'Filling in the Blanks' at Villagers Theatre

Sometimes the only way to understand people and events is filling in the blanks.

That's the premise of a new play by Khy Garner, debuting Friday at Villagers Theatre in Somerset. The play, which Villagers is presenting as part of its Yellow Brick Road fund-raising drive, will run this weekend only. Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday.

"In 2005 I started journaling about experiences that had shaped me or changed my perspective on certain social issues," Garner explained in a statement about the origins of the show. "There were things that had happened either to me, someone I knew, or someone I loved."

Sometimes they were events Garner had experienced or witnessed firsthand; other times, he had to rely on what other people had told him to understand. Imagining how those moments unfolded can lead to greater understanding and empathy. It's a practice we all engage in, whether consciously or not.

"For example, you have a friend who is quite obnoxious. We all have a friend like this: pushy, loud and overbearing, but you remain friends," Garner stated. "Ever wonder why they act this way? What happened in this friend’s life to cause these imperfections? What’s the story? Sometimes you are forced to fill in the blanks."

"Filling in the Blanks" will be directed by the playwright. Producing is Linda Giordano, with stage manager Jessica Musolino and technical director Paul Carver.

Tickets for "Filling in the Blanks" cost $15 and are available at the door, or on the Villagers web site. The theater is located in the Franklin Township Municipal Complex, at 450 Demott Lane, Somerset.

For more information, call (732) 873-2710.

Circle Players 'Richard III' offers fresh look at villain

PISCATAWAY — King Richard III is one of the most diabolical, deplorable and ruthless villains created by William Shakespeare – or is he?

Audiences can decide for themselves, as Circle Players stages a new production of Shakespeare's historical drama “Richard III,” beginning this weekend. Directed by Jessica Darrow Sherman of Summit, the show promises to give audiences a Richard they can understand and perhaps even feel sorry for, even if in the end they do not like him.

The show has been performed many times, including cinematic adaptations by august actors such as Laurence Olivier in 1955, and Ian McKellan in 1995. But while other productions may focus on Richard's machinations and royal ambitions, Sherman sees the heart of his story primarily in the lives of the women Richard seduces, wrongs and betrays along the way.

“I wanted to streamline that and get down to the man and the relationship he has with the four women,” said Sherman.

Still, given the age of the play – scholars believe Shakespeare wrote “Richard III” in 1591 – connection may seem like a tall order. Much of the play is written in blank verse, and the dialogue contains words that at times may sound unfamiliar to the modern ear.

“The language is the main hurdle,” said Sherman. “It's a hurdle for the audience, and it's a hurdle for the actors. It's a little like walking around in another language.”

But because Shakespeare's language is at least as much of a draw as the stories themselves, don't look for that to change. There are ways to connect with audiences without compromising the writing. This “Richard III” has a contemporary setting, complete with contemporary clothing and accessories. The custom of speech may sound odd to the ear, but the people on stage wouldn't stand out if you met them on the street or in the office.

“I always want to bring my productions that I do of Shakespeare's plays to the present day,” said Sherman. “When you see people walking around and texting one another with their cell phones, you think, 'Yeah, I do that.' I want to take all the walls down so the audience can connect with these characters.”

Academics debate the exact order his plays were written, but generally agree that Shakespeare began with a tetralogy of plays that dramatize the Wars of the Roses, the civil war over the throne of England that ran from 1455-1485. And as she read through the plays about King Henry VI, Sherman — a self-described "Shakespeare nerd" — saw one figure emerging clearly as a key player.

“They all point to Richard III as a play and as a man,” said Sherman. “You're greeted with a very broken politician with a lot of anger.”

This personal interest soon found new fuel that ultimately led to the upcoming production. Tradition long had held that after he died at Bosworth Field, Richard was buried at Greyfriars Friary in Leicester. In September 2012, archaeologists exhumed a skeleton from beneath a parking lot on that site, that seemed like a match for the legendary king. By February, it was official: Archaeologists had found Richard's mortal remains.

