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Community Corner

Teens Audition for RENT

The Pineda Conservatory’s Center Stage Program for talented high school students is holding auditions this March 1, 2, 7 & 8 for its five-week summer program that includes fully staged productions of Jonathan Larson’s “Rent” and a musical revue titled “A Road Trip.”

The Center Stage program runs from June 30 to Aug. 3, Monday through Friday, 12:30-5:30 p.m., at the Cranford Dramatic Club Theatre in Cranford.

The training program includes acting, dance, vocal and audition training. The staff includes choreographer Christopher Johnson (Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Chicago), Ra-Sean Holloway (“A Chorus Line,” Radio City Christmas Spectacular), director Juan Pineda (Broadway’s “Miss Saigon”), vocal coach Valerie Pineda (Manhattan School of Music), director and choreographer Fausto Pineda (“King & I,” “Grease”) and vocal coach Patricia Pineda (VCU).

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Enrollment is limited and acceptance is by audition only. Former Pineda Conservatory students have been accepted into some of the nation’s leading college theater programs and conservatories and have gone on to appear in professional theaters and opera houses around the country.

Auditions are being held by appointment only for students entering ninth grade and up. Appointments can be made by calling 908-731-1377 or by online submission at pinedaconservatory.com/Audition-Request.html. Prepare 16 bars of a musical theater up-tempo and 16 bars of a musical theater ballad that show range and acting ability. Vocal auditions will be followed by a group movement and dance call. Bring dance clothing (comfortable clothes and dance shoes/sneakers). All students should dress professionally for the audition. Attendees will be given time to change. The audition process will take approximately two hours.

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If necessary, call backs will be scheduled on the “evening” of March 9. Students selected will be given one week to accept their spots.

“A Road Trip” is a musical tribute to the USA. This show includes everyone selected for the program, and features those who do not have leads in “Rent.” The show is written specifically for the students featured and has two fully staged performances. Everyone in the program also participates in the main stage production of “Rent.” Some roles may be double, triple or quadruple cast. Please be advised that the production of “Rent” deals with mature themes and all students participating will be required to submit a permission slip prior to auditioning.

The Pineda Summer Conservatory also holds a five-week morning program for middle schoolers featuring a production of “Shrek the Musical” and for students in elementary grades two-five with a production of “Aladdin Kids.”

For more information visit pinedaconservatory.com or call 908-731-1377.

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