Musical Theatre Conservatory: The Best of Both Worlds

Summer program will allow aspiring stars to study in New Jersey and perform in NYC.

When Randy Kravitz Elman and Mary Brienza were young, aspiring performers, learning from the best in the business meant riding a train into New York City, transferring to a subway, then walking some long city blocks to get to a dance studio or voice or acting coach. So when they launched Musical Theatre Conservatory they were determined to give students  -- and their families -- the best of both worlds. “Acting class was on the Upper East Side. Dance classes were midtown. My voice teacher was on the Upper West Side,” Randy Elman explained. “As a teenager I took the train in on my own, but when I was too young to do that my parents actually hired someone to drive me in to the city. I’m grateful that they would do that for me, but it was a …

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Whiz Kids

In a Faraway Kingdom ...

Short Hills actress plays Young Fiona in 'Shrek the Musical.'

While most of her peers were busy starting middle school this year, Alexa Kerner took a different path.  She began rehearsals in August for a show that opened in September. Alexa appeared as Young Fiona in the Broadway National Tour of "Shrek the Musical." The show performed in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Pennsylvania. The show generally performed eight times a week and Alexa alternated playing Young Fiona and Young Shrek and Grumpy. Young Fiona sings the song "I Know it's Today" with Teen Fiona and Grown-Up Fiona. Alexa's last show was on Dec. 28 in Hershey, Pa. "I had the time of my life performing in Shrek the Musical," Alexa said. "Having the opportunity …

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Review: Paper Mill's 'Les Miserables' Delightful Reinvention

The production is at Paper Mill through Dec. 30 before heading on a national tour.

If you've been a fan of "Les Miserables" during the last 25 years, you're sure to enjoy the reinvented production at the Paper Mill Playhouse. The same music and story so many people grew up with and fell in love with over the last two-plus decades take center stage in the 25th anniversary production that runs through Dec. 30. From the first note, it's hard not to smile if you're fond of this show. But, of course, you need a cast that can bring the emotional story to life, which is the case with the Paper Mill production. During interviews with the press in early November, several actors playing principle characters said they were given the freedom to reinvent their character. That freedom shows as this group of actors were able to take …

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New Voices Take Paper Mill Stage

The summer conservatory students take to the stage for three performances.

They've been singing and acting and dancing for weeks at Montclair State University, and now the 120 young performers in the Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Conservatory are hitting the stage to show off what they've learned. They take the stage for three performances this weekend—Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Single tickets range in price from $22.75 to $38.75.  Tickets may be purchased by calling (973) 376-4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office, or online at www.papermill.org. Get a sneak peek below from dress rehearsal.

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Young Performers Create Bond at Conservatory

The Paper Mill Playhouse is holding its annual summer conservatory for the region's young performers through July.

It's like scenes out of "Fame." In one dance studio, a group of teens is doing their best version of "Stomp," beating out a rhythm to dance to with their feet. In the hallway, two teens practice dance moves to go with a song they'll be performing. In the stairwell yet another teen is practicing reaching the high notes of a song. It's just another day at the Paper Mill Playhouse's Summer Conservatory. The conservatory is a five-week advanced professional theater performance program for "talented and motivated" young performing artists ages 10-18 years old. Those in the program identify themselves as performing artists and have made the choice to pursue the theater professionally in the future. The 120 students in the program, who auditioned…

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MHS Musings: Millburn Cares

The MHS Drama Club presents their 8th annual fundraiser

The Millburn High School Drama Club presented their eighth annual Millburn Cares benefit concert for the Broadway House for Continuing Care in Newark, "Rock the Cause." Led by presidents Alex Fagan and Ashley Rappoport, vice president Martha Meguerian, fundraising chair Alex Sugarman and faculty advisor Suzanne Snyder, members of the drama club performed 15 songs from Broadway shows, mostly from rock musicals.  Performances included songs from "RENT," "Rock of Ages," "Wicked," "Spring Awakening," "Movin' Out," "The Last Five Years," "Next to Normal," "Jersey Boys" and "A Chorus Line." The drama club kicked off the year in October when it held a packed event at Rockn Joes in Millburn. The music event raised over $400 for Broadway House for …

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MMS Students Win Young Playwright Award

Their play "iLove" will be performed in May.

Two Millburn Middle School students are among teh winners of the 27th Annual New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest. Eighth graders Rachel Chowdhury and Hannah Rubenstein were among the winners for their play iLove. Four plays from junior high school students across the state were selected for the honors. Additionally, four high school and four elementary school plays from the 350 plays that were submitted from across the state. The 27th Annual New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest Festival will be held on May 17 and May 18 as part of a partnership between Playwrights Theatre and Premiere Stages at Kean University. The junior high school division winners will be presented on May 17, along with the elementary school winners, starting at 10 a.m…

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Paper Mill Playhouse Juniors Perform For Holidays

Young performers on tour, bringing holiday cheer to our communities

The Paper Mill Playhouse Theatre School Junior All Stars performed at the Springfield YMCA Wednesday with a holiday-themed performance in front of several dozen local children and their families.   Their 2009 program is called "North Pole Exposure." A curious group of young people make a visit to the North Pole wanting a first hand look at the intense year-round training of the famous characters that make the holidays happen. Along the way they meet comical but determined reindeer, very tired holiday elves, snowmen who only want a Hawaiian vacation and magical hip hop dancing toys including Jack in the Box. Witnessing all of this, the young visitors discover the actuality of the true spirit of Christmas, along with an appearance by Santa …

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Review: 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' Was Fun for All

Limelight Players entertain receptive crowd with lively, enjoyable performance at Millburn High School.

As soon as the curtain closed on Millburn High School's Limelight Players production of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" Saturday night, the cast's screams of exhilaration, joy, and relief could be heard from the other side. As they received their standing ovation, it was obvious they couldn't wait to relieve the excitement and tension that accompanies a musical. These performers, whose short rehearsal period could be conducive to a highly stressful situation, made it look easy. Whether portraying a suave charmer or a ditzy country girl, each cast member of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" enjoyed themselves and provided their audience with an enjoyable experience as a result. The success of the performance was owed partially to the material presented…

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Locals in Summit's Beauty and the Beast

Two Millburn-Short Hills residents have starring roles in the Summit Playhouse production.

Beauty and the Beast Junior opens Friday night at the Summit Playhouse, and it stars two Millburn-Short Hills residents. Lindsay Maron will play Belle, and Joseph Bremburg will play Gaston in the production based on the Disney movie and Broadway production. Performances are scheduled this weekend on Friday, Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. and again on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The production wraps up on July 24 and July 25 at 7 p.m. and July 26 at 2 p.m. Tickets are moving quickly with few seats remaining in the tiny theater. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling 908-273-219 or using the online order form.

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