Arts & Entertainment

Share the Gift of Theater With Your Kids

With family-friendly holiday shows filling the area's stages, now is a great time to introduce children to theater.

If you have kids who are interested in seeing, or getting involved with, theater, now’s the time to get them started.

Most of the holiday presentations on stage in venues big and small are designed for the whole family to enjoy, making “White Christmas,” “The Littlest Angel” and “A Christmas Carol” great choices for a first show.

And a few theaters are offering children’s theater productions, such as “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and the non-holiday themed “The People Garden.”

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If you’ve got kids with the acting bug, it’s time to register for upcoming programs at Growing Stage Theatre, Brundage Park Playhouse and The Centenary Stage Company.

Read on for more news about North Jersey’s theater scene. The On Stage Scoop runs every Tuesday.

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ON STAGE SCOOP:

Bah Humbug! The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is concluding its 49th season with Neil Bartlett’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” through Jan. 1. The Shakespeare Theatre’s artistic director, Bonnie J. Monte, directs. The production features a cast of nine playing more than 50 roles, with Philip Goodwin leading the way as Ebenezer Scrooge. The cast also includes John Ahlin as Fezziwig and Greg Jackson as Bob Cratchit. Performances are at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre on the campus of Drew University in Madison. For tickets and information, call 973-408-5600 or visit ShakespeareNJ.org.

Winter Programs for Kids at Growing Stage: Registration is open for the Growing Stage theater’s Winter Creative Arts Program. Classes are offered for kids ranging from pre-kindergarten to ninth grade. Classes include Creative Dramatics, Performing Arts Workshop, The Actor Speaks and Musical Performance Lab. The theater is located at 7 Ledgewood Ave. in Netcong. Classes begin Jan. 28 and continue through April 21. Click here for more information.

It’s Getting “Frosty” in Budd Lake: Pax Amicus Castle Theatre in Budd Lake is in the holiday spirit with “Frosty in Toyland” 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.

Return to Bedford Falls: Bells will ring and angels will get their wings as Pax Amicus Castle Theatre presents “It’s a Wonderful Life” through Dec. 17. The stage adaptation of the classic movie starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed tells the story of George Bailey, who learns the value of life from an angel named Clarence. The theater is located at 23 Lake Shore Road in Budd Lake. Tickets cost $22. For tickets and information, call 973-691-2100.

Young Takes on Theater: Centenary Stage Company’s Young Performers Workshop Winter Festival of Shows continues with performances of “Narnia, the Musical” Dec. 17 and 18; “Meet Me in St. Louis” Dec. 16 through Dec. 18; and “Count to Ten” on Dec. 17 and 18. “Count to Ten” is an original musical by Young Performers Workshop director Michael Blevins. It was an official selection of the 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival. Performances are at the Centenary Little Theatre on Jefferson Street in Hackettstown. For information, call 908-979-0900 or visit CentenaryStageCo.org.

Rock The Holidays: The Brooks Arts Center will present “Overnight Sensations Non-Denominational Holiday Party IV” on Dec. 17 beginning at 7 p.m. The concert will feature performances by Accidental Seabirds, Bern & the Brights, Blithe (Doll), Elevator Art. Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission costs $10. 21 and over. The center is located at 10 Hamilton St. in Bound Brook. For more information, go to BrookArts.org.

What a Bunch of Characters: Growing Stage Children’s Theatre is performing the holiday favorite “Babes in Toyland” through Dec. 18. The adaptation by Arthur Kroeger and Stephen L. Fredericks is loosely based on the Victor Herbert operetta and the Laurel and Hardy film. In The Land of Make Believe, Barnaby is threatening Mother Goose with eviction unless her daughter, Bo Peep marries him. Other characters include the Three Little Pigs and Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum. The theater is located at 7 Ledgewood Ave. in Netcong. For more information, call 973-347-4946 or go to GrowingStage.com.

Life is a Christmas Cabaret: The Women’s Theater Company will present “A Christmas Cabaret” on Dec. 17 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 18 at 4 p.m.at the Parsippany Playhouse, located at 1130 Knoll Road in Parsippany. The show will feature performers including Kathleen Clancy, Grayce Coviello and Marc G. Dalio. Lauren Moran Mills directs. Tickets cost $25. For more information, call 973-316-3033 or go to WomensTheater.org.