“All the sudden, this man who was ruling, fighting and dying in the 1400s was suddenly very real,” said Sherman, who soon began imagining how to stage Shakespeare's play.

The works of William Shakespeare are a regular feature at Circle Players. The past two years have featured a performance of “Romeo and Juliet” in 2014 and a staged reading of “Macbeth” in 2015. Sherman herself has directed productions there of “As You Like It” in 2011 and “Hamlet” in 2012.

Performances of “Richard III” will take place at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 3 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 23-Oct. 9. Performances are Sept. 23 and 24, and Oct. 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9.  Audience members are invited to join the cast in a wine-and-cheese reception in the theater lobby following the opening night performance. Additionally there will be a special talkback with the cast following the Oct. 2 performance.

Circle Players is located at 416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway. Due to the unique layout of this theater-in-the-round, latecomers cannot be seated after the performance has started. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the show opens.

For reservations, call (732) 968-7555, or buy tickets online at www.circleplayers.org. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $17 for students and seniors. Credit cards may not be used at the box office, but will be accepted online.

“Richard III” is produced by Ed Faver of Roselle. The stage manager is Jennifer Robinson of Branchburg.

Appearing in the cast are:

Nils Swanson of North Brunswick as Richard III,
Tess Ammerman of Montclair as Anne,
J.D. Robinson of Branchburg as Clarence, Ratcliff and Brakenbury,
Alicia Harabin of Somerville as Elizabeth,
Steven Mennella of Dunellen as Rivers and the Lord Mayor,
Heidi Carter Hart of Maplewood as Margaret,
David Learn of New Brunswick as Catesby,
Erik Hall of Piscataway as Edward and Richmond,
Donne Petito of Hopewell as Cecily,
Ed Faver of Roselle as Hastings, Ely and Tyrell,
John P. Dowgin of Spotswood as Buckingham,
Ruth Learn of New Brunswick as Young Richard, and
Jacob Hall of Piscataway as Young Edward.

Villagers Theatre explores the conflict in Neil Simon comedy

If you've ever got into a yelling match with your partner, Villagers Theatre is bringing a show to its mainstage this weekend that you should be able to relate to.

“Barefoot in the Park,” a comedy written by audience favorite Neil Simon, will play weekends through Oct. 2. The show joins a pair of polar-opposite newlyweds directly after their honeymoon as they decide to play matchmaker for the bride's mother, and discover things about themselves and their own relationship that they hadn't known before. And therein lies the show's broad appeal.

“Simon is popular because his stuff is relatable and funny,” said director Matt Lafargue. “To me, 'Barefoot in the Park' is a lot more relevant and a lot more poignant than it may appear.”

The key is that both drama and comedy have their roots in conflict; and as is true of Simon's other works, the story of “Barefoot in the Park” is one rife with potential for conflict. Paul Bratter, the male lead, is a straitlaced lawyer who plays by the book. His wife, Corie, is a free spirit who pays far less attention to the rulebook than she does to what she enjoys. The combination makes a perfect storm for comedy or for bickering and relationship counseling, as any married couple will attest.

In the Villagers Theatre production that Lafargue is directing, expect both laughter and raw emotion.

“This is not going to be just a cute comedy. The scenes that are intense are going to be intense,” said Lafargue, a resident of Dunellen. “We really are trying to get the heart of the show. We're not tracking it as a light evening of comedy. We're working at making these real, 3-D people.”

The characters in “Barefoot in the Park” engage in Neil Simon's trademark repartee, but the relationship conflict that connects with audiences also gets to the heart of larger themes that Lafargue expects will resonate far beyond a night at the theater. Conflict ends not just when we discover our common humanity, but when we discover how one another's differences enrich us all.

“The central message of 'Barefoot in the Park' is taking the time to get to know people who are different from you,” said Lafargue. “Not only can you connect on what you have in common, but you can connect on what's different.”

