NJ FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA SETS SPRING CONCERTS

MADAMA BUTTERFLY

The Joseph DeAlessandro Memorial Opera Concert

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 2018, at 7pm 
WHERE: The Presbyterian Church, Westfield, NJ

WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 2018, at 3pm 
WHERE: The Concert Hall, Drew University, Madison, NJ

• David Wroe conductor
• Maria Todaro artistic director
• International Guest Soloists
• New Jersey Festival Orchestra

Puccini’s irresistible lyric genius has long made Madama Butterfly one of opera’s most enduring tales of unrequited passion. A cast of internationally acclaimed guest performers assembled from Maestro Wroe’s extensive contacts in European and American opera houses joins NJFO to present, acted and in costume, this most heart-rending of stories, breathtakingly beautiful from first love to love child to tragic end.

IN LONDON TOWN

WHEN: Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 7pm     
WHERE: The Presbyterian Church, Westfield, NJ

WHEN: Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 3pm      
WHERE: The Concert Hall, Drew University, Madison, NJ

• David Wroe conductor
• New Jersey Festival Orchestra

ELGAR Cockaigne Overture “In London Town”

R. STRAUSS Four Last Songs (excerpts)

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS A London Symphony

The sounds of Big Ben, the colossus of St Paul's Cathedral, the hustle-bustle of Piccadilly Circus, the vast horizons of this mega City – all captured in tone paintings by two iconic 20^th century British composers – bring the 35^th anniversary season celebration to a glorious close.

SATIRIST BOROWITZ TO APPEAR @ SOPAC

An Evening with Andy Borowitz  

WHEN: SAT, MAR 3 at 8PM 
WHERE: SOPAC, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange (behind train station)

Andy Borowitz is a New York Times best-selling author and a comedian renowned for the Borowitz Report, a satirical news column that has millions of readers around the world. He is an award-winning writer and producer, and his Twitter feed is followed by 615,000. Read More

Proudly sponsored by the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation.

ILLUSIONIST TO APPEAR @ bergenPAC IN SPECTACULAR SHOW

The Magic of Adam Trent

WHEN: SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2018 – 8 PM
WHERE: bergenPAC, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood
TICKETS: $59-49-39-29
Tickets available at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling bergenPAC’s Box Office at (201) 227-1030.

Direct from Broadway, Adam Trent, the breakout star of the world’s best-selling magic show The Illusionists, brings his signature brand of magic and illusion to this 90-minute spectacle. Produced by the same creative team behind The Illusionists brand, this is an immersive entertainment extravaganza of magic, comedy and music perfect for the entire family. 

Ember Ensemble Takes on Issues of War in Choral Concert to Honor All Veterans and Their Homelands

Where Poppies Grow

WHEN: Saturday, March 3rd, at 7 PM
WHERE: St. John’s in the Village Episcopal Church, 218 West 11th Street (at Waverly Pl) NYC

WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 5 PM
WHERE: Church of the Immaculate Conception, 30 N. Fullerton Ave., Montclair

TICKETS: can be purchased in advance on the Schola website for $20, or at the door for $25. Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge. For more information go to www.ScholaOnHudson.org or call 888-407-6002 Ext.5.

The Ember ensemble of Schola Cantorum on Hudson will raise their voices in tribute to fallen soldiers on both sides of WWI and from many of the nations involved in the conflict when they perform the concert titled Where Poppies Grow. The concert will feature music and poetry from soldiers’ homelands including France, Germany, Canada, Greece, Russia, and others. The concert takes its name from the popular WWI poem, In Flanders Fields, by Canadian poet, John McCrae, in which he references fields of poppies where many soldiers lost their lives. Ember will perform three musical settings of the poem as part of its repertoire.

The March concerts are the second of three sets of concerts making up Ember’s current season, When the War is Over, that focuses on issues having to do with military conflict and its aftermath. The season honors the centenary anniversary of WWI, culminating in Armistice Day concerts in November 2018.

Ember, a pro-am ensemble drawing singers from NY and NJ, will perform under the direction of conductor Deborah Simpkin King, PH.D., Ember’s artistic director and founder.

Veterans will be recognized and honored at every performance and given red lapel poppies, the WWI symbol of solidarity with soldiers.

“The point we seek to make with this concert is that the experience of war is the same on both sides of the battle line; and furthermore, that those whose lives are endangered are almost never those making decisions about war,” says Dr. King. “With our singing, we hope to provide a vicarious experience that can serve as a catalyst for heightened attention and fresh thinking around subjects of significance. Especially in a democratic nation, we have the opportunity to affect leadership responsible for making decisions on our behalf.  I believe the arts can have a uniquely powerful impact because of their ability to reach deeply into our souls.”

