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is your go-to spot for reviews, announcements and information about northern and central New Jersey theater, music, dance, museum exhibits and activities for adults, kids and their families. Click the tabs to find an event, or scroll down to the Labels at the bottom of the page to find what you are looking for.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
ART AFTER HOURS, TUESDAY @ THE ZIMMERLI ART MUSEUM
FREE MONTHLY PLAY READING SERIES MONDAY, DEC. 1 IN HOLMDEL
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UCPAC-RAHWAY HOSTS SEARCH FOR NJ’S BEST MUSICAL THEATRE VOICE
FINAL ROUND: 2014 FEARLESS ICON VOCAL COMPETITION
WHEN: Monday, Dec. 1, from 8-10 PM
WHERE: Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving Street, Rahway
ADMISSION: $10 and available online at www.ucpac.org, by calling 732.499.8226 or buying in person at the UCPAC box office, 1601 Irving Street, Rahway NJ.
RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY — For 15 intrepid singers, the dream of emerging as The Best Musical Theatre Voice in New Jersey will move one step closer to reality as the semi-final round of the 2014 Fearless Icon Vocal Competition in Rahway.
First prize? The winner gets to sing the dream role of their favorite musical theatre show.
Fearless Productions, Rahway’s resident theatre company, will purchase full stage rights and present the winner’s chosen play at Hamilton Stage in Summer, 2015.
Sound like An Impossible Dream for Some Enchanted Evening? Not if the judges Get a Kick Out of You.
Culled from an original field of 100 hopefuls, the 15 semi-finalists comprise a diverse group ranging in age from teens to late fifties hailing from towns big and small across the Garden State.
Vying for the five spots in the Dec. 14 final round are: Nikki Ashe (Lake Hiawatha), Lindsay Cherin (Manalapan), Darius Delk (North Brunswick), Michael Dooley (Cranford), Michael Ferlita (Sayreville), Kevin Hack (Parlin), Tim James (Somerset), Brianna Jarvis (Union City), Jessica Mennella (Montville), Taylor Patullo (Bridgewater), Kate Pentek (Sayreville), Suzanne Ramsey-Restivo (Monroe), Leslie Silverman (West Windsor), Kyrus Keenan Westcott (Hamilton), Kara Wilson (Rahway).
“The heart and soul of a great musical is a determined character giving everything they’ve got to achieve their dream,” says Fearless Productions artistic director Brian Remo. “With Fearless Icon, each contestant puts that heart and that soul on stage to attain their own theatre dream.”
Fearless Productions is a New Jersey drama ensemble who made an Off Broadway debut at the Snapple Theater Center this past Spring with Joelle Arqueros’ Sex, Relationships and Sometimes…Love. They’ll present Nine: The Musical at Hamilton Stage from Mar. 6-22, 2015.
Brian Remo believes Fearless Icon will discover a rich, new mother lode of untapped musical theatre talent.
“The next great Broadway singer is living somewhere in New Jersey,” he says. “Our mission is to find help them find their way to the stage.”
Saturday, November 29, 2014
REVIEW: INNOVATIVE “CAMELOT” PRESENTS ICONIC STORY WITH VERVE, FLAIR AND TALENT
By Ruth Ross
When Two River Theater Company listed Camelot in their offerings for the 2014-2015 season, I was perplexed. How could a small regional theater on what, I assume, is a somewhat limited budget produce such a beloved, blockbuster musical?
Well, I should not have worried. By thinking out of the box, the creative team at Two River has given us a play that is less spectacle and more human. Eschewing the elaborate scenery and costumes of most other productions (e.g., Broadway, the Paper Mill Playhouse), director David Lee and his crackerjack production team provide this classic romantic triangle with more nuance than we usually associate with it. It's all about the people, folks.
