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Arts & Entertainment

On Stage: An Amazing Few Weeks for Theater

"Footloose," "On Golden Pond," "Jesus Christ Superstar," among full-scale productions; staged reading offers audience a glimpse at the artistic process.

There’s always great theater going on in North Jersey, but the next few weeks look particularly interesting.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, for example, is hosting a staged reading of “The Winslow Boy,” offering audience members a chance to work with actors and directors as they work through the script. The Growing Stage in Netcong has added a new element to its efforts to introduce theater to young audiences, with a program designed for preschoolers and kindergarten students. And Somerset Valley Players’ “American Theatre Montage” promises insight into how shows are created through scenes from American plays.

Not to say there’s any shortage of full-scale shows to see. “Over the River and Through the Woods,” “Crimes of the Heart” and “Footloose” are all coming to the area, while “On Golden Pond,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “The Cocktail Hour” and many other continue to run. And if you just can’t wait for the holidays, “White Christmas” is coming to the Paper Mill.

Read the On Stage Scoop below for more information about what’s happening on local stages. The Scoop runs every Tuesday:

Tickets for Tony Bennett, Peter Frampton and Frankie Valli at they 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. And if you're interested in the show ...

Scout’s Coming to Madison: Academy Award-nominated actress Mary Badham, who played Scout in the 1962 film adaptation of Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” will host a program titled “Looking Back with Scout: A Conversation with Mary Badham” on Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at 's F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre. During the talk, the actress will recall her memories on the set of the movie and discuss the book’s themes of tolerance, justice, and compassion. She will also host a question-and-answer session. The program coincides with the theater’s run of Christopher Sergel’s stage adaptation of the novel, running through Nov. 20. Tickets cost $40 to $50 and can be purchased by calling the Shakespeare Theatre box office at 973-408-5600 or visiting ShakespeareNJ.org. The theater is located at 36 Madison Ave. in Madison.

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Looking at Love: is hosting the New Jersey premiere of Geoffrey Nauffts’ “Next Fall” through Nov. 13. The Tony-nominated play examines a five-year relationship between Adam and Luke, while exploring faith, commitment and unconditional love. Performances are at the Baird Center, located at 5 Mead St. in South Orange. For information, go to DreamCatcherRep.org.

Generation Gap: is presenting “On Golden Pond” at the Somerset Valley Playhouse, located at 689 Amwell Road in Hillsborough through Nov. 13. Ernest Thompson’s play is about an older professor and his wife who return to their Maine vacation home for another summer, and see for themselves how the world’s values are changing. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $17, or $15 for seniors and students. For more information, call 908-369-7469 or go to SVPtheatre.org.

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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.

Comedy Tonight (Starting Nov. 10): The comedy troupe Parallel Exit is coming to the Centenary Stage Company’s Black Box Festival, Nov. 10 through 13 in the David and Carol Lackland Center in Hackettstown. Created in 1997 by Artistic Director Mark Lonergan with a mission to study various physical comedy forms, Parallel Exit blends theater, dance and music into works of physical performance designed to transcend age, language, and cultural barriers. Tickets cost $22 to $25. For more information, call 908-979-0900 or go to CentenaryStageco.org.

Silly Old Bear: “Winnie the Pooh” is on stage at Pax Amicus Castle Theatre with a kid-friendly show on stage through Nov. 11. The play finds the famous bear sharing adventures with Christopher Robin, Tigger, Kanga, Roo, Owl, Piglet, Rabbit and Eeeyore. The theater is located at 23 Lake Shore Road in Budd Lake. Tickets cost $12. For reservations, call 973-691-2100.

Audition Alert, “All My Sons:”  is holding auditions for Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m., with callbacks on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. The play follows the Keller family, whose patriarch Joe made his fortune through selling defective parts during World War II. Unlike his partner, Joe avoided jail, but his secrets could soon be revealed. Performances are Feb. 24 through March 10. Click here for more information, including a character breakdown. The theater’s Playhouse is located at 10 New England Ave. in Summit.

