'Romeo and Juliet' at Circle Players

Circle Players will present William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" this May.

The show will take place at 8 p.m. April 25, 26, May 2, and at 3 p.m. May 3 and May 4. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $17 for seniors and students, and are available online. You also can make reservations by calling (732) 968-7555. No credit cards are accepted at the box office.

One of The Bard’s most well-known plays, the tragedy of two star-crossed lovers whose untimely deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. This contemporary production places the Bard’s timeless words in a modern setting – a private school. This is a perfect opportunity to introduce teenagers to the 16th-century world of Shakespeare while still making the play relevant to their lives.

The show is directed by Erik Hall and produced by Faith Dowgin.

The cast features Kristin Bennet, Debbie Campanali, Becca Dagnall, Lewis Decker, Charles Deitz, Chris Debono, Ed Faver, Roberto Forero, Daniel Hamm, Victor Martinez, Taryn Mateyka, Mary Morlino, George Rateau, Billy Rateau, Joshua Rowand, Lance Williams, Stacie Williamson, and Mark Zebro.

The theater is located at 416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway.

A wine and cheese reception and a celebration of William Shakespeare’s birthday will follow the opening night performance.

Master Class: Improv 101

Circle Players will be holding an improv class early this April.

The class is at 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on April 5th. Registration costs $20 and must be done online.

Taught by Andrew Young,  this introduction to Basic Improv will give students the opportunity to learn how to find basic games in scenes. Students will learn how to use "yes-and," playing at the top of your intelligence, active listening and support to create comedic improvised scenes.

 Andrew Young has been practicing and performing improv since 2005. He studied both long-form and short-form improvization at Improv Jam where he was named a Summer League All-Star. From 2005-2007, he was a member of the Backstage Players Improv Thingy, a collegiate short-form group based in Edison, NJ. In 2007, he was an initial member of Quaint Little Coffee Shop (QLCS), a long-form improv group based out of New Brunswick, NJ. As a part of QLCS, Andrew performed at venues throughout the country. Andrew is currently a member of Death by Improv (DBI), a short-form improv group based in Sayreville, NJ. DBI has performed in festivals in Florida and Boston.

Casting Call: 'Arsenic and Old Lace'

Auditions are coming up for farcical black comedy "Arsenic and Old Lace" at Playhouse 22.

The show revolves around the Brewster family, composed primarily of insane homicidal maniacs. The hero, Mortimer Brewster, is a drama critic who must deal with his family and local police in Brooklyn as he debates whether to go through with his recent promise to marry the woman he loves. Auditions will be at 7 p.m. March 30 and 31; callbacks will be held April 1.

Abby Brewster (60s)	A darling lady in her sixties who poisons elderly men. Mortimer's aunt.
The Reverend Dr. Harper	A minister. Elaine's father.
Teddy Brewster (40s)	Abby's nephew. Thinks he is Theodore Roosevelt.
Officer Brody	A police officer.
Officer Klein	Also a police officer.
Martha Brewster	A sweet elderly woman with Victorian charm who poisons elderly men. Abby's sister and Teddy and Mortimer's aunt.
Elaine Harper (20s)	Mortimer’s fiancée.
Mortimer Brewster	A drama critic who is engaged to Elaine and cares for his sweet murderous aunts.
Mr. Gibbs	A man who wishes to rent a room from the Brewster sisters.
Jonathan Brewster	A psychopath who has had plastic surgery and now looks like Boris Karloff. Abby and Martha's nephew.
Dr. Einstein (50s)	A plastic surgeon and an alcoholic. Has given Jonathan plastic surgery three times.
Officer O’Hara	A police officer and a would-be playwright who pesters Mortimer to read his play.
Lieutenant Rooney	A tough and dominating police officer.
Mr. Witherspoon	A superintendent of Happy Dale Sanitarium.

Auditions will be held on a first come, first served basis. The show will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays June 13-29.

For more information, contact arsenic@playhouse22.org or call (732)254-3939. Playhouse 22 is located at 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.

'Five Women Wearing the Same Dress' at Playhouse 22

"Five Women Wearing the Same Dress," part of Playhouse 22's "On the Edge" series, opens tonight, March 28.

Set during an overdone wedding reception at the home of the bride, Tracy, in Knoxville, Tennessee, the five bridesmaids have found refuge in Tracy's sister's room. As the play progresses, they realize that, among other things, they have more in common with each other than any of them do with the bride.

The show features Becky Stromberg, Ana Kalet, Ashley Widmer, Kere Koughlin-Presnal, Casey Chartier-Vignapiano, and Dennis Tolentino.
Performances will be at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays March 28-April 6. Tickets cost $15.

To purchase tickets, click here. Playhouse 22 is located at 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.

Casting Call: 'Meet Me in St. Louis'

Yardley Players will hold auditions for "Meet Me in St. Louis" from 12-5 p.m. April 26 and 1-5 p.m. May 4 at Kelsey Theater. Audition appointments are required.

Auditionees will need to bring a headshot, prepare a song as specified below, and prepare for a dance audition, as well as download an audition form here. Rehearsals will be 7-10 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, and 2-6 p.m. Sundays. In addition, they will also be on Tuesdays and Thursdays July 6-17.