Written by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe in 1960 and adapted from T.H. White's novel The Once and Future King (also the source for The Sword in the Stone cartoon film), Camelot starred a trio of heavy hitters: Julie Andrews as Guenevere, Richard Burton as King Arthur and Robert Goulet as Lancelot; Roddy McDowell played the villain Mordred, a smaller albeit pivotal role. Lush music and clever lyrics told the tale of star-crossed lovers, caught in a web of friendship, politics and passion. The production was a feast for eyes and ears. (Left: Britney Coleman as Guenevere and Oliver Thornton as Arthur)
In Red Bank, Lee and his team have pared down the scenery to a series of platforms, stairs, ladders, metal beams and a catwalk high above the stage, along with some ragged draperies and movable props to recreate a medieval court. As the play begins, the eight actors—all of them young, vital and handsome—stroll onstage casually dressed in contemporary duds. To signify their royal characters, designer Tilly Grimes has them don simple vests, jackets, crowns and garlands, boots and, for Guinevere, a skirt, as the action begins. Sound effects and announcements of various locations make sure we never lose our way as this iconic tale wends its way to its terrible end.
The legend of King Arthur has a long history. The real Arthur was probably a fifth century Romanized Celtic chieftain who attempted to stem the tide of the Saxon invasion from the east. Stories about him floated about for years, but it took a 12th century Welsh monk, Geoffrey of Monmouth, to turn him into a king. In the 15th century, Sir Thomas Malory gathered the legends into Le Mort d'Arthur (The Death of Arthur) and gave us the Arthur–Guenevere–Lancelot plot, a juicy story subsequently picked up by the poet Tennyson in Idylls of the King and popularized in the 20th century by the Mary Stewart Arthur trilogy and T.H. White’s novel. It is the latter that gives the musical its core impetus: the idea that might does not make right, that a civilized society does not condone violence (especially against the defenseless) and that disputes can be settled by law in courts before a jury, rather than by battles royal. (Above, the Company performs “The Jousts.”)
The actors chosen to tell this story may not be household names yet, but there is a bright future for this talented bunch. As Arthur, Oliver Thornton (left, knighting Nicholas Rodriguez as Lancelot) is mix of uncertainty and resolve—the former from his becoming king in an unusual way (he pulled a sword from a stone), the latter from the eternal optimism of the young. His excitement as he talks about his plans is palpable, which makes the final scene before his ultimate battle with Mordred even more poignant. Too, he has a beautiful voice and a playful manner, as showcased in "I Wonder What the King Is Doing Tonight" and his vivid explanation of what simple folk do when they're blue. Britney Coleman is a fetching Guenevere, a strong young woman who nevertheless longs to have men fight for her honor in the traditional way! She's equally at home with comic numbers ("The Lusty Month of May/Then You May Take Me to the Fair") as she is with ballads projecting her longing for Lancelot. Ah, Lancelot! Nicholas Rodriguez (a Channing Tatum look-alike) is magnificent in the role of the arrogant French knight who crosses the Channel to join the Round Table. His swagger is that of a young narcissist without the oiliness of Goulet. And his rendition of "If Ever I Would Leave You" brings tears to the eyes. Best of all, real chemistry, physical and psychological, is exhibited by this trio. We feel their longing, love and pain very keenly, unobscured by pomp and ceremony.
Superb support is provided by Ryan G. Dunkin (Sir Sagramore), Kent Overshown (Sir Dinadan), Perry Sook (Sir Lionel) and Parker Slaybaugh (Tom). Talented Hunter Ryan Herdlicka is a malevolent, scheming Mordred, a real contrast to Arthur's new world order; he has great fun decrying "The Seven Deadly Virtues" and proclaiming with the other knights "Fie on Goodness" as they bring Camelot to an end. [Above: Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (Mordred), second from right, surrounded by Perry Sook (Sir Lionel), Ryan G. Dunkin (Sir Sagramore), and Kent Overshown (Sir Dinadan) decry goodness.]
