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Friday, September 30, 2011
FROM B’WAY TO HOBOKEN: A COMEDY ABOUT BULLYING
NEW MOON READING SERIES RESUMES @ LUNA STAGE
CENTENARY THEATRE SEASON KICKS OFF WITH CLASSIC BACKSTAGE COMEDY
WHEN: September 30-October 16
WHERE: David and Carol Lackland Center, 715 Grand Avenue, Hackettstown
TICKETS: $20-$25 and can be purchased online HERE, by calling 908.979.0900 or in person at the Lackland Center.
CSC also offers a buffet matinee series which includes lunch and a matinee performance for $37.50 per person for groups of 20 or more.
A student matinee will be available on October 12 at 10 AM with a specialty discount of $12 per student for school groups of fifty or more.
The inspired young playwright, the dramatic diva, the emotionally involved director and the short-tempered producer gather in the star’s hotel room to toast their pending triumph: a moving new play destined to change the hearts and minds of audiences everywhere. However, by the end of the night, everyone is wishing they had performed Oklahoma. Written by cherished American playwright, Moss Hart, Light Up the Sky “… survives as an insider's comic valentine to a kind of theater that disappeared decades ago,” hails the New York Times.
On the October 9th performance, in conjunction with the NJ Theatre Alliance, Light Up the Sky will feature an Open Captioned Performance. The Open Caption Service is an initiative that was launched by the Theatre Alliance in professional NJ theatres to assist the hearing impaired, while enhancing the overall theatrical experience. Tom Muza of McCarter Theatre notes, “we have learned that the program benefits a wide segment of our audience, not just the ones who know they are hard of hearing.” Patrons with hearing disabilities may contact the box office for more information about special pricing.
The Centenary Stage Company is a not-for-profit professional equity theatre, in residence at Centenary College, dedicated to serving as a cultural resource for audiences of the Skylands Region, with professional music, theatre and dance events and arts education programs throughout the year. All programs at the Centenary Stage Company are made possible in part through the visionary support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the NJ State Council on the Arts, as well as CSC Premium sponsors Heath Village and Silver Sponsors Skylands Community Bank, and our silver sponsors, The Marriot Residence Inn and Hackettstown Regional Medical Center.
NEW THEATRE: Performances at the Centenary Stage Company enjoy their new residence in the state-of-the-art theatres of the new Carol and David Lackland Center, opened just 1 year ago in Hackettstown. Hailed as the most sophisticated performing arts venue in northwest New Jersey, the center includes the new 500-seat Sitnik Theater, The Edith Bolte Kutz black box theater, a dance studio, as well as WNTI, the College’s NPR affiliate station, and CCTV, Centenary’s Comcast-licensed television studio. Named in honor of Carol Burgess Lackland, A Centenary graduate (Class of 1954), and her husband, David A. Lackland, a Centenary College Trustee, The David and Carol Lackland Center has been designed to enrich student life and bring new cultural opportunities to northwest New Jersey.
ALLIANCE REP SEEKS ACTRESS FOR FEISTY ROLE
AUDITIONS
GULF VIEW DRIVE
By Arlene Hutton
Directed by Michael J. Driscoll
WHEN: Tuesday, November 1. 15 minute time slots beginning at 7:30 PM. 10 slots available on a first come/first served basis. Auditions by appointment only.
WHERE: The Loft at UCPAC, 1601 Irving Street, Rahway.
Auditions for the lead female role of “May. ”Age range, 26-32
CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: May is a school teacher married to Raleigh. She is sweet and kind but not one to be taken lightly. She has a feisty side and stands up to anyone for what she believes is right .
For questions or to schedule an appointment, please contact Mike Driscoll on the staff page of this website.
BUGS INFEST TRACY LETTS’ PLAY @ CHATHAM COMMUNITY PLAYERS
BUG
by Tracy Letts
Directed by Bob Pridham
WHEN: October 14-29, Fridays & Saturdays 8 PM; Sunday, October 23,
3 PM; October 29, 10 PM
WHERE: Chatham Playhouse, 23 N. Passaic Avenue, Chatham
TICKETS: $20 adults and $18 youth/senior
Buy tickets HERE
The box office will begin accepting phone reservations on October 4 at 973.635.7363
BUG centers on Agnes, a lonely, middle-aged waitress victimized by her abusive ex-husband, and tortured... by the kidnapping of her child in a supermarket almost ten years ago. After spiraling into a world of alcohol, cocaine and seedy motel rooms, Pete,r a timid Gulf War veteran and drifter in search of a friend, wanders into her life. As their interest in each other grows, so does their paranoid obsession with understanding what—or who—brought them together. Did we mention the infestation of bugs?
