Some Enchanted Evening: "South Pacific" Heads to Morristown

by Bruce Chadwick - published 2022-05-06
What is it about the musical South Pacific that makes it as enjoyable today as it was back in 1949 when it opened to one of the most critic-delirious receptions in theater history?

VIDEO: New Musical "A Walk on the Moon" Launches Romance Amid Historic Summer of '69

by Jesse North & Dave Tavani, JerseyArts.com - published 2022-05-06
A summer of change, for one family and the country. Set in 1969 against the backdrop of Woodstock and the first moon landing, “A Walk on the Moon” is a new musical adapted from the 1999 movie that focuses on a woman torn between her family and a surprising new love. We talked to leads Jackie Burns and Jonah Platt, and the director and Sheryl Kaller about this George Street Playhouse production. “A Walk on the Moon” runs through May 21, 2022 at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center.

State Theatre presents Roald Dahl's "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory"

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The newly renovated State Theatre New Jersey presents Roald Dahl’s Charlie and The Chocolate Factory for four performances from Friday, May 13 to Sunday, May 15. It tells the story of Willy Wonka, world famous inventor of the Everlasting Gobstopper, who has just made an astonishing announcement. His marvelous—and mysterious—factory is opening its gates…to a lucky few. That includes young Charlie Bucket, whose life definitely needs sweetening. He and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a mesmerizing, life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of pure imagination. Get ready for Oompa-Loompas, incredible inventions, the great glass elevator, and more, more, more at this everlasting showstopper! 

'Short Shakespeare' Long on Fun

by Bruce Chadwick - published 2022-05-02
What better way to spend a spring afternoon than going to a Shakespeare play and a play in a theater not just full of adults, but one teeming with young adults, too.

PODCAST: How Basement Productions Prepared Sarah Rasmussen for McCarter

by Maddie Orton, JerseyArts.com - published 2022-05-01
You could say that Sarah Rasmussen, McCarter Theatre's new Artistic Director has been training for this role since the 7th grade. From auditioning kids in the backyard of her South Dakota home to presenting her artistry on major stages across the country, Sarah has maintained her sense of playfulness with the art form. Now her McCarter directorial debut, "Ride the Cyclone", combines that whimsy with music, stunning design, and a perfect story for this moment in time. The show began preview performances on April 30th.

So You Wanna Dance? "Hairspray" Musical Headed for New Brunswick This Weekend

by Bruce Chadwick - published 2022-04-27
Hairspray has succeeded as a musical and film because it manages to convey a delightful story about teenage love, weigh discrimination and generational conflict with terrific music and, most importantly, a pretty gripping story about racial discrimination in Baltimore in 1962.

Author Pamela Gray talks about "A Walk on the Moon"

by Charles Paolino - published 2022-04-25
A Walk on the Moon appears at the George Street Playhouse this week with drama, comedy, music—and a sigh of relief. The latter comes from Pamela Gray, who wrote the play and who had begun to believe it would never be mounted at the New Brunswick venue.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's "South Pacific" comes to MPAC

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Big League Productions, Inc. presents the innovative new production of the Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning masterpiece Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific, which comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center(MPAC) in Morristown for three performances May 13-14.  Love transcends the harsh realities of war and prejudice in this sweeping tale centered around two unlikely love affairs.

State Theatre presents "Hairspray"

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The newly renovated State Theatre New Jersey presents Broadway’s Tony® Award-winning musical comedy phenomenon Hairspray for four performances from Friday, April 29 through Sunday, May 1st. Hairspray is the story of 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad in 1960’s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Can a girl with big dreams (and even bigger hair) change the world?