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Friday, October 31, 2014

PLAN AHEAD FOR “A CAPPELLA JAMBOREE 2014”

Light Opera of New Jersey presents

A Cappella Jamboree 2014

WHEN: November 14, 7:30 PM
WHERE:
Grace Episcopal Church, 4 Madison Ave., Madison
TICKETS: General Admission $20 

Our 19th year of fine a cappella singing will include:

  • The Gargoyles (young men) \The Daughters of Zion (young women)
  • The Moderately Bright Four (mixed voices)
  • The Four Bari's Quartet (female barbershop harmony)
  • Cohesion (all male)

and featuring The Colgate Thirteen of Colgate University (all male collegiate singering)

Details to follow!

Click here:  TICKETS for a cappella JAMBOREE  NOV 2014

McCARTER CONTINUES 14/15 THEATRE SEASON WITH THERESA REBECK’S “THE UNDERSTUDY”

THE UNDERSTUDY
Written by: THERESA REBECK
Direction: ADAM IMMERWAHR

WHEN: October 14 – November 2, Thurs. 7:30 PM; Friday & Saturday 8 PM; Saturday 3 PM & Sunday 2 PM
WHERE:
McCarter’s Matthews Theatre, 91 University Place in Princeton.
TICKETS: Single tickets start as low as $25 and are on sale now 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.
For more info about The Understudy, please visit the production’s dedicated website.

Of Note: the Sunday, October 19th Dialogue on Drama will feature director Adam Immerwahr and playwright Theresa Rebeck in conversation, after the performance. Admission to Dialogue on Drama is free and open to the public, and will begin shortly after the 2:00 PM performance (roughly 3:30 PM). No ticket or reservation is required.


Pulitzer Prize-finalist Theresa Rebeck, creator and producer of the NBC hit Smash, pens a backstage battle royale for the ages. Things are looking grim at the understudy rehearsal for a hit new Broadway play—a “lost masterpiece” from one of the 20th century’s most enigmatic writers—Franz Kafka. The set technician is high, the cocky movie star doesn’t understand the script and the new understudy is surprised to find that the stage manager is his jilted ex-fiancée. Backstage drama steps into the spotlight in this biting comedy about art, celebrity, and the crazy things we do for the business we love.

The Understudy, which premiered at Roundabout Theatre Company on Broadway in 2009, will be performed in McCarter’s Matthews Theatre. With more than a thousand seats, McCarter’s production marks the largest space in which the work has ever been staged, featuring a scenic design by Tony and Emmy-Award winning designer Eugene Lee. Audiences will witness a production that takes full advantage of the expansive space - with action taking place onstage, at tech tables, in the back of the house, and right in the aisles.

Playwright Theresa Rebeck adds: “I’m really excited about the space at McCarter; that it will be produced in the larger theater [the Matthews]. I have never seen a production of The Understudy on a stage that size, which I think it was meant for. I’m grateful that Emily [Mann] had the vision to say, “Let’s do it.””

This production also marks the main stage directorial debut of Associate Artistic Director, Adam Immerwahr, who began his professional career in McCarter's Intern Program—a season-long educational and artistic training program dedicated to cultivating and mentoring the next generation of theater artists and artistic leaders.
According to McCarter Artistic Director and Resident Playwright Emily Mann: “Over the last decade I have had the distinct joy of watching Adam, who has always been an exceptional individual, develop his craft as both a director and an institutional leader and I am proud to introduce his work to McCarter audiences.”

The cast is a trio of young talents, with Adam Green as struggling actor (and understudy) Harry; Danielle Skraasdad as stage manager Roxanne; and JD Taylor as film star Jake. Princeton audiences will well-remember Adam Green for his recent tour-de-force turn as Figaro in McCarter’s productions of The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro. JD Taylor will be appearing at McCarter for the first time, having appeared at numerous theatres across the country including Denver Theatre Center and Williamstown Theatre Festival among others. Danielle Skraasdad, also a McCarter newcomer, has been featured in numerous regional theatres across the country; and New York in such productions as All My Sons (Broadway), In the Wake (The Public),  and The Moundbuilders (Signature).

The creative/design team includes a full-of-surprises scenic design from Eugene Lee, the Tony and Emmy Award-winning designer (Sweeney Todd, Wicked, Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, many more) who has created numerous celebrated worlds for McCarter in the past, including Proof, Last of the Boys, and A Seagull in the Hamptons. Joining Mr. Lee on the creative team are Stephen Strawbridge (Lighting Design), Kristin Isola (Costume Design), Nick Kourtides (Sound Design), Sam Pinkleton (Choreography) and Samantha Bellomo (Fight Choreography).