In Where Poppies Grow, Ember will sing of pre-war innocence and dreams of a peaceful world (Friede auf Erden by Austrian composer, Arnold Schönberg); of sadness at seeing a beloved leave for battle (Trois beaux oiseaux du Paradis by French composer, Maurice Ravel and in settings of In Flanders Fields by Canadian poet, John McCrae); and of remembrance of soldiers’ sacrifice (When the War is Over by Irish composer, Michael McGlynn). Although the concert’s message about loss is a powerful one, it is also a message that’s as much about hope and joy (Everyone Suddenly Burst out Singing by Canadian composer, Peter Wilshire) as it is about sadness. 

About Ember
Ember is the performing ensemble of Schola Cantorum on Hudson, founded in 1995 by Deborah Simpkin King, PhD, as an independent nonprofit organization. Ember performs its entire concert season in Manhattan and in Montclair, NJ. Its unique programming features new music (largely by living composers) with a socially pertinent message.

The internationally recognized new music initiative, PROJECT: ENCORE ™, was foundedthrough Schola and the organization supports a multi-pronged education and engagement programs in addition to its performing activities. Ember draws singers from eleven counties throughout New York and New Jersey. Schola is supported by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the Marjorie Bunnell Foundation, and many other generous individuals, foundations and business partners.

About Deborah Simpkin King, Ph.D.
Deborah Simpkin King, Ph.D., is the Founder and Artistic Director of Ember, the vocal ensemble of Schola Cantorum on Hudson (Schola), and of PROJECT : ENCORE™. Dr. King Chairs the New York Choral Consortium (NYCC) and serves as the Interim Director of Music at Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church and the Artistic Director of the Crescent Concert Series in Plainfield, NJ. Known as a visionary conductor, educator and advocate of new music and the choral community, Dr. King is a frequent presenter at professional conferences and active as a guest conductor and teacher of master classes and choral workshops.

ALLIANCE REP PRESENTS NJ PREMIERE OF NEW PLAY IN SUMMIT

Directed by Christine Gaden

WHEN:  February 16 through March 3
WHERE: MONDO, 426 Springfield Ave., Summit
Visit our website for tickets and information. https://www.alliancerep.org/current-production

Starring: David Federman and Kelly Maizenaski

Longtime friends Doug (David Federman) and Kayleen (Kelly Maizenaski) measure their lives in stitches, scars and hospital stints. Kayleen's internal agony, including intense stomachaches, is only matched by daredevil Doug’s array of disfiguring accidents.  Over the course of thirty years, this scar-crossed pair meet again and again, brought together by injury, heartbreak, and their own self-destructive tendencies. “Gruesome Playground Injuries” is a compelling and unconventional “love” story about the intimacy between two people when they allow their defenses to drop and their wounds to show. Director Christine Gaden​ first read "Gruesome..." seven years ago, and ha​s​ been waiting to direct this piece ever since. ​"​I'm thrilled to have found Alliance Rep; their willingness to produce modern, quirky, and brave shows made it the perfect home for this project​," says Gaden.​ ​"​Working with the talented actors to bring these fascinating and complex characters to life has been extremely rewarding. I can't wait to share this unique play with audiences."​ What critics have to say about Mr. Joseph and this piece: "Rajiv Joseph is an artist of original talent." —NY Times. "Irresistibly odd and exciting…This darkly humorous drama is Rajiv Joseph's most satisfying work." —NY Daily News. "This wondrous strange two-hander finds as much humor as horror in the play's bizarre events." —Variety.

THE BARN THEATRE HOLDING AUDITIONS FOR “ANNIE”

Annie
directed by Camille DiLorenzo

WHEN: Monday, Sunday, March 4, 2018 at 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM (Children and Miss Hannigan) Sunday, March 4, 2018 at 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM (All Adult roles including Hannigan) Monday, March 5, 2018 at 6:00 PM-  7:00 PM (Children only) Monday, March 5, 2018 at 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM (All Adult roles including Hannigan)
WHERE: The Barn Theatre is located at 32  Skyline Drive in Montville, NJ, just minutes off Route 287 (Exit 47). For more information or directions, call 973-334-9320 ext. 5, or visit www.barntheatre.org

PERFORMANCE DATES: May 18, 25, 26, 31, June 1, 2, 7, 8 & 9 at 8pm and May 19, 20, 27, June 3 at 2 pm (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays).

