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For younger
audiences, the Kelsey Kids Series offers 12 productions, most
of which are presented by professional touring companies,
bringing to the stage famous fairytales and adaptations of
popular characters in children's literature.
According to Kelsey Theatre Artistic Director M. Kitty Getlik,
this year's offerings celebrate the interconnectedness between
poetic and prose theater. Although vastly different stylistically,
there are common elements found in the iambic pentameter of
Shakespeare and the lyrical rhyming of Dr. Seuss and children's
literature in general.
Says
Getlik, "Drawing on the theme of Seuss's popular book,
'Oh, the Places You Will Go,' theater can take you many places
without leaving your seat. You can go to the French Riviera
with 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,' a Mediterranean island with
'The Tempest' and to Whoville with 'Seussical,' just to mention
a few. That's the magic of live theater."
The season of full-length productions opens with the fairy
tale classic, "Hansel & Gretel," with
music and lyrics by Marilyn Gerold. Presented by 20 Minutes
to Curtain Productions, the show opens Friday, Sept. 3 at
7:30 p.m., followed by a reception with the cast and crew.
Additional performances are from Sept. 4-19. Next up is "Seussical,"
the whimsical, magical musical that brings familiar Seuss
characters to life, performed by The Pennington Players Sept.
24-Oct. 3. For one show only, the amazing Joshua Kane provides
thrills for all in his one-man show, "Borders of the
Mind: The Psychic Show for The Whole Family," on
Sunday, Oct. 10.
Cold War tensions prevail in Pierrot Production's adaptation
of Tim Rice's cult rock opera, "Chess," from
Oct. 15-24, followed by irreverent teen merriment, mayhem
and audience participation in Playful Theatre Production's
"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"
Nov. 5-14.
The mood is upbeat with the approach of the holiday season.
The Yardley Players will present the classic Irving Berlin
musical, "Annie Get Your Gun," Nov. 19-28,
followed by "It's a Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play,"
presented by The James Tolin Memorial Fund Dec. 3-5.
To start the new year, meet Mozart, the genius rock star of
his time, when PinnWorth Productions presents "Amadeus"
Jan. 7-16. A military courtroom thriller follows in "A
Few Good Men," presented by the Perry Award-winning
Maurer Productions Onstage Jan. 21-30.
The music continues when Cheng Ferrara Productions presents
"The Wedding Singer," a 1980s romantic comedy
Feb. 11-20, followed by the sultry musical, "A Little
Night Music," presented by Pierrot Productions Mar.
4-13. For classic rock lovers, Kelsey presents "Quadrophenia:
The Reock & Roll Revue," featuring the music
of The Who performed by Tom Reock's band, with guest vocalist
Joe D'Angelo, Mar. 19-20.
Drama takes over with The Pennington Players' bittersweet
take on Southern women in "Steel Magnolias"
Mar. 25-Apr. 3, followed by another portrayal of powerful
women in "Hello Dolly," presented by Playful
Theatre Productions Apr. 8-17.
Romance mixes with trickery in the next two productions -
William Shakespeare's "The Tempest," presented
by MCCC's very own Theatre, Dance and Entertainment Technology
students from Apr. 29-May 8, and Maurer Productions Onstage's
presentation of the riotous musical "Dirty Rotten
Scoundrels" May 13-22. MCCC students once again take
center stage June 4-5 when the Mercer Dance Ensemble presents
"MDE, Poetry in Motion," featuring students,
alumni and special guests under the direction of Janell Byrne.
The full-length season ends with two comic melodramas, the
hilariously spooky Noel Coward play, "Blithe Spirit,"
presented by Pierrot Productions June 10-19, and the decidedly
R-rated "Die, Mommie Die," presented by The
James Tolin Memorial Fund June 24-26. (This annual fundraising
benefit includes a Sunday matinee performance at regular ticket
prices.)
With its one-hour productions just right for the younger set,
the Kelsey Kids Series kicks off with Theatreworks/USA's musical
revue of the popular children's book "Duck for President
and Fancy Nancy" Oct. 9, followed by Arts Power's
musical adaptation of Marcus Pfister's best-selling book "Rainbow
Fish" Oct. 23.
Two annual family favorites will add to a festive holiday
season: "'Twas the Night Before Christmas,"
presented by The Kelsey Players Dec. 10-12, and "The
Nutcracker," performed by New Jersey Youth Ballet
Dec. 17-19.
First up in 2011 is "The Love Bug's Hug,"
an interactive magical show that will be presented by the
husband and wife duo, Bugs and Balloons, on Jan. 22. The fairytale
classic, "Pinocchio," is presented by The
Yardley Players Feb. 4-6. Young thespians hailing from MCCC's
Tomato Patch summer workshops team up with The Kelsey Players
to perform "Disney's High School Musical 2, Jr."
from Feb. 25-27.
A beloved character from children's literature, "Pippi
Longstocking," is the star of American Family Theatre's
charming production Feb. 26. Other children's stories that
will come to life are Bits 'n Pieces giant puppet show, "The
Ugly Duckling, Starring Pinky Flamingo," Mar. 12;
the ArtsPower's musical, "Jigsaw Jones, The Case of
the Class Clown," Apr. 2; and Matt Murphy Productions
and Theatreworks/USA's "The Berenstain Bears in Family
Matters, The Musical," April. 30. The season concludes
with Kaleidoscope Theatre's hilarious musical adaptation of
"Jack and the Beanstalk" May 21.
Ticket prices for most full-length musicals are $16 for adults,
$14 for seniors, and $12 for students and children. Prices
for non-musicals are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, and
$10 for students and children. Ticket prices for most shows
in the Kelsey Kids Series are $8 for children and $10 for
adults/seniors. Discounted subscriber packages include premium
seating, exchanges for performances of the same show, special
"add-a-show" rates, and advance sales of single
tickets. Group discounts are also available.
E-tickets may be purchased online and printed out at home
by visiting the Kelsey
website. Tickets may also be purchased with a credit card
by calling the Kelsey Box Office at (609) 570-3333; by mail
with checks made payable to MCCC/Kelsey Theatre, P.O. Box
B, Trenton, NJ 08690; or by ordering in person at the Box
Office. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.
to noon; and one hour before show time for in-person purchases
only. Gift certificates are available in any amount. To request
a hard copy of the 2010-11 season brochure, email kelsey@mccc.edu
or call the Box Office.
Kelsey
Theatre has open auditions for many of its productions and
welcomes assistance from community volunteers as ushers. Call
(609) 570-3581 or visit the website for more information.
The
theater is wheelchair accessible and has secure lighted parking.
Funding for performances is made possible in part by the Mercer
County Cultural and Heritage Commission through funding from
the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New
Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner
agency of the National Endowment of the Arts. The theater
gratefully accepts donations to cover needed upgrades to the
lighting and sound systems.
For more on events at Kelsey Theatre visit:
Upcoming
Shows
Kelsey Website
Audition
Information
Tomato
Patch Visual and
Performing Arts Workshops
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