‘Standing Ovation’ features Howell H.S. grad

Most performers dream of receiving a standing ovation. For 19-year-old Ashley Cutrona of Howell, her role in “Standing Ovation” is a dream come true. The Howell native is thrilled to have landed a starring role in the new Kenilworth film “Standing Ovation,” which is scheduled to open July 16 in theaters nationwide. The movie is rated PG.

Set in Atlantic City, “Standing Ovation” tells the story of two junior high school-age singing and dancing groups, The 5 Ovations and The Wiggies, who compete to win a music video contest with a $1 million grand prize.

Cutrona plays Zita, one of The Wiggies.

Cutrona, a 2009 graduate of the Freehold Regional High School District’s Fine and Performing Arts program at Howell High School, decided to put her education at Wagner College, Staten Island, N.Y., on hold when a role in a movie she had auditioned for three years earlier was offered to her.

Ashley Cutrona, 19, of Howell, will play Zita, a member of The Wiggies, in the new film “Standing Ovation,” which opens July 16. Cutrona is a graduate of the Freehold Regional High School District’s Fine and Performing Arts program at Howell High School. “I’m so excited!,” Cutrona said during a telephone interview from Panama City, Fla., one of the stops the cast of “Standing Ovation” made while on tour to promote the film. “It’s all I ever think about.”

During the tour, Cutrona and The Wiggies performed their signature number, “Blush.”

According to Cutrona, “Standing Ovation” features 20 original songs and 14 original dance numbers, choreographed by Krystal Tini, who also designed the costumes.

Cutrona explained that the movie is about a rivalry between two girl groups.

The 5 Ovations, Brittany (Kayla Jackson), Tatiana (Alexis Biesiada), Blaze (Pilar Martin), Cameron (Kayla Raparelli) and May (Na’jee Wilson) are best friends who must overcome obstacles to get where they want to be.

One of their biggest obstacles is the Wiggies, who in addition to Cutrona’s Zita, include Ziggy (London Clark), Angel (Erika Corvette), Twiggy (Devon Jordan) and Zoey (Jeana Zettler), five rich, beautiful and scheming sisters whose performance trademark is their series of extravagant wigs and underhanded pranks.

Cutrona said the movie teaches its viewers to never give up and to follow their dreams.

Even though she plays a Wiggie, Cutrona said she is not really like the person she portrays.

“I’m Miss Sunshine, nice to everyone, but it’s fun to play a bratty role for a change,” she said as she laughed.

The Wiggies are helped by their flamboyant and unscrupulous father, Mr. Wiggs, played by Sal Dupree, who will stop at nothing to win.

Dupree, who runs Dupree Performing Arts Studios, Linwood, is the film’s music supervisor and one of the producers. Several of the movie’s stars have studied under him, including Cutrona.

In addition to receiving acting training in high school, where she credits teacher Steven Kazakoff as being one of the most influential people she has ever worked with, and vocal coaching in a wide range of styles including pop music, classical and theater song study from Dupree, Cutrona attended the WB-Ryan Acting Studio in Atlantic City and the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York City.

Cutrona’s television appearances include “Law & Order” and “The Manhattan Diaries.” Her other film credits include “The Roadhouse,” which is currently in production. She has been nominated for a Perry Award for best young actress in a play and for a Governor’s School of the Arts award for musical theater.

Cutrona also took dance lessons at Icon dance studio in Englishtown. Coincidentally, the Iconic hip-hop dance group from Icon dance studio also appears in “Standing Ovation.”

The movie was filmed over the course of one year at locations in South Jersey, including Atlantic City, Cape May and Ocean City.

Cutrona, who lives in Howell with her mom, Caryn, and her dad, Sal, said, she enjoyed filming close to home.

“It’s great to be able to film in places I knew,” she said.

She said her parents, her big brother, Joe, of Lakewood, and her big sister, Jaclyn, of Millstone Township, and her friends are all very proud of her and very supportive.

Most of her friends attended the performing arts program at Howell High School and “they couldn’t be more supportive. My best friend, Brianna Rosado, gets in touch with me every day to see where we are on tour,” Cutrona said.

The executive producers of “Standing Ovation” are actor James Brolin and William Lewis.

Written and directed by Stewart Raffill (“The Adventures of the Wilderness Family”) and produced by Diane Kirman, “Standing Ovation” is being billed as “the feel-good music and dance movie of the summer,” along the lines of “High School Musical,” according to a press release received by Greater Media Newspapers.

Allied Integrated Marketing, the movie’s marketing agency, described “Standing Ovation” as a “high-energy movie about loyalty and perseverance that showcases the importance of friendship and working together while celebrating the meaning of family.”