Video by John Moore and David Lenk.

Denver First Lady Mary Louise Lee hosted students from Denver’s Hamilton and Florida Pitt Waller middle schools for an afternoon of pizza, performances and inspiring conversations from Motown the Musical national touring production cast members.  And when the students were asked to return the favor, they sang a few songs for the pros as well.

The participating Motown cast members included   Clifton Oliver, Leon Outlaw Jr., Reed L. Shannon, Patrice Covington, Ashley Tamar Davis and Martina Sykes.

“I want everyone to know that this could be you too,” said Lee, also the founder of  a nonprofit called the Bringing Back The Arts Foundation. “You can be anything you set your mind to. You can be an astronaut.  You can can be an architect. You an be the mayor of Denver. It doesn’t matter what color you are, or where you come from.”

Pictured above: Denver First Lady Mary Louise Lee with Motown actors Reed L. Shannon and Leon Outlaw Jr. at Cableland. Photo by Emily Lozow.

Our photo gallery from the day at Cableland:

Photos by John Moore and Emily Lozow for the DCPA NewsCenter.