Mr. Smith (40+)	A lawyer. Those auditioning for Mr. Smith should prepare either "Wasn't it Fun" (D flat) or "Meet Me in St. Louis" (B flat).
Mrs. Smith (40+)	A loving mother. Those auditioning for Mrs. Smith should prepare either "Wasn't it Fun" (D flat) or "Meet Me in St. Louis" (B flat).
Lon Smith (16+)	A Princeton freshman. Those auditioning for Lon should prepare either "Skip to my Lou" (F-A flat) or "Meet Me in St. Louis" (B flat).
Rose Smith (16+)	Chic daughter. Those auditioning for Rose should prepare either "Skip to My Lou" (F-A flat) or "Meet Me in St. Louis" (B flat).
Esther Smith (16+)	Has a lively personality. Those auditioning for Esther should prepare either "The Boy Next Door" (D flat) or "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (G).
Agnes Smith (12+)	A tomboy. Those auditioning for Agnes should prepare either "Under the Bamboo Tree" (F) or "Skip to my Lou" (F).
Tootie Smith (7+)	Has a bright outspoken personality. Those auditioning for Tootie should prepare either "Under the Bamboo Tree" (F) or "Skip to my Lou" (F).
Grandpa (60+)	Mrs. Smith's father and a Civil War vet. A kindly person. Those auditioning for Grandpa should prepare "Meet Me in St. Louis" (B flat).
Katie (50+)	Irish housemaid and cook. Those auditioning for Katie should prepare either "Touch of the Irish" (F-A flat) or "Meet Me in St. Louis" (B flat).
John Truitt (17+)	Athletic boy next door. Those auditioning for John should prepare either "You Are For Loving" (D flat) or "Meet Me in St. Louis" (B flat).
Warren (17+)	Rose's beau. From a rich family. Those auditioning for Warren should prepare either "Skip to my Lou" (F-A flat) or "Meet Me in St. Louis" (B flat).
Eve (16+)	Lon's date. The actor playing Eve will also do some ensemble singing and dancing. Those auditioning for Eve should prepare either "Meet Me in St. Louis" (F), "Skip to my Lou" (F) or "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (G).
Postman (middle-aged)	Irish. Those auditioning for the postman should prepare either "Meet Me in St. Louis" (F), "Skip to my Lou" (F) or "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (G).
Motorman-Trolley driver	Those auditioning for Motorman should prepare either "Meet Me in St. Louis" (F), "Skip to my Lou" (F) or "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (G).
Various young men (to be played by multiple actors)	Clinton, Peewee, Sidney. Those auditioning for any of those three parts should prepare either "Meet Me in St. Louis" (F), "Skip to my Lou" (F) or "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (G).
Ensemble (All ages 6+)	The ensemble will play trolley passengers, party guests, ballroom couples, and carolers. Those auditioning for the ensemble should prepare either "Meet Me in St. Louis" (F), "Skip to my Lou" (F) or "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (G).

The show will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays from July 18-27. To make an appointment, contact directorkristydavis@gmail.com. Kelsey Theater is located on the Mercer County College Campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

Seeking Actors for 'Her Dream, My Nightmare'

Villagers Theatre is seeking actors for a staged reading of "Her Dream, My Nightmare" by Tiffany L. Wilson.

The production is a light commitment. There is only one performance and minimal rehearsal. The performance is on May 19.

The play takes a look at the lives of two couples and how their situations overlap. Bo and Val live together and get along well.  Val's mother passed and Val promised her mother that she would go back to church. When Val gives Bo an ultimatum, marry her or no sex, Bo decides to move out of their apartment. Bo moves in with his friend and business partner Shelby a successful business owner. She is a Lesbian and her girlfriend Tricia is unhappy about the new arrangement. As the plot thickens, religious values, friendship, loyalties and a massive web of secrets and lies intertwine.

Roles are:

Taylor Goodmen	Devout church member. African-American. She was married to a pastor for 8 years.  She lived in New York with her husband. She is a "super Christian" that is actually extremely tormented by guilt.
Valerie Fiona Bell	African-American. Just got "Saved", just joined the church, and has befriended Taylor. Valerie is a Junior High Math teacher. With no kids, she is full of energy, the good girl. She is a good woman to Bo, but has trouble speaking up for herself.
"Bo" Bowen Jonathan Jones	Valerie's boyfriend: Accountant. African-American. Has 3 kids from a marriage  College Graduate.  He has just getting accounting career off the ground.
Clyde Brewing	Professional comedian. African-American. Bo's best friend from elementary school. Has been a comedian all his life. Started writing jokes to make the bullies laugh when he was younger. Graduated as a biology major top of his class. Was over weight all his live but has recently lost a lot of weight.
Shelby Wallace	Lesbian, African-American. Clyde's best friend from college Owns a gym that she is in the process of franchising the Workout Lounge.  Shelby is intelligent and beautiful.
Patricia "Tricia" Walker	An artist, Shelby's Lesbian girlfriend. African-American. A con artist manipulator that has been abused and misused so much that she uses her beauty to take advantage of others. Actress must be able to be sweet, sexy, and hateful.
Pastor George Fathers	Taylor's husband. African-American. He is loving, compassionate, and smart.
Rose	Comic relief, African-American. Val's next door neighbor. She is married and a friend to Val. Rose brings truth from a different perspective into the story.

If you are interested please send you resume and head shot to newplaywrightseries@yahoo.com.

'Wrong Window' at Villagers Theatre

Villagers Theatre will be presenting "Wrong Window" by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore.

Directed by Eric Walby, the show will be running from March 28 to April 13 at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $16 for seniors and students and $18 for adults and can be bought online. Groups rates are available.

This tongue-in-cheek spoof of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window finds New York couple Marnie and Jeff spying on their neighbor as he appears to murder his wife. Amid a frenzy of slamming doors, missing bodies, confused witnesses and a mad, flashlight lit chase, the mystery of Lila Larswald's murder (or not) is enough to drive a person psycho. Filled with zany antics and red herrings, and peppered (the play, not the herrings) with multiple Hitchcock film references, this comedy-thriller is sure to have you on the edge of your seat with vertigo and mirth.

Casting Call: 'Anything Goes'

Villagers Theatre is to hold auditions for the musical "Anything Goes".

Auditions are at 6 p.m. on March 30 and 7 p.m. on April 1. Callbacks will be at 7 p.m. on April 2. Auditionees must prepare 32 bars of any show tune with sheet music. An accompanist will be provided. Please bring tap shoes and wear clothes comfortable for dancing in.

Launch a quirky boy-meets-girl romance aboard an ocean liner sailing from New York to London in the 1930s and anything goes! This musical comedy, with a stateroom-full of slapstick, tap dancing, and forbidden flirtation, follows lovesick stowaway, Billy Crocker, as he tried to win the heart of engaged heiress, Hope Harcourt. With a little willing assistance from nightclub singer Reno Sweeney and public enemy number 13, Moonface Martin, he just might succeed. Featuring some of musical theatre's most memorable standards, including "I Get A Kick Out of You", "You're the Top", "Friendship" and, lest we forget, "Anything Goes".

For information about the roles, please go to the Villagers website. 

Performances will be June 6 - 22 at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. Please make sure you can make all performances before auditioning. 

The show is produced by Jillian Kimberlin and Phil Seggio, directed by Howard Whitmore, musically directed by Francois Suhr, and choreographed by Jillian Kimberlin.

