By Kristen Weber, AAP Correspondent

On April 7, members of Pennsauken High School’s vocal music and musical theatre departments participated in the fifth annual trip to Broadway. In this whirlwind day, the choirs performed at St. Paul’s the Apostle church in a concert for the public. Singing in the second largest church in Manhattan was a wonderful challenge with the incredible acoustics; and the performance featured three soloists from the Double Dozen.

Directly from the concert, the students went to Ripley Grier Studios for a private workshop with Andrew Drost, a five-year cast member from “Phantom of the Opera,” and founder of the Institute for American Musical Theatre. Three more students had the opportunity to perform for Mr. Drost and receive critique, as well as another performance by the combined choirs.

Following lunch, PHS students returned to the studios for an improvisational acting workshop with actress Thia Stephens, culminating with a question and answer period about studying musical theatre in college, living in New York City, and the variety of opportunities within acting. The group was then led on a brief tour of Central Park and down Fifth Ave. to the Drama Bookstore, a treasure trove of plays, musicals, and books on acting, directing, and designing theatre. The day was topped off with dinner and a performance of “Phantom of the Opera,” Broadway’s longest running musical, and a post-show talk back with members of the cast and crew.