Graduate of Redlands East Valley Stars in Her College Production in New York

Hanna Mitsutomi in The Glass Menagerie at The College of New Rochelle

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Hanna Mitsutomi Graduate of Redlands East Valley High

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (01/30/2012)(readMedia)-- Hanna Mitsutomi, a graduate of Redlands East Valley High School, and currently a sophomore at The College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, New York, has the lead role of Laura in the College's major winter production, Tennessee Williams' classic play, The Glass Menagerie.

Ms. Mitsutomi, an English major at CNR, was raised in Redlands though she was born in Finland, her mother's home country. When her father passed away, and her mother remarried and returned to Finland, Hanna stayed in California to finish school.

"I have been very blessed to have an amazing international family," Hanna says today. "This summer I am going to visit my family in Finland and my sister in Cambodia where she is fighting against sex trafficking. After my travels around the world, I'll return to Redlands, which will always be my home."

Hanna decided to attended The College of New Rochelle after her first visit to the campus. "My step-dad was researching colleges for his son a few years ago," Hanna recalls. "He saw CNR and thought it was perfect except for the fact that it was an all-girls school. So, when I started my hunt for colleges, he showed it to me and I thought it was perfect. I came for a visit, took a tour, and was hooked."

While she was accepted by other colleges, in California and elsewhere, Hanna decided that CNR and New York was the right place for her. "It is in a gorgeous setting, a short train ride away from New York City, and the people here are very nice and friendly. The school also gave me a wonderfully generate scholarship and have blessed me with many gifts. I am extremely grateful."

This is Hanna first starring role in a college play production, thought she has previously appeared on stage in Besides Once Upon a Mattress. "Most of the time, I am working back stage," says Hanna. "I am the Corresponding Secretary for our CNR Drama's e-board, and also been the Assistant Stage Manager for two productions in my first year at the College. The great thing about CNR is that it is a small college so as a student, even a freshmen, you get to do it all!"

And that is what Hanna Mitsutomi is proving to be true!