Michelle Obama hosts Broadway workshop in the White House

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The first lady invited 40 performing arts high school students to the Broadway at the White House event
Gloria Estefan, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Whoopi Goldberg all attended
Estefan and Glee star Matthew Morrison sang for the students
Students participated in workshops on acting, directing, singing, costume design, makeup and musical composition
They received training from Goldberg, producer Harvey Weinstein and actress Cicely Tyson

By Associated Press and Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 00:22 EST, 17 November 2015 | Updated: 11:59 EST, 17 November 2015

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Michelle Obama brought Broadway and some of its brightest stars to the White House on Monday to host a workshop and celebrate performing arts students from around the country.

Gloria Estefan, legendary composer Andrew Llyod Webber, Whoopi Goldberg, and Glee star Matthew Morrison were just some of the big names welcomed to the East Room on Monday.

Estefan sang music from On Your Feet!, a show based on the story of her life, and Morrison sang music from Finding Neverland.

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Michelle Obama brought Broadway and some of its brightest stars to the White House on Monday to host a workshop and celebrate 40 performing arts students from around the country

Obama made sure to show off some of her famous moves while dancing to Gloria Estefan's hit song Conga with choreographer Sergio Trujillo and actress-singer Ana Villafane

Other performances featured music from Fun Home, An American in Paris, School of Rock, and Something Rotten.

The first lady told the 40 'extraordinary' high school students that her famous guests were there to help them.

'These folks are here today to honor you and to hopefully inspire you,' she said.

'They're also here with an important message for you about what it takes to succeed, not just on Broadway, but in life', she said, according to the Huffington Post.

The students participated in workshops on acting, directing, singing, costume design, makeup and musical composition.

And Obama made sure to show off some of her famous moves while dancing with Estefan and choreographer Sergio Trujillo to the singer's hit song Conga.

Actor Josh Segarra, also on hand to help with the workshop, joined in and showed off his moves

Obama greets Gloria Estefan in the Diplomatic Room of the White House before the workshop

Among the entertainment figures training with the students were Goldberg, producer Harvey Weinstein and actress Cicely Tyson.

Some of the students also had the opportunity to perform in 'Broadway at the White House,' which will air on the TLC network Thanksgiving Day.

Obama called Broadway a 'cornerstone' of America's heritage.

'Since America is such a big, bold, beautiful nation, that's how our stories are told on Broadway,' she said.

'With show-stopping dance routines, and soaring musical numbers, and heart-wrenching, side-splitting performances that we never forget.'

'These shows don't just entertain us, they educate and inspire us.'

The first lady told the 40 'extraordinary' high school students that her famous guests were there to help them. 'These folks are here today to honor you and to hopefully inspire you,' she said

Whoopi Goldberg, Glee star Matthew Morrison, Fun Home's Gabriella Pizzolo, legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Estefan (pictured L-R) were some of the big names welcomed to the East Room on Monday

The Obamas are long-time supporters of Broadway.

Most recently, President Barack Obama took daughters Sasha and Malia to see hip-hop musical Hamilton in July, and the first couple attended a revival of A Raisin in the Sun last year.

Since the theater workshop and performance were Mrs. Obama's first public appearances since the Paris attack, she offered condolences to the victims and families, urging the nation to keep France in their thoughts and in their hearts.

'As my husband said on Friday, this was an attack not just on France, our dear friend and ally, but on all of humanity and our shared values.'

'And as we mourn, we know that we must continue to show the strength of those values and hopes that the President spoke about when he talked.'

'And the beauty is that all of you here, our young people that are here, you all reflect that passion, that creativity. You all are a part of those values that the President talked about.'

'That's what we're protecting. We're protecting what you all represent.'