How InZane Productions Was Born

Well over a decade ago, Mrs. Zane’s students expressed a desire to have an opportunity to participate in somewhat modified versions of popular Broadway musicals rather than continue the practice of performing solo selections at recitals attended by their family members and friends.

The concept proved to be quite popular and became a

mainstay in her teaching methodology.

The musicals continue to be selected on the basis of having the most number of male/female roles so that ALL of the students can perform in them with each having at least one solo and several chorus numbers.

Thus, InZane Productions, Inc. (CH2143100), a Non-profit Children’s Theatre Troupe, an innovative and exciting blend of voice and acting lessons, coupled with musical stage productions, was born.

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Staging takes place in a variety of County venues with scenery, costumes, lighting, wireless microphones and sound reinforcement.

Students learn how to become team players during rehearsals and the production.

As part of their learning experiences Mrs. Zane gives them the opportunity to serve as student directors, choreographers, musical conductors, stage managers, props and wardrobe mistresses.

Their self-confidence and self-esteem improve as they experience success in their various theatrical skills.

Creativity is encouraged and the children learn how to also provide

positive and constructive feedback to peers during rehearsal and production critiques.

Rather than attempting to give near-flawless performances

with the resulting stresses a young cast would have to endure to achieve that objective,

INZANE PRODUCTIONS FOCUSSES ON AND EMPHASIZES SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING.

It should be stressed once again that in InZane there are no “Favorites” and there are no “Divas” as one so often finds in school productions,

replete with “Stage mothers” competing with each other for

leading roles for their son or daughter.

Meet the Founders

Laurie Zane Wieder, co-founder of InZane Productions, studied music and theatre at Cortland State College in New York and performed professionally in several New York City bistros. She has been a music teacher in the Hunterdon County area for the past twenty years and authored a book, Notes That Tickled Me describing many of her humorous experiences as an “itinerant” music teacher and her enjoyment in teaching music to students of all ages. Many of the children she teaches voice, acting, and piano to are either quite young (ages 5-7) or have not enjoyed past experiences with previous teachers. Some are children with special needs. Mrs. Zane encourages her students to select musical pieces they are familiar with or interested in learning to play, a practice that has resulted in high levels of student motivation and enjoyment.

She was selected to play Eleanor Roosevelt in a Broadway Workshop musical presentation entitled, “A Capitol Christmas” directed by Thomas P. Carr, based on a Damon Runyon short story, “Pocket Full of Miracles”. Mrs. Zane makes it a practice to assist other local theatre groups with her knowledge of costuming and musical theatre when called upon to do so as well as providing pre-professional stage and television tryout coaching for adults and children. Laurie has recently joined the Clockwork Learning Center in Glen Gardner and will be teaching Spanish to 3, 4, and 5 year olds there.

Ron Wieder, co-founder of InZane and its first president brings decades of theatre experience to the troupe. As one of a select group of college students picked by the White House as this nation’s first cultural exchange after WWII, Ron was responsible for the lighting and scenery of three plays by Strindberg, Ibsen, and Dubose Heyward. He staged and performed in these classics in professional theaters throughout Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany. Ron also built scenery and performed in the Washington, DC Sesquicentennial production, FAITH OF OUR FATHERS by Paul Greene. In addition to directing and creating the lighting design for Carousel, South Pacific, Plain & Fancy, and Oklahoma, staged by amateur theatre groups in Pennsylvania, Ron also designed, equipped, and managed the American Hoechst-Celanese Corporation’s Television Media Production Center in Bridgewater, NJ. He received awards for several of his television productions and was accorded the International Television < /P>
Association’s coveted “Best Media Department of the Year” award twice. Ron now teaches several courses in the InZane Summer Camp and assists in technical production on all of InZane’s musicals. He also provides technical assistance upon request to several amateur theatre groups in New Jersey.