Premiere Stages at Kean University to Combat COVID-19 with the Power of the Pen

Premiere Stages, the professional theatre company in residence at Kean University, has announced a new initiative—The Premiere Senior Endeavor Awards—a new playwriting competition for New Jersey based writers that offers cash awards and benefits in three categories. The project will be part of the 2020 Premiere Play Festival—Premiere Stages' acclaimed new play development program that provides readings, workshops and full productions to regional playwrights as part of each season.

The Premiere Senior Endeavor Awards will offer unique opportunities to seniors in three categories:

• The High School Senior Endeavor Award will provide $1000 to a rising senior who will be completing his/her/their junior year of high school in May or June of 2020. The winning student will also receive a professional reading of the play and a letter of recommendation that can be used to support Fall college applications.
• The College Senior Endeavor Award will provide $1000 to a Kean University senior who is graduating from Kean in May of 2020. The winning college senior will also receive a professional reading of the play and will be extended the offer of a paid six-month internship in the Premiere Stages Literary Office.
• The NJ Senior Endeavor Award will provide $1000 to a senior citizen who currently resides in a New Jersey residential community (Assisted Living or Independent Living). Premiere Stages will also provide a professional reading of the play and a fully sponsored Premiere Stages Legacy Residency for those seniors who also reside in the community where the winning writer lives (once CDC guidelines for social distancing have been fully lifted). Legacy Residencies are part of the Premiere Play Factory and provide opportunities for seniors to partner with professional playwrights to document, share and celebrate their legacies with their peers and families through a showcase of their work as performed by professional actors.

Accepted entries will be one-act plays between ten and sixty pages inspired by or in response to the challenges of COVID-19. Content can directly relate to issues surrounding the virus, or may be more abstractly related. Plays can be autobiographical or can be completely fictional; an application form will ask two simple questions about the author's experiences. Submissions are limited to writers in one of the above categories who reside in New Jersey.

Premiere will accept submissions June 1 through August 1, 2020, and the three winners will be selected by September 1, 2020; any submissions received before or after this submission window will not be considered. All three winners will receive developmental readings with a professional cast, director and dramaturg, between October 9-11, 2020 on the Kean University campus. An additional six playwrights (two in each category) will receive an honorable mention certificate and an honorarium of $100 each. The project will be sponsored through a sustained funding gift from longtime Premiere Stages donors W. John Bauer and Nancy Boucher.

The Premiere Senior Endeavor Awards have been conceived by John J. Wooten, Producing Artistic Director and founder of Premiere Stages. "With every challenge comes opportunity", stated Wooten, "and in times like these, we have looked to our artists to help heal and re-inspire our communities. That is why we are committed to not only maintaining our commitment to writers during this crisis, but to increasing it."

The Premiere Play Festival has received over 5,000 submissions and developed more than fifty plays since 2005. Multiple plays produced by Premiere have been honored by the American Theatre Critics Association, and/or have been published by Samuel French, Dramatists Play Service, Dramatic Publishing Company, Playscripts, and Broadway Play Publishing. A number of Play Festival winners and finalists have subsequently been produced in New York and at regional theatres across the country. Premiere Stages plans to announce additional Festival events and the complete 2020 season in April.

All Premiere Senior Endeavor Awards entries will be evaluated by a panel of theatre professionals in consultation with Premiere's artistic and literary staff. There is no fee to enter the competition. Complete submission guidelines are available at http://www.premierestagesatkean.com/senior-endeavor-awards. Premiere Stages is committed to supporting a diverse group of writers; playwrights of all backgrounds and experience levels are encouraged to submit.

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Premiere Stages offers affordable prices, air-conditioned facilities and free parking close to the theatre. Premiere Stages also provides free or discounted tickets to patrons with disabilities. All Premiere Stages facilities are fully accessible spaces, and companion seating is available for patrons with disabilities. Assistive listening devices and large print programs are available at all times; publications in alternate formats are available with advance notice. Sign-interpreted, audio-described and open-captioned performances are available upon request; please call 908-737-4077 at least two weeks prior to your desired performance. For more information, please visit Premiere Stages online at www.premierestagesatkean.com.

Premiere Stages is made possible in part through funding from W. John Bauer and Nancy Boucher, The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The Northfield Bank Foundation, The Hyde and Watson Foundation, The Union Foundation, E.J. Grassmann Trust, The New Jersey Theatre Alliance, Investors Foundation, The Union County HEART Grant, Actors’ Equity Foundation, and through the generous support of individual patrons and local organizations. Discover Jersey Arts is our marketing partner. Visit www.JerseyArts.com for more information about other arts programming happening around the Garden State.

Premiere Stages is committed to producing topical plays and interactive programs that reflect people of all ethnic and racial backgrounds, religious groups, gender identities, ages, abilities, disabilities and sexual preferences. 