If you have any questions please email jillian@villagerstheatre.com.

Reno Sweeney – A sexy and charismatic former evangelist turned nightclub singer	Mezzo/Belter	Sexy, brassy, comic timing, great voice, tap a plus	25-35
Hope Harcourt -  A beautiful heiress. Debutante to marry Oakleigh, but in love with Billy	Soprano	Sweet, beautiful ingenue, exceptional voice, moves well	21-25
Bonnie Letour - Moonface’s attractive but not-so-bright girlfriend	Mezzo	Character actress/singer, NYC accent & Dance/Tap	25-40
Mrs. (Evangeline) Wadsworth T. Harcourt - Hope’s overbearing mother, concerned with money and status	Any Vocal Range	Mature actress who sings, no solos	40-50
Chastity - Backup singer in Reno’s act	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, some lines, singing a plus	18 – 25
Purity - Backup singer in Reno’s act	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, some lines, singing a plus	18 – 25
Charity - Backup singer in Reno’s act	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, some lines, singing a plus	18 – 25
Virtue - Backup singer in Reno’s act	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, some lines, singing a plus	18 – 25
4 -8 Female Ensemble – Passengers on ship/other parts as needed	SSAA	Exceptional singers who move well	18 and up
Male Roles	Voice	Dance	Apparent Age Range
Billie Crocker - Elisha’s kind but inefficient manager, in love with Hope, must adopt disguises to avoid being caught	Tenor	Smooth leading man, comedic actor who moves well	25-35
Moonface Martin - A gruff but lovable and goofy second-rate gangster, “Public Enemy Number 13″	Tenor	Excellent comedic actor; singing a plus but must be able to deliver song	30-40
Elisha J. Whitney - Ivy league Wall Street banker, Nearsighted business tycoon and a lush, Billy’s boss	Baritone	Some solo singing, character voice	40 – 55
Sir Evelyn Oakleigh - Nerdy, aristocratic, English, bumbling and engaged to Hope	Baritone	Comedic actor who can carry a song, high British accent	30 – 40
Ching & Ling - Two mischievous Chinese “heathens” who happen to be exceptional cardPlayers; Asian actors preferred	Any Vocal Range	Comic actors who sing, no solos	18-24
Captain - Military man in charge of the SS American	Any Vocal Range	Mature authoritarian, actor who sings	40+
Purser – Nervous lackey to the Captain	Any Vocal Range	Character actor who sings, no solos	18+
4 Sailors – Crew members/may play other parts	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, singing a plus	18+
4 – 8 Male Ensemble – Passengers on ship/other parts as needed	TTBB	Exceptional singers who move well	18+

- See more at: http://www.villagerstheatre.com/auditions-for-anything-goes/#sthash.rNSBudJN.dpuf

Reno Sweeney – A sexy and charismatic former evangelist turned nightclub singer	Mezzo/Belter	Sexy, brassy, comic timing, great voice, tap a plus	25-35
Hope Harcourt -  A beautiful heiress. Debutante to marry Oakleigh, but in love with Billy	Soprano	Sweet, beautiful ingenue, exceptional voice, moves well	21-25
Bonnie Letour - Moonface’s attractive but not-so-bright girlfriend	Mezzo	Character actress/singer, NYC accent & Dance/Tap	25-40
Mrs. (Evangeline) Wadsworth T. Harcourt - Hope’s overbearing mother, concerned with money and status	Any Vocal Range	Mature actress who sings, no solos	40-50
Chastity - Backup singer in Reno’s act	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, some lines, singing a plus	18 – 25
Purity - Backup singer in Reno’s act	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, some lines, singing a plus	18 – 25
Charity - Backup singer in Reno’s act	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, some lines, singing a plus	18 – 25
Virtue - Backup singer in Reno’s act	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, some lines, singing a plus	18 – 25
4 -8 Female Ensemble – Passengers on ship/other parts as needed	SSAA	Exceptional singers who move well	18 and up
Male Roles	Voice	Dance	Apparent Age Range
Billie Crocker - Elisha’s kind but inefficient manager, in love with Hope, must adopt disguises to avoid being caught	Tenor	Smooth leading man, comedic actor who moves well	25-35
Moonface Martin - A gruff but lovable and goofy second-rate gangster, “Public Enemy Number 13″	Tenor	Excellent comedic actor; singing a plus but must be able to deliver song	30-40
Elisha J. Whitney - Ivy league Wall Street banker, Nearsighted business tycoon and a lush, Billy’s boss	Baritone	Some solo singing, character voice	40 – 55
Sir Evelyn Oakleigh - Nerdy, aristocratic, English, bumbling and engaged to Hope	Baritone	Comedic actor who can carry a song, high British accent	30 – 40
Ching & Ling - Two mischievous Chinese “heathens” who happen to be exceptional cardPlayers; Asian actors preferred	Any Vocal Range	Comic actors who sing, no solos	18-24
Captain - Military man in charge of the SS American	Any Vocal Range	Mature authoritarian, actor who sings	40+
Purser – Nervous lackey to the Captain	Any Vocal Range	Character actor who sings, no solos	18+
4 Sailors – Crew members/may play other parts	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, singing a plus	18+
4 – 8 Male Ensemble – Passengers on ship/other parts as needed	TTBB	Exceptional singers who move well	18+

- See more at: http://www.villagerstheatre.com/auditions-for-anything-goes/#sthash.rNSBudJN.dpuf

