Gas Lamp Players Present Their Summer Camps Productions

www.ticketleap.com for tickets and information
www.gaslampplayers.org

Gas Lamp Inc. is a U.S. 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, independent arts organization. We are funded by revenues generated through participation fees, ticket sales & program ads, and are run by a group of dedicated professionals and volunteers. We welcome anyone with an interest in the performing arts to become involved with our programs.

The mission of Gas Lamp Players is to nurture character, creativity, confidence, compassion and community through the performing arts. Gas Lamp Players’ educational philosophy is rooted in a deep belief in our mission; each young person who takes part in our programs is seen as an individual with his or her own strengths, talents and goals.

We are grateful for the continued support of the Glen Ridge School system and community.  Click here to learn more about the Gas Lamp Players Academy.

Footloose Teen Summer 2018 (A few spots remain!)
Directed by Kristy Graves

WHEN: July 9-July 28; Monday-Friday 9:30am-2:30pm
WHERE: Week 1: Glen Ridge High School; Weeks 2 & 3: Ridgewood Avenue School
TUITION: $850 tuition includes custom camp t-shirt and 2 tickets to the show.

REGISTER BEGINNING 3/2!

Footloose is the story of Ren McCormack, a teenage boy from Chicago. He and his mother move to the small town of Bomont after his father abandons them. Upon arriving, Ren finds himself at odds with most of the town, including the Reverend Bomont. The Reverend has convinced the town to outlaw dancing, which Ren finds unbelievable. With the help of the Ariel (the Reverend’s daughter) and Willard (a country hick who becomes his best friend), Ren convinces the Reverend to let the teenagers dance, and in the process helps the town to heal from a tragedy that affected them all.

Performances: Friday, July 27th @ 7pm; Saturday, July 28th @ 1pm

Bickford Summer JazzFest Combines Great Music and Fabulous Food Trucks

Four Jazz Concerts Plus Dance Party

WHEN: July 12 – August 16
WHERE: Bickford Theatre, Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Hgts. Rd., Morristown
TICKETS: start at $18 for Museum Members and may be purchased online at morrismuseum.org, by phone at (973) 971-3706, or in person at the Bickford Theatre Box Office. Box office hours for phone sales are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Walk-up hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Music and food always seem perfect together so for Bickford Summer JazzFest the theatre will combine great jazz with some of the region’s best food trucks on-site before each concert. Different food trucks will be featured so that both ticket holders and the general public can picnic on the beautiful Morris Museum grounds or tailgate in the spacious parking area from 5:30 to 7:30 on festival nights.

Bickford Summer JazzFest begins on Thursday, July 12, with the return of the popular singer and saxophonist Danny Bacher and his All-Star Band. His show “Accentuate the Positive” draws on tunes from his soon-to-be-released CD “Still Happy” as well as his exciting salutes to Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan, and Louis Prima. Danny will be joined by Harry Allen on tenor sax, Charlie Caranicas on trumpet, Allen Farnham on piano, Dean Johnson on bass, and Alvester Garnett on drums.

On Thursday, July 19, one of the emerging hot jazz groups from Brooklyn, Svetlana and the Delancy Five, will take the stage. The band features their leader and singer Svetlana Shmulyian whom the Wall Street Journal called an “exceptional vocalist” plus saxophonist Michael Hashim, trumpeter Charlie Caranicas, pianist Willerm Delisort, bassist Endea Owens and drummer Rob Garcia.

Then on Thursday, July 26, the popular and always entertaining vocalist Antoinette Montague brings The Antoinette Montague Experience to Morristown for a concert which blends jazz, blues, and vintage R&B. Her special guests include the great clarinetist and saxophonist Ken Peplowski, pianist Brandon McCune, bassist Melissa Slocum, drummer Willie Rodriques, and tap dancer AC Lincoln.

And no summer festival would be complete without Dan Levinson’s Midsummer Night’s Jazz Party. For his fourth annual appearance at the Bickford Summer JazzFest, Dan is dispensing with the scores and music stands for an all-out, freewheeling jam session with Jon-Erik Kellso on trumpet, Mark Shane on piano, Paul Wells on drums, Harvey Tibbs on trombone, and Rob Adkins on bass.

The summer concerts at the Bickford Theatre come to a close on Thursday, August 16, when Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses return to Morristown for their first appearance since last summer’s high energy show at the Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival. The son of the explosive star Louis Prima performs many of his father’s most famous hits including “Sing Sing Sing,” “Just a Gigolo,” and “Jump Jive An’ Wail” as well as popular songs from the fifties and several originals. For this dance party, the Bickford Theatre will throw open its doors and give the audience the opportunity to dance the night away.

The Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, NJ, and offers free parking and full accessibility.

D&R Greenway Land Trust Sponsors Oratorio Regional Premiere Bus Trip July 28

D&R Greenway Land Trust invites the public to a unique bus excursion to the regional premier performance of

Sam Guarnaccia’s Emergent Universe Oratorio
Performed by the Main Line Symphony Orchestra, with choral singers from Pennsylvania and Vermont

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 28. The bus will leave One Preservation Place, off Rosedale Road, Princeton 08540 on July 28 at 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Villanova University Church
TICKETS: Tickets for the bus journey and the Emergent Universe Oratorio are $125. This includes bus trip, wine, hors d’oeuvres, performance and post-party.  Space is limited; RSVP by Thursday, July 19: Most convenient payment: www.drgreenway.org, DONATE, and specify BUS TRIP. 
609-924-4646
A portion of the fee supports D&R Greenway’s preservation of New Jersey’s segment of the universe.

Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be provided. At the post-party after the Villanova performance, participants will meet wit composer Sam Guarnaccia and Symphony director Don Liuzzi.  

Sam Guarnaccia’s Emergent Universe Oratorio inspired the dynamic paintings by award-winning environmental artist Cameron (Cami) Davis, currently in D&R Greenway’s galleries: Cosmophilia may be seen through July 25 in D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center, 1 Preservation Place, Princeton 08540. Gallery hours Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. = Call to be sure galleries not rented at the time of prospective visit.

Our regional premiere of the Emergent Universe Oratorio will be performed in the majestic setting of the Villanova University Church. D&R Greenway President Linda Mead attended the Ohio premiere in Cleveland, observing, “This oratorio soars, inspired by, and composed to inspire conservation of, the Earth. It is a beautiful melding of music, poetry and philosophies—some familiar, some eye-opening!” Both the artist and the composer drew significant influences from the 2011 Emmy-winning documentary Journey of the Universe, by Mary Evelyn Tucker and Brian Swimme of Yale.

Sam Guarnaccia addresses questions about the impact of stars, tectonic plates, even sea life of hundreds of millions of years ago upon today’s humans. He weaves in words and thoughts of Rainer Maria Rilke, Wendell Berry, John Elder, among others, carrying audiences to the “beginning of time.”  Guarnaccia explains, “The motivation for this oratorio was to add weight and depth to our awareness of what we are doing to the planet.” Cultural historian, geologist and teacher Thomas Berry also impacted Guarnaccia during this composition:  “A new revelatory experience is needed, an experience wherein human consciousness awakens to the grandeur and sacred quality of the Earth process. This awakening is our human participation in the dream of the Earth…”

The oratorio is related to opera in that it features recitatives and music.  It differs from opera in that it contains no performance. This oratorio interacts with the 2011 Emmy-winning documentary Journey of the Universe, by Mary Evelyn Tucker and Brian Swimme, which dramatizes interconnectedness and universal energy from the moment of the Big Bang, forward.

Don Liuzzi, director of the Main Line Symphony Orchestra and principal timpanist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, describes his experience of the oratorio: “The more we talk about [the perils to our planet] this as a society, the less chance we have of ruining this planet.”  “Science links everyone on the planet,” Guarnaccia adds. D&R Greenway’s Linda Mead asserts, “It is the melding of science, music and new thinking that makes this work so inspiring.  This magical, unforgettable evening can transform how you view your place in the world and the actions you yourself need to take for the sake of the planet.”

D&R GREENWAY LAND TRUST IS IN ITS 29TH YEAR of preserving and protecting natural lands, farmlands and open spaces throughout central and southern New Jersey. Through continuous preservation and stewardship—caring for land and easements to ensure they remain protected and ecologically healthy in perpetuity—D&R Greenway nurtures a healthier and more diverse environment for people and wild species in seven counties. Accredited by the national Land Trust Accreditation Commission, D&R Greenway’s mission is to preserve and care for land and inspire a conservation ethic, now and for the future. Since its founding in 1989, D&R Greenway has permanently preserved more than 20,000 acres, an area 20 times the size of New York City’s Central Park, including 30 miles of trails open to the public. The Johnson Education Center, a circa 1900 restored barn at One Preservation Place, Princeton, is D&R Greenway’s home. Through programs, art exhibits and related lectures, D&R Greenway inspires greater public commitment to safeguarding land. 

