Registration Open for INTO THE WOODS JR With WHBPAC's Teen Theatre Project

Young actors and actresses rejoice! The Nancy and Frederick DeMatteis Arts Education Program's highly acclaimed Teen Theatre Project returns to WHBPAC to produce its second full-scale musical production. The Brothers Grimm "go Broadway" as Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine offer up a cockeyed fairy tale in Into the Woods Junior.

Registration is open to teens ages 12 - 17. No experience is needed, just a love of musical theatre! All registrants must attend the placement audition on either Saturday, September 13 or Saturday, September 27. Students MUST be registered before auditions. Everyone will be cast.

Contact Julienne Penza to schedule an audition time at 631-288-2350, ext. 114 or JulienneP@whbpac.org. Tuition for the program is $720.

Young actors, ages 12 and up, rehearse on Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:30 - 8:30pm from October 20 to January 21. Then, over the school break, from January 26 to 30, the cast meets daily for an intensive rehearsal process culminating in two public performances on Friday and Saturday, January 30 and 31, at 7pm.

Teen Theatre Project is the cornerstone of WHBPAC's unique and innovative Teen Theatre Program. This skill-based program focuses on cultivating and honing both acting and vocal techniques while producing a full-length, public performance. In just fifteen short weeks, teen performers will take an adaptation of one of Sondheim's most popular works from script to stage. The sophisticated score has been adapted to make it easier - though still challenging -for young performers.

"Sondheim is one of my favorite composers to teach and sing," says Arts Education Associate Morgan Vaughan. "The music and lyrics are masterfully intertwined, forcing the singer to be as good an actor as he or she is a singer. Also, the music is challenging enough to be interesting to learn, and very satisfying to master and perform. I can't wait to start this project!"

Into the Woods Junior is also a funny and engaging way to get young people to think about the stories with which they've grown up and the ethical issues raised therein.

Julienne Penza, director of January's production, notes, "I'm so thrilled to be directing this incredible show. It's so in keeping with what we do through our teen programs -- not only is it a challenging, high-level play -- it's also a wonderful opportunity to explore social issues as an ensemble!"

Register online at www.whbpac.org or call Morgan Vaughan at 631-288-2350, ext. 112.

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