Reno Sweeney – A sexy and charismatic former evangelist turned nightclub singer	Mezzo/Belter	Sexy, brassy, comic timing, great voice, tap a plus	25-35
Hope Harcourt -  A beautiful heiress. Debutante to marry Oakleigh, but in love with Billy	Soprano	Sweet, beautiful ingenue, exceptional voice, moves well	21-25
Bonnie Letour - Moonface’s attractive but not-so-bright girlfriend	Mezzo	Character actress/singer, NYC accent & Dance/Tap	25-40
Mrs. (Evangeline) Wadsworth T. Harcourt - Hope’s overbearing mother, concerned with money and status	Any Vocal Range	Mature actress who sings, no solos	40-50
Chastity - Backup singer in Reno’s act	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, some lines, singing a plus	18 – 25
Purity - Backup singer in Reno’s act	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, some lines, singing a plus	18 – 25
Charity - Backup singer in Reno’s act	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, some lines, singing a plus	18 – 25
Virtue - Backup singer in Reno’s act	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, some lines, singing a plus	18 – 25
4 -8 Female Ensemble – Passengers on ship/other parts as needed	SSAA	Exceptional singers who move well	18 and up
Male Roles	Voice	Dance	Apparent Age Range
Billie Crocker - Elisha’s kind but inefficient manager, in love with Hope, must adopt disguises to avoid being caught	Tenor	Smooth leading man, comedic actor who moves well	25-35
Moonface Martin - A gruff but lovable and goofy second-rate gangster, “Public Enemy Number 13″	Tenor	Excellent comedic actor; singing a plus but must be able to deliver song	30-40
Elisha J. Whitney - Ivy league Wall Street banker, Nearsighted business tycoon and a lush, Billy’s boss	Baritone	Some solo singing, character voice	40 – 55
Sir Evelyn Oakleigh - Nerdy, aristocratic, English, bumbling and engaged to Hope	Baritone	Comedic actor who can carry a song, high British accent	30 – 40
Ching & Ling - Two mischievous Chinese “heathens” who happen to be exceptional cardPlayers; Asian actors preferred	Any Vocal Range	Comic actors who sing, no solos	18-24
Captain - Military man in charge of the SS American	Any Vocal Range	Mature authoritarian, actor who sings	40+
Purser – Nervous lackey to the Captain	Any Vocal Range	Character actor who sings, no solos	18+
4 Sailors – Crew members/may play other parts	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, singing a plus	18+
4 – 8 Male Ensemble – Passengers on ship/other parts as needed	TTBB	Exceptional singers who move well	18+

- See more at: http://www.villagerstheatre.com/auditions-for-anything-goes/#sthash.rNSBudJN.dpuf

Reno Sweeney – A sexy and charismatic former evangelist turned nightclub singer	Mezzo/Belter	Sexy, brassy, comic timing, great voice, tap a plus	25-35
Hope Harcourt -  A beautiful heiress. Debutante to marry Oakleigh, but in love with Billy	Soprano	Sweet, beautiful ingenue, exceptional voice, moves well	21-25
Bonnie Letour - Moonface’s attractive but not-so-bright girlfriend	Mezzo	Character actress/singer, NYC accent & Dance/Tap	25-40
Mrs. (Evangeline) Wadsworth T. Harcourt - Hope’s overbearing mother, concerned with money and status	Any Vocal Range	Mature actress who sings, no solos	40-50
Chastity - Backup singer in Reno’s act	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, some lines, singing a plus	18 – 25
Purity - Backup singer in Reno’s act	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, some lines, singing a plus	18 – 25
Charity - Backup singer in Reno’s act	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, some lines, singing a plus	18 – 25
Virtue - Backup singer in Reno’s act	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, some lines, singing a plus	18 – 25
4 -8 Female Ensemble – Passengers on ship/other parts as needed	SSAA	Exceptional singers who move well	18 and up
Male Roles	Voice	Dance	Apparent Age Range
Billie Crocker - Elisha’s kind but inefficient manager, in love with Hope, must adopt disguises to avoid being caught	Tenor	Smooth leading man, comedic actor who moves well	25-35
Moonface Martin - A gruff but lovable and goofy second-rate gangster, “Public Enemy Number 13″	Tenor	Excellent comedic actor; singing a plus but must be able to deliver song	30-40
Elisha J. Whitney - Ivy league Wall Street banker, Nearsighted business tycoon and a lush, Billy’s boss	Baritone	Some solo singing, character voice	40 – 55
Sir Evelyn Oakleigh - Nerdy, aristocratic, English, bumbling and engaged to Hope	Baritone	Comedic actor who can carry a song, high British accent	30 – 40
Ching & Ling - Two mischievous Chinese “heathens” who happen to be exceptional cardPlayers; Asian actors preferred	Any Vocal Range	Comic actors who sing, no solos	18-24
Captain - Military man in charge of the SS American	Any Vocal Range	Mature authoritarian, actor who sings	40+
Purser – Nervous lackey to the Captain	Any Vocal Range	Character actor who sings, no solos	18+
4 Sailors – Crew members/may play other parts	Any Vocal Range	Dance, Tap, singing a plus	18+
4 – 8 Male Ensemble – Passengers on ship/other parts as needed	TTBB	Exceptional singers who move well	18+

- See more at: http://www.villagerstheatre.com/auditions-for-anything-goes/#sthash.rNSBudJN.dpuf

Reno Sweeney – A sexy and charismatic former evangelist turned nightclub singer

Mezzo/Belter

Sexy, brassy, comic timing, great voice, tap a plus

25-35

- See more at: http://www.villagerstheatre.com/auditions-for-anything-goes/#sthash.rNSBudJN.dpuf

'Buds' at Villagers Theatre

Continuing the New Playwrights Series, Villagers Theatre will be presenting the new play "Buds", by Mitchell Brodsky.

"Buds" is a dark comedy of two unlikely strangers, an accomplished professional, and a taxi-cab driver entering into an agreement that is intriguing and dangerous.

The show is March 17 at 8 p.m. only. Admission is free and no tickets are necessary.

The show is directed by Brian Remo and starts David Sussman, Morgan Vasquez, Laura Casey and Brian Remo.

'Our Town' at Main Street Theatre

The Sayreville Main Street Theatre Company will be presenting Thornton Wilder's classic drama "Our Town".

The show will run at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays from March 21 to April 5. Tickets are available by walk-ins or  calling  (732) 553-1153.

Directed by Christopher Guell, this iconic story follows the small town of Grover's Corners through three acts: "Daily Life," "Love and Marriage," and "Death and Eternity." Narrated by a stage manager and performed with minimal props and sets, follow the Webb and Gibbs families as their children fall in love, marry, and eventually—in one of the most famous scenes in American theatre—die.

Casting Call: 'Sunset Boulevard'

Plays-in-the-Park will be holding auditions for "Sunset Boulevard".

Auditions are at  7 p.m. April 4 and 12 p.m. April 5 and 6.

Please come prepared to sing an up-tempo song and bring sheet music in the proper key. An accompanist will be provided.  

