"Comedy of Errors" performed at East Brunswick Vo-Tech

EAST BRUNSWICK--- The Middlesex County School of Performing Arts will present William Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors March 30th, 31st, and April 1st, 7th, and 8th at 7 p.m. The play lasts 90 minutes.  The performance will take place in the school's theater at the east end of the East Brunswick campus. Free parking is available on site at Summerhill Road and Rues Lane in East Brunswick. Tickets are $12 for general admission ($15 at door), $5 for all students and senior citizens.  Admission is free for teachers and administrators K-12 and performing arts professionals.  Tickets are available at the school. To reserve tickets or for further information call 732-254-8700 or email aladrenm@mcvts.net.  

Shakespeare’s farcical play tells the tale of two sets of identical twins, separated at birth. When one set unknowingly docks at the others’ town of Ephesus havoc ensues.  As the town descends into a carnival-like madness, the streets and alleys fill with mobs, switchblade skirmishes,chases and confusion. 

Director Maria Aladren is the resident teacher for the School of Performing Arts theater program. She is also the artistic director for Pegasus 51/Theatre. Professional designers Lea Anello, Scenic Charge Artist for Two River Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey, and Jessica Burgess, Resident Lighting Designer for Theatre East and The Nightingale-Bamford School in New York, work alongside the students.

The student cast comes from various parts of Middlesex County. John Gryl (Antipholus of Syracuse) comes from Old Bridge. Scarlett Menendez (Dromio of Syracuse) and Kelsey Rodriguez (Dromio of Ephesus) reside in Carteret. Lindsay Andreanszky (Adriana) and Alexa Black (Luciana) both live in Monroe. Gabriel Spector (Antipholus of Ephesus) lives in Highland Park. Marjorie Sullivan (Courtesan) comes from Woodbridge. Emily Pabish (Angelo, First Merchant) is from Dunellen. Abbi Newfeld (2nd Merchant, Balthazar, and Gaoler) lives in Colonia. Ashley Nichols (Aemilia) and Zari Rose (Pinch, Luce) are from Edison. Miguel Lopez (Aegeon) comes from Middlesex. Fiona Garretson (Duke Solinus) comes from South River.

Katelyn Covington of Monroe, and Michelle Lane of Edison  are the production's stage managers. Lea Burlew, from Avenel, is the costume designer.  Victoria Simone,  from Colonia is prop master.

The School of Performing Arts at the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools seeks to provide a practical and theoretical foundation for young artists seeking excellence in the field of the performing arts and to prepare young artists for entry into Bachelor of Fine Arts college programs and a future career in the arts.  Over 90 percent of the program’s student enter performing arts college programs, including Mason Gross School of the Arts, Tisch School of the Arts, California School of the Arts, University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.  

The School of Performing Arts provides a conservatory-style education in a conventional high school setting.  Students attend program classes for half a day and complete their high school curriculum needs during the rest of the day. Admission to the school’s program is by audition only.