Holidays Hit the Stage in North Jersey

The holidays are fast-approaching. And even though it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, the sounds and sites of Christmas are headed to the area’s stages.

“A Christmas Carol” is coming to the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Paper Mill Playhouse is readying its production of “White Christmas,” Frosty the Snowman is coming to Pax Amicus Castle Theatre and a Christmas moose will take stage in Morristown.

More holiday-themed shows will follow, and now’s a good time to start planning what you want to see. These productions are popular, so tickets sell fast and before you know it, your schedule will be too busy with Christmas parties and shopping to get to the theater.

And if the holidays aren’t your thing, there are plenty of Christmas-free plays and musicals to see. Read this week’s On Stage Scoop to find out all about them. The Scoop runs every Tuesday.

ON STAGE SCOOP:

New Home for Playwrights Theatre:  has reached an agreement with  to host its New Play Development programming in residence on the College at Florham in Madison. Programming will begin with Playwrights’ Forum Reading Series, which consists of concert readings of 19 plays between Nov. 29 and Dec. 18. Full productions of new works will occur during the summer months, with two plays scheduled for June and August 2012. Playwrights Theatre has developed a program that will include majors from FDU’s theater department in all aspects of production, according to a press release issued by the theater. Up until August 2011, Playwrights Theatre was in residence for 25 years at the Green Village Road School in Madison.

Tickets for Tony Bennett, Peter Frampton and Frankie Valli at the Mayo are on sale: The  has announced tickets for Tony Bennett's Feb. 2 concert will go on sale Nov. 11. Also going on sale that day are tickets for Peter Frampton's Feb. 8 concert. And a third date, Jan. 19, has been added to Frankie Valli's already-scheduled Jan. 17 and 18 shows. Tickets for all Valli shows are on sale now. 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.

An American Classic:  of New Jersey is presenting “To Kill a Mockingbird” through Nov. 20. Christopher Sergel’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s novel tells the story of Atticus Finch and his pursuit of justice in a small town through the eyes of his daughter, Scout. Brent Harris, who appeared in the Shakespeare Theatre’s production of “Timon of Athens,” plays Atticus, and Emmanuelle Nadeau of Westfield plays Scout. The show is directed by Joseph Discher, whose previous credits at the theater include “The Grapes of Wrath,” “The Tempest” and “Amadeus.” For tickets and information, call 973-408-5600 or visit ShakespeareNJ.org.

Go See a Superstar: Villagers Theatre in Somerset is performing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” through Nov. 20. The musical is being directed by Khy Garner with choreography by Renee Liciaga. The rock opera was originally released as a 1971 album before becoming a Broadway show about Jesus’ teaching and final days. The cast includes David Seamon as Jesus, Ryan Aiello as Judas and Karen Pierson as Mary. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $18, or $16 for seniors and students. For more information call 732-873-2710 or go to VillagersTheatre.com.

Clang Clang Clang Goes “Meet Me in St. Louis:”  is presenting “Meet Me in St. Louis,” with performances continuing through Nov. 19. The show is an adaptation of the 1944 movie musical starring Judy Garland. It’s set in the 1900s, as the Smith family lives in a simpler time that may not be as simple as it seems. Tickets cost $25, or $20 for students. For tickets call 908-273-2192 or go to SummitPlayhouse.org.

Let’s Talk it Out Over Drinks: Chester Theatre Group will present the comedy “The Cocktail Hour” through Nov. 19 at the Black River Playhouse, located at Grove Street and Maple Avenue in Chester. A.R. Gurney’s comedy takes place in the 1970s in upstate New York. A writer returns home with a play about his family, hoping to get family members' permission to produce it. But they have reservations, which are discussed, along with some other things, over cocktails. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. with 2 p.m. matinees on Nov. 13 and 20. Tickets cost $18, or $16 for seniors and students. For reservations and information, call 908-879-7304 or go to ChesterTheatreGroup.org.

Always the Bridesmaids: Dover Little Theatre is staging Alan Ball’s “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” through Nov. 20. The scene is a wedding reception in Tennessee where five bridesmaids hide in a bedroom in an attempt to avoid the celebration. Over the course of the afternoon, these women discover a common bond in this comedy. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays Nov. 13 and 20 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $17. The theater is located at 69 Elliott St. For more information, call 973-328-9202or visit DoverLittleTheatre.org.

