Wayne Hills Alum Wants to Star in a Broadway Musical

Sarah O’Connor’s dream is to perform on Broadway.

The 24-year-old Wayne Hills High School alumnus is focused on that singular goal. It’s what drives her.

“I am moving on up. I am tenacious and I want to go on that big stage,” O’Connor said. “I want a Broadway career and I want a Tony Award.”

O’Connor began dance when she was 3. She attended the New Jersey School of Ballet. She was cast in the lead role in “Pippen” in high school.

“I didn’t really think anything of it but I ended up falling in love with the theater,” O’Connor said. “It’s quite an experience being on stage I think it’s harder for a film actor to go into theater acting. With film acting you can go through as many takes as you want but with theater acting, you’re up on stage for everyone to see.”

O”Connor has been cast in the Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of “Oliver!” The production will be on stage throughout December. Tickets cost between $27 to $98.

O’Connor attended Syracuse University. Graduating in 2011 she immediately began working in a production of “Young Frankenstein.” The job lasted until June 2012. She has been going from job to job ever since.

“It is a struggle. I’m also a person who likes to plan and be organized. What’s so difficult about acting I think is that you’re always starting over at square one,” O’Connor said. “Getting the job, that’s the fun part. The hardest part is going to auditions and not letting the rejections get you down. You can’t take it personally.”