Pittsburgh CLO Academy Students Perform INTO THE WOODS Today

Pittsburgh CLO Academy has announced that its students will perform Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods at the New Hazlett Theater today, November 16 at 2:00 & 7:00pm.

The cast members are all enrolled in the school's Musical Theater Production class and are being directed by Pittsburgh CLO Academy faculty members Justin Fortunato, Kiesha Lalama, and Bob Neumeyer. This production is just one of the many ways that the Pittsburgh CLO Academy provides real-world performance opportunities for its students. A limited number of tickets are available by calling 412-281-2234.

About Pittsburgh CLO Academy's Musical Theater Production Class: The Musical Theater Production class gives students the opportunity to work with a professional director, music director and choreographer. Three times a week, the students learn the aspects of putting together a fully-staged performance from auditions through performance. The class culminates in a live public performance at a professional theater venue.

About the Cast:

(Listed in alphabetical order)

Emma Adams (Lucinda) is a native of West View and a 10th grader at North Allegheny Intermediate High School. Ms. Adams' previous credits include Pittsburgh CLO's main stage production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and North Allegheny High School's production of Footloose. When not performing, Emma participates in her school's Italian Club and leadership organization.

Chelsea Blount (Baby Bear) is a native of Verona and an 8th grader at Linton Middle School. Ms. Blount was last seen as the Sour Kangaroo in the Pittsburgh CLO Academy's production of Seussical the Musical. Her previous credits include Linton Middle School's production of The Wizard of Oz (Wicked Witch of the West) and Aladdin (Halima), as well as The Wiz at the Desert Opera Theater and A Christmas Story at Palmdale Playhouse in Los Angeles. Ms. Blount can also be heard on commercial voiceovers including Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and McDonalds.

Christine Brown (Rapunzel) is a native of Pittsburgh and in the 11th grade at North Hills High School. Ms. Brown has been taking classes at Pittsburgh CLO Academy since 5th grade and was a CLO Mini Star. Her mainstage credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Sound of Music and 42nd Street.

Chelsea Calfo (Happy) is a native of Munhall and an 8th grader at St. Bede Elementary School. Ms. Calfo appeared in last year's Pittsburgh CLO Academy production of Guys and Dolls and as Pepper in the Pittsburgh CLO production of Annie.

Anna Chensny (Cinderella) is a native of Murrysville and an 11th grader at Franklin Regional High School. Ms. Chensny has studied at Pittsburgh CLO Academy for 5 years. Her favorite roles include Polly in Crazy for You, a Ronette in Little Shop of Horrors, and Grizabella in Cats.

Sam Columbus (Wolf) is a native of Aspinwall and in the 11th grade at Fox Chapel High School. Mr. Columbus' previous credits include Guys and Dolls (Benny Southstreet), How to Succeed... (Tackaberry), Lost in Yonkers (Jay), The Imaginary Invalid (Thomas), and The Crucible (Ezekiel Cheever).

James Counihan (Steward) is a native of Blawnox and in the 11th grade at Winchester Thurston School. Mr. Counihan is appearing in his second Pittsburgh CLO Academy Production. His last performance was as Tom Collins in Rent.

Julia Driscoll (Little Pig) is a native of Pittsburgh and a 10th grader at North Allegheny High School. Ms. Driscoll is in her third year at Pittsburgh CLO Academy and was previously seen in the CLO Academy productions of Legally Blonde The Musical, CATS, and Seussical.

Zoe Dunay (Snow White & Fairy) is a native of Westwood and a 7th grader at Pittsburgh CAPA. Ms. Dunay is a CAPA vocal major, Pittsburgh CLO Academy student, and a CLO Mini Star. Ms. Dunay has performed in Seussical, Jr., High School Musical, The Little Mermaid Jr., and The Nutcracker.

Jake Froehlich (Rapunzel's Prince) is a native of Aspinwall and in the 11th grade at Fox Chapel High School. Mr. Froehlich has performed with Act One Theater School, Pittsburgh CLO, Fox Chapel High School, Prime Stage Theater, and Arcade Comedy Theater. Mr. Froehlich also enjoys piano, guitar, driving, tennis, singing in his quartet "Blocked" and spending time with family & friends.

