MILLSTONE – Youngsters who attend Cornerstone Music Studios’ Summer Music and Theater Arts Camp are getting ready to perform their annual show.
The young actors and actresses will perform “Dear Edwina Jr.” at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Millstone Performing Arts Center, 5 Dawson Court, Millstone Township. Admission is $10.
According to Cornerstone Music Studios owner Laura Wittman, “Dear Edwina Jr.” is a musical about a girl who receives letters from her friends asking for advice. She tries to become an advice psychologist and community activist.
The Summer Music and Theater Arts Camp runs for three weeks, Monday through Thursday, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Participants are incoming third-graders through incoming ninth-graders.
Portraying the title character is rising fifth-grader Lily Schechter of Manalapan, who described how Edwina has her own show during which she receives letters and gives advice.
“Edwina is very bossy and full of herself,” Lily said. “She knows she can tell everyone what to do. I’m similar in that I like to put on shows, but I’m not as bossy as she is.”
Edwina’s sister Katie is played by rising seventh-grader Emily Landolfi of Freehold Township. Emily also portrays Chef Ludmilla, who she described as being very dramatic and having an operatic singing tone.
Alongside Chef Ludmilla is the Fairy Forkmother, played by rising fourth-grader Sarina Valentine of Monroe Township. Sarina also plays Abigail, whose brother has habits that bother her. For Sarina, both characters are similar to herself.
“My brother does annoy me a lot,” she said. “And I like to help out people around my house and help my friends.”
Sharing Abigail’s brother issues is Aphrodite, portrayed by rising seventh-grader Riya Miglani of Monroe Township.
“She sings a song about her brother being messy,” said Riya, who has attended the camp for three years. “I think my brother is annoying at times, too.”
Rising freshman Cole McCaleb’s character Harry has family issues of his own.
“Harry is from Honolulu,” said Cole, who is a resident of Jackson. “He invites his cousin from Peru and his cousin doesn’t speak English.”
Lola, the cousin, is portrayed by rising fifth-grader Erin McCabe of Monroe Township, who described her character as being very shy.
Lola’s story is narrated by rising eighth-grader Gianna Makar of Upper Freehold Township, who described the story she tells as being about a shy girl who moves to a new place.
A similar story is told by the character played by rising second-grader Graceson Guterl of Millstone Township. Graceson’s character Periwinkle writes a letter about being shy and being scared of saying hello.
“I’m not shy in real life,” Graceson said, “but she is very funny in the letter.”
The letter is co-written with the character Bobby, portrayed by rising eighth-grader Cristian Rodriguez of Freehold Township.
“Bobby is the new kid in town,” Cristian said. “He knows nothing about Edwina’s show.”
Cristian also plays Ziggy, a musician who seeks advice about saving money.
Real-life siblings also appear in the show, including Riya Miglani’s sister, Sanya, a rising fourth-grader, and Cristian Rodriguez’s sister, Mia, a rising fourth-grader.
Sanya and Mia, along with rising fifth-grader Isabella Creighton of Millstone Township, appear as a group of neighborhood children who watch Edwina’s show.
Another pair of siblings in the show are Samantha and Amanda Shearer of Millstone Township.
Samantha, a rising fourth-grader, portrays Billy, who she described as being funny and active.
Amanda, a rising third-grader, portrays Farmer Jerry, who is trying to save money. Amanda also plays a cheerleader who appears alongside the character Becky.
Becky is played by Zoe Edison, a rising seventh-grader from Manalapan. In addition to being a cheerleader, Zoe said her character is one of Edwina’s friends.
Rising sixth-grader Julia Grau said her character Annie, who is another friend of Edwina’s, talks frequently.
“Annie boasts about her adventures as a Girl Scout and helps with Edwina’s show,” said Julia, a Millstone Township resident. “She can be a blabbermouth. I am also a Girl Scout and I can be a blabbermouth, but I’m not as boastful.”
Rising eighth-grader Cara Rommeney of Freehold Township can relate to portraying a boastful character in the role of Carrie, who she called “one of the popular girls.”
“Carrie is very sassy and sometimes very obnoxious,” Cara said. “I’m different with her attitude. She thinks she’s the most amazing, I think I’m normal.”
Rose Lichtman, a rising freshman from Millstone Township, also considers her character Kelli to be boastful. She said Kelli is a ballerina and one of Edwina’s friends.
“Kelli is the friend who knows she’s better at dancing and she always tries to show off,” Rose said.
The character Frank, played by rising fourth-grader Jack McHugh of Jackson, demonstrates the result of being too demanding. Jack also plays Lars, who he described as being clumsy.
“Lars crashes into a wall, but he’s funny, too,” Jack said.
Rising fifth-grader Evangeline Etzel, rising eighth-grader Syrenah Hannah and rising seventh-grader Makenna O’Grady provide narration as the play’s Singing Trio.
Lia Steinhauser, a rising fourth-grader from Freehold Township, plays a talent scout. Lia explained that her character calls Edwina, but means to speak to one of her friends.
That friend in question is Scott, portrayed by rising sixth-grader Jack Saker of Millstone Township. Jack, however, said his character has romantic feelings for Edwina.
“Scott has a huge crush on Edwina and does anything to get her attention,” he said. “He writes her a song, but he gets rejected.”
For Jack, his character is quite different from himself.
“Scott tries to get people’s attention, but I’m more likely to go with the flow,” he said.
Music director Shane Tapley said “Dear Edwina Jr.” includes more music than previous productions at the camp.
“It’s very exciting,” Tapley said. “This is a huge step up from where we have done shows before. It’s very heavily musically involved and very fun.”
The assistant music directors are Elizabeth Wojtowicz and Isabel Wittman.
“The kids are doing a great job,” Wojtowicz said. “There is a ton of music, but they pick it up really quickly and it is great to see them bond together.”
The production’s stage manager is Michelle Sayah and the children’s voice coach is Arielle Rabano.
Older students provide assistance at the camp. They are Christina Orthodoxou of Millstone Township, Gillian Finnegan of Millstone Township, Rosie Dunphy of Howell, Taylor Carpinello of Freehold Township and Matt Spadaccini of Millstone Township, who said, “The message of the play is really nice. A girl offers advice because she doesn’t think she is special, but like everyone else, she is.”
