Garden of Dreams foundation

On Wednesday, April 28, the Garden of Dreams Foundation and MSG Entertainment presented the Sixth Annual Garden of Dreams Spring Talent Show "City of Dreams".  Hosted by MSG Network Knicks reporter Jill Martin, the show included appearances by Whoopi Goldberg, Matthew Modine, the World Famous Radio City Rockettes, and Mike Dameski, who is the actor playing Billy Elliot from Broadway’s BILLY ELLIOT.

“The annual MSG Entertainment and Garden of Dreams Foundation talent show is one of our most anticipated events of the year, where our partner organizations are all collectively brought together for one unforgettable evening.” said Jay Marciano, president, Madison Square Garden Entertainment. “We are so proud of these incredibly talented children who put their fears and troubles aside and have the courage to perform on a legendary stage where the biggest names in music have also performed.”

This year's show honored the greatest city in the world, New York City. The show began with all  125 performers taking the stage alongside the Radio City Rockettes to perform a special dance number to "New York, New York", followed by 19 outstanding dancing, singing, piano playing, and band acts. The show concluded with a heart warming song and dance to Michael Jackson's "We Are the World".

Each spring, children from various Garden of Dreams partner organizations, all facing devastating problems – whether they relate to illness, homelessness, poverty, foster care or tragedy, are presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform on the Great Stage at Radio City Music Hall. For one memorable evening in front of their family and friends, they perform with talent, emotion and passion, forgetting their problems and celebrating their unique voices.

At this year’s dress rehearsal, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels of Run-DMC, volunteered his time to help the children prepare before the talent show. As a mentor, he shared his experience and offered helpful advice for the children to apply to their performance.

 “Garden of Dreams gives the kids the opportunity to realize that it is not the situation that defines them, but their dreams that make them who they are,” said Darryl McDaniels. “The Garden of Dreams Foundation gives every child the opportunity to be the person that they were put here to be.”