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Arts & Entertainment

The Music Man Performs at The Academy for Performing Arts in Scotch Plains

One of America's most beloved musicals, "The Music Man", comes marching into Scotch Plains this April for four performances at the Academy for Performing Arts.  The cast of 34 talented high school performers represents 14 towns in Union County performing in the Academy's first musical production.  “I'm extremely proud of all the students –they show tremendous dedication as they continually refine their craft while working with their teachers and our professional artist in residence, the Pineda Conservatory.  I can’t wait for opening night!” stated, Mr. Scott Rubin, Principal of The Academy for Performing Arts. 

 

The Union County Academy for Performing Arts mission is to create a highly specialized and safe learning community promoting honesty, integrity, and citizenship while challenging students through rigorous academics. Simultaneously, students are immersed in a very dynamic and intense Performing Arts program that fosters strong personal, intellectual, and social development while opening the door for students to pursue a career in the Performing Arts. "APA takes great pride in providing students with professional training as they follow their journey in the performing arts," said Mr. Rubin, who lined up a team of professionals to head the production.  

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"The Music Man was a great choice for APA.  We are teaching the students a classic example of the golden age of Broadway," said director Juan Pineda, a Broadway veteran who has been directing and teaching throughout New Jersey for several years.  Mr. Pineda is joined by Valerie Pineda, founder of the Pineda Lyric Opera, and a professional opera singer, music director, and director.   Taking the lead as choreographers are Christopher Johnson, a New York based performer and choreographer who performed in the original “Chicago”, and Fausto Pineda, a proud member of Actors equity, who's regional and national work has garnered him countless awards and nominations. Rounding out the choreography team are the talented dance majors at Academy for Performing Arts with Steven Del Col as dance captain and assistant choreographer, and William Apicella, Bria Bacon, Deanna Carlucci, Joselyn Delgado, Rebecca English, Julia Hodczac, Katie Lafemina, and Yahna Tullis as assistants.  "We are so thrilled to have such high caliber dancers who are able to work in a creative manner to meet the challenges of the show", says Valerie Pineda, co-director.

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The talented cast is lead by Brendan Paternostro as Harold Hill with Samantha Furst and Ariel Sheridan double cast as Marian Paroo.  The supporting cast includes Allison Gallo as Mrs. Paroo, John Patterson as Mayor Shinn, Jaclyn Weisser as Eulalie Shinn, Taylor Scott as Amaryllis, Claire Meehan as Gracie Shinn, Dan Stein as Winthrop, Camila Bermudez, Leah Killmer, Kyra Morling and Jasmine Taylor as the Pick-a-little Ladies, William Apicella as Charlie, Deanna Carlucci and Kelly Freeman as Zaneeta, Dan Cohen as Tommy Djilas, Aaron McCombs, Ryan Kiel, Andrea Moore, Giulianna Viera as the School Board Quartet, and Bria Bacon, Cristina DeCristofaro, Joselyn Delgado, Rebecca English, Keani Esparra, Kevin Grunder, Julia Hodczac, Katie Lafemina, Emory Munoz, Lorin Tompkins, Yahna Tullis and Christian Zeron as Iowa River Citizens.

 

Meredith Willson’s "The Music Man" follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band he vows to organize – this despite the fact he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain’s fall. The 1957 Broadway production ran for a record 1,375 performances and the show was so successful it was revived on Broadway in 1980 and 2000, proving its timeless appeal.

 

The Music Man opens on Thursday, April 7th at 7:30 pm and other performances include 2 pm & 7:30pm Saturday April 9th and 2 pm Sunday, April 10th.  The performances will be held at the Black Box Theatre, Academy for Performing Arts, Union County Vocational-Technical Schools at 1776 Raritan Road in Scotch Plains.  All seats are $10 and tickets can be purchased at www.APAMUSICMAN.eventbrite.com

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