“…obscenely exciting…top-flight craftsmanship. Buckle up and brace yourself…” states the New York Times.
The exciting cast includes: Sarah Pharaon as Agnes, Matt McCarthy as Peter, Tina Zogans as RC, Jeff Maschi as Goss and Brian Dowd as Dr. Sweet.
Director Bob Pridham said,” Playwright Tracy Letts gives us plays which fire on multiple cylinders and demand white-knuckle commitment from the actors, and BUG is no exception. Funny, rude, violent and appalling, this is a play which sends audiences and performers on a wild ride into a carnival darkhouse where almost nothing is what it seems to be. Few plays I know better capture the interlocked pathologies of fear, suspicion and reactionary madness which seem to be clogging the American airwaves these days. I'm reminded of the punchline to an old joke: ‘I may be paranoid, but at least I know what's real.’ Not to be outdone, Letts pushes us one step further: ‘What don't you know?"’”
REVIEW: “ROMANCE, ROMANCE” @ THE WOMEN’S THEATER COMPANY
The first male human being who dragged a female off to his cave probably thought very little about romance; he was more motivated by sexual attraction to his "prey." As a literary term, romance was coined by the French in the Middle Ages to describe tales of heroes and their chivalric exploits. But today, when we talk of romance, we usually mean an "ardent emotional attachment or involvement between two people" or "a strong, sometimes short-lived attachment, fascination or enthusiasm for someone or something," both of which describe the amorous high jinks in the charming musical, Romance, Romance, currently being performed at the Women's Theater Company in Parsippany.
Composer Keith Herrmann and lyricist Barry Harman have fashioned a play in two acts joined by the theme of romance. Indeed, they are set in two different eras and places: the first in fin de siècle Vienna and the second in 21st century America. They are, however, linked by one song performed in both acts.
Over and over, we are informed that what we are watching is the "comedy of love/life." In the first act, two bored, rich individuals, Alfred and Peppi (a former actress/ courtesan), complain about being bored with their love lives. Seeking diversion and wondering whether they will ever meet their true loves and be loved for their own sake, both don disguises and go slumming among the "rabble." Alfred passes himself off as a starving artist, Peppi as a poor seamstress. Without the accoutrements of wealth and position, each becomes more "romantic" to the other, and magic happens. Through their exploits, a masked couple dance in intricate patterns, reminding us of the masquerade going on, here and wherever love is concerned.
The second act is set at a summer share in the Hamptons where two married couples are vacationing. With little romance in their current unions, Sam and Monica—best friends at work—toy with the idea of "hooking up, despite the love each professes for his/her spouse. Perhaps it's the thrill of "doing something illicit" and discovering that "it's not too late" to find love with a best friend/soul mate. Whatever it is, the two decide that romantic notions provide a spark to life.
Marc G. Dalio and Marcia Sofley portray the principal roles in the production. Both have beautiful, strong voices and a charming manner with the material. Sofley's dimples and sparkling eyes make Peppi a delightful person, despite her deception. Dalio's sonorous baritone and arch mannerisms beautifully convey the boredom felt by Alfred. As Sam and Monica, the two actors tone down their arrogant and supercilious behavior; it would not be seemly (or convincing) in the modern era in which the act occurs In fact, they are caught between an acknowledgement that their platonic relationship is skating on thin ice with regard to their marriages and friendship. Should they cross the line? Do they? You'll have to go and find out.
Ashley Kowzin and Joe D'Angio play the masqueraders in the first act (non-speaking roles) and the spurned spouses called Her and Him in the second act. Their lack of real names makes them nothing more than agreeable foils to Sam and Monica. D'Angio has a nice voice and conveys well a guy to works hard and goes to sleep early. Kowzun's voice, while lovely, is rather weak; I don't think it's so to fit the rather wishy-washy character she portrays.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Fall Exhibitions at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey
BIBLIOMANIA
a new exhibition examining the myriad ways contemporary artists feature books as the subject of their art
WHEN: October 7 – December 11, Opening Reception: October 14, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Gallery Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM; Thursday 10:00 AM – 8 PM; and Saturday & Sunday 11 AM – 4 PM. Please call to confirm holiday hours.
