Theatergoers, start making your plans.
No fewer than nine new shows are opening in the area over the next two weekends. This week you can see “All My Sons” in Summit or “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in Somerset and a brand-new play written by a student at Centenary College.
Next week, the curtain will rise on new shows by Chester Theater Group, Chatham Community Players, Somerset Valley Players, Dover Little Theatre, Women’s Theatre Company and Pax Amicus Castle Theatre.
Find out what's happening in Morris Township-Morris Plainswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
And other productions are continuing their runs, so let’s face it, you need the On Stage Scoop—not only to find out about all of those performances, but to get the lowdown on concerts, comedy shows, auditions and summer camps.
The On Stage Scoop runs every Tuesday.
ON STAGE SCOOP
Find out what's happening in Morris Township-Morris Plainswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Swamp Man: The Growing Stage Theatre is performing “Wiley & the Hairy Man” through Feb. 26 at its theater, located at 7 Ledgewood Ave. in Netcong. The story follows a fatherless boy living near the mysterious Tombigbee Swamp with his conjure-woman mother, his dog and the Hairy Man who haunts his dreams. Performances are Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 4 p.m. Recommended for all ages. Tickets cost $12. For more information, call 973-347-4946 or go to GrowingStage.com.
“Ladies” Night: Charles Morey’s “The Ladies Man” is on stage at Centenary Stage Company’s David and Carol Lackland Center in Hackettstown through March 4. Set in the golden age of Paris, the farce follows a doctor who tells a “little” lie to cover an innocent but embarrassing indiscretion, but this little lie leads to chaos. Adapted from Georges Feydeau’s comedy “The Ladies’ Dressmaker,” the production will be directed by CSC Artistic Director Carl Wallnau and will star Allen Lewis Rickman, who recently starred in “Relatively Speaking” (written by Elaine May and Mike Nichols, Ethan Coen and Woody Allen) on Broadway. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $25. For more information, call 908-979-0900 or visit CentenaryStageCo.org.
Chamber Music in Morristown: The Mayo Performing Arts Center will host an evening of chamber music with The Starlight Series: Nova Chamber Ensemble on Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. Laryssa Krupa Slobodyanik, one of the founders of The Community Theatre in 1994, returns for these concert events in which the audience will sit on stage in a semi-circle around the performers. Featuring Laryssa Krupa Slobodyanik on piano; Wanda Glowacka on cello; Andriy Milavsky, on clarinet, performing: Brahms Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano. Tickets cost $20. 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.
Bringing the Blues: Five-time Grammy winner Robert Cray will take stage at the Mayo Performing Arts Center on Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. Shemekia Copeland will be the special guest. Tickets cost $42 to $67. 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, “Cabaret:” Chatham Community Players will hold auditions for “Cabaret” on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Chatham Playhouse, located at 23 N. Passaic Ave. in Chatham. Prepare a song in the style of the show and bring sheet music in the appropriate key. An accompanist will be provided. Headshots and resumes will be accepted but are not required. For more information, including a character breakdown, go to ChathamPlayers.org.
Do You Believe in Magic? The Spencers will present “Theatre of Illusion” at The Mayo Performing Arts Center on Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. According to the Mayo, the Spencers redefine illusions for audiences young and old. Tickets cost $27 to $47. 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.
Movie Night in Madison: The Black Maria Film and Video Festival will make a stop at the Madison Public Library on Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. The festival is a juried competition focused on cutting-edge work from independent filmmakers. Tickets cost $10 and will be sold at the door. The library is located at 39 Keep St. in Madison. For more information, go to BlackMariaFilmFestival.org.
Dream a Little Dream: Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be performed at Villagers Theatre, Feb. 24 through March 4. The comedy involves romance, an enchanted forest and magic. The production is directed by Guy Suabedissen and is being presented by Wooden O Production as part of Villagers’ VIP Series. Tickets cost $12, $10 seniors/students. For more information, call 732-873-2710 or visit VillagersTheatre.com.