MONTCLAIR OPERETTA CLUB PRESENTS “GODSPELL” TO OPEN 90TH SEASON

PrintGODSPELL

WHEN:  November 7 – 16; Fridays and Saturdays at at 8:00 PM, Sundays 2 PM
WHERE:
Westminster Arts Center on the campus of Bloomfield College, located at Franklin & Fremont Streets in Bloomfield
TICKETS: $25 for adults, $22 for senior citizens and $15 for students with ID. GROUP RATES ARE AVAILABLE FOR PARTIES OF 20 OR MORE.
To order tickets call the box office at 973.744.3133 and leave a message. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.mocmusicals.org

Montclair Operetta Club, now in its 90th season, presents a fully staged production of Godspell at Westminster Arts Center on the campus of Bloomfield College. Founded in 1925, M.O.C. continues its long-standing musical theatre tradition with this exciting and innovative production. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by John-Michael Tebelak, Godspell is modern-day retelling of the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The score includes the well-known songs “Day By Day,” “Learn Your Lesson Well” and “By My Side.”

The cast features Daniel Yearwood as Jesus, Joseph Trible as John the Baptist, William Carey as Judas, and an ensemble of sixteen. The production is directed by noted Broadway casting director Bob Cline, a veteran of many M.O.C. productions, with musical direction by Gonzalo Valencia. Mr. Valencia has assembled an orchestra of talented musicians to accompany this top-notch cast. Felicity Selby is the stage manager for this production.

For more information about Montclair Operetta Club, call 973.744.3133 or visit www.mocmusicals.org

CONCERTS & DANCING @ THE MINSTREL THIS MONTH

Nov_7_Sally_Rogers and Claudia_SchmidtSally Rogers and Claudia Schmidt (split bill) at The Minstrel, Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, on Friday, November 7 from 8 to 11 PM. Adults $9; children 12 and under, free. For more info call 973-335-9489 or go to www.folkproject.org. Handicapped accessible; free parking.

 

Nov_14th_Jim_Kweskin_Happy_TraumJim Kweskin and Happy Traum (split bill) at The Minstrel, Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, on Friday, November 14 from 8 to 11 PM. Adults $9; children 12 and under, free. For more info call 973-335-9489 or go to www.folkproject.org. Handicapped accessible; free parking.

 

Nov_21_Jonathan_EdwardsFolk Project Special Concert – Jonathan Edwards and Lucy Kaplansky at Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, on Friday, November 21 from 8 to 11 p.m. Tickets $30 in advance; $35 at the door. For more info call 908-229-1214 or go to www.folkproject.org. Handicapped accessible; free parking. Nov_21_Lucy_Kaplansky

 

Nov_28_opener_Ken_&_Pat_Rolston_&_Hen3ry_NerenbergMike Agranoff at The Minstrel, Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, on Friday, November 28 from 8 to 11 PM. Ken and Pat Rolston and Henry Nerenberg open. Adults $9; children 12 and under, free. For more info call 973-335-9489 or go to www.folkproject.org. Handicapped accessible; free parking.

 

Swingin’ Tern Contra Dances

Techno contras with caller Dan Black and DJ Improper on Saturday, November 1 from 8 to 11 PM at First Presbyterian Church, Parish House, 14 Hanover Road, East Hanover. Beginners’ workshop at 7:30 PM. No partner necessary. Please carry in clean soft-soled shoes for dancing. Adults $15; students $10. For more information, call 973-295-6864 or go to www.folkproject.org. Just listening to the band is worth the admission, and listeners are welcome.

Harvest Hoot with caller Joe DePaolo and band Oy Diddle Diddle on Saturday, November 15 from 8 to 11PMm at First Presbyterian Church, Parish House, 14 Hanover Road, East Hanover. Beginners’ workshop at 7:30 PM. No partner necessary. Please carry in clean soft-soled shoes for dancing. Adults $10; students $5. For more information, call 973-295-6864 or go to www.folkproject.org. Just listening to the band is worth the admission, and listeners are welcome.