Steve Orich and his eight musicians play the familiar melodies without overpowering the singers. Kudos to Michael Gilliam (lighting design), Acme Sound Partners (sound design) and J. Steven White (fight direction). Once again, David Lee shows his versatility as a director; his last gig was helming Can-Can at the Paper Mill Playhouse. He certainly is a director to watch.
Camelot has always been one of my favorite musicals. It hearkens back to the heyday of the form, with musical numbers that grow organically from the action, move it along and enhance it; nimble choreography by Mark Esposito; and a book that actually tells a story, instead of being a pastiche of pop or rap songs. As the archetypal love triangle, the Arthur-Guenevere-Lancelot tale never gets old. Here, in its latest charming and most intriguing incarnation, the Two River Theater Company has given us a Camelot for our own time—just in time for the holidays. It is a terrific gift, one you will want to share with your relatives and friends, one that will stay with you long after you have left the theater.
Camelot will be performed at the Joan and Robert Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank, through December 15. An extra performance has been added on Sunday, December 7, at 7:30 PM. Tickets are available from the box office 732.345.1400 or www.tworivertheater.org online. Call for performance times and information. Parking is free in the theater's spacious lot.
Friday, November 28, 2014
3 CHANCES TO SEE “CHAIRS OF INCLUSION” EXHIBIT AROUND THE AREA
For information about the exhibit’s genesis, the participating artists and our intention in bringing this to the public, go to www.ChairsofInclusion.com.
There are various film clips, featuring the collaboration of professional artists, with our Wae Center member artists here.
WHEN: November 9, 2 – 5 PM Opening Exhibit
WHERE: Gaelen Gallery East, JCC, 760 Northfield Rd., West Orange
ADMISSION: free
WHEN: December 20, 2014 – February 1, 2015
WHERE: Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Road, Morristown
WHEN: June 7 – 14, 2015
WHERE: Visual Arts Center of NJ, 68 Elm St., Summit
Thursday, November 27, 2014
$5 FRIDAY FOR TICKETS @ CROSSROADS THEATRE
www.CrossroadsTheatreCompany.org
WHERE: Crossroads Theatre, 7 LIVINGSTON AVE. NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ
www.crossroadstheatrecompany.org | 732-545-8100
Crossroads Theatre Company thanks its major supporters:
Johnson & Johnson
The Geraldine R. Dodge 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
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
REVIEW: SNAPPY, TUNEFUL A CAPELLA MUSICAL OPENS @ GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE
By Ruth Ross
Barbershop quartet music—unaccompanied four-part close harmony sung as if by one voice— had its heyday in the early decades of the twentieth century and experienced a revival in the late 30s, complete with regional and national competitions, trophies and even a Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post cover. If you've never heard barbershop music, think Meredith Willson's "Lida Rose" from The Music Man.
Come to think of it, if you've never heard this distinct American art form, get on over to the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick for The Fabulous Lipitones, a gentle, if formulaic, comedy about a quartet of middle-aged men who, when their lead singer drops dead while singing a heart-stopping high B-flat at a regional finals, search for a replacement before the Nationals. Serendipitously, during a phone call with the owner of the local garage, they hear the dulcet tones of a mechanic named Bob and ask him to come over for an audition. Without giving too much away, suffice it to say that upon meeting him, he is not quite what they had expected. What ensues is a comedic tale about the serious subject of battling stereotypes, misunderstandings and pitch-perfect harmony.
The three remaining Lipitones—Phil Rizzardi, Howard Dunphy and Wally Smith—have sung together since they were in high school. Each corresponds to a type: Phil is a Tom Jones-wannabe who imagines he's popular with the ladies; Howard, a rather docile man who cares for an ailing wife, finds an outlet in barbershop music that helps him cope; and Wally is a pharmacist who, in his sixties, still lives with his ancient mother (and is probably still a virgin). Such stock characters might sink a lesser comedy, but the terrific acting, spot-on comedic timing and amazing voices, along with snappy (if often cringe-inducing) dialogue, help make The Fabulous Lipitones an immeasurably entertaining experience.