Based on the popular comic strip by Harold Gray, Annie has become a worldwide phenomenon and was the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The beloved book and score by Tony Award winners, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, features some of the greatest musical theatre hits ever written, including "Tomorrow."

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage that is run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations... and even befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt! She finds a new home and family in billionaire, Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

CAST REQUIREMENTS: 

Orphans: Orphan actresses should be within this age range but not necessarily the exact age posted below

• Annie, 11, orphan: belter, mezzo (A- high F) Energetic and optimistic orphan who never gives up hope that better days are ahead
• Molly, littlest orphan, 7  
• Pepper, the toughest orphan, 12-14
• Kate, the next to littlest orphan, 8-9
• Duffy, the biggest orphan, 13-15
• Tessie, the cry baby orphan, 10-12
• July, the quietest, 11-13
• (3) Orphan chorus of dancer/singer/gymnasts Age 9-15

Adults

• Oliver Warbucks, 40 - 60, Warm-hearted, stiff-collared billionaire: baritone (C-high F) May be required to SHAVE head
• Miss Hannigan, 35-55, Orphanage matron who is Annie's nemesis : mezzo (A-A flat)
• Grace Farrell, 20's-30’s  Loyal secretary to Warbucks: soprano (A-high G)
• Rooster Hannigan, 30-50 Miss Hannigan's no-good brother,  (B-high G)
• Lily St. Regis, 25-35 Rooster's floozy girlfriend: soprano (D- high G)
• FDR,  40-60 able to create Roosevelt. baritone (C flat - E sharp)
• Drake, Warbucks' English butler: baritone ( dancer )
• Mrs Pugh, Oliver Warbucks' cook ( Speaking part will double as other characters)
• Cecille and Annette, French maids ( Speaking part will double as other characters)
• Mrs. Greer Oliver Warbuck's head housekeeper. (will double as other characters)
• Star To Be - ingenue aspiring actress ( Solo role may double as other characters)
• Bert Healy - radio personality Radio ( Solo role may double as other characters)
• Bonnie, Connie and Ronnie Boylan ( Solo role will double as other characters)
• Bundles McCloskey, The laundry man who aids Annie's attempt to escape ( Speaking part will double as other character)
• Dog Catchers ( Speaking part will double as other characters)
• Lt Ward - NYC policeman ( Speaking part will double as other characters)
• Jimmy Johnson:  25-55. Silly radio personality on Bert Healy's radio show.   ( Speaking part will double as other characters.
• Fred McCracken: 25-55. Puppet wrangler. Uses a dummy on Bert Healy's radio show. Baritone. ( Speaking part will double as other characters)
• Harold Ickes: Age 25-60.  administration cabinet member Sings “Tomorrow” (will double as other characters)
• Louis Howe: Age 25-60. An associate of President Roosevelt. Sings “Tomorrow” (will double as other characters)
• Frances Perkins: Age 25-60.   administration cabinet member Sings “Tomorrow” (will double as other characters)
• Cordell Hull: Age 25-60,  administration cabinet member Sings “Tomorrow” (will double as other characters)
• Henry Morgenthau: Age 25-60, administration cabinet member Sings “Tomorrow” (will double as other characters)

You don't need to schedule an audition - just come on by (ideally within the first hour of) the appropriate session:

Annie and the Orphans will NOT be double cast however, understudies for some roles will be cast. It has not yet been decided if the Annie understudy will have her own performance date. 

No one may miss a performance regardless of their role. 

A full sized dog will perform and rehearse in this show. If your child has a fear of or allergy to dogs, they should not audition. 

Process Notes

• Please bring your own sheet music in the appropriate key.  An accompanist will be provided.  Please prepare 32 bars, but understand you might be asked to only sing 16 bars, time permitting.
• Annie and orphans will sing first.  Some will be asked to stay and dance. 

Actors are asked to arrive to sign in within the first hour of the audition start time. All roles are available. Casting is open, and newcomers are especially welcomed. Crew and other volunteers are also needed for the event. If interested, please contact info@barntheatre.org

IMPORTANT: You will be asked to list ALL potential conflict dates AT THE TIME of your audition, (NOT after casting). Please be prepared with your calendar and out-dates, as a rehearsal schedule will be generated based upon availability.

Fundraising Gala 2018: Experience the Drama of “Summit Heights!”