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ABOUT PREMIERE STAGES
Created in 2004, Premiere Stages is the professional Equity theatre in residence at Kean University. Through its unique partnership with Kean, Premiere’s play development programs, educational initiatives, and professional development opportunities actively embrace the university's academic curriculum while expanding the scope, accessibility, and prestige of the professional programming on campus. For more information, please visit Premiere Stages online at www.premierestagesatkean.com.

ABOUT KEAN UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1855, Kean University has become one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, with a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving nearly 15,000 students. The University’s five undergraduate colleges offer more than 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers six doctoral degree programs and more than 60 options for graduate study leading to master’s degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. With campuses in Union and Toms River, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University furthers its mission by providing an affordable and accessible world-class education.  Visit www.kean.edu

A Work of Heart Productions (AWOHP) hosts an online musical theatre master class

Bringing Broadway Home: Online Musical Theatre Master Class

WHEN: March 30th through April 3rd to culminate in a digital showcase.  

Direction from industry professionals and master teachers, instruction in acting and vocal technique, and peer collaboration…all online and all at home! 

A year-round educational program for teens and college students, Bringing Broadway Home (BBH) typically operates in 5-6 week workshops. However, in light of our worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and our statewide “stay at home” order, Master Teachers and Artistic Directors Nicole Lippey and Angelo De Fazio have brought their mentorship program “home” to students via remote video classes.

An audition-only program, each student is assigned a song which is coached throughout the week by Nicole, Angelo, and professional New York artist mentors, this week including Sean Green, Jr. (Hamilton on Broadway), Katie Travis (Broadway and National Tour of Phantom of the Opera), and more!

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer this exhilarating program online.  Everyone is trying to remain positive and occupied during this difficult time, and our talented students have a wonderful craving to learn from us and our amazing artist mentors,” says Nicole Lippey, AWOHP founder/artistic director.

Students in this session include Fallon Billy (Bridgewater), Patrick Blood (Bridgewater), Sarah Brown (Bridgewater), Natalie Cattuna (Wayne), Mackenzie Cavagnaro (North Haledon), Jillian Cetrulo (Wayne), Caitlin Dalton (Clifton), Leah Frantz (Morristown), Sylvie Friedman (Livingston), Kaitlyn Huamani (Gladstone), Hallie Lippey (Bridgewater), Sophia Monte (Wayne), Ava Patanella (East Hanover), and Madison Peloquin (Livingston).  

For more information, please visit http://www.workofheartproductions.com. 

New Ebooks and Audiobooks Available this Week!

New Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction out March 31

· Devoted by Dean Koontz

· Fearless by Fern Michaels

· It's Not All Downhill from Here by Terry McMillan

· The Final Deception by Heather Graham

· Hour of the Assassin by Matthew Quirk

· Front Row at the Trump Show by Jonathan Karl

· More Myself: A Journey by Alicia Keys

New YA and Kids Titles

· Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

· Tigers Not Daughters by Samatha Abry

· Big Nate Blow the Roof Off by Lincoln Peirce

· Girls with Razor Hearts by Suzanne Young

· Pete the Cat's World Tour by James Dean

Stamped by Jayson Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

Other Popular Recent Titles

· The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

· The Last Tourist by Olen Steinhauer

· Shakedown by Newt Gingrich

· The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren

· Our House is on Fire by Greta Thunberg

· Hit List by Stuart Woods

Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman

You can access these titles via Libby/Overdrive

Libby is a free app where you can borrow ebooks and digital audiobooks from your public library. You can stream books with Wi-Fi or mobile data, or download them for offline use and read anytime, anywhere.

Download the mobile app from your App Store or visit eBCCLS and get started today!

AND DON'T FORGET THESE OTHER FREE RESOURCES! Hoopla Hoopla offers movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics, and TV shows to enjoy on your computer, tablet, or phone. More than a thousand new titles have recently been added. Access with your library card; no wait lists! The New York Times Yes, we have access to the New York Times, from 1861-present day. For access to this resource, do the following: · Go to millburnlibrary.org/e-resources · Scroll down until you see the NYT logo and click on it. You'll be taken to a page with a code next to a "REDEEM" button. Click "REDEEM RBDigital RBDigital gives you full-color digital access to The New Yorker, Kiplinger’s, The New York Review of Books, and so much more. Read on your desktop, mobile devices, and apps. No waiting! You can also access Acorn TV, IndieFlix, and The Great Courses with RBDigital. Universal Class Universal Class gives you access to over 500 different continuing ed classes, including career training, business, crafts/hobbies, history, DIY, test prep, and much, much more. Need More Information on How to Access These Resources? Access our FAQ on downloading these and other e-resources here. Want to See What Other E-Resources We Have Available? We have many more resources for you. Click here to take a look! Need a Library Card or Have Other Questions? Please email us at millcirc@bccls.org or text us at 973-988-4228 with any questions or concerns. You can also follow our social media accounts to stay connected. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