First performed on Broadway in 1963, "Barefoot in the Park" closed nearly four years later, in 1967, making it Simon's longest-running show. It was adapted into a movie in 1967 starring Paul Newman and Jane Fonda.

The first show in the Villagers Theatre 2016-17 season, “Barefoot in the Park” runs Sept. 16-Oct. 2, with performances at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are available online, at VillagersTheatre.com.

A nonprofit community theatre located at 475 Demott Lane, Somerset, Villagers Theatre has been providing area theatre-goers with a Broadway experience for the cost of a movie ticket since 1960. Upcoming shows this season include the musical “Titanic”; the Civil Rights drama “Mountaintop,” about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; the comedy musical “Altar Boyz”; and children's shows “A Christmas Cinderella” and “Schoolhouse Rock Live Jr.”

Programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council of the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and administered by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission through the State/County Partnership Local Arts Program.

For more information, call Villagers Theatre at (732) 873-2710.





“Barefoot in the Park” features the following actors:


CORIE BRATTER: Kristin Sarboukh of South Bound Brook
PAUL BRATTER: Bryan Siegel of East Brunswick
MRS. BANKS: Debbie Badal of Morristown
VICTOR VELASCO: Richard Butler of Piscataway
HARRY PEPPER: Rupert Ravens of North Brunswick
DELIVERY MAN: Casey Okamoto of Somerset

'Richard III' at Circle Players

King Richard III is the most memorable villain created by William Shakespeare. Or is he?

In a bold new adaptation of "Richard III" opening this month at Circle Players, the story unfolds of an unlikely king, battling his conscience while he schemes, murders, and seduces his way to the throne.

Performances will take place at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 3 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 23-Oct. 9. Performances are Sept. 23 and 24, and Oct. 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9.  A special talkback will be held following the Oct. 2 performance.

The play is directed by Jessica Damrow Sherman of Summit , and produced by Ed Faver of Roselle.  The stage manager for this production is Jennifer Robinson of Branchburg.

Appearing in the cast are
Nils Swanson of North Brunswick as Richard III,
Tess Ammerman of Montclair as Anne,
J.D. Robinson of Branchburg as Clarence, Ratcliff and Brakenbury,
Alicia Harabin of Somerville as Elizabeth,
Steven Mennella of Dunellen as Rivers and the Lord Mayor,
Heidi Carter Hart of Maplewood as Margaret,
David Learn of New Brunswick as Catesby,
Erik Hall of Piscataway as Edward and Richmond,
Donne Petito of Hopewell as Cecily,
Ed Faver of Roselle as Hastings, Ely and Tyrell,
John P. Dowgin of Spotswood as Buckingham,
Ruth Learn of New Brunswick as Young Richard, and
Jacob Hall of Piscataway as Young Edward.

Audience members are invited to join the cast in a wine-and-cheese reception in the theater lobby following the opening night performance.

Circle Players is located at 416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway. Due to the unique layout of this theater-in-the-round, latecomers cannot be seated after the performance has started. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the show opens.

For reservations, call (732) 968-7555, or buy tickets online at  www.circleplayers.org. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $17 for students and seniors. Credit cards may not be used at the box office, but will be accepted online.

'Sleeping Beauty' at Somerset Valley Players

It's time to wake up from the sleepy days of midsummer, and get to the theater.

Somerset Valley Players will stage its production of "Sleeping Beauty" this weekend. Directed by Holly Kowalenko from a script by Blanche Marvin, this show gives the familiar fairy tale an unexpected treatment. A shy and absent-minded prince is browbeaten into marrying Sleeping Beauty, who is 100 years his senior. The children in the audience lend him a hand, while good and bad fairies deal with the politics of the day and the gossips of the court vie with each other telling scandal.

The show runs from July 15 through July 31, with performances at 8 p.m. Fridays, and at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $10 for everyone else.

Somerset Valley Playhouse is located at 689 Amwell Road, Hillsborough. For more information, call the theater at (908) 369-7469.