WHEN: March 3, 2018, 6:00 - 10:00 pm
WHERE: Oakes Center, 120 Morris Avenue, Summit, NJ
TICKETS: $135 after February 16, 2018
RSVP: February 26, 2018

Immerse yourself in the glamorous and high-stakes world of 1980's prime time soaps like Dallas, Dynasty and Falconcrest. Big shoulders, big hair and big drama are back for one night only at Dreamcatcher as the ensemble enacts intertwining stories of infidelity, evil twins and terrible secrets. Enjoy cocktails and appetizers, dinner and dessert with the denizens of the fabulous Summit Heights.

Lecture at Farmstead Arts on Sunday, February 25th, at 2 PM

Somerset Tech: Stories of Personalities and Technologies from Somerset County

WHEN: Sunday, February 25th, at 2 PM
WHERE: Farmstead Arts, 450 King George Road, Basking Ridge, NJ
ADMISSION: free, donations accepted. Registration is available at www.farmsteadarts.eventbrite.com.

As far back as the days of Lord Stirling and his astronomical observations, Somerset County, NJ has seen technological innovation. Frank Lloyd Wright built homes here; Gerald Pearson (right), inventor of the solar panel, made his home right at the Kennedy Martin Stelle Farmstead; and American Cyanamid, the country’s first diversified chemical corporation, had a huge presence in Bound Brook and Bridgewater. In this lecture Mr. DelGiudice will examine some of the little-known history and personalities which have made Somerset such a unique county.

Jim DelGiudice has used his eyes and voice to document the New Jersey scene for more than half his 58 years. His architectural photography for books published by Rutgers University Press and his lectures at Drew University have won him a share of the state’s Historic Preservation Award three times. In the millennium year Jim was cited by both the state and county legislatures for his lifetime contribution to the arts. Most recently, he served as photo editor for “A Lifetime with Shakespeare,” published by McFarland & Company. An adjunct assistant professor at County College of Morris as well as an adjunct at Columbia University, Jim enjoys presenting talks to adult and professional groups around the metropolitan area.

The lecture will be held in one of our beautiful galleries in the historic farmhouse at Farmstead Arts.  The lecture will be followed by a brief reception, providing an opportunity to meet and talk with Mr. DelGiudice.

Further information can be found at www.farmsteadartscenter.org/performances/lectures/ or by contacting Director Kathy Harris at 908-636-7576 or by email: admin@farmsteadarts.org

The farmhouse is wheelchair accessible.  Anyone anticipating the need for additional accessibility services may make a request by sending an e-mail to admin@farmsteadarts.org in advance.

This program is made possible, in part, by the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State through the State/County History Partnership Program Grant, and administered in Somerset County by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission.

WOMEN’S THEATER COMPANY CONTINUES INTERMISSION SERIES WITH 3 WOMEN PRESENT @ LINCOLN’S ASSASSINATON

Inside the Box From Her Perspective
By Lori Strelecki

WHEN: Sunday, February 25, at 3pm 
WHERE: Parsippany Playhouse at 1130 Knoll Road, Lake Hiawatha, NJ
TICKETS: $5 donation to the theater.
973.335.3038

Starring our own Patricia Durante Clara Harris, Mary Todd Lincoln and Laura Keene, were the three women "inside the box" at the Ford's theater when Lincoln was shot. Clara Harris was the young fiancée of a major in the army who was invited to attend the show with the president and first lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Laura Keene was the actress who starred in, and produced, the play that was being performed that evening. She was the first female to own and manage a theater in the U.S. They all tell their version of what happened that fateful night.

Wine and Discussion with the Actress following the Performance!

The Mike Stern Band To Headline the 7th Les Paul Festival in Mahway

7^th Annual Les Paul Festival Concert
Featuring The Mike Stern Band featuring Teymur Phell and Richie Morales
Plus Opening Act

WHEN: February 24 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
WHERE: Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts, 505 Ramapo Valley Road
Mahwah
TICKETS: $30/27/24, and $8 for Ramapo students with ID. No discounts. Contact the Berrie Center Box Office: (201) 684-7844 or visit Tickets & Info

The Mike Stern Band featuring Teymur Phell and Richie Morales will headline the 7th Les Paul Festival Concert at Ramapo College. The annual festival celebrates Mahwah resident Les Paul’s innovative spirit as a musician and technologist by hosting a week of guest speakers and workshops for Ramapo’s music students culminating in a concert for the college and regional community. The Les Paul Festival is presented by the Ramapo College Music Program, the Berrie Center for the Performing and Visual Arts, the School of Contemporary Arts, the student-run Ramapo Music Club, and the Mahwah Museum.