Young Performers Workshop at Centenary Stage Company: The Centenary Stage Company Young Performers Workshop will hold interviews for new students on Dec. 17 and 18 at the Centenary Little Theatre, 400 Jefferson St. in Hackettstown.  Led by theatre, TV and film veteran Michael Blevins, the spring session will run on Saturdays from Feb. 11 to June 10 culminating in a two-week Festival of Shows from June 1 through 10. While no prior experience is required to participate in the program, all new applicants must complete an interview prior to acceptance into the program. Appointments for interviews may be made by contacting the CSC Administrative Offices at 908-979-0900.  The cost of the 15-week Spring YPW Session is $350.

God Bless Us, Everyone: is staging its production of “A Christmas Carol” continuing through Dec. 18. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. The theater is located at 689 Amwell Road in Hillsborough. Tickets cost $17, or $15 for seniors and students. For information, call 908-369-7469 or go to SVPTheatre.org or call 908-369-7469.

A Christmas Gift: Brundage Park Playhouse is staging “The Littlest Angel,” through Dec. 18. The show is adapted by Patricia Gray, based on Charles Tazewell’s children’s book about a small angel and his special gift to the newborn Christ child. Tickets cost $15, or $12 seniors and children under 12. The Playhouse is located at 2 Bungalow Lane in Randolph. For more information, go to BrundageParkPlayhouse.org.

Simply the “Best:” Villagers Theatre is staging “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” with daytime performances through Dec. 18. Adapted from the classic book, the story involves the local church Christmas pageant, which becomes challenged when the awful Herdman kids join the show. Tickets cost $10. The theater is located in the Franklin Township Municipal Complex at 415 Demott Lane in Somerset. For more information, call 732-873-2710 or visit VillagersTheatre.com.

Dreaming of a White Christmas? Then Head to Paper Mill: Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” is on stage at the for a run 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.

Audition Alert, “A Flea In Her Ear:” Villagers Theatre in is holding auditions for “A Flea In Her Ear” on Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. with callbacks (if necessary) on Dec. 14. The theater is looking for nine women and five men with extremely strong comedic talents and who “wish to experience a wild ride.” Ages 25 to 70 are welcome as long as you have the energy, ability and willingness to do physical comedy and have a sense of humor. The theater is located at 475 DeMott Lane in Somerset. For more information, including a character  breakdown, go to Villagerstheatre.com.

Audition Alert, “Mother Hicks:” The Growing Stage children’s theater is holding auditions for a non-musical staging of “Mother Hicks” on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. Auditions will take place at the Palace Theatre, 7 Ledgewood Ave. in Netcong. The story is set in Depression-era Illinois and follows three outsiders—a young girl, a deaf young man and the title character—a recluse who is suspected of being a witch. Readings will be from the script. The production will run Jan. 13 through Feb. 5 and will be directed by John Pietrowski, the artistic director for . For more information, go to GrowingStage.com.

Life Lessons: Summit Playhouse’s Kaleidoscope Theatre for Youth is presenting “The People Garden” Dec. 15 to 18. The off-Broadway musical ran for two years at Manhattan’s York Theatre and toured as an assembly program in New York and New Jersey. The show is about kids in a kindergarten class who learn lessons about honesty, modesty, caring, respect and friendship. Performances are at 7 p.m. on Dec. 15 through 17 and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Dec. 18. Tickets cost $15. The theater is located at 10 New England Ave. in Summit. For more information, go to SummitPlayhouse.org.

It’s Nutcracker Time: New Jersey Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” at with performances beginning Dec. 16 and continuing through Dec. 26. The annual favorite features dancing (of course), along with a live orchestra and special effects. Tickets cost $19 to $59. 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.

Visions of Sugar Plumb Fairies: The New Jersey Civic Youth Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” Dec. 16 through Dec. 18 at the Sitnik Theater of the Lackland Center. The narrated adaptation is billed as being appropriate for audiences from “3 to 103.” Performances are at 2 and 7 p.m. on Dec. 17 and 3 p.m. on Dec. 18. Tickets cost $22.50 to $25. The theater is located at 715 Grand Ave. in Hackettstown. For more information, go to CentenaryStageCo.org.

Winter Theatre Classes at Brundage Park Playhouse: Brundage Park Playhouse will begin its winter theater classes on Jan. 30. Classes are being offered in acting, musical theater dance, modern dance and more. Click here for class descriptions, schedules and prices. Randolph Township is also hosting a Stars on Stage program for children with special needs, beginning Jan. 12 and continuing through March. Click here for more information.

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.


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