Final weekend: 'Incorruptible' at Circle Players

It won't take a miracle to save on "Incorruptible"  this weekend at Circle Players.

As the show enters its final weekend, the theater is offering $2 off the cost of regular adult admission for Friday night only. Patrons who use the code BONES can get a ticket for $16. The discount is available at both the box office and online, but patrons must enter the code. The discount is not available for Satutrday or Sunday performances.

Written by Michael Hollinger, “Incorruptible” is a farce set in Priseaux, France, circa 1250 C.E. Saint Foy, patron of the local monastery, hasn’t worked a miracle in thirteen years. All eyes turn to the pope, whose promised visit surely will draw other pilgrims — until a rival church claims to possess the relics of Saint Foy — and those bones are working miracles. All seems lost until the destitute monks take a lesson from a larcenous one-eyed minstrel, who teaches them an outrageous new way to pay old debts.

Performances will begin at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 3 p.m. Sunday. The play is directed by Eric Walby of Hopewell, and produced by Elyse Halloran of Somerset.  The stage manager is Laura Zahorbenski of Somerset.

The theater is located at 416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway. Due to the layout of this theater-in-the-round, latecomers cannot be seated once the performance has started. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before curtain.

For reservations, call (732) 968-7555, or buy tickets online at www.circleplayers.org. Credit cards may not be used at the box office, but will be accepted online.

'Incorruptible' at Circle Players

It's the Dark Ages all over again, as Circle Players presents "Incorruptible," the final show of its season, this weekend.

Written by Michael Hollinger, “Incorruptible” is a farce set in Priseaux, France, circa 1250 C.E. Saint Foy, patron of the local monastery, hasn’t worked a miracle in thirteen years. All eyes turn to the pope, whose promised visit surely will draw other pilgrims — until a rival church claims to possess the relics of Saint Foy — and those bones are working miracles. All seems lost until the destitute monks take a lesson from a larcenous one-eyed minstrel, who teaches them an outrageous new way to pay old debts.

Performances will begin at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, June 10-24, and at 3 p.m. June 26. The play is directed by Eric Walby of Hopewell, and produced by Elyse Halloran of Somerset.  The stage manager is Laura Zahorbenski of Somerset.

Audiences are invited to join in a special wine and cheese reception in the theater lobby following the opening night performance.

Appearing in the cast are: Jim Clancy of Basking Ridge as Charles; Mike Wurzel of Little Silver as Martin; David Learn of New Brunswick as Olf; Aaron Ratzan of East Brunswick as Felix; Elizabeth Mahon of Aberdeen as Peasant Woman; Nils Swanson of North Brunswick as Jack; Casey Chartier of Highland Park as Marie ; and Jean Habrukowich of Somerset as Agatha.

The theater is located at 416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway. Due to the layout of this theater-in-the-round, latecomers cannot be seated once the performance has started. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before curtain.

For reservations, call (732) 968-7555, or buy tickets online at www.circleplayers.org. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $17 for students and seniors. Credit cards may not be used at the box office, but will be accepted online.

'Young Frankenstein' at Villagers Theatre

Villagers Theatre is bringing "Young Frankenstein" to life on its mainstage this weekend as it stages an adaptation of Mel Brooks’ famous monster comedy.

Grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania. With the help of a hunchbacked side-kick, Igor; and a leggy lab assistant, Inga; Frederick finds himself in the mad scientist shoes of his ancestors. “It’s alive!” he exclaims as he brings to life a creature to rival his grandfather’s. Eventually, of course, the monster escapes.

Directed by Nick Wainwright, the show opens Friday evening, with performances at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays, June 10-26. Tickets cost $20 for adults, and $18 for seniors or students; and are available online. Villagers Theatre is located at 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset.

For more information, call the theater at (732) 873-2710. .

'Veronica's Room' at Westfield Community Players

Westfield Community Players' production of "Veronica's Room," a chilling mystery thriller by "Rosemary's Baby" author Ira Levin, will open this May.