NEW JERSEY BALLET BRINGS MEMORABLE DANCE SEQUENCES AND A DOUBLE FEATURE TO CENTENARY STAGE COMPANY

njb_balletonbroadway_01_10_09_160  PHOTO ID -VAM PRODUCTIONS  (640x427)Ballet on Broadway; with the Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir 

 Peter and the Wolf/Beauty and the Beast

WHEN: November 8, 8 PM; November 9, 2 PM 
WHERE:
Sitnik Theater located in the David and Carol Lackland Center on the campus of Centenary College, 715 Grand Ave., Hackettstown
TICKETS: for Nov. 8, $25 for adults and $18.50 for children under 12; for Nov. 9, $20 for adults and $17.50 for children under 12
Tickets may be purchased on-line at www.centenarystageco.org, at the CSC Box Office in the Lackland Center at 715 Grand Ave. in Hackettstown, or by calling 908.979.0900. 
The Box Office is open Monday through Friday 1 – 5 PM, and two hours prior to performance times.  CSC also has a Box Office open during the main season at 217 Main Street in Hackettstown, Monday through Friday from 3 – 6 PM

The New Jersey Ballet performs Ballet on Broadway; with the Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir: From Seven Brides for Seven Brothers to Kiss Me Kate, New Jersey Ballet presents some of Broadway’s most memorable dance sequences set to the music of Sondheim, Cole Porter, Bernstein and more!

The New Jersey Ballet then returns with their exciting double feature Peter and the Wolf/Beauty and the Beast.  The power of courage and kindness are at the heart of this delightful double feature.  Clever Peter and his friends dance to Prokofiev’s famous score and Beauty’s gentle ways turn the Beast into a handsome Prince.  Featuring original “storyteller” narration.

The New Jersey Ballet has thrilled audiences from Bergen to Cape May with top quality professional ballet and has given hundreds of thousands of adults and children their first introduction to ballet and inspired in many a lifelong love of the arts.  Over the years, New Jersey Ballet has brought the magic of dance theatre to countless students, little children, senior citizens and adults of all ages.  New Jersey Ballet performs a variety of works from classical, contemporary and jazz ballet throughout the state, and has toured nationally and around the world.

The award-winning Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir consists of young performing artists ages 16-22. Over the last two seasons, the choir reached more than 100,000 people with performances throughout the state with their rousing renditions of Broadway, pop and classics

The 2014-15 season of performing arts events at the Centenary Stage Company is made possible through the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the NJ State Council on the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation and CSC sponsors, including Premier Sponsor Heath Village Retirement Community, Silver Sponsors Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, The Holiday Inn in Budd Lake, Fulton Bank, and Centenary Stage Company members and supporters.

Photo by VAM Productions.

KEAN STAGE PRESENTS BOBBY MCFERRIN

bobby mcferrin 3BOBBY McFERRIN

WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, AT 7:30 PM
WHERE:
Wilkins Theatre, Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue in Union
TICKETS: $35 Standard; $20 Senior, Student, Child and are available at the Wilkins Theatre Box Office on campus, by calling 908.737.SHOW (7469), and online at www.keanstage.com.

Tten-time Grammy Award-winner Bobby McFerrin is an eternal seeker, always defying the music industry’­s practical impulse to pigeonhole artists. His diversity and range are incomparable. Drawing on all genres, demonstrating matchless improvisational skills and an ability to create new vocabularies on the fly, he never fails to dazzle. Yet his music is always accessible and inviting. He has wowed audiences all over the world, blurring the distinction between pop music and fine art, goofing around barefoot in the world’s finest concert halls, exploring uncharted vocal territory and collaborating with artists from Yo-Yo Ma to Herbie Hancock.

PLAYFUL THEATRE’S “JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR” COMES TO MCCC’S KELSEY THEATRE


JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
By Andrew LLoyd Webber & Tim Rice

WHEN: November 7-16, Fridays, 8 PM; Saturdays, 8 PM; and Sundays, 2 PM. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on Nov. 7.
WHERE:
Mercer County Community College Kelsey Theatre, conveniently located on the college's campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor
TICKETS: $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $16 for students and children. 
Free parking is available next to the theater. 
Tickets may be purchased online at www.kelseytheatre.net or by calling the Kelsey Box Office at 609.570.3333. 
For a complete listing of adult and children's events, visit the Kelsey webpage or call the box office for a brochure.

When the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar hit the Broadway stage in 1971, it was an electrifying leap into a new kind of musical. The power of the music and the story that it tells still resonate some four decades later.

Loosely based on St. John’s Gospel account of the last week in the life of Jesus, the complex story is intensified by its musical retelling through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. Mixing issues of religion, politics both ancient and decidedly contemporary, mob psychology and personal responsibility, this riveting show is a must-see production for its depiction of the life and times of Jesus, and its groundbreaking place in the annals of musical theater.

JC_CastThe cast stars Michael Scibilia of Willow Grove, Pa., as Jesus; Richard Damaso of Milltown as Judas Iscariot; Vianna Fagel of Lawrenceville as Mary Magdalene; Ben Simons of North Brunswick as Pontius Pilate, and Maria Aromando of Bridgewater as Herod. Also featured are Evan Bilinski of Franklin Park as Caiaphas the High Priest; Tia Brown of Ewing as Simon Zealotes; and Matt Dawson of Hillsborough as Annas the High Priest.