BBPAC's Hair to feature Stephan Marcellus of The Voice in “Hair”

HAIR, The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical

WHEN: through July 8, on Thursdays at 8pm, Saturdays at 9pm, and Sundays at 8pm (rated R), with PG-13 Sunday matinees at 3pm
WHERE: Black Box Performing Arts Center (200 Walraven Drive, Teaneck, NJ (GPS: 290 Walraven Drive)
TICKETS: Tickets are available at www.blackboxpac.com. Group rates for groups of 10 or more are available by calling (201) 357-2221.

Following a stellar second season of professional theater, Black Box Studios is proud to present a new immersive production of HAIR, celebrating the show's 50th anniversary. For 50 years the American Tribal Love-Rock Musical has been enthralling audiences with iconic songs like "Aquarius" and "Let the Sun Shine In." Leading BBPAC's tribe in "Aquarius" is Stephan Marcellus of The Voice.

Stephan Marcellus is an accomplished singer-songwriter from New Jersey with performances at venues such as The Apollo Music Cafe, Carnegie Hall, and The Highline Ballroom. Marcellus is most known for his performance on the thirteenth season of NBC's television series The Voice. Marcellus artfully coins his sound alternative soul- a blend of nostalgic soul and new age rock.

Marcellus makes his acting debut in Hair. "I've always wanted to act but never really had the opportunity to. After meeting Matt (Director) and Jason (Stage Manager) we developed a bond and when they encouraged me to do so I was excited to drive into something new. It's been an learning experience but Nachi (Claude/Choreographer), Static (Music Director/Bandleader) and the rest of the cast welcomed me with open arms and participating in Hair has been a great experience," Marcellus said.

Marcellus' performance is sure to captivate audiences, and he is excited to share this story: "When you look at the state of our society today from ‘Time's Up’ to ‘Black Lives Matter,’ you understand why Hair is still so relevant. The issues then are our problems now, it shows you how far we still have to go as a society. To me, Hair is centered around people who want the fundamental right to be heard. While they are excessive in their attempts, there is so much authenticity and passion within their stories. I respect the representation of all marginalized groups and hope watching this inspires you to promote change."

Joining Marcellus on stage are Sam Cancelarich, Brennen Dopwell, Kira Gavalakis, Samuel Hapner-Goldman, Nachi Lederer, Miranda Luze, Danielle MacMath, Bishon Prushankin, Camille Sims, DaShaun Williams, and Conor Wilson. Hair—presented in special arrangement with Tams-Witmark Music Library Inc.—is directed by BBPAC Artistic Director Matt Okin, with Musical Director/Bandleader Static, Choreographer Nachi Lederer, Assistant Director Bishon Prushankin, Stage Manager Jason Felix, and Designer Nimon Ibrahimaj.

Alliance Repertory Theatre Company presents NJ Premiere

THE GOOD FATHER

WHEN: July 13th thru the 28th. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Thursday, July 19th at 8 p.m.
WHERE: MONDO, 426 Springfield Avenue in Summit
For reservations, call  908-472-1502 or visit www.alliancerep.org.
To learn more about Alliance Repertory Theatre Company and the 2018-2019 twentieth anniversary season, visit www.alliancerep.org

At Rachel’s New Year's Eve party, most of the guests are in the kitchen admiring photos of their babies. In the other room, two lonely strangers find themselves cut off from the rest. Jane (Lilli Marques) was invited because she knows the people in the kitchen. Tim (Brendan Scullin) was invited because he painted the kitchen. The pair spend a drunken night together, and a few weeks later she calls him with some unexpected news. Witness their unlikely relationship develop in Alliance Repertory Theatre’s production of The Good Father.

Director Michael Driscoll calls The Good Father “a voyage of discovery that will take the audience through many emotions that are both identifiable and unmistakably human.”

What critics have to say: "[O’Reilly's] play is …a piece of theatre whose power lies in its refusal to pretend. [It] tap[s] the emotions as few plays do, probing the minds and confusions of two people in trouble with life and each other." —Irish Times.

"O'Reilly handles the painful turbulence of a modern relationship with remarkable skill…[His] dialogue is crisp, incisive and intelligent…It's the substance of every romantic tale that's ever been told and yet it shines through as if new." —Irish Independent.

"The Good Father is a play that will have you laughing one moment and crying unabashedly the next." —Poughkeepsie Journal.