Here Comes “The Wedding Singer:”  is performing “The Wedding Singer” through Dec. 3. The musical pays homage to the 1980s as Robbie Hart, a New Jersey wedding singer, is heartbroken after being abandoned at the altar. Robbie’s heartbreak leads to him ruining every wedding he works, until Julia enters his life. The problem is, Julia is already engaged. Tickets cost $20. The theater is located at 32 Skyline Drive. For tickets or more information, call 973-334-9320 or go to BarnTheatre.org.

Make It Up as You Go: Improv is returning to Pax Amicus Castle Theatre with “Off Book,” to be presented Nov. 18 and 19. The evenings will feature short-form improvisational humor with ideas provided by the audience. Audience members can bring props they want to see used and ideas they want to see acted out. The Nov. 18 show will be family friendly while the Nov. 19 show is R-rated (no one under 16 allowed). The theater is located at 23 Lake Shore Road in Budd Lake. Tickets cost $10. For reservations, call 973-691-2100.

Farewell Angelina, and Hello Joan: Joan Baez will take stage at  for a Nov. 16 concert beginning at 8 p.m. Baez has been making music history from her days singing with Bob Dylan and her Woodstock set. She has recorded dozens of albums and continues to sing for causes she believes in. 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 visitMayoArts.org.

Dreaming of a White Christmas? Then Head to Paper Mill: Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” is coming to the  for a run beginning Nov. 16 and continuing through Dec. 24. The holiday favorite is based on the 1954 movie starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye about two men who open a show in a Vermont inn and fall in love with two singing sisters. The theater is located at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn. For more information, call 973-376-4343 or go to PaperMill.org.

Family Ties:  will stage Joe DiPietro’s “Over the River and Through the Woods” Nov. 17 through Dec. 4. The comedy is about Nick, a 20-something New York City bachelor who visits his Italian-American grandparents in Hoboken every Sunday. That’s all about to change when he gets offered a great job in Seattle, so his grandparents scheme to keep him on the East Coast, with the help of the beautiful Caitlin O'Hare. Tickets cost $40 for general admission, $36 for seniors, $20 for students (18 or under with valid college ID). The Bickford is located at the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown. For information, call 973-971-3706 or go to MorrisMuseum.org.

Modern Dance: Parsons Dance will perform at on Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. With choreography by David Parsons, the company performs contemporary American dance. Tickets cost $32 to $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.

Three Sisters, and a Husband With a Gunshot Wound: The Women’s Theater Co. is staging Beth Henley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy “Crimes of the Heart,” from Nov. 18 to Dec. 4. The play is about the three Magrath sisters who reunite at their grandfather’s Mississippi home after the youngest sister shoots her husband. Performances are at the Parsippany Playhouse, located at 1130 Knoll Road in Lake Hiawatha (GPS users should enter Boonton). For ticket information, call 973 316-3033 or go to WomensTheater.org.

Everybody Cut: Sourland Actors Guild will perform "Footloose" Nov. 18-20 at Montgomery High School Performing Arts Center. The family-friendly musical is based on the 1980s movie (which was recently remade) about a kid living in a town where dancing is forbidden. The show features '80s-era hits and a cast of 78 performers, both kids and adults. Tickets cost $10 and are available at the door or in advance at the Performing Arts Center in the lobby of the high school. For more information, e-mail info@SourlandHills.org or go to SourlandHills.org.

Are You In the Mood for “In the Mood?” The music of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and others is coming to  with a performance of “In the Mood: A 1940’s Musical” on Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. The music will be played by a big band orchestra, complete with singers and dancers. Tickets cost $37 to $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.

On The Scenes: will host two performances of “American Theatre Montage,” an evening of selected scenes from 20th-century American playwrights on Nov. 18 and 19 at 8 p.m. The show offers a behind-the-scenes look at how productions are staged with scenes from plays such as Christopher Durang's "Beyond Therapy," Neil Simon's "Chapter Two," Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and others. Admission is free. The theater is located at 689 Amwell Road (Route 514) in Hillsborough. Click here for more information.

Enjoy a Knight at the Ballet: New Jersey Ballet will present its premiere of “Don Quixote” at  on Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. The ballet is based on the classic novel by Miguel de Cervantes featuring music by Ludwig Minkus. 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.