The Apostles include Reginald Brockington of Hamilton, Melody Dougherty of Philadelphia, Pa., Jennifer Fischer of Hamilton, Michael Gearty of Langhorne, Pa., Bridget Hughes of Jackson, Paul Lasky of Hamilton, Jenna O’Neill of Hamilton, Christopher Singh of West Windsor and Michael Zweig of Philadelphia, Pa. Lead dancers are Kaitlyn Anthony of Bordentown and Emily O’Sullivan of Hamilton.

The show is directed by Frank Ferrara, with musical direction by Shannon Ferrara, associate musical direction by Mike Gilchand, and choreography by Renee Chambers-Liciaga. Costumes are by Michelle Rittmann and set design is by Bryan Schendlinger. Ruth Kresge and Nancy Scharf are the stage managers and Hilary Leboff and Suzanne Smith are the producers.

(Photo: From left, cast members Evan Bilinski, Tia Brown, Christopher Singh, Richard Damaso as Judas, Vianna Fagel as Mary Magdalene, Paul Lasky, Kaitlyn Anthony, Michael Gearty, Michael Scibilia (in white shirt) as Jesus, Michael Zweig, Emily O'Sullivan, Matthew Dawson, Reginald Brockington, Melody Dougherty, Jenna O'Neill, Ben Simons, Maria Aromando and Bridget Hughes.)

Thursday, October 30, 2014

THE STROLLERS TO PRESENT “CLYBOURNE PARK” IN NOVEMBER

“BEST MUSICAL EVER” COMES TO DEAL IN NOVEMBER

GYPSY
Book by Arthur Laurents
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Directed by Andrew De Prisco
Choreographed by Nicole DeVincenzo  
Musical Direction by Dr. Jeff Unger

 

WHEN: November 14, 15, 21, 22 at 8 PM; November 16, 23 at 3 PM
WHERE:
Axelrod Performing Arts Center, 100 Grant Ave., Deal
TICKETS: $32 Adults, $28 Seniors; $24 Students, $26 Groups; $20 Discounted Seats (Side/Rear Section)
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

From the first trumpet blast of its legendary Overture to the last white hot spotlight, Gypsy is considered by many to be "the best  musical ever."  Directed by Perry Nominated Andrew DePrisco, Gypsy tells the backstage tale of vaudeville entertainer turned stripper Gypsy Rose Lee and her domineering, overbearing mother, Rose, as Rose battles stage directors, theatre owners and hotel managers in her efforts to push her two daughters toward stardom during the dying days of vaudeville.  

This musical fable was created by three theatrical giants. The book is by two-time Tony Award winner Arthur Laurents, with music by two-time Tony Award winner Jule Styne and lyrics by multiple Tony Award winner Stephen Sondheim.Original direction and choreography was created by Jerome Robbins.  

The legendary score boasts such classics as Everything's Coming Up Roses, Together Wherever We Go, Let Me Entertain You and Some People. 

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

CLASSIC MUSICAL OPENS @ PLAYHOUSE 22 ON NOV. 7

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P22_MamePoster-Final-web_bannerMAME
book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee
music and lyrics by Jerry Herman

WHEN: November 7 - 23.  All performances are Friday evenings at 8 PM, Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM
WHERE:
Playhouse 22 is conveniently located at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center at 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick
TICKETS: $22 for adults and $20 for seniors and students and are available online at Playhouse22.org, by calling the Box Office at (732) 254-3939 or at the Box Office window.

The show follows the whirlwind adventures of an unconventional aunt and her nephew with a rogue’s gallery of memorable characters, plus hilarious encounters with proper society.  Mame opened on Broadway in 1966, starring Angela Lansbury and Beatrice Arthur.

Playhouse 22’s production is directed by Gerry Appel with music direction by Rory Chalcraft and choreography by Nancy Takacs. 

BONY TO FEATURE “DER SCHWANDENDRHEHER” FOR VIOLA & ORCHESTRA ON NOV. 9 IN CONVENT STATION

www.baroqueorchestra.org

NUTTY BY NATURE OPENS 18TH SEASON OF MAKING AUDIENCES LAUGH WITH THEIR IMPROV

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A Nut to Remember—An Evening of Improv Comedy

WHEN: Saturday, November 2, 8:00 PM
WHERE:
NJ School of Dramatic Arts, 593 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield TICKETS: $10.00
Tickets may be reserved by calling 973.566.9700, Ext 4.

