Local artists shine at NYC theater fest

NEW YORK — Alumni and students of the Centenary Young Performer’s Workshop have joined forces under the direction of New York’s “Group Theatre Too” to present the original musical, “Count To Ten” at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. The festival is the largest musical theatre festival in the world, giving birth to such Broadway shows as “Next To Normal” and “Title of Show,” according to festival organizers. Leading “Count To Ten” is Broadway and film actor Michael Blevins, who is also the director of the Young Performer’s Workshop. “What is so exciting,” said Blevins, “is almost every designer and performer involved with the NYMF production is currently, or was once, a student of mine at YPW.” Alumni participants include lighting designer, Christopher Hoyt from Washington; assistant director, Jeff Brelvi from Hackettstown; assistant choreographer, Ryan Schaars from Byram and executive producer, Justin Boccitto from Hackettstown. Additionally, local performers are Jennifer Avila, Jenna and Cydney Black, Jacob Burlas, Steven Etienne, and Lexie Speirs from Hackettstown; Hunter Gross from Blairstown; Anthony Zas from Mount Olive; Ann-Marie Sepe from Newton; and Nikki Miller from Hampton. “Count To Ten” is an upbeat, dance-filled musical, that plays at the Theater at St. Clements in Manhattan Oct. 15 to 17. Two of the four performances are sold out, but tickets are available for the 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. showings on Friday, Oct. 16. Visit www.nymf.org/counttoten or call 212-352-3101 to reserve tickets. The Hudson Guild Theater in New York City has picked up the show from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1. The full schedule and tickets are available at www.counttotenthemusical.com.