By CARRIE FALCONE
Staff Writer
OLD BRIDGE — Two theater students from Old Bridge are currently participating in a five-week theater program run by the Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Theater Conservatory.
The program allows students the ability to enhance their individual performance potential while developing a broad base of theater experience and knowledge, according to a prepared statement.
Among the 120 students who are hoping to make their stage debuts are two sisters — Amaya White, 16, and Mikayla White, 12. Amaya is in her fifth year and Mikayla is in her third year of the program. Both have performed in community theater productions and recitals in the past.
“They are really learning a lot from this program, and the people who teach there have been fantastic,” said their mother, Nicole White. “The girls are both very talented and would love to be on stage in the future.”
Amaya is in the senior company (age 15-18), and Mikayla is in the junior-plus company (age 10-12) for the summer conservatory.
So far, the girls have participated in a variety of classes with other students on musical theater performance, acting, dance and improvisation techniques, according to White.
They will also attend guest workshops led by professional actors, directors and casting agents while also rehearsing for the annual New Voices Concert set for July 29 and 30.
The famed Paper Mill Playhouse is located in Millburn.
“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,” said Director of Education Lisa Cooney in a prepared statement. “Our faculty pushes the students to believe in themselves as professional artists and treats them as such. We find summer after summer that our students meet our expectations and more.”
Many notable student alumni of the program include Oscar winner Anne Hathaway and Tony-award winners Laura Benanti and Nikki M. James.
“The New Voices Concert is an amazing opportunity to see the stars of tomorrow,” said Producing Artistic Director Mark Hoebee in the statement. “It is amazing to see these young performers grow into professional artists and grace our stage with an inspiring, heartfelt performance.”
Contact Carrie Falcone at cfalcone@gmnews.com.
