On Tuesday, April 8th, Garden of Dreams hosted its 17th annual Talent Show at Radio City Music Hall.
The theme of this year’s show was “Dreams of Tomorrow,” and that’s exactly what transpired on the Great Stage at Radio City in front of an audience of thousands. Over 150 young people representing 28 of the Foundation’s partner organization sang, danced, played musical instruments, and more – an unforgettable moment for each and every one of them. Short vignettes outlining each performer’s personal stories and the unimaginable challenges they face played before they took the stage. We are incredibly grateful to the entire Rockette family, especially Maya Addie and Katelyn Gaffney who attended auditions, rehearsals & helped coach and provided encouragement to performers. Rockettes Taylor Shimko and Maddie Rodrigue as well as GDF Talent Show alum, Madison Smith, helped choreograph the opening number and the show simply could not have gone on without their contributions!
Carolina Bermudez of E! News guided the audience through the evening, and helped welcome a star-studded lineup of celebrity presenters – including New York sports legends Michael Strahan, and John Starks; Award winning producer & playwriter Lin Manuel Miranda; celebrity pianist Chloe Flower; Chris Meloni of “Law & Order”; and Hip-Hop Artists Tony Yayo & Lola Brooke, to name a few – to the stage.
Even among such top talent, our performers stole the show. Whether a pianist, a drummer, a dancer, or a Broadway showtune-belter, all acts wowed the crowd and brought the audience to tears (and standing ovations!) more than once. To perform at the famed Radio City Music Hall is an incredible feat for any artist, but to know that these young people did so even in the face of much adversity makes the Foundation exceptionally proud to include them as part of the Garden of Dreams family.
Of course, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to all those who filled the seats at Radio City to cheer on our performers and provide them with much-needed support and memories they’ll cherish for the rest of their lives. Each year, the show seems more unforgettable than the last, and we are already excited for 2026 – see you there!