25 Broadway Stars to Perform with Emerging Talent in BROADWAY BUDDY Cabaret at SOPAC

Broadway is coming to the South Orange Performing Arts center this May! On Monday night, May 1,2017, 25 Broadway artists will light up the SOPAC stage, as they perform with aspiring Broadway artists in Vanguard Theater Company's second annual BROADWAY BUDDY Mentorship Cabaret.

This year's Broadway mentors and recent credits include: Ron Bohmer The Book of Mormon, Ami Brabson Phenomenal Woman, Catherine Brunell Something Rotten, DWayne Clark The Color Purple, Carrie Compere The Color Purple, Robert Creighton Cagney, Kate Dawson A Christmas Carol, Alex Dreier Neverland, Robert DuSold Jeckyll & Hyde, Linedy Genao On Your Feet, Bonita Hamilton The Lion King, Danette Holden Cagney, Daisy Hobbs Aladdin, Joaquina Kalukango The Color Purple, Michael James Leslie Little Shop of Horrors, Kevin Mambo The Color Purple, Alicia Hall Moran Porgy and Bess, Joshua Morgan Les Miserables, Charlie Pollock Violet, Marlaina Powell The Lion King, Marni Raab The Phantom of the Opera, Jelani Remy The Lion King, Martin Sola On Your Feet, Nicole Van Giesen Fun Home, Deonte Warren Aladdin, JoAnna Young, The Drowsy Chaperone. These accomplished performers have graciously volunteered their time and experience to mentor up-and-coming artists, ages 12 - 25.

"Last year's program was an overwhelming success! We had a diverse group of over 20 mentees rehearsing songs with their mentors, hanging out backstage at TONY award winning shows and sharing the stage with Broadway actors from shows like Hamilton, The Color Purple and Billy Elliot. This year, we are thrilled to build more of these exciting, unique and one of a kind partnerships. The culminating cabaret is just the cherry on top." says co-founding artistic director, Daryl L. Stewart.

After carefully reviewing a record number of auditions by hopeful applicants, the 2017 Broadway Buddy program launched on March 11, 2017. Over the next six weeks, mentors will meet with their mentees, offering show business advice, personal stories and individual performance coaching during cabaret rehearsals. The mentees and mentors will share their experiences and perform together at SOPAC on May 1, 2017 through a special collaboration with Seton Hall University's Theater Program.

"Vanguard is thrilled to partner with SOPAC and Seton Hall Theater Department. This is a win for access, equity and diversity. Audience members can expect to see a rainbow of talent that represents the best of Broadway's past, present and future. We are beyond excited," adds co-founding artistic director Janeece Freeman-Clark.

Excitement from the mentees is palpable. Says Toni Gardner, a senior musical theater minor at Seton Hall University, "I am thrilled to be part of the Broadway Buddy program and cannot wait to see what the future brings after graduation." Seton Hall freshman Tess Borsecnik adds: "I am incredibly excited to have this opportunity to work with amazing industry professionals. I am determined to make the most of it."

Mentees are from towns all over Northern NJ, including Belle Mead (Gus Glazov), Bloomfield, (Jonathan Jarvis), Clifton (Triana Jackson), East Orange (Aaron Bowes, Haneefah James, Janayla Montes (now living in Vauxhal), and Moyo Odulaja), Glen Ridge (Tyler Matos, Gabrielle McCarren), Maplewood (Meghan Durkin), Montclair (Samy Cordero, Ayla Schwartz), Newark (Yasmeena Atia Sharif, Nasir Roper, Adeleke Ode, Kirk Lambert, and Troi Gaines), Morristown (Victoria Fanning), North Haledon (Nicholas Zeitlinger), N. Plainfield (Amari Key), Nutley (Toni Garder), and West Orange (Indigo Blu and Branden Mangen), as well as from Granby, CT (Tess Borsecnik ), Hauppauge, NY (Peter Lamendola ), and Harrisburg, PA (Bailey Howell).

For tickets and more information, visit www.sopacnow.org/broadway-buddy or call (973) 313-2787.

Vanguard Theater Company is committed to producing transformational theater and is dedicated to diversity, community engagement, education and professional artistic mentorship. Through dynamic storytelling, Vanguard produces works that reflect the various complexions of the 21st century artist and audience. Vanguard Theater Company is a registered 501 (c) 3 not for profit arts organization created by co-founders, Janeece Freeman- Clark and Daryl L. Stewart.

Pictured: (row 1) Ron Bohmer The Book of Mormon, Ami Brabson Phenomenal Woman, Catherine Brunell Something Rotten, DWayne Clark The Color Purple, Carrie Compere The Color Purple; (row 2) Robert Creighton Cagney, Kate Dawson A Christmas Carol, Alex Dreier Neverland, Robert DuSold Jeckyll & Hyde, Linedy Genao On Your Feet; (row 3) Bonita Hamilton The Lion King, Danette Holden Cagney, Daisy Hobbs Aladdin, Joaquina Kalukango The Color Purple, Michael James Leslie Little Shop of Horrors, Kevin Mambo The Color Purple; (row 4) Alicia Hall Moran Porgy and Bess, Joshua Morgan Les Miserables, Charlie Pollock Violet, Marlaina Powell The Lion King, Marni Raab The Phantom of the Opera; (row 5) Jelani Remy The Lion King, Martin Sola On Your Feet, Nicole Van Giesen Fun Home, Deonte Warren Aladdin, JoAnna Young, The Drowsy Chaperone.