Mike Stern is regarded as one of the true guitar greats to a generation of contemporary jazz guitar aficionados. A player of remarkable facility, his searing lines are informed mainly by bebop and the blues while also carrying a rock-tinged intensity. Stern made his mark with Miles Davis in the early 1980s before launching his solo career in 1985. Since then he has released 17 recordings as a leader, six of which were nominated for GRAMMY® Awards.  His latest album is titled “Trip.”  Stern has also played with Blood, Sweat & Tears, Jaco Pastorius, Michael and Randy Brecker, Eric Johnson, Bela Fleck, and numerous other major jazz musicians.  Stern was presented with Guitar Player magazine’s Certified Legend Award in 2012. Ramapo College is thrilled and honored to have Mike Stern headline the 7th Les Paul Festival, during which he will also provide a workshop for Ramapo music students.

Drummer Richie Morales, a native of New York City, is a versatile player who has performed and recorded with a wide range of contemporary artists: Mike Stern, The Brecker Brothers, Spyro Gyra, Grover Washington Jr., Al DiMeola, Stevie Wonder, Carly Simon, Dianne Reeves, saxophonist Bill Evans, bassist Victor Bailey, Michael Franks, George Russell’s Living Time Orchestra, Grammy award winning vibraphonist Dave Samuels, Gato Barbieri, Dave Valentin, Ray Barretto, and Herbie Mann. He also leads his own group performing a mixture of Jazz standards and original music. Richie has been a member of the jazz faculty at Purchase College Conservatory of Music SUNY since 2000. He has also taught at the Juilliard School’s Music Advancement Program.

Bassist Teymur Phell moved to New York in 2011 and has since built a reputation as a vibrant and virtuosic player. He has performed with Mike Stern, Arturo Sandoval, Danielia Cotton, Alex Young, Leni Stern, Kevin Salem, Lafayette Harris, and Oz Noy. Born in Azerbaijan to a family of professional musicians—his grandmother Elmira Nazirova was a celebrated classical pianist—Teymur studied classical bass at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and toured with Palestinian singer Amal Murkus.

“Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?” A Film and Talk Presented by Professor Maurice Mahler

Professor Mahler has presented informative talks about artists in the past, which our audiences have greatly enjoyed. In this talk, he will explore the history of women in achieving true value as artists in a world dominated by the decisions of men and the social attitudes in Europe and America since the 10th century. Artists to be considered include Elizabeth Louise Vigee-Le Brun, Lee Krasner, Louise Nevelson, Elian de Kooning, and Harriett Feigenbaum. The film reveals the stories of the amazing artistic women throughout history from the 15th century to the present. You have seen the paintings - now you will know that the “artist was a woman!”

Professor Mahler teaches at Rutgers University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI-RU). He is a retired advertising executive and instructor at the School for Visual Arts in New York.

For more information or to make a paid reservation (non-refundable), call the Museum at 732-252-6990, or visit www.jhmomc.org. The Jewish Heritage Museum is located in the Mounts Corner Shopping Center, at 310 Mounts Corner Drive Freehold, NJ, at the corner of Route 537 and Wemrock Road (between the CentraState Medical Center and Freehold Raceway Mall).

It is on the second floor of the historic Levi Solomon Barn. The JHMOMC is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Museum is handicapped and assisted listening accessible.

The acclaimed National Dance Institute brings Harlem Night Song to NJPAC!

WHEN: Sun, Mar 11, @ 3PM
WHERE: NJPAC Victoria Theater, One Center St., Newark
TICKETS: $5 buy tickets

The spectacular young dancers of National Dance Institute's Celebration Team arrive at NJPAC with Harlem Night Song, a vibrant production that celebrates the work of legendary artists like Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Florence Mills, Jacob Lawrence and Héctor Lavoe.

In Harlem Night Song, directed by Bianca Johnson, dozens of dancers from National Dance Institute's Celebration Team will stomp at the Savoy, salute the Harlem Hellfighters, cheer for Joe Louis, and shuffle along at the Hoofers Club. These exuberant artists range in age from 9 to 15, and are drawn from schools throughout the New York metropolitan area.

Founded by ballet superstar Jacques d'Amboise, National Dance Institute uses dance and music to instill in students a love of the arts, a passion for learning, and a desire to strive for their personal best. Over the last four decades, this acclaimed organization has transformed the lives of more than 2 million children through its award-winning arts and learning programs, and high-energy public performances.
“You can’t really go wrong with kids dancing,” says The New York Times of National Dance Institute. “The students of the Celebration Team transcend cuteness. They are remarkably musical, with rock-solid rhythm …”

Find out more about NDI at nationaldance.org or join the conversation with #NDIperforms.