feature story / 29 audition as part of the admission pro- cess and was very nervous. Happily, whether it was the years of preparation at MMS and CHS or just luck, her tal- ent shone through and her solo audi- tion was more than what she hoped it would be. “After the audition, I promised myself I would go after any and every opportunity Berklee had to offer,” says Jones. She was offered admission and has had no fear of solo singing since. Though she is still very young, her talents have already been noticed on a national level. She was recently given the chance to sing for the fifth-inning break at a Red Sox game this summer and is playing at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City on July 14. We don’t need to go that far to hear her perform soulful songs from her new album, Bloom. Jones is slated to play not only Maplewoodstock, but Cornbread (1565 Springfield Avenue) while she’s home this summer. “I feel a strong musical influence from my roots in Maplewood,” says Jones. “I’m proud to be from the same community as Lauryn Hill and SZA. In many ways, being from SOMA pre- pared me for a life of diversity. I like working with many different types of people and styles of music.” And indeed there are plenty of dif- ferent types of people in our commu- nity to enjoy the many talents of our young alums. If you’re one of those people, make sure you luxuriate in Gregory Osborne’s production of Five Guys Named Moe at the Burgdorff and Autumn Jones at Maplewoodstock. Membership in talented and artistic communities has its benefits. Enjoy yours. Adrianna Donat is a freelance writer who has the privilege of writing about artists in Northern New Jersey. Publicity for the release of Autumn Jones's new album Bloom. Rehearsal for Five Guys Named Moe. L-R: Vladimy Dorson, Jonathan Yearwood, Jay Hanks, Garth West, and Justin Phillips. ing in the hallway to warm up. His tal- ent was noticed and led to an audition with the Lydia Johnson Dance School. Eventually, he found himself dancing with the company in New York City. A career was born. Lately, Osborne’s passion has led him to bring his talents home, as he decided he wanted to bring Five Guys Named Moe to Maplewood, and went looking for local support. It’s a show that’s rarely done, he explains. “In theater, sometimes shows about black people are made by white people. [Five Guys is] written by a black man and the score is by a black man.” This production, which will be staged at the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, showcases Louis Jor- dan’s rhythm and blues score, while telling the story of Nomax, a man down on his luck who wants to find his way back into his girlfriend’s heart. It was important to Osborne to tell this story authentically. So he reached out on his Facebook page and found investors. He wanted to work with the local black community, because “I want black people to come to the the- ater. I am here, and want to tell your story, but the only way I can tell it is if I get your approval and you support me,” says Osborne. Osborne’s efforts have met with gratifying success; tickets are moving fast. (To get yours, order from grego- ryomarosborne.com/copy-of-five-guys- named-moe.) For one thing, the music has immediate appeal; as Music Theatre International noted, “The recognizable and enticing score appeals to a variety of audiences and the uproarious audi- ence participation will have spectators leaping out of their seats to join the celebration.” “This [show] will educate and en- tertain older people who grew up then, and portrays black men...wearing suits and [feeling a sense of] pride,” Os- borne declares. Once you’re done at the Burgdorff, you can wander over to Memorial Park to see another CHS alum. On July 15, acclaimed singer/songwriter Autumn Jones (CHS ’16) plays at Maplewoodstock. When Jones was in school in Maplewood, she played cello with the CHS Chamber Orchestra and sang with Excelsior Sing- ers and Unaccompanied Minors. She developed in- strumental and vocal talent, but despite the opportuni- ties offered by the robust music curriculum of the school district, Jones never developed a taste for the spotlight. “I really didn’t like so- los,” says Jones, who did what she could to avoid them. Her shyness didn’t stop her from applying to the coveted Berklee Col- lege of Music in Boston. She needed to