(BLOOMFIELD, NJ) -- Beth Baur, a directors teacher and founding member of the New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts has received an Honorable Mention in the Tony Award's Excellence in Theatre Education category. This annual honor recognizes a K-12 theatre educator in the U.S. who has demonstrated monumental impact on the lives of students and who embodies the highest standards of the profession.
Over the past few months, several rounds of judging have taken place, with a final panel of judges comprised of the American Theatre Wing, The Broadway League, Carnegie Mellon University and other leaders from the theatre industry selecting the winner, two finalists and 20 honorable mentions from more than 1,100 qualified entries.
Beth has been at teacher at Memorial High School in West New York (Hudson County), for the past 8 years where she developed the acting curriculum as part of the new Performing Arts Academy. Since that time the Academy has grown from 19 students to over 120. Beth directed the first play produced at MHS since 1966 and now the program features both Fall and Spring plays, student directed and produced projects, a Holiday show for early childhood centers, playwriting festivals, improv shows and a residency with Manhattan Theater Club. Her students have been accepted into top college theater programs, and have gone on to star in TV series, establish new theater companies, and work as playwrights and film makers. They are frequent award winners in festivals and competitions.
Beth became a professional actor while still a student at the Conservatory of Theater Arts at Webster University where she received her BFA in acting. She has worked in all facets of the industry: Off-Broadway, regional theaters,TV, Film, Commercials, Voice Over, print and has directed many productions throughout the area. She is the recent recipient of a LAFF nomination for best actress her work in the short film “MOTHER”. Ms. Baur is the founder and co-director of New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts and has served as an adjunct- professor at Montclair University.
Co-Director Bob Sapoff says "Beth's innate ability to find each student's talent and ability is simply amazing. Every student grows under her guidance. As her co-worker for the past 23 years, it is a joy to see her rewarded this way."
Bob Sapoff (Director/Teacher) has been profiled on ABC News, CNN, NY 1 News and in the Star Ledger, Herald News, and Daily Record. A professional actor for over 25 years, his theatre credits include the role of Harpo in the Off-Broadway revival of "The Cocoanuts", which was named one of the 10 best Off-Broadway productions of the year. Bob has appeared on Nickelodeon and in countless television commercials (including a Clio Award winner) and print work nationwide. During his 10 years as Associate Director of Action Theater, he created and directed "On The Spot", a professional improvisational comedy troupe and is the founder and executive director of NJSDA's own professional improv troupe, "Nutty By Nature", which tours the NY/NJ metropolitan area. Since 2008 he has been an adjunct professor in the film department of Montclair State University where he teaches "Acting for Filmmakers". Bob has also been a theater critic and instructor at the annual Morris County Teen Arts Festival. In his 20+ years as a teacher, Bob has taught over 2,000 students.
Beth and Bob founded NJSDA in 2004. The New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts (Best of Essex education award winners two years in a row) has been offering the best in acting/musical theater/improvisation and TV & Film training. Students learn in a step by step program in which each class builds upon the skills gained in previous levels. From the beginner to the advanced, students are placed in classes that match their experience and ability. Professional instructors offer generous one on one attention while emphasizing the development of a strong and proven technique. In addition to this, the New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax exempt organization. All contributions are tax deductible and are used for scholarships and to further promote our theatre/performing arts programs.
The very talented staff at the New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts includes:
Gary Lynch. Gary is a two time National Broadway Award nominee for his performance in Mamma Mia! He originated the role of Sam Carmichael for the North American Premiere of Mamma Mia! in Toronto, the U.S. Premiere in San Francisco and the 1st National Company. On Broadway, Gary performed the role of Inspector Javert in Les Miserables. His Off Broadway credits include; Destry Rides Again - York Theatre,Goose- Musical Theatre Works, Lux In Tenebris - Lincoln Center, Let It Ride - Lambs Theatre, Lola - Lark Theatre Co. Numerous Regional credits include; The Thing About Men (Tom),1776 (Adams), Olympus On My Mind (Jupiter), The Threepenny Opera (MacHeath), A Little Night Music (Carl Magnus), Rags (Saul), Guys and Dolls (Sky), Nine (Guido), 3 Guys Naked...(Ted), and (Orin and everyone else) in Little Shop of Horrors. Gary was also in the National Tour of Dirty Dancing and recently appeared as Joe in the Westchester Broadway Theatre's production of Some Like It Hot.