Family Drama: Summit Playhouse will present Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” from Feb. 24 to March 10. The 1947 play is set during World War II and follows the Keller family, as son Chris discovers that his father, Joe, is a war profiteer who let his partner go to jail after their firm manufactured defective airplane parts. Tickets cost $20, $15 students. For more information, go to SummitPlayhouse.org.
A New Drama: The Centenary College theater department will premiere “Befriending Amy,” an original play written by theater student John Brennan, Feb. 24 through 26 at the Centenary Little Theatre, 400 Jefferson St. in Hackettstown. Presented as Brennan’s senior thesis, the play is set in a New York City bar and follows the relationships among patrons and bars before and after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Tickets cost $10, $8 seniors/students, $5 Centenary College students. For more information, call 908-979-0900 or visit CentenaryStageco.org.
Classic Tales: The Bickford’s Bayer Children’s Theatre Series will kick off with “Caps for Sale and Three Billy Goats Gruff” on Feb. 25, with performances starting at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The presentation by Hudson Vagabond Puppets uses music and dance to share the two classic tales. Tickets cost $12. The Bickford is located at the Morris Musem, 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morris Township. For more information, call 973-971-3706 or visit MorrisMuseum.org.
A Toast to Paper Mill: Paper Mill Playhouse is hosting a wine benefit on Feb. 25, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The event will take place in the theater’s grand lobby and will offer wines, artisanal cheeses and chocolates from Chocolates by Donna & Company. Tickets cost $75, with proceeds benefitting Paper Mill’s artistic, education and outreach programs. Must be 21 and over. For more information, call 973-315-1663 or email lschaedel@papermill.org.
Laughing It Up: The Darress Theatre will present “Humor in the Midst,” a night of comedy featuring Phil Sweet, Kate Lyn Reiter, Peggy Robinson, Fred Holizapfel, Kris Swanson and Dan Hoffman, on Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $15 and include complimentary beverages. The theater is located at 615 Main St. in Boonton. For more information, call 973-334-9292 or go to DarressTheater.com.
A Time to Dance: New Jersey Ballet will present a “Repertory Concert of Audience Favorites,” on Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. at The Mayo Performing Arts Center. The evening will feature favorite pas de deux, excerpts and short pieces from the company's extensive repertory of classical and contemporary dance. Tickets cost $32 to $57. 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.
Like a Fish Out of Water: Pax Amicus Castle Theatre will present one more performance of “The Little Mermaid” on Feb. 25 at 11 a.m. In the play, the mermaid leaves her home in the sea to visit land, where she falls in love. Tickets cost $12. The theater is located at 23 Lake Shore Road in Budd Lake. For more information, call 973-691-2100 or visit PaxAmicus.com.
Broadway meets Operetta: The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players will perform “I’ve Got a Little Twist” on Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. at The Mayo Performing Arts Center. The evening celebrates Gilbert and Sullivan’s influence on American theater, and features music by Gilbert and Sullivan, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and more. Tickets cost $27-$37. 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 Jazzed Up at the Bickford: Violinist Aaron Weinstein and Friends will perform a concert as part of the Bickford's Jazz Showcase on Feb. 27. The show will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $18, $15 in advance. For tickets and information, call 973-971-3706.
Talent on Stage: The Fifth Annual “Morristown’s Got Talent” extravaganza is set for Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. at The Mayo Performing Arts Center. See the best amateur talent Morristown, Morris Township and Morris Plains have to offer. Tickets cost $25 to $75. 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.
The Butler Did It: The Chester Theatre Group will present Andrew Lloyd Webber and Alan Ayckbourn’s “By Jeeves,” with a run starting March 2 and continuing through March 11 at the Black River Playhouse, located at the corner of Grove Street and Maple Avenue in Chester. The show is based on the Jeeves stories by P.G. Wodehouse and follows the dimwitted Bertie (played by Jeff Jackson) and his smarter manservant Jeeves (Bob Longstreet). Performances begin at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. on March 11 and 18. Tickets cost $24, $22 seniors/students. For more information, call 908-879-7304 or visit ChesterTheatreGroup.org.
