Montgomery youth join to create performing arts group

"Performance Friday" events at Mary Jacobs Library target middle school-aged kids

By: Jake Uitti
   MONTGOMERY — Local performing artists have joined together to form the New Jersey Performing Arts Youth, a youth-led initiative that organizes events, networks, shares resources and connects young performing artists with each other.
   "The group is just getting off the ground," said Bob Witanek, whose son, Robert, a seventh-grader in the district’s Upper Middle School, is a co-founder. "Over the summer there were some parties and events that had elements of fun and elements of musical performances, and out of that came this group."
   Mr. Witanek stressed, however, that his involvement is only as a parent adviser.
   Robert, 13, who plays piano, violin and guitar, said he helped start the group to "get people together for fun and for people to share their talent, knowledge, ideas and information."
   The group has grown out of performers from the Montgomery Middle School chorus, orchestra, bands and other art groups. Its members, Robert said, hope to augment the school-sponsored activities with additional performance opportunities.
   To that end, the group has set up monthly "Performance Friday" events at the Mary Jacobs Library, located on Washington Street in Rocky Hill. These performances are targeted to middle school-aged children — though, Robert said, other students older or younger will not be turned away if there are open spots. The group is also not exclusive to Montgomery residents.
   The first performance is slated for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15. It will feature "informal talent performances" by local youth performers, introductory remarks about the new group and a brief discussion to share ideas about the types of activities the group can coordinate, Robert said.
   "I’d like to encourage people to come to our first event," he added.
   Performances for the Friday events can include music, poetry, comedy and other forms of performance art, Robert added. Prospective performers should register their intention to participate in advance by calling (908) 881-5275 or by e-mailing Robert at [email protected].
   The three subsequent Performance Friday events will take place Oct. 20, Nov. 17 and Dec. 15. The October event will also feature a performance with a mysterious and scary tone in the spirit of the Halloween holiday, Mr. Witanek said.
   "We’re trying to develop a social component to the performances," Mr. Witanek added.
   Nov. 17 will likely feature a film presentation, and the December activity has yet to be determined.
   The Performance Friday events are open to the public free of charge and light refreshments will be served.
   In addition to the Friday events, a group trip is being planned to see "Dracula, The Musical" at the Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor. A block of seats will be obtained for a group of young performance artists to sit together in the audience at the 8 p.m. Oct. 28 performance. Seats will be $10 for youth and $16 for adults.
   The group also hopes to provide opportunities for local performers to raise awareness, raise spirits and raise funds for relief efforts by performing for important causes.
   "The idea would be that once we get the group off the ground, we could reach out to seniors and the disabled and see who would want to have young performers come in and put on some shows," Mr. Witanek said, adding that the group would also try to fundraise for charity in the future.
   Robert said that he hopes "other organizations will look to us as partners and share information with us" in the future.
   For more information about the Performance Friday events, to arrange to perform at one of them or to arrange to join the young performing artists at the Oct. 28 Dracula show, call (908) 881-5275 or e-mail [email protected]. For more information about the organization, visit http://NJPerformingArtsYouth.org.