The Highland Stage moves into Vernon Township High School

VERNON - Under the auspices of Sussex County Community College, which is running the summer school at Vernon High, The Highland Stage is offering its second annual musical theater workshop from June 30-July 30. The move to the high school provides two advantages for the local theater company.  First, the company can stay in its "home town," and, second, it can use the high school's fine performing arts facilities, including its auditorium, music rooms, and black box theater. The musical theater workshop will run from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. One or two additional sessions will be held on Fridays. It will offer lessons in singing, acting, and dancing for the theater during the first half of each workshop day.  The second half of each day will focus on rehearsal and preparation for a Friday evening, July 30 showcase performance for parents and theater professionals.  The program is open to students from the entire region, including both Sussex County and the Warwick area.  The non-refundable registration fee is $600, payable to Sussex County Community College.  Students may register at the community education office of the college, or at the Vernon Township High School guidance office. Vocal Music instruction will be provided by musical theater professional Faith Anderson and classical tenor Jon Hartlage. Acting instruction will be provided by Heather Hamilton and, if registration warrants, Bill Donald. Dance instruction will also be provided by a theater dance professional. Hamilton, an accomplished actress, is the company's associate artistic director. The Rowan University graduate has also acted for the Fiesta Dinner Theater in Hasbrouck Heights.  She is also an acting teacher at the Phoenix School for the Arts, and a professional photographer working for Sharp Images in Stockholm. Anderson has been featured in over 250 productions of plays, musical, and revues in the New York metro area. She is currently touring schools in "The People Garden," which had a recent off-Broadway run. She has played leading roles in numerous musicals at the Fiesta Dinner Theater in Hasbrouck Heights - most recently Annie in "Annie Get Your Gun."  As a vocalist, she has fronted big bands and sung with night club groups such as Larry Chance and the Earls. Jon Hartlage has also had a prolific musical theater career, having played Michael in the two-character musical "I Do, I Do" along with many other stints. His classical vocal performances include performances with Lyric Opera in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Castillo Theater in New York.  He was a guest artist at the Caramoor International Music Festival under the direction of Maestro Will Crutchfield.  He was also featured at the Altamura Center for Arts and Culture, where he collaborated with opera legends Jerome Hines and Licia Albanese. The student showcase performance for the musical theater workshop will be a composite of musical theater scenes, songs, and related dances from a variety of musicals.  For further information, call  Hamilton at 973-764-1693.