Donald Corren (above, right) is splendidly obnoxious as Phil, proprietor of a gym and tanning salon and wearer of an awful striped toupee! He struts around the stage like the macho guy he thinks he is, puts down everyone who disagrees with him and gets to utter some of the most bigoted dialogue you'll ever hear. That this talk comes out of the mouth of an ignoramus blunts its edge, and Corren's Phil redeems himself at the end. Wally Dunn (above, left) plays Wally Smith with a great feel for comedy. He makes outlandish pronouncements with a wide-eyed naivetĂ© one would not expect to hear from a 60-something man. Dunn’s portrayal of Wally's experiences with online dating (a new thing for him) are especially hysterical. Jim Walton's Howard (above, center) is the peace-maker, the generous soul open to new experiences, even if he's pretty much locked in the house caring for his ill wife. His love of barbershop is palpable (he'd love to sing sea chanties!), and as the ringleader of the group, he makes us love it too. Phil may say, "Doo wop is dead; [barbershop] is extinct," but once these guys start to sing, a wave of nostalgia washes over the audience.
YouTube sensation Rohan Kymal as Bob (right, second from right) almost steals the show from these three Broadway veterans. His energy and enthusiasm are infectious. His Bob is unafraid to try new things and jumps into four-part harmony with Ă©lan! Kymal refuses to make Bob a stereotype, and for that we are grateful. Of course, playwrights John Markus and Mark St. Germain are to be commended for a smart script that rises above the ordinary, and Michael Mastro's direction keeps the gags coming without letting the proceedings descend into a one-joke play.
R. Michael Miller's set personifies the life these men lead in London, Ohio (a farm town 40 miles west of Columbus); Esther Arroyo's costumes fit the characters, time and place very well, and Christopher J. Bailey's lighting and Scott Killian's sound round out the fine production values. Michael Lichtefeld's snappy choreography adds to the fun.
Producing new plays—especially new musicals—is risky, but the intrepid George Street Playhouse has often done so to great success, witness [title of show] a few seasons back, and now The Fabulous Lipitones. Barbershop music may no longer be in style, but good acting always is. Thank you to the George Street Playhouse for reminding us about the importance of harmony.
The Fabulous Lipitones will be performed at the George Street Playhouse, 9 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, through December 14. For information and tickets, call the box office at 732.246.7717 or visit online at www.GSPonline.org.
Photos by T. Charles Erickson.
BLACK FRIDAY BLOWOUT @ UCPAC
A SPECIAL Holiday Offer From Your Friends at UCPAC!
Box Office Open 11 to 5 Fri. Nov. 28!
Click here to view UCPAC's entire Calendar of Events.
BOX OFFICE INFORMATION
Purchase tickets online at www.ucpac.org or call 732-499-8226
BOX OFFICE HOURS
- Tuesday - 11 AM to 5 PM
- Wednesday - 11 AM to 5 PM
- Thursday - 11 AM to 8 PM
- Friday - 11 AM to 5 PM
The UCPAC Box Office is also open 2 hours prior to any ticketed event and will remain open through intermission.
BRING YOUR GROUP AND SAVE!
Groups of 10 or more may be entitled to a discounted ticket price.
Limited discounted tickets are available. Call the Box Office today to make your reservations.
ACCESSIBILITY
Patrons needing assistance should contact UCPAC at least
three weeks prior to the performance for which you have tickets.
Please call the Box Office for details.
PARKING & DIRECTIONS
Parking is available to our guests at Rahway's multi-level parking deck,
located on the corner of Main Street and Lewis Street.
A free shuttle is often available to and from the theatre.
Click here for directions to the Union County PAC
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
For an up-to-date listing of UCPAC events, visit the
Calendar of Events page on our website at www.ucpac.org.
* Programs, artists, dates, times and prices are subject to change without notice.