Dust Bowl Drama: The Chatham Community Players are performing Frank Galati’s Tony-winning adaptation of John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath,” March 2-17 at the Chatham Playhouse, 23 N. Passaic Ave. The classic story is set during the Great Depression as the Joad family leaves Oklahoma for California, hoping a better life awaits them. The cast is led by Dale Monroe from Hackettstown as Tom, Debbie Bernstein from Maplewood as Ma and Tom Hodge from Denville as Pa. Tickets cost $20, $18 seniors/youths. For tickets and information, visit ChathamPlayers.org or call 973-635-7363.
Crazy as a Fox: Somerset Valley Players will present “Sly Fox” March 2-18 at the Players’ Playhouse, located at 689 Amwell Road. The comedy by Larry Gelbert is about greed in the Old West as a miser pretends to die in an attempt to fleece his phony friends of their goal. Tickets cost $15, $13 seniors/students. For more information, call 908-369-7469 or visit SVPTheatre.org.
Looking Back: The Women’s Theatre Co. will present “The Last Five Years,” March 2 through March 18 at the Parsippany Playhouse, located at 1130 Knoll Road in Lake Hiawatha (enter Boonton on your GPS). The one-act musical explores the relationship between a rising novelist and a struggling actress. For more information, call 973 316-3033 or visit WomensTheater.org.
Folklore Through Dance: Ballet Folklórico de Antioquia, Colombia is coming to The Mayo Performing Arts Center for a March 2 performance beginning at 8 p.m. The show promises a slice of South American heritage for families of all backgrounds through dance, music and costumes. Tickets cost $27-$42. 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.
Celebrating Theater: Centenary Stage Company is hosting a “Day of Theatre” program, featuring performances and workshops for young theatergoers, on March 3. The Stage Combat workshop, led by Stephen Davis (professor of Theatre at Centenary College), will begin at 9 a.m. The workshop is designed for ages 11 to 14 and will take place in the David and Carol Lackland Center. Reservations are required. A workshop in Creative Movement (Led by Y.A.S performers Nick Ardito and Brittany D’Allesio) for children ages 6 to 10 will take place at noon. Workshops are free for children within the above stated age ranges. Due to the limited space, advance reservations are required in order to ensure a spot in the workshops. The day will also feature performances of “A Year With Frog and Toad” and “If You Give a Pig a Pancake.” Tickets normally cost $10 for adults, $8 chidlren, but during the Stages Festival in March, children will be admitted for free with the purchase of an adult ticket. To register for workshops or for more information, call 908-852-1400, ext. 2421 or email antolinil@centenarycollege.edu. For information about the CSC’s Young Audience Series performances, call 908-979-0900.
Not Quite Pure as Snow: Pax Amicus Castle Theatre will perform “Slush,” a very adult version of Snow White, March 3 through March 17. Performances begin at 8 p.m. on March 2, 3, 10 and 17 and at 2 p.m. on March 11. All tickets cost $15. For reservations, call the box office at 973-691-2100.
Laughing It Up in Dover: Dover Little Theatre will perform Ken Ludwig’s “Moon Over Buffalo,” March 3 through 17. The farce is about Charlotte and George Hay, a less-than-legendary acting couple who come to Buffalo for a performance and discover that the great Frank Capra is headed to see the show. The cast features Claire Bochenek, Judy Bornstein, Lauren Einzig, Dana Matano, Tara Moran, Tim Murphy, Mark Phelan, Thomas Reissner, Brenna Singman and Miguel Vega. For more information, visit DoverLittleTheatre.org.
Think Pink: The Mayo Performing Arts Center will present “Pinkalicious: The Musical” on March 4, with performances beginning at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. The show for kids ages 4 to 12 follows a girl who loves pink, but is warned by her parents not to eat too many of the pink cupcakes she loves. Tickets cost $12 to $15. For tickets and information, call 973-539-8008 or visit MayoArts.org.