Callbacks are at 7 p.m. April 7 and 8.

At call-backs you will be taught a dance combination so dress appropriately. You will also be asked to read from the script: sides are posted on the Plays-in-the-park website.

Roles are:

Norma Desmond 50-60	A beautiful but eccentric faded star of the silent screen era. Once the biggest name in Hollywood, she is a recluse in her decaying mansion. A woman of great pride and passion with hopes of a comeback. Must be able to negotiate difficult rhythms and melodies as the show is almost sung-through.
Joe Gillis Early 30’s – 40	A handsome but just past his prime screenwriter whose career is in decline. His playboy looks and manners used to open every door but things have changed. He moves in with Norma Desmond all the while falling in love with young Betty Schaefer; an absolute charmer with a dark side, a good musician with a strong tenor voice.
Max Von Mayerling 55-65	Norma’s devoted butler, protects her from the outside world, a dark and ominous presence in the mansion, he was Norma’s director and first husband, dramatic baritone.
Betty Schaefer 21- 27	A beautiful young aspiring writer with spunk, teams up with Joe on a script and they fall in love, ultimately Joe breaks her heart. Mezzo-soprano.
Cecil B. DeMille 50 -65	The iconic Hollywood film director who discovered Norma Desmond and made her a star, historic figure, baritone.
Artie Green 25-30	Betty’s fiance, a self-described “Jewish Casanova,” a good-hearted guy, baritenor.
Sheldrake 45- 55	A crass studio exec/film producer, also in the ensemble, baritone.
Manfred 35ish	A Beverly Hills men’s clothier, eager to please and a tad effete, also in the ensemble, tenor.
Ensemble 18-40	Six females and seven males, all vocal ranges, all must be strong solo singers and versatile actors, one male and two females must also be movers.

Casting Call: 'Bye, Bye Birdie'

Plays-in-the-Park will be holding auditions for 'Bye, Bye Birdie'.

Child auditions are at 6:30 p.m. on April 3. Adult auditions are on April 4 at 7 p.m. and April 5 and 6 at 12 p.m.

Please come prepared to sing an up-tempo song and bring sheet music in the proper key. An accompanist will be provided. 

Callbacks for Mr. and Mrs. MacAfee and Randolph will be on April 6 at 4 p.m. Secondary characters will be needed from at 7 p.m. on April 11 and 10 a.m. on April 12.

At call-backs you will be taught a dance combination so dress appropriately. You will also be asked to read from the script. Sides are posted on the Plays-in-the-Park website.

Roles are available are:

Albert Peterson 30s - 40s  Baritone	An English teacher who is the president of his family-owned music company. In love with his secretary Rosie - but afraid to admit it. He is neurotic and a devoted momma’s boy. Albert needs to be a triple threat - excellent comic actor, dancer and singer. Tap dancing a plus!
Mr. Harry MacAfee 40s-50s Baritone	Kim and Randolph’s grumpy, over-dramatic father. Comedic character!
Conrad Birdie Late teens/20s Baritone	A teen idol-Elvis-like rock star. Handsome and charismatic, Must dance or move very well.
Hugo Peabody 15-18 Baritone	Kim MacAfee’s dorky, jealous but endearingly innocent boyfriend. Dancing a plus!
Randolph MacAfee 10-12 Tenor	Kim MacAfee’s out-spoken younger brother. Has solo and harmony singing.
Rosie Alvarez 30s-40s Alto	Albert’s take-charge and smart secretary.  She is in love with Albert and has the patience of a saint.  Rosie needs to be a triple threat - excellent actress, dancer and singer.
Kim MacAfee 15-18 Soprano	A quintessential innocent small town girl. A devoted Conrad Birdie fan. Self-possessed. quirky and likeable. Must dance or move very well.
Mrs. Doris MacAfee 40s-50s Mezzo-soprano	She is Kim and Randolph’s bubbly mother and Harry’s supportive wife and calming influence.
Mae Peterson 50s-60s Alto	She is Albert's manipulative, nagging, controlling and stereotypical “mamma.” Must be a strong comedienne.
Charles F. “Maude”  30s-50s	Proprietor/bartender of “Maude’s Roadside Retreat.  A rough-around-the-edges type guy. Will also appear in the adult ensemble when not playing Maude.
Gloria Rasputin 20s-40s	Mae brings her to Albert, hoping she will be chosen over Rosie. A brassy, tacky ex-show girl. Should be able to do cheerleader splits or partial splits. Will also appear in the adult ensemble when not playing Gloria.
Ursula Merkle 15-18	Kim's hyperactive best friend and Conrad Birdie enthusiast.Loud and over-the-top. Must dance or move very well.
Teenagers of Sweet Apple 15-18	Energetic, youthful performers with tons of enthusiasm.  Must dance or move extremely well.  Females must tap dance.  Gymnastics a plus! There are many roles with names, solos and/or speaking parts.
Adults of Sweet Apple Various ages	Different types/looks. There are many roles with names, solos and/or speaking parts including The Mayor, the Mayor’s Wife (Edna) and Mrs. Merkle (Ursula’s Mother).

Casting Call: 'Arsenic and Old Lace'

Playhouse 22 will hold auditions for "Arsenic and Old Lace," a farcical black comedy, at 7 p.m. March 30 and 31. Callbacks will be held on April 1.

The show revolves around the Brewster family, composed primarily of insane homicidal maniacs. The hero, Mortimer Brewster, is a drama critic who must deal with his family and local police in Brooklyn as he debates whether to go through with his recent promise to marry the woman he loves.

Auditions will be held on a first come, first served basis. The show will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays June 13-29.

Abby Brewster (60s)	A darling lady in her sixties who poisons elderly men. Mortimer's aunt.
The Reverend Dr. Harper	A minister. Elaine's father.
Teddy Brewster (40s)	Abby's nephew. Thinks he is Theodore Roosevelt.
Officer Brody	A police officer.
Officer Klein	Also a police officer.
Martha Brewster	A sweet elderly woman with Victorian charm who poisons elderly men. Abby's sister and Teddy and Mortimer's aunt.
Elaine Harper (20s)	Mortimer’s fiancée.
Mortimer Brewster	A drama critic who is engaged to Elaine and cares for his sweet murderous aunts.
Mr. Gibbs	A man who wishes to rent a room from the Brewster sisters.
Jonathan Brewster	A psychopath who has had plastic surgery and now looks like Boris Karloff. Abby and Martha's nephew.
Dr. Einstein (50s)	A plastic surgeon and an alcoholic. Has given Jonathan plastic surgery three times.
Officer O’Hara	A police officer and a would-be playwright who pesters Mortimer to read his play.
Lieutenant Rooney	A tough and dominating police officer.
Mr. Witherspoon	A superintendent of Happy Dale Sanitarium.

