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DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER: Steven Arrigoitia
Assistant Director(Fall Play): Maria Maloupis
ORCHESTRA /MUSIC DIRECTOR: Connor Coffey
VOCAL DIRECTOR: Brian Lang
In its 13th year, the Lyndhurst Middle School Musical has become a town-wide tradition. All students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades are eligible to participate. Audition dates will be announced, with the production being mounted in early May.
Mr. Arrigoitia has directed and choreographed Fiddler on the Roof, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Smile, Annie, The Drowsy Chaperone (nominated for Outstanding Direction, National Youth Arts Theatre Awards), Anything Goes, and Once Upon A Mattress. In addition to teaching Language Arts and directing, Mr. "A" is a former professional ballroom dancer and an avid Shakespeare fan. He has staged numerous class productions of Shakespeare and is currently working on two adaptations to bring to the stage. Mr. Arrigoitia is a professional member of the Educational Theater Association, Musical Theatre Educators' Alliance, New Jersey Speech and Theatre Association, and serves as an adjudicator/evaluator for the Paper Mill Playhouse: Rising Star Awards.
Mrs. Maloupis graduated from Montclair State University with a Bachelor’s in English. She joined the Lyndhurst Middle School’s theater program in 2021 as assistant director of LMS’ first fall play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (in Lyndhurst). Mrs. Maloupis’ favorite playwright is Shakespeare, and her favorite musical is The Sound of Music. She is excited to continue working in future LMS productions.
Mr. Coffey is a graduate of Kean University, having earned a Bachelors of Music Education. Outside of teaching, he has an active career as a performer on the trombone, having played in pit orchestras for musicals since 2009. In Lyndhurst, Mr. Coffey directs the Lyndhurst Middle School Band and Jazz Band and also teaches in the Lyndhurst Summer Music Program. He is also the Assistant Director of the Lyndhurst High School Band and co-advisor for "LHS Ultimate," Lyndhurst High School's ultimate frisbee club. He is excited to be working with the pit orchestra for the Lyndhurst Middle School Production. Mr. Coffey is a graduate of Kean University, having earned a Bachelors of Music Education. Outside of teaching, he has an active career as a performer on the trombone, having played in pit orchestras for musicals since 2009. In Lyndhurst, Mr. Coffey directs the Lyndhurst Middle School Band and Jazz Band and also teaches in the Lyndhurst Summer Music Program. He is also the Assistant Director of the Lyndhurst High School Band and co-advisor for "LHS Ultimate," Lyndhurst High School's ultimate frisbee club. He is excited to be working with the pit orchestra for the Lyndhurst Middle School Production.
Mr. Lang is thrilled to be on the Lyndhurst musical team! In spring of 2015, he graduated from the College of New Jersey with a degree in Music Education. Mr. Lang has years of experience both directing and performing in musical productions. In his hometown of Madison, New Jersey, he has had the opportunity to music direct productions of Seussical Jr., Showstoppers: A Night of Broadway’s Most Memorable Moments, Into the Woods Jr., and Once on This Island. His favorite musical theatre composer is Stephen Sondheim. “Someone is on your side; no one is alone!”~ Stephen Sondheim, Into the Woods.
Mr. Arrigoitia would like to thank other Lyndhurst educators who have helped establish a wonderful groundwork for this artistic endeavor. Special thanks goes to Mr. Blake Spence, whose influence is invaluable, Mrs. Ellis, Mrs. Egbert, and Mr. Joseph DeCorso.
DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER: Steven Arrigoitia
Assistant Director(Fall Play): Maria Maloupis
ORCHESTRA /MUSIC DIRECTOR: Connor Coffey
VOCAL DIRECTOR: Brian Lang
In its 13th year, the Lyndhurst Middle School Musical has become a town-wide tradition. All students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades are eligible to participate. Audition dates will be announced, with the production being mounted in early May.
Mr. Arrigoitia has directed and choreographed Fiddler on the Roof, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Smile, Annie, The Drowsy Chaperone (nominated for Outstanding Direction, National Youth Arts Theatre Awards), Anything Goes, and Once Upon A Mattress. In addition to teaching Language Arts and directing, Mr. "A" is a former professional ballroom dancer and an avid Shakespeare fan. He has staged numerous class productions of Shakespeare and is currently working on two adaptations to bring to the stage. Mr. Arrigoitia is a professional member of the Educational Theater Association, Musical Theatre Educators' Alliance, New Jersey Speech and Theatre Association, and serves as an adjudicator/evaluator for the Paper Mill Playhouse: Rising Star Awards.
Mrs. Maloupis graduated from Montclair State University with a Bachelor’s in English. She joined the Lyndhurst Middle School’s theater program in 2021 as assistant director of LMS’ first fall play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (in Lyndhurst). Mrs. Maloupis’ favorite playwright is Shakespeare, and her favorite musical is The Sound of Music. She is excited to continue working in future LMS productions.
Mr. Coffey is a graduate of Kean University, having earned a Bachelors of Music Education. Outside of teaching, he has an active career as a performer on the trombone, having played in pit orchestras for musicals since 2009. In Lyndhurst, Mr. Coffey directs the Lyndhurst Middle School Band and Jazz Band and also teaches in the Lyndhurst Summer Music Program. He is also the Assistant Director of the Lyndhurst High School Band and co-advisor for "LHS Ultimate," Lyndhurst High School's ultimate frisbee club. He is excited to be working with the pit orchestra for the Lyndhurst Middle School Production. Mr. Coffey is a graduate of Kean University, having earned a Bachelors of Music Education. Outside of teaching, he has an active career as a performer on the trombone, having played in pit orchestras for musicals since 2009. In Lyndhurst, Mr. Coffey directs the Lyndhurst Middle School Band and Jazz Band and also teaches in the Lyndhurst Summer Music Program. He is also the Assistant Director of the Lyndhurst High School Band and co-advisor for "LHS Ultimate," Lyndhurst High School's ultimate frisbee club. He is excited to be working with the pit orchestra for the Lyndhurst Middle School Production.
Mr. Lang is thrilled to be on the Lyndhurst musical team! In spring of 2015, he graduated from the College of New Jersey with a degree in Music Education. Mr. Lang has years of experience both directing and performing in musical productions. In his hometown of Madison, New Jersey, he has had the opportunity to music direct productions of Seussical Jr., Showstoppers: A Night of Broadway’s Most Memorable Moments, Into the Woods Jr., and Once on This Island. His favorite musical theatre composer is Stephen Sondheim. “Someone is on your side; no one is alone!”~ Stephen Sondheim, Into the Woods.
Mr. Arrigoitia would like to thank other Lyndhurst educators who have helped establish a wonderful groundwork for this artistic endeavor. Special thanks goes to Mr. Blake Spence, whose influence is invaluable, Mrs. Ellis, Mrs. Egbert, and Mr. Joseph DeCorso.