A Good Time to Get Your Young One On Stage

Spring may have just sprung, but if you've got a kid interested in the performing arts, it's time to start thinking about the summer.

Registration is going on now for theatrical camps at such venues as Centenary Stage Company, Brundage Park Playhouse and Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey. Brundage is also holding auditions for its summer kids show, "Alice in Wonderland" and Summit Theatre will soon host tryouts for three summer shows for young performers.

There are also some interesting things going on at North Jersey's theaters over the next few weeks, including the premiere of "I Do!, I Do" at the Bickford, the Women's Playwrights Series at Centenary Stage Company and a screening of "A Night to Remember" at the Darress Theatre to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking.

ON STAGE SCOOP

Film Screening in Boonton: The documentary "Hot Flash Havoc" is being shown at the Darress Theatre through April 9. The movie is billed as an entertaining crash course in perimenopause and menopause. Admission costs $10. The theater is located at 615 Main St. in Boonton. For more information, go to DarressTheater.com.

Audition Alert, "Our Town:" will hold auditions for Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" on April 3 at 7:30 p.m. Callbacks will be held on April 10 at 7:30 p.m. Needed are 10 adult males (ages 30 to 50); 10 adult females (ages 30 to 50); five youth males (ages 15 to 25); and five youth females (ages 15 to 25). Readings will be from the script. Strong New England accents are required for all roles. Performances are on weekends, June 8-24. For more information, call  908-369-7469 or visit SVPTheatre.org.

Chamber Music in Morristown: The Starlight Series: Nova Chamber Ensemble will perform at on April 3 at 8 p.m. The chamber will feature Laryssa Krupa on piano and Wanda Glowacka on cello. They will perform Rachmaninoff's sonata for cello and piano, with the audience sitting around the performers in a semi-circle. Tickets cost $20. For tickets and information, call 973-539-8008 or visit MayoArts.org.

Walk, Don't Run to See The Ventures: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Ventures will take stage at on April 4 for a concert beginning at 7 p.m. The band's hits include the theme from "Hawaii Five-O," "Walk Don't Run" and "Wipe Out." Tickets cost $27 to $37. The Newton Theatre is located at 234 Spring St. in Newton. For more information, call 973-383-3700 or go to NewtonTheatre.com.

They're Just a Singer, and a Rock and Roll Band: The Moody Blues will perform at on April 10 and 11, with both concerts starting at 8 p.m. The band's '70s-era hits include "Nights in White Satin," "Tuesday Afternoon" and "I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band). Tickets cost $85-$150. The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For tickets and information, call 973-539-8008 or visit MayoArts.org.

Women Playwrights Series: Centenary Stage Company will present its annual Women Playwrights Series, April 11-29. The series will feature staged readings, classes, and activities in Hackettstown. The first play of the series is Margot Lasher's "Other Minds," which will be performed at the Lackland Center, 715 Grand Ave. on April 11.  Other presentations include "The Text of Sex" by Manalapan playwright Michele Aldin Kushner on April 18, and “Spin, or Twilight of the Bohemians” by California playwright Carol Verberg on April 25. Aoise Stratford's "The Unfortunates" will make its world premiere on April 13 and continue through April 29 at the Edith Bolte Kutz Theatre of the Lackland Center. Stratford will also lead a free writing workshop on April 14, 3-6 p.m. (Reservations are required.)

A “Dine and Dish” with the playwrights will offer a panel discussion led by WPS Alumni playwrights, Bekah Brunstetter (“You May Go Now”), Darrah Cloud (“Dreamhouse”), Deborah Brevoort (“The Poetry of Pizza”), and Stratford. Panel topics include the current “50-50/2020” Initiative led by the Dramatists Guild of America, and the state of the art for women writing for the theater today. “Dine and Dish” will be held April 15, and will include a catered brunch prior to the panel discussion. The registration fee for brunch and discussion is $15. Participants staying for the 2 pm performance of the World Premiere of “The Unfortunates” may purchase the lunch, discussion and performance tickets at a discounted total of $27.50. For tickets and reservations, call 908-979-0900 or go to CentenaryStageCo.org.

Love and Marriage: is concluding its 17th season with the musical "I Do!, I Do!" with performances set for April 12 through May 6. The show features a book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt. The show is famously set around a couple's four-poster bed and examines the 50-year marriage of Michael and Agnes Snow. It premiered on Broadway in 1966 and received seven Tony nominations. Tickets cost $40, $36 seniors, 20 students 18 and under with a valid college I.D. The Bickford is located at the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morris Township. For more information, call 973-971-3706 or visit MorrisMuseum.org.

Classical Sounds: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will perform at on April 12, beginning at 8 p.m. The concert will feature works by Beethoven and Brahms played by Wu Han (piano), Tara Helen O'Connor (flute), Arnaud Sussmann (violin), Yura Lee (violin), Paul Neubauer (viola) and Nicholas Canellakis (cello). Tickets cost $32-$52. The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For tickets and information, call 973-539-8008 or visit MayoArts.org.

