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Arts & Entertainment

Fall: A Season for the Stage

There's comedy and tragedy, and everything in between, coming to a venue near you.

The 2010-11 theater season is on.

While a few area venues are active during the summer, autumn is when the action really picks up. And there’s no shortage of choices of plays and musicals to see in the coming weeks.

Want to see a brand-new musical? Then head to Paper Mill Playhouse for the premiere of the Disney musical “Newsies.” Looking for a classic drama? Check out “All My Sons” at the Barn Theatre.

Find out what's happening in Warrenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

You can also see serious Shakespeare, funny Shakespeare, love stories, pirates, and even a blood-thirsty plant. Check out the On Stage Scoop each Tuesday for news about shows, auditions, theater classes and more.

ON STAGE SCOOP

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Shakespeare Theatre Looking for Young Actor: in Madison is seeking a young, local actor for its production of Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird,” adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel. The production begins performances on Oct. 12 and continues through Nov. 20. Director Joseph Discher is seeking a male African-American child between the ages of 5 and 10 to appear in the pivotal trial scene in the non-speaking role of Tom Robinson’s son. Rehearsals begin in mid-September and are held at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre in Madison. Interested young actors must be available for performances Tuesday through Sunday evenings, Saturday and Sunday matinees, and for several student matinees which are performed during school hours.  Every effort will be made to keep school-hour rehearsal time to a minimum. For information or to express interest in the role, e-mail Casting@ShakespeareNJ.org.    

Brundage Park Playhouse Seeks Directors for 2012 Season: Directors wishing to be considered for the 2012 season plays at Brundage Park Playhouse, “The Miracle Worker” or “Pygmalion,” are requested to submit a written proposal to the selection committee. The proposal can be found here.

Audition Alert, “On Golden Pond:”  is holding auditions for “On Golden Pond” at the Players’ Playhouse, located at 689 Amwell Road in Hillsborough on Sept. 6, and at Neshanic Reformed Church, 715 Amwell Road, on Sept. 7. Auditions start at 7:30 p.m. on both dates. Performances are Oct. 18 through Nov. 13, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays, 2 p.m. A synopsis and character breakdown can be found here. For further information, call 908-369-7469.

Audition Alert, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels:” theater group will host auditions for “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” at the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood, Sept. 6 and 8, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Callbacks will be held Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. For information, go to TheStrollers.org.

Who Wants Some Moor? The will present Shakespeare’s “Othello” Sept. 7 through Oct 2. This marks the theater’s first production of the classic tragedy since 2003. The cast includes Lindsay Smiling as the title character, the Moorish general who is deceived into a jealous rage by the villainess Iago, played by Robert Cuccioli. Bonnie J. Monte—artistic director at the Shakespeare Theatre—directs.

Jim Breuer Rescheduled for Sept. 8: Jim Breuer’s show at , originally scheduled for Aug. 27, was postponed because of Hurricane Irene and has been rescheduled for Sept. 8. Breuer will talk about family and friends in a non-vulgar show for everyone ages 18 to 80. Vinnie Brand is the opening act. Tickets cost $32 to $67. The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For tickets and information, call 973-539-8008 or go to MayoArts.org. .

American Drama at the Barn: will open its 2011-12 season with Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons,” Sept. 9 through Oct. 1. According to the theater’s website, “All My Sons” was Miller’s first successful play and is about a son who discovers the crimes of his father that have remained hidden. The Barn Theatre is located at 32 Skyline Drive in Montville. Tickets cost $15. For information, go to BarnTheatre.org.

It’s Not You, It’s Them: Nutley Little Theatre will raise the curtain on its new season with Michael Weller’s “Split,” opening Sept. 9 and continuing through Sept. 24. The 1978 comedy is about the breakup of a seemingly perfect couple. The theater’s website describes the play as an “offbeat mix of melancholy and hilarity.” This play contains adult language and themes, and is not suitable for children. Tickets cost $15. For tickets, call 877-238-5596 or click here. For information go to NutleyLittleTheatre.com.

Guitar Man: Blues rocker Kenny Wayne Shepherd will perform a concert at , Sept. 9, 8 p.m. Shepherd will perform music from his album, “How I Go.” Tickets cost $47 to $67. The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For tickets and information, call 973-539-8008 or go to MayoArts.org.

Remembering 9/11: On Sept. 10, will host a staged reading of “E-mail: 9/12,” a new play by Hillsborough resident Midge Guerrera. The play follows five characters who share their stories and thoughts about the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 through email. The play may include real-life stories from Hillsborough residents, as Guerrera wrote the play so that stories from communities where the play is being performed can be included. The performance is at 7:30 p.m. Donations are suggested. Call 908-369-7469 for reservations.

Romping Through the Bard: Dover Little Theatre will kick off its new season with “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” Sept. 10 through 24. This comedy favorite sees performers make their way through all of Shakespeare’s 37 plays, creating a lightning-fast night of laughter. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. The theater is located at Elliott Street in Dover. For information, call 973-328-9202 or go to DoverLittleTheatre.org.