CENTENARY STAGE COMPANY KICKS OFF ITS SUMMER SEASON WITH “FOREVER PLAID” JULY 9 THROUGH JULY 19

Forever Plaid

WHEN: July 9 through July 19; Thursdays, July 9 and 16 at 7:30 PM; Fridays, July 10 and 17 at 8:00 PM; Saturdays, July 11 and July 18 at 8:00 PM; and Sundays, July 12 and 19 at 2:00 PM. 
WHERE: Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ.
TICKETS: $25.50 to $30.00 for adults with discounts available for students, seniors and children under 12.  Service charges may apply. Centenary Stage Company offers a variety of special ticket offers and discounts in conjunction with the production of Forever Plaid. Thursday evening performances offer patrons a buy one/get one rush ticket special. The BOGO offer is only valid for in-person sales at the CSC box office beginning at 5:30 PM on the night of the performance. The BOGO offer is not available for advance ticket sales on-line or over the phone. Finally, Centenary Stage Company offers a special $10.00 Student Rush Ticket available to students from any school for any Friday evening performance with a valid student ID. $10.00 Student Rush Tickets are only available in person at the CSC box office on the day of the event and not available for advance ticket sales, on-line or by phone. 

Once upon a time, four guys—Sparky, Smudge, Jinx and Frankie—discovered they shared a love for music and banded together to become as great as their former idols. Rehearsing in the basement of a plumbing supply company, the quartet dubbed themselves "Forever Plaid." On the way to their first big gig, the "Plaids" were broadsided by a school bus and killed instantly. It is at this moment, when their careers and lives ended, the story of Forever Plaid begins....

Forever Plaid, one of the most popular and successful musicals in recent memory, is a deliciously fun revue, chock-full of classic barbershop quartet harmonies and pitch-perfect melodies. Forever Plaid was originally written, directed and choreographed by Stuart Ross, with musical continuity supervision and arrangements by James Raitt. It is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

Centenary Stage Company’s production of Forever Plaid is sponsored in part by The House of the Good Shepherd and Heath Village Retirement Community.

For more information or to purchase tickets, patrons can visit centenarystageco.org. To directly correspond with our box office staff, patrons may email boxoffice@centenarystageco.org, or chat with us through Facebook—Centenary Stage Company—and through our website at centenarystageco.org. Patrons are welcome to call the Centenary Stage Company box office at (908) 979 – 0900. Messages are checked daily and will be responded to in a timely manner. Our virtual box office is open Monday through Friday from 1 – 5 PM. If mail correspondence is desired, Centenary Stage Company can be reached at 400 Jefferson St. Hackettstown, NJ 07840. Please note our physical box office is currently closed.

The Centenary Stage Company box office is located in the Lackland Performing Arts Center at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ on the campus of Centenary University. Centenary Stage Company can also be found across social media platforms; Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Like and follow to receive the latest in CSC news and special offers.

The 2019-2020 season of performing arts events at the Centenary Stage Company has been 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, the Sandra Kupperman Foundation, Zonta Morristown Chapter and CSC corporate sponsors, including Season Sponsor The House of the Good Shepherd, Heath Village Retirement Community, Silver Sponsors Hackettstown Medical Center with Atlantic Health System, Home Instead Senior Care (Washington), and Fulton Bank, and Centenary Stage Company members and supporters. 

A Important Message from Rhino Theatre

WE MISS YOU ALL
and wanted to connect with our wonderful and loyal Rhino Theatre Patrons, Club Members, Fans and Performers.

Thank you for your patience during these challenging and ever-changing times. The health and safety of our audiences and staff are of utmost importance, so as you may expect, some of our newly established show dates are also now in jeopardy. Auditions for The Crucible and The Wedding Singer will be postponed until we have further information with the direction we are mandated to take.

We will keep everyone updated as best we can.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Send us an email to give us your creative ideas on how to stay connected. In the meantime, please visit our website for the wonderful virtual options we are establishing.

We offer these classes virtually:

• VOICE
• AUDITION PREP
• MONOLOGUE STUDY
• PIANO
• TAP
• BALLET
• SIGHT READY WITH MUSIC THEORY

And COMING SOON will be A MASTERCLASS with Broadway's LAURIE WELLS.

Details to follow!

Click HERE to book your virtual lesson.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN CANCELLED, THE MUSICAL!

WE HAD OVER 100 SUBMISSIONS AND IT PROVIDED A LITTLE OVER 4 HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT! FOR THOSE WHO MISSED THE LIVE STREAM, HERE IS A LINK FOR YOU TO ENJOY AND BINGE WATCH AT YOUR LEISURE! MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW ABOUT CANCELLED, THE MUSICAL, A LIVE EVENT!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR VIRTUAL CABARET

PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS EVENT!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR VIRTUAL TICKET!