WHERE: Visual Arts Center of NJ, 68 Elm Street, Summit
SUGGESTED ADMISSION: Adults $5; Seniors/Kids $3; Art Center Members free
Why, at this moment in time, are some artists focusing their attention on the good-old-fashioned bound volume? Does this stem from a growing anxiety over the possible obsolescence of books? Are books becoming cultural artifacts, and are artists treating them as relics, and perhaps even fetishizing them? Whatever the motivation, many artists are making provocative works that challenge viewers to consider the roles and meaning of the book in the digital age. (left: Thomas Broadbent, Fall, 2011; 68.25 in. x 47 in., watercolor on paper)
A “book” used to be defined as a number of printed or written pages bound together along one edge, protected by covers. Today, the concept of the book continues to evolve and expand, most notably in the direction of digital media. (right: Viviane Rombaldi Seppey, Verdi, 2009; 38 in. x 38 in., white and yellow pages from Italian phonebooks; Courtesy of the artist)
Interestingly, many contemporary artists are making art about books—photographing them, arranging them, drawing and painting them, dissecting them and making sculptural facsimiles of them—always finding various ways to address the book as subject matter for their work. Ironically, while the content of books becomes increasingly more accessible with the advent of electronic readers e-books and digitized books, artists seem to be paying more attention to the book as an object.
Featured artists: Richard Baker; Thomas Broadbent; Ryan Brown; Joy Garnett; Nina Katchadourian; Brandon Lattu; Björn Meyer-Ebrecht; Abelardo Morell; Mickey Smith; and Jude Tallichet.
Related Programs to Bibliomania:
Panel Discussion: The Future of the Book
October 27, 7:00 -9:00 PM
A distinguished panel of experts will explore the future of the book in a digital age.
Accordion Book Mania
November 13, 1:00 -4:00 PM
Artist Erin Sweeney leads a creative book arts project open to all.
Viviane Rombaldi Seppey: Belonging
On view in the Mitzi & Warren Eisenberg Gallery
Viviane Rombaldi Seppey explores concepts of identity and mobility in a series of collages using phonebook pages from around the world.
Heather Lewis: Deskilled Drawing
On view in Studio X
In her site-specific installation, North Carolina artist Heather Lewis utilizes mirrors, light and shadows to create images.
Papermaking: Students of Fran Willner & Lois Shapiro
On view in the Marite & Joe Robinson Strolling Gallery II
Recent works by papermaking students.
All Exhibitions:
October 7 – December 11, 2011
Opening Reception: October 14, 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm
About the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey
Founded in 1933, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is the state’s largest organization dedicated exclusively to viewing, making and learning about contemporary art. Comprising a renowned studio school and a thriving exhibition, education and programming schedule, the Art Center welcomes over 60,000 visitors each year.
THE SHAKESPEARE THEATRE OF NEW JERSEY’S 49TH SEASON CONTINUES WITH AMERICA’S BELOVED CLASSIC “TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD”
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
By Harper Lee; adapted by Christopher Sergel
Directed by Joe Discher
WHEN: October 12 - November 20
WHERE: Main Stage, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, 36 Madison Avenue (on the campus of Drew University), Madison
TICKETS: call the box office at 973.408.5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org
The characters of Atticus Finch, Scout, and Boo Radley have become iconic figures in the American consciousness and conscience. Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is considered one of the most important works of the 20th century, and it is a must for every new generation.
The story's enduring spell stems in part from the juxtaposition of the simple, yet astute innocence of a child's point of view in the face of terrible and terribly complex adult problems and biases. The fundamental lessons about compassion, integrity and courage are breath-taking and life-changing.
Set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize novel is considered one of the most important works of the 20th century and features the beloved characters Scout, her brother Jem and their father Atticus Finch, a lawyer who defends a black man accused of a crime against a white woman. Scout recounts her father’s struggle to inspire compassion in his community, and her narrative proves that even the smallest acts of love have a profound impact on the lives of others.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT: SEPTEMBER 29 ONLY
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TWO RIVER THEATER ANNOUNCES AN OPEN CASTING CALL FOR CHILDREN AGES 8-14
AUDITION NOTICE: open casting call
HONK!: A MUSICAL TALE OF ‘THE UGLY DUCKLING
WHEN: Tuesday, October 4, and Wednesday, October 5, between 3:30 and 8:00 PM
WHERE: Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank.