Nutty By Nature has been making audiences laugh throughout the metropolitan NY/NJ area for the past 18 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, Wendy Tiburcio of Montclair, Jackie Valeo of Saddle Brook and Ted Wrigley of Bloomfield.

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!

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

DARDEN SMITH ROCKS THE HOUSE AT THE UCPAC LOFT!

Darden SmithDARDEN SMITH

WHEN: Saturday, November 8, at 8 PM
WHERE:
The Loft at Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving St., Rahway
TICKETS: Advance tickets are just $20 and can be purchased at www.ucpac.org. The concert is part of the on-going Split Level Concert Series which highlights critically acclaimed singer-songwriters in a uniquely intimate setting.

Darden Smith is an Austin-based singer-songwriter who redefines what it means to be a musician. With fourteen critically acclaimed albums in a career that spans almost three decades, Smith continues to write and tour across the US and Europe along with exploring new and innovative ways to use the craft of songwriting in education, entrepreneurship studies, and service.

Recording since 1986 from Austin, to New York and Nashville, from London to Los Angeles, his albums weave together rock, pop, country, folk and Americana influences with the musical roots of his home state of Texas. He has long transcended traditional singer-songwriter boundaries, and the evolving nature of his work since 2000 reflects his consistent creative excellence.

Smith founded The Be An Artist Program nearly a decade ago, and his seminars to encourage students to explore their own creativity and interests have reached more than 15,000 students across the United States and Western Europe.

His SongwritingWith collaborations find him teaming with, among others, U.S. soldiers transitioning to civilian life after combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, homeless youth in New Jersey and HIV-affected villagers in Africa. Darden also adapts his programs for corporate retreats and conflict-resolution workshops.

While continuing to expand his SongwritingWith collaborations and touring regularly, Smith is currently Artist-In-Residence at Oklahoma State University's Institute for Creativity and Innovation, where he seeks to share with students the challenges, joys and know-how in succeeding in creative business pursuits. His workshops and creativity sessions for Fortune 500 companies use songwriting to inspire new ways to listen, collaborate and learn in the traditional work environment.

Smith's latest album, Love Calling, was recorded and produced in Nashville during the spring of 2012 and was released in August 2013 on Compass Records.

Marci Geller will open the November 8th show. Marci is a piano-based contemporary singer-songwriter whose latest CD Open Book is garnering airplay on radio stations across the country. It debuted at #33 on the Folk DJ Chart and was named one of the "Top 100 Albums 2012" on the Cashbox Magazine/Roots Music Report Folk chart. She has performed on Live with Regis, Good Day NY and Fox Morning Show, and her music can be heard in a multitude of TV soundtracks. Her music has a cinematic quality to it, giving light to "small moments" prompting the listener to ask the bigger questions.

Upcoming Split Level Concerts include:

  • Lucy Kaplansky: November 29th at UCPAC's Hamilton Stage
  • Jen Chapin Trio: December 6th at The Loft at UCPAC
  • Willie Nile: December 13th at UCPAC's Hamilton Stage
  • Lisa Bouchelle with special guest Luke Elliot: December 31st at UCPAC's Hamilton Stage

For a full listing of shows, please visit the Split Level Concerts website at www.splitlevelconcerts.com and the Union County Performing Arts Center website at www.ucpac.org.

Monday, October 27, 2014

COMPUTER WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS GRADES 6–COLLEGE IN MONTCLAIR

WHERE: Montclair Public Library, 50 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair

My Digital Workflow with Barry Haines
WHEN: Saturday, November 1, at 3 PM
WHERE:
Auditorium
WHO: Grades 9-12 & College
No registration required

Our education institutions profess that we are going green, supporting local communities in bringing in their own devices, and eliminating textbooks in favor of digital resources. Really? So what does a digital workflow really look like in this age of new digital media? Come explore what the learner workflow should encompass. Example presentations and discussions will touch on using technology resources to: replace traditional textbooks: digitize text, use text-to-speech solutions to engage in challenging texts, efficiently search for authoritative resources, and cite sources. Come participate to build a vision of what our students need to know in order to interact with new digital resources in a digital workflow, grades 9-12 and college. Barry Haines is the Director of Technology for the Montclair Public School District and serves as an adjunct faculty for Lesley University, Cambridge, where he performs classes for their graduate national program in Administration and Multimedia Education, and Technology & Institutional Change.

