(SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ) -- The Academy for Performing Arts at Union County Vocational-Technical Schools (UCVTS) brought magic and wonder to the stage with their production of The Old Man and The Old Moon on November 22 and 23, 2024. The performances captivated audiences with their creativity, heartfelt storytelling, and imaginative staging. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.

Under the direction of theatre teacher and director Steven Collins, the students transported the audience into a world of adventure, love, and loss. Written by PigPen Theatre Co., this whimsical tale follows the Old Man as he embarks on an epic journey to find his wife, abandoning his lifelong duty of filling the moon with light. The production showcased the students’ immense talent, including live music, shadow puppetry, and ensemble-driven performances that made the story come alive.

“Our students poured their hearts into this production, and their dedication was evident in every scene,” said Mr. Collins. “It’s been a joy to see them embrace such a challenging and inspiring piece.”

The show featured a standout creative team, including Isabella Ovalles as the student director, Michael Gilch as the music director, Stephen Sallach as the set designer, and Nicole Schwarz as the technical director, each of whom contributed to the creative vision and helped guide the production to success.

This production marks yet another milestone for the Academy for Performing Arts, renowned for its commitment to fostering artistic excellence and innovation in young performers.

Upcoming performances include Mean Girls Jr. on January 9 and 10, 2025 and Urinetown on March 21, 22, and 23, 2025 at UCPAC in Rahway.

For more information about the Academy for Performing Arts please visit www.ucvts.org, they are also on TikTok @apa_hq321

Here are more photos from the production.

John Posada is a New Jersey based photographer specializing in photographing live theatre and music performances. For more than 15 years, John has photographed live events where he mastered the techniques of timing and capturing fast moving action under challenging lighting conditions. Currently, John has spent the last 3 years concentrating on photographing almost 200 theatre productions for over 70 different theatres. Click here for John's website.