(MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse has selected 121 students to be a part of the theater’s prestigious Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory for 2019. Members of the competitive Conservatory who earned coveted spots in the Senior (ages 15-18), Junior Plus (ages 13-14), and Junior companies (ages 10-12) are directed and choreographed by Paper Mill Playhouse’s professional artistic staff in a fully produced, original concert titled, New Voices of 2019: Learn Your Lessons Well. The concert is a culmination of the five-week conservatory program. Also appearing are numerous nominees of the 2019 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards presented by the Investors Foundation, who won scholarships to attend the Conservatory.
Performances of New Voices of 2019: Learn Your Lessons Well will be held on August 2 at 7:30pm and August 3 at 1:30pm & 7:30pm at Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, NJ. Tickets range in price from $25 to $45. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343, online at www.papermill.org, or by visiting the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office.
“From the first day of class all the way through opening night of New Voices, we require our students to rise to the demands of this rigorous program,” stated Lisa Cooney, Paper Mill Playhouse Director of Education. “We ask them to work harder than they ever have before as young performers, and we strive to build an incredible ensemble company, while each student hones their own individual performance skills. Our faculty pushes the students to believe in themselves as professional artists and treats them as such. We find summer after summer that our students meet our expectations and more. When they move on to college or the professional world, they are ready for the challenges they’ll face, and time and again they thrive and ultimately live their dream of being a professional performer. It’s gratifying when they make a name or themselves on Broadway or in Hollywood, but even if they do not, the skills they learn and the work ethic they develop will serve them in any field.”
The Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Musical Theater Conservatory is a program of rigorous study allowing students to enhance their individual performance potential while developing a broad base of theater experience and knowledge. Students participate in intensive classes including musical theater performance, acting, dance, private voice lessons, and improvisation, while also attending guest workshops led by professional actors, directors, and casting agents. The final weeks are devoted to rehearsals for the annual New Voices Concert. The Conservatory offers the unique opportunity for gifted and talented young performers to work at their own level and challenge themselves to achieve new goals and learn new skills. Key to the curriculum is the development of self-discipline, respect, and a commitment to excellence that will serve these young artists throughout their lives. The New Voices Concert is the culmination of the five-week program.
“New Voices is an amazing opportunity to see the stars of tomorrow,” stated Mark S. Hoebee, Paper Mill’s Producing Artistic Director. “This fully produced, original concert features over 120 incredible performers. It is amazing to see these young performers grow into professional artists and grace the stage with an inspiring, heartfelt performance.”
Many of the students from Paper Mill Playhouse’s Conservatory have gone on to appear on Broadway, in regional theater productions, in film and on television. Anne Hathaway, Ali Stroker, Laura Benanti, Matthew Scott, Matt Ban, and Neil McCaffrey are just some of the Conservatory Alumni.
Conservatory alumna Julia Knitel, who played the role of Carole King on the national tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, states, “Growing up, I was always in the ensemble. That was where I’d feel comfortable because I love being a team player. That’s one of the things that was so great about being at Paper Mill Playhouse, because in their Conservatory you had an equal amount of dancing, singing and acting training every day. I got a great foundation in being a team player and ensemble member, and serving a production. The producers and creatives of Beautiful saw in me something they couldn’t find elsewhere.”
Noted Broadway talent agents and casting directors flock to New Voices every summer. Victoria Kress, Abrams Artists Youth Theatrical Agent states, “(I’m always) super excited to head to Paper Mill Playhouse for their New Voices show! Having trained some amazing performers, I know this night will prove to be no different! It’s one of my best scouting field trips of every summer.” Nora Brennan, casting director for Matilda, Billy Elliot, and The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, agrees, “The kids were great, the show was fun and entertaining, and the material was tailored so that each child shone. Well done!” Paper Mill’s professional casting partner, Telsey + Company, attends annually and often offers workshops to our advanced students.