ONE-MAN “CHRISTMAS CAROL” HIGHLIGHTS HAMILTON STAGE
Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk rings in the holidays with a one-man performance of
A Christmas Carol
WHEN: Sunday, November 30, at 2:00 PM
WHERE: UCPAC's Hamilton Stage, 360 Hamilton Street, in Rahway.
TICKETS: $18 and available online at www.ucpac.org, by calling 732.499.8226 or in person at Union County Performing Arts Center box office, 1601 Irving Street, Rahway.
Using over 30 character voices, Kruk delivers a dramatic retelling of Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.
Musical accompanist Jim Keyes supplements the onstage action with a 19th-century parson’s organ, harp, violin and chains.
Featured on CBS Sunday Morning and in the New York Times, Jonathan Kruk has been inspiring active listening and vivid imagining at schools, libraries, parks and concert halls across the U.S. for a quarter century. From Shakespeare and Sir Gawain to Rip Van Winkle and the Headless Horseman, Jonathan assumes dozens of character guises that bring literary classics to vibrant life.
UCPAC holiday schedule includes
- Lucy Kaplansky (Nov. 29)
- Legends and Bridge by Fearless Productions (Dec. 2-7)
- Jen Chapin Trio (Dec. 6)
- Orchestra of St. Peter-by-the-Sea (Dec. 6)
- DooWop Holiday Extravaganza (Dec. 12)
- It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play by Mystic Vision Players (Dec. 12-20)
- Willie Nile (Dec. 13)
- Seussified Christmas Carol by Fearless Productions (Dec. 13-14)
- Rockin’ New Year’s Eve with Lisa Bouchelle & Luke Elliot (Dec. 31)
- El Sueño: The Dream – Spanish Nutcracker by Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre (Jan. 4).
For more information about the 2014-15 performance season at Union County Performing Arts Center and Hamilton Stage, visit www.ucpac.org
BLACK FRIDAY SALE @ McCARTER THEATRE IN PRINCETON
McCarter Theatre Center | Ticket Office: 609.258.2787 |
SAVE 25% ON AN HOMAGE TO “MAME” @ NJPAC
It’s Today: Mame at NJPAC
A co-presentation with 54Below, Broadway’s Supper Club
Light the candles! Get the ice out!
A glittering lineup of Broadway and cabaret stars—featuring Marilyn Maye and Dee Hoty—pays homage to Mame, one of American theater’s most cherished musicals.
This special holiday soiree salutes the great Jerry Herman score with acclaimed singers and a brassy trio primed to "coax the blues right outta the horn."
It’s Today: Mame at NJPAC covers numbers from "Bosom Buddies" to "If He Walked Into My Life" with the talents of Raissa Katona Bennett, Klea Blackhurst, Annie Golden, Lewis Grosso, Cady Huffman, Matt Lehay, Karen Mack, Karen Mason, Sean McDermott, Miles Phillips, Molly Pope, Lee Roy Reams, Brian Charles Rooney and Lisa Sabin.
54 Below, Broadway’s Supper Club, combines performances by Broadway’s best with world-class dining in an elegant setting. Created by Tony Award winning theatrical producers and scenic, lighting and sound designers, 54 Below has become "a hip hangout for Broadway babies and the fans who love them." (strong)
WHEN: December 6th 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM (85 min)
WHERE: NJPAC, 1 Center Street, Newark
TICKETS: Regular Price: $50; discount price 25% off regularly priced tickets
HOW TO GET TICKETS:
Click Here and enter code TMANIA
1-888-GO-NJPAC and mention code TMANIA
Bring a printout of this offer to: NJPAC, One Center Street, Newark, NJ, 12-6 PM
Also coming up at NJPAC...
THE HIP HOP NUTCRACKER
December 5th at 8 PM
December 6th at 2 PM
Save 25% with code TMANIA
World premiere!
Rap legend Kurtis Blow is special guest MC for this holiday mash-up for the whole family! The Hip Hop Nutcracker, reimagines Tchaikovsky's classic score through explosive hip-hop choreography. A dozen all-star dancers, DJ, violinist, and digital scenery bring the traditional Nutcracker story to life with a contemporary urban twist.
