NJPAC in Partnership The Johnny Mercer Foundation Introduces Students To Musical Theater

NEWARK, N.J. - April 7, 2015 - PRLog -- As one of the musical greats of the 20^th century America, Johnny Mercer was renowned as a lyricist, composer and mentor, whose words were his trade.

His namesake foundation, which champions the art of songwriting in schools, continues to show by example that musical theater is good for the soul.

For a third year, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and The Johnny Mercer Foundation are introducing the magic of musical theater to more than 100 New Jersey middle school students from Newark and the surrounding area.

Five New Jersey schools – the Whitney Houston Academy in East Orange, the Heywood Avenue School in Orange, the Harriet Tubman School in Newark, the Cicely L. Tyson Community School for the Performing and Fine Arts in East Orange, and the BRICK Peshine Academy in Newark -- are participating in this one of a kind residency program.  A team of three NJPAC Teaching Artists – Victor Burks, Daryl Stewart and Janeece Freeman Clark – will implement the program in the schools involved.

Beginning in February 2015, each residency meets twice a week for 20 sessions.  During these sessions, students learn the diverse history of the American Musical, as well as the creation process including lyric writing, and the rehearsal and performance process. They develop their creativity, self-confidence, and ability to tell their own story through the musical.  In addition, the residencies will help schools meet their curricular goals; all of NJPAC’s educational programs, including this one, are developed in accordance with the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards.  Curriculum for the program comes from Georgia State University, supported by The Johnny Mercer Foundation, and was launched as a pilot program at NJPAC in the Spring of 2013.

Each class will individually create sections of a joint musical, the topic chosen by the students, coming together at the finale to perform the full, collaborative show.  Students will see the other portions of the musical for the first time at the culminating performance.  This year’s topic is Beyonce and her music, and the final performance will take place on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 in NJPAC’s Victoria Theater.

“Self-expression is such an important topic these days, and the Johnny Mercer Foundation is incredibly proud to partner with the great folks of NJPAC to encourage students to express themselves through the writing of words and music.  This will be our third year together,” stated JMF Vice President, Jonathan Brielle.

“We are elated to host this one-of-a-kind musical theater program here at NJPAC,” said Alison Scott Williams, NJPAC’s Vice President of Arts Education.  “To witness first-hand the growth of these middle school students coming together to write, rehearse and perform their own musical is thrilling. NJPAC is grateful to The Johnny Mercer Foundation for funding this extraordinary residency.”

This residency has been made possible by the generous support of The Johnny Mercer Foundation.  Additional funding is from the Victoria Foundation, Merck Company Foundation, The Prudential Foundation, William Randolph Hearst Foundation, Automatic Data Processing, TD Charitable Foundation, Novo Nordisk, The Provident Bank Foundation, and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Participating Schools

BRICK Peshine Academy (Newark, NJ)

Chaleeta Barnes, Principal; Matthew Petrucelli, Drama Teacher; Nikkia Neal, Dance Teacher

Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing & Fine Arts (East Orange, NJ)

Iqua Colson, Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts; Anita D. Champagne, Principal;

Terri Gorgone, Musical Theater Teacher

Harriet Tubman School (Newark, NJ)

Malcolm Outlaw, Principal; Leslie Cleveland, Dance Teacher

Heywood Avenue School (Orange, NJ)

Faith Alcantara, Principal; Jessica Garofano, Vocal Music Teacher; Jacqueline Selesky,

Dance Teacher; Erin Leigh VanOrden, Instrumental Music Teacher

Whitney Houston Academy (East Orange, NJ)

Iqua Colson, Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts;

Heather Schumacher-Jones, Assistant Principal; Stephen Lombard, Drama Teacher

About the Teaching Artists

Victor Burks (Musical Theater Instructor/Accompanist) is known for his skill in piano, keyboards, vocals and his crafting of exceptional compositions, performances and productions.  With more than 25 years of experience as a composer, musical director and musician, Victor has worked worldwide with various artists and organizations including ESPN, Liz Withers, Jamie Fox, Laura Branigan and Fine Arts Militia (with Chuck D).  His current projects include a 5 song EP titled “Short Stories,” numerous remixes and a new Fine Arts Militia recording.  For the past 13 years, Victor has been a teaching artist and accompanist working in Arts Education at NJPAC.

Daryl Stewart (Musical Theater Instructor) is a professional actor, teaching and performing artist.  His work as an actor has been seen Off-Broadway at Fresh Play Festival/Manhattan Classic Company, and at the New York Musical Theater Festival.  Stewart’s regional credits include musical productions of Five Guys Named Moe, Ragtime, The Wild Party, Leader of the Pack, George and Ira Gershwin’s My One and Only, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel, and Disney’s Aida.  He is the 2010 recipient of the NYU Wassermann Grant for Service in the Arts and a 2013 nominee for the BMC Award for Entertainment.  Stewart is an alumnus of NYU and New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts.  He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Miller Street Productions, a collaborative theatrical production company.

Janeece Freeman Clark (Lead Musical Theater Instructor) has spent most of her career simultaneously as a teacher and a performer.  As an actor, she can be seeen as Miss Molly on PBS KIDS’ award-winning children’s series Dittydoodle Works.  Ms. Clark has appeared On and Off-Broadway in Urinetown the Musical (Little Becky), The Ark (Egyptus), A Band of Angels (Ella), and Africa Plumbridge (Africa).  She has also performed in numerous Regional Theater Houses across the country, and some of her favorite roles include Rusty in Footloose, Charlayne in Ain’t Misbehavin’, JoAnne in Godspell, Dorothy in The Wiz, Brenda in Smokey Joe’s Café, Hattie in A Midnight Star, and Ida B. Wells in Constant Star.  Ms. Clark holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan where she studied vocal performance, musical theater and music education.  She has directed and choreographed musical productions at high schools in Brooklyn, NY; instructed children and young people at The Institute of Music for Children in Elizabeth, NJ; and has conducted youth choirs in the New York City area.