Audition Alert, “The Wedding Singer:” The Barn Theatre will hold auditions for “The Wedding Singer” on Sept. 10 and 11, beginning at 7 p.m. Performances are Nov. 11 through Dec. 2. Auditions will be held at the theater, located at 32 Skyline Drive in Montville. For information, call 973-334-9320 or go to BarnTheatre.org.

Telling Tales: Pax Amicus Castle Theatre will present “Once Upon a Time,” featuring three musical adaptations of Hans Christian Andersen stories, Sept. 10 through 24. The kid-friendly show will share the stories of “The Ugly Duckling,” “The Princess and the Pea,” and “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Performances are Sept. 10, 17 and 24 at 11 a.m. and Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12. Call 973-691-2100 for reservations. The theater is located at 23 Lake Shore Road in Budd Lake.

Aarrgghh, Matey: Villagers Theatre in Somerset will present “How I Became a Pirate” as part of its KidsVill series, Sept. 10 thorough 18. The show is based on the book by Melinda Long and David Shannon and tells the story of Jeremy Jacob, who while spending a day on the beach is recruited by a band of pirates. Performances are Saturdays at 12 and 3 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Call 732-873-2710 or go VillagersTheatre.com for tickets and information.

9/11 Remembrance in Morristown: r and the Arts Council of the Morris Area will present a free, non-ticketed community-wide remembrance in memory of the 10th anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The tribute will be held on Sept. 11, starting at 7 p.m., and will honor the lives of those who died in the attacks, and celebrate the spirit and diversity of the United States. Participants include The New Jersey Youth Choir and singer-songwriter Mark Conklin. There will also be readings from “The Legacy Letters,” a book by the children and families of 9/11 victims and Mayo Performing Arts Company and Performing Arts School students. The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown.

Audition Alert, “Side Man:” Nutley Little Theatre will hold auditions for Warren Leight’s “Side Man” on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m. at the Nutley Little Theatre Barn, 47 Erie Place, Nutley. Spanning 30 years, the play follows the lives of a group of jazz musicians, from their peak years to the dawn of the rock ’n’ roll era. Actors are not required to play instruments. Five men and two women are being sought. Performances are scheduled for Nov. 4 to 19. For more information, including a character breakdown, go to NutleyLittleTheatre.com.

Audition Alert, “Pax Amicus Benefit Concert:” Pax Amicus Castle Theater will hold open auditions for a benefit concert/musical revue. Auditions will be held on Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. and Sept. 16 at 8:30 p.m.  Please come prepared with 16 to 32 bars of a song (musical theater or non-musical theater). A pianist will be provided, but please bring sheet music in the correct key. The song you sing in your audition will not necessarily be the song you sing in the show. The theater is located at 23 Lake Shore Road in Budd Lake. For information, go to 973-691-2100 or go to PaxAmicus.com.

Read All About “Newsies:” in Millburn will open its 2011-12 season with the premiere of “Newsies,” a new musical based on the 1992 Disney movie, Sept. 15-Oct. 16. The show features a book by Harvey Fierstein, lyrics by Jack Feldman and music by Alan Menken, and is based on a true story about a group of newsboys in 1899 who fought a vicious newspaper tycoon. For tickets and information, call 973-376-4343 or go to PaperMill.org.

The Horrors! Song, dance and a man-eating plant will take stage at with a production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” Sept. 16 through Oct. 18. The off-Broadway hit was based on a 1960 B-movie about a flower shop employee named Seymour, who loves a girl named Audrey and raises a blood-thirsty plant named Audrey II. The musical by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman was then adapted into a 1986 movie musical featuring Rick Moranis, Steve Martin and Bill Murray. Tickets cost $20, $18 seniors/students. For information go to SVPTheatre.org or call 908-369-7469.

Unexpected Love: Romance and wit are promised as the Villagers Theatre in Somerset presents “Cactus Flower,” Sept. 16 through Oct. 2. The comedy revolves around Julian Winston, a middle-aged dentist, and dedicated bachelor, who tells his young girlfriend, Toni, that he’s married to avoid a commitment. After Julian falls in love with Toni, he comes up with a solution—just tell her he’s getting divorced. But things get complicated when Toni insists on meeting his wife. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $16, or $14 for seniors and students. For reservations, go to VillagersTheatre.com, call 732-873-2710 or e-mail boxoffice@villagerstheatre.com.

One Funny Guy: The Centenary Stage Company will open its 2011-12 season with a Sept. 17 performance by comedian Larry Miller. Titled "Cocktails with Larry Miller: Little League, Adultery and Other Bad Ideas,” the performance will ring in the company’s second season at the Sitnik Theater of the David and Carol Lackland Center in Hackettstown. The evening will include options for a “Curtain Up Reception and Wine Tasting” and a post-performance meet-and-greet with Miller. Tickets for the 8 p.m. performance cost $40 on the day of performance ($35 in advance). Tickets including the pre-show reception cost $50 and tickets including the pre-show reception and the post-show meet-and-greet cost $100. The theater is located on the campus of Centenary College in Hackettstown. For tickets, call the box office at 908-979-0900 or go to CentenaryStageco.org.