Any amount big or small is greatly appreciated!

We are grateful for your support of RHINO THEATRE and we hope to be back very soon!

Kids' Music Legend Laurie Berkner - Free Live-Streamed Concerts - Weekdays - 10 AM EDT

FROM HER HOUSE TO YOURS!

KIDS' MUSIC LEGEND

LAURIE BERKNER

INVITES FAMILIES TO JOIN HER

FOR

LIVE "BERKNER BREAK" CONCERTS

STREAMED MOST WEEKDAYS AT 10:00 AM EDT

"The queen of kids' music" – People magazine

"The Adele of the preschool crowd."– The New York Times

"“Laurie Berkner does what Fred Rogers did: respect, validate and reassure young children.”"– Los Angeles Times

Stuck inside right now? Legendary children's musician Laurie Berkner is here to help kids and parents find a routine, get up and move, and learn and play together. And it's all free of charge.

Families can join Laurie, direct from her house, for LIVE "Berkner Break" concerts, streamed most weekday mornings at 10:00 a.m. EDT on her Facebook page: HERE. Laurie offers an abundance of songs, playful movement activities, stories, and more, performing such well-loved favorites as “We Are The Dinosaurs” and “The Goldfish (Let’s Go Swimming)," plus educational earworms like “Waiting For The Elevator” and “Look At All The Letters." Laurie creates an entire world of song and expression in which enthusiasm and respect for the growing child is front and center, with emotional development sitting right alongside intellectual development.

Additionally, each weekday on Laurie's social media, she's posting a video of one of her songs for a morning Berkner Breakfast (7:00 a.m. EDT), an afternoon Berkner Break (3:00 p.m. EDT), and an evening Berkner Bedtime (7:00 p.m. EDT).

Laurie Berkner has also created a 50-minute "Educational Music Videos" compilation on her YouTube channel: HERE. Kids can practice and learn with Laurie as they watch this compilation of over 20 music videos that focus on counting, the alphabet, telling time, emotions, and so much more.

One of the most popular children’s entertainers in the U.S., Laurie Berkner has filled countless venues nationwide with adoring fans. With an average of more than ten million monthly streams and millions of albums, songs, and DVDs sold, Laurie’s songs have become beloved classics for children worldwide. The first artist to ever appear in music videos on Nick Jr., Laurie Berkner was featured in nearly all the episodes of the channel's Jack's Big Music Show. Laurie recently created her own Audible Original Series titled Laurie Berkner's Song and Story Kitchen. She has released thirteen bestselling, award-winning albums and is a familiar radio presence on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live. Laurie has authored a number of picture books based on her songs, the most recent of which were published by Simon & Schuster. She has also written the music and lyrics for three Off-Broadway children's musicals produced by New York City Children’s Theater. Laurie has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the White House, among many other prestigious venues.

Laurie Berkner has received tremendous critical acclaim. USA Today named Laurie "the undisputed queen of kindie rock." Time Magazine lauded her as "a kind of sippy-cup Sheryl Crow ... Berkner inhabits a kid's curious perspective in her lyrics and pens folk-pop melodies that bear repeated -- very repeated -- listenings." The Wall Street Journal called Laurie "one of the most popular children's performers in America ... her music is distinctive because it speaks to kids without talking down to them, charming youngsters without boring grown-ups." NPR's All Things Considered declared, "Laurie Berkner is like a goddess to these children."

Visit Laurie Berkner's website HERE.

Laurie Berkner on Facebook.

Laurie Berkner on Instagram.

Laurie Berkner on Twitter.

Laurie Berkner on Pinterest.

Laurie Berkner on YouTube.

Video Jazz Weekly - Volume 3 NBJP 10th Anniversary Month & Jazz Appreciation Month

2020 Poster: Women in Jazz

Featured on the official 2020 poster is pianist, band leader, and composer-arranger

Toshiko Akiyoshi, whose vital contributions to the art of big band jazz earned her the title of NEA Jazz Master in 2007. Born in Manchuria, Akiyoshi first moved to Japan with her parents at the end of World War II, and then to the United States in 1956 to study at Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Following a series of performances in top New York venues, in 1973, she and her husband, saxophonist/flutist Lew Tabackin, formed the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. Known for her uniquely textural big band compositions and Japanese influence, Akiyoshi has received fourteen Grammy Award nominations and was the first woman to win Best Arranger and Composer awards in Down Beat magazine's annual Readers' Poll.

The artist for the 2020 JAM poster is Wynter Jackson, a senior visual arts student at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Washington, D.C.

We've cancelled all live performances until it is deemed safe for us to resume them.

We miss you! We miss the musicians and all the great music they share with us every week!

We miss the staff and management at our venues!

If you are able...

Purchase a gift card (or two) from one of the NBJP venues or order take-out.