Montclair Makes It: CoderDojo!
WHEN: Monday, November 17, 6-7:30 PM
WHERE:
Auditorium
WHO: Grades 6-12
Registration required

Join us for another Coderdojo event! Kids and Teens will learn from  volunteer mentors how to code, create websites, apps, programs and more. Meet and work with like-minded makers! This month our focus is Python code. CoderDojo makes learning to code a fun group experience and emphasizes the value of open source and free software. CoderDojo began as an informal programming club in an Irish high school, and has since grown into a global movement with more than 100 local groups in countries around the world.

KINNARA ENSEMBLE PRESENTS FIRST CONCERT OF THE SEASON: 3 DATES, 3 VENUES

Don't miss the first concerts of the season! Join Kinnara Ensemble this Halloween weekend for

REQUIEM

WHEN: FRIDAY 10/31 @ 8 PM
WHERE:
Thompson Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1680 Aqueton Road, New Hope, PA 

WHEN: SATURDAY 11/1 @ 8 PM
WHERE: 
St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 70 Maple Avenue, Morristown

WHEN: SUNDAY 11/2 @ 3 PM
WHERE:
All Saints' Church, 16 All Saints' Road, Princeton

TICKETS: $25; Student discounts are available.

KINNARA Ensemble, the region's most elite voices, presents an hour of singing honoring the season of remembrance with the deeply personal and reflective Requiem by Herbert Howells. Other repertoire includes Pearsall's Lay a Garland and Morten Lauridsen's Soneto de la Noche.

Comprising 32 voices, KINNARA Ensemble is a professional choir based in Princeton, NJ. Singers hail from all over the country for a week in residency together as they prepare for each concert series. Singers in KINNARA Ensemble perform with other professional ensembles such as Conspirare, The Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Apollo Master Chorale, Tucson Chamber Artists, and Skylark Ensemble.

 

Sunday, October 26, 2014

SOPRANO DUO TO APPEAR @ LIVINGSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

SHYPS AND ROSES

WHEN: Wednesday evening, October 29, 7:30 PM
WHERE: 
Livingston Public Library, Robert Harp Drive, Livingston
ADMISSION: no charge, no reservations are necessary and all are welcome.

The soprano duo are known for the uniqueness and diversity of their repertoire, which includes a variety of rare folk music as well as operatic, Slavic and European classics.

Olga Shyp, a native of Ukraine, is a graduate of the Odessa State Musical Academy. An accomplished recitalist and oratorio soloist, Olga has performed in the United States and toured Western and Eastern Europe.

Roza Bulat is a native of Uzbekistan and a graduate of Manhattan School of Music. She has sung leading roles in opera productions through out the United States.

The concert is sponsored by the Friends of the Library Music Matters series.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

STAR-STUDDED MONTH OF MUSIC, COMEDY, DANCE AND THEATRE @ SOPAC THIS NOVEMBER

WHERE: South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange
TICKETS: To purchase tickets, contact SOPAC at 973.313.ARTS (2787) or visit www.SOPACnow.org.

STORM LARGE, PINK MARTINI’S VOCALIST
Pop, Rock, Cabaret, Standards
WHEN: SAT 11/1 at 8 PM
TICKETS
: $20-$30
Acclaimed vocalist Storm Large sings the American songbook, Broadway tear-jerkers, rock goddess anthems and some of her own gorgeous originals all delivered with a fierce ­personal ­commitment.­ Storm shot to national prominence in 2006 as a finalist on the CBS show Rock Star: Supernova. She made her debut as guest vocalist with the band Pink Martini in April 2011, singing four sold-out concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.  She continues to perform with the band, touring nationally and internationally, and she was featured on their CD, Get Happy. Storm has also sung with Grammy Award-winner k.d. lang, pianist Kirill Gerstein, punk rocker John Doe, singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer George Clinton. She debuted with the Oregon Symphony in 2010, and has returned for sold out performances each year thereafter. Storm made her Carnegie Hall debut in May 2013, singing Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins with the Detroit Symphony as part of the Spring for Music festival.  The New York Times called her “sensational” and the classical music world instantly had a new star. 

ARLO GUTHRIE, THE SOLO REUNION TOUR…TOGETHER AT LAST
Singer-Songwriter, Folk
WHEN: TUE 11/04 at 7:30 PM
TICKETS
: $40-$78
Legendary singer-songwriter Arlo Guthrie performs an evening featuring his most beloved songs. Arlo is the eldest son of America’s most beloved singer/writer/philosopher Woody Guthrie and Marjorie Mazia Guthrie, a professional dancer with the Martha Graham Company and founder of The Committee to Combat Huntington’s Disease. Arlo’s career exploded in 1967 with the release of Alice’s Restaurant, whose title song premiered at the Newport Folk Festival helped foster a new commitment among the ’60s generation to social consciousness and activism. Arlo went on to star in the 1969 Hollywood film version of Alice’s Restaurant, directed by Arthur Penn. With songs like “Alice’s Restaurant,” too long for radio airplay; “Coming into Los Angeles,” banned from many radio stations (but a favorite at the 1969 Woodstock Festival); and the definitive rendition of Steve Goodman’s “City of New Orleans,” Arlo was no one-hit-wonder. An artist of international stature, he has never had a hit in the usual sense. Over the last four decades Guthrie has toured throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia winning a wide, popular following.