2019 CONSERVATORY STUDENTS BY TOWN
Kayla Oh Allendale
Jack Sisk Atlantic Highlands
Eileen Brady Basking Ridge
Chance Friedman Basking Ridge
Samantha Rascio Basking Ridge/Far Hills
Libby Schmitt Basking Ridge
Carly Holda Bernardsville
Deirdre Tobin Bernardsville
Katie Kallay Bloomfield
Elise Bednar Boone, NC
Jenny Brady Bound Brook
Sophie Belkin Branchburg
Lainey Cooper Bridgewater
Emma Christmann Canadensis, PA
Francesca Catrone Cedar Grove
Alyssa Tanti Cedar Grove
Ava Chrusciel Chatham
Liam Driscoll Chatham
Ronan Green Chatham
Caroline Kiernan Chatham
Andrew Palmieri Chatham
Grace Petersen Chatham
Kate Bove Cherry Hill
Jessica King Clark
Ana Rose Monteiro Denville
Nereo Rossi Edison
Zayna Darres Erie, PA
Lauren Onufryk Flanders
Julia Santiago Freehold
Maeve Touhey Gladstone
Leina Staudinger Green Brook
Gracie Nagle Hackettstown
Lexie Miller Hampton
Soren Schwerner Hewitt
Wasif Sami Hillsborough
Jason Spinrad Hillsborough
Sarah Coleman Holmdel
Jacob Canderozzi Jackson
Lillyana Boland Kearny
Melody Stubbs Kenilworth
Evan Gray Kinnelon
Katie Nieto Kinnelon
Kendall Thorner Little Silver
Jayden Declet Livingston
Brooke Lelia Livingston
Madison Lysek Livingston
Jonah Ruderman Livingston
Janie Hornstein Manalapan
Ben Halperin Maplewood
Charlotte Post-Lipnick Maplewood
Avery Sinclair Maplewood
Joseph de Grandpre Mendham
Amanda Heckmann Millburn
Halle Just Millburn
Alexandra Witek Monmouth Beach
Elizabeth Witek Monmouth Beach
Bobby Axelrod Montclair
Mareau Hall Montclair
Orly Kinsella Montclair
Story Walker Montclair
Jeffrey Gallup Montville
Alexa Torres Mountainside
Alexandra Hermans North Caldwell
Samantha Alper Nutley
Valeria Flores Nutley
Eric Sebek Nutley
Luke Surretsky Nutley
Mark Surretsky Nutley
Gianna DePreta Oakland
Mikayla White Old Bridge
Jadon Lopez Paramus
Michael Magielnicki Parlin
Nicole Streger Peapack
Luke Byman Pearl River, NY
Katherine Ryan Pearl River, NY
Caroline Herbert Pennington
William Pearce Pittstown
James Carroll Pocono Pines, PA
Elizabeth LeClerc Pottersville
Brandon Grajales Rahway
Jason Myers Rahway
Nasiyah Richardson Rahway
Ryan Domaleski Randolph
Raymond Ocasio Ridgewood
Lexi Ciardella Roseland
James Ignacio Roseland
Eva Zazzali Saddle River
Valentina Zazzali Saddle River
Abigail Bera Sayreville
Elizabeth Bera Sayreville
Juliana Domiciano Scotch Plains
Nicholas Matos Secaucus
Spenser Brenton Short Hills
Judith Diminni Short Hills
Uma Menon Short Hills
Olivia Shannon Short Hills
Hannah Kelley South Orange
Rowan Wechsler South Orange
Gabriel Oliveira Staten Island, NY
Rosie Gaeta Summit
Donald Grennon Summit
Emily Huffman Summit
Grace Capeless Teaneck
Elyana Barroqueiro Union
Pranav Chawla Union
Jason Concepcion Union City
Jenna Clover Upper Saddle River
Nathaniel Algor Waldwick
Valentina Reale Warren
Anthony Savino Warwick, NY
Gerald Certrulo Wayne
Lillian Kopacz Wayne
Sophia Lellos Wayne
Deanna Thomas Wayne
Jason Tobias Wayne
Madeline Hoarle West Caldwell
Alex Vacchiano West Caldwell
Riley Hahn West Orange
Olivia Ruhnke Westfield
Antonio Porciello Whippany
Bryan Fortunato Wyckoff
PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE, a not-for-profit arts organization under the direction Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Michael Stotts- Managing Director and recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award, is one of the country's leading regional theaters. Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.
The Summer Musical Theater Conservatory and New Voices are supported by Investors Foundation. Paper Mill Playhouse Education & Outreach are proudly sponsored by The Goren Family & Harmony Helper.