Please call 732.345.1400 ext. 1825 or e-mail jstoller@trtc.org for an audition time, letting them know which of the two audition days you are able to attend, and anytime within the 3:30-8 PM period you are NOT available.
NOTE: A guardian must be present during the time of the audition to review important parent information. No drop offs, please.
Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling,” Honk! tells the story of Ugly, a bird whose odd looks lead to bullying and mocking from family and neighbors. Separated from his mother and pursued by a hungry Cat, Ugly must find his way home, and discover his true beauty.
The production includes roles for two boy and two girls, who will play the duck siblings of Ugly, and also a group of froglets. These roles are paid positions.
Two River Theater is looking for young performers who are imaginative, creative and fearless; who are able to use their voices and bodies to create characters and tell stories; and who are able to stay focused in a busy rehearsal environment, take direction well and be good team players. Strong singing ability is required.
Kids should bring 32 bars of an age-appropriate, up-tempo musical theater song of their choosing, with sheet music in the appropriate key. They should also prepare a monologue (which they will receive upon scheduling an audition appointment). The monologue doesn’t need to be memorized, but they should be familiar enough with it that they can look up from the page often.
Honk! will rehearse from November 8-December 4. Performances, including both daytime and evening shows, will run from December 6-January 1. For a full performance calendar, visit trtc.org. The production is sponsored by OceanFirst Foundation.
Honk! will be directed by Matt Pfeiffer, who previously staged Two River’s holiday productions of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Charlotte’s Web. Composer George Stiles and bookwriter/lyricist Anthony Drewe won London’s Olivier Award for Best Musical for Honk!, beating The Lion King and Mamma Mia! for the prize.
Two River Theater Company is supported in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, The Hickory Foundation, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The Stone Foundation of New Jersey, The Shubert Foundation, and many other foundations, corporations and sponsors.
KEAN STAGE PRESENTS ESPERANZA SPALDING
Esperanza Spalding in
Chamber Music Society USA Fall Tour
WHEN: Saturday, October 15, at 7:30 PM
WHERE: Wilkins Theatre, Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union
TICKETS: $35 standard, $20 seniors & students, and can be purchased by calling Kean Stage Box Office at 908.737.SHOW (7469), online at www.keanstage.com , or in person at Kean University’s Wilkins Theater Box Office
This year’s Grammy® Award winner for “Best New Artist,” Spalding will mesmerize audiences by deftly blending classical and jazz to create modern chamber music with touches of folk and world sounds as well.
“Esperanza” is the Spanish word for “hope,” and bassist, vocalist and composer Esperanza Spalding could not have been given a more fitting name. Blessed with uncanny instrumental ability, a multi-lingual voice that is part angel and part siren, and a natural beauty that borders on the hypnotic, the prodigy-turned-pro might well be the hope for the future of jazz and instrumental music.
After teaching herself to play the violin at age four, Spalding landed a spot on The Chamber Music Society of Oregon, where she played for 10 years, being elevated to concertmaster at age 15. By then, she had also discovered the bass, and all of the non-classical avenues that the instrument could open for her. Before long she was playing blues, funk, hip-hop and a variety of other styles on the local club circuit.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
RODGERS & HART SONGBOOK PLAYS @ McCARTER THEATRE THROUGH OCTOBER 9
WHERE: McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
Click here for further parking and directions information
TICKETS: Tickets start at just $20!
Call 609.258.2787 or BUY TICKETS NOW or VIEW WEBSITE
www.mccarter.org
Isn’t It Romantic? Tony Award winner John Doyle (Broadway’s Sweeney Todd and Company) brings his trademark twist to the Rodgers and Hart songbook in this stirring new production with a cast that doubles as the orchestra! Rodgers and Hart’s evocative and sophisticated tunes will keep you bewitched, bothered, and bewildered in this inventive song-cycle. Chock full of your favorite tunes, this romantic and elegant musical will leave you with a song in your heart.
Including favorites: Isn’t It Romantic? ; My Funny Valentine ; Blue Moon ; My Heart Stood Still ; My Romance ; and many others!
