PVST ALUMNI
PVST continues to be extremely proud of all of the outstanding performers who graduate out of the program. Some students went on to continue their careers in performing arts.
Our students have gone on to acting, musical theatre, and dance programs across the country including:
Baldwin Wallace, Boston Conservatory, Broadway Dance Center, CAP21, Farleigh Dickinson, The Hartt School, Marymount Manhattan, Montclair State, Muhlenberg, North Carolina School of the Arts, Northwestern, Pace, Point Park, Rider, Rowan, Rutgers, Tisch at NYU, Wagner, and many more!
These PVST Alumni are currently working professionally in the theater and film.
JESS LEPROTTO
Hello Dolly!, Broadway
Cats, Broadway
On the Town, Broadway
Newsies, Broadway
Bye, Bye, Birdie, Broadway
Grinch, Broadway
PVST 2007, Tommy
PVST 2008, Rent
PVST 2010, South Pacific
PVST 2016, Footloose Choreographer
Jess began his Passaic Valley Summer Theater experience as an incoming freshman in the PVST production of The Who’s Tommy (2007) as young Tommy. Although Jess began his professional career at the age of nine, Passaic Valley Theater nurtured his passion for the stage. Other PVST credits includeRent (2008) and South Pacific (Lt. Cable, 2010). Jess is grateful for having the good fortune to learn from so many great teachers and mentors such as Jeff Budd, Jenn Shue, Ray Frasche, Mike DeLuccia who generously shared their time and talent and inspired Jess to reach for the stars. In addition to performing for PV Theater, Jess has had the opportunity to perform in the Broadway productions of The Boy From Oz, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Bye Bye Birdie Newsies, On the Town and Cats. Jess also attends Pace University in Manhattan and is pursuing a BFA in musical theater.
MIKE LISCIO
PVST 2004, Les Miserables
PVST 2012, Avenue Q, Directorr
Avenue Q, Off Broadway
Pokemon
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Michael is a proud Passaic Valley Summer Theater Alumni, finishing with his last show, Les Miserables, in 2004. This is where Michael both discovered and fell in love with the performing arts. As a mostly ’non-theater’ person up until his senior year of high school, Michael auditioned for the fall play in 2003, which led him to discovering his passion for performing. Jeff Budd was like a mentor to Michael, and feels blessed to have met Jeff when he did. Michael graduated from Montclair State University in 2009 with a BFA in Theater, concentration in Acting, and was cast in the International tour of Avenue Q shortly after, where he played Nicky/Trekkie/Blue Bear for almost 2 years, and was then cast in the current Off-Broadway production of Avenue Q, where he is today! Michael could also be heard as the voice of Clemont in Pokemon the series: XY. Aside from his current creative prospects, Michael had the honor of returning to PVST in 2012 to direct the high school version of Avenue Q! For more information about Michael, visit www.MichaelLiscioJr.com!
PVST 2009, Miss Saigon
Spring Awakening, Broadway
Million Dollar Quartet, Paper Mill
ALEX BONIELLO
Alex is very grateful for his experience with Passaic Valley Summer Theater. While only appearing in one show with PVST as an outgoing Senior in High School (Miss Saigon in 2009), it taught Alex how to work together with like-minded and equally passionate artists in a professional environment. The experience opened the door to a true understanding of the theatre, introduced him to friends he still has today, and lead to him meeting with the Manager that still represents him. Following his involvement with PVST, Alex went on to attend and graduate from Wagner College with a major in Theatre Performance. During this time Alex started his professional career. His credits include appearing in a lead role in the film Contest, appearing in the film Detachment alongside Academy Award Winner Adrian Brody, hosting a Nintendo DS television special on Cartoon Network, the television pilot Welcome to Greenpoint, Nickelodeon's Alien Dawn, and many Voice Overs and Print Ads. He recently spent a year with the international tour of Green Day's American Idiot as the Rock N' Roll Boyfriend, and covering the roles of Johnny and St. Jimmy. Most recently, he appeared in the World Premiere cast of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Michael Mayer's musical 21 Chump Street, alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda and Lindsay Mendez. For more information on Alex, please visit www.AlexBoniello.com.
After closing "Sweeney" with PVST, Joshua went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Judith Blazer’s 2005/2007 company of the Artist’s Crossing. Joshua has performed at theatre's across the country including Woolly Mammoth Theatre Co., Folger Theatre, Rep Stage, Olney Theatre and the Shakespeare Theatre Company. Most recently he appeared in Arena Stage’s production of Fiddler on the Roof, Signature Theatre’s production of Soon and is currently in the Broadway production of Les Miserables. He is also attached to a new musical (A House of Glass) about Tennessee Williams in which Joshua will be playing the prolific writer. Joshua was the founding Artistic Director of No Rules Theatre Company which he ran for 6 years in Washington, DC and sits on the board of the Artists Crossing in NY, NY.