...or...

Purchase a CD, (or two) from any of our featured musicians—directly from them if possible.

...or...

Make a donation to NBJP ... Every little bit helps!

In the meantime... STAY SAFE

and ... Here are video performances from the musicians who were scheduled to perform for us the first week in April.

SHAMIE ROYSTON

Rutherfurd Hall closed until further notice.

Due to COVID-19, Rutherfurd Hall will be closed until further notice. All activities, programs and museum hours will be POSTPONED. New dates will be determined and announced as soon as possible.

We will update the website and contact all current ticket holders for each event as new dates are determined.

Be well, be healthy, and Rutherfurd Hall will be ready when the public health concerns allow.

If you have any questions, you can reply to this email, call (908)852-1894 ext 338 or visit: www.rutherfurdhall.org

Washington Post: The best movies to transport you to another place during your quarantine

It’s hard not to be hypnotized by coverage of the coronavirus, but even news addicts are watching their anxiety creep higher with every reported case. To take the edge off, many are escaping with the magic of movies.

And no, we’re not talking about watching “Contagion.”

In the thick of this all-encompassing global crisis, movies can transport us, especially ones set in a beautiful, foreign backdrop, from the couch to somewhere far away. Maybe it’s to Los Angeles for some dancing under the stars or off this planet entirely. (Understandable.)

So get a little wild while adhering to the recommended guidelines from health experts and government officials: Pause the push notifications and turn on these movies that drop the By The Way staff instantly into another world.

CLICK ON TITLES FOR MORE INFORMATION

“The Descendants” (2011)

It’s deeply sad (and endearing), but this movie always transports me to another place. The book-turned-movie about a family being torn apart by death and land disputes is set against the stunning backdrop of Hawaii. The film is full of lush vegetation, untouched mountains in Kauai, beaches of Waikiki and old Hawaiian plantation-style homes. Sure, I’m sobbing by the end, but at least I’m on an island in my mind. — Amanda Finnegan, By The Way editor

“Eat Drink Man Woman” (1994)

Not only does this movie make me deliriously hungry, it allows me to travel back to Taiwan, my mother’s homeland, where her whole family still lives. I love seeing the bicycles and motorcycles whirring through traffic and the alleyways in the busy capital of Taipei. How the characters squabble and get back together also makes me tear up. They remind me of my own family, their intonations, what they say and can’t say. It’s especially bittersweet during this time, when I’m far away from my family. My grandfather in Taipei just turned 99, and we had to share that moment on Facebook. — Marian Liu, operations editor

“The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999)

The dreamy Italian backdrop makes up for the fact that the movie can be wildly stressful to watch. It’s a psychological thriller set in the 1950s, and largely about wealthy people, so everyone is beautiful, and so is everything they’re wearing. You will be cringing for half the movie because of the suspense, but you will also be drooling over the seaside Italian villages. — Natalie Compton, reporter

“Mamma Mia! The Movie” (2008)

Look, I know this is a divisive pick, but I am 100 percent team ABBA. The sets make me feel like I’m right there on the Aegean Sea. The songs cheer me up and make me want to dance. God, I wish I could be on a remote Greek island right now, but this’ll have to do.  — Aviva Loeb, designer

“The Beach” (2000)

This movie just makes me want to travel, plain and simple. It’s gritty. It’s adventurous. At times, dangerous. And I think it gets at the reason why a lot of people feel compelled to get away: to experience something totally new and break your day-to-day routine. Plus, every time I hear the soundtrack, I’m transported to that white beach, those crystal-clear waters and star-filled night sky. Unfortunately, when this movie came out, so many people flocked to that beach in Thailand, Maya Bay, that it closed. So I will just live vicariously through this movie, as many times as I want. Especially now.  — Rachel Orr, design editor

“Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015)

Before you scoff, it’s technically a road-trip movie. The majority of the film, shot in Namibia, consists of Charlize Theron driving a giant truck as if her life depended on it ... because it does. It makes me want to be stuck in the middle of the desert. With a dirt bike and a bandanna. On purpose.  — Monica Rodman, video editor

“Interstellar” (2014)

So, the premise isn’t exactly uplifting: A group of scientists and astronauts are tasked with finding humanity a new place to live because Earth is literally dying. Yikes. But the emotional core of the film rests on the idea that no matter how far we are apart, be it in time or literal space, love is the connection that binds us. I’m always stunned by the visual backdrop of the film, and even though a guy ages 50 years in a day, and (spoiler alert) Matt Damon turns out to be a space murderer, it breaks my heart every time at the end, when I hear Matthew McConaughey scream “Murph!” as he’s trying to reach his daughter.  — Drew Jones, reporter

“La La Land” (2016)

