Tai: I have a dream
Sebastian: I have a dream
Saffron: I have a dream
Kase: I have a dream
Alex: I have a dream
Arlo: I have a dream
All: I have a dream
Tai: I have a dream
Sebastian: I have a dream
Saffron: I have a dream
Kase: I have a dream
Alex: I have a dream
Arlo: I have a dream
All: I have a dream
Tai: Here I am striding off the plane at JFK
I'm on a non-stop train to the Great White Way
My name's Tai and you don't know from where I came
But one day in my fame you'll have heard of my name
The day is hot, my chances cold, but I feel no angst
‘Cause today my life finally begins so I give my thanks
Here I am in New York City my dreams unfurling out in front of me
Do you feel that in the air? My goodness what a place to be
The city is busy and the streets are winding
The ecstatic energy that fills every space is blinding
I ride fast on the trains that travel underneath the streets
But I'm not sitting down now I'm finally in this town
Every person that I pa** is dreaming out of reach
But hey it's New York City it doesn't matter what you preach
And I'll tell you all now I came from pretty far away
An ocean full of distance between me and the United States
Everyday was agonizing but they told me to wait
None of us were privileged it was exceptionally tough
But it doesn't matter where I was cause I'm here now and that's enough
Are you sitting there wondering why I'm here?
I've felt the radiation of anticipation for years
I know that I'll be telling sounds optimistic
I know what I'll find but keep in mind that I'm not a simplistic
“Everybody wants it and it's flawed they say,” they say
But one day I swore that I'd be up on br-oad-way
They tap their feet and roll their eyes as they fill me in
Satisfaction in their actions as they tell me it's one in a million
I know this place is packed and racked with hopefuls but what if I'm a one
So I'll keep at this mountain watch me climb it till I'm done
And just so you know I know this journey won't be an upward ride
But I have faith in this world and I'm always ready for the downward slide
Though I don't have a plan and no I don't have a bachelor
But one day they'll say “Damn I wish we catched her,”
But I'm here in the moment and the city is mine
And honestly, who knows what I'll find
[Company]
Look at me
Standing here
I've been waiting for years
Look at me
Standing here
I've been waiting for years
Eyes up
Chin up
Stand up
Stand up
Don't let them see inside
Now I'm ready for the ride
Eyes up
Chin up
Stand up
Stand up
Stand up
Stand pretty
For New York City
Sebastian: New York City is our galaxy and we are the stars
We've all got to play are part yo you know it ain't hard
The island we call home is our canvas so let's paint it with colour
And you and I know this place could be so vibrant so why make it duller?
We know that there are problems that we really should go ahead and face
You need to make a difference, whoever you are, here it doesn't matter what race
But we shouldn't delude ourselves the world will never ever be a perfect place
But imperfection equals beauty we should leave no trace
But some of us still have to live with judging and discrimination
Lets open our eyes we have to stand up there should be no anticipation
So come on let's go and let's stand together!
With every step we take let's stride to make this place better!
We're just trying to live we shouldn't need to wear a metaphorical scarlet letter!
So don't retreat! Dance to the beat of our streets!
You have to understand! We can only act at the hand of our command!
Oh, Hey!
I strode off the plane at JFK
Fresh from my country Puerto Rico living in a brand new day
My name's Sebastian and instead of guns and knives I use words as my weapon
If you ever want somebody to fight for what's right I'm happy to step in
Every day I've been alive I've worked and saved my whole life no matter the stakes
Never wasted a second, finished school two years early and planned my escape
When I elaborate people are usually taken aback by my ambition
But something I've learned is you got to have lots of it when you're in my position
I'm running to my aspirations as fast as I can cause I'm focusing on my mission
The world's a musical and New York City is a song so this is my rendition
Blood sweat and tears for years, I paved the roads to my goals and nothing's getting in the way
My mind is always racing, it's limpid I've just got so much in me to say
Saved everything I had and got a run down studio in Washington Heights
I'm gonna keep on pacing and racing till I see my name in lights
You see I'm a writer so everyday I live I'm scripting my story
And I don't want or need anybody else to do it for me
Writing like a river flowing getting a journalism major down in NYU
Cause if no one else will focus on our problems then that's what I gotta do
And one day they'll put it in the times where everybody can read it
With my name in black ink on white paper, damn I can almost see it
But it's ten grand a year and I can hardly scrape it
But we only have one life so in full gear I'll find a way to pay it
I write about what matters but no one's hearing it
Cause nobody wants to listen to a Puerto Rican immigrant
But I'll keep trying, reading and writing and it will be imminent
Yes I'm young but don't disvalue me because of details, I have something to say
The youth are the future you can't push us away
But I'll keep writing people's stories until I become known
Because when I write theirs I'm creating my own
[Company]
Look at me
Standing here
I've been waiting for years
Look at me
Standing here
I've been waiting for years
Eyes up
Chin up
Stand up
Stand up
Don't let them see inside
Now I'm ready for the ride
Eyes up
Chin up
Stand up
Stand up
Stand up
Stand pretty
For New York City
Saffron: I strode off the plane at JFK
Straight out of the Caribbean which now feels like worlds away
The name is Saffron but people call me Saffey which I don't pity
The Dominican Republic is my home like so many in the city
And just to make it clear so there's no confusion
Don't try to change it because it's the conclusion
My pronouns are they, them, their thanks for asking
You would not believe the problem that it brings up in casting
With every frantic mile I flew it felt like ten million
My life has been quite a reckoning journey so let me fill you in
I come from a picturesque place with forever clear blue seas
Just people trying to live but we'll stick together like a committee
I moved here just last year awaiting the time when I was old enough
And here I am stating that ever since then I've been living it rough
Well not really but I'm a young artist if you know what I mean
Every day I've been trying my hardest to get on the scene
Cause you see I'm a dancer and the world is my stage so I'm picking up the pace
I have a spark burning within me that I can't quite place
I just need someone to see it cause I know it's there
When I hear the music, not one thing can compare
But for what they make us pay I'm not getting any tuition
They're ridiculous, damn I couldn't even afford the audition
Forty thousand a year? They're just playing
Just to put on my CV? No way, I'm just saying!
