Local Actress Gets Ready for the Big Stage

If you've tried catching Lauren Campbell of Cranford on the phone in the past month, you probably haven't had a lot of luck.

Campbell, 17, has been practicing around the clock for her big debut in the New Jersey Youth Theatre's performance of RENT beginning this weekend at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.

"You give up a lot to do this performance," Campbell said. But she said every lost minute has been worth it.

Campbell, who just graduated from Cranford High School, was one of several hundred young people who auditioned for the show. She will play one of the main characters, Maureen.

The play, which is a modern take on the Puccini opera, La Bohem, is known for its powerful singing, challenging musical score and emotional story line. It chronicles a year in the lives of a group of impoverished young artists living in the disappearing Bohemian lifestyle in New York's East Village during the late 1980s.

"I can't even begin to explain how fortunate I am to be in this program," Campbell said.

Campbell performed in the theatre's staging of Sweeney Todd last year but said there's something particularly poignant about being involved with this year's performance of RENT.

It could be the fact that Campbell said her role in the play is pushing her beyond her comfort zone, forcing her to belt out her singing voice, which she normally doesn't do.

"Getting my character into my body, my voice, it was challenging," Campbell said.

It could also be the fact that the cast, which includes 19 young people from across New Jersey, has grown particularly close.

"We're like a close tight knit family," Campbell said.

Campbell said like family the cast members encourage each other.

"I've never worked with a more talented cast. It's just pushed me to work harder," she said. It's good practice for Campbell who will enroll at New York University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts this fall. She plans to double major in acting and English.

Richard Eisenberg, one of the board of directors for the Westfield-based New Jersey Youth Theatre, said audience members will be shocked at the caliber of the performance. He said many adults think that because the performers are young the quality of the performance may not be as high as that of a Broadway show.

"Oh, it's going to be some kids on stage," Eisenberg quoted what adults may be saying to themselves. "But it's actually very professional It's really exciting to watch these talented performers on stage because you know you're watching the Broadway stars of tomorrow," Eisenberg said.

The New Jersey Youth Theatre will perform RENT at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark from July 16-25. For tickets call 1-888-GO-NJPAC (1-888-466-5722) or go to www.njpac.org. NJPAC is offering four pairs of front row center seats for only $15 per ticket. The seats will be made available via lottery prior to each performance. For details, click here.

The youth theatre will also perform RENT at the Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan from July 30-August 8. For tickets call 1-732-528-9211 or go to www.algonquinarts.org.