I keep thinking of this movie because 1. I love a musical and 2. it brings me back to what feels like my last carefree vacation before social distancing and intensive hand-washing became the norm. Sure, there was plenty of traffic in Los Angeles, and no one got out of their cars in the middle of rush hour to sing and dance like they do in the movie. But the soundtrack played in my head as I watched sunsets at the Griffith Observatory and Santa Monica Pier, and when I hear the music now, it takes me right back to the sunshine, palm trees and peaceful state of mind.  — Hannah Sampson, reporter

“Amélie” (2001)

This quirky movie takes place mostly in Montmartre, but was shot all around Paris. It’s in French, so it gives me a chance to pretend I still remember some of what I learned in my many years in French classes. Every time I watch it, I’m reminded of the promise I made to myself to get back to Paris one day. While that won’t be happening anytime soon, it’s nice to have this movie to take me there whenever I want. — Christine Ashack, designer

NEWS FROM MAYO PAC IN MORRISTOWN

Maks & Val Live 2020 - Featuring Peta & Jenna

WHEN: Sunday, June 14, at 7:00 pm
WHERE: Mayo PAC, 100 South St., Morristown
Tickets: $59 - $99
VIP Packages available and on sale now

Take a trip through the most memorable movie moments re-envisioned and reimagined through the eyes of acclaimed dancers and brothers, Maks and Val Chmerkovskiy. Joined by their spouses and celebrated dancers, Peta Murgatroyd and Jenna Johnson, the foursome bring motion to iconic scenes where there were none before. Experience a dance driven narrative woven together by the movies that have moved us all. There’s never been this much motion to motion pictures until now.   Learn More

Willie Nelson & Family

WHEN: Tuesday, August 4, at 8:00 pm
WHERE: Mayo PAC, 100 South St., Morristown
Tickets: $150 - $250

With a six-decade career, Willie Nelson has earned every conceivable award as a musician and amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor, and activist. He continues to thrive as a relevant and progressive musical and cultural force. The ten-time Grammy winner and American music icon performs favorites and music from his new release, First Rose of Spring.   Learn More

Become a member! To learn more about becoming a member and supporting our non-profit mission,  click here to join online or call the Development Department at (973) 539-0345 x6526.

MayoArts.org
(973) 539-8008

Events Coming to UCPAC!

CLICK IMAGES FOR MORE INFORMATION

WHEN: Fri, Nov 13, 2020, 8:00 PM
WHERE: UCPAC Main Stage, 1601 Irving St., Rahway, NJ
GET TICKETS

The Eagles founding member, the late Glenn Frey, knew what he was saying when he dubbed Little River Band “the best singing band in the world.” Through the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, LRB enjoyed huge chart success with multi-platinum albums and chart topping hits like: “Reminiscing,” “Cool Change,” “Lonesome Loser,” “The Night Owls,” “Take It Easy On Me,” “Help Is on Its Way,” “Happy Anniversary,” “We Two,” “Man On Your Mind,” “The Other Guy,” and “It’s A Long Way There.” Bringing their vocal and musical energy along with great arrangements to their timeless classic hits, each show creates new memories for the audience. The band enjoys watching their fans fall in love with the songs all over again as they are swept up by the show’s powerful performance and the volume of hits from LRB’s history.