Audition Alert, “Leader of the Pack:”  is holding auditions for “Leader of the Pack” on Nov. 9 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Players’ playhouse, located at 689 Amwell Road. Find a breakdown of open parts here. Bring with you and be prepared to sing 32 bars of music in the style of the show. An accompanist will be provided. The theater is seeking a multi-ethnic cast of people who can sing and dance and represent the classic "girl groups" of the era. Callbacks will be held on Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. For more information, call 908-369-7469 or go to SVPTheatre.org. 

Don’t Eat That Apple:  will host an adaptation of “Snow White,” performed by Theatre IV on Nov. 10 with shows beginning at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The show is recommended for kids ages 5 to 10. Tickets cost $12. The Bickford is located at the , 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown. For information, call 973-971-3706 or go to MorrisMuseum.org.

Date Change for Tom Chapin Concert at Growing Stage Theatre: The Tom Chapin Concert originally scheduled to open the Growing Stage Theatre’s 30th Anniversary Season has been rescheduled for Nov. 11. The concert was to be part of the company’s ribbon-cutting for the unveiling of a restored front façade at the Palace Theatre in Netcong, but Hurricane Irene delayed that work. For tickets and information, call 973-347-4946 or go to GrowingStage.com.

Always the Bridesmaids: Dover Little Theatre will present Alan Ball’s “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” Nov 11 through 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:”  will present “The Wedding Singer” with performances starting Nov. 11 and continuing 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. 12, 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. Shows on Nov. 12 and 18 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.

Audition Alert, “The Sound of Music:” Brundage Park Playhouse in Randolph is holding auditions for “The Sound of Music” on Nov. 12 from 2 to 4 p.m. for children and on Nov. 14 and 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. for adults. Show dates are Feb. 3 through 19. For more information, including a character breakdown, click hereClick here for directions. For more information, go to BrundageParkPlayhouse.org.

Audition Alert, “Marvin’s Room:”  is holding auditions for Scott McPherson’s “Marvin’s Room” on Nov. 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. The theater is located at 32 Skyline Drive. For more information, call 973-334-9320 or go to BarnTheatre.org.

Classical Sounds: Conductor and pianist Jeffrey Kahane will lead New Jersey Symphony Orchestra through a program of Beethoven, Brahms and American composer Pierre Jalbert at  on Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. A "Classical Conversation" will be held one hour before the performance. Tickets cost $20 to $80. 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.

Theatrical Introduction: The Growing Stage Children’s Theatre of New Jersey is launching a new series designed for the pre-school and kindergarten set with “Going to the Theatre!” on Nov. 12 and 13. The interactive show combines performance and teaching by including a show and hands-on creative dramatic experience. Audience members will have the opportunity to creatively play on the company’s professional stage. Performances begin at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $10 per person with a $5 “lap charge” and can be ordered by calling 973-347-4946 or going to GrowingStage.com.

Staged Reading at the Shakespeare Theatre: Terence Rattigan's "The Winslow Boy" will receive a staged reading at on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. The reading is the last entry in the theater's 2011 "Lend Us Your Ears" series of readings, which offers patrons the chance to join directors, actors and other theater professionals in exploring plays. The 1947 play is inspired by a true story involving an English cadet accused of theft. The reading will take place at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave., in Madison. Tickets cost $15, $10 students. For more information, call 973-408-5600 or visit ShakespeareNJ.org.  

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 visit MayoArts.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: Somerset Valley Players 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 (Rte 514) in Hillsborough. Click here for more information.

Larry King Performance Canceled: Larry King’s appearance at the , scheduled for Nov. 11, has been canceled. According to the Center’s website, ticket-holders will receive a letter with instructions regarding refunds. For more information, call 973-539-8008 or visit MayoArts.org.

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, call908-369-7469 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.

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