“A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD” OPENS JULY 6 IN SUMMIT

A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD Music by Book and Lyrics by Robert and Willie Reale Based on the books by Arnold Lobel WHEN: July 6, 7, 13, and 14 at 7:30 p.m., July 7, 8, 14, 15 at 2:00 p.m. WHERE: Summit Playhouse, 10 New England Ave., Summit Click for Tickets! Based on Arnold Lobel's well-loved books, and a Broadway hit with three Tony Award nominations, this whimsical musical follows two great friends—the cheerful Frog and the rather grumpy Toad—and their forest friends through four fun-filled seasons. A Year with Frog and Toad tells the story of a friendship that endures and celebrates the differences that make everyone unique and special. Directed by Matthew Green Music Direction by Daphne Meng ​Choreography by Alexa Kerner BYE BYE BIRDIE Book by Michael Stewart Music by Charles Strouse Lyrics by Lee Adams WHEN: July 27, 28, August 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m., July 28, 29 & August 4, 5 at 2:00 p.m. WHERE: Summit Playhouse, 10 New England Ave., Summit Put on a Happy Face! It's the 1960s, Army-bound rock star Conrad Birdie is the talk of the town, and All-American girl Kim MacAfee is chosen for a very public farewell kiss before his departure. Kids, parents, and show biz people hilariously collide as Sweet Apple, Ohio prepares for the big event. With two Broadway runs and a hit motion picture, this classic musical is a fun time for the whole family. Directed by John Ertman Music Direction by Natalie Pereira Choreography by Lara Gavagan Limited spots remain for our Summer Stage Youth Acting Workshop. Students ages 8-13 will work on monologues, scene work, acting through song, commercial acting, and auditioning skills. The 2-week session will culminate in a Showcase with an invited audience. WHEN: July 2-6 & July 9-13 (no class July 4th ) 11:00am-2:00pm TUITION: $415 Sign Up Today The Showcase will be presented the last hour of the last session.​​

Special Offer from Premiere Stages for Luna Fans

A SPECIAL OFFER FROM OUR FRIENDS AT

50% off tickets to Craig Garcia's

Use discount code LUNA

Valid for performances on

July 12, 14, 19, 20, 21, & 22.

Offer valid for web and phone orders only.

908-737-7469 | premierestagesatkean.com

About the Play Maryanne and James are forced to confront the possibility that their popular son is capable of a horrible act. As social media explodes over the incident, the couple struggles to hold their splintering family together.

WHERE: Bauer Boucher Theater Center, Vaughn Eames Hall, Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ

New Schedule, New Pricing + Discounts @ Garden Street School of Performing Arts in Hoboken

The 2018-2019 Dance Schedule Is Here Summer Discounts on Fall Classes 1st Month Free When You Pay In Full New Pricing! New Classes! New Dance Year NEW Winter Dance Recital: December 9, 2018 Spring Dance Recital: June 22, 2019

BEST DEAL OF THE SUMMER! FOR GREAT SUMMER SAVINGS—ENROLL TODAY You Can Only Enroll For This Deal Via Email Enroll in any Fall Dance Class today, and receive First month free if you pay for the year in full.  ONLY 6 DEALS REMAIN! You can also save $25 OFF of your first tuition payment if you don't want to pay in full. THIS DEAL IS SOLD OUT! Space is limited to the first 20 people who respond! Click Here for DANCE SCHEDULE This is a one-time offer we do every Summer! It's the best deal of the season so don't miss out! THIS DEAL IS ABOUT TO END! A lot of our classes are already filling up, so register today. Be sure to check out our new Monthly Pricing and Family Plans! To enroll, email us only as we are not in the office until after the Holiday - email: dance@gardenstreetmusic.com Happy Summer! WHERE: Garden Street School of the Performing Arts, 1018 Washington St. Hoboken 201-683-9100 dance@gardenstreetmusic.com www.gardenstreetmusic.com

ITALY’S “BREATHING ART COMPANY” TACKLES VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND SOUTHERN IDENTITY IN JULY WORKSHOPS, EXHIBITION

BE SOUTHERN 
a series of workshops, performance and photography

WHEN: July 27-29, 2018. The exhibition opens Friday, July 27, from 6-9 PM with free live dance performance at 7:30 PM; the gallery is open Saturday and Sunday, July 28-29, from 6-9 PM.
WHERE: SMUSH Gallery, 340 Summit Ave., Jersey City
ADMISSION: All gallery hours are free and open to the public.

