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Arts & Entertainment

On Stage: Pirates, Zombies, A Killer Plant

Here's your weekly On Stage Scoop with the latest news about area performances and auditions.

What do you want to do this week? Laugh? Cry? Make other people laugh? There are plenty of plays to see in the area, from serious dramas to side-splitting comedies. You could take in a light romance like “Cactus Flower” or a musical about a man-eating plant.

And if you’ve got the performinng bug, you can try everything from dancing it up in “Footloose” to doing your best zombie movies for a fun staging of “Night of the Living Dead.” Always wanted to give standup comedy at try? There’s a class for that, along with educational opportunities for young performers and writers. Just check out On Stage Scoop for everything you need to get the most out the local performing scene.

ON STAGE SCOOP

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Aarrgghh, Matey: Villagers Theatre in Somerset is presenting “How I Became a Pirate” as part of its KidsVill series thorough Sept. 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 noon 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.

Romping Through the Bard: Dover Little Theatre will kick off its new season with “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” through Sept. 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.

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

It’s Not You, It’s Them: Nutley Little Theatre will raise the curtain on its new season with Michael Weller’s “Split,” 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 visit SmartTix.com. For information go to NutleyLittleTheatre.com.

Telling Tales: Pax Amicus Castle Theatre will present “Once Upon a Time,” featuring three musical adaptations of Hans Christian Andersen stories, through Sept. 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.

American Drama at the Barn: will open its 2011-12 season with Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons,” 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.

Who Wants Some Moor? The will present Shakespeare’s “Othello” 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.

Musical Centennial at the Bickford: Banjo/guitar player John Gill will celebrate the centennial of Lu Watters’ birth on Sept. 13 with a Dixieland concert at . Watters was the founder of the Yerba Buena Jazz Band, a West Coast Dixieland revival band. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $18, or $15 in advance. For more information, see MorrisMuseum.org or call 973-971-3706.

Audition Alert, “Over the River and Through the Woods:” will hold Equity Principal Auditions for Joe DiPietro’s “Over the River and Through the Woods” on Sept. 15 and 16, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown. Sign-up starts at 10 a.m. for AEA Members. Non-AEA members will be seen both days after members. Sides will be provided. Please, no calls. First rehearsal is Oct. 25. Show runs Nov. 17 through Dec. 4. (No performance on Thanksgiving Day.) A character breakdown can be found here. No phone calls.

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.

Laughter 101: Calling all want-to-be-stand-up comedians, The Chester Theatre Group and comedienne Kate Lyn Reiter's Humor in the Midst are back to school with laughter. Starting on Sept. 17, Reiter will be conducting an 8-week comedy workshop at the Black River Playhouse in Chester. Reiter is an MFA Yale School of Drama graduate with 12 years experience as a comedienne in New York City. Sessions will run from  9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Cost is $195 (10 percent discount for mentioning the Chester Theatre Group). For information and registration, call 908-892-5458,or go to HumorIntheMidst.com. Additional eight-week sessions begin January 21 and March 10. The Chester Theatre Group’s Black River Playhouse is located at the corner of Grove and Maple Streets in the borough of Chester.

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, “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress:” Dover Little Theatre is holding auditions for Alan Ball’s “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” on Sept. 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. Auditions will be held at Dover Little Theatre, 69 Elliott St., Dover. Auditionersshould bring resumes and headshots if available. Auditioners will read from the script. The ast is one man, five women (all ages 20 to 30). 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. Any questions or for directions, call the theatre at 973-328-9202. For more information, go to DoverLittleTheatre.org.

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 to $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.

Song and Dance: Ridge Light Opera of New Jersey will present its 17th annual Operetta and Musical Theater show, Sept. 22 through 24, at , 140 South Finley Ave., Basking Ridge. This year’s show will be fully staged and costumed and feature songs from “The Merry Widow,” “Kismet” and cabaret songs. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25, or $20 for seniors and students. For information, go to RidgeLightOpera.org.

Audition Alert, “Night of the Living Dead:” Looking for some creepy fun this fall? The Growing Stage, The Children’s Theater of New Jersey will hold auditions on Thursday, Sept. 22 beginning at 7 p.m. for its Studio Presentation series show "Night of the Living Dead." It will be performed in a radio-style format with three roles for women, four for men, one for a young girl and a lot of roles for zombies. All auditioning will be reading from the script and zombies should be prepared to do some improvisational movement. The theater is also seeking teenagers interested in working behind the scenes, designing digital sound effects and visual projections for the performance. Auditions are open for anyone 14 and older. Shows will be on Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. All roles will be filled by community artists. As with each Growing Stage production, all roles are open and the theater adheres to a non-traditional casting policy. Performers of color, seniors, the undead, and performers with disabilities are encouraged to attend. The Growing Stage is located in the Historic Palace Theater on Route 183 in Netcong. For additional information call 973-347-4946 or email exdir@growingstage.com.

Twice the Love: Women’s Theatre Company will present its first show of the 2011-12 season, “Romance, Romance,” Sept. 23 through Oct. 9. With music by Keith Herrmann and lyrics by Barry Harman, the Tony-winning show (Best Musical of 1988) explores love through song. Performing in “Romance, Romance” are Actors Equity members Mark G. Dalio of Sparta and Marci Sofley of New York City. Also performing is Ashley Kowzun of Kenvil. The musical is directed by Lauren Moran Mills. Warren Helms of Pompton Lakes is musical director. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. at The Parsippany Arts Center, within the , 1130 Knoll Road, Lake Hiawatha. Tickets cost $20, or $28 for seniors. For reservations, call 973-316-3033.

Get Ready to Cry: Pax Amicus Castle Theatre will present “Steel Magnolias” with a run starting Sept. 24 and continuing through Oct. 9. The comedy-drama is about six southern women who talk about love, family, friendship and life. Performances are Sept. 24 and Oct. 1. 2, 7 and 8 at 8 p.m., and Oct. 2 and 9 at 2 p.m. Tickets for Saturday performances cost $20. Friday and Sunday tickets cost $15. The theater is located at 23 Lake Shore Road in Budd Lake. For reservations, call 973-691-2100.

Coming Home to Jersey: Hoboken-based critical darling Yo La Tengo is performing a concert at on Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $27-$55. 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.

All Jazzed Up: The Helen Sung Trio will perform a jazz concert at the Centenary Stage Company’s Edith Bolte Kutz Theater of the Lackland Cener on Sept. 25 at 4 p.m. The concert is part of the Centenary’s Jazz in the Box Series. Sung is a winner of the Kennedy Center Mary Lou Williams Jazz Competition and has performed with Clark Terry, Wyntno Marsalis, Jimmy Heath and others. Tickets cost $20 at the door, $15 in advance. 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.

Summit Playhouse 2011-2012 Season: will open its season with “Meet Me in St. Louis,” adapted by the classic movie musical, running Nov. 4-19. The show, directed by Jay Mills, is an adaptation of the movie musical with songs by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane, and book by Hugh Wheeler. Musical direction is by Rich Lovallo. Tickets cost $25, $20 students (18 and under). Next up is Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons,” about the Keller family and a long-held family secret, Feb. 24 through March 10. Sherie Ahlin directs. Tickets cost $20, $15 students. The season will conclude with “Over the River and Through the Woods,” a comedy by Joe DPietro about a single man from New Jersey and his family, and the dream job that could get him away from his family. Performances will April 27 through May 12. Directed by James Valletti. Tickets cost $20, $15 for students 18 and under. For tickets, visit SummitPlayhouse.org/tickets, or call 908-273-2192.

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.

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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