Olivia Gill (Granny) is a native of Wexford and a 10th grader at North Allegheny Intermediate High School. This is Ms. Gill's first performance with Pittsburgh CLO Academy's MT Production Class. Her favorite roles include: Seussical (Gertrude), The Little Mermaid (Ariel), and Singin' in the Rain (Lina Lamont).

Morgan Hogenmiller (Jack's Mother) is a native of Upper St. Clair and in the 11th grade at Upper St. Clair High School. This is Ms. Hogenmiller's debut with Pittsburgh CLO Academy's MT Production Class. Her most recent credits include: South Pacific (Nurse Janet), Anything Goes (Reno Sweeney), and Pittsburgh CLO Academy's Rent (Joanne).

Tressa Holodnik (Cinderella's Stepmother) is a native of Penn Hills and in the 12th grade at St. Joseph High School. As a sixth-year Pittsburgh CLO Academy student, Ms. Holodnik has participated in several CLO Academy shows, including: Guys and Dolls, How to Succeed..., 13, Footloose, Grease, and The Wizard of Oz. Ms. Holodnik has also appeared on the Benedum stage in: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Children's Chorus) and 42nd Street (Teen Dancer).

Allison Joyce (Little Red Riding Hood) is a native of Avonworth and in the 7th grade at Avonworth Middle School. Ms. Joyce is in her sixth year at Pittsburgh CLO Academy and is also a CLO Mini Star. Ms. Joyce was previously seen in the CLO Cabaret's production of Ruthless.

Michael Kovacich (Grumpy) is a native of Pittsburgh and in the 9th grade at Pittsburgh CAPA. Mr. Kovacich, a Theatre Arts Major, has appeared in the CLO Academy productions of Seussical (Cat), How to Succeed... (Ensemble), CATS (Rum Tug Tugger) and in the CLO production of Fiddler on the Roof (Yeshiva Boy).

Michael Joseph Krut (Mysterious Man) is a native of Bethel Park and is in the 11th grade at Bethel Park High School. Mr. Krut's favorite roles include Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, Andy in 42nd Street, Angel in Pittsburgh CLO Academy's summer camp production of Rent and Tony in You Can't Take it With You.

Abreihona Lenihan (Mama Bear) is a native of Avonworth and is a freshman at North Allegheny High School. Ms. Lenihan was recently seen in the CLO Academy Summer Camp production of Hairspray as Motormouth Maybelle.

Johanna Lord (Sneezy) is a native of Aliquippa and is a senior at Quigley Catholic High School. Ms. Lord has been dancing for fifteen years and singing and acting for five.

Tasha Matthews (Giant/Little Pig) is a native of Springdale and an 11th grader at Springdale Jr./Sr. High School. Ms. Matthews has been a student at Pittsburgh CLO Academy since 2007 and also attendEd Pittsburgh Ballet Theater.

John Neurohr (Narrator) is a native of Wexford and in the 10th grade at North Allegheny Intermediate High School. Mr. Neurohr is also a member of the CLO Mini Stars. His favorite roles include Don Lockwood in Singin' in the Rain and Sebastian in The Little Mermaid - both performed at Pittsburgh CLO Academy.

Ruby Paul (Little Pig) is a native of Pittsburgh and in the 7th grade at Pittsburgh CAPA. Ms. Paul has been on Pittsburgh's Benedum stage for the Pittsburgh CLO productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Annie, Oliver, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and was a member of the children's chorus in Point Park University's production of Evita. Ms. Paul is currently a CLO Mini Star.

Hannah Pauley (Baker's Wife) is a native of Pittsburgh and a senior at Fox Chapel High School. Ms. Pauley played Adelaide in the 2012 Pittsburgh CLO Academy production of Guys and Dolls and Hedy LaRue in How to Succeed... in 2011. She has studied ballet, jazz and musical theater at the CLO Academy for six years. She has also trained at Arts Bridge's summer program at the Boston Conservatory and Broadway Artists Alliance in New York City. Ms. Pauley plans to pursue a BFA in Musical Theater next year in college.