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL
December 26th at 6 PM
December 27th at 2 PM & 6 PM
Save 25% with code TMANIA
Only metro area engagement!
The original animated television classic comes to life! Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical soars off the screen and onto the Prudential Hall stage this holiday season with a sleigh full of hits: "A Holly Jolly Christmas," "Silver and Gold" and "The Most Wonderful Day of the Year." Tickets to this first-time-ever tour make an unforgettable Christmas gift.
*Conditions: No refunds. Offer may be revoked at any time. May not be combined with any other offer. Artists and schedule subject to change. Valid for Nutcracker in balcony only. Valid for Rudolph in Tiers 2 & 3 only. |
NUTCRACKER SWEETS TEA PARTY THIS FRIDAY IN PRINCETON
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HOLIDAY MUSIC IN WESTFIELD WITH NJ FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
www.NJFestivalOrchestra.org for tickets and information
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
HELP FEED LOCAL FOOD INSECURE FAMILIES ON #GIVING TUESDAY
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JOIN THE COMMUNITY CHALLAH BAKE AT THE COMMUNITY FOODBANK OF NJ ON GIVING TUESDAY
more than 700 challahs for clients of Jewish Family Services of MetroWest and Central NJ, Jewish Relief Agency, and the Bobrow Kosher Food Pantry
We are partnering with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and will be kashering parts of their facility in coordination with the Vaad Hakashrut of MetroWest to meet our needs.
The Community FoodBank of NJ is located at 31 Evans Terminal, Hillside.
Advance registration is required. Every volunteer requires his/her own registration even if you are participating through one of our community partners. Must be 12+ to participate.
Shifts are in 75-minute increments with an option to participate in a Community FoodBank project for an additional hour after your challah baking shift.
Shift Schedule
Shift 1
8:45 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Gesher Summer Camp, Israel Bonds, Temple Sha'arey Tefilo Israel
Shift 2
9:45 a.m.- 11 a.m.
Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, JCC MetroWest, Millburn/Short Hills Tziona Chapter of Hadassah, YM-YWHA of Union County
Shift 3
10:45 a.m. -12 p.m.
JConnection, JFS MetroWest, One Happy Camper, PJ Library, Rachel Coalition, YM-YWHA of Union County
Shift 4
11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Chabad of Union County, NCJW-Essex County Section, Women’s Philanthropy
Shift 5
12:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Adath Shalom, Congregation Beth El, GottesmanRTW Academy, Women’s Philanthropy
Shift 6
1:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Congregation Beth Israel, Congregation Beth Or
Shift 7
2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Chabad of Short Hills, Joseph Kushner/Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School
Shift 8
3:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Etz Chaim
Shift 9
4:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Diller Teens, Golda Och Academy, Temple B'nai Abraham, Temple Emanu-El of West Essex, YLD
Shift 10
5:45 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
JTEENgmw, One Happy Camper, Temple Beth Shalom, The Partnership for Jewish Learning and Life, Suburban Torah
Jobs may include: registration, monitoring reception area, braiding dough, egg washing dough, transporting challahs to the oven and cooling stations, bagging challah, tagging challah, boxing challah and tracking boxes and moving boxes.
Federation is proud to be an official partner of #GivingTuesday™ (#GT), a national day dedicated to giving and giving back by celebrating and encouraging charitable activities to help create a better world. We are bringing a hands-on component to the day this year through the Community Challah Bake.
Federation has the goal of heightening awareness and advocacy for the hungry and food insecure of New Jersey through our END HUNGER campaign, a year-long initiative featuring education, advocacy, and activism.
This event is generously underwritten by our lead sponsor, Susan and Douglas Present.