Celebrating the Playwrights Theatre:  will host a benefit, “25 Years of Creativity and Community,” on Sept. 17, from 6 to 9 p.m. The benefit will be held at Hartley-Dodge Memorial, 30 Kings Road in Madison. Honorees include Lawrence S. Feinsod, executive county superintendent for Essex County, Jeanni Tsukamoto, a member of the Madison Borough Council and Arthur Wilson, poet/playwright/teaching artist. New plays written by Jon M. Bramnick, New Jersey State assemblyman, and Mary-Anna Holden, mayor of Madison, will be presented. There will be live music, a silent auction, a collaborative play written by attendees and a menu of Hors d’oeuvres, wine, refreshments, dessert and coffee. Dress is business casual. Tickets cost $75. Call 973-514-1787, ext. 10. You can also book online at PTNJ25.eventbrite.com.

Audition Alert, “Footloose:” Sourland Hills Acting Guild will host auditions for “Footloose” on Sept. 21 and 22, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Otto Kaufman Community Center, 356 Skillman Road in Skillman. Auditions are open for people ages 11 to 88 (and even older). Prepare 16 bars from a Broadway musical (bring sheet music) and come ready to dance. Bring information about dates that might cause conflict with rehearsals. Performances are Nov. 18 through 20 at the Montgomery High School Performing Arts Center. For information, e-mail info@sourlandhills.org.

Satisfy your “Constant Craving” to see k.d.lang: will host a concert by k.d. lang and The Siss Boom Bang on Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. Grammy winner lang is known for her powerful voice and singing songs in various styles, from country to jazz and standards. Tickets cost $67-$107. The Mayo Performing Arts Center is located at 100 South St. in Morristown. For tickets and information, call 973-539-8008 or go to MayoArts.org.

Mob Scenes: will host the New Jersey premiere of Richard Dresser’s “The Last Days of Mickey and Jean,” Sept. 22 through Oct. 19. In the show (which is a co-production with and Old Castle Theatre Company in Bennington, Vt.), Mickey, a mobster from Boston retires with his young girlfriend, Jean, which leads to a funny look at love. General admission tickets cost $40. For information, go to MorrisMuseum.org or call 973-971-3706.

Fall Theater Classes at Brundage Park Playhouse: Registration is open for fall classes at the Brundage Park Playhouse. Offered classes are Advanced Acting, for ages 11 through 15, starting Sept. 26; Intro to Dance for ages 7 through 12 beginning Sept. 26; Ballet/Tap/Jazz starting Sept. 24 for ages 3 through 6; Theater Mash-Up for ages 3 through 6 starting Sept. 24 and Hip Hop/Jazz for ages 5 and older, beginning Sept. 24. Click here for information and on-line registration.

Express Your Artistic Side: Registration is open for fall classes at  in Hillsborough. The school offers drama classes, such as puppetry, acting, musical theater and “No Fear Shakespeare” for kids from kindergarten to middle school. Music lessons (instruments and voice) are available for all ages. New classes include a “Glee”-inpsired class and Kids Voice, in which students will learn how to sing popular songs. The school offers art classes in drawing, painting, sculpture and mixed media for preschool to high school students. The school is located at 4 Jill Court, Building 22, Unit 3 in Hillsborough. For information, call 908-431-4439 or go to KreativeKidsNJ.com.

Growing Theater Skills at Growing Stage: Registration is open for the Growing Stage Theatre’s Fall Creative Arts Program, running Sept. 24 through Dec. 17. Classes for kids in grades kindergarten through nine are offered Saturdays in the following areas: Creative Dramatics, Performing Arts Workshop, The Actor Speaks, and Musical Performance Lab. Click here for information. 

Get Schooled in the Performing Arts: ’s Brightest Star School of Performing Arts is offering fall classes in singing, public speaking, dancing, cabaret and production. Private lessons available for voice, piano and guitar. All ages. For information, call 973-971-3726 or click here

Registration for Fall Semester at Playwrights Theatre: Registration is open for the 26th annual Madison Young Playwrights Program, with classes starting in September and October and continuing through December at the . The program is offered to students in Grades 4 through 8. Information about classes and enrollment can be found here.

Submissions for Villagers’ VIP Series: The Villagers Theatre in Somerset is seeking submissions for its 2011-12 Villagers Independent Producers (VIP) Series. Writers, directors and performers are encouraged to take creative control of their productions to a far greater extent than a more traditional setting might allow. The theater’s goal is to select a season of three shows to be performed in October 2011, January 2012 and May 2012. Please submit the titles and authors of the productions you would like to mount. Also include any and all staff you have on board or would like to ask to be on board. Include a brief description of the production, including number of cast members, and a brief concept or vision of production. It is always helpful if you submit a copy of the script (and cast recording for musicals) in electronic format with your submission, however, it is not required with your initial submission. All submissions for consideration must be received in the Villagers Main Office at 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873 no later than Aug. 10 or e-mailed toVIP@villagerstheatre.com.

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