Tessa Petak (Fairy) is a native of Gibsonia and in the 11th grade at Pine Richland High School. Ms. Petak has been performing musical theater for 10 years. She studied at Act One Theater School for 7 years and this is her 3rd year at the Pittsburgh CLO Academy. She hopes to one day pursue acting/performing as a career.

Tyler Petrossi (Cinderella's Father) is a native of Pittsburgh and is in the 8th grade at Independence Middle School. Mr. Petrossi has been a part of Pittsburgh CLO Academy for 4 years. He is a CLO Mini Star and has performed in several CLO Academy musicals. Favorite credits: Guys and Dolls (Big Jule) and Alice In Wonderland (White Rabbit).

Sidney Popielarcheck (Cinderella's Mother) is a native of Washington and a senior at Trinity High School. Ms. Popielarcheck has attended Pittsburgh CLO Academy for 7 years, where she has been a part of the CLO Mini Stars, Teen Initiative Program and work study student. Her CLO credits include Annie Get Your Gun (Nellie), Joseph... (choir) and 42nd Street (teen ensemble).

Ciara Rosario (Sleeping Beauty) is a native of Gibsonia and in the 10th grade at Pine Richland High School. After training at the Pittsburgh CLO Academy and graduating high school, Ms. Rosario would like to attend Point Park University and major in Musical Theater in order to achieve her dream of performing at Walt Disney Parks.

Andrew Rossi (Doc) is a native of Mt. Lebanon and in the 9th grade at Mellon Middle School. Mr. Rossi is also in his eighth year at Pittsburgh CLO Academy. He has performed with the CLO and has taken part in numerous CLO Academy productions, including Guys and Dolls.

Maria Scherer (Witch) is a native of Allison Park and is a junior at Hampton High School. Ms. Scherer has been studying at Pittsburgh CLO Academy for seven years. She has performed in Pittsburgh CLO's productions of 42nd Street, Oliver, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Benedum. Ms. Scherer is a member of her school's concert choir and dance team.

Jordan Schreiber (Cinderella's Prince) is a native of Glenshaw and is a junior at Shaler Area High School. Mr. Schreiber made his Musical Theater debut as Tarzan in Disney's Tarzan at Shaler Area High School. He also appeared in Pittsburgh CLO Academy's summer camp production of Rent, in which he played the role of Roger. Mr. Schreiber made his stage debut as Tony Kirby in You Can't Take it With You at Shaler and also appeared as Tom Buchanon in The Great Gatsby. Mr. Schreiber plans on pursuing a career in Musical Theater in the future.

Joseph Serafini (Jack) is a native of Bethel Park and in the 10th grade at Bethel Park High School. This is Mr. Serafini's 3rd Pittsburgh CLO Academy MT Production class performance. His previous roles have included Twimble/Womper in How to Succeed... and Rusty Charlie in Guys and Dolls. He is in his 9th year of study for musical theater at the Pittsburgh CLO Academy. A gifted pianist, Mr. Serafini also enjoys music directing and accompanying vocalist. Favorite performances include: 42nd Street (Billy Lawler), The Burnt Part Boys (Dusty Rivers), Oliver (Oliver Twist) and Les Miserables (Gavroche).

Trent Soyster (Humpty Dumpty) is a native of Wexford and a sophomore at North Allegheny Intermediate High School. Mr. Soyster is a 4th year student studying at Pittsburgh CLO Academy. He previously has appeared in Guys and Dolls with CLO Academy and A Musical Christmas Carol with the Pittsburgh CLO. Favorite roles include Seussical (The Cat in the Hat) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph).

Haylee Thornberg (Sleepy) is a native of Oakdale and is in the 7th grade at PA Cyber Academy. Ms. Thornberg found her calling when she recently performed in the Pittsburgh CLO Academy summer camp production of The Little Mermaid Jr.

Lindsay Wicinski (Bashful) is a native of Wintersville, Ohio and is a freshman in the PA Cyber Academy. Ms. Wicinski is making her Pittsburgh CLO Academy debut as Bashful, the charming dwarf of Snow White. She recently came to the CLO Academy from the Chicago area. Her past performances were Winterville Elementary's production of Cinderella and Lisa's School of Dance productions of Grease and The Wizard of Oz (Glinda).