Ted Wrigley, the Assistant Managing Director of NJSDA, who was also nominated this year for the Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre Education! Ted has been teaching at NJSDA for the past seven years. Ted is an Equity actor who teaches improvisation and acting. He is has been performing with the Castle Shakespeare Repertory Theatre for the past five years. Ted most recently played Friar Laurence in the Shakespeare adaptation film,"Star Crossed Lovers" which won Best Feature Adaptation at the 2016 Garden State Film Festival. He currently directs the improv troupes Nutty by Nature, On the Spot and the teen improv troupe Sparks of Insanity. Ted is a graduate of the NJ School of Dramatic Arts acting program. He also is the artistic director of the Rising Curtain Theatre Company (made up of former NJSDA alumni).
Mick Gyure, a grauduate of the acting program at NJSDA, currently teaches the TV Commercial program. Since completing the program, Mick has done over thirty TV commercials, promos, industrials, and print projects. Top spots include Tropicana Online Casino, Metlife, Geisinger, ION TV, Insight Cable, CNBC - Mad Money, CNBC 360 and CNBC - On the Money, The Wendy Williams Show, and many others. Mick has also recently been seen in various shows airing on Nickelodeon, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel and the Biography Channel, as well as a number of independent films and local theatre.
Nicole Lippey has performed in Off-Off Broadway productions at the IATI Theatre, 13th Street Repertory and Producers Club in addition to productions at Seton Hall's Theatre In the Round. Her directing credits include "Seussical" and "Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz". Nicole teaches our Kids and Tween acting and musical theater classes.
Heather Dilly has been a professional actor/writer/filmmaker for the past 20 years. Theatre credits include numerous Off-Broadway and regional productions working with such artists as Tony award winner Judith Ivey and Pulitzer Prize nominated writer Rolin Jones. She started the successful award winning film company Laurel Film (best actress award in the Long Island Film Festival for Soverinty and Look Away Life). Heather teaches all of the Acting for TV & Film classes.
Mikaela Kafka has been working professionally as an actress and director for over 20 years. Her directing credits include Little Mermaid, Bugsy Malone, Into the Woods, Fiddler, High School Musical and Charlie Brown. As an actress, Mikaela has received rave reviews from the New York Times ("great comedic timing") and Talkin' Broadway ("Beautifully performed"). She was also nominated by the Star Ledger for the 2007 Best Actress of New Jersey Award. Mikaela is the director of our Kids On Stage camp and directed our Encore Youth Theater production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Unabridged.
Deborah Martin spent 11 seasons as Musical Director at the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival (now the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ). She is the Founding Artistic Director of the 4th Wall Musical Theatre (Working, Pippin, Company, and Nine) and has served as Musical Director with the Fire Island Pines Arts Project (Little Mary Sunshine and Dames at Sea with Charles Busch). Off Broadway credits include Inside Out as Musical Director. Her work with the Montclair Operetta Company includes Evita, Pirates of Penzance, Kismet, and Cabaret. She is also a composer: The Princess, The Poet and the Little Grey Man (book by Joseph Robinette) was published by Dramatic Publishing Company.
Kelly Marie Wallace is a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Theater Arts. She has been teaching theater arts to all ages, from 3 years old to adults, for the past 13 years. She ran her own theater program called Kids Count Theater in Old Bridge where she directed shows such as Beauty and the Beast, Wizard of Oz, and Snow White. She was also the Theater Specialist at Black Bear Lake Day Camp where she directed The Sound of Music, Bye Bye Birdie, and Annie. In addition to this, Kelly played Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet at Rutgers and was in the traveling touring group of the George Street Playhouse where she played Mother in New Kid.
Terri Gorgone has been teaching music for over 20 years and presently teaches musical theater at the Cicely L. Tyson School of Performing Arts. Previously she taught the Music Magnet Gifted and Talented program in the Irvington School District. Terri has musically directed over 60 shows throughout New York and New Jersey. She is the musical director for our Kids On Stage Camp and has been the musical director for our Encore Theater productions of 13, The Apple Tree, Back to the 80's, Children of Eden, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Little Women, Hairspray and RENT.
The NJSDA is holding an Open House for the public to meet the staff and tour their studios on Saturday, September 17 from 10:00am - 12:30pm and Sunday, September 18 from 11:30am - 2:00pm.