Watch the trailer HERE. Ten Cents a Dance runs 90 minutes without an intermission.
Monday, September 26, 2011
GLEE-FULLY CELEBRATE @ NJPAC SPOTLIGHT GALA THIS SATURDAY: SPECIAL GUEST STAR
For full Spotlight Gala tickets and table sponsorship information, please call 973.642.8989, ext. 7043, or email womensassociation@njpac.org. If you have any questions or comments, please send an e-mail to ticketservices@njpac.org. |
RUMMAGE SALE @ PLAYWRIGHTS THEATRE OF NEW JERSEY
ILLUMINATE YOUR WORLD @ LUNA STAGE: STAND-UP COMEDY NIGHT
Stand Up @ Studio Luna WHEN: Thursday, September 29, at 8 PM Our first-ever Stand-up Comedy Night! Bring some friends or make it a date night, but leave the little ones at home – this is an evening of mature fun for the humorous 21 and over crowd. Join comedian Michael Che (Caroline's on Broadway) and a terrific team of up and coming young comic talents—Gordon Baker-Bone (Boston Comedy Festival); The Lucas Bros. (Comedy Central's Tosh.O); Nimesh Patel (The Stress Factory)—and just added to the group—Rae! |
GROUND-BREAKING PLAY TO BE PERFORMED @ UCPAC
THE LARAMIE PROJECT
a play by Moises Kaufman
WHEN: October 13 – 29, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 PM
WHERE: The Loft at Union County PAC, 1601 Irving Street, Rahway
TICKETS: $22 Regular / $17 Seniors & Students—General Admission (Ticket prices include all fees.) Limited Seating Available
Buy tickets HERE
The Laramie Project, written by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project and presented by Mystic Vision Players, is a breathtaking theatrical collage culled from over 200 interviews detailing the reactions of the residents of Laramie, Wyoming, to the 1998 murder of a gay University of Wyoming student, Matthew Shepard.
Under the direction of Jennifer Bushinger (Cirque du Soleil), the ensemble cast explores the depth to which humanity can sink and the heights of compassion of which we are capable.
FOLK LEGEND PETER YARROW @ MUSIC ON MAIN IN WOODBRIDGE
Peter Yarrow
one-third of the more-than-beyond-legendary Peter, Paul and Mary
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 4, 7:30 PM
WHERE: United Methodist Church, 69 Main Street, downtown Woodbridge. TICKETS: $25 advance, $30 door.
Check out these photos: 50 years apart, and he’s lost the suit and tie—but kept the same great songwriting and powerful commitment to folk music and social change.
Though much of Peter’s activism has been directed toward the social/political arena, he’s been equally active on behalf of more personal projects such as his advocacy on behalf of the Hospice Movement.
He is a board member of the Connecticut Hospice, the first hospice established in the United States, where he frequently sings for patients and staff and for whom he has been a voice of media advocacy for over a decade.
Peter founded the “Save One Child” Fund at Beth Israel Hospital’s Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in 1996. Over the last five years, Save One Child has provided free medical care for nearly 100 children from all over the world whose families could not afford their critically needed neurosurgery.
Peter Yarrow still makes Music That Matters.
Come listen!