Oh MercyMe! Grammy-nominated MercyMe is coming to for an April 13 concert, beginning at 8 p.m. The Christian Contemporary band's hits include “All of Creation,” “Word of God Speak,” “I Can Only Imagine” and “Here with Me.” Tickets cost $37 to $77. The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For tickets and information, call 973-539-8008 or visit MayoArts.org.

Audition Alert, "Alice in Wonderland:" Brundage Park Playhouse will hold auditions for Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" on April 13, 7 to 9 p.m. and April 14, 2 to 4 p.m. with callbacks scheduled for April 17, 7 to 9 p.m. Mark Carovale is directing. Performances are in July. For reservations, call 973-989-7092 or go to BrundageParkPlayhouse.org.

Get Out of My Garden! "Peter Rabbit" will be performed at The Pax Amicus Castle Theatre in Budd Lake, April, 14, 21 and 28, with performances beginning at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The show is part of the theater's "Generation Next Productions" series and is written and directed by Richard Boyer. The theater is located at 23 Lake Shore Road in Budd Lake. For more information, call 973-691-2100 or go to PaxAmicus.com.

Up in the Air: Juggling act The Passing Zone will bring a show titled "Gravity Attacks" to on April 14, with two performances, beginning at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Jon Wee and Owen Morse were contestants on "America's Got Talent" and juggle chainsaws, torches, knives and more. Tickets cost $25. The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For tickets and information, call 973-539-8008 or visit MayoArts.org.

Don't Forget "A Night to Remember:" The Darress Theatre in Boonton will host a screening of "A Night to Remember," the 1958 movie about the sinking of the Titanic, on April 14, 7:30 p.m. The showing commemorates the 100th anniversary of the sinking. Tickets cost $10. For more information, go to DarressTheater.com.

Of Mice and a Man: Villagers Theatre in Somerset will present "The Pied Piper," April 14 through 22 as part of its KidsVill series. The musical adaptation of the classic tale is directed by Annette Fielder and Jeff Dworkin. Performances begin at noon and 3 p.m. Tickets cost $10. For reservations or more information, email boxoffice@villagerstheatre.com, call 732-873-2710 or go to VillagersTheatre.com.

Sleepy Time: New Jersey Ballet's will present a family matinee of "Sleeping Beauty" on April 15, beginning at 3 p.m. at . Tickets cost $15-$18. The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For tickets and information, call 973-539-8008 or visit MayoArts.org.

All That Jazz: Marty Grosz will perform a concert as part of the 's Jazz Showcase on April 16 beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $18, $15 in advance.  The Bickford is located at the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morris Township. For more information, call 973-971-3706 or visit MorrisMuseum.org.

Audition Alert, Summit Kaleidoscope Productions: Audition signups for 's summer Kaleidoscope productions for young performers begins April 20. Auditions will be held May 20 and May 21, with callbacks scheduled May 22-24. The season will consist of three shows: Disney's "Winnie the Pooh," "Into the Woods Junior" and "The People Garden." There will be a $30 participation fee for each show if cast. Click here for more information, including show descriptions and performance dates.

He's Your American Idol: Tickets for Scotty McCreery's July concert at are on sale now. McCreery is the 2011 "American Idol" champion. Tickets cost $47 to $87. The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For tickets and information, call 973-539-8008 or visit MayoArts.org.

Ringo Starr Tickets on Sale: Tickets for Ringo Starr and His All-Star Band's June 27 concert at are on sale now. Tickets cost $100 to $200. The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For tickets and information, call 973-539-8008 or visit MayoArts.org.

Summer Camp at Centenary Stage Company: The Centenary Stage Company is offering young artists the TYRO Acting Program and the Young Performers Workshop Summer Intensive Program during the months of July and August. The TYRO Theatre Programs provide an introduction to theater skills and performance in a two-week session from 9:30 a.m. to noon for kids ages 6 to 8 and from 1-3:30 p.m. for children ages 9 to 11. The program run July 9 through July 20. The cost of tuition is $200 per student. The TYRO Program is led by Maria Broadeur, the CSC Education Director. Brodeur is a professional actress and arts educator with experience in children’s theater who holds a BA in Theatre and Education from Rutgers University. The YPW Summer Intensive offers training in acting, voice, and dance with specialized electives taught by theatre professionals.  The program includes three full-length musical productions and The One Act play festival performed for the general public. Acceptance into the program is based on an interview with program director Michael Blevins scheduled for June 9 and June 10 at 11 a.m. For more information, call 908-979-0900 or visit CentenaryStageCo.org. 

Summer Camp at Brundage Park Playhouse: Registration is open for summer theater camps at Brundage Park Playhouse in Randolph. The camps offer three different groups: “Budding Stars” for kids 5 to 7, “Summer Stages” for kids ages 8 to 14, “Budding Stars” for kids 5 to 7, and an “Advanced Performers Workshop” for students in grades 7 through 11. For more information, go to BrundageParkPlayhouse.org.

Summer Camp at Playwrights Theatre: Registration is open for the ’s Creative Arts Academy summer camp for kids and summer theatre program for teens beginning June 25 and running all summer long in two-week sessions. Summer programs include a Full-Day Theatre Academy. Also being offered are a Half-Day Summer Camp, and a Getting Ready To Audition class for high school students. For more information, call 973-514-1787 or visit ptnj.org.

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