๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ง๐จ ๐ ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ ๐ฝ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐พ๐ง๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ค๐จ-๐๐ค๐๐ง๐๐๐ช๐๐ฏ ๐๐๐ง๐ฃ ๐จ๐ฅ๐ค๐ฉ๐จ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ก๐ช๐จ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐จ ๐ฝ๐ช๐จ ๐ผ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐พ๐๐ข๐ฅ, ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ง๐ก๐จ ๐๐๐ก๐ข ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐จ.
The curtain is far from closing on the talents of Linden High School ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ข๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ง๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ฌ-๐๐จ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ณ. 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 schoolโs thriving performing arts community.
๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐
Before ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐ค๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ง๐ฃ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐พ๐ค๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ง๐จ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐ก๐ก, 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, itโs more than just an opportunity โ itโs a stepping stone toward turning their creative dreams into reality.
๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ
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 โ 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.
โLike Janis says in the opening of our movie, โItโs not easy making a movie,โ but we also know that itโs not easy getting the confidence to just go for it as an actor, either,โ Jayne told The Hollywood Reporter in January. Perez added, โNot everyone โฆ has the same opportunities, so we just want to help level the playing field a little bit.โ
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐จ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ฆ๐ช๐๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ค๐ง๐ข๐๐ง๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค๐ค๐ก๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐จ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐ โ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ฃ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐๐, ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ ๐ก๐๐๐.
๐๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฐ
Linden Public Schools is incredibly proud of Justin and Cristina โ not only for their acceptance into such a prestigious program, but for the passion, discipline, and heart they bring to everything they do.
โThese students have represented our school and community with excellence,โ said Linden High School Principal Charles Koonce. โTheir journey is a reminder that talent, when combined with hard work and the right opportunities, can lead to extraordinary things.โ
As they prepare to take the stage in New York City, one thing is certain: the spotlight suits them perfectly โ and the best is yet to come.
Bravo, Justin and Cristina โ Linden will be cheering you on every step of the way.