Classics for Kids! Begins at Shakespeare Theatre NJ

Posted on August 21, 2023 by Karen Nowosad

The Little Prince Begins Classics for Kids! Series

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) launched a new offering, Classics for Kids! This series is made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, along with additional funding provided by Stark D. Kirby, Jr.

The launch of the new series was on Saturday, August 12, with a beautiful and heart warming production of the The Little Prince by Antonine de Saint-Exupéry. It was a staged reading done with scenery, props, music, and lighting. A superb cast brought the story to life.

This stage version is by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar, based on the original novella. STNJ’s Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte directed the reading.

I Love Children’s Theater

I attended this reading because of my love of children’s theater. Also, I have heard a lot about The Little Prince but never got into reading the entire piece. So this seemed like a nice way to learn more about the much talked about novella.

Fully expecting to be the only adult attending without a child, it was a nice surprise at the 2:00 show to see that I was not the only one! In fact, the audience was a testament to how theater brings people together because there were families, grandparents with children, and groups of adults of all ages in the audience.

The story of The Little Prince begins with an Aviator on the ground trying to repair his plane. The Little Prince approaches him and tells him tales of his travels on earth and other planets he has visited and what he saw. Imagination abounds as flowers come to life along with tales of people he has met both on earth and other planets. The characters described each bring a lesson to examine. Even when The Snake arrives, there are things to consider.

This was a staged reading. However, it was so well put together that one could easily count it as a play. The only thing making it look like a staged reading were the loose-leaf notebooks the cast held to use for their notes. Many skillful techniques were utilized so that you could hardly tell that a script was in their hands..

The Little Prince appeals to children but adults as well. Many of the lessons shared by the little prince are things that adults struggle with. The innocence of a child allows adults to view these issues in a different light.

The Cast

Jon Barker leads the cast as the Aviator along with David Mattle as the Little Prince. Barker gave a fine performance as he struggles to understand this young person who finds him with his broken down aircraft. This was a first time performance for David Mattle at STNJ but he carried it off very well. His performance was sweet but well polished with his stage presence and delivery.

The cast also includes Dino Curia (The King, The Businessman, and The Geographer), and Greg Jackson (The Fox). Also in the reading were Carolyne Leys (The Desert Flower, Echo, and a Pink Rose) and Isaac Hickox-Young (The Conceited Man and The Lamplighter). Billie Wyatt played the role of The Snake

Peri Gilpin joined the cast as The Rose. She is well known for her role as Roz Doyle in the NBC sitcom Frasier.

Creative Touches Add Much to the Staged Reading

The Little Prince features production design and projected drawings by Bonnie J. Monte; inspired by the original drawings by Antoine de St. Exupéry. Lighting Design is by Steven Beckel and Jenna Gregson served as the Production Stage Manager.

Upcoming Classics for Kids! Shows

The Dragon King | A Tanglewood Marionettes Production

The Dragon King | A Tanglewood Marionettes Production

November 4th —  11:00 a.m.

Description of the show:

A terrible drought has overtaken the land, and all the world has turned brown and lifeless. The Dragon King is the ruler of the waters, and the people are beginning to wonder why he has not brought the precious rains in such a very long time. An underwater fantasy based on Chinese folklore, Tanglewood Marionettes’ latest production tells the tale of a wise Grandmother who journeys to the bottom of the sea to seek the Dragon King, and the answers to why he has forsaken the land above. With colorful sea creatures, an exciting adventure, and all the visual splendor that audiences have come to expect from a Tanglewood Marionettes production, The Dragon King is a heart-warming tale that will thrill young and old alike.

Founded in 1993 by Anne Ware and Peter Schaefer, Tanglewood Marionettes is a nationally touring marionette theater based in New England.

– STNJ Press Notes

Staged Reading of The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen

December 16th — 11:00 a.m.

Description of the show:

This classic is one of Andersen’s most acclaimed fairy tales. It is the story of two best friends, Gerda and Kai, who grow apart when their world is overcome by dark forces. Kai is influenced by the Snow Queen, whose intentions are evil, and Kai quickly betrays the bond between him and Gerda. With the help of a slew of characters, Gerda reunites with her friend, and the audience is left to reflect on an all too familiar theme – one’s circumstances may shape who one becomes, but with love and compassion, good can overcome evil.

– STNJ Press Notes

How to Go to Classics for Kids! Performances

Tickets are $15 for patrons 17 and under. Adult tickets are $20. 

For more information about The Shakespeare Theatre’s Classics for Kids performances, please call the Box Office at (973) 408-5600 or visit the website, shakespearenj.org.

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‘And a Nightingale Sang’ Looks at War Affecting Family Life

Posted on July 18, 2023 by Karen Nowosad
The cast of And a Nightingale Sang… Photo by Sarah Haley

Now playing at the Shakespeare Theatre Of New Jersey (STNJ) is the play And a Nightingale Sang. Written in 1977 by British playwright C.P. Taylor, it has been seen both as a play and a film. The play is about a family living in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England during World War II. It has some humor to help balance out some very intense scenes about the war and what it is doing to the Scott family. This production includes songs from that era played by a family member on the home piano.

