Paper Mill Playhouse to Present A WHOLE NEW WORLD: A TRIBUTE TO ALAN MENKEN This Month – Broadway World

Paper Mill Playhouse has selected students to be a part of the theater’s prestigious Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory for 2022. Members of the competitive Conservatory who earned coveted spots in the Senior (ages 15-18), Junior Plus (ages 13-14), and Junior companies (ages 10-12) are directed and choreographed by Paper Mill Playhouse’s professional artistic staff in a fully produced, original concert titled A Whole New World: A Tribute to Alan Menken. A show unlike any other produced by Paper Mill Playhouse, this special concert features over 90 talented young performers, including Rising Star Award winners and nominees. New Voices showcases the songs of the legendary composer that influenced the art form of musical theater as we know it today. The show draws on the timeless work of Alan Menken including Newsies, The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Sister Act, and more.

The Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory and New Voices are supported by Investors Foundation. The Hearst Foundations are Paper Mill’s Education and Outreach partner.

Performances of A Whole New World: A Tribute to the Music of Alan Menken will be held on July 29 at 7:30 PM and July 30 at 1:30 PM and 7:30 PM at Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, NJ. Tickets range in price from $25 to $50. Livestream tickets are available for the July 30, 7:30 pm performance for $15. Tickets may be purchased by calling (973) 376-4343, online at www.papermill.org, or by visiting the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office.

“It is with such excitement that we welcome back the staged concert that has been missing from our Conservatory program for the last two years due to Covid concerns. We believe that this program allows these young performers an opportunity to thrive and ultimately live their dream of being professional performers. From the first day of class all the way through opening night of New Voices, we require our students to rise to the demands of this rigorous program,” stated Lisa Cooney, Paper Mill Playhouse Director of Education, Outreach & Access. “We ask them to work harder than they ever have before as young performers. Our faculty pushes the students to believe in themselves as professional artists, and as a result, when they move on to college or the professional world, they are ready for the challenges they’ll face. We take great pride when they make a name for themselves on Broadway or in Hollywood and from knowing every member of the Conservatory has the skills and the work ethic to serve them in any field.”

The Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory is a program of rigorous study allowing students to enhance their individual performance potential while developing a broad base of theater experience and knowledge. Students participate in intensive classes including musical theater performance, acting, dance, private voice lessons, and improvisation, while also attending guest workshops led by professional actors, directors, and casting agents. The final weeks are devoted to rehearsals for the annual New Voices Concert. The Conservatory offers the unique opportunity for gifted and talented young performers to work at their own level and challenge themselves to achieve new goals and learn new skills. Key to the curriculum is the development of self-discipline, respect, and a commitment to excellence that will serve these young artists throughout their lives. The New Voices Concert is the culmination of the five-week program.

“New Voices is an amazing opportunity to see the stars of tomorrow,” stated Mark S. Hoebee, Paper Mill’s Producing Artistic Director. “This fully produced, original concert features close to a hundred incredible performers. It is amazing to see these young performers grow into professional artists and grace the stage with an inspiring, heartfelt performance.”

Paper Mill’s professional casting partners attend annually. Victoria Kress, A3 Artists Agency youth theatrical agent states, “(I’m always) super excited to head to Paper Mill Playhouse for their New Voices show! Having trained some amazing performers, I know this night will prove to be no different! It’s one of my best scouting field trips of every summer.” Nora Brennan, casting director for Matilda, Billy Elliot, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular and Paper Mill’s upcoming production of The Sound of Music agrees, “The kids were great, the show was fun and entertaining, and the material was tailored so that each child shone. Well done!”

Many of the students from Paper Mill Playhouse’s Conservatory have gone on to appear on Broadway, in regional theater productions, in film, and on television.