A two-workshop series investigates global Southern identity and violence against women through the medium of modern dance, while performance and photography highlight the beauty of Southern Italy.

The Be Southern gallery exhibition features dance-photography by Clarissa Lapolla, which is available for sale. 

DANCE WORKSHOP SERIES

WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, July 28-29, from 11am-1pm
FEE: Workshop tickets are $25.00 each and available at smushgallery.com/current-and-upcoming.

It is open to curious dancers of all levels of experience ages 16+.

• William’s Women: Exploring Violence With Shakespeare’s Fairer Sex takes place Saturday, July 28, 11 AM-1 PM
• SUD: Southern Identity Across the Globe is Sunday, July 29, 11AM-1 PM

All Be Southern events take place at SMUSH Gallery, one of Jersey City’s newest art spaces. SMUSH Gallery hosts creative and community work including visual art, performance, workshops, and professional opportunities for working artists. The gallery is also available for rent, and will begin offering classes in Fall 2018.

Portraits of 19 Newsmaking Baby Boomers from the Newseum on Display at the Morris Museum

The Boomer List: Photographs by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

WHEN: Opens July 10, 2018; museum open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday, 12:00 to 5:00pm. In addition, the Museum is open evenings from 5:00 to 8:00pm on the second and third Thursday of the month.
WHERE: Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road (at the corner of Columbia Turnpike) in Morristown
ADMISSION: Admission to the Museum is $10 for adults and $7 for children, students and senior citizens. Admission is always free for Museum members. For more information, call (973) 971-3700, or visit www.morrismuseum.org

Morris Museum will open its newest exhibit, “The Boomer List: Photographs by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders,” featuring 19 large-format portraits of influential baby boomers — one born each year of the baby boom, from 1946 to 1964. Award-winning photographer and filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders (“The Black List,” “The Latino List” and “The Out List”) chose as his subjects boomers who reflect the depth, diversity and talent of their generation. The exhibit, created by the Newseum in Washington, D.C. in partnership with AARP, will be on display at the Morris Museum through September 10, 2018.

Baby boomers have had a profound impact on the world, shaking up attitudes about sex, race and politics, and leaving their mark on everything from science and technology to art and music. The 19 men and women selected for “The Boomer List” are:

• 1946: Tim O’Brien, Vietnam veteran/author
• 1947: Deepak Chopra, M.D., New Age guru
• 1948: Samuel L. Jackson, actor
• 1949: Billy Joel, singer/songwriter
• 1950: Steve Wozniak, co-founder, Apple Computer
• 1951: Tommy Hilfiger, fashion designer
• 1952: Amy Tan, author
• 1953: Eve Ensler, playwright
• 1954: Julieanna Richardson, founder, The HistoryMakers
• 1955: Maria Shriver, journalist
• 1956: Kim Cattrall, actress
• 1957: Virginia Rometty, CEO, IBM
• 1958: Ellen Ochoa, Director, Johnson Space Center
• 1959: Ronnie Lott, athlete
• 1960: Erin Brockovich, environmentalist
• 1961: Peter Staley, AIDS activist
• 1962: Rosie O’Donnell, entertainer
• 1963: David LaChapelle, artist
• 1964: John Leguizamo, actor

"Someday, the history of the Boomer generation will be written and rewritten many times" said Dr. Cleveland Johnson, Executive Director of the Morris Museum. "Until then, the photography of Timothy Greenfield-Sanders gives us already a revealing look at 19 Boomers who loom large today in that evolving story."

“The Boomer List” also includes an original Newseum-produced film featuring the photographer’s stories about the project, and features a scent station with memorable aromas familiar to the baby boom generation. The station will include whiffs of baby powder, to represent the 76 million-plus babies born between 1946 and 1964; fresh-cut grass, a reminder of the boomers’ move to the suburbs; and incense, evoking the musky smell of rebellion, flower power and love-ins.

“The Boomer List” is made possible by generous support from AARP.

Annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence returns to the historic Morristown Green on July 4th

Annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence

WHEN: noon on Wednesday, July 4^th
WHERE: Morristown Green, Morristown
ADMISSION: free to the public and appropriate for all ages

For the sixth year in a row, Morris County visitors and residents will have the opportunity to enjoy an authentically patriotic 4^th of July just the way the Founding Fathers might have imagined it. Celebrate the country’s independence by participating in the festivities on the Morristown Green.

