Aspiring stars give it their all at Morristown Onstage tryouts

Dance Innovations auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Dance Innovations auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
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By Max Felsenstein

The Morris Educational Foundation has a challenging homework assignment: Choosing 16 finalists from more than 60 singers, acrobats and interpretive dancers who auditioned Saturday for the 2018 Morristown Onstage competition.

“This is going to be really tough to decide,” said event Chairperson Molly Servais.

Every year, she said, the nonprofit Foundation worries it may have tapped all the local talent, yet  “we never do, because there’s always new talent that comes out and talent that has been with us in the past that comes with a new twist, so it’s really exciting every year.”

morristown onstage 2018 logo v1The 11th annual show is scheduled for Feb. 28, 2018, once again in Morristown’s 1,300-seat Mayo Performing Arts Center.

Servais aims to top this year’s Morristown Onstage record of $126,000 raised by the Foundation for programs in the Morris School District, which serves Morristown, Morris Township and Morris Plains.

“We will absolutely raise more money than we ever have because that’s my number one goal: Be there to support our schools,” the chairperson said.

Slideshow photos by Jeff Sovelove:

Dance Innovations auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
The Gusano Family auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Tony Rosales auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
The Mau Brothers audition for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Morris Educational Foundation talent committee at auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Tess Carvela auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Mariel Mendez auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Milane auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Nick Davis auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Saiorse Neilsen auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Samantha Scott auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Seule Beaute (One Beauty) auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Side Slam auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Caitlin Wagner auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Kylee Beck auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
June Soraino auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Julieta auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Shayna Atkinson auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Haven McGuinn auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Evan Boncelet auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
CJ Ryan auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Cassy auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Alexandra Stephens auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
The Gusano Family auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Dance Innovations auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Dance Innovations (29)
The Gusano Family (10)
Wicked Youth (14)
Tony Rosales (2)
The Mau Bros (13)
The Judges
Tess Carvela (7)
Mariel Mendez (7)
Milane (4)
Nick Davis (2)
Saiorse Neilsen (6)
Samantha Scott (5)
seule beaute (One Beauty) (4)
Side Slam (27)
Caitlin Wagner (4)
Kylee Beck (8)
June Soraino (12)
Julieta (4)
James Moran and Shayna Atkinson (8)
Haven McGuinn (8)
Evan Boncelet (11)
CJ Ryan (8)
Cassy (1)
Alexandra Stephens (10)
The Gusano Family (5)
Dance Innovations (51)
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The contest is open to amateur performers who live, work or attend school in Greater Morristown, and to alumni of Morristown High School. A $1,000 prize goes to the adult winner (19 and over) and to the 18-and-under division. Also, the audience chooses its favorite act, which receives $500.

The Gusano Family auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
The Gusano Family auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove

Maria Melendez, a 21-year-old Morristown resident who attends William Paterson University, hopes her performance Saturday of If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys will land her in the show. She auditioned three years ago and felt ready to give it another try.

“I was looking to accomplish more of a sense of motivation or confidence, and it was something I really needed to release out of my system. I just had some type of hope that it would be a good idea to come back,” Melendez said.

Caitlin Wagner auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove
Caitlin Wagner auditions for 2018 Morristown Onstage contest, Dec. 16, 2017. Photo by Jeff Sovelove

If she makes the cut, and wins prize money, “I think I would possibly give it to my parents because they put a lot of time into auditions and being there for me and paying for my lessons,” she said.

A $250, Rosoff Rising Star Award also will go to an act that shows a lot of promise, said Morris Educational Foundation Executive Director Debbie Sontupe.

Morristown Onstage has raised $525,000 in its first decade. Sponsors include Morristown Medical Center and Atlantic Health and Provident Bank.

Tickets go on sale in early February.

Max Felsenstein is a writing and communications major at Drew University, Class of 2020.

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