For more information, contact arsenic@playhouse22.org or call (732)254-3939. Playhouse 22 is located at 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.

Casting Call: 'Shrek'

Plays-in-the-Park will be holding auditions for 'Shrek.' 

Child auditions will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 3. Adult auditions range from April 4 at 7 p.m. to April 5 and 6 at 12 p.m.

Please arrive prepared to sing an up-tempo song and bring sheet music in the proper key. An accompanist will be provided.  

Callbacks will be at 7 p.m. on April 9 and 10. You will be taught a dance combination so dress appropriately. You will also be asked to read from the script: Sides are available on the Plays-in-the-Park website.

Roles available are:

SHREK 25 A2 - G#4	Our story's title character. A big, green, terrifying ogre who lives alone on a swamp. He embarks on a journey to rid his land of fairytale creatures and, along the way, falls in love with Fiona. Begins as a grumpy hermit, but reveals his layers and eventually becomes the hero.
DONKEY 20 - 35 C3 - B4	A talking donkey who joins Shrek on the run from Farquaad's guards. Quite the chatterbox, he is not deterred by Shrek's looks and practically forces himself into his good graces. Easily frightened and pushy, but also an optimistic with heart. Good comedic timing a must.20-35 yrs old.
LORD FARQUAAD  30 - 45  B2 - D5	The comically short, ruthless ruler of Duloc. He is in search of a princess to marry so that he can become king. Has an intensely unfair bias against fairytale creatures that stems from a resentment of his father. Self-absorbed, lonely, and cruel.Great comedic timing a must. This role requires an actor who is physically able to be staged on his knees for a good portion of the show.
FIONA 25 - 35 F3 - G6	The beautiful princess of Far Far Away, she transforms into an ogre every night when the sun sets. Rescued by Shrek and eventually falls in love with him. Quirky, blunt, and multitalented, she is not an ordinary princess. Tapping required.
YOUNG FIONAS 10 - 20	Two younger versions of Fiona needed. Strong singers required.
DRAGON 25- 45 F3 - Eb5.	A dragon that has been charged with guarding Princess Fiona in her isolated castle. She eventually falls in love with Donkey and attempts to keep him there forever. Imposing and flirtatious, but tired of her job as the glorified baby-sitter. She may double as Shrek’s mother, and a few other female characters.
GINGY 20 - 40 B3 - C#5	A gingerbread man initially kidnapped by Lord Farquaad. Gingy is a Puppet. Can be operated by the actress appearing as Sugar Plum Fairy  His wit and resolution help him both avoid trouble and inspire the rest of the fairytale creatures.
PINOCCHIO 20 - 40 E3 - F#4	The leader of the fairytale creatures. He is an animated puppet whose nose grows every time he lies. Plenty of sass with a penchant for lying.
ENSEMBLE	Large ensemble makes up all of the FAIRYTALE CREATURES (BIG BAD WOLF, THREE LITTLE PIGS, WHITE RABBIT, FAIRY GODMOTHER, PETER PAN, WICKED WITCH, UGLY DUCKLING, THREE BEARS, MAD HATTER, HUMPTY DUMPTY, ELF, DWARF, THREE BLIND MICE); ANGRY MOB; HAPPY PEOPLE; GUARDS; KNIGHTS; RATS.

'Tricky Tray'

Playhouse 22 will hold their second annual "Tricky Tray" fundraiser at East Brunswick High School on May 10. Tickets cost $15.

The admission price includes a sheet of level one tickets, either coffee or tea, and dessert. There will be a basket drawing and 50/50 tickets available there. Prizes include gift certificates to local eateries and show tickets.

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. Calling will begin at 7 p.m.

To purchase tickets, click here. Ticket orders of 10 will be guaranteed a table reservation.

All proceeds go to Playhouse 22’s ticket-price initiative. East Brunswick High School is located at 380 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. Playhouse 22 is located at 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.

'Five Women Wearing the Same Dress' at Playhouse 22

"Five Women Wearing the Same Dress," part of Playhouse 22's "On the Edge" series, opens March 28.

Set during an overdone wedding reception at the home of the bride, Tracy, in Knoxville, Tennessee, the five bridesmaids have found refuge in Tracy's sister's room. As the play progresses, they realize that, among other things, they have more in common with each other than any of them do with the bride.

The show features Becky Stromberg, Ana Kalet, Ashley Widmer, Kere Koughlin-Presnal, Casey Chartier-Vignapiano, and Dennis Tolentino.

The show runs at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays March 28-April 6. Tickets cost $15.

To purchase tickets, click here. Playhouse 22 is located at 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.

'Les Misérables' at Kelsey Theater

Do you hear the people sing?

Soon you will be able to at Kelsey Theater, where "Les Misérables" will open on March 28.

Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, "Les Misérables" takes us on the journey of Jean Valjean, an honest man driven to steal a loaf of bread. It’s an act that has far-reaching consequences, condemning Valjean to hard labor for almost two decades. As he sets about to start a new life, Valjean finds that he cannot keep his past totally at bay. Javert, a police inspector with an unbending sense of justice, continues to track him relentlessly. The characters’ personal sagas are set against the backdrop of revolutionary France as “Les Misérables” compellingly addresses themes of love, freedom, sacrifice, honor and the nature of justice.