JEFFERSON STARSHIP
Classic Rock
WHEN: THU 11/06 at 7:30 PM
TICKETS
: $34-$65
Jefferson Starship, founded by Rock Hall of Fame inductee Paul Kantner (who also founded Jefferson Airplane) and David Friedberg (who also founded Quicksilver Messenger Service), soar into their 40th year, carrying one of rock music's greatest legacies and halcyon repertoires. The group’s music is the soundtrack of a generation including the smash hits “Somebody to Love,” “White Rabbit," and “We Built This City.” Recent television specials on PBS and HDNet have only furthered the legendary band's following. As genuine American good will ambassadors, they have appeared in 30 countries on 4 continents, including Brazil, Japan, Israel, and Serbia at the invitation of the American Embassy.

RALPHIE MAY
Comedy
WHEN: FRI 11/07 at 8 PM
TICKETS:
$24-$49
Since his debut on the very first season of Last Comic Standing, audiences just can’t get enough of this larger-than-life comedian. Ralphie May has a no nonsense point of view and the ability to connect with diverse audiences by pointing out society’s hypocrisies. Ralphie doesn’t shy away from touchy topics or ethnic jokes, nor does he bite his tongue when society suggests, because he sincerely believes that as long as what he’s saying is true, people need to hear it. Voted one of Variety Magazine’s “10 Comics to Watch,” Ralphie recently released his record-setting fourth one-hour special for Comedy Central titled “Too Big To Ignore,” proving that his relatable comedic genius is in higher demand than ever.

DAVID BROMBERG BIG BAND
Folk, Blues, Bluegrass, Big Band
WHEN: SAT 11/08 at 8 PM
TICKETS: $43-$70

With a stage full of incredible talent and no set list, the freewheeling David Bromberg Big Band concerts have become the stuff of legends. Bromberg’s sensitive and versatile approach to guitar-playing is steeped in the folk and blues traditions. He’s played with everyone, toured everywhere, and he can lead his raucous big band or hold an audience silent with solo acoustic blues. He became a first-call, “hired gun” guitarist for recording sessions, ultimately playing on hundreds of records by artists including Bob Dylan (New Morning, Self Portrait, Dylan), Link Wray, The Eagles, Ringo Starr, Willie Nelson, and Carly Simon.

ANA MOURA
World Music, Portugese Fado
WHEN: SUN 11/09 at 7:30 PM
TICKETS: $30-$50
Moura has a voice “made for melodrama…aesthetically thrilling and emotionally heartbreaking.”  Described by Examiner as “a torch singer with Mediterranean qualities,” exquisite vocalist Ana Moura possesses a sound unlike any other in fado. Her voice strolls freely through the Portuguese tradition, flirting elegantly with pop and broadening the soul-bearing genre to stunning results. The BBC raves, “her melancholic intimacy dominates the moment it sashays out of the speakers…setting a mood of mesmerizing sorrow.”
The artist released her seventh full length album, Desfado, in 2013, which was voted the Best World Music Recording of the Year by The Sunday Times of Lisbon. 

CAROLYN DORFMAN DANCE COMPANY: THE LEGACY PROJECT A Dance of Hope
Dance
WHEN: THU 11/13 at 7:30 PM
TICKETS:
$20-$30

  • “Emotionally “resonant.” -The New York Times
  • “Ingenious and powerful.” -The Star-Ledger

Acclaimed choreographer and storyteller Carolyn Dorfman has created an exultant “dance-theatre” trilogy that joins us through our common human experience. Told through the lens of the Holocaust and its unspeakable devastation, hope inspires the journey to a land that promises new beginnings! Through trials and triumphs, families are torn apart and come together. Our deepest desires for peace, freedom and family are illuminated in this triumphant work that will make you cry, laugh, think and celebrate the capacity of the human spirit to rise above all circumstance. On the heels of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the infamous “Night of Broken Glass” the evening concludes with “Yesterday’s Story is Today’s Reality”, a panel discussion with the artists and Seton Hall professors, clergy, and guests.

