(RED BANK, NJ) -- During a lock down, 11 high school students are stuck in a classroom without a teacher and only texts and the PA system to let them know what is happening in the rest of the school. Amidst the confusion and for some, panic, these students will learn a great deal about each other. That's the premise behind Lost Angels, a play written and directed by Ralph Columbino (Artistic Director for the Actors Playground School of Theatre), which has performances at The Vogel on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.  Performances are at 6:00pm and 8:30pm.

In the play, stereotypes will be broken down, secrets will be revealed, and unique friendships will be forged. Discoveries will be made about who they are and how they relate to each other. Lost Angels touches on bullying, violence, racism, sexism, drug/alcohol abuse, depression, and suicide. The piece brings up issues current in today’s society with today’s young people and challenges them to have a better understanding of themselves and each other. Compassion and tolerance are taught through truthful acting, realistic writing, and young people relating to their peers.

Tickets are $25 and available for purchase online.  The Vogel is located at 99 Monmouth Street in Red Bank, New Jersey.

Based in Freehold, NJ, Playground Theatre Project tours schools, youth groups, churches, and communities throughout New Jersey and beyond. In 2019, the CEO of the Count Basie, Adam Philipson and Sam Giustiniani, Director of Education, reached out to Ralph Colombino (the Artistic Director at Actors Playground School of Theatre) to see if they could form a partnership. The Basie wanted them to bring their culture of dedication and acceptance to The Basie. The plan was also to give a home to their social issue, theater company, Playground Theater Project.  That company has been bringing social issue theater and anti-bullying programs to schools throughout New Jersey for nearly twenty years with great success.

For nearly two decades, Actors Playground School of Theatre has offered the highest level of professional training in the art of acting to generations of students and has become a staple of New Jersey’s arts community. The Playground's friendly and creative atmosphere provides a strong foundation of encouragement and trust that allows its students to gain confidence in their work and challenge themselves uncluttered to explore their creative imagination. Students of Actors Playground study the very latest versions of modern acting technique as well as Second City style improvisation, advanced scene study, elocution and speech, acting for the camera, and auditioning at every level for all mediums.