Aspire PAC in the News
Lisa Beth Vettoso's production of NEWSIES, JR. at her Aspire Performing Arts Company was a complete triumph. The students, playing the 99% who must battle the 1%, were more than 99% effective in their roles. As Jack Kelly, the leader of the newsboys' strike, James Ignacio showed that he's a superstar-in-the-making. To say that Allison Paterno, as the reporter who helps the lads' cause, nailed her big song wouldn't remotely do it justice; let's say she riveted it and got the biggest ovation of the night. Gerald Cetrulo was perfect as Pulitzer, playing the mogul with hands-in-pocket cockiness. So were they all wonderful and wondrous. Bless Vettoso for making the production even more magnificent than the most optimistic theatergoer could have ever predicted."
--- Peter Filichia, Star-Ledger theater critic emeritus
Did you catch Aspire PAC on News12's Spotlight NJ? If not, CLICK HERE to check it out!
New Jersey Stage - 1/8/25 - "Aspire PAC presents "Sweeney Todd (High School Edition)"
Broadway World - 12/6/24 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company Will Perform BEETLEJUICE JR."
Playbill - 5/21/24 - "At This Spring Cabaret, Performers Ages 9 to 21 Become 'Family'"
New Jersey Stage - 10/3/23 - "2023 NJACT Perry Award Winners"
New Jersey Stage - 9/22/23 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company Presents Puffs"
Broadway World - 7/17/23 - "Mean Girls High School Version comes to Aspire Performing Arts Company"
Broadway World - 1/9/23 - "Aspire PAC presents The Addams Family - January 2023"
Montclair Magazine - Fall 2022 - "8 Things You Should Know about Lisa Vettoso"
Broadway World - 2/17/22 - "Aspire PAC produces Legally Blonde the Musical in Wayne"
Broadway World - 12/1/21 - "Aspire PAC to present The Drowsy Chaperone JR. this December"
Broadway World - 10/10/21 - "Aspire PAC Presents Pilot Production of Perfect Harmony"
Broadway World - 1/13/21 - "Winners Announced for the 2020 BroadwayWord New Jersey Regional Awards"
New Jersey Stage - 10/15/19 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company Presents Pilot Production Of Disney's Finding Nemo, Jr."
New Jersey Stage - 8/9/19 - "Aspire PAC receives 12 Awards and 26 Nominations from National Youth Arts
Broadway World - 7/1/19 - "Aspire PAC presents Big Fish"
Broadway World - 10/9/18 - "Aspire PAC Receives 5 Nominations From NJACT"
Broadway World - 9/10/18 - "Aspire PAC to hold auditions for Matilda JR. Pilot Production"
Broadway World - 8/19/18 - "Aspire PAC receives 9 Awards and 28 Nominations"
New Jersey Stage - 8/3/18 - "2018 NJACT/Perry Award Nominations"
Broadway World - 4/25/18 - "Aspire Performing Arts Announces Summer 2018 Auditions"
New Jersey Stage - 10/1/17 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company to presents Newsies JR."
Broadway World - 8/21/17 - "Aspire PAC receives 21 Nominations and 4 Awards"
New Jersey Stage - 8/16/17 - "44th Annual Perry Awards Honors New Jersey Community Theaters"
Broadway Junior Tumblr - 7/25/17 - Pilot Production of Mary Poppins Jr.
Broadway World - 4/5/17 - "Kerry Butler Holds Broadway Master Class with Aspire Performing Arts Company"
Broadway World - 1/4/17 - "Pilot Production of Mary Poppins Jr. Flying to New Jersey this Winter"
New Jersey Stage - 10/13/16 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company to Produce Pilot Production of Mary Poppins Jr."
The Record - 10/1/16 - "That's showbiz, kid: Rigors of auditioning, training challenge children"
Broadway World - 9/19/16 - "Aspire PAC Youth Performer Receives NJACT Perry Award Nomination"
New Jersey Footlights - 9/19/16 - "Perry Awards Nomination to Aspire Performing Arts Actress"
Broadway World - 7/11/16 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company to Present The Wedding Singer"
Broadway World - 1/25/16 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company to Offer Children of Eden Encore"
New Jersey Stage - 1/7/16 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company Present Children of Eden"
NorthJersey.com - 7/15/15 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company to stage production at the Montville Barn"
Broadway World - 12/6/24 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company Will Perform BEETLEJUICE JR."
Playbill - 5/21/24 - "At This Spring Cabaret, Performers Ages 9 to 21 Become 'Family'"
New Jersey Stage - 10/3/23 - "2023 NJACT Perry Award Winners"
New Jersey Stage - 9/22/23 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company Presents Puffs"
Broadway World - 7/17/23 - "Mean Girls High School Version comes to Aspire Performing Arts Company"
Broadway World - 1/9/23 - "Aspire PAC presents The Addams Family - January 2023"
Montclair Magazine - Fall 2022 - "8 Things You Should Know about Lisa Vettoso"
Broadway World - 2/17/22 - "Aspire PAC produces Legally Blonde the Musical in Wayne"
Broadway World - 12/1/21 - "Aspire PAC to present The Drowsy Chaperone JR. this December"
Broadway World - 10/10/21 - "Aspire PAC Presents Pilot Production of Perfect Harmony"
Broadway World - 1/13/21 - "Winners Announced for the 2020 BroadwayWord New Jersey Regional Awards"
New Jersey Stage - 10/15/19 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company Presents Pilot Production Of Disney's Finding Nemo, Jr."
New Jersey Stage - 8/9/19 - "Aspire PAC receives 12 Awards and 26 Nominations from National Youth Arts
Broadway World - 7/1/19 - "Aspire PAC presents Big Fish"
Broadway World - 10/9/18 - "Aspire PAC Receives 5 Nominations From NJACT"
Broadway World - 9/10/18 - "Aspire PAC to hold auditions for Matilda JR. Pilot Production"
Broadway World - 8/19/18 - "Aspire PAC receives 9 Awards and 28 Nominations"
New Jersey Stage - 8/3/18 - "2018 NJACT/Perry Award Nominations"
Broadway World - 4/25/18 - "Aspire Performing Arts Announces Summer 2018 Auditions"
New Jersey Stage - 10/1/17 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company to presents Newsies JR."
Broadway World - 8/21/17 - "Aspire PAC receives 21 Nominations and 4 Awards"
New Jersey Stage - 8/16/17 - "44th Annual Perry Awards Honors New Jersey Community Theaters"
Broadway Junior Tumblr - 7/25/17 - Pilot Production of Mary Poppins Jr.
Broadway World - 4/5/17 - "Kerry Butler Holds Broadway Master Class with Aspire Performing Arts Company"
Broadway World - 1/4/17 - "Pilot Production of Mary Poppins Jr. Flying to New Jersey this Winter"
New Jersey Stage - 10/13/16 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company to Produce Pilot Production of Mary Poppins Jr."
The Record - 10/1/16 - "That's showbiz, kid: Rigors of auditioning, training challenge children"
Broadway World - 9/19/16 - "Aspire PAC Youth Performer Receives NJACT Perry Award Nomination"
New Jersey Footlights - 9/19/16 - "Perry Awards Nomination to Aspire Performing Arts Actress"
Broadway World - 7/11/16 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company to Present The Wedding Singer"
Broadway World - 1/25/16 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company to Offer Children of Eden Encore"
New Jersey Stage - 1/7/16 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company Present Children of Eden"
NorthJersey.com - 7/15/15 - "Aspire Performing Arts Company to stage production at the Montville Barn"