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Thursday 17 december 2020 people & Arts
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TV and Broadway star Laura Benanti celebrates Gen Z voices

By MARK KENNEDY the cut. As an actress, she
AP Entertainment Writer has been in their shoes and
NEW YORK (AP) — When tried to communicate that
the coronavirus pandemic the teens not picked had
closed high schools, Broad- done nothing wrong.
way and TV star Laura "There are people perform-
Benanti knew it also meant ing in the subway that I'm
most spring high school mu- like, 'What? Why are you
sicals would be scrapped. in the subway and I get to
So Benanti asked crestfall- be on Broadway?' Really
en young people across to me, that is just being in
the country to record the right place at the right
themselves performing time. That is luck because
their songs, post them on there are so many talented
social media and tag her. people in this world, it's as-
Stages might be silent, but tonishing."
she wanted to hear them. The creators originally con-
The response stunned her sidered making it a script-
— 15,000 submissions. ed show but pivoted into
"I really thought the initial This image released by HBO Max shows Laura Benanti from “Homeschool Musical: Class of 2020," documentary after the
sort of call to action would a new special offering a window onto Gen Z and how they're dealing with the pandemic. death of George Floyd.
be quite small. I never Associated Press "We all collectively agreed
imagined it would turn into that it's best to let these
what it did," says Benanti, dealt with such a tough Each tells their story and for a rendition of "Waving kids tell their own story in-
a Tony Award winner and time in 2020 as well as per- sings a song that shares Through the Window" from stead of putting words into
star of shows like "Nashville," sonal challenges before, it their experience. "Dear Evan Hanson." "We their mouths," says Benanti.
"Supergirl" and "Younger." was really inspiring to see A teen from West Orange, really wanted a cross-sec- The special highlights voic-
The effort — dubbed Sun- their outlook on it all," said New Jersey, sings R.E.M.'s tion of America and not just es from a generation that
shine Songs — has led to a Jennifer O'Connell, an ex- apocalyptic "It's the End the typical pretty princess often gets looked down
new poignant special on ecutive vice president at of the World as We Know it white girl that you associ- on. But viewers are remind-
HBO Max led by Benanti HBO Max. (And I Feel Fine)" and one ate with musical theater," ed that these young peo-
called "Homeschool Musi- "Although at times, they from Douglasville, Georgia, Benanti says. "And I include ple, born around 9/11 and
cal: Class of 2020," which acknowledged how tough sings Gloria Gaynor "I Will myself in that." Benanti never knowing a world
was filmed remotely and it has been, they all shared Survive" with masked back- and producers found the without smartphones, have
offers a window on Gen Z. an optimism for the future ground dancers armed seven by starting with the endured school shootings,
The hourlong documentary and chose to not dwell in with bubble guns. thousands of submissions environmental degrada-
follows seven seniors and the negative. The audi- Others sing "Pray" by Sam and whittling the list down tion and now COVID-19.
how they've navigated ence will be able to see Smith, "My Future" by Bil- to only graduating high "This is the generation that
what should have been the them reclaim their 2020 lie Eilish, "Dog Days Are school seniors, about 1,500. self-identifies as anxious
best months of their lives. with this experience." Over" by Florence + The They narrowed the list to more than any previous
Several jumped into social The seven — aged 17 or Machine, "Lift Every Voice about 20 candidates then generation. Their levels of
activism, one experienced 18 — come from across the and Sing/I Can't Breathe" cut to seven. "That was the anxiety are through the
homelessness and one re- nation — Indiana, Geor- by H.E.R. and "Somewhere" worst part of it," says Benan- roof," says Benanti, who
alized she was transgender. gia, Mississippi, New Jersey, from the musical "West Side ti, who personally contact- is shooting a "Gossip Girl"
"While some of these kids Ohio and two from Texas. Story." At the end, they join ed those who didn't make reboot for HBO Max and
"Younger" for TV Land.
Sensical to launch age-appropriate streamed "We've handed them this
world and then we turn
content for kids around and call them enti-
tled and spoiled and really
put them down. And I find
By J. LANDRUM Jr. Every frame of each video that deeply upsetting be-
AP Entertainment Writer will be viewed and rated cause when I look at them,
LOS ANGELES (AP) — by individuals trained in I see them using social me-
Common Sense Networks child development. The dia for good. They're not
will launch a new stream- company's mission is to just on TikTok looking fabu-
ing platform dedicated to create a new standard lous. They're on TikTok fight-
kids with age-appropriate in children's digital media ing for democracy."q
content. The media com- and evaluate content
pany announced Tuesday based on the most com- Solution Sudoku
that the free streaming prehensive child develop-
platform called Sensical is ment research available. This image courtesy of Common Sense Networks shows 12/17 Difficulty Level
expected to launch next Some of the titles from "Mother Goose Club" on Sensical, the free streaming platform 8 7 2 6 4 1 9 5 3
year. The platform will of- digital creators include expected to launch next year. 4 5 9 7 8 3 6 2 1
fer thousands of vetted "Bounce Patrol," "Mother Associated Press 1 6 3 5 2 9 7 4 8
short-form videos for chil- Goose Club," "Super Sim- (8-12). "Sensical's mission is CEO of Common Sense 2020 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc. 5 9 6 2 3 8 1 7 4
dren ages 2 to 12. ple Songs" and "Stacy- to ignite kids' passions, fuel Networks. He wants Sen- 3 8 1 4 7 6 2 9 5
Sensical will launch with Plays." curiosity, build bridges be- sical's video selecting 2 4 7 1 9 5 3 8 6
15,000 short-form videos The library of content will tween children and their process to give parents 9 3 4 8 1 2 5 6 7
and add thousands to the be organized in three cat- parents and make every- a "real peace of mind" 7 1 5 9 6 4 8 3 2
library monthly after the egories: Preschoolers (2-4), one part of the learning through the ad-supported 6 2 8 3 5 7 4 1 9
platform goes live. little kids (5-7) and big kids journey," said Eric Berger, service.q
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