- Buy Advance Tickets Online: http://tinyurl.com/3m3k382
- Buy Advance Tickets at Woodbridge Town Hall
- Mayor’s Office, 1 Main Street, Woodbridge, NJ . Open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mon-Fri - (732) 602-6015
SPECIAL SERIES DISCOUNT PACKAGE:
- Buy a ticket to any 4 concerts — save $10 from your total cost
- Buy a ticket to any 5 concerts — save $15 from your total cost
- Buy a ticket to all 6 concerts — save $20 from your total cost
Additional Concert News: http://www.WoodbridgeArtsNJ.com
INDIGENOUS featuring Mato Nanji
WHEN: Wed. Oct. 12, 7:30 PM
WHERE: United Methodist Church
TICKETS: Advance $25 ... Door $30
JONATHAN EDWARDS
WHEN: Wed. Oct. 26, 7:30 PM
WHERE: United Methodist Church
TICKETS: Advance $25 ... Door $30
DALA & SAMUEL JAMES
WHEN: Thur. Nov. 10, 7:30 PM
WHERE: United Methodist Church
TICKETS: Advance $25 ... Door $30
The Simon & Garfunkel Songbook: An Evening of Stories & Songs
Performed by AZTEC TWO-STEP
Hosted by PETE FORNATALE
Opener: 13 HANDS (Daniel McBride)
WHEN: Wed. Nov. 16, 7:30 PM
WHERE: Woodbridge Middle School, 525 Barron Ave., Woodbridge NJ
TICKETS: Advance $25 ... Door $30
CABARET & JAZZ @ SOPAC THIS OCTOBER
For more details on the upcoming season, including a complete schedule and ticket information, visit SOPACnow.org, or contact the SOPAC Box Office at 973.313.2787 (ARTS)
GIANTS OF JAZZ honoring 2011 JAZZ MASTER ALBERT “TOOTIE” HEATH
WHEN: Saturday, October 1, 9 PM
WHERE: South Orange Performing Arts Center, One SOPAC Way, South Orange
TICKETS: $50
Presented by SOPAC, Village of South Orange, and The Baird
Produced by John Lee & Jazz Legacy Productions
SOPAC is thrilled to welcome what the Star Ledger has described “…easily one of the top jazz shows of the year...anywhere.” The 14th Annual Giants of Jazz benefit concert honors legendary drummer Albert “Tootie” Heath with performances by guest artists including, but not limited to: Don Braden, Jeb Patton, David Wong, Russell Malone, Cyrus Chestnut, Billy Hart, Louis Hayes, Bob Cranshaw, Claudio Roditi, Yotam, Michael Dease, Sharel Cassity, Randy Weston, Roy Hargrove and Winard Harper. “Tootie”, the youngest of the famed Heath brothers, has worked and recorded with John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, JJ Johnson, Dexter Gordon and Cedar Walton as well as putting the beat in the Heath Brothers
U.S. ARMY JAZZ AMBASSADORS
WHEN; Saturday, October 15, 8 PM
TICKETS: FREE
As the premier touring big band for the United States Army, the Jazz Ambassadors travels thousands of miles each year throughout the nation and abroad, keeping the will of the American people behind the members of the armed forces and supporting diplomatic efforts around the world.
The Jazz Ambassadors presents a diverse program of big band swing, Latin music, contemporary jazz, popular tunes, standards, Dixieland, and patriotic selections. Members of the Jazz Ambassadors are selected by highly competitive audition and represent some of the finest musical talent in America. More than three decades of touring have earned them the title, “The Musical Ambassadors of the Army.”
THE ENGLISH CONCERT—A BAROQUE ORCHESTRA
WHEN: Tuesday, October 18, 7:30 PM
TICKETS: $25. Seniors/Seton Hall Alumni $15. Seton Hall Students & Staff (with ID) $8.
Classical Concert Series Presented by Seton Hall Arts Council
Founded by Trevor Pinnock in 1973, the English Concert has appeared on the world’s most famous stages, including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Théâtre des Champs Elysées in Paris, the Philharmonie in Berlin, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, and the Grosse Festspielhaus in Salzburg. In a colorful Baroque program featuring Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Trumpets, the group opens our season with renowned Artistic Director, Harry Bicket.
STEPPIN’ OUT with
BEN VEREEN
WHEN: Saturday, October 22, 8 PM
TICKETS: $45, $55, $75 (Special $75 ticket includes private post-performance reception and meet-and-greet with Ben Vereen.)
“It’s always pleasant to spend time in the company of a survivor, a pro and a performing prince. Ben Vereen is all three.” –The New York Observer
Few entertainers today are as accomplished or as versatile as Tony Award winner Ben Vereen. His legendary performances on stage and screen transcend time and have been woven into the fabric of this country’s artistic legacy. A musical autobiography of Vereen’s life in showbiz, Steppin’ Out features Broadway classics, songs made famous by Frank Sinatra and a very special tribute to his longtime friend and mentor, Sammy Davis, Jr.
JAZZ ACCORDIONIST EDDIE MONTEIRO
WHEN: Tuesday, October 25, 7:30 PM
TICKETS: : $25. Seniors/Seton Hall Alumni $15. Seton Hall Students & Staff (with ID) $8.
Jazz’ n the Hall Presented by Seton Hall Arts Council
Eddie Monteiro has over 30 years of musical performance in classical, jazz, dance, theater, cabaret and choral ensembles. A lead artist of innumerable society bands performing throughout the world at social events, political gatherings and corporation conventions, Eddie is also the youngest honoree elected to American Accordionists’ Association Hall of Fame, November 1994.