Shaw Thing: The Artie Shaw Orchestra will return to the Centenary Stage Company’s stage in Hackettstown for a Nov. 19 concert beginning at 8 p.m. in The Whitney Chapel on campus of Centenary College. The orchestra is under the direction of clarinetist Matt Koza and will play many of the original arrangements that made Shaw and his orchestra popular in the ‘40s and ‘50s. Tickets cost $35, $30 in advance. For more information, call 908-979-0900 or go toCentenaryStageCo.org.

If You Take Your Kids to "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"… The Centenary Stage Company Young Audience Series will present "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" on Nov. 19 at 11 a.m. in the Lackland Center, located on the campus of Centenary College in Hackettstown. Based on the kids book by Laura Joffee Numeroff, the show is aimed for kids pre-K through fifth grade. Tickets cost $10, $8 children. For more information, call 908-979-0900 or go tocentenarystageco.org.

Does Anybody Really Know What Time the Chicago Concert Starts (Actually, We Do)? Chicago will be performing its biggest hits during a concert at  on Nov. 25 beginning at 8 p.m. In addition to songs like “If You Leave Me Now” and “Saturday in the Park,” the band will also play seasonal favorites. Isabela Nanni is the opening act. Tickets cost $15-$76. 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.

It’s Getting “Frosty” in Budd Lake: Pax Amicus Castle Theatre in Budd Lake will get in the holiday spirit with “Frosty in Toyland” beginning Nov. 25 and continuing through Dec. 17. The children’s theater presentation will feature a food drive for homeless animals; visitors can donate a can or box of cat or dog food, which will be donated to local animal shelters. Tickets cost $12. For information, call 973-691-2100. The theater is located at 23 Lake Shore Road in Budd Lake.

The Celtic Tenors Are Coming to Morristown: The Celtic Tenors will be joined by John McDermott for a Nov. 26 concert at . The show will feature traditional and holiday songs performed in the Tenors’ signature, unconventional style. Tickets cost $42-$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.

Celebrate the Holidays With a Moose: will present its holiday favorite, “Mooseltoe” on Nov. 27 with performances beginning at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. The show features a moose who dreams of flying with Santa’s reindeer. For kids ages 4 to 8. Tickets cost $12-$15. 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.

Jazz Benefit Concert: The Bickford Theatre will present an All-Star Benefit Concert on Nov. 30, beginning at 8 p.m. at the theater located at the Morris Museum in Morristown. Tickets cost $20 and are available by calling 973-971-3706.

Next Year at Somerset Valley Players:  has announced its 2012 season, which will begin with “Leader of the Pack: The Elli Greenwich Musical” Jan. 20 through Feb. 5. Next up is Larry Gelbart comedy “Sly Fox” from March 2 to March 18. “Clue the Musical” will take stage April 20 through May 6. Thornton Wilder’s classic “Our Town” will be presented June 8 through June 24. William Glennon’s adaptation of “The Little Mermaid” will be presented July 20 through Aug. 5. The classic musical “Oliver!” will be presented Sept. 7 through Sept. 23. The Frederick Knott thriller classic “Dial M for Murder will be presented Oct. 19 through Nov. 4 before the theater wraps up the year with “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” from Nov. 30 to Dec. 16. For more information, call 908-369-7469 or go to SVPtheatre.org.

Giving Plays a Chance: Premiere Stages is seeking submissions to the Eighth Annual Premiere Stages Play Festival. The competition for unproduced scripts offers developmental opportunities to four playwrights born or currently residing in the greater metropolitan area (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut). The winner of the festival will be awarded $2,000 and a full Equity production in Premiere’s 2012 season. The runner-up will receive $750 and an Equity workshop in June. Two other writers will receive staged readings in March and a cash prize of $500. Entries are evaluated by a panel of theater professionals in consultation with the artistic director and resident dramaturge.  Agents may submit full scripts; playwrights may submit a synopsis and script sample directly. Postmark deadline is Jan. 15, 2012. No entry fee. Complete submission guidelines available at Kean.edu/PremiereStages.

About this column: 'On Stage: A Peek At The Performing Arts' is a weekly look at what's going on in the world of theater, music and other performing arts. It runs Tuesdays. Got news for On Stage? E-mail Louis@Patch.com.