Jeff Boyer's BUBBLE TROUBLE

WHEN: Sun, May 03, 2020, 4:00 PM
GET TICKETS

ESPERANZA SPALDING

WHEN: Fri, May 29, 2020, 8:30 PM
GET TICKETS

A BRONX TALE

WHEN: Fri, Jun 26, 2020, 8:00 PM
GET TICKETS

New at the Princeton University Art Museum

Princeton University Art Museum Temporarily Closed to Visitors

Although our building is temporarily closed to the public, we are committed to serving our varied communities through this time of uncertainty. To that end, we are enhancing our online offerings to reflect the simultaneous desire for normalcy and the reality of living in an extraordinary time. We are guided by the belief that the experience of great art can be a source of solace, comfort, and renewal and can offer reminders of the best of what we as humans are capable. Museum staff continue to work hard to assure that great art can be a part of daily life, and they look forward to sharing new resources, digital programming, and insights with you regularly. Read on for the first of these. Recommended Reading As many of us find ourselves with unexpected days at home, and fewer options outside the home, Museum Director James Steward has shaped the first installment of his new Bookshelf, a list of great books ranging from art books to books on thriving in the digital age. Catalogues for the Art Museum’s two recently opened special exhibitions, Life Magazine and the Power of Photography and Cézanne: The Rock and Quarry Paintings, along with related books and products, can be mailed to your home. The Museum Store’s two locations are also temporarily closed to visitors, but you can email museumstore@princeton.edu to place your order. Need suggestions and personal shopping advice? We can help with that too. Please include your phone number, and we will call you back to advise and to process your order. Shipping is available worldwide. In the News Life Magazine and the Power of Photography Even though our galleries are closed to visitors, you can still explore Life Magazine and the Power of Photography through recent coverage by the BBC and Princeton Alumni Weekly. And take a virtual visit to Cézanne: The Rock and Quarry Paintings through this review in Antiques and the Arts, which explains, “For Cézanne, nature itself was not only science and structure but also myth and miracle, the observable here and now but also the whole history of time writ large, and that every work of art he created is a small attempt to document and honor that vast phenomenon.” Art Online Engage in art-making virtually with friends and family. Visit our website and explore our online collections. Many of our self-guided family activities can be done from home.  Virtual Event Painting the Mountains WHEN: Thursday, April 2, 5:30 p.m. Join us live online as a panel of scholars considers Paul Cézanne’s interest in rock formations in relation to emerging ideas about geography and geology in nineteenth-century France. Held in conjunction with Cézanne: The Rock and Quarry Paintings, the event features Faya Causey, independent scholar; Graham Burnett, professor of history at Princeton; and Göran Blix, associate professor of French and Italian at Princeton. Moderated by Associate Director for Education Caroline Harris. Details will be available here. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for daily content from our collections. Image credits Robert S. Duncanson, Untitled (Landscape), late 1850s. Princeton University Art Museum. Museum purchase, Kathleen Compton Sherrerd Fund for Acquisitions in American Art and Mary Trumbull Adams Art Fund Unknown Italian artist, Putto with a book, 17th century. Princeton University Art Museum. Bequest of Dan Fellows Platt, Class of 1895 J. R. Eyerman, Audience watches movie wearing 3-D spectacles, 1952. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The Howard Greenberg Collection—Museum purchase with funds donated by the Phillip Leonian and Edith Rosenbaum Leonian Charitable Trust. © 1952 The Picture Collection Inc. All rights reserved. Claude Monet, Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge, 1899. Princeton University Art Museum. From the Collection of William Church Osborn, Class of 1883, trustee of Princeton University (1914–1951), president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art; given by his family Paul Cézanne, Trees and Rocks, 1900–1904. Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis, Tennessee. Museum purchase from Cornelia Ritchie and Ritchie Trust No. 4

More Digital Links Curated by Your Millburn Librarians

At the Millburn Library, we have been busy curating links of great resources for you. Take a look!

Want to Know What Local Businesses are Open?

This list is continually being updated.
https://tinyurl.com/MillburnBizCOVID19

Art, Literature, and Media Links

All the Virtual Concerts, Plays, Museums, and Other Culture You can Enjoy at Home:
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/what-to-do-at-home-streaming-art-museums-concerts-coronavirus-trnd/index.html

A Pandemic Journal, with running dispatches from the New York Review of Books writers, documenting the outbreak around the world:
https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2020/03/27/pandemic-journal-march-23-30/

20 of the Best Books on Hoopla Right Now:
https://bookriot.com/2020/03/24/books-on-hoopla-right-now/

A Podcast Playlist to Distract You:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/22/arts/podcasts-coronavirus.html

What to Watch, Read and Listen to During Your Coronavirus Self-Quarantine:
https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-quarantine-what-to-watch.html

#ColorOurCollections, free coloring pages compiled by the New York Academy of Medicine of many libraries, museums, and other cultural institutions (Coloring for Adults): http://library.nyam.org/colorourcollections/

Kids' Activities Links

Online Coloring Games for Kids:
http://coloritbynumbers.com/online

18 Totally Free Educational Resources for Kids Stuck at Home:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/reviewedcom/2020/03/18/free-educational-classes-and-programs-kids-home/5064311002/

Eric Carle Reads The Very Hungry Caterpillar:
https://youtu.be/vkYmvxP0AJI

Pete the Cat Club Instagram Live stories:
https://www.instagram.com/petethecatofficial/

Exercising Links

Fitness Studios and Gyms Offering Live-Stream Workouts During the Coronavirus Outbreak:
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/fitness/a31792038/coronavirus-live-stream-workout-classes

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Please note: All libraries in New Jersey must remain closed until Executive Order 104 is lifted. Our re-open date will be announced when it is known.

The library’s book return is closed until we re-open. Please hold on to any items you have checked out. Due dates will be extended and the Millburn Library is fine-free so there will be no overdue charges.

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Want to See What E-Resources Are Available from the Library?

We have many more resources for you. Click here to take a look!

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Need a Library Card or can't find your barcode?

Email us at millcirc@bccls.org and we will get you set up!

Questions? Please email us at millcirc@bccls.org or text us at 973-988-4228 and we will be in touch.

You can also follow our social media accounts to stay connected. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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See the latest news and information from Millburn regarding the Coronvavirus/COVID-19 here.

View Our Website

Join Pixie Dust Players for a Virtual Class Today at 4pm!