MIDTOWN DIRECT REP @ SOPAC THIS OCTOBER X 3!
MIDTOWN DIRECT REP: READING SERIES #1
WHEN: Thursday, October 6 @ 8 PM
WHERE: SOPAC, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange (behind train station)
TICKETS: $10 per Reading. $25 for All-Three Readings.
For more details on the upcoming season, including a complete schedule and ticket information, visit SOPACnow.org, or contact the SOPAC Box Office at 973.313.2787 (ARTS)
The first of three Midtown Direct Rep readings to be presented at SOPAC this month, Significant Others, is a new play by Jason Odell Williams. This is a 2 person serio/comedic play that follows one man as he navigates the women in his life—all played by the same actress. Cast TBA.
MIDTOWN DIRECT REP: READING SERIES #2
WHEN: Thursday, October 13 @ 8 PM
WHERE: SOPAC, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange (behind train station)TICKETS: $10 per Reading. $25 for All-Three Readings.
For more details on the upcoming season, including a complete schedule and ticket information, visit SOPACnow.org, or contact the SOPAC Box Office at 973.313.2787 (ARTS)
The second of three Midtown Direct Rep readings to be presented at SOPAC this month, The Rubber Room, is a new play by Gary Garrison and Roland Tec. This is a 5 person, 1 act play that explores the struggle of suspended NYC public school teachers. This show is designed to be played in rep with multiple actors all cast in the same role. On any given night of performance, different actors are scheduled to perform, making each performance a theatrical experiment. Cast TBA.
MIDTOWN DIRECT REP: READING SERIES #3
WHEN: Thursday, October 20, & Friday, October 21, @ 8PM
WHERE: SOPAC, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange (behind train station
TICKETS: $10 per Reading. $25 for All-Three Readings.
For more details on the upcoming season, including a complete schedule and ticket information, visit SOPACnow.org, or contact the SOPAC Box Office at 973.313.2787 (ARTS)
The final Midtown Direct Rep reading to be presented at SOPAC this month, Deep is the Ocean, is a new musical by sister-and-brother team, Pia and Peter Cincotti. This is a large scale, 2-act musical described as "An Environmentally Friendly Jersey Shore Middle Aged Love Story.” Cast TBA.
Founded in June 2010, Midtown Direct Rep is a 32-member repertory theater company in residence at SOPAC. Named for the New Jersey transit line on which local residents commute, Midtown Direct Rep is comprised of accomplished theater artists and seasoned Broadway veterans who call Maplewood/South Orange their home.
CHILDREN’S ART ACTIVITIES @ THE ZIMMERLI ART MUSEUM
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REVIEW: “NEWSIES” @ THE PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE
Today, when a click of the mouse accesses a newspaper online, it's hard to conceive that at the turn of the 20th century and for a while thereafter, the "papes" were sold on street corners by street urchins called "newsboys," or "newsies." These kids, most of them orphans, had to pay the publishers up front for the papers they took to sell and were not permitted to return for a refund the ones they didn't. And if the banner (the headline) wasn't very interesting, there was a good chance sales would be tepid and the kids would lose money.
Based on a not-very-successful 1992 Disney film, the world premiere production of Newsies on the Paper Mill Playhouse stage tells the tale of a real-life Newsies strike of 1899 occasioned by the rise in prices from 50 cents to 60 cents per hundred "papes." The script has a new book by Harvey Fierstein, but the music of Alan Mencken and Jack Feldman has been retained, if reordered. It's a fairly typical David-and-Goliath labor story (think Norma Jean), but the use of projected graphics, wonderful (and very functional) scenery that moves around the stage in a myriad of configurations, and a very talented cast of dancers and singers makes for a satisfying and entertaining show.
Fierstein has added a love story involving a scrappy female reporter who breaks the story. That she is the daughter of one of the publishing moguls makes her falling in love with newsy leader Jack Kelly a bit far-fetched, but, hey, this is Broadway, not real life!