Bonnie J. Monte provides direction of a fine cast and outstanding staging. Monte writes in her Director’s Notes, that this play had been on her list of shows she wanted to do for quite awhile. As this is her last season as the STNJ’s Artistic Director, she knew that time arrived. Audiences will be pleased with the results of her efforts. This production provides a rare look at how war affects everyday people rather than the military as they take action or even politicians. I agree with what Monte wrote in those Notes that the larger powers have the power to bring horrific events to the world. Strength is needed to cope with these actions and it falls to the every day person trying to live their own lives to deal with that the best they can.

A Story of Survival and Growth

By design, And a Nightingale Sings provides a microcosm of personalities in one family representative of a society of the time. The characters in the play are a part of the Scott family who live in the Newcastle, England area.

The story is told in two acts starting with Scene 1 in September 1939 and additional scenes at key times during the war from 1940, 1942, 1944, and finally 1945 as the war ends. Significant events such as D-Day and VE Day are mentioned.

The play has a narrator who is one of the Scott daughters, Helen (Monette Macgrath), She is the older of the two sisters and she walks with limp This slight imperfection leaves a mark on her in that she does not feel any man would want her. So when she meets an officer in the British armed forces, Norman (Benjamin Eakeley), she enters into a love affair and eventually leaves the family home to go to live with him. Her persona is gentle and warm and she wins the audience over immediately.

However, it is a little different with the other sister, Joyce (Sarah Deaver). Initially, she turns one off by the nature of her selfish and somewhat reckless behavior. Looking to have a good time, she meets soldier Eric (Christian Frost). After a great deal of pondering, she accepts his proposal of marriage and some of the difficulties of a couple not being able to see other come through in their relationship.

Both of these sisters’ relationships say volumes about wartime romances. Some survive, some do not. And in this play, that is exactly what happens. However, the sisters learn and grow from all of these experiences and come out different people at the War’s end.

Three Generations of the Scott Family

Anchoring the household are the elder members including the grandfather, Andie (Sam Tsoutsouvas). His role adds some humor to the play especially as he seeks out a room and he recounts some of experiences in finding one.

Finally, Peggy Scott (Marion Adler) is the mother. Hard to determine her level of stability because she is constantly dashing off to the local church for comforting and to check on the safety of the pastor. George Scott (John Little) offers a settled image as he plays the piano with songs of the era. In many ways, the music becomes a grounding source of comfort for all.

Special Effects and Staging Assist the Story Being Told

Major cities in England were constant targets of Nazi bombing raids so this is written into the play. Civilians needed to deal with air raid warning sirens, staying in bomb shelters, and finally hearing the all clear sound. Also shown are the gas masks needed at various times which members of the family have and use at times. These were difficult times and the play brings that out.

George serves as a volunteer in the Civil Defence Service helping people as needed especially when air raid sirens go off. The sound is frightening and the reactions of the players takes different forms. STNJ does an excellent job with the sounds of the sirens and bombs dropping. One can feel the fear hearing the overhead planes coming in and bombs dropping all around them. It is distressing to watch people hoping they will come out alive.

The stage is designed to be a two story house but also some steps down for the bomb shelter. Lighting is also used to enhance some events taking place.

Highly Recommend Going to see And a Nightingale Sang

This play by C.P. Taylor is well written and the STNJ does a superb job presenting it on stage. You will experience some of the anxiety people of this time felt while they lived through it. Additionally, these are characters who represent the every day people who lived in English at the time.

I have purposely left out the full description of who ends up with whom and what happens to the characters because some of it needs to unfold to you, as an audience member. Some might surprise. But if you are a student of history of World War II, some will not. However, the experience seeing this play is well worth it.

And a Nightingale Sang Tickets and Special Offerings

Ticket prices range from $34 to $65. The Theatre offers various cost-saving opportunities:

  • $15 student rush tickets, which are available 30 minutes prior to each performance, with a valid student ID.
  • A limited number of Pay What You Can tickets for every performance on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  • A $30 Under 30 ticket option, which offers $30 tickets for patrons aged 30 and under, with valid ID. 
  • Other discounts are available including subscription discounts, a 10% discount for members of PBS/Thirteen and AAA members. 
  • For tickets, call the Box Office at 973-408-5600 or visit ShakespeareNJ.org.

And a Nightingale Sang Audience Enrichment & Accessible Performances

For the same price as a regular ticket, the Symposium Series performances offer a post-show discussion with the cast and artistic staff. For And a Nightingale Sang…, Symposium performances are on Tuesday, July 18 at 7:30 PM, Saturday, July 22  at 2:00 PM, and Saturday, July 29 at 2:00 PM.

