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Friday, March 29, 2013

SUMMER THEATER CAMPS FOR MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS @ KEAN UNIVERSITY’S PREMIERE STAGES

Premiere Stages proudly offers two innovative camps for middle school and high school students!

Register by March 15 and receive a 10% discount!

 

 

SESSION 1: Camp PREMIERE
Let's Put on a Show

WHEN: A two-week session: July 15 through July 26, 2013

Students enrolled in “Let’s Put on A Show” will learn the elements of acting and play development through innovative, active exercises and games that help them translate their creative ideas and impulses into fully conceptualized and mountable original performances for the stage. Working with professional actors, directors and playwrights in a fun, creative and collaborative environment, campers will craft and star in their own showcase. This camp session culminates in a public performance of the campers’ work developed over the two-week period, followed by a certificate presentation and reception for the participants.

Recommended for Middle School Students: Ages 11 - 14

TUITION: $295.00 (A limited number of scholarships are available)

WHEN: Monday through Thursday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Final showcase on Friday, July 26


 

 

SESSION 2: Camp PREMIERE 
Taking the Stage

WHEN: A two-week session: July 22 through August 2, 2013

Students enrolled in “Taking the Stage” focus on the craft of acting, including scene work, audition techniques, monologue preparation, movement and voice/speech. Students all have the chance to work closely with professional actors and directors, as well as guest artists in fields such as stage combat, casting and improvisation. Campers perform monologues as well as scenes from original plays that have been developed through the Premiere Stages Play Festival. This camp session culminates in a public performance of the monologues and scenes, followed by a certificate presentation and reception for the participants.

Recommended for High School Students: Ages 15 - 18

TUITION: $295.00 (A limited number of scholarships are available).

WHEN: Monday through Thursday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Final presentation Friday, August 2


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In addition Kean University, the Kean Department of Theatre and its resident Equity theatre company, Premiere Stages, are working in cooperation with Paper Mill Playhouse to host the Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Musical Theater Conservatory on their Union, New Jersey campus.

For further information or to register for either camp please contact Clare Drobot, Producing Associate at:  908.737.4092 or via e-mail cdrobot@kean.edu

 

 

SHAKESPEARE’S TALE OF BITTERSWEET LOVE, LOSS & BETRAYAL @ ACTORS SHAKESPEARE COMPANY IN JERSEY CITY

THE WINTER’S TALE
by William Shakespeare

WHEN:  April 4-21, Fridays at 7:30 PM and on Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00 PM
WHERE:
NJCU’s West Side Theater, 285 West Side Avenue in Jersey City
TICKETS: $20, seniors $15, students $10
BUY TICKETS HERE

Wednesday and Thursday matinees are available for school groups by calling 201.822.1623.
For more information,call ASC at NJCU at 201.200.2390 or visit www.ascnj.org.

A jealous tyrant, a queen on trial, two simple shepherds, young romance, a divine oracle, a singing con man and one hungry, hungry bear make The Winter’s Tale a magical journey of loss, renewal and the promise of spring.

Bethany Reeves, director of ASC’s 2007 hit King John, directs The Winter's Tale.  “Shakespeare is exploring the territory of myth and fairy tale, “ says Reeves. “He tells a story full of magic and wonder with a warm, human heart.”

BARD BANTER, lively group discussions between audience and the cast, will be held after matinee performances on April 6, 13 and 20

The cast of The Winter’s Tale includes ASC resident artists Elizabeth Belonzi, Terence MacSweeny, James Rana, Artistic Director Colin Ryan, and ASC newcomers Gabriel Fuentes, Shannon Harris, John Xavier Miller, Bradley Mott, Chelsea Niven and David Price.

AWARD-WINNING DRAMA OPENS TONIGHT @ EVP

100 Saints flyer

100 Saints You Should Know centers on a conflicted priest, Father McNally, who leaves his congregation to do some soul-searching at home while staying with his "uncomprehending" mother, Colleen.

This award-winning drama intriguingly extends to the strife between a cleaning lady,Theresa, and her difficult 16-year-old daughter, Abby, as well as Colleen's grocery delivery boy, Garrett, who is grappling with his own sexuality. Each character in the play seeks both spiritual and earthly bonds, or as Theresa says at one point in the show, "A surge of the heart, a cry of recognition and love."

The well-versed cast includes Paul Zeller as Father McNally, and features the mother/daughter team of Beth and Hannah Painter playing Theresa and her daughter Abby. Dreamcatcher Repertory veteran Noreen Farley plays Colleen. Rounding out the cast is Aaron Black as Garrett.

WHEN: Friday, March 29-April 11, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 PM; a matinee on Sun April 7  at 2 PM and a Thursday April 11 show at 8 PM
WHERE:
Edison Valley Playhouse, 2196 Oak Tree Rd in Edison.
TICKETS: $20 for adults and $17 for seniors and students
For reservations call 908.755.4654

CELEBRATION IN SONG ON THE GREEN IN MORRISTOWN

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WHEN: Saturday April 6, 7:30 PM
WHERE: The United Methodist Church of Morristown on the Green, 50 South Park Street, Morristown
ADMISSION: Free
Dessert following the concert
973.377.3950

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Artwork by Seth Ruggles Hiler.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

A CONCERT TO BENEFIT ReVISION THEATRE

BE DIFFERENT

WHEN: Friday, April 5, at 7 PM
WHERE:
Club Paradise, 101 Asbury Ave., Asbury Park
TICKETS: $20
(21+ To Enter with Proper ID)
Tickets Available at http://revisiontheatre.tix.com/

Emerging Jersey-born recording artist Julia Claire is coming to Asbury Park for a benefit concert for ReVision Theatre!

Julia's range of vocal styles and musical ability has wowed audiences from New Jersey to Nashville! Julia's CD (This Is Me) was featured on New Jersey's Thunder 106.3 radio and can be heard on www.cdbaby.com.

Julia has been featured in ReVision Theatre's Christmas Survival Guide, 5th Anniversary Concert and other cabarets, and this time she's going solo.

Julia is donating 100% of the proceeds for her concert to ReVision Theatre before she sets off to share her talent with the world in 2013!

Call for more info: .732.455.3689
Website: www.revisiontheatre.org
E-Mail: info@revisiontheatre.org

CURTAIN OPENS ON interACT SUMMER CAMP

The company’s move to the Baird has allowed them to expand their programming, including a summer drama program for kids!

For children with a flair for the dramatic, interACT Theatre Productions is offering a ONE-WEEK SUMMER CAMP:

WHEN: July 29-August 2, 9:30 AM – 2:45 PM
WHERE
: Baird Theatre, 5 Mead Street, South Orange.

Children entering Grades 2-6 will learn acting, playwriting and other fundamental theatre skills under the direction of Lisa Hershey, a teaching artist for New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

Registration is ongoing at The Baird, 5 Mead Street, South Orange, or online @ www.thebaird.org  by clicking on View Activities.

Hershey has been involved in the world of theatre for more than 25 years.  She works as a teaching artist for NJPAC and Theatre Development Fund's Stage Doors and New Audiences Programs. She is also the Program Coordinator for Theatre Development Fund's prestigious Open Doors program, which was recently honored with a 2012 Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre. 

interACT, which presents inclusive and accessible community theatre, recently moved into the versatile and intimate theatre at The Baird. Our new home is allowing us to expand beyond our mainstage productions to nurture aspiring young performers and further our mission of bringing theatre to the community, and the community to the theatre.

Our first youth production was held earlier this year with a cast of more 40 young actors performing the children's classic Charlotte's Web.

In the summer program, children will collaborate to write, create and design their own original theatre piece, which will be performed for an audience on the final day of camp. Included in the camp will be a workshop with special guest artist from the professional theatre world.

For information, call 973.544.8489 or email@ info@interactproductions.org.

interACT will next be staging Plaza Suite, Neil Simon's comedic take on marriage, followed by the musical, The Full Monty.

 

Copyright © 2013. All Rights Reserved.

JOIN CROSSROAD THEATRE’S BOOK GROUP FOR PLAY ABOUT PROBLEMS OF MODERN LIFE

www.crossroadstheatrecompany.org 
732.545.8100

Crossroads Theatre Company thanks its major supporters:
American Express
The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
The Prudential Foundation
Middlesex County Cultural & Heritage Commission
New Brunswick Cultural Center
New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts

GARAGE THEATRE GROUP STAGES PLAY PERFECT FOR 3 TO 6 YEAR OLDS

The Garage Theatre Group, located at the Becton Theatre on the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, will present Three Pigs. The show is geared to 3- to 6-year olds.

Three Pigs is performed by Michele Miller, an actor, dancer, choreographer, and theater educator in New York and New Jersey. She has performed with many national touring and regional theatre productions and choreographed for various theatre companies in New Jersey. She has taught performing arts at theaters and dance schools throughout New Jersey and New York.

TICKETS: $10
For reservations call The Garage Theatre Group at 201.569.7710 or visit www.GarageTheatre.org.

The Garage Theatre Group is a 501(c)3 professional theater company in residence at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck.

NJ BALLET’S FAMILY DOUBLE FEATURE: ENTERTAINMENT WITH A DOUBLE PURPOSE

NJB_2010_Beauty_Beast_66PETER AND THE WOLF / BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

WHEN: Sunday, April 7, 2013, 3:00 PM
WHERE:
Sussex County Community College, One College Hill Road, Newton NJ
TICKETS: $16 to $25
Box Office: 973.300.3171

NJB_2010_PW_1There’s no better way to introduce young children to the magic of dance theatre than New Jersey Ballet’s Family Matinee productions. These charming, colorful ballets feature top quality professional artists—augmented by dance students performing in children’s roles—and beautiful sets and costumes. All and are performed with “storyteller” narration so even the littlest theatergoers can keep up with ease. Even the youngest sit with rapt attention as clever Peter and his animal friends outwit the Wolf, and gentle Beauty’s tender kiss restores the Beast to his rightful place as a Handsome Prince. (Above, right: Brave Peter captures a wolf and saves his animal friends in NJ Ballet's Peter & the Wolf. Photo: VAM Productions)

These productions are more than enjoyable entertainment for a Sunday afternoon. Based on classic children’s stories, these colorful, fully staged ballets reinforce the concepts that hold our civilization together: the power of love, loyalty and courage, being kind to others, and not giving up in the face of adversity. New Jersey Ballet’s Family Matinees are accompanied by “storyteller” narration so even the littlest theatergoers can keep up with ease.

(Top: Beauty and the Beast, the second half of a double feature at Sussex County Community College, April 7 at 3PM. Photo: VAM Productions)

A BUSY WEEKEND @ THE MAYO PAC IN APRIL

Vincent_pressRHONDA VINCENT
“The New Queen of Bluegrass”—the Wall Street Journal

WHEN: Thursday, April 18, 8 PM
WHERE:
Mayo Performing Arts Center, 100 South St., Morristown
TICKETS:  $29-59

With over seventy awards to their name, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage are the most celebrated band in bluegrass, with honors including a coveted Entertainer of the Year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and a staggering seven consecutive IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards. Vincent’s music draws deeply from the haunting mountain soul of Bill Monroe-styled bluegrass, while incorporating a modern feel that make her songs both classic and contemporary.

Pilobolus_press_pc_JohnKanePILOBOLUS
The wildly inventive modern dance troupe

WHEN: Friday, April 19, 8 PM
WHERE:
Mayo Performing Arts Center, 100 South St., Morristown
TICKETS:  $29-59

Pilobolus has been touted by Newsday as “a mind-blowing troupe of wildly creative and physically daring dancers who leap, fly intertwine and break all of the rules.” They redefine the world’s understanding of dance through constant evolution, transformation and collaboration, with a method that’s intense, fiercely creative and littered with humor.

Mark Twain Tonigh_pressHal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight

WHEN: Saturday, April 20, 8 PM
WHERE: Mayo Performing Arts Center, 100 South St., Morristown
TICKETS: $39-69

Legendary actor Hal Holbrook performs Mark Twain Tonight—his signature one-man show that is a living breathing American masterpiece and a jewel in the history of American Theatre.

Tickets at 973.539.8008 or www.mayoarts.org

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

10th ANNUAL AMERICAN GIRL DOLL WEEKEND @ THE NEWARK MUSEUM

Newark Museum - Always New

American Girl Logo

American Girl modelWHEN: Saturday & Sunday, April 6 and & 7; 10:30 AM & 3:30 PM (each day)
WHERE:
Newark Museum, 49 Washington St., Newark
TICKETS: $45

  • Special VIP seating packages are available.
    See more information
  • Family Membership Special
    $145 includes a ONE year Family Membership
    ($60 value) and TWO tickets ($90 value) *New members only
  • Museum members are given priority seating on orders
    received on or before March 1, 2013
    Not a Member? Join before you order
  • Download online order form (PDF)
    If you are unable to download the PDF, call 973.596.5144 for a hardcopy.

The tenth annual American Girl Weekend will soon be here. Proceeds from the two-day event are used to support children's programs and exhibitions at the Museum. The Weekend is also an opportunity to introduce new people to the Newark Museum, which in its 100-year history has served multiple generations.

Ice cream social in Engelhard CourtEach show consists of a two-part runway fashion show, highlighting the historical American Girl characters and their unique stories as well as contemporary fashions.

At intermission, everyone is invited to an ice cream social in our elegant Engelhard Court.
Intermission is also a time to purchase tickets for a chance to win an American Girl doll or other prizes.  Each show has its own raffle of dolls and accessories.

SHOW BASED ON HOLOCAUST DIARIES COMMEMORATES YOM HaSHOAH @ LUNA STAGE: 2 PERFORMANCES ONLY

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

YOUR TUESDAY GRAMMAR LESSON

Sometimes kids need to be reminded:

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from www.grammarly.com

TREASURED CLASSIC DRAMA COMES TO LUNA STAGE

To purchase tickets online click here.

WHEN: April 6-May 5; Thursdays 7:30 PM; Fridays and Saturdays 8 PM; Sundays 3 PM (No performance April 7)
WHERE:
Luna Stage, 555 Valley Road, West Orange
TICKETS: $25-$25; Students with ID $10; Group Sales Available
www.lunastage.org or 973.395.5551

KEAN UNIV. THEATRE DEPT. PRESENTS RARE PERFORMANCE OF THEATER FOR THE VERY YOUNG

RADD imageRing a Ding Ding
Written by Tim Web
Directed by faculty member Rachel Evans
Geared Specifically For Children Ages 3-6
Originally produced by the U.K.-based company Oily Cart

WHERE: opens Wednesday, April 3 at 7:00 PM; additional performances include Friday, April 5 at 10:00 AM, and Saturday, April 6 at 10:00 AM & 12:30 PM
WHERE:
Zella Fry Theatre (Vaughn Eames Building, Room 118), located at 1000 Morris Avenue, Union
TICKETS: $10.00 for children and Kean students; $12.00 for seniors and Kean faculty, staff and alumni; and $15.00 for the general public.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.keanstage.com or by calling the Kean Box Office at 908.737.SHOW (7469).
For more information on the Kean Department of Theatre, please visit www.kean.edu/ku/theatre 

This rare performance of Theatre for the Very Young is an immersive, interactive and multi-sensory experience geared specifically for children three to six years old and their families. Ring a Ding Ding tells the tale of Alice, who searches for her lost dog and finds helpful friends along the way: around town, over the seas, and all the way to the moon.

Founded in 1981 with the stated purpose of “challenging accepted definitions of theatre and audience,” Oily Cart was named “one of the great British theatre companies of the last twenty-five years” by Lyn Gardner of the Guardian Unlimited, who attributed the company’s somewhat perplexing under-the-radar status to its exclusive focus on “work[ing] entirely with children, many with complex disabilities, and often behind closed doors in special schools.” According to their website, Oily Cart uses “hydro-therapy pools and trampolines, aromatherapy, video projection, and puppetry together with a vast array of multi-sensory techniques… [to] create original and highly specialized theatre” for young people.

The original Oily Cart production of Ring a Ding Ding, written and directed by Tim Webb, was designed by Claire de Loon, and featured music by Max Reinhardt. It toured the United Kingdom December 2011-February 2012. Writing for The Stage, Lisa Martland called the show “a visual treat which involves its eager audience in every step of the storytelling process.” Caroline McGinn of Time Out awarded the show five stars (the magazine’s highest rating), citing Ring a Ding Ding as “a beguiling aesthetic experience, scaled to fit [children’s] curious world and perfectly designed to make them happy.”

Monday, March 25, 2013

NEW MOON READING SERIES CONTINUES @ LUNA STAGE

New Moon Reading at Luna Stage

WHERE: Luna Stage, 555 Valley Road, West Orange
Seating for this New Moon Reading is limited. Click Here to reserve your seat.

LIBERTY HALL MUSEUM TO REOPEN TO PUBLIC ON APRIL 1

Liberty Hall Museum has announced it will resume public tours on Monday, April 1, signaling a welcome end to the Museum’s traditional winter break, which featured an ambitious slate of seasonal and special programming but limited access to day visits.

WHERE: Liberty Hall Museum, 1003 Morris Ave., Union

The Museum will also extend its fascinating ongoing exhibit, Ring for Service: The Role of Servants in a Country House, until November 16. This scintillating look “behind-the-scenes” enables guests to follow in the footsteps of a real-life servant working at the Kean mansion over a century ago, and offers a rare glimpse into Liberty Hall’s attic, where two servants’ quarters have been opened to the public for the first time in the Museum’s history.

LH_TeaBeginning April 10, Liberty Hall Museum will also host its stylish Afternoon Tea twice a month. In the grand tradition of the former lady of the house, guests are invited to Liberty Hall’s signature tea service the second and fourth Wednesday of every month (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM). Tea will be served in the Museum’s comfortable glass-enclosed porch, overlooking Liberty Hall’s stunning formal English gardens. For two tranquil hours, guests will sit back, relax, and enjoy three of life’s simplest but enduring pleasures: good food, good drink, and breathtaking scenery. Liberty Hall Museum’s Blossom into Spring Tea (April 10 at 2:00 PM) has already reached full capacity, but reservations are still available for Arbor Day Tea on Wednesday, April 24 at 2:00 PM by calling 908.527.0400.

Fashion Show 2012Mothers and daughters of all ages are encouraged to join the Museum for The Girls of Liberty Hall Tea and Fashion Show on Saturday, April 13. From 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, guests will be treated to a luncheon of scones, dainty finger sandwiches, sweet treats, lemonade, iced tea and sherbet punch on real china while enjoying a fashion show of reproduction historic children’s clothing from colonial times through the early 20th century. This delightful afternoon will also feature a children’s dress-up and play tent, games and prizes. Admission is $25.00 per person, and reservations are required.

Spring Day at Liberty Hall 2012Liberty Hall’s newest venture, the Liberty Hall Museum Community Farmers Market, will celebrate the advent of spring on Saturday, April 20 by offering a free planting activity for children, the Kids’ Spring Seedling Event. From 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, children will tour Liberty Hall’s farm, enjoy healthy snacks and live storytelling, and plant seeds in portable containers they may take home to nurture and watch grow. Admission to the event is free, but capacity is limited; please e-mail info@njmomsguide.com by April 15 to reserve your space.

Finally, Liberty Hall Museum’s elegant Downton Abbey Brunches continue to defy expectations, with all scheduled Downton Abbey-themed brunches and luncheons sold out from now through May 19. The wildly popular events are often attended by trivia-savvy Downton fans enthusiastically attired in vintage or reproduction Edwardian-era clothing. Each brunch features a sumptuous buffet, party favors, a champagne toast, and access to Ring for Service: The Role of Servants in a Country House.

Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University chronicles more than 240 years of American history. The museum also houses extensive collections of furniture, ceramics, textiles, toys and tools owned by seven generations of the Livingston and Kean families. The Firehouse Museum, built in 2004, houses three antique fire engines, including a rare 1911 American LaFrance Metropolitan Steam Engine. Public tours of the Museum resume Monday, April 1, and are available Monday through Saturday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Tours begin on the hour (last tour departs at 3:00 PM), and are conducted by the Museum’s friendly and knowledgeable staff in exquisite reproduction clothing from the early-20th century era.  

For reservations and further information, please call 908-527-0400, e-mail libertyhall@kean.edu or visit www.kean.edu/libertyhall.  More information on Liberty Hall Museum’s Community Farmers Market is available at https://www.facebook.com/libertyhallfarmersmarket.

All photos courtesy of Liberty Hall Museum.

WHODUNNIT PREMIERES @ NJ REP IN APRIL

Click image for additional information and online ticketing

A WORLD PREMIERE

NOIR
By Stan Werse
Directed by Marc Geller

WHEN: April 4 thru May 5
WHERE:
New Jersey Repertory Company, 179 Broadway, Long Branch TICKETS: can be purchased by calling 732.229.3166 or by visiting www.njrep.org.

Here are the facts, just the facts … New York City, 1950 … Andrews has left town, Klein is dead, so is Lydecker, Betty … well she's still alive, but someone has beat the pretty off her. Clay Holden has his first big chance as a detective … but this is one case that he may not want to solve.

Stan Werse takes us on a roller coaster ride deep into the dark and shadowy world of film noir in this homage to the Hollywood crime dramas of the 1940’s and 50’s. Detective Clay Holden (Darrell Glasgow) has just been assigned to a new post, working with the bitter and cynical Norbert Grimes (Thomas Grube), and his henchman, the not-so-dumb-as-he-looks resident enforcer, McQue (Michael McCoy). A mysterious new woman has also just come into Clay’s life, Helen Lydecker (Catherine LeFrere).

Can Clay survive as a good man in a corrupt world in this hard-boiled crime drama? Right or wrong, what does it matter? Only the movies are black and white.

PLAY BASED ON BELOVED CHILDREN’S BOOK @ bergenPAC

velveteenrabbit_spTHE VELVETEEN RABBIT

WHEN: Saturday, April 6, 4 PM
WHERE:
bergenPAC, 30 N. Van Brunt Street, Englewood
TICKETS: $59, $39, $29
Tickets available at: www.ticketmaster.com or www.bergenpac.org or
Box Office 201.227.1030

A stuffed rabbit sewn from velveteen is given as a Christmas present to a small boy but is neglected for toys of higher quality or function, which shun him in response. The rabbit is informed of magically becoming Real by the wisest and oldest toy in the nursery as a result of extreme adoration and love from children, and he is awed by this concept; however, his chances of achieving this wish are slight.

The journey of the rabbit and boy shows us the meaning of friendship, the importance of long-lasting relationships and the value of knowing how to love and be loved.

With successful productions at theatres around the country, this fantasy play is enjoyable to all groups, including adults. Written as a "memory play," The Velveteen Rabbit is an emotional journey through time, as told through the eyes of a young man looking back on his childhood. By reliving the relationship between his 4-year-old self and his favorite toy, the velveteen rabbit, he rediscovers the true meaning of friendship. Central to the story is, of course, the velveteen rabbit, who is introduced to the idea of becoming real by the old rocking horse. The play explores the rewards of loyalty, the poignancy of loss, and the wonderful, surprising powers of love.

The Velveteen Rabbit is a children’s novel written by Margery Williams and illustrated by William Nicholson. The book was first published in 1922 and has been republished many times since.The Velveteen Rabbit was Williams' first children's book. It has been awarded the IRA/CBC Children's Choice award. Based on a 2007 online poll, the National Education Association named the book one of its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children."

RAINA ROSE TO APPEAR IN HOUSE CONCERT IN ROCKAWAY

The Folk Project presents a house concert. Location will be divulged when you reserve your tickets!RainaRose_flyer

E-mail for info: Robin.Schaffer@nice.com

Raina Rose loves to share her refreshingly optimistic perspective on the world. Her unique voice and exceptional guitar playing transcend age, gender and generation, and even catch the ears of those who aren't typically into acoustic guitar-driven songwriting. Redefine Magazine has said, “Between her big voice, with its unusual blend of twang and jazziness, and her whimsical sense of storytelling, Rose is definitely not just another boring indie folk songstress.”

Raina moved to Portland, Oregon with her family in 1988. She was given a guitar at age eleven and sent around the corner for lessons. By the time she hit high school, Raina more often than not skipped classes to write heart-wrenching teenage love songs in Portland's lush, green public parks. After graduating, she moved to the Oregon coast and taught environmental science to youngsters while basking in the majestic silence of 500 acres of ancient forest and foggy beachfront. It was this blissful solitude that made Raina realize she wanted to make music for people.

Raina has toured relentlessly for the better part of the last five years. Her travels have taken her everywhere across the USA and Europe, including such venues and gigs as the High Sierra Music Festival, Club Passim (Boston, MA), and The Birchmere (Alexandria, VA).

The Folk Project is a non-profit 501(c) Corporation whose mission is to present high caliber folk music performances and instructional workshops for the public and members; to encourage development of musicianship and performance skills in the northern New Jersey area; and to provide interesting social and learning activities relating to traditional and participatory folk music and dance.

For more information: www.folkproject.org or www.rainarose.com

Sunday, March 24, 2013

2 FILMS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES THIS WEEK @ THE LIVINGSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

Looking for things to do with the kids this vacation week? Well, the Livingston Public Library is sponsoring 2 films that will appeal to them:

Livingston Living Green, Livingston Public Library, and the Livingston Environmental Commission sponsor a film to promote the Bicentennial theme for March—GETTING GREENER.

The LoraxDR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX
86 minutes
WHEN: Wednesday, March 27, 2:00 PM
WHERE:
Livingston Public Library Program Room, 10 Robert Harp Drive, Livingston
ADMISSION: Free

An animated rendition of Dr. Seuss's classic book about the threat of industrialization to nature, iopens in Thneedville. It is an artificial place, made primarily from plastic, and sports inflatable trees, fast cars, and air quality so poor that the residents are forced to purchase bottled fresh air.

Twelve-year-old Ted discovers that his crush Audrey wants nothing more than to see a long-extinct Truffula Tree, so he sets out to impress her by finding one. Since there are no real trees in Thneedville, Ted acts on the crazy stories of his grandmother, and travels beyond the city's walls to locate a grumpy recluse called the Once-ler.

The Once-ler has a tale about a once-perfect landscape filled with beautiful Truffula Trees and cute frolicking animals—a landscape now barren. The beauty and wonder of the Truffula forest and its forest creatures, Brown Bar-ba-loots (cute little bears), Swomee-Swans (funny-looking ducks), and Humming-Fish (charming trio of singing fish), are right out of Dr. Seuss's illustrations. Ted's wish to impress Audrey slowly begin to take a back seat to the plight of the lost trees and animals, and the Once-ler's message that "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better" comes true by the end of the film.

Wreck-It RalphSpring Break Family Movie
WRECK IT RALPH
WHEN: Thursday, March 28, 1:30 PM
WHERE:
Livingston Public Library Program Room, 10 Robert Harp Drive, Livingston
ADMISSION:
Free

Ralph is the animated bad guy in a video game, but he's really a big softie with a good heart. He escapes from his game and and sets off on a game-hopping journey across the arcade through every generation of video games to prove he's got what it takes to be a hero.

On his quest, he's trailed by Fix-It Felix, the good guy from his game, and meets the tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun from the action game Hero's Duty and Vanellope von Schweetz from the candy-coated cart racing game, Sugar Rush. Ralph accidentally unleashes a deadly cyber-enemy from one of the games that threatens the entire arcade. Will Ralph realize his dream to be a hero and save the day before it's too late?

Both films are suitable for all ages, and both are free.

Friday, March 22, 2013

BELOVED BOOK HEROINE COMES TO THE GROWING STAGE THIS APRIL

PINKAtitlePINKALICIOUS the MUSICAL

Book by Elizabeth and Victoria Kann
Music and lyrics by John Gregor, Elizabeth and Victoria Kann
Directed by Lori B. Lawrence, The Growing Stage’s Director of Educational Programming
Choreography by Jillian Petrie
Musical direction by Laura Petrie

WHEN: April 12 through May 12 with performances Friday evenings at 7:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 4:00 PM
WHERE:
The Growing Stage, The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey, located in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong
TICKETS: The Growing Stage continues FUN-tastic Fridays with all tickets $15! Saturday and Sunday tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for children and seniors.
To place your reservation, please contact the Growing Stage Box Office at 973.347.4946 or e-mail at boxoffice@growingstage.com
Group rates and Birthday Party packages are available

PINKALICIOUS the MUSICAL is the tale based on the popular children’s book of Pinkalicious, who can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe—a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of this pink predicament. PINKALICIOUS the MUSICAL is about learning the power of self-control and the importance of moderation.

PINKALICIOUS the MUSICAL features many of the professional equity artists that are familiar to the Growing Stage audiences. Emily Portune (Peter in Peter Pan) brings to life the role of Pinkalicious. Robert Mintz (Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz) portrays Pinkalicious’s little brother Peter with Ryan Malyar (Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz) and Jenna Morris (Mrs. Claus in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) playing Mr. and Mrs. Pinkerton. Nikole Rizzo (Lilly in Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse) returns to the Palace as Dr. Wink. Jaclyn Blythe, who is making her TGS debut, portrays Pinkalicious’s best friend Alison. Rounding out the cast are six young performers who are sharing their talents to make this a very special treat for the entire family.

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A PLETHORA OF EVENTS FOR “THE WINTER’S TALE” @ McCARTER THEATRE THIS APRIL

One of Shakespeare’s last plays, The Winter’s Tale is billed as a comedy, but it is much more than that. See for yourself at McCarter Theatre in Princeton:

www.mccarter.org/winterstale (link on graphic will not work)

GIVE YOUR KID THE GIFT OF A CREATIVE SUMMER @ TWO RIVER THEATER COMPANY—ONE OF NJ’S PREMIERE THEATER COMPANIES!

For more info on our Summer Theater Camp, click here!

For more info on our Summer Theater Camp, click here!

Click here for full details!

TWO SCHOOL-TIME PERFORMANCES AT RVCC

Again, thanks to Carol Levin of the Bridgewater Twp. Public Library for the following information. Why  not tell your child’s teacher about these events so a field trip can be scheduled? You can even offer to be a chaperone!

Hitler's Daughter
Hitler's Daughter
Monkey Baa 

WHEN: Friday, April 12, at 11 AM  
GRADES:
4 & up
WHERE: RVCC, 118 Lamington Road, Branchburg

Does responsibility (guilt) transfer?  To whom, how far and for how long?

These are the general questions raised by Hitler's Daughter—more specifically, the young character, Mark, who is very much affected by speculation that Hitler had a daughter, asks several questions in conversation with his father: 

  • What if you were a man as bad as Hitler?
  • What if I was a mass murderer?
  • Did we take this land from the Aborigines?

How responsible are we for the actions of others, especially those from distant times and/or places? These are difficult issues and they raise questions to which the answers are elusive. But, they also are the basis of rich conversation.

Based on the novel by Jackie French, this award-winning show tells the story of Hitler's daughter through the eyes of four Australian children. As the friends wait for the school bus, Anna begins to tell the tale of Heidi, daughter of the most hated man in history.

The play switches between 1940s Nazi Germany and contemporary Australia as one of the friends Mark, becomes engrossed in Anna's story. Could Heidi have stopped the atrocities of genocide, war and hate her father waged on the world during World War II? Would he have acted differently in her place? Heidi's story leads him to question his own identity and the world around him.

artist                           study guide                              reserve
curriculum connections: CLA, CVC, LB, RF, SS

PROJECT TrioPROJECT Trio 

WHEN: Friday, April 26, at 12 PM 
GRADES:
7 & up
TICKETS:
$10

Hailed as a Trio "packed with musicianship, joy, and surprise," PROJECT Trio is a passionate, high-energy chamber music ensemble comprised of three virtuosic composers/performers, flutist Greg Pattillo, cellist Eric Stephenson, and bassist Peter Seymour. Blending their classical training with an eclectic taste in musical styles, PROJECT Trio has made an impact on audiences of all ages. Of special note is the unique style of beatbox flute, performed by Greg Pattillo. It is a mix of traditional flute playing with the beats and rhythms of human beatboxing. Bass drum, cymbal, and snare sounds blend together seamlessly with the flute into a forceful, gritty sound capable of delivering the illusion of multiple performers playing at once.

INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED PIECE COMES TO LUNA STAGE

ETTY
By Susan Stein, adapted from the diaries and letters of Etty Hillesum
Directed by Austin Pendleton

WHEN: Sunday, April 7, 3 PM & 7 PM; both performances followed by talkback with creator/performer Susan Stein
WHERE:
Luna Stage, 555 Valley Road, West Orange
TICKETS: $25
Purchase tickets at www.lunastage.org or by calling 973.395.5551

In commemoration of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Luna Stage is proud to present Etty, writer and performer Susan Stein's critically-acclaimed one-woman show adapted from the diaries and letters of Etty Hillesum. 

Using only Etty Hillesum's words, Susan Stein's inspiring adaptation brings us to 1943 when Etty, a young Jewish woman, is about to be deported out of Holland. As she prepares for her three-day journey eastward, she digs deeper into her soul to understand “this piece of history” and “to root out” any hatred or bitterness, believing that humanity is the best and only solution for survival at a time when it remains easier for many to ignore news of human rights violations. Moving beyond its historical context, Etty ultimately addresses issues of human nature and its complexity with regards to issues of human rights and genocide. She asks us to consider our own responsibility today, in a world where the promise of “never again” has not yet been realized.

Nominated for Amnesty International’s 2009 Freedom of Expression Award, Etty has been performed throughout the United States and Europe. Howard Shapiro of The Philadelphia Inquirer says, "Stein's spot-on performance clearly honors both her subject and anyone who has died at hatred's hellish hands." Carolyn Huckabay of the Philadelphia City Paper calls Etty, "A work so gripping, it stays with you long after bows are taken."

Thursday, March 21, 2013

CLAN CURRIE INVITES YOU TO CELEBRATE TARTAN DAY 2013

Ellis Island is temporarily closed due to the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy and the annual Tartan Day celebration will be held at South Street Seaport.

2013 TARTAN DAY

WHEN: Saturday, March 30, 11 AM-3 PM (rain or shine)
WHERE:
South Street Seaport, Pier 17, New York City
ADMISSION: Free

Join us for a great day of piping and drumming, Highland dancing and a whole host of terrific performers. Performers at the event include the Rampant Lion Pipe Band, the New York Celtic Dancers and the NY Celtic Harp Orchestra(Above: The Rampant Lion Pipe Band)

“Tartan Day on Ellis Island” is produced by the Clan Currie Society—one of the country’s leading Scottish heritage organizations. The Seaport event will open NY Tartan Week—a two-week festival of all things Scottish, including a Scottish fashion show, whisky tastings and the annual parade.

The producers of Tartan Day on Ellis Island 2012 would like to thank the over 70 thousand visitors who helped make this the largest Tartan Day event in the world.

For additional information contact 908.273.3509 or via e-mail at news@tartandayonellisisland.com