Students Susan and Larry find themselves as guests at the Brabissant mansion, enticed there by its dissolute caretakers, the lonely Mackeys. Struck by Susan's strong resemblance to Veronica Brabissant, the long-dead daughter of the family for whom they work, the Mackeys persuade her to briefly impersonate Veronica to solace the only living Brabissant, her addled sister who believes Veronica alive. Once dressed in Veronica's clothes, Susan finds herself locked in the role and locked in Veronica's room. Or is she Veronica, in 1935, pretending to be an imaginary Susan?

The show opens at 8 p.m. May 7 and runs at the same time May 13, 14 and 21 and at 2 p.m. May 22. The show features Janice Lynn, Victor Gallo, Kelly Kline, and Ross Pohling. It is directed by Brian Remo and produced by Jessica Foerst.

Tickets cost $20 per adult and $10 per student or military personnel.

To purchase tickets, call (908)232-1221 or click here. Westfield Community Players is located at 1000 North Avenue West, Westfield.

'Time After Time' at Mystic Vision Players

Mystic Vision Players will hold a one-night special event, "Time After Time," featuring talented community theatre artists, o raise money for two of their scholarship programs: The Rose Scholarship, given to students with vested interest in the arts graduating from Linden High School; and the Reach for the Stars Scholarship, which provides full or partial aid for children aged eight to fourteen interested in attending their Children's Summer Theatre Workshop.

This installment of their successful cabaret series will include selections from classic and contemporary musicals such as "West Side Story," "In the Heights," "Dreamgirls" and "Ragtime," preceded by dinner, at the Amici III Fine Italian Ristorante.

The event will feature Nikki Ashe, Brandon Arias, Ericaa Boyea, Alicia Cordero, Chrissy Danelson, Daisha Davis, Ali Gleason, David Maglione, Michael Miguel, Patsy Palma, Francois Suhr, Claudio Venancio, Madison Washer, Kyrus Keenan Westcott and Howard Whitmore.

The evening begins with appetizers at 7 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 and the performance at 8 p.m. on April 8. There will be coffee and desserts at intermission and a cash/credit bar. Tickets for the event cost $35 a person and cover the price of admission, appetizers, dinner, dessert and soda.

To purchase tickets, click here. Amici III Fine Italian Ristorante is located at 1700 West Elizabeth Avenue, Linden.

'Bill W. and Dr. Bob' at Circle Players

Circle Players will present the critically acclaimed "Bill W. and Dr. Bob," based on the true story of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, this April.

When the stock market crashes in 1929, Bill W. becomes a hopeless drunk, and his wife, Lois, is unable to force him to keep his promise to stop. Meanwhile, Dr. Bob Smith, a surgeon, drinks secretly, often going into the operating room hungover and high on sedatives. Through an astonishing series of events involving doctors, ministers, the Oxford Group evangelical movement, and Henrietta Sieberling – a scion of the Goodyear Rubber fortune – Bill and Bob meet on Mother’s Day of 1935 and form a relationship which keeps each other sober. Fired up, they seek out a third drunk to see if their program will work for others.

The show features Kirk White as Bill W., AJ Liana as Dr. Bob, Debbie Miller Nelson as Bill's wife Lois, Dawn Lanoue as Bob's wife Anne, and Stephen Mennella and Diane Teichman as members of the ensemble. It is directed by Ed Faver.

The show will run at 8 p.m. April 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23 and at 3 p.m. April 24. Tickets cost $18 per adult and $17 per student or senior.

To purchase tickets, click here. Circle Players is located at 416 Victoria Avenue, Piscataway.

'Picnic' at Villagers Theatre

Although it may open on April Fool's Day, Villagers Theatre's production of "Picnic," by William Inge, is serious.

