'Idol' Hopeful at the Minstrel, New Production at the Bickford This Weekend

This week, The Folk Project’s The Minstrel Concert Series at the  is headlined by Caleb Hawley, who was seen this week on the American Idol season opener, where he advanced to the second round of the competition in Hollywood.

Hawley has performed at The Minstrel before – but this time, instead of playing as the opener, he will be the headliner. He made his Folk Project debut when he opened for Small Potatoes in November of 2010. 

“I like the room a lot,” said Hawley. “It’s a good listening room.”

This time Hawley will be accompanied by a piano player and they will mostly be playing songs written by Hawley, who draws as much from American singer/songwriters like Tom Waits as he does from more soulful acts like Stevie Wonder or Otis Redding.

“It’s kind of like acoustic soul/folk, or ‘soulk,’ as I like to call it,” said Hawley.

Elizabeth Rogers will start the evening off at 8 p.m. on Friday with her emotionally charged, brainy, and sometimes spiritual music. Admission to The Minstrel is $7, but guests are asked to contribute on their way out as well – however much they think the music was worth.

More events in Morris Plains and Morris Township this weekend:

Friday, January 21st

• This month’s at the will feature the exhibit, “The Medical Illustrations of Frank Netter,” where children can learn about anatomy and see what parts of the body look like beginning at 10 a.m., free with museum admission.
• The opening reception for Teapots by Design: From the Collection of Unjeria C. Jackson, M.D. at the Morris Museum was on Thursday the 20th, so this will be the first weekend to check out the exhibit at the during their normal hours. They are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays.
• Senior Friday at the will also feature, “The Medical Illustrations of Frank Netter,” beginning at 1 p.m., free with museum admission. Light refreshments will be served.
• Morristown High School varsity sports on Friday: Wrestling will travel to Clifton High School at 6 p.m. Girls and boys fencing will host Governor Livingston High School at 6 p.m. Boys basketball will travel to Mendham High School at 7 p.m. Girls basketball will host Mendham High School at 7 p.m.
• This is opening weekend for the Bickford Theatre’s newest production, The Little Dog Laughed, which was described . Friday night’s performance begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40; $36 for senior citizens; $33 for museum members; $20 for students. 

Saturday, January 22nd

• A workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at will show participants how to explore historic sites in New Jersey, providing ideas on how to see the connections between various sites.
• From 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the , there will be a discussion and exhibition of how children played during the winter months in the 18th century, including toys.
• The Morristown High School boys varsity ice hockey team will face Sparta High School at Skylands Ice World at 6 p.m.
• The Harlem Gospel Choir will perform at the Community Theatre in Morristown at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $27.
• The Little Dog Laughed at the begins at 8 p.m.

Sunday, January 23rd

• On the fourth Sunday of every month, the Mended Hearts support group meets at the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute at Morristown Memorial Hospital in the Wilf Conference Room on level C. The group will discuss topics of heart health from 1:30 to 3 p.m. and is open to everyone.
• The Little Dog Laughed at the begins at 2 p.m.