The show features Maria Aromando as Madame Thenardier, Abigail Bastian as Young Cosette, Elio Lleo of East Windsor as Javert, James Petro as Marius, Michael Scibilia as Jean Valjean, Tressa McCallister Scibilia as Fantine, Samantha Sharpe as Eponine, Roman Sohor as Monsieur Thenardier, Cat Tierney of Princeton as Cosette, Noah Barson as Jean-Prouvaire, Tom Bessellieu as Brujon, Matthew Dawson as Courfeyrac, Shawn Doremus as Enjolras, Simon Hamilton as Gavroche, Christopher Kamps as Combeferre, William Kamps as Feuilly, Tom Petrino as Claquesous, Robert D. Rodriguez as Babet, Matthew Staley of Hamilton as Grantaire, Karl Weigand as Lesgles, Michael Zweig as Joly; and Jill Bradshaw, Shannon Brueckner, Kim Cupo, Vianna Fagel, Elizabeth Ferrara, Lucy Fisher, Cathryn Hardy, Samantha Kamen, Colby Langweiler, Jaimie McMillin, and Joan Zalot as ensemble.

Performances will be at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays March 28-April 13. Tickets cost $20 each.

To purchase tickets, click here or call Kelsey Theater's box office at (609)570-3333. Kelsey Theater is located at the Mercer County Community College campus on 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

Casting Call: 'Li'l Abner'

M&M Stage Productions of Kelsey Theater will be holding auditions for "Li'l Abner" from 12-5 p.m. May 17 and 18.

As Sadie Hawkins Day approaches, Daisy Mae hopes to win the hand of Li'l Abner by catching him in the traditional race in Dogpatch, USA. A senator tells the residents of Dogpatch that their town is to be used as an atomic bomb testing ground unless they can find something necessary about it. Meanwhile, Earthquake McGoon wants to marry Daisy Mae, who wants to marry Li'l Abner, who wants to fish. Mammy's Yokumberry Tonic must be the answer to everyone's prayers, but General Bullmoose wants the tonic and tries to trap Abner into marrying his attractive but ditzy secretary, Appassionata. Daisy pledges herself to Earthquake in exchange for rescuing Abner from Bullmoose. In the end, Yokumberry Tonic saves the day.

Auditionees will need to sing a song in the style of the show. An accompanist will be provided. They should also bring clothes suitable for dancing, a resumé and a headshot.

Li'l Abner Yokum (Tenor/Baritone)	A beefy, strong, sincere, not not-so-bright stud.
Daisy Mae (Mezzo)	Abner's devoted girlfriend. Innocent, shapely.
Marryin' Sam (Tenor)	Loud and good-natured marriage broker.
Earthquake McGoon (Bass)	Abner's rival for Daisy Mae.
General Bullmoose (Baritone)	An evil "entrepreneur.
Appasionata von Climax	Bullmoose's shapely secretary.
Mammy Yokum	Abner's domineering mother.
Pappy Yokum	Abner's henpecked father.
Stupefyin' Jones	Drop-dead gorgeous. Any male who glimpses her freezes.
Dr. Finsdale (Baritone)
Dr. Smithborn (Baritone)
Dr. Krogmeyer (Baritone)
Dr. Schliefetz (Baritone)
Large chorus of townsfolk

Auditions for the show will be held at the CM building on Mercer County Community College. Appointments are encouraged. To make an appointment, contact auditions@mandmstage.com. M&M Stage Productions' website is mandmstage.com.

Casting Call: 'Defying Gravity'

Circle Players will be holding auditions for Jane Anderson's "Defying Gravity".

Auditions are at 7 p.m. on March 30 and 31. Callbacks are scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 2.

 Sides will be provided at the theater, which is located on 416 Victoria Avenue, Piscataway.

The play, while fiction, is tied to the space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986, in which civilian Christa McAuliffe and the astronauts aboard
the flight were killed.

 Characters are:

Elizabeth  35 - 45	Female, a 5-year-old child
Teacher  45 - 50	Female, Elizabeth's mother
Claude Monet 35 - 55	Male, the famous impressionist painter
Donna 25 - 35	Female, preferably African-American, a bartender
Betty 55 - 65	Married to Ed
Ed  55 - 65	Married to Betty

Performances will be 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, June 13-28, with a 3 p.m. matinee Sunday, June 29. 

For more information, email director Tina Lee at circleplayersnj@gmail.com.

Casting Call: 'Defying Gravity'

Circle Players will hold auditions late this month for “Defying Gravity,” written by Jane Anderson.

The play, while fiction, is tied to the space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986, in which civilian Christa McAuliffe and the astronauts aboard the flight were killed. The play's main characters are "Teacher" (the McAuliffe character) and her daughter Elizabeth. McAuliffe's real daughter was 6 years old when her mother died.

Other characters in the play include Donna, a waitress in a bar frequented by NASA staff and astronauts; and impressionist painter Claude Monet, who watches all the events unfold. (Monet actually died in 1926.)

Auditions will be held at 7 p.m. March 30 and March 31. Callbacks, if needed, will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 2.

Audition sides will be provided. Tina Lee of Somerset is the director, and Lisa Sudfield of Port Reading is the producer.

Circle Players is located at 416 Victoria Ave, Piscataway.

Characters needed are:

Elizabeth	Female, 35-45 years old	Plays a 5-year-old child
Teacher	Female, 45-50 years old	Elizabeth's mother
Claude Monet	Male, 35-55 years old
C.B.	Male, 25-35 years old	Mechanic
Donna	Female, 25-35 years old	A bartender, preferably African-American,
Betty and Ed	55-65 years old	A married couple,

Performances will be 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, June 13-28, with a 3 p.m. matinee Sunday, June 29.

For more information, email director Tina Lee at circleplayersnj@gmail.com.

Seeking Ticket Booth Attendees at Villagers Theatre

Villagers Theatre is seeking new volunteers to be ticket booth attendees on some weekends. 

 

If you want to do this, you may be needed on some Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30 p.m. to about 8:30 p.m., and some Sundays at 12:30 p.m. to about 2:30 p.m. You will also get to pick the work days via the online scheduling tool.

 

You do not need any experience and will be trained by Villagers board member Pam Luckembaugh and starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday March 22. You will use an online tool for selling tickets. A  full job description is available online.

There is no pay for the job.

If you are interested, please email pam@villagerstheatre.com. Please provide your contact info and state if you can attend training on the 22nd or if you'll need a different training date.

'A Man of No Importance' at Edison Valley Playhouse

Alfie has three great passions. One is poetry. Another is the theater, and his amateur troupe who rehearse and perform in the church basement of St. Imelda's Catholic church.

His third, secret, passion is for the driver of the bus, handsome young Robbie. But in 1964 Ireland, Alfie's is a love that dare not speak its name. Alfie's story, the musical "A Man of No Importance" is coming to Edison Valley Playhouse this Friday.