Conservatory Alumni include:

Anne Hathaway – Stage: Twelfth Night; Film: Les Misérables (2013 Academy Award Winner), Rachel Getting Married (2009 Academy Award & Golden Globe Nominee), Ocean’s Eight, Get Smart, Brokeback Mountain, The Devil Wears Prada, Disney’s The Princess Diaries; TV: WeCrashed, Modern Love

Ali Stroker – Broadway: Oklahoma (2019 Tony Award Winner), Spring Awakening; Film: Lifetime’s Christmas Ever After; TV: Oxygen’s The Glee Project: Season 2; Paper Mill: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive Ostrovsky)

Laura Benanti – Broadway: Gypsy (2008 Tony Award Winner), She Loves Me, Into the Woods, The Wedding Singer, My Fair Lady, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, The Sound of Music; TV: Younger, HBO Max’s Gossip Girl, NBC’s The Sound of Music Live! (The Baroness)

Robert McClure – Broadway: Mrs. Doubtfire, Beetlejuice, Something Rotten, Honeymoon in Vegas, Noises Off, Chaplin, Avenue Q

Jelani Remy – Broadway: Disney’s The Lion King, Smokey Joe’s Café, Ain’t Too Proud

Khailah Johnson – TV: CW’s 4600

Shanice Williams – TV: NBC’s The Wiz Live! (Dorothy)

Joshua Dela Cruz – Broadway: Disney’s Aladdin; TV: Blue’s Clues & You!

Nikki M. James – Broadway: Book of Mormon (2011 Tony Award Winner), Les Misérables (Éponine), All Shook Up, Once On This Island (Assistant Director)

Julia Knitel – Broadway: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Bye Bye Birdie

Avery Espiritu – Broadway: The King and I

Alex Drier – Broadway: Finding Neverland, Assembled Parties, Billy Elliot

Daisy Hobbs – Broadway: Disney’s Aladdin

Matthew Scott – Broadway: Jersey Boys, An American in Paris, A Catered Affair, Sondheim on Sondheim

Collin Kelly-Sordelet – Broadway: The Last Ship (Young Gideon), The Ferryman

Jared Gertner – Broadway: The Book Of Mormon (Elder Cunningham), The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee

Neil McCaffrey – Broadway: Mary Poppins (Michael Banks), Bye, Bye Birdie (Randolph), Billy Elliot (Michael)

Monette McKay – Broadway: Come From Away, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark, Memphis, Mamma Mia!

Constantine Rousouli – Broadway: Hairspray (Link), Ghost the Musical, Wicked (Fiyero)

Jonathan Schwartz – Broadway: Disney’s Aladdin (Omar), Elf, Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark

Elizabeth Egan Gillies – Broadway: 13 The Musical; TV: Nickelodeon’s Victorious, The CW’s Dynasty

Lael Van Keuran – Broadway: Paradise Square, Sister Act

Matt Ban – Broadway: Rock of Ages (Dennis)

