NJCU Music, Dance, and Theatre Alums Collaborate on Off-Broadway Production
JERSEY CITY, N.J. | The work of several New Jersey City University (NJCU) alumni from the Music, Dance, and Theatre Department were recently on display in a new Off-Broadway production entitled “Allerleirauh” which debuted this March at the Alvin Ailey Theater in Midtown.
The musical was co-written by Angela (Iannacone) Masi ’14 (M.M. in Music Performance: Classical Voice) and Dillon Feldman ’16 (B.A. in Music) over the last three years. The show included the work of several alumni, including Shari Gill ‘15 and Zoila Pinto ‘13 on stage, Catriona Rubenis-Stevens ’17 (B.A. in Music - Music Theatre and Minor in Media Arts) as director and Natasha Gonzales ‘15 (B.A. in Music) as music director.
“Allerleirauh” is a take on a Grimm fairytale revolving around a single mother and her blind daughter, each trying to overcome grief and realize her own strength. The show deals with managing anxiety, risking failure to find success, and the power of a supportive community.
Learn more about the musical on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allerleirauh_the_musical/
About the NJCU Alumni:
Zoila Pinto ‘13
Pinto (The Lady/Laundress) has previous theater credits that include Lancelot in "Camelot" with Bookworm Theatrics, Alaura Kingsley/Carla Haywood in "City of Angels", Baker's Wife in "Into the Woods" and Hope Harcourt in "Anything Goes" at NJCU.
Shari Gill ‘15
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Shari Gill has been singing and performing for
as long as she can remember. She has completed two gospel tours in France for their festival “Mostly Gospel,” one as a solo artist, the other in a group. She is a regular soloist at Riverside Church for their “Inspirational Choir,” and “Middle Collegiate Church Gospel Choir”. She has been a backup singer for Tituss Burgess, Macy Gray, and The Dough Boys.
Among her show credits include Officer Barrel/Miss Pennywise in “Urinetown”, Ronette in “Little Shop of Horrors”, Gary Coleman in” Avenue Q”, BJ in “Smokey Joe’s Cafe”, Mama Noah in “Children of Eden”, Motormouth Maybelle in “Hairspray”, Maria in “Porgy & Bess” (the musical/concert version), Dionne in “Hair”, and Ismene in "The Gospel At Colonus.”
Dillon Feldman ’16 (composer)
Dillon's original musical, “Siren”, held a 29-hour reading in New York, N.Y. in April 2022. His music has been performed in concert at Green Room 42 and 54 Below.
Angela (Iannacone) Masi ’14 (writer/actor/producer)
Masi is an actor, director and producer whose work has been seen up and down the East Coast. Allerleirauh marks her debut as a playwright. She is delighted and humbled to be working with many of her colleagues from her years at NJCU in this new endeavor. Directing credits include “A Man of No Importance” (Off-Broadway), “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare” (Abridged) [Revised] (tour), and “Camelot” (Springville Center for the Arts Resident Director). Acting credits include Maria in “The Sound of Music”, Eve in “Children of Eden” and Sally in “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”.
About NJCU:
New Jersey City University is an institution of higher learning dedicated to the development of our students, our city, our communities, and our state. We are a game-changing force for our students and have been recognized as one of the top colleges in the nation improving their upward economic mobility. Whether enrolled in one of our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs at our three locations, NJCU students have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.
Contact:
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications (interim) | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301