Monday, November 24, 2014
LUSTIG DANCE THEATRE’S NEW “TAKE” ON “THE NUTCRACKER” ENLIVENS HOLIDAY SEASON
A Jazzy Nutcracker
WHEN: December 6th at 2 PM & 7 PM
WHERE: South Orange Performing Arts Center, One SOPAC Way (behind the train station), South Orange
TICKETS: $30 adults, $15 children
www.sopacnow.org
WHEN: December 12th at 7 PM and 13th at 1 PM and 4:30 PM
WHERE: Monroe High School Performing Arts Center, 200 Schoolhouse Road
Monroe Township
TICKETS: $30, $22 senior, $15 student
www.ajazzynutcracker.com
The Nutcracker also features a special Santa’s Luncheon at 3:00 PM on December 13th at Monroe High School Performing Arts Center with holiday treats, a visit from Santa, and appearances by costumed characters from the production. Tickets for Santa’s Luncheon are sold separately, also at www.ajazzynutcracker.com. For more information visit www.lustigdancetheatre.org.
With an original score inspired by familiar melodies, a live jazz band, wonderfully colorful sets and costumes, Lustig Dance Theatre professional dancers bring holiday spirit alive in this second annual original production of Graham Lustig’s A Jazzy Nutcracker.
A Jazzy Nutcracker presents a Christmas celebration, set in the 1960s, featuring a space-age battle scene, a winter wonderland skating rink and a magical night spent discovering the secrets of “Drosselmeyer’s” department store. A quintessential appearance from Santa Claus adds to the holiday spirit and completes this whimsical spin on the beloved Christmas production. The performance concludes with a proper ballet finale complete with tutus and pointe shoes to the delight of even fans of classical ballet.
Lustig Dance Theatre’s professional company of dancers is accompanied by select students from LDT's Dance & Wellness Studio and dance students from across the state. A Jazzy Nutcracker is based on Tchaikovsky’s original composition and interlaced with other seasonal melodies producing an entirely original score composed by Rutgers University’s Professor Paul Undreiner and performed by a live jazz band.
After so many years paying respect to the long-held Nutcracker traditions, Creative Director, Graham Lustig, is elated to be realizing his latest vision of the story: “Growing up in London in the 1960’s was an exciting and energetic era—one full of possibilities and promise. The fashion and music scenes were exploding with invention, jazz was thriving, the prospect of space travel held everyone’s imagination. My choreographic journey for this project begins with a great fondness for this unique decade.”
Lustig Dance Theatre’s (LDT) mission is to be a vibrant, dynamic organization that awakens the love of dance by performing and educating. LDT, a non-profit organization, was established in 2010 by internationally recognized choreographer and teacher, Graham Lustig. The LDT professional company performs at major venues statewide and executes a comprehensive roster of educational programs for schools and community groups. The LDT Dance and Wellness Studio offers classes for all ages and abilities in ballet, hip hop, Pilates, modern, contemporary jazz, Zumba, creative dance, tap and more. Students present an annual year-end performance and have the opportunity to join the LDT Ensemble, a youth performing group. For more information, please visit www.lustigdancetheatre.org. Lustig Dance Theatre is located at 80 Albany Street, 2nd Floor, in New Brunswick at the corner of Albany and Neilson Streets.
AUDITIONS SET FOR “HOW THE WORLD GOT WISDOM” @ THE STROLLERS IN MAPLEWOOD
Seeking a multi-ethnic cast of 4 adults, 4 teens and 4-6 children.
Those auditioning will read from the script, sing a song a-cappella (no accompaniment) and do some basic dance movement.
CHARACTERS:
- Adult characters include the Storyteller, Moon, Man & Woman, Farmer, Fisherman, Chief, Toumou the Caterpillar, Bahene, Mamadi & Wife, and Nyame.
- Teen & Children roles include various forest creatures (including Toad and Anansi the Spider & his daughter), Chief’s attendants, several child characters, and will share in the storytelling, singing and dancing.
REHEARSALS:
- Rehearsals are generally 3 nights a week on Mon, Tues, Wed and/or Thurs (depending on cast and rehearsal space availability) from 7:30 – 9:30 PM.