The Know-the-Show pre-show talks are available free of cost with the purchase of a performance ticket. Prior to the Thursday, July 20th performance, at 7:00 PM, Ms. Monte will conduct a pre-show talk and Q&A for interested patrons. The performance that night follows at 8:00 PM.

The Shakespeare Theatre also offers Closed-Caption performances and Audio-Described performances throughout the season. The captioned performance for And a Nightingale Sang… will be on Thursday, July 20th at 8:00 PM. The Audio-Described performance will be on Thursday, July 27th at 8:00 PM. For more information, please contact the Box Office.

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‘Satellites’ Explores Time and Relationships

Posted on July 15, 2023 by Karen Nowosad
Ellyn Heald and Terrell Wheeler in Satellites at Premiere Stages at Kean –
Photo by Mike Peters

Premiere Stages at Kean is now presenting a new play, Satellites. Written by Erin Breznitsky, Satellites is the winner of the 2022 Premiere Play Festival. This play features a unique story enhanced through strong staging including projections on a large back screen which helps emphasize the role of outer space to the plot. Additionally, sound, lighting, and scenic design add to the strength of the production as the story unfolds.

Prepare yourself to see an adventure that captures your imagination as two people experience a difficult situation that tests their love and relationship with each other.

The cast has two people who turn in fine performances that extend the adventure of the story. Terrell Wheeler plays Captain Mike Turner and Ellyn Heald plays Dr. Katherine Sparks. All of the action falls upon these two people and they are up to the task.

Good direction of the play is by Premiere Stages Producing Artistic Director, John J. Wooten. His direction brings in that staging that allows the audience to feel immersed in the drama as it unfolds. In press notes, Mr. Wooten stated the following about the show:

“This exciting new production is the first time Premiere Stages will be incorporating a three projection set up into a design. Erin’s approach provides an innovative and seamless exploration of the unknown limits of time and space.”

John J. Wooten

The Story of Satellites

The story uses a series of scenes that show present day and flashbacks of Katherine and Mike’s early life. It opens in present day than flashes back to the past. Then another present day scene is shown followed by another flashback and thus a pattern of action develops.

Many of the flashbacks show how Katherine and Mike met and began their lives together. She is a scientist studying climate change and he is an astronaut. They have two children together before Mike answers the call to travel on a what starts out to be a two week space mission.

The space mission is going well but suddenly Mike’s shuttle vanishes in outer space. There is no contact with him and search missions take place. Eventually, the search ends and Mike is assumed to be dead.

Katherine continues her life alone, raising their children and continuing her life’s work. She uses a Radio Shack signaling device to say things to her missing husband hoping that maybe the signal will be picked up. One day, Mike is found by the wreckage of a crash in South America. However, he has no memory of what happened to him. As the couple reunites, the play focuses on their relationship as they try to decide if they can continue as a married couple.

You will need to draw your own conclusions at the end as to whether or not they have enough love and a relationship to continue their marriage. The play gives you enough to think about, both pros and cons, as to where they are headed in the future.

Is it Sci-Fi or a More Traditional Play or Both?

One could argue that playwright Erin Breznitsky’s play is in the Sci-Fi category.After all, where was Mike for those seven years? Was he in outer space all that time? Or was he transported to another time or dimension? Satellites does not analyze those concepts. It probably does not need to do that.

Instead, Satellites attempts to answer questions of what happens to people who love each other when they are separated for a very long period of time especially with no contact. Can they continue their relationship when so many issues remain unanswered? People change over a period of time and how relevant are those changes to what a relationship had been? Does love overcome these concerns? This play attempts to give insights into these questions.

Performance Run and Tickets

Satellites runs July 13-July 30 in the Bauer Boucher Theatre Center on the Kean University main campus in Union, N.J. Performances take place Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 pm, Saturdays at 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 3:00 pm.

Tickets are $35 standard, $25 for senior citizens and Kean alumni and staff, $20 for patrons with disabilities and $15 for students. Significant discounts for groups of ten or more apply.

To purchase tickets or to make inquire, call the box office at 908-737-7469 or visit premierestagesatkean.com/shows/Satellites/

Going to the Theater

This show offers a nice opportunity for affordable entertainment this summer. There is no need to worry about the heat because the facility is nicely air-conditioned. Additionally, there is free parking very close to the entrance way.

All Premiere Stages facilities are fully accessible spaces, and companion seating is available for patrons with disabilities. Assistive listening devices and large print playbills are available at every performance.

Sign language interpretation performances are available upon request; please call 908-737-4077 at least two weeks prior to your desired performance. For more information, please visit Premiere Stages online at premierestagesatkean.com.

The area around the theater has a number of good spots to get a meal or a snack. One of my favorite spots is the Mark Twain Diner which is right down Morris Avenue about 7 miles from the Bauer Boucher Theatre Center. The food is good and the service is very helpful and friendly.

Photo by K. Nowosad
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