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The Voice

Spring 2015 / Page 5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

CCCs Theatre Program

Wins Big

By NYASHA HOLLEY
Staff Writer

This past year, Cumberland

County Colleges production of
Les Misrables was recognized for
an abundance of musical theatre
awards. These include Perry Award
nominations for lead actress,
supporting actor, outstanding
youth actor, props, scenic design,
outstanding musical direction,
and outstanding production of
a musical. The elaborate performance ended up taking home the
title for outstanding production of
a musical. Nicole Corigliano, who
played the role of Fantine won
her first Perry award for outstanding lead actress in a musical.
The Perry Awards are
presented by the NJACT (New
Jersey Association of Community
Theaters). Named in honor of
William Perry Morgan - director,
composer, actor, and musician
- the awards recognize outstanding achievement in community
theater.
To be considered for a Perry
Award, members of the NJACT
send in their productions and

NJACT reviewers attend each

show. When asked if the awards
serve as motivation for the cast,
Deborah Bradshaw, CCCs Theatre Program Director, expressed
her gratitude and the honor she
felt for the nine nominations.
Ultimately, I am more concerned
about how I feel about the work I
have done and for me, the process
offers the most rewards.
The awards didnt stop there.
Bradshaw says that after meeting
with a reviewer for Broadwayworld.com at their production of
Les Misrables, she became a fan
of the production. The show was
placed on Broadwayworld.coms
list of top 10 shows of 2013 in the
South Jersey/Philly area. It was
also named Best Musical in New
Jersey in the non-equity category
this past November.
The process of winning a
Broadwayworld award differs slightly from the process of
winning a Perry award. A reviewer
comes out to see the show, adjudicates the performances, and a

viewer voting poll takes place.

In an article on Broadwayworld.
com, writer Pati Buehlar raves about
the performance saying, Bradshaw
and her co-creators pulled in all the
elements of a nothing short of a quality Broadway caliber Le Miz. There
is nothing held back in the staging
department as this director not only
opted for a revolving stage but also a
respectable looking three piece barricade that allows the audience to view
the fight scene and death scenes from
an impressive prospective.
Bradshaw has been awarded
quite a few awards of her own during
the span of her career as a director.
She says that any and all awards that
she has received are special to her
and that it is an honor to be recognized. From the Kennedy Center
American College Theatre Festival,
she was awarded the Excellence in
Directing Distinction which she
points out as a highlight. When she
was in graduate school at New York
University, she was presented with
the Dr. Rhonda Ormont Award, a
scholarship. That was unexpected
and still means a great deal to me.
Bradshaw says. That moment will
always be with me.