- Rehearsals begin the second week of December, will break for the holidays and resume right after New Year’s Day.
PERFORMANCES (actors must be available for ALL 10 performances):
- Fri, January 23rd at 7:00 PM
- Sat, Jan 24th at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM
- Sun, Jan 25th at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM
- Fri, January 30th at 7:00 PM
- Sat, Jan 31st at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM
- Sun, Feb 1st at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM
A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE FOR “FIRST NIGHT”:
We have been asked to do about 20 minutes of the show for First Night (a family-day of events on New Year’s Eve). It is not mandatory, but we need at least 6 cast members for this performance. It is great publicity for the show!
For more information, go to www.TheStrollers.org or email themaplewoodstrollers@gmail.com.
Yahaya Kamate has performed with Fotemoban Dance Company, Djensia Group, and Camodgen of N’guatta Dolikro Dance Company of Cote d’Ivoire and Affoubenou Sakassou Dance Company of Senegal. For the past 11 years, he has worked as lead dancer and choreographer for several companies in the United States, including Kulu Mele Dance Company and The Seventh Principle; and he has taught dance with organizations such as Djoniba Dance & Drum Center, Mark Morris Dance Group, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Harlem School of the Arts.
1895 CHRISTMAS TALE IN STAGED READING IN MILLINGTON
WHEN: Friday, December 5, at 7:00 PM
WHERE: All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 15 Basking Ridge Road, Millington, NJ.
TICKETS: $10/$5 for children age 12 and under.
All tickets will be sold at the door (no pre-sale).
Proceeds will benefit North Porch, which provides emergency supplies to babies and toddlers.
We will also collect jars of baby food for all ages: fruit, vegetables and first foods.
Written by Henry Van Dyke and first published in 1895, this Christmas story has been newly adapted for the stage by William J. Ward specifically for All Saints’ Church.
It is the tale of Artaban, the fourth Wise Man, who goes in search of the Christ Child, but at every turn encounters people in great need. This costumed reading by professional actors will take place in the Church.
Enjoy light refreshments after the play and meet the performers. The cast includes John Lamb of Randolph, William J. Ward of Basking Ridge, Fred Dennehy of Westfield, Allen Gershenson of Linden, Steven Snow of Hampton, Katy Cockrell of Westfield, and Leo Doran of Warren.
NJ FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAYS IN WESTFIELD IN DECEMBER
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
WHEN: Saturday, December 6, at 7 PM
WHERE: The Presbyterian Church, Westfield
TICKETS: $75 | $58 | $46 | $26 | students $13
www.NJFestivalOrchestra.org for information and tickets
or call 908-232-9400
David Wroe conductor
Mia Parfumi soprano
Holiday Choruses
New Jersey Festival Orchestra
There's no place like home for the holidays with a family festival of traditional and contemporary songs, music, sing-a-longs, and more. This seasonal stroll of timeless classics and sentimental wintertime favorites is guaranteed to make the season merry.
Meet special guest Mia Pafumi |
We are thrilled to announce that Westfield native, and award-winning soprano, Mia Pafumi will join us for Home for the Holidays! A graduate of Westfield High School, special guest Mia Pafumi will partner with Maestro Wroe and NJ Festival Orchestra to perform both popular holiday favorites and winter curiosities. Many will remember Mia from her starring roles in Westfield High School theater productions. Now she is a fully professional singer sharing her vocal talents far and wide! Mia began 2014 as an Apprentice Artist for the Sarasota Opera’s Winter Festival season, which included Verdi’s Il Trovatore, Jerusalem and Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer in Sarasota, Florida. This spring she took second place in the Violetta DuPont International Vocal Competition and received a grant from the Giulio Gari Foundation’s 2014 International Vocal Competition. Mia performed during the summer with Josh Greene and Carol Yahr’s New York Summer Opera. A recent graduate from Montclair State University’s Cali School of Music, Mia also studied at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatorio di Musica di Milano in Milan, Italy. |