𝙇𝙃𝙎 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣 𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙖 𝙍𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙨-𝙍𝙤𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙚𝙯 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙔𝙚𝙨 𝘽𝙪𝙨 𝘼𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙖𝙢𝙥, 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙈𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙢 𝙙𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨.
The curtain is far from closing on the talents of Linden High School 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐬-𝐑𝐨𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐳. This dynamic duo from the Class of 2025 will take center stage this summer in New York City after earning coveted spots in the Yes Bus Acting Camp, a nationally acclaimed and highly selective training program for young performers.
Over the past four years, Justin and Cristina have lit up the Linden stage with unforgettable performances in musicals, plays, and concerts. Their credits include beloved roles in Mean Girls (as Janis and Damian), Mamma Mia! (as Rosie and Bill), Puffs, and more. Their charisma, comedic timing, and commitment to their craft have made them standout stars in the school’s thriving performing arts community.
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐘𝐂
Before 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙅𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡, Justin and Cristina will spend two immersive weeks at the Yes Bus Acting Camp, where they will train alongside other rising theatre talents from across the country. The camp offers advanced instruction in acting and writing, taught by professional artists, and culminates in a live showcase in New York City.
For these Linden seniors, it’s more than just an opportunity — it’s a stepping stone toward turning their creative dreams into reality.
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
Founded in 2024 by Mean Girls (movie musical) co-directors Arturo Perez Jr. and Samantha Jayne, the Yes Bus Acting Camp was created to open doors for performers from underserved communities — much like the ones they came from. The program emphasizes confidence-building, creative expression, and access to professional resources that many young artists might not otherwise receive.
“Like Janis says in the opening of our movie, ‘It’s not easy making a movie,’ but we also know that it’s not easy getting the confidence to just go for it as an actor, either,” Jayne told The Hollywood Reporter in January. Perez added, “Not everyone … has the same opportunities, so we just want to help level the playing field a little bit.”
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙥 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙥 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙚𝙙 — 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚.
𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐰
Linden Public Schools is incredibly proud of Justin and Cristina — not only for their acceptance into such a prestigious program, but for the passion, discipline, and heart they bring to everything they do.
“These students have represented our school and community with excellence,” said Linden High School Principal Charles Koonce. “Their journey is a reminder that talent, when combined with hard work and the right opportunities, can lead to extraordinary things.”
As they prepare to take the stage in New York City, one thing is certain: the spotlight suits them perfectly — and the best is yet to come.
Bravo, Justin and Cristina — Linden will be cheering you on every step of the way.