GET THE LED OUT, THE AMERICAN LED ZEPPELIN
Classic Rock, Tribute
WHEN: FRI 11/14 at 8 PM
TICKETS:
$30-$50
The premiere Led Zeppelin tribute band returns to the SOPAC stage! Dubbed by the media as “The American Led Zeppelin," Get The Led Out have captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the concert stage for a live experience like you’ve never heard before. Get The Led Out is a Philadelphia-based group consisting of six veteran musicians who are intent on re-creating Led Zeppelin’s songs in all their depth and glory with the studio overdubs that Led Zeppelin themselves never performed. When you hear three guitars on the album, Get The Led Out delivers three guitarists on stage. No wigs or fake English accents, Get The Led Out brings just what the audience wants…a high energy Zeppelin concert with an honest, heart-thumping intensity.

NEIL BERG’S 100 YEARS OF BROADWAY
Musical Theatre
WHEN: SAT 11/15 at 8 PM
TICKETS:
$30-$55
Award-winning composer, lyricist, and producer, Neil Berg brings the country's number one touring Broadway concert to SOPAC. 100 Years of Broadway recreates the greatest moments from the finest shows of the century featuring the stars of shows such as The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, CATS, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Jekyll & Hyde. These amazing performers light up the stage with songs from the hit shows in which they starred. Neil Berg presents brilliantly revived arrangements of Broadway showstopper classics as well as thrilling numbers from Broadway’s newest hit shows.

RACHELLE FERRELL
Singer-Songwriter, Jazz, Pop, R&B
WHEN: SUN 11/16 at 7:30 PM
TICKETS:
$54-$75
Rachelle Ferrell is unquestionably one of the most dynamic talents in contemporary pop music. Very few vocal artists in the industry have Ferrell’s potent combination of range, phrasing, and musicianship. Ferrell first emerged in the United States in 1992 with her R&B debut Rachelle Ferrell, a solid collection of self-penned originals that featured a striking duet with Will Downing titled “Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This.” It was with the release of First Instrument in 1994 (recorded prior to Rachelle Ferrell) that audiences were really introduced to Ferrell’s jazz sensibilities. Ferrell has worked with some of the top names in jazz, including Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, George Benson, and George Duke.

THE WEIGHT, CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF LEVON HELM AND THE BAND Featuring members of "THE BAND," Levon Helm Band & Rick Danko Group
Classic Rock
WHEN: FRI 11/21 at 8 PM
TICKETS:
$22-$38

Replicating the music of The Band is a tall order. But interpreting the music of The Band is an art. Songs that have reverberated across history for decades continue to speak to millions of us. And The Weight, a five-piece ensemble featuring Jim Weider and Randy Ciarlante from The Band, Brian Mitchell and Byron Isaacs of the Levon Helm Band and Marty Grebb, who worked with Rick Danko and Richard Manuel of The Band, remains a vehicle through which we can continue to share those stories and dance to those back beats. Come and take a load off.

THE MONSTER WHO ATE MY PEAS
Kids ‘N Family, Musical Theatre
WHEN: SAT 11/22 at 2 PM
TICKETS:
$13-$18
A highly amusing and moving musical about Danny, a boy who absolutely cannot stand to eat peas! When a crafty monster appears underneath his kitchen table, Danny is ready to make a deal… Danny agrees, if the monster will eat his peas, he will surrender any of his possessions. First, it's his soccer ball, then, it’s his bike. But, when the monster raises the stakes, will Danny refuse the monster and make the difficult decision to face his own fears? Prepare to be entertained and engaged by this wonderfully written tale about the value of will power. 

THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA
Gospel
WHEN: SUN 11/23 at 7 PM
TICKETS:
$45, $55, $65
Since 2000, the group has won five Grammy Awards, four Gospel Music Awards, and has delivered their spiritual message to countless listeners. Formed in the late 1930s at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in Talladega, the group has harmonized throughout the turbulent twentieth century and well into the twenty-first, from Jim Crow through Civil Rights and into the Obama era. The Blind Boys of Alabama are touring in support of their most recent album, I'll Find a Way, produced by Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver). A unique collaboration between one of popular music's longest-running acts and one of its fastest-rising stars, it is a powerful collection of gospel and spiritual songs new and old.

GIANTS OF JAZZ, HONORING MCCOY TYNER
Jazz
WHEN: SAT 11/29 at 8 PM
TICKETS:
$40-$60
Join us at this annual celebration! Honoree McCoy Tyner will be joined by some of the greatest names in jazz in this star-studded night of music. Check www.SOPACnow.org for the most up-to-date list of musicians performing that evening. Presented by SOPAC, Village of South Orange, and the Baird.

SOPAC programs are made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is a 501(c)(3)charitable organization.

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 premier 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 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.