NJYT Performing Arts Classes Return This Fall

August/September, 2016 CONTACT: CYNTHIA MERYL

New Jersey Youth Theatre Classes 908-233-3200; cmeryl.njyt@gmail.com

New Jersey Youth Theatre (NJYT) Performing Arts Classes To Begin in October

This past summer, New Jersey Youth Theatre (NJYT) presented Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical, Into the Woods in association with and at the Wharton Institute for Performing Arts in Berkeley Heights. The show received rave reviews and was greeted with standing ovations. Now, as Fall approaches, it is time to return to class. Starting its 25th season, registration for NJYT classes in drama, voice, ballet, and musical theatre for ages 8 – 21+ will take place at the Roselle Park Studio on Thursdays and Fridays, September 15, 16, 22 and 23 on all days from 4PM-8PM. Semester I classes will begin October 10, 2017 and continue through January 17, 2017; Semester II classes will run from January 23, 2017 until May 2, 2017.

Cynthia Meryl, Artistic Director of NJYT, said, “NJYT alums include Adam Rodgers from American in Paris, Daisy Hobbs in Aladdin, Okieriete Onaeodowan in Hamilton and the list goes on” She added, “NJYT students not only have gone on to Broadway, but also to prime-time television, film, and to major regional theatres across the country. As important, many have entered first-rate theatre arts programs at major colleges and universities. We are proud of all our alumni and students and hope to continue to educate and motivate them, and to instill in them the self confidence they will need to move on to college and then to make their theatrical dreams a reality.”

Ms. Meryl, Stage Director of Into the Woods, returns to teach Advanced Acting, Musical Theatre, and Private Voice. A veteran Broadway actress with almost 50 years on the professional stage, Ms. Meryl has spent 25 years as stage director of NJYT’s professional youth-theatre productions. James Campodonico, Musical Director/Accompanist, is an accomplished composer and teacher of vocal music for over 34 years and musical director to over 100 productions. His original new musical, What Critics Don’t Know, was presented as part of the New York Musical Theatre festival last summer.

Alberta Handelman has been a professional actress, stage director, and acting teacher for more than 40

years. She returns to the NJYT Performing Arts School this year to teach Beginners’ I and Intermediate I acting. Ms. Handelman currently teaches at NJYT, Broadway Performing Arts, and at the award-winning Blooming Grove Theatre, of which she is a founder. NJYT’s ballet instructor, Kiana Rosa, studied all forms of dance and earned her B.F.A. in dance at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts. Ms. Rosa was a featured dancer in NJYT’s 2013 and 2014 productions of West Side Story and Oklahoma! both choreographed by Sherry Alban. She also studied with Cleo Mack and performed the works of Cleo Mack, Blair Ritchie, Michelle Robinson Randy James, Chien-Ying Wang, Stuart Loungway, Camille A. Brown, Kyle Abraham, and Netta Yerushalmy among others.

Ms. Meryl, NJYT Executive Director Ted Agress, and NJYT’s dedicated teaching staff look forward once again to another productive year in providing quality theatrical training. NJYT theatre students gain the self-confidence, competency, and skills they need to pursue a career in theatre. At the least, NJYT training will instill in each student a life-long appreciation of theatre arts.

New Jersey Youth Theatre programming is made possible in part by the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Westfield Foundation, the Lillian Pitkin Schenck Fund, the Blanche and Irving Lurie Foundation, the Edelman Foundation, and individual contributions. For detailed information on NJYT classes, visit our website: www.njyouththeatre.org, click on “classes,” and then on “current class brochure” or call 908-233-3200

Visit our FB site @facebook.com/njyouththeatre