On Wednesday we had almost 200 people join us for what we hope to be the first of many free Virtual Workshops. Each workshop will include a physical warm-up and learning songs and/or dances from past or upcoming productions. For parents looking for educational activities, we are considering some literature-based workshops that can be used as part of your language arts, music, and gym requirements! Tune in to FB or IG today at 4:00 pm to join us!

Sign Up to Be Notified About Upcoming Classes Add your email... I agree to the receiving emails about upcoming virtual classes.

AN UPDATE FROM THE THEATER PROJECT

Sean McIntyre and Jenelle Sosa, THE RUBY SUNRISE by Rinne Groff Now that we've cleaned every closet, there is still al lot that we can and are doing to cope with the present and prepare for the future. Like: sending out video clips to make you smile starting April 1. planning virtual events like ZOOM readings/discussions of new material. staying in touch with our community. Like all of you, we are planning for many possible outcomes tomorrow while trying to appreciate the gift of today. For now, we hope keeping in touch with our families, friends, colleagues and theater community is useful. Be safe—be healthy—be as helpful as possible, Mark, Gary and all of us at TheTheaterProject.org

The Met, Anywhere: Online Resources

Art has the power to connect us, to calm us during times of stress, and to build communities. While The Met, like other cultural institutions, has temporarily closed its doors to help fight the spread of COVID-19, we want the public to know that we remain committed to our mission to connect people all over the world to creativity, knowledge, and ideas.

In the coming weeks, we will continue to provide you with inspiring ways to connect and engage with both the art in our collection and the Museum as a whole. We hope you enjoy the selections below. #MetAnywhere

The Met 360° Project

Take a virtual tour of The Met's art and architecture with The Met 360° Project. These immersive, 360° videos take you inside some of the Museum's iconic spaces for an all-around, eye-opening view. Take a tour → 82nd & Fifth We invited one hundred curators from across the Museum to talk about the works of art that changed the way they see the world. Eleven Museum photographers interpret their vision: one work, one curator, two minutes at a time. Explore with a curator → Online Talks and Lectures Hours of lectures, talks, and symposiums held at The Met are all available for viewing in our digital archives. Take a look today, and discover in-depth discussions from curators, scholars, and practicing artists. Watch now → The Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History By weaving essays and works of art into detailed chronologies, the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History tells the story of art and global culture through the Museum's collection. With hundreds of essays on a vast array of diverse topics, the Timeline has been a trusted resource for educators for 20 years. Start reading → MetCollects MetCollects celebrates works of art new to the collection by enlisting the fresh eyes of photographers and enthusiastic voices of curators, conservators, and, at times, living artists, collectors, and supporters. See the artworks → Subscribe to get updates on new episodes of MetCollects. Blogs Dive into our blogs, which explore exhibitions and events and bring you behind-the-scenes stories. Share new perspectives on works in The Met collection. New articles by staff throughout the Museum are published regularly. See the latest → #MetKids With fun facts and creative projects for families at home, #MetKids is a great addition to your home-learning toolkit. #MetKids was inspired, tested, and approved by real kids ages 7 through 12. Start exploring → Subscribe to the #MetKids newsletter. Audio Guide for Kids The Audio Guide for Kids features 13 tours that are ideal for children ages 6–12 and their families. View featured objects in high resolution by searching the online collection. Listen now →

An Update From Phoenix Productions...

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE ANNOUNCES NEW SEASON

We’re thrilled to give you a first look at our extraordinary 2020–2021 season: a diverse lineup featuring Broadway blockbusters, beloved classics, and two world premieres including a musical about the making of one of the world’s most popular movies.

Subscribers can Renew Today!

Your Online Culture Fix from State Theatre NJ

Our doors may currently be closed and our stage silent, but we remain committed to providing you with arts and cultural activities to keep you and your family engaged, distracted, and entertained. Here are some activities, recommendations, videos, fun facts, and more!

Treasures of New Jersey documentary! Just under 30 minutes, this doc by NJTV explores STNJ's 100 years of history through archival photographs, film, and interviews. WATCH NOW »

State Theatre artist Diavolo/Architects in Motion made it to the 2017 finals on America's Got Talent. You won't believe their amazing audition performance. WATCH NOW »

All Access with State Theatre New Jersey is our NJ Ad Club Jersey Award-winning weekly podcast and radio show. Listen to our catalog of over 350 artist interviews, available on iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, and Stitcher, including Johnny Mathis, Mike Love from The Beach Boys, and more. LISTEN NOW »

The "Ultimate Broadway Musicals Playlist" is now available on Spotify! Sing along to the best musicals from the last 30+ years including Cats, Hamilton, Wicked, and more. LISTEN NOW »

STATE THEATRE MAGAZINE

Browse our plethora of blogs including show previews, artist interviews, and event features, including a Q&A with Founding Member of The Temptations, Otis Willliams; the story behind the Eagles' album Hotel California, and more. READ MORE »