Student Spotlight: MJ Herron

When seven‑year‑old MJ Herron walked into Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts to see his first Broadway show, Disney's The Lion King, he knew the night would leave a mark. He and his mom Angie drove four hours down from Tallahassee, and MJ jokes that the tickets were compensation because his younger brother Luke got to pick out a toy.

The real reason feels even more special as MJ’s classmate plays Young Nala. This was an opportunity for MJ to support his friend and experience a Broadway show for the very first time.

The performance hooked him immediately. Stepping out of the theater, he was speechless. Angie Herron recalls, “It’s one of the only times he’s quiet—he was completely starstruck.” She captured that moment of wonder in a now-viral social media post, catching the eye of news outlets and Dr. Phillips Center alike.

Soon after, the arts center invited the Herron family back to Orlando so MJ could join our AdventHealth School of the Arts Best of Broadway summer camp. They said yes right away. Over the week, MJ learned beloved Broadway songs and dances, then took the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater stage for a showcase on the camp’s final day.

Click below to learn more about MJ in this special feature.

MJ loved every part of performing, yet dancing stole his heart.

“You can move—it’s a fun way to let out energy,” MJ said.

The experience even shaped his future plans: “I want to be a singer or dancer like Michael Jackson.”

Of course, the summer camp isn’t MJ’s first time in the spotlight. From his school’s Christmas showcase to theater camps in Tallahassee and Orlando, he jumps at any chance to shine.

“When he got into school,” Angie says, “he was gung-ho about being in any kind of performance situation where he could take a bow and get an applause.”

His dad, Mark, adds that programs like these at Dr. Phillips Center have a positive impact and boost children's confidence who have similar passions.

“Being in a location like this gives him something to aspire to,” Mark added.

For MJ, what began as a trip to support a classmate turned into an opportunity to grow his talent and realize his dreams. His story is an extraordinary reminder of how it can take just one performance to spark a lifelong passion. In MJ’s case, the curtain is just rising.

Explore year-round classes and summer programs at Dr. Phillips Center’s AdventHealth School of the Arts.