Local production of 'Godspell' starts next week
BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEPHANIE SCIANDRA The Woodbridge Community Youth Players will perform Stephen Schwartz's 1970 musical "Godspell" July 15-19 at the Oak Ridge Heights Elementary School No. 21 in Colonia.

WOODBRIDGE — When Beth Amory, musical director at Woodbridge High School, and Ricki Cohn, English professor at Middlesex County College in Edison, opened up auditions for the second year of the Woodbridge Community Youth Players (WCYP), they did not know what to expect.

Last year, Amory and Cohn handpicked the cast for the inaugural production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."

"Since it was the first year, we picked the kids from Woodbridge High School that we knew and worked with before," said Cohn, who is the director of the play.

This year, the cast ranges from 14 years old to 23 years old, and they come from all areas of the township.

WCYP will put on a production of Stephen Schwartz's 1970 musical "Godspell" July 15-19 at the Oak Ridge Heights Elementary School No. 21 in Colonia. The cast will keep their own names during the play, except for the characters Jesus and John the Baptist and Judas.

The play will have a special guest star in Mayor John E. McCormac, who will play God.A

mory said she has always loved the play.

"It also fits into the space that we have," she said. "We couldn't have a cast of 50 members and change the scenery. We already built a second stage."

Amory and Cohn said the community has been generous.

"Northfield Bank is sponsoring the show and has been a tremendous help," said Amory. "It would have not been possible without the help from the mayor and his chief of staff, Caroline Ehrlich."

Amory said that with the auditions in May, they did not know what to expect.

"You can have a very talented cast; however, we cannot audition discipline," she said.A

mory and Cohn said they knew they did not have to worry when they saw the first person who came to audition.

"When Kim [Boyko] walked in, I remembered her when she was a freshman at Colonia High School and I was the director of the play at the school," said Cohn.

Boyko, 21, a senior at Montclair State University, said that after four years of stepping back from theater, she thought WCYP was a great way to get back into her love of theater.

"I came to the audition early and saw Ricki," she said. "She didn't remember my name but she remembered that I had played 'Smitty' during my freshman year's production [of 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.'] "

Boyko said she was in every play during her four years at Colonia High School.

"In college, I began studying earth science education and didn't do any theater," she said. "I haven't been on a stage in four years. When I went to audition, I didn't know if I was going to be too old, but when I saw everybody, I realized I was not too old. Everyone was very welcoming."

Boyko said her character is "innocent and an inspired believer."

"My character came natural to me … she reminds me of the three kittens that I now foster from Angel Paws," she said.

Christopher D. Bober, 19, who will play Jesus, in the play, said he made the lastminute decision to participate the week before auditions. Bober played Charlie Brown last year during the first production of WCYP.

"I was going back and forth whether or not to participate, but when it came down to it, the play fit into place," he said. "This was different because I didn't know anything about the play. I usually do research of the play beforehand."

Bober said it is important for people to be open-minded and to not focus on the play being about religion.

"The play takes place in a junkyard and has a lot of symbolism," he said.

Bober added that it is great this year that they have people of all ages cast in the play.

"It's great to get to know these people who live down the street from me that I didn't know and who are just as talented," he said. Bober graduated fromWoodbridge High School last year and will enter his second year at Westminster College of the Arts in Princeton in September. He is concentrating in music education and musical theater.

"My first year was very challenging and an eye-opener," he said.

Chris Emro, 20, of Hopelawn, who is planning to enter the U.S. Navy in January, said it was great to work with Beth and Ricki again.

Emro, who participated in plays and choir throughout his four years at Woodbridge High School, said his character is the "pervert of the cast."

"It's definitely not how I am," he said.

Emro said he spent two years at Middlesex County College in Edison studying music education before his decision to enter the Navy.

Patty Romano, 18, who recently graduated from John F. Kennedy Memorial High School in Iselin and is planning to attend Middlesex County College in the fall, said she got to know Amory and Cohn when she was participating in Woodbridge Idol last year. She was named Woodbridge Idol 2008.

"I only knew some people when I auditioned," she said.

Romano said her character is confident and alive.

"She is the first to volunteer herself and will get up and perform, which is not me at all," she said. "It was hard to get used to my character."

Valentina Seramba is the youngest cast member at 14. This is her first play.

"My mom told me about the auditions, and I thought this way would be a good way to start. Singing can take you so far, but acting, singing and dancing can take you further."

Seramba, who recently graduated from Woodbridge Middle School and will enter her freshman year at Woodbridge High School in September, said she has been singing and dancing since fifth grade.

"Everyone has been so friendly, and it has been fun," she said.

The productions of "Godspell" will take place July 15 at 1 p.m., July 16, 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m., and July 19 at 2 p.m.

Tickets purchased in advance are $5 per child, $10 per adult, and are available at the township's farmers market, town hall and the Mayor's Concert Series. Tickets will be $8 per child and $12 per adult at the door. For more information, call 732-634-4500, ext. 6058.