CENTER STAGE: Thomas rehearses singing her solo in “Children of the Wind” from the Stephen Schwartz musical Rags.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE MOMENT
YOU WERE SELECTED FOR THE PAPER
MILL PLAYHOUSE CONSERVATORY
PROGRAM? I was coming from a long
day of school, frustrated about
whichever test I had. I saw this pack-
et from the Paper Mill Playhouse with
my name on it. I opened it and saw
“Congratulations!” I automatically
threw it down and started screaming.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR
PERFORMANCE IN “NEW VOICES”?
There were three sections in the
senior company [for ages 15-18]:
“We the People,” “Home of the
Brave” and “Created Equal.” I was
in “We the people.” The show was
meant to show the progression of the
immigrants in America. It’s about
how America evolved, how people
were getting jobs and things were
starting to grow. I also played the
guitar to accompany my colleagues
Jadon Lopez and Jason Myers as
they sang “Un Mejor Via Dendra.”
I was so honored to be working
with a hardworking cast.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM ACTRESS
KENITA MILLER, WHO PLAYED MAMA
EURALIE IN ONCE ON THIS ISLAND AT
THE SOUTH ORANGE PERFORMING
ARTS CENTER IN APRIL AS PART OF
THE BROADWAY BUDDY MENTORSHIP
PROGRAM? [The program, which is
run by the Vanguard Theater
Company, pairs young, aspiring
Broadway performers with veteran
Broadway actors who mentor them.]
It was amazing. First, I would like to
say “thank you” to the Vanguard
Theater Company for letting me have
the opportunity to work with Kenita.
The first time I met her was at
the Circle in the Square Theater
on Broadway. She gave us a back-
stage tour where I met other
Broadway actors. Then we went out
to dinner. She taught me about bal-
ancing your family life, your relation-
ships and musical theater all at once.
HOW HAVE YOUR TEACHERS PREPARED
YOU FOR FUTURE ROLES? High school
has taught me a lot about profession-
alism and putting in rehearsal
time. Whitney Zeppetelli [a private
voice coach] has been with me for six
years, and she’s been amazing.
Janeece Freeman Clark [director for
Young Artist Summer Intensive at
NJPAC] and Daryl Stewart [director
for Young Artist Summer Intensive at
NJPAC], both from the Vanguard
Theater Company, have really pre-
pared me for the professional musical
theater world. My professors and
peers at Paper Mill Playhouse also
shaped me to become a more profes-
sional performer.
WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED
IN AT WAYNE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL?
Our marching band had a show this
past season called “The Haunt,” and
I had a little operatic solo to start the
show off. I’m in the chamber choir,
and we perform at teachers’ retire-
ments, Christmas tree lighting cere-
monies, high school concerts and
other events. I organized a group of
students from my high school to
participate in a Vanguard Theater
Company event called “Sing For Our
Lives,” which was a benefit concert
in Montclair to raise awareness
about gun violence.
YOUR YOUNGEST SISTER, ABBY,
WILL BE JOINING YOU AND YOUR
OLDEST SISTER, ISABELLE, IN THE
MARCHING BAND. HOW DOES
THAT MAKE YOU FEEL? It’s definitely
awesome to be in the same school
and be involved in the marching band
together. We are all exploring differ-
ent areas within the arts. Isabelle is
interested in becoming a professional
musician, and is the front ensem-
ble section leader of the marching
band. Abby is a freshman, and is
more of a creative writer. She will
be playing the clarinet, so we’ll be
in the same section.
YOU SEEM TO BE A VERY ACCOM-
PLISHED, AMBITIOUS TEENAGER.
WHAT OR WHO MOTIVATES YOU?
I’m motivated by the final goal of
being professional in the industry. All
my teachers and my mom motivate
me, too. My mom is a big motivator;
she helps get everything together. She
takes me to auditions, drives me to
New York City, helps me get head
shots, and selects songs and outfits.
WHAT ARE YOUR IMMEDIATE
PLANS FOR THE FALL?
It’ll be marching band season, and
I’ll be preparing for college auditions
and seeing what comes next. ■
MWAYNE MAGAZINE FALL 2018
27