Green River actors are heading to Broadway

Two Green River High School students are trying to raise money to get to Broadway for the experience of a lifetime.

Both sophomore Jaron Shereda and freshman Timmy Golightly have been accepted to the Open Jar Acting Institute out of New York City. They will join 58 others students from across the country who were accepted into the nationwide program.

According to the website http://www.openjarinstitute.com, Broadway professionals will teach five days of high intensity workshops in acting, singing dancing and audition techniques.

The website states, "Under the direction of Broadway Associate Director/Choreographer, Jeff Whiting, all students have the chance to work one on one with some of Broadway's best teaching artists. These include current Broadway actors, voice and performance coaches, acting teachers, choreographers, agents and casting directors."

Shereda started his acting career when he was in the third grade when his teacher Monica Waterhouse got him into music and encouraged him to try out for the musical "The King and I."

Shereda landed the part of Louis Leonowens and executed it well.

"I had one of the leading roles," he recalled.

This experience left an impression on Shereda and he continued to participate in as many musicals as he could.

"I've been doing every high-school musical," Shereda said. "I've also done summer musicals with the Board of Cooperative Educational Services."

Some of the more recent shows he participated in include, "Bright Star," "Willy Wonka," "The Crucible," "Tarzan," "Shrek, the Musical," "The Sound of Music," "Grease" and "Beauty and the Beast."

When Shereda isn't busy performing, he's in the GRHS choir. He was in the All-Northwest Regional Choir in 2018, which took place in Portland, Ore., and he was named All-State for choir in Wyoming.

"I like the theater part more, but the singing part is fun too," he said.

As for Golightly, he's been in several musicals also.

Golightly said his acting career started when he auditioned for a third through sixth grade part for "The Sound of Music."

"It was really fun," Golightly said.

After being successful in that musical, Golightly auditioned for even more roles. He has been in several musicals, including "James and the Giant Peach," where he played James, "The Crucible," where he played Rev. Hale, and his most recent performance was in "Into the Woods," where he played Jack.

Out of all the characters Golightly has played, he liked his more recent role of Jack the best.

"It's a role that pushed me because it's more mature," he said.

As for the trip to Broadway, it's something both actors are excited to attend, but also surprised to have been accepted.

"I really wasn't expecting to get it," Golightly said. "I didn't put my resume in at first."

He said when he received an email letting him know he was one of 60 chosen to attend this intensive program, it was hard for him to believe.

"When I got the email I didn't really think it was real," Golightly said.

He asked other actors at GRHS about the email and the confirmed that is was in fact real and he had been accepted.

When he realized it was real ,Golightly said, "Wow. This is really cool."

Shereda said this is a great opportunity for both of them because they will work with casting agents, who will keep their resumes on file and call them if there is something they think they would be perfect for. Both are excited about the trip and the adventure that awaits them.