Little Shop of Horrors Hits CCC

By NYASHA HOLLEY
Staff Writer

Little Mermaid, this production is

easily classified as one suitable for all
ages.
After last years award winCCCs Theatre Program Dining performance of the Broadway
rector, Deborah Bradshaw, says that
hit Les Misrables, Cumberland
when deciding on which production
Countys performing arts students
to do each year, she likes to switch it
and community members will put
up in terms of the theme of the play.
on another musical production
I try to create a balance of dramas
this upcoming spring. The cast is
and comedies, Bradshaw explains.
now in the
This past fall
early stages
she directed the
of rehearsal.
schools producThey began
tion of August:
rehearsing
Osage County
in early
a comedic yet
February.
dark drama.
This years
I decided we
show, which
needed somewill open
thing light and
on April
fun.... A man
16 and run
eating plant...
until April
that makes me
19, is the
laugh!
comedic
When
horror,
putting togethLittle Shop
er any musical
of Horrors.
production,
The plot
there are quite
Nyasha Holley/Staff Photographer
revolves
a few things
Cumberland County Colleges Theatre Program Director, Deborah Bradshaw rehearses for
around
taken
into
Little Shop of Horrors with community actress/actors Katie Lutz, Richard Greenfield, and Kevin
a clumsy
consideration
Kolva.
florist shop
while casting.
worker and
For Bradshaw,
the plant he has raised which just
exceptional vocal talent is a key re2,209 performances Little Shop
so happens to feed on human
quirement in potential cast members.
of Horrors is the third longest
blood.
running off-Broadway production. She gave a glimpse into the auditionSeymour Krelborn is a
ing process by sharing what appeals
It eventually went on to open
geeky floral shop assistant who
to her as a director. I look at the
on Broadway in 2003. After 372
tends to one plant more than
essence of each character and I can
performances, the show closed in
the others. Its named Audrey II
August 2004. The musical comedy usually tell if the actor can capture
after his coworker Audrey, whom
that in an audition. I also match achas racked up quite a few awards
he has a desperate crush on. The
tors up to see how they work together
including, a Drama Desk Award
plant promises Seymour fame
with each other and we do this by
for outstanding musical, the NY
and fortune. In return, he must
reading sides at a callback.
Drama Critics Circle Award
provide the plant with food. The
Dont miss our schools rendifor best musical, and the Outer
only catch is that Audrey IIs diet
tion of Little Shop of Horrors, April
Critics Circle Award. With music
consists strictly of human blood.
16-19, in the FPAC theater. With
written by the same writer of
Seymour convinces himself that
your student I.D., one ticket is $5.
Beauty and the Beast and The
if the plant becomes a big enough
success, it will impress Audrey and
lead her straight into his arms. At
first, Seymour feeds Audrey II his
own blood but the more he has,
the more his hunger grows.
The musical is based on the
low budget film The Little Shop
of Horrors, which premiered
back in the 1960s. According to
Music Theatre International, with

photo courtesy of Sam Kaslon

Shawn Munoz
By REBECCA KOLIMAGA
Staff Writer
In April 2014, two Vineland locals, Shawn Munoz,
22, and Brandon Pennington, 20, started the record label
Runaway Records. Munoz, a rap artist, writes, records,
and edits his own music. He began recording when he
was 12 at Bezels, a now-closed studio on Landis Avenue.
He now records in the studio he built in his house.
I was making music and I wasnt really taking it seriously at first, but once we started getting a good response
from it, we figured we should do something independent. Munoz said. From there, Munoz began producing
music and Pennington started designing t-shirts and
logos.
Munoz is inspired by the raw emotion of classic rock
and he hopes to portray the same amount of emotion in
his music. He uses scenarios from his life that impacted
him because most likely someone else is going through
the same thing.
His goal is to inspire and motivate underprivileged
artists by showing them, no matter what situations youre
coming from, this is possible to do. He plans on using
his record label to give the needed tools to underprivileged musicians.
Munoz has attended multiple open-mic events at
venues such as Voltage Lounge in Philadelphia. He has
received positive feedback from the audience. His first
album was featured for a week on one of the biggest music websites in the world, datpiff.com, and it got 1,200
downloads. His second album, New Religion, is receiving
more positive responses.
His DJ, Joey Diaz, creates playlists and orders the
songs for Munozs performances. Diaz, along with Pennington and Munozs mother, is among his biggest supporters. Munoz works primarily with his friends. They use
their individual talents and expertise to create the albums
and merchandise. Munozs older brother, Orlando, is his
manager and helps book performances.
From conception to completion, one song takes
Munoz four to five days to create. During this time, his
friends may give their input, but Munoz does the majority
of the editing. When asked about how he writes his lyrics,
Munoz said, All day I write down these little ideas and
at the end of the day I have a paper full of scribbled ideas
and I come home and try to make it a complete song.
Since Munoz uses events from his life as inspiration, he is
passionate about the messages he is sending.
Munoz has encountered many people who doubt
his ability to make music into a career. It was something
people kind of laughed at me for, especially rap. Munoz
has been told a music career is unrealistic and he needs a
back-up plan. Although he and his supporters are confident in his ability to succeed, he is working towards his
real estate license.
Munoz plans on releasing two music videos in the
upcoming months and a documentary in the upcoming
years. He and his collaborators are trying to capture all of
the hardships were facing and capture us succeeding.
Munozs music can be heard at therunawayrecords.com.