If the newsy who gets his picture on the paper's font page is "King of New York," then dancing is king of this production. Christopher Gatelli deserves kudos for the intricate and interesting choreography executed by an energetic and nimble chorus of young male dancers. Dance routines include stomp, unison dancing, clogging, acrobatics and even dancing with their feet on newspaper pages! Director Jeff Calhoun keeps things humming along at a well-oiled clip (that's a compliment, not an insult) with characters running up and down the stairs in the towers of metal scaffolding, moving them around the stage while still having the breath and oomph to sing!
The leads dance and sing with enthusiasm and skill. As Jack Kelly, Jeremy Jordan is a winning rascal, yearning to live in Santa Fe or exhorting his boys to "Seize the Day" and gain success in their cause. If Jordan is the heart behind the strike, Ben Fankhauser's Davey is the brains. Clearly better off than the usual newsy (he has parents and a real home), Davey comes up with a plan to form a union and is willing to talk to Pulitzer on their behalf. And Kara Lindsay is a luscious Katherine Plumber, girl reporter, who breaks out of covering entertainment to writing an article about the strike that lands on the Sun's front page. And her suggestion that they extend the strike to include all child laborers really gets the ball rolling.
Support is ably supplied by Andrew Keenan-Bolger as the crippled newsboy Crutchie and an adorable (and accomplished) Vincent Agnello as Davey's 10-year-old brother (RJ Fattori takes this role at matinees). John Dossett is appropriately nasty as Joseph Pulitzer without being really evil, which makes his capitulation more believable. Menace is provided by Brendon Stimson and John E. Brady as the strike-busting Delancey twins and Nick Sullivan as Bunsen, the corrupt head of the "Refuge," where vagrant children are taken and mistreated. Kevin Carolan looks the part of Gov. Theodore Roosevelt who wants to get the bullies who are manhandling the kids. Helen Anker has a nice turn as performer Medda Larkin in whose theater Jack Kelly hides from the authorities; "Don't Come a-Knocking" is a tribute to the burlesque that existed in lower New York during the period.
The music is glorious, although almost every number is a rousing show-stopper, which after a while is a a bit tiresome. One longs for a quiet ballad or an intimate moment. Tobin Ost's metal scaffolding recalls skyscraper skeletons, and Jeff Croiter's lighting design appropriately signals changes in mood and time of day. Sven Ortel is to be commended for the aforementioned projection design; the scene where the Brooklyn newsies walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to join their Manhattan counterparts is reminiscent of the revolutionaries marching down the Paris boulevards in Les Miserables. Screens on the scaffolding are splashed with newspaper articles, and a blackboard prints out the headlines as though they've just been written! Jess Goldstein's costumes evoke the era and the characters very well, and the orchestra directed by David Holcenberg provides rousing accompaniment to match the vitality onstage.
Playwright Fierstein et al have worked magic with a second-rate Disney opus; of course, Menken and Feldman's music helped. Newsies is a marvelous tribute to the incredible spirit of the underdog going up against the Man. While you may not come out of the theater humming a melody, you'll be buoyed on a cloud of good feeling and heartened by the energy emanating from the talented kids on stage. I heartily recommend Newsies for theatergoers of all ages.
Newsies will be performed eight times a week, Wednesday through Sunday, through October 16. Paper Mill Playhouse is located at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn. For information and tickets, call the box office at 973.379.3636 or visit online at www.papermill.org. Groups of 10 or more can receive up to a 35% discount on tickets and should call ext. 2438.
(Photo by T. Charles Erickson, courtesy of Paper Mill Playhouse)
GET YOUR KIDS INVOLVED IN PAINTING A MURAL
COMMUNITY PAINTING PROJECT
WHEN: October 2, from 10 AM to 4 PM
WHERE: 18 South Maple Avenue in Basking Ridge
Kids ages 4 and up are invited to participate in a community painting project. Acrylic paint will be used on a mural-sized canvas that has been planned out in advance to inspire artists of all levels. (Left: Caren Frost Olmstead in front of the mural sized canvas. Photo by Kristina Lloyd)
The painting is part of ARTsee Open Studio Tour—the first of its kind in Bernardsville and Bernards Township. Twenty-four of the area’s finest artists will open their private studios to the public, including six artists at Farmstead Arts at 450 King George Road. The group’s mission is the fostering of artistic expression, the promotion of visual artists who live and work in our area and the creation of art-based community events.
Artists Caren Frost Olmsted and Kristina Lloyd will display paintings, pastels, painted musical instruments, photography and beaded jewelry in Caren’s second floor garage studio and gallery.