So I'm dancing on the street and keeping the beat and looking for the big break
Just trying to get what I have to make
I go to every audition and perform everywhere
Sometimes I feel like giving up but I won't I swear!
Cause in the black of night the day is still new
So I'll fight for my right and do what I have to do!
Kase: I strode off the plane at JFK
Twelve years old and I knew straight away that I wanted to stay
The name is Kase and it is so nice to meet you
He, him, his by the way, if you do
I came from afar for a better life
And my eyes had never seen so many bright lights
Because in New York they understand you and they know your rights
In New York City you can be yourself
Nobody's searching for inevitable wealth
We're just trying to be who we are and we raise the bar as we're climbing to the stars
Ever since I was young I knew I was different on the inside
But where I was people were indifferent and weren't onboard for the ride
When I was twelve we packed our bags and left when I finished the transition
But you can't notice now and it doesn't matter in any auditions
And my Mother supported me when no one else did and she still is now
She says that I could be whoever and I would still make her proud
I grew up right over in Brooklyn, on the other side of the Hudson
I went to school and did my work and trained hard and I was never lazy
And with my dreams they called me hypothetically crazy
You see I've always had an undescribable pa**ion within me
I've been born with a hard working fashion to intrigue
I long for being an actor on that New York stage
Bright lights, silver screen and Broadway
So now I'm sailing on the stars in a rocket down in Juilliard
A theatre major will be in my pocket and I look back at how far
I have travelled and now it's all falling into place
I've learned in New York it doesn't matter what colour, what race
I've got a half scholarship but it's still breaking the bank
We're risking it all like so many, my Mother's the number one rank
She wants to fulfill my dreams no matter the cost
Here in New York City I could never feel lost
[Company]
Look at me
Standing here
I've been waiting for years
Look at me
Standing here
I've been waiting for years
Eyes up
Chin up
Stand up
Stand up
Don't let them see inside
Now I'm ready for the ride
Eyes up
Chin up
Stand up
Stand up
Stand up
Stand pretty
For New York City
Alex: I strode off the plane at JFK
Came straight from my home Brazil anticipating ‘twas time to see better days
The name is Alexandra but they all call me Alex here
Nice to meet you, give me the wheel and I'll be the one to steer
Success is a song that I promise I will one day sing
Living in the city is honest it finally gave me my wings
I'm experiencing the world through brand new eyes
It's a tricky industry to stand in but I'll give it a try
I sing to the notes of the city's blaring symphony
I rap to the beat of everything that I see
I'm trying to make it but it's hard, why? Because I have to get by
But you'll remember me when you see my name in the sky
Everybody back home was convinced thought I was out of my mind
Insisted that the city's full of people, thought they knew what I wouldn't find
So when they ring me up I smile and tell them everything is great
But hell I know I'll get there even if I have to wait
Arlo: I strode off the plane at JFK
I didn't know I wanted to end up at the Great White Way
Hello, Nice to meet you! My name is Arlo!
I've been running after my dreams I've been chasing the stars yo
I came straight from Mexico just my mother and I
Didn't speak a word of English but we gave it a try
I landed on this ground back when I was two years old
Never looked down and fell in love with the city, truth be told
Spent my childhood living the Brooklyn life in Bushwick, yeah that's right
When I was young I thought I wanted to play sports for the rest of my life
I auditioned for the musical in high school completely by mystery
Seventeen years old I finally started writing my very own history
I was going to attend community college
I didn't know what was around the bend to be honest
My teacher got me an audition in a school where I could get a performing arts major
Didn't think I was good enough but she was cool so I went to repay her
Then I got a place but of course I couldn't pay the fee
So my teacher did the deed and organized a scholarship for me
I told them this is my chance, I only have one life so I gotta give it a go
So I'm attending right now and that's all you need to know
But getting work in a city full of eight million people is tough
Nothing that I seem to do is enough
But everybody has to start at the bottom so I'm working my way up
[Company]
Look at me
Standing here
I've been waiting for years
Look at me
Standing here
I've been waiting for years
Eyes up
Chin up
Stand up
Stand up
Don't let them see inside
Now I'm ready for the ride
Eyes up
Chin up
Stand up
Stand up
Stand up
Stand pretty
For New York City