisor. A separate parent masterclass guided families through the backstage reality of a career in showbiz.

By Friday’s final curtain call, students performed a showcase featuring two songs and a monologue for Broadway professionals, not just a moment to shine, but the “icing on the cake”: a rare chance to be scouted by top industry insiders after a week of intense training.

The intensive wasn’t Serena’s first step into the spotlight. She made Renbrook history last year as the first fifth grader to land a lead role in the school’s Upper School production. Renbrook’s three academic divisions – Beginning (preschool–K), Lower (grades 1-4), and Upper (grades 5-8) – usually reserve leading roles for older students.

“Nemo made me want to do more,” said Serena, who previously played an aunt in a Spanish class folktale. But her stage experience goes far beyond fish tales.

A trained ballet dancer, Serena has graced the Bushnell stage in The Nutcracker, danced at the Hartt School, and participated in music programs at the Mandell JCC. She receives private voice coaching from Kyle Reynolds, director of theater at Kingswood Oxford School, as well as Katie Dawson, music department head and Upper School musical theater director at Kingswood Oxford.

“She naturally is so good,” said her mother, Monica Hoffman. “She has a booming voice.”

That big voice recently echoed through Dunkin’ Park, where Serena sang Sweet Caroline and the National Anthem at a Hartford Yard Goats game in August after initially being told the lineup was full. She tried out in March and impressed announcer Conor Geary at a summer game enough to secure a spot.

Next up? She plans to audition for Matilda at The Bushnell in September and will begin an online conservatory program in the fall.

While Broadway may be calling, Serena credits her roots – and her town – for helping her find her voice.

“West Hartford has such good school programs,” said her mother. “We have amazing people locally.”

Indeed, West Hartford’s vibrant arts community is filled with opportunities for young performers, including programs at Hall and Conard high schools, the West Hartford Art League, and robust music and theater offerings through the public school system and local private institutions.

For Hoffman, the best part of the Broadway intensive wasn’t the big city or the big names – it was finding her tribe.

“It’s amazing to find people who have the same interests as me,” she said.

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