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company to address a “ lack of true diversity intheater ” — incasting , training , producing , creative teams and audiences .
Over the last two years , the company has been putting its principles into practice with productions of Rent , Spitfire Grill , Next to Normal and APortrait of Ray , about Ray Charles and written by Freeman Clark and her husband .
In Next to Normal , for instance , the lead was played by aBlack actor , opening up aconversation about mental health issues specific to the Black community . Community partners such as Integrated Care Concepts spoke to audiences on the topic and about how to get help . For Rent , Vanguard partnered with Out Montclair and the AIDS-advocacy nonprofit Hyacinth to discuss issues around HIV / AIDs and marginalized communities .“ Colorconscious casting can really change the narrative ,” Freeman Clark says .
ACCESS TO THE ARTS
Also central to Vanguard ’ smission is education , says Freeman Clark , who teaches musical theater at the Manhattan School of Music , isaprofessor of theater at Seton Hall and f ormerly directed youth in NJPAC ’ s musical theater program . At athreeweek summer stock sleepaway camp in West Milford , kids produce shows and one-act-play festivals and attend workshops on singing , dancing and acting with the guidance of Broadway actors .
The price is afraction of what other theater camps cost , and Vanguard gives out more than $ 50,000 in financial aid , Freeman Clark says .“ We strongly believe in access to aquality arts education regardless of zip code or what the family ’ sfinancial situation is ,” she says .“ When you bring people of different backgrounds together who have ashared love of theater , the stereotypes and barriers come down .”
Other youth programs at the theater such at VTC Kids and VTC Next have those as young as three working with mentors on all aspects of theater , from writing to costume design to choreography to music ; Broadway veterans and older kids are mentors . Arecent performance of Alice ’ sRock and Roll Adventure featured aband completely comprised of musicians under age 14 .
BRINGING BROADWAY TO MONTCLAIR ( Shows mounted by Vanguard Theater include ( from top ) Rent , The Spitfire Grill , and Bring It On . The company ’ s stated mission is “ to challenge social and cultural narratives through theater dedicated to DREAM : Diversity , Reciprocity , Education , Activism and Mentorship .”
COURTESY OF SPOTLIGHTS PHOTOGRAPHY
30 MAY 2023 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE