COMIC MURDER MYSTERY OPENS @ SOMERSET VALLEY PLAYHOUSE

 

Murder is a Game
By Fred Carmichael .
Directed by Mike Schuller

WHEN: March 7 - March 23; Friday & Saturday 8 PM; Sunday 2 PM
WHERE: Somerset Valley Playhouse, 689 Amwell Road (Rte 514), Hillsborough
TICKETS: Adults $18 - Seniors/Students $16; a $2 per ticket processing fee will be added to all ticket sales.
PURCHASE TICKETS

Laughter and suspense arrive on-stage together in this comical mystery, as a down-in-the-dumps husband-and-wife writing team seek to reignite their creative muse by spending a weekend on a creepy old movie set, where hammy hired actors play parts in a fictional murder mystery for their enjoyment—only to find that sometimes fiction can become reality . . .

PROMINENT VOCAL ARTIST TO APPEAR @ KAPLEN JCC IN TENAFLY

REBECCA TEPLOW
WHEN: SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 8 PM
WHERE: Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, 411 E.  Clinton Avenue, Tenafly
TICKETS: $15 JCC members/$20.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 201.408.1418 or order online at: http://www.jccotp.org/special-events-3

Composer/Singer Rebecca Teplow will perform popular selections from her CDs Kavehz (Hope) and T’filot (Prayers).

A classically-trained violinist, Teplow studied under Itzhak Perlman and composer Robert Starer. Teplow studied under Itzhak Perlman and composer Robert Starer. Now a prominent vocal artist, her music has received rave reviews from The Forward and Jewish Week, and Zalmen Mlotek, artistic director of the National Yiddish Theater–Folksbiene, has described her voice and musicianship in the following way: “She is a must for anyone with interest in new music to the holy scriptures. Haunting as well as soothing, her songs resonate on a deep emotional level—fresh and new, evoking the ancient and deeply spiritual.” David Morgan will accompany her on piano.

‘THE MUSIC MAN” RE-IMAGINED IN CONCERT @ NJPAC AND TWO RIVER THEATER COMPANY

THE MUSIC MAN
A CONCERT VERSION OF A BROADWAY CLASSIC RE-IMAGINED
Book, Music and Lyrics by Meredith Willson                 
Story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey
Concert Adaptation by Evans Haile
MUSIC DIRECTION BY KENNY J. SEYMOUR
DIRECTED BY ROBERT O’HARA

PRESENTED BY NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND TWO RIVER THEATER

WHEN: March 14-23
WHERE: TWO RIVER THEATER, 21 Bridge Ave., Red Bank: MARCH 13-16; Thursday, March 13 at 8 PM; Friday, March 14 at 8 PM; Saturday, March 15 at 3 PM and 8 PM; and Sunday, March 16 at 3 PM and 7 PM
TICKETS: starting at $20 are available from 732.345.1400 or www.tworivertheater.org. $20 tickets may be partial view. The co-Lead Sponsors of this production are Brookdale Community College and WBGO.

WHERE: NJPAC IN NEWARK, MARCH 21-23; Friday, March 21 at 8 PM; Saturday, March 22 at 3 PM and 8 PM; Sunday, March 23 at 3 PM
TICKETS: $59.50 and $69.50 and can be purchased at www.njpac.org, by calling 1-888-GO-NJPAC or by visiting the box office at One Center Street in Downtown Newark. These performances have been made possible 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, by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and by Discover Jersey Arts.

America’s favorite musical about big brass bands and small-town spirit will be performed by an African-American cast. The River City, Iowa setting will be based on historical accounts of black communities established during the Great Migration as former slaves moved across the U.S. following the Civil War.

The Music Man won the 1957 Tony Award for Best Musical and the first Grammy Award for Best Original Cast Album. Winner of Best Musical at the 1957 Tony Awards, The Music Man tells the story of con man Harold Hill, who falls for piano teacher and librarian Marian Paroo in the summer of 1912 as he bamboozles the conservative townsfolk of River City into financing a marching band. “Professor” Hill has to choose between the promise of romance and a quick getaway as his scheme begins to unravel.

The memorable score, which won the first Grammy Award for Best Original Cast Album, includes “Seventy-six Trombones,” “Ya Got Trouble,” “Marian the Librarian,” “Goodnight, My Someone” and “Till There Was You.”

Isaiah Johnson will play Harold Hill and Stephanie Umoh will play Marian Paroo. Johnson has appeared on Broadway in Peter and the Starcatcher and The Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino. Umoh played Sarah in the 2009 Broadway revival of Ragtime.

Also featured in the cast are Kevin Boseman (A Chorus Line at Paper Mill Playhouse) as Winthrop; Lawrence Clayton (Jean Valjean in the 25^th Anniverary US Tour of Les Misérables) as Mayor Shinn; Bernard Dotson (Chicago Broadway revival) as Charlie Cowell; Kevin R. Free (Once On This Island at Paper Mill Playhouse) as Marcellus; Trent Armand Kendall (Into the Woods Broadway revival) as Olin Britt; Destinee Rea (Hairspray with Theatre Under the Stars) as Amaryllis; Myra Lucretia Taylor (Nine Broadway revival, As You Like It at Two River Theater) as Mrs. Paroo; Aurelia Williams (Once On This Island at Paper Mill Playhouse) as Ethel Toffelmier; and NaTasha Yvette Williams (A Night with Janis Joplin) as Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn.

The creative team includes scenic designer Craig Napoliello; costume designer Dede Ayite; lighting designer Alex Jainchill; sound designer Lindsay Jones; and associate sound designer Jake Zerrer. The casting is by Cindy Tolan & Adam Caldwell and the stage manager is David Apichell.

DANCE THAT’S FUN AND FLEXIBLE: PILOBOLUS RETURNS TO McCARTER THEATRE CENTER

PILOBOLUS

WHEN: Thursday, March 6^th at 7:30 PM
WHERE: McCarter Theatre Center Matthews Theatre, 91 University Place, Princeton
TICKETS: start as low as $20, and can be purchased online at www.mccarter.org, by phone at 609.258.2787, or in person at the McCarter Theatre Ticket Office, located at 91 University Place in Princeton.

The members of Pilobolus perform a unique form of modern dance, physical and beautiful, using elements of contortion and gymnastics — at times gravity-defying, at times ethereal and sweet, always what you’d least expect. Bending bodies and minds since 1971, Pilobolus returns with a collection of newer works.

The first half of this engaging dance program will include Rushes (2007), a work inventing an isolated community of broken dreams. Jacques Tati meets Gogol in what is described by the company as a major breakthrough for Pilobolus's constantly morphing aesthetic.

The Transformation (2009) is a shadow piece in which a young woman is transformed, created in collaboration with Steven Banks, lead writer for the brilliant animated series SpongeBob SquarePants.

Korokoro (2011) blends Pilobolus' signature partnering with the atmospheric styling of collaborator Takuya Muramatsu (Dairakudakan), and creates a world of surreal physicality that is interested in the making and unmaking of heroes.

The second half of the program will include two works that celebrate energy and illusion, commissioned in 2013 by the American Dance Festival (ADF).   The first piece, [esc], is an invention born of a collaboration between Pilobolus and masters of trickery Penn & Teller to create a tantalizing piece of choreography that explores athleticism, strength, confinement, and escape collaboration. 

Closing out the program is Licks, created in collaboration with Trish Sie and Tijuana’s Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich and Fussible is a high-octane romp set to an original soundtrack and fuses infectious modern rhythms with traditional Northern Mexican border music.

MUSICAL ROCKS THE STATE THEATRE FOR 3 PERFORMANCE ONLY

ROCK OF AGES

WHEN: Friday, March 7, 8 PM,  Saturday, March 8, 3 PM and 8 PM
WHERE: State Theatre, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick
TICKETS: $75, $65, $55, $45, $35
Ticket Office: 732-246-SHOW (7469) or visit online at www.StateTheatreNJ.org.
For tickets or more information, call the State Theatre ticket office, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM; Wednesday 11 AM to 7 PM; Saturday, 1 PM to 5 PM; and at least three hours prior to curtain on performance dates, unless otherwise specified. For information on group outings and discounts, call 732.247.7200, ext. 517. Some additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.

In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small-town girl met a big-city dreamer—and in L.A.’s most legendary rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the ‘80’s. It’s Rock of Ages, a hilarious, feel-good love story told through the hit songs of iconic rockers Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, Pat Benatar, Whitesnake, and many more. 

Rock of Ages is a worldwide phenomenon with smash hit productions in Stockholm, London, Las Vegas, and still rockin’ on Broadway, featuring 28 classic rock tunes including “Don't Stop Believin’,” “We Built This City,” “The Final Countdown,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “Here I Go Again,” “Harden My Heart,” “Can't Fight this Feeling,” “Renegade,” and “I Want To Know What Love Is.”

Rock of Ages is directed by Tony® Award Nominee Kristin Hanggi (Bare, Pussycat Dolls on the Sunset Strip) and choreographed by Kelly Devine (Jersey Boys – Associate Choreographer). With a book by Chris D’Arienzo (writer and director of the film Barry Munday), original arrangements by David Gibbs (Counting Crows, Film: That Thing You Do), and the Music Supervision, Arrangements & Orchestrations by Ethan Popp (Tarzan; Europe: We Will Rock You, Mamma Mia).

Rock of Ages features set design by Beowulf Boritt (Spelling Bee, LoveMusik), costume design by Tony Nominee Gregory Gale (Cyrano, The Wedding Singer), lighting design by Jason Lyons (The Threepenny Opera), sound design by Craig Cassidy (Phantom, Mamma Mia), and projection design is by Zachary Borovay (A Catered Affair).

Rock of Ages is produced by PHOENIX ENTERTAINMENT. 

State Theatre, a premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment. The theater exists to enrich people’s lives, contribute to a vital urban environment, and build future audiences by presenting the finest performing artists and entertainers and fostering lifetime appreciation for the performing arts through education. The State Theatre’s programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. The Heldrich is the official hotel of the State Theatre. Magic 98.3 is the official radio station of the State Theatre. The Star-Ledger is the official newspaper of the State Theatre. United is the official airline of the State Theatre.

“MI CASA TU CASA” RETURNS TO NJ THEATRE ALLIANCE’S STAGES FESTIVAL

MI CASA TU CASA
Co-created by Michael Aquino, Deivis Garcia, Jane Mandel, and Dania Ramos

WHEN:   March 1 and 8 at 11:00 AM
WHERE: Luna Stage, 555 Valley Road, West Orange
TICKETS: Adults $8, children 12 and under free (limit 4 children per adult).

WHEN: March 7 at 6:00 PM
WHERE: Abington Avenue School, 209 Abington Ave, Newark
TICKETS: Adults $2, children free.

WHEN: March 22 at 3:00 PM 
WHERE: Institute of Music for Children, 780 Salem Ave, Elizabeth
TICKETS: $6 adults, $4 children 12 and under; Institute Members $3.00 Adults, $1 children 12 & under.

For tickets visit: http://www.stagesfestival.org/

Mi Casa Tu Casa is a vibrant blend of music and stories for the entire family. This bilingual play highlights the universal elements of Latin American folklore and opens doors to a wide range of world cultures. Musicians and storytellers are your guides on a journey through time, place, and imagination. Even audience members become part of the fiesta in this unique interactive experience.

Mi Casa Tu Casa, a bilingual holiday show, premiered at Luna Stage in December 2011 and was remounted in 2012.

The touring version of Mi Casa Tu Casa offers favorite tales and songs in a new form that celebrates joy and magic found throughout the year. The current production, directed by Jane Mandel, features Michael Aquino, Jennica Carmona, Jane Keitel, and Chris Kent. It is presented as part of the 2014 New Jersey Stages Festival with generous support from the New Jersey Theatre Alliance and the HMS Foundation.

Michael Aquino is an actor, musician, and singer-songwriter. At Luna Stage, he was featured in Sheldon Harnick’s musical Dragons and Ibsen’s Ghosts. Michael served as the Summer Camp Director for Luna and collaborated with students in writing the score for their original musical. In 2008 Michael created Indie Music Circus, a showcase for independent musicians. 2010 saw the release of his band Sirs’ debut album, The Black Friday Sessions. Michael will be showcasing original music this spring at The Singer-Songwriter Cape May Festival.

Deivis “Deivito” Garcia is a Spanglish singer-songwriter based in Jersey City, NJ. He enjoys learning folkloric music of the Americas and synthesizing their sounds into music that reflects his perspective as a New Jerseyan of Puerto Rican and Bolivian descent. He is a co-creator of Mi Casa Tu Casa and a member of The Casa Band and Jersey City’s Spanglish super-group The United States of Boogaloo. He hails from Elizabeth, NJ.

Jane Mandel holds an MFA from New York University and has had a career in the theatre as actress, director, teacher and producer. She is the founder of the non-profit theatre, Luna Stage Company, and served as Artistic Director for over twenty years (currently AD Emeritus). One of her passions is creating devised theatre. She created and directed In the Name of the Woman (the first production done at Luna Stage), “We don’t have enough sugar for the public” (an exploration of Racism), The American Project (which asks the question “what does it mean to be an American?”), and co-created Mi Casa, Tu Casa (a bilingual Latino based play with music).

Dania Ramos is a writer and a theatre professional. Her writing has been featured at Repertorio Español, Luna Stage, Playwrights Theatre of NJ, Passage Theatre, and the Rose City Project Literary Reading Series. She was a runner-up in the 2013 MetLife Nuestras Voces National Playwriting Competition and a recipient of a NJ State Council on the Arts Playwriting Fellowship. She was a participant in Playwrights Theatre of NJ’s Emerging Women’s Playwrights Project. Dania is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from Wilkes University and a BFA in Theatre Performance from Montclair State University.

Luna Stage was founded in 1992 by Jane Mandel, Artistic Director, and became an Equity Theater in 1995. Its mission is to produce thought-provoking theatre that gives voice to emerging American playwrights and re-examines contemporary and classic plays that speak to our times. As producer, educator and innovator, Luna Stage is committed to collaborating with artists of multiple disciplines and partnering with our community to illuminate the diverse perspectives of our society.

Founded in 1981, the New Jersey Theatre Alliance supports a thriving professional theatre community with a wealth of resources. The Alliance provides innovative, collaborative and engaging programming for theatres and their diverse audiences. The New Jersey Theatre Alliance is committed to working with its membership to make live theatre accessible to everyone and serving as a cultural access resource for the state’s theatres and cultural community.

Websites: http://www.casaproductions.wordpress.com, http://www.lunastage.org, https://njtheatrealliance.org, http://www.stagesfestival.org

Original graphic design by Christopher Caporlingua. Logotype and paintings by Stefani Caporlingua.

RVCC ARTS SCHEDULES NEW SEMESTER OF LIFELONG LEARNING

Among its classes in the Spring Semester, the Lifelong Learning Institute at RVCC is once again including a course called the Theatre Arts Package. Enjoy the matinees of Tuesdays With Stories or CLUB28 and want to take the experience one step further? Consider taking this course, which includes, among others, the three shows below.   Request more LLL information and register today! Teacher Man WHEN: Tue., Mar. 4 at 12 & 7 PM This verbatim performance from the third in the trilogy of Frank McCourt's memoirs spans from McCourt's first days in the classroom to his ultimate retirement thirty years later. The actor presents this teacher's journey with the dry wit and pathos characteristic of this beloved author. more Tim Farrell WHEN: Thu., Mar. 20 at 12 & 7 PM Tim Farrell continually breaks new ground. He has been described as "one of the new trailblazers," a musician with the ability to entertain an audience and inspire future generations of players. His playing infuses craft, technique, and melodic substance to create a style that transcends genre. more Nearly Lear Susanna Hamnett WHEN: Tue., Apr. 8 at 12 & 7 PM Susanna Hamnett plays Noreen, who, in good Shakespearean tradition has disguised herself as a man to get the job of Lear's Fool—and every other character—to tell a very personal and poignant story that borrows from the words of 'that guy William Shakespeare'. more performance  tickets WHERE: The Theatre at RVCC | 118 Lamington Road | Branchburg

STNJ OFFERS CLASSES FOR ADULTS IN SCENE STUDY

www.ShakespeareNJ.org/Academy

WHEN: March 12 - April 30, Wednesdays, 7:30 – 9:30 PM (8 Sessions)
3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30
WHERE: the Theatre’s Support Facility: 3 Vreeland Road, Florham Park.
FEE: $365 ($340 for subscribers and past students)

ADULT SCENE STUDY: SHAKESPEARE & MOLIÈRE (ages 18 and up)
Designed for novice and early-level actors, this eight-week series provides a first step into the intricacies of these master playwrights’ works. Using monologues and scene work, participants will focus on the skills necessary to bring life to the classics, utilizing the genius of Shakespeare & Molière.

SHAKESPEARE THEATRE ACADEMY CLASSES BEGIN IN MARCH

WHEN: Go to www.ShakepeareNJ.org/Academy for class dates and information
WHERE: the Theatre’s Support Facility: 3 Vreeland Road, Florham Park.
FEES: $325-365, depending on the class

PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING NOVEL DRAMATIZED BY STUDENTS @ SETON HALL UNIVERSITY

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Dramatized by Christopher Sergel
Directed by Professor Deirdre Yates

WHEN: Feb. 27, 28, March 1 at 8 PM and March 2 at 2 PM
WHERE: Theatre in the Round, Bishop Dougherty University Center,  Seton Hall University, 400 South Orange Ave., South Orange  (View Map)
TICKETS: Free. No reservations needed

 

Atticus Finch is a lawyer in a racially divided Alabama town in the 1930s. He agrees to defend a young black man who is accused of raping a white woman. Many of the townspeople try to get Atticus to pull out of the trial, but he decides to go ahead. The play’s powerful message of racial tolerance fills the corners of an intimate setting as it chronicles the lives of three young children and a widowed father forever changed by an act of injustice in the small, fictional town.

Published in 1960, Lee’s indelible work would go on to win a coveted Pulitzer Prize.

If you missed last year’s production at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, you can catch this one for free!

JOIN GSP FOR THIS YEAR’S BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS

Put a Pulitzer Prize winning drama and a hilarious memoir on this year's reading list!

READ: I LOVED, I LOST, I MADE SPAGHETTI by Guilia Melucci or OUR TOWN by Thornton Wilder

TALK: with your book club members—OR—invite a member of the George Street Playhouse staff to attend your club meeting or to meet your group before or after the show.

SEE: I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti at George Street Playhouse
March 11 - April 6 or Our Town April 22 - May 25, 2014

Package Includes:

• A ticket to see a performance of I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti or Our Town at George Street Playhouse (on any date of your choice, subject to availability)

• A copy of I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti  or the published script of Our Town

• A study guide

• A discussion with a member of the George Street Playhouse staff (optional). We are happy to travel to attend your book club meeting or host your club here at the Playhouse before or after you see the show.

Complete package price: $58/person*

* Includes required $3.00 facility fee. Shipping & handling is not included and is based on size of the order. No shipping & handling fees if packages are picked up at the theatre. No minimum number of people required.

Contact jdulisse@georgestplayhouse.org or 732.846.2895 x134 for booking information

GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS UNUSUAL SEATING OPPORTUNITY FOR NEXT PRODUCTION

I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti adapted by Jacques Lamarre from the memoir by Giulia Melucci directed by Rob Ruggiero with Antoinette LaVecchia WHEN: March 11 – April 6 WHERE: George Street Playhouse, 9 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick TICKETS: A limited number of on stage seats are available from $74 to $102 (price varies based on performance); on-stage seating includes being served the three-course meal (antipasto, salad and freshly made pasta each performance) with wine. Limited to 10 people per performance. Contact the box office at 732-246-7717 to arrange for this one-of-a-kind experience. “A Delightful Comic Evening...” – The New York Times Antoinette LaVecchia plays Giulia Melucci, conjuring up a culinary masterpiece (cooking a three-course meal live on stage before our eyes) as she recounts stories about the men in her life and the meals that she made for them. Sponsored by The Karma Foundation

ORGAN VIRTUOSA PRESENTS MUSIC FROM MANY HISTORIC PERIODS

ORGANIST GAIL ARCHER
WHEN: Sunday, March 2, at 3:00 PM
WHERE: St. Gabriel the Archangel, 88 E. Saddle River Road, Saddle River, NJ
ADMISSION: FREE
For more info, call 201.327.5663 or visit www.stgabrielsr.org. 

“…compelling, programmatic, and a dazzling virtuoso display.”– Kansas City Metropolis
“…bracing physicality… a sense of vulnerability and awe.”  – New York Times

Organ virtuosa Gail Archer plays a program of music from many historic periods, including works based on familiar hymn tunes, Baroque and Romantic fireworks, and more.

Internationally renowned concert organist and recording artist Gail Archer undertakes an ambitious nationwide tour performing at some of the country’s finest churches and synagogues.  Starting and ending in her home state of New York, the 28-city tour will feature music off of her latest albums as well as some new works by female composers.

Archer is known for enthralling audiences with her musicality and sensitivity and for giving her interpretations a visceral quality. Hailed for maximizing the organ’s colors and capabilities, she touches the baroque then leaps to the late romantic and modern eras seamlessly. Her recital works include organ music by 20^th and 21^st century composers ranging from early Dutch literature to Bach, Mendelssohn, Liszt, Messiaen, and American music.  “My aim is to lift hearts and minds, and to inspire audiences with the color and power of the organ and five centuries of great organ music,” says Archer. As an advocate for female organists and composers, she also always programs works by women such as Joan Tower and Alla Borzova.

Besides traveling around the world to perform concerts, Archer is college organist at Vassar College and director of the music program at Barnard College, Columbia University where she conducts the Barnard-Columbia Chorus.  She also serves as the director of the artist and young organ artist recitals at the historic Central Synagogue, New York City.

UPDATED “WORKING” 2nd OFFERING BY WTC

CELEBRATE LIFE OF PRE-EMINENT PLAYWRIGHT, SCREENWRITER, PROFESSOR @ CROSSROADS THEATRE

www.CrossroadsTheatreCompany.org (LINK ON GRAPHIC WILL NOT WORK)

10TH ANNIVERSARY OF “RIDER DANCES” ANNUAL MAINSTAGE EVENT

Rider Dances Everywhere

WHEN: March 7th at 7:30 PM and March 8th at 2 PM
WHERE: Rider University’s Bart Luedeke Center, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville
TICKETS: $5 with a student ID and $20 for general admission
Box Office: 609.896.7775

2014 marks the 10th anniversary of Rider Dances, our annual main stage event. We are pleased to announce that our show will be entitled Rider Dances Everywhere, and we mean everywhere! For this special anniversary event we will be will be performing in several locations within the Bart Ludeke Center including the Pub, the Fireside Lounge, the Cavalla Room, as well as the theater.

In order for all guests to see all of the performances, they will be given a location to go to at the door where they will see a twenty-minute performance and rotate to the next location. All guests and dancers will end the concert in the Bart Ludeke Theater where the final performances will take place. The BLC is fully equipped to accommodate all audience members with easy entrances and elevators connecting all floors.

The Rider University Dance Department is pleased to announce that we will also be brining back a number of Alumni to perform with the current students as a celebration of this festive event. Any alumni still wishing to participate can email Dr. Kim Chandler Vaccaro who is artistic director.

Rider Dance does not print programs, however, you can use your magic devices! And (while we do not want you to check them during performances) anyone can download the entire program ahead of time from www.rider.edu/dance and have it in the palm of their hand.

Dance happens in many places and for a variety of purposes. In this event we explore social dance, dance as entertainment, and dance as art. We hope you can join us!

LEGO PROGRAM @ JCC CAMPUS IN WHIPPANY: BRING THE KIDS!

holocaustcouncil@fedgmw.org to RSVP.

REVIEW: CLASSIC FARCE COMES TO JOYFUL LIFE IN CENTENARY STAGE PRODUCTION

By Sheila Abrams

Is the winter getting to you? Are you suffering from the ice-and-snow blues?

Fortunately, you can shatter that chilly mood for at least a few hours of laughter and psychic sunshine. The Centenary Stage Company has launched a production of Pierre Corneille’s 17^th century farce, The Liar, in a “translaptation” by contemporary playwright David Ives. Whatever you choose to call this marriage of translation and adaptation, you will find it delicious.

Originally written in 1643, the play tells a story which is essentially very silly, as a farce is meant to be. It centers on the exploits of Dorante, a handsome young man who, given the option to lie or to tell the truth, seems always to opt for the former. Newly arrived in Paris, he meets two lovely young ladies and wows them with tales of heroic exploits he makes up as he goes along. Inevitably, this being a farce, he confuses the names of the two women (Clarice and Lucrece), leading to inevitable romantic mayhem. (Left: Brian Sheppard is “Dorante” and Tom Morin is “Cliton”)

Dorante also acquires a servant, the clever and compulsively truthful Cliton. Cliton gets into his own romantic mixup, falling for a maidservant who is, unknown to him, one of a pair of identical twins. And it just goes from there.

The plot is really irrelevant. Along with Dorante and Cliton, there is Geronte, Dorante’s doting but somewhat doddering Papa, and Alcippe, Dorante’s exceptionally loud and bombastic friend. There are, in short, the right number of people so that everyone appropriately ends up paired with a member of the opposite sex.

But to me, this play is the greatest treat for linguaphiles, lovers of language, of which you can count me as one. Ives has rendered it into bright, brilliant verse, so witty that one may find oneself anticipating the next rhyme rather than the next event. When I eat an éclair, it’s the filling that I like best. If The Liar were an éclair, the rhymes would be that custard in the middle. Interesting, too, because when Cliton first announced that the story would be told in verse, I groaned inwardly. I didn’t think I’d like it. I was wrong. (Above: Erica Knight is “Lucrece”)

Director Carl Wallnau, masterful at presenting farce, handles this one with a perfect light touch. It is airy. It is fast. There is no time to get bored. Brian Sheppard is a delight as the mendacious Dorante, and Tom Morin (who dazzled Centenary audiences last year in the title role of The Cripple of Inishmaan) is superb as Cliton. And Phil E. Eichinger is a smashing, crashing comic as Alcippe.

Another star in this production is the beautiful stage set by Bob Phillips. A row of crystal chandeliers set the glittering mood, with simple arrangements of props, furniture, shrubbery and so on, demonstrating how less can be more.

One more note: four attractive non-Equity performers, representing citizens of Paris, dance around the stage, changing scenery so that it all seems perfectly normal. Like the rest of the production, they are light as air.

The Liar will be available at the Lackland Center on the campus of Centenary College in Hackettstown to help you fight the winter blues through March 9. Call 908.979.0900 or visit www.centenarystageco.org.

All photos by Bob Eberle

4TH WALL SETS AUDITIONS FOR “AVENUE Q”

AUDITION NOTICE:

AVENUE Q
WHEN: Sunday, March 23, at 3:00 PM and Monday, March 24, at 7:00 PM. Sign-up begins a half hour prior to the audition start time, and anyone auditioning must arrive no later than 4:00 PM or 8:00 PM.
WHERE: Westminster Arts Center, 449 Franklin Street in Bloomfield, easily accessible by train or bus from Manhattan; directions are available at www.4thwalltheatre.org/directions.htm

Callbacks will be held on Tuesday, March 25, at an assigned time, if required.

4th Wall is seeking 7-14 very strong singers/actors (over age 18) to play 3 human characters and 11 puppet characters. No previous experience with puppetry is required. All roles are open, and some actors may double certain roles. Non-traditional casting will be strongly considered.  

CLICK HERE TO GO OUR AUDITIONS PAGE

NUTTY BY NATURE PRESENTS AN EVENING OF IMPROV

MARCH MADNESS — An Evening of Improv Comedy!

WHEN: Saturday, March 1st, at 8:00 PM
WHERE: the NJ School of Dramatic Arts Theater, 593 Bloomfield Ave, Bloomfield
TICKETS: $10.00.
Tickets may be reserved by calling 973.566.9700, Ext 4.

(Above, left to right: Jody Eiden, Rich McDonald, Shelley Miller, Ted Wrigley, Brendan Maly, Jacky Valeo, Laura Hartin, Robin Lewis, Paul Acocella, Matt Hopkins, Elaine Brodie & Tarek Salib; photo credit: Chris Bannon)

Nutty By Nature has been making audiences laugh throughout the metropolitan NY/NJ area for the past 15 years. In addition to having performed at The NJ Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), The South Street Seaport,12 Miles West, Theater Under the Stars,The Black River Playhouse, Luna Stage, Barnes & Noble and Borders bookstores; they were featured on the E! Television/Style Network's reality TV series, Try My Life.

The Herald News called them "Bawdy, brilliant and proof that ingenuity can strike at a moments notice." Members of the troupe include Troupe Director Paul Acocella of Oldwick, Elaine Brodie of Caldwell, Jody Eiden of Wyckoff, Laura Hartin of Montclair, Matt Hopkins of Elmwood Park, Robin Lewis of Livingston, Rich McDonald of West Orange, Brendan Maly of Butler, Shelly Miller of Mount Olive, Tarek Salib of Edison, Jackie Valeo of Saddle Brook and Ted Wrigley of West Orange.

The show is based entirely on audience suggestions! "After all", says executive director Bob Sapoff, "the only thing better than having a great idea is watching it come to life right before your eyes"! In addition to providing the material for the show, audience members are encouraged to bring their own crazy "props" that the actors will use during the show!

CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF THE BEATLES @ BICKFORD THEATRE THIS FRIDAY

Beatlemania Again!
WHEN: Friday, February 28, 8:00 PM
WHERE: Bickford Theatre, 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown
TICKETS: $20 for Members, $25 for Non-members

Join the Bickford Theatre to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the debut of the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. The Morris Museum is pleased to announce that the National Touring Beatles Stage Show will perform Beatlemania Again! .

Beatlemania Again! chronologically traces the Beatles’ career from their first American appearance in 1964, to the psychedelic Sgt. Pepper era, to the final years of Abbey Road and Let It Be. The show features over thirty of the Beatles greatest hits ever performed on stage.

To add to its authenticity, the National Touring Beatles Stage Show employs the same type of musical instruments used by the Beatles in the 1960’s including Hofner Bass Guitars, Rickenbacker Guitars, Gretsch Guitars, VoxAmplifiers and Black Oyster Pearl Ludwig Drums. In addition, the performance features three amazing costume changes.

Beatlemania Again! has excited audiences across the United States and Canada.  It has shared the stage with highly talented artists including BJ Thomas, The Grass Roots, The Lovin Spoonful, Chubby Checker and many more.  Come relive the music, the magic and the mania live on stage.

Tickets may be purchased by phone at 973.971.3706, or in person at the Bickford Theatre Box Office. The Bickford Theatre is an integral part of the Morris Museum, located at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, NJ, and offers free parking and full accessibility. Box Office hours for phone sales are Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Walk-up hours are Tuesday, through Friday, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Beatlemania Again! Image courtesy of the National Touring Beatles Stage Show.

LUNA’S NEW MOON READING SERIES, MONDAY, MARCH 3

WHEN: Monday March 3rd at 7:30 PM WHERE: Luna Stage, 555 Valley Road, West Orange The Morning After By Erica Saleh Directed by Tamara Fisch Nora is a feminist. Nora is not a victim. Nora is doing okay... until a night full of bad decisions makes her reconsider her understanding of her self, her choices and her labels.   Erica Saleh's plays have been produced and developed by theaters including Ensemble Studio Theater/Youngblood, Ars Nova, The 52nd Street Project, Studio 42, and the Claque. She is the recipient of a Michener Fellowship (University of Texas), and commissions from the EST/SLOAN project, and Dramatics Magazine. Erica is a member of ArsNova Play Group, the Ensemble Studio Theater, and an alumna of Youngblood. She received her MFA from The Michener Center at the University of Texas and her bachelor's degree from Brown University.   Be a part of the play development process! The New Moon Play Reading Series The First Monday of Every Month (Oct.-May) Readings are followed by a talkback with the playwright. No Reservations Necessary Suggested Donation: $5 at the door

JOHNNY WINTER’S LEAD GUITARIST TO LEAD MASTER CLASS @ SOPAC

GUITAR CLASS LED BY PAUL NELSON
WHEN: 3 PM on Saturday, March 8
WHERE: SOPAC Loft, One SOPAC Way, South Orange
COST: $40
www.SOPACnow.org

South Orange Performing Arts Center is pleased to announce a one-hour special guitar master class led by Paul Nelson, who will be joined by Johnny Winter’s band.

The class is being held in conjunction with an evening performance by Winter and his band that evening. Nelson, who has played with classic rocker Johnny Winter since 2003, has a career spanning albums and bands as well as compositions of pieces for television broadcasts. The class will feature instruction on the blues, rock, scales, chords and theories for guitar players of all levels. All participants encouraged to bring their own guitar to the class.

A hired gun with countless worldwide touring acts, Paul Nelson is credited as composer and performer for the music heard on international and national television broadcasts such as NBC, TNN, UPN, and for the WWE. Nelson, who studied with Steve Vai and both fusion greats Steve Khan and Mike Stern, released his first highly acclaimed all instrumental rock/fusion solo release, Look in early 2000. Nelson has performed live and/or on recordings along side a list of today's top artists such as Johnny Winter, Leslie West, Billy Gibbons, Robben Ford, Slash, Vince Gill, Warren Haynes, Sonny Landreth, Robben Ford, Los Lobos, Kim Wilson, Elvin Bishop, Dr. John, Brian Setzer, Mark Knophler, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Steve Morse, John Popper, Derek Trucks, Marty Friedman, Susan Tedeschi, Larry Carlton, Steve Vai, Vinnie Moore, Joe Louis Walker, Hubert Sumlin, Rick Derringer, Harvey Brooks, Bill Evans, James Cotton, John Medeski, Magic Slim, Coco Montoya, Reese Wynans, Edgar Winter, Ray Davis, George Lynch, James Cotton, Anthony Jackson, Dickey Betts, Junior Brown, Jimmy Vivino and La Bamba of Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Paul Schaefer's CBS Ochestra and the Blues Brother Horns. Nelson is a current member of Johnny Winter's worldwide touring band and is currently working on Winter's latest album, Step Back for Megaforce/Sony. Watch Paul Nelson perform "Dust My Broom" with Johnny Winter live on The Late Show with David Letterman.

SOPAC SCHEDULES SPRING FAMILY PERFORMANCES

DIARY OF A WORM, A SPIDER AND A FLY
Omaha Theater Company on Tour
WHEN: SUNDAY MARCH 16, AT 2 PM
WHERE: SOPAC, One SOPAC Way (behind the train station), South Orange
TICKETS: $13 to $25

It’s not easy being a bug, especially on the first day of school. Luckily for Worrying Worm, Fearless Fly, and Sassy Spider, every creature finds its special talent. This hysterical musical will have you cheering on the quirky crawlers as they face problems and milestones common to us all.

Based on the New York Times best selling Diary of a Worm series, this musical adaptation from the Omaha Theater Company will delight families with children from pre-school-grade 3. Children are invited to wear their favorite insect or animal costume to the performance! An onstage costume parade will take place along with other interactive events.

ALADDIN & OTHER ENCHANTING TALES
Enchantment Theatre Company
WHEN: SATURDAY APRIL 12, AT 2 PM
TICKETS: $13 to $25

A giant genie, princesses, and wizards abound in the marvelous tales of Scheherazade, the storyteller heroine of Aladdin & Other Enchanting Tales. Join us on a fantastic journey brought to life with stunning costumes, puppets, illusion, and pantomime. Scheherazade tells her tales to heal her Sultan and save his kingdom: Aladdin discovers a genie's lamp in a hidden cave; Sinbad sails to distant lands where he rescues an enchanted bird; the Kalandar Prince battles a fiery dragon.

Set to the music of Rimsky-Korsakov, Aladdin and Other Enchanting Tales brings children into the magical world of the mysterious East, where anything can happen! This performance by the Enchantment Theater Company will feature engaging large-size puppets.

About SOPAC
Since 2006, SOPAC has been serving as a premier performing arts center in the region. SOPAC offers innovative artistic and cultural experiences for diverse audiences in an intimate, inviting environment. The multidisciplinary arts center hosts a variety of live performances, community events and education programs for all ages. To further expand its offerings, SOPAC has a partnership with the Juilliard School of Music to present Juilliard @ SOPAC—a series featuring upcoming musicians from the acclaimed conservatory. SOPAC is also a home for Seton Hall University Arts Council’s performances, including Classical Concert Series, Jazz N’ the Hall performances and Seton Hall Theatre productions. SOPAC also presents performances by its theater company in residence, Midtown Direct Rep, and its dance company in residence, Lydia Johnson Dance. For more information, visit SOPACnow.org.

WOMEN IN JAZZ CELEBRATES MARCH AS WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

The New Brunswick Jazz Project regularly includes female musicians in their scheduled events, but in celebration of Women’s History Month, for the past four years, NBJP dedicates March to showcasing jazz performances featuring women band leaders. The NBJP Fourth Annual Women in Jazz Series kicks off 6:30 PM on Saturday March 1, at Alfa Galley with a free showing of the film The Girls in the Band, an award winning documentary about early 20^th century women jazz musicians. Alfa Gallery will also open an exhibit of photographs and paintings of female jazz artists. After the film, there will be a performance by trombonist/vocalist, Emily Asher and her Endangered Species Band.

The Series will consist of twelve performances held at The Hyatt, Makeda, Sophie’s Bistro and Tumulty’s where the Emerging Artist Series (jazz student musicians) will also be led by women.

Since April 2010, the New Brunswick Jazz Project has been dedicated to sustaining the legacy of this uniquely American music form in the New Brunswick area. New Brunswick is, and has been for many years, a cultural hub, but until 2010, there were no regular opportunities to enjoy jazz locally. NBJP hosts events weekly and has presented over 750 shows in downtown New Brunswick featuring both regional and internationally acclaimed jazz artists.

The organization founded and run by Jim Lenihan, Virginia DeBerry and Michael Tublin, has been honored by New Brunswick City Market for outstanding arts programming. The Star Ledger called them “The freshest jazz presenters in the state.” NBJP accomplishments have also been lauded in The Home News, The Courier News, The Asbury Park Press, Inside Jersey Magazine, NJ Monthly, New Jersey Jazz Society Magazine and Rutgers University’s Daily Targum.

REVIEW: SMALL MUSICAL HAS BIG HEART @ PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE

By Ruth Ross

I call them "pocket musicals." It's not a technical dramatic term, but one I coined to describe short (often 90-minute), one-act musical plays with small casts, limited musical accompaniment, simple sets and uncluttered plots about ordinary people facing the vicissitudes of life.

Originally presented at the 2010 New York Musical Theatre Festival and subsequently staged Off-Broadway, The Other Josh Cohen, now onstage at the Paper Mill Playhouse, fits the description to a T. With book, music and lyrics by David Rossmer (right) and Steve Rosen (left), this energetic musical comedy traces the life of Josh Cohen ("a poor shlub who never pays retail") as he copes with what appears to be a lifelong battle with bad luck. He has no luck with women; he is broke and underemployed; and his apartment has just been cleaned out by a burglar. But when a mysterious letter arrives containing a check made out to "Josh Cohen" in the amount of $56,000, his annual St. Valentine's Day pity-party suddenly doesn't seem so bad. Unfortunately, he does not recognize the name of Irma Cohen, the woman who has sent the check (a long-lost relative?), so he sets out to find out who she is and why she sent him the money—a quest that provides much hilarity and fun.

The seven young actors pull quadruple duty as actors, singers, dancers and musicians. Only Rossmer and Rosen play single parts: the former as the Josh Cohen of the story and the latter as the narrator (and future Josh Cohen). Their repartee is charming and comedic, and even though Rossmer's Cohen is rather shlubby, he's very lovable and we find ourselves rooting for his success. The other five play a multitude of roles, a feat enhanced by the terrific costumes designed by Jennifer Caprio, along with wigs by Amanda Miller, to match each character (kudos to the dressers offstage, too). Check out the get-up on the actor playing Neil Diamond! (Above L-R: Hannah Elless, Kate Wetherhead, Steve Rosen, Ken Triwush; Photo by Jerry Dalia)

Kate Wetherhead is wonderful as Josh's various would-be girlfriends, all of whom ditch him rather unceremoniously. Vadim Feichtner, Hannah Eless, Ken Triwush and Catherine Salamone portray so many characters that it was hard to keep track of who played whom. Needless to say, they all performed with great energy and élan.

Ted Sperling's crisp direction keeps things moving along on a functional set by David Korns, so there is nary a dead spot in the action. Andrew Palermo's musical staging, especially the choreography, conveys youthful exuberance. And Vadim Feichtner's musical direction puts across the bouncy songs very well. Hannah Eless is to be commended for her drumming and drum arrangements. (Above L-R: Rossner, Elless, Triwush, Wetherhead, Feichtner, Salamone, Rosen; Photo by Jerry Dalia)

My only complaint is the decibel level of the sound by Randy Hansen. I was sitting in Row K, and much of the time I could not understand the lyrics. Those I did hear were clever; I wish I could have discerned more.

The Other Josh Cohen continues Paper Mill Playhouse's run of presenting new shows. While it may not have the scope (or the stars) of Newsies and Honeymoon in Vegas, the energy and passion of the actors (all of them from the Off-Broadway production) convey a big dramatic heart that envelopes the audience in this funny, uplifting story—big time!

The Other Josh Cohen will be performed eight times a week at the Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, through March 16. For information and tickets, call the box office at 973.376.4343 or by visiting online at www.papermill.org.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cocGS9zM24E

WOMEN’S THEATER COMPANY PRESENTS “WORKING”

WORKING
Written by Stephen Schwartz & Nina Faso
Directed by Barbara Krajkowski

WHEN: March 7-23, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM
WHERE: Parsippany Playhouse, 1130  Knoll Road, Lake Hiawatha
TICKETS: $25; Senior tickets $20
For more information or to order tickets visit www.womenstheater.org or call 973.316.3033

The musical WORKING paints a vivid portrait of the men and women the world so often takes for granted: the school teacher, the phone operator, the waitress, the millworker, the mason, and the housewife, just to name a few. Working explores the relationships and reveals aspects of their humanity, regardless of the trappings of the job itself.

NEWARK MUSEUM FEATURES FREE SPECIAL EVENING ON MUSLIM WOMEN AND ART & IDEAS

www.newarkmuseum.org
REGISTER HERE NOW (link on graphic will not work)

HUDSON THEATRE WORKS ANNOUNCES THEIR 2013 - 2104 SEASON

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
BY DALE WASSERMAN

COMING THIS SPRING…CHECK BACK FOR DATES AND TIMES

 

 

 

Hudson Theatre Works is committed to an ensemble collaboration as well as artistic risk through its work with its permanent company, guest artists, partner institutions and the surrounding community. It will be dedicated to a “rugged” aesthetic and will seek to tell stories, both new and old, classic and contemporary, which reflect our lives, relationships and world today.

Hudson Theatre Works primary focus is in bringing a living theatre community to the area of Hudson and North Jersey through performance, outreach and theatre arts instruction.