BY VINCE MILLER
STAFF WRITER

The New Jersey Repertory Company is opening an acting school in its Lumia Theatre, 179 Broadway, Long Branch.

One of the benefits of the school will be elimination of the need for acting students to travel to New York for professional instruction, company officials say.

Rebecca Flynn, the company's program administrator, said the school will begin July 6 and be held for eight weeks. Classes will be held every Wednesday from 4 to 6:30 p.m. for teenagers and 7 to 9 p.m. for adults.

Another class could be opened should there be an overflow of enrollment, Flynn said.

The cost is $350, and scholarships are available, Flynn said.

"Our goal is to create an environment where serious students can thrive under the close tutelage of seasoned professionals who have modeled the curriculum after the classes they have taught in some of the top New York acting schools," Flynn said in a news release.

The repertory company's mission is to discover and nurture new talent, according to the release. To that end, students will receive:

• The opportunity to study with professional actors who have taught all over the country.
• Small class sizes for individual attention.
• Custom classes for adults and teens.
• A close connection with other regional theatres in the area.
• A spot on the studio Web site for photos and resumes for added exposure.
• Access to the database of regional and New York auditions.

"Whether you're looking to pursue a professional acting career, participate in community theatre productions, or simply gain confidence in everyday performances, NJ Rep Studio has you covered," states Gabor Barabas, co-founder of the company and director of the Long Branch Arts Council.

To obtain more information or to register call (732) 229-3166, Ext. 102, or visit www.njrep.org/studio on the Web.