Morristown National Historical Park, the nation’s first historical park, is a major sponsor of the event, along with the Morris County Tourism Bureau. The park will welcome visitors on July 4^th from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm and admission is free.

On Wednesday, July 4^th at 10:00 am, The Hanover Township Landmark Commission will give a free “Living” tour of its 1718 Burying Yard located on Route 10 East, Whippany. This one-hour tour will highlight the earliest settlers of Morris County. Please pre-register by calling 973-631-5151 or signing up at info@morristourism.org.

At 11:30 am, beginning at the Ford Mansion, fall in with costumed Revolutionary War soldiers and march to the Morristown Green for the reading. Also at 11:30 am, Gordon Thomas Ward will be at the Morristown Green leading a patriotic sing-a-long to welcome the marchers.

At noon at the Morristown Green, Park Place, costumed interpreters will read the Declaration of Independence, an annual Morris County tradition. Audience participation is encouraged. There will be music and musket salute, followed by free guided walking tours of the Presbyterian Church’s Colonial-era graveyard, est. 1733. In case of rain, the reading of the Declaration will move indoors to the Methodist Church, 50 South Park Place, Morristown.

Join the Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall for a hike along Patriots’ Path to the archaeological site of New Jersey’s Revolutionary War Powder Mill along the Whippany River. Learn about the history of the Powder Mill, the significant role it played locally during the Revolutionary War, and plans for its future. Two tours are scheduled, for 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, starting at Acorn Hall, 68 Lafayette Avenue, Morristown.

For more information about all the July 4th holiday happenings, contact the Morris County Tourism Bureau at morristourism.org or call 973-631-5151.

Revolutionary Times 2018 is being generously sponsored by Normandy Real Estate Partners, Jeanne and Joe Goryeb, the NJM Insurance Group, the Washington Association of New Jersey, and Morristown National Historical Park.

The Morris County Tourism Bureau is a destination marketing organization that positively affects the economy of Morris County by promoting the area’s exceptional historic, cultural and recreational opportunities by providing services to residents business travelers and tourists.

Pioneer Productions Presents “Hair” July 6-8 & 13-15 in Fair Lawn

Pioneer Productions presents

Hair
The American Tribal Love Rock Musical
directed by Daniel Peter Vissers

WHEN: July 6, 7, 13, 14 at 8:00 PM; 8, 15 at 3:00 PM
WHERE: The George Fry Center for the Arts, Fair Lawn Community Center, 10-10 20^th St., Fair Lawn
TICKETS: $25
hair2018.brownpapertickets.com/

2018 marks the 50^th anniversary of the show’s debut on Broadway, and its themes of rebellion, activism and speaking truth to power have never resonated with audiences more.

The show holds a special place in the hearts of company founders Dan Vissers, Shanna Levine-Phelps and Jon Mantes. It was a 2003 production of the show that brought them together and sparked the idea of forming their own theatre company. “We had all these ideas about what we would do if we had our own company,” says Dan Vissers, “and somewhere along the way those thoughts transformed themselves into a concrete plan for creating Pioneer. Hair is a dream production for us as it represents how far we’ve come. We’re not where we want to be yet, but we’re well on the road.”

The company has plans to present a series of classes for adult performers and some more intimate evenings of new works in the coming months. “Our tagline is ‘Groundbreaking theatre Past, Present & Future,” Co-founder Shanna Levine-Phelps adds, “that’s where our name comes from. We want to be part of creating a conversation.”

Creating a conversation is exactly what the company hopes to do with Hair. The production is designed to be immersive from the moment the audience enters the theatre. According to Vissers, “we wanted the audience to be part of the experience when they walked into the lobby, so they’ll see what people would have seen had they wandered through Central Park in 1968, kids with guitars and protest signs and flowers in their hair singing. By the time they take their seats they’ll feel like part of the tribe.”

Hair has a devoted following among the cast, many of whom have seen the show multiple times. Several of the actors have done the show before and claim that each time it has changed their lives. This is cast member, Ross Pohling’s, third time doing the show. He met his girlfriend, Evianna Hawkins in a prior production and now they are tribe members for Pioneer’s version. Cast member Leigh O’Neill saw the show 30 times in its last run on Broadway. As broke college students O’Neill says “my friends and I would go into the city at least once a week to try to win lotto tickets...obviously, I'm super excited to finally be a part of a tribe.”

Cast photo by Denise Medve Penguinmoon Studios