Joel Wilshire (Papa Bear) is a native of Ms. Lebanon and is in the 9th grade at Mellon Middle School. Mr. Wilshire has been studying at Pittsburgh CLO Academy for 3 years. He is currently in his 2nd year as a CLO Mini Star. His favorite roles include Michael in Peter Pan, Linus in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown and Jesus in Godspell.

Michael Zak (Baker) is a native of Pittsburgh and is a senior at Central Catholic High School. Mr. Zak was last seen this summer as Gordon in Rent (Split Stage Productions). Previous credits include Aaron Fox in Curtains (Central Catholic), Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls (Pittsburgh CLO Academy), Buddy in A Taffeta Wedding (The Theater Factory) and the Minstrel in Once Upon a Mattress (Central Catholic). Michael was recently seen on the Benedum Stage where he received a Gene Kelly Award Best Actor nomination for his role of Aaron in Curtains.

Julia Zoratto (Florinda) is a native of Pittsburgh and is in the 8th grade at St. Bedes Elementary. This is Ms. Zoratto's 7th year with Pittsburgh CLO Academy and she is currently a CLO Mini Star.

About the Creative Team:

Justin Fortunato (Director) is a 2011 graduate of Point Park University where he received his BFA in Musical Theatre. He is an actor and director and has worked with theatre companies around Pittsburgh including the Pittsburgh CLO, the Pittsburgh Public, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, The REP, Primestage, and St. Vincent's Summer Theatre. He is also the artistic director of Carrnivale Theatrics which produced In the Heights earlier this year.

Robert Neumeyer (Music Director) balances duties as a music director, accompanist and liturgical musician in the greater Pittsburgh area. For the past five years, Robert has served as co-founder and music director of Carrnivale Theatrics where his credits have included Sweeney Todd, Ragtime, Into the Woods, the regional premiere of Next to Normal, and the regional premiere of In the Heights. Robert has appeared with numerous local companies including City Theatre, Little Lake Theatre Company, Duquesne University, Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts, and the Pittsburgh CLO, as well as serving two years as a music copyist/arranger for the Pittsburgh CLO's Gene Kelly Awards.

Kiesha Lalama (Choreographer) Choreographer and Educator, Kiesha Lalama has created more than 40 works as of today. She is honored to be launching The Bench, Journey Into Love for an International Tour and hopeful New York City run. The conceived and choreographed full-length dance theatre production, The Bench received rave reviews and was honored to be named to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette's "Best of Dance" Top Ten list in both 2009 and 2010. Recent projects include choreography for In the Heights, for the film, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the National High School Musical Theater Awards on Broadway as featured in the PBS series Broadway or Bust, and Shed for DCDC (Dayton Contemporary Dance Company). As an educator, Kiesha serves as an Associate Professor in the Point Park University Dance Department and as the Education Director for the Pittsburgh CLO. Kiesha is a proud member of SDC (Society of Stage Director and Choreographers). Looking ahead, Kiesha will choreograph the new musical, Judge Jackie Justice for the Pittsburgh CLO.

About the Show:

Into the Woods will be presented at the New Hazlett Theater (6 Allegheny East, North Side) November 16 at 2:00 & 7:00pm. Tickets are $20 for adults; $10 for children under 12. A limited number of tickets are available and can be reserved by calling 412-281-2234.

Since 1946, the Pittsburgh CLO has been the driving force behind live musical theater in Pittsburgh and the entire Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Under the direction of Van Kaplan since 1997, this not-for-profit arts organization appreciates the support of nearly 200,000 patrons each year and produces a subscription series, educational programs, national tours and develops and invests in new works, including 18 Broadway shows (24 Tony Awards) featuring the Current Productions of Cinderella, Kinky Boots and Matilda. Its dedication to the musical theater art form extends to include such programs as the CLO Academy, the CLO Mini Stars, the Gene Kelly Awards, the Richard Rodgers Award, the National High School Musical Theater Awards, the Construction Center for the Arts and the CLO Cabaret.

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