Classics, Pop and Laughter: Pianist Vladimir Zaitsev will perform “Baroque to Beatles” as part of the Bickford Theatre’s a la Carte series on March 4 at 2 p.m. A native of Kiev, Ukraine, Zaitsev mixes piano masterpieces, his own arrangements of Broadway and pop favorites, and a healthy dose of laughter. Tickets cost $30, $28 seniors, $20 students. 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, “Company:” Dover Little Theatre will hold auditions for Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” on March 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. Auditions are open to everyone. Casting is done by the casting committee in conjunction with the director. The theater asks that auditioners familiarize themselves with the script ahead of time if possible and know a little bit about the play and the characters. Callbacks, if necessary, will be held March 7 or 8 at 8 p.m. Auditions will be held at the theater, located at 69 Elliott St. in Dover. Click here for more information, including a character breakdown.
Audition Alert, “The Music Man:” The Villagers Theatre is holding auditions for “The Music Man.” Auditions for young performers will be held on March 5 at 6:30 p.m. Adult auditions will be held on March 6 and 7 at 7 p.m. Callbacks will be held by invitation only on March 10 at 3:30 p.m. The production staff is looking to fill roles and to cast a large ensemble of adults, teens and children. Please come prepared with 16 bars of a song similar in type to this production’s music; at the request of the director, please do not prepare a song from “The Music Man.” Those auditioning should also be prepared to dance. All roles are open. The Villagers is located in the Franklin Township Municipal Building on DeMott Lane in Somerset. For more information, including a character breakdown, go to VillagersTheatre.com. All questions should be addressed to donna@villagerstheatre.com or roz@villagerstheatre.com.
Starry Night: “A Eulogy for Vincent” will take stage at The Mayo Performing Arts Center on March 6 at 8 p.m. The one-man show follows the life of Vincent Van Gough. Brendan Ryan Walsh stars in this piece, written and directed by Ed Schiff. A Q&A will follow the performance. Tickets cost $20. 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 Brundage Park Playhouse: Registration is open for summer theater camps at Brundage Park Playhouse in Randolph. The camps offers 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.
Shakespeare Theatre Announces 50th Anniversary Season: The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey has announced its lineup of shows for 2012, which is the Madison-based group’s 50th anniversary season. Things will kick off on May 30 with a run of Shakespeare’s “Henry IV, Part I,” which the theater is presenting for the first time in 20 years. Up next is a new adaptation of Pierre Corneille’s French farce “The Liar.” Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” is this summer’s outdoor show at the Greek amphitheater at the College of St. Elizabeth in Morris, opening June 20. Also set for the summer back at the indoor stage is “Measure for Measure,” directed by Bonnie J. Monte, the Shakespeare Theatre’s artistic director. The fall will see an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” by Neil Bartlett and directed by Brian B. Crowe opening Sept. 12. The Shakespeare Theatre will present its first musical since 2004 when it stages “Man of La Mancha” opening Oct. 17. Monte directs and Robert Cuccioli will play Don Quixote. The theater will wrap up the year with the rarely produced romantic comedy “Trelawny of the Wells” by Arthur Wing Pinero, directed by Monte, and running Dec. 5-30. For more information, or to purchase a subscription, call the box office at 973-408-5600 or visit ShakespeareNJ.org
Getting in on the Act: The Chatham Community Players is seeking original, one-act plays, short musicals and/or original dance pieces, written by New Jersey authors, for the 18th annual Jersey Voices presentation. Play submissions of any genre, style and length up to 20 minutes running time will be accepted through March 15. Selected pieces will be performed in the Players’ Black Box Theater in July and August. To email submissions or to request more information, go to jerseyvoices@chathamplayers.org.
Summer Camp at Playwrights Theatre: Registration is open for the Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey’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, which costs $525 when enrolled before Jan. 31. 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.
This post is shared across Patch sites serving Morris, Somerset and Sussex communities. Comments below may be by readers of any of those sites.