PVST 2005, Sweeney Todd
Les Miserables, Broadway
JOSHUA MORGAN
PVST 2008, Rent
PVST 2009, Miss Saigon
PVST 2010, South Pacific
Orange is the New Black
Girls
Sharknado 2
Carrie Diaries
MELANIE HINKLE
Melanie is a proud Passaic Valley Theatre Alum, credits including Miss Saigon, South Pacific, and behind the scenes on Rent. Since graduating from PV, Mel has appeared on TV and film with credits including: Kate in ADAM (feature film, director Rhys Ernst) adapted from Ariel Schrag’s novel of the same name; Young Big Boo on Orange Is The New Black (Netflix); Difficult People (Hulu); and Girls (HBO), among others. Behind the scenes, Melanie works at Shirley Grant Management where she started a division called Spectrum that specializes in transgender and gender non-conforming / LGBTQ talent.
PVST 2009, Miss Saigon
Miss Saigon, Broadway
Bullets Over Broadway, Broadway
Disaster, Broadway
Hail, Ceasar, Broadway
CASEY GARVIN
BIO COMING SOON
MATT WIERCINSKI
Anastasia, Broadway
West Side Story, Tour
Newsies, Regional
Anything Goes, Regional
Seven Brides for Seven Bothers, Regional
Danger Games, Nickelodeon
PVST 2013, Les Miserables, Crew
PVST 2011, Jekyll & Hyde
"PVST was was one of the first theater programs I auditioned for. Getting to work with fellow students from different areas really made the experience better. Meeting so many people who share the same passion is so awesome. Being able to support each other and see growth was inspiring. Even now I still keep connections with people I have met through the program, when auditioning and training. The knowledge I have learned, on and off stage, throughout the program has continued to follow me into my professional career. My time during PVST helped to shape my future."
BRITTANY RAPPISE
PVST 2002, Jesus Christ SuperStar
PVST 2003, Chess
PVST 2004, Les Miserables
PVST 2005, Sweeney Todd
"Brittany V.A. Rappise is currently a freelance Wig & Make-Up Designer specializing in Opera, Theater, and Film. Brittany is a proud PVHS graduate of the class of 2006, and received her BA in Theater from The University of West Florida concentrating in Musical Theater. After graduating from UWF in 2010, Brittany received her MFA from The University of North Carolina School of The Arts in Wig & Makeup Design. Over the last few years, she has had the privilege to design for Sarasota Opera, Opera Delaware, Pensacola Opera, Brevard Music Center, Amarillo Opera, St. Petersburg Opera, Charleston Stage, Ogunquit Playhouse, Tulane Summer Lyric, Opera Project Columbus, and Flat Rock Playhouse. She has also had the opportunity to teach workshops and build custom wigs for world renowned entertainment companies including Disney, Busch Gardens, NBC, and Cirque Du Soleil. This summer, Brittany will be making her New York City Opera debut, designing wigs & make-up for the world premier of Stonewall, a new work based on the 1969 Stonewall riots in Greenwich Village. Brittany owns her own business, The Makeup Wigstress, which is based out of Pensacola, Fl, where she offers design services, wig rentals, custom wig building, SFX makeup fabrication, as well as hair styling and makeup application for theater, film, and editorial needs. She also loves to give back by building custom wigs and hairpieces for people who experience hair loss from medical conditions like alopecia and chemotherapy treatments. More information about Brittany can be found on her website: www.BrittanyRappise.com
Rebecca Monk Lapinski
PVST 2010, South Pacific
Rebecca Monk graduated PV in 2012 where she was involved in every type of music and theatre program she could get her hands on. Without PV, she would not be the person or performer she is today. Some of her favorite rolls at PV were Brooke in “Noises Off”, Philia in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and Audrey in “Little Shop of Horrors”. After PV, Rebecca went on to Montclair State University where she received her BFA in Musical Theatre. Since then, she has performed in theaters all over the country and Off Broadway. Some of her favorite productions include Alice in “Bright Star” at 4th Wall Theatre, Mother in “Ragtime”, “Once the Musical” and “Always, Patsy Cline” at Midtown Arts Center, Elizabeth in the Off Broadway Production of “Frankenstein the Musical”, the touring production of “A Christmas Carol the Musical”, and many more.
Rebecca also owns Noteworthy Academy of Music with her husband Pat (also a PV alumni!) where she teaches voice and piano when she is not performing. Make sure to follow her on Instagram @rebeccamonk254 for upcoming performances and find Noteworthy on Facebook and Instagram @noteworthyacacemyofmusic.
Giuliana Carr
PVST 2012, Avenue Q
PVST 2013, Les Miserables
PVST 2014, Sweeney Todd
Giuliana is so grateful for her time learning and performing on the PV Stage. She learned so much from Caren Atamian, Jeff Budd, Mike DeLuccia, Ray Frasche, and Jenn Shue during her time at PV, and wouldn’t be half the performer she is if it wasn’t for their support and guidance. Favorite PV credits include Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Madame Thernardier in Les Mis, Kate in All My Sons, and The Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone. Since she graduated from PV in 2014, Giuliana received her BFA in Acting from Montclair State University and continues to perform professionally in theater and film all over the country. She recently played King Richard in Luna Stage’s 4-actor production of Richard II. Other favorite credits include the title role in the world premiere of Jenny Lyn Bader’s Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library, Drinking Habits (Pioneer Playhouse), The Tempest (Hudson Shakes), among others. She can also be seen in multiple films making their film festival rounds. giulianacarr.com