The show will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from March 7-22 and at 2 p.m. March 16. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors.

Based on the 1994 movie of the same name, the musical "A Man of No Importance" tells the story of Alfie Byrne, a middle-aged Dublin bus conductor who lives with his spinster sister and who reads poetry aloud to his enraptured regular passengers on the bus.

An ardent fan of Oscar Wilde, Alfie is determined to stage a version of Salome with the St. Imelda's Players but runs afoul of church authorities for putting on a dirty play. As he fights for the play, Alfie finds his longing for life finally outweighing his fears and repressions, and he takes his stand for art, poetry and love.

For more information, visit Edison Valley Playhouse on Facebook. Edison Valley Playhouse is located at 2196 Oak Tree Road, Edison.

Casting Call: 'The Great American Trailer Park Musical'

Pierrot Productions will hold auditions for "The Great American Trailer Park Musical" at 7 p.m. March 12, 17 and 18 at Kelsey Theater. The show deals with timely and intellectually stimulating topics such as agoraphobia, adultery, '80s nostalgia, spray cheese, roadkill, hysterical pregnancy, a broken electric chair, kleptomania, strippers, flan and disco.
The story is set in present-day Starke, Fla., in the "Armadillo Acres" trailer park, where there are few armadillos and even fewer acres. Here we meet the Greek-chorus-like trio of Betty, Lin, and Pickles, who spend their days sunning themselves and contemplating the great questions facing modern society.

Ever-hospitable, the trio set aside their large sun reflectors to welcome the audience, and introduce us to regular guy Norbert and his agoraphobic wife, Jeannie, whose marriage is threatened by her inability to step outside their trailer. Just another generally dysfunctional day; nothin' new, except for Pippi, a stripper-on-the-lam who teeters in on 5-inch heels.

Actors should prepare an upbeat song from any compatible musical theater work, plus a one- to three-minute comic monologue. The show will run Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from May 16-25.

Betty (45-60, mezzo)	Manager of the trailer park. A backyard philosopher.
Linoleum (30-40, mezzo)	Trailer park resident and wife of a death-row inmate in Florida State Prison.
N. Pickles (18-25, soprano)	A not-too-bright young bride of a mysterious husband. Prone to hysterical pregnancies.
Norbert (38-45, baritone)	Toll collector on the Florida Turnpike. Frustrated husband of Jeannie.
Jeannie (37-47, alto)	An agoraphobic housewife who hasn't left her trailer in 20 years.
Pippi (25-35, mezzo)	A stripper on the run who has worked in clubs throughout the South. The person cast in this role will either need to know how to work on a stripper pole or take company-provided lessons.
Duke (28-38, bari-tenor)	Pippi's psychotic, glue-sniffing boyfriend.

To make an audition appointment, or for more information, contact pierrotatkelsey@gmail.com.

Kelsey Theater is on the Mercer County Community College campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

Exchange lets theaters share their stuff

Need a pay phone for "Julius Caesar?" This is one of the properties available through New Jersey Stage Stuff.

Keep it, or toss it?

That's a dilemma regularly faced by community theater organizations when a show's run comes to an end. The show may have run only for three weeks, but the artist who painted the forest backdrop may have created a thing of lasting beauty. There may be no space to store it, but simply painting over it may feel like an act of sacrilege.

Many theaters have bits of scenery, pieces of furniture or dressing, or properties that are unique, or expensive, or hard to find or build, and that deserve to be used again.

Guy Suabedissen, master carpenter and scenic designer for Villagers Theatre in Somerset, and a member of the NJACT Hall of Fame, has started a new web site: the NJ Stage Stuff Theater Exchange.

The site maintains a catalog of available items, and allows easy requests and offers for materials, The exchange aims to connect the people who have with those who need.

Send information about what you have or need, and it will be posted. Others will peruse the site, contact you and make arrangements to transfer the item. Terms of the transfer, gift, sale, loan or rental, are left to those involved.

'Emma and the Lost Unicorn' at Villagers Theatre

Villagers Theatre will be presenting "Emma and the Lost Unicorn" by Trisha Sugarek.

The show will run from March 8 to March 15, at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturdays and 12 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $10 each and are available online.

Rainey, a unicorn, is really a bewitched prince who has been banished to the Fabled Forest by the warlock, Kodak. The prince can only return home if someone solves more riddles than the warlock and discovers Kodak's secret weakness. A surprise twist ending makes this modern fable appealing to adults and children alike. We see mythical creatures, scary henchmen, a warlock, a Fairy Queen, all living in the enchanted forest. Giggles are provided by Stare, a rhetorical owl and Cheets, a naughty elf.

The show is directed by Jerome John, stage managed by Laura Christine, and produced by Marie Fiorello.

You can get more information at the official Villagers website.

'The Elves and the Shoe Maker' at Main Street Theatre

The Sayreville Main Street Theatre Company will be presenting the classic fairy tale, "The Elves and the Shoemaker".

The show will be performed at 12 and 3 p.m. on March 29 and April 5, and at 3 p.m. on April 6.

Based on the original Brother's Grimm fairy tale, "The Elves and the Shoemaker" tells the story of a poor shoemaker who is helped in the night by some elves. This story will please children and adults alike.

Tickets are $6 per person and are available online.

'Murder is a Game' at Somerset Valley Players

June Ripley (Kim Mackanic) aims a gun and Stephen Leech (Wayne Rossignol) prepares to strangle an oblivious Toby and Sloane Bigelow (Christopher Hall and Reba Holley) in "Murder is a Game" at Somerset Valley Players. (Photo by Steve Goodman.)

"Murder is a Game" opens this weekend at Somerset Valley Players.

Mike Schuller directs a play by Fred Carmichael about a successful, married mystery writing team whose well of inspiration has run dry.

Hoping to inspire them, their publisher sends them for the weekend to an old mansion built for a movie set, and peoples it with hired characters unknown to each other to act out a murder plot. The husband-and-wife duo delight in the game and solve the fake murder, but then there is a real murder ...

Tickets cost $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and students. The show will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays March 7-23.

Somerset Valley Playhouse is located at 689 Amwell Road, Hillsborough.

For more information, call (908) 369-7469.