FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Erika Pranzo, an eighth-grader at the Barkalow Middle School, performed at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, New York City, on Jan. 20 as part of the third annual Winter Invitational, presented by theAmericanAlliance of Performing Arts Education.
According to a press release, theWinter Invitational consisted of 15 studios from across the country that received direct invitations based on prior proven performance ability.
Studios from states as far away as Mississippi attended. Erika performed in a ballet/ rock production number as part of the Performing Arts Ensemble, Red Bank, under the direction of Evelyn Gardell.
The PerformingArts Ensemble is a nonprofit dance company which is part of the Monmouth County Arts Council.
In addition to the Lincoln Center performance, the Performing Arts Ensemble recently completed an eight-show tour of “TheNutcracker” inwhich Erika performed the lead role of Clara.
The ensemble is looking forward to its spring production of “Alice in Wonderland” at the Strand Theater, Lakewood, on April 20.
Erika has been a member of the Performing Arts Ensemble for six years and has performed at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, Florida; Hershey Park, Pennsylvania; Tribecca Performing Arts Center, New York; and Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey.
For more information about the Performing Arts Ensemble or auditions for “Alice in Wonderland,” contact Evelyn Gardell at (732) 671-9655.