2022 CONSERVATORY STUDENTS BY TOWN

Brynn Simonelli of Annandale, NJ

Megan Simonelli of Annandale, NJ

Anna Chang of Basking Ridge , NJ

Sean Pernaselli of Basking Ridge, NJ

Tatyana Serrato of Bayonne, NJ

Brielle Marques of Bedminster, NJ

Teigen Ang-Horowitz of Berkeley Heights, NJ

Alexandra Vacchiano of Boonton, NJ

Alaina Gust of Bridgewater, NJ

Chloë Cheers of Bronx, NY

Charlotte Ewing of Chatham, NJ

Gabrielle Vecciarelli of Chatham, NJ

Talia Fabrizzio of Clark, NJ

Zavier Aviles of Clifton, NJ

Lily Yezdanian of Clifton, NJ

Ana Monteiro of Denville, NJ

Zoe Maria Rivera of Elizabeth, NJ

Anneka Shepherd of Essex Junction, NJ

Mykhel Duckett of Glen Ridge, NJ

Sofia Serrano of Glen Rock, NJ

Leina Staudinger of Green Brook, NJ

Gracie Nagle of Hackettstown, NJ

Sophia Silvera of Hawthorne, NJ

Violet Pyatt of Park, NJ

Adelina Harrington of Ho Ho Kus, NJ

Sienna Mello of Hoboken, NJ

Avery Ramsey of Hoboken, NJ

Mathew Segovia of Jersey City, NJ

Evan Gray of Kinnelon, NJ

Kathryn Nieto of Kinnelon, NJ

Caroline Nieto of Kinnelon, NJ

Sylvie Friedman of Livingston, NJ

Jonah Ruderman of Livingston, NJ

Abby Teagan of Madison, NJ

Marianna Daley of Maplewood, NJ

Destiny Keith of Maplewood, NJ

Avery Sinclair of Maplewood, NJ

Zoe Zaslow-Braverman of Maplewood, NJ

Alex Iozzio of Maplewood, NJ

Lindsay Waldman of Marlboro, NJ

Chandani Diaz of Maywood, NJ

Juliana Johnston of Metuchen , NJ

Autumn Capes of Monmouth Junction, NJ

Alexa Torres of Mountainside, NJ

Natalie Kary Bowser of New Providence, NJ

Nathaniel Updegraff of North Brunswick, NJ

John “Chai” Shea of North Brunswick, NJ

Alexandra Hermans of North Caldwell, NJ

Valeria Flores of Nutley, NJ

Thomas Snyder of Park Ridge, NJ

Najm Muhammed of Piscataway, NJ

Dakota Krouse of Pittstown, NJ

Emma Bucardo Rivera of Pompton Lakes, NJ

Olivia Reitz of Pottstown, PA

Nathaniel Algor of Ramsey, NJ

Elizabeth Greenberg of Randolph, NJ

Lexi Ciardella of Roseland, NJ

Eva Zazzali of Saddle River, NJ

Sophia Mekbeb of Scotch Plains, NJ

Sid Kamat of Short Hills, NJ

Akiv Shah of Short Hills, NJ

Siana Sharma of Short Hills, NJ

Remi Stein of Short Hills, NJ

John Tan of Short Hills, NJ

Gabriella Volpicelli of Short Hills, NJ

Olivia Shannon of Short Hills, NJ

Saniya Kamat of Short Hills, NJ

Hannah Kelley of South Orange, NJ

Anton MacLachlan of South Orange, NJ

Taylor Terry of South Orange, NJ

Grace Rivera of Springfield, NJ

Gabrielle Gutierrez of Springfield, NJ

Ethan Flanagan of Stroudsburg, PA

Fiona O’Brien of Suffern, NY

Luzita Avila of Summit, NJ

Grace Capeless of Teaneck, NJ

Elyana Barroqueiro of Union, NJ

Gabriella Scott of Union, NJ

Carlos De La Cruz of Union City, NJ

Evangeline Lalande of Verona, NJ

Aiden Blow of Warren, NJ

Josh Cooper of Wayne, NJ

Lillian Kopacz of Wayne, NJ

Madeline Hoarle of West Caldwell, NJ

Mia Grizzutti of West Millford, NJ

Kyan Bashkoff of West Orange, NJ

Dylan Crespo of West Orange, NJ

Riley Hahn of West Orange, NJ

Evan Leone of Westfield, NJ

Kayla Louison of Westfield, NJ

Alexis Ulmer of Wyckoff, NJ

Bryan Fortunato of Wyckoff, NJ

Sam Ornstein of Wyckoff, NJ

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE, recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, is a nationally renowned, not-for-profit theater under the direction of Mark S. Hoebee (Producing Artistic Director) and Mike Stotts (Managing Director). A beloved NJ arts institution since 1938, Paper Mill creates and produces groundbreaking new musicals and reimagined classics. Several productions have gone on to Broadway and launched national tours, including Disney’s Newsies, Les Misérables, Honeymoon in Vegas, A Bronx Tale, and Bandstand. The theater is also the home of an award-winning center for musical theater education and artist training, with outreach programs that impact tens of thousands of students each year. As one of the nation’s premier musical theaters, Paper Mill fosters a creative environment to advance the art form, educate students, develop future theater lovers, nurture inclusion, and provide access for all. Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.