The play takes place on Labor Day weekend in 1953, in the joint backyards of two middle-aged widows who live on farms in Kansas. The one house belongs to Flo Owens, who lives there with her two maturing daughters, Madge and Millie, and a boarder who is a spinster school teacher. The other house belongs to Helen Potts, who lives with her elderly and invalid mother. Into this female atmosphere comes a young man named Hal Carter, whose animal vitality seriously upsets the entire group. Hal is a most interesting character, a child of parents who ignored him, self-conscious of his failings and his position behind the eight ball. Flo is sensitively wary of temptations for her daughters. Madge, bored with being only a beauty, sacrifices her chances for a wealthy marriage for the excitement Hal promises. Her sister, Millie, finds her balance for the first time through the stranger's brief attention. And the spinster is stirred to make an issue out of the dangling courtship that has brightened her life in a dreary, minor way.

Directed by Eric Walby, the play features Mary O'Connor as Helen Potts, J.D. Wilson as Hal Carter, Madelyn Barkocy as Millie Owens, Corinne Chandler as Madge Owens, Teresa Mota as Flo Owens, Donne Petito as Rosemary Sydney, Zachary Caruso as Alan Seymour, Terrie Copeland as Irma Kronkite, Heidi Hart as Christine Schoenwalder, Matthew Cox as Bomber Gutzel, and Charles Deitz as Howard Bevans. It is produced by Darren Nye and Paul Carter.

Tickets cost $18 per adult and $16 per student or senior, with group rates available upon request. The show will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays April 1-17.

 To purchase tickets, click here. Villagers Theatre is located at 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset.

'Lost in Yonkers' at Playhouse 22

Playhouse 22's production of Neil Simon's "Lost in Yonkers," set in 1942, will open April 1.

As the play opens, ne’r do-well son Eddie deposits his two young sons on his mother, Grandma Kurnitz’s, doorstep. He is financially strapped and taking to the road as a salesman. The boys are left to contend with Grandma, with their aunt Bella and her secret romance, and with Louie, her brother, a small-time hoodlum in a strange new world called Yonkers.

The show features Joseph Kalet as Jay, Ryan Gordon as Arty, Lee Grabelsky as Eddie, Ana Kalet as Bella, Sherry Lilenfeld as Grandma Kurnitz, Rupert Ravens as Louis, and Jackie Master as Gert. It is directed by Deborah Pedretti.

The show will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays April 1-17. Tickets cost $22 per adult and $20 per senior or student.

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

'Wendy's Shadow' at Mystic Vision Players

Mystic Vision Players will present "Wendy's Shadow," which retells the mischievous and magical adventure of Peter Pan from Wendy's adult perspective with a contemporary folk/rock score. The musical takes the audience back to Neverland – where dreams are born, and time is never planned – and asks if it’s possible to leave the one you loved.

The show will run at 8 p.m. March 24-26 and at 2 p.m. March 26; tickets cost $22.50. It is directed by Mikaela Kafka.

To purchase tickets, click here. For more information, fill out the contact form here. The performance will be at UCPAC'S Hamilton Stage on 360 Hamilton Street, Rahway.

'Becket' at Holmdel Theatre Company

The Holmdel Theatre Company's production of "Becket," the story of the tragic relationship between King Henry II of England and the introspective intellectual Thomas Becket, who had been his dearest friend but became his implacable enemy when intrigue raised him to the hierarchy of the church, will open in a month. The play, often listed as one of the top 100 plays of all time, won four Tony awards when it was on Broadway in 1960, including Best Play.

The show features Victor Brescia as Thomas Becket, Anthony Younes as Henry II, Gustavo Brito, Tom Cox, Tom Frascatore, Jessica Freeland, Peter Giovine, Cavan Lynch, Bill Normyle, Candy Predham, Brett Sabo, Mike Sockol, Conor Urbealis, Cassandra Wescott, and Michael Wurzel; it is directed by Steve Bartlow.

The show will run at 8 p.m. April 15, 16, 22 and 23 and at 2 p.m. April 17 and 24. The April 17 performance will include a talkback with the cast and director. Tickets cost $22 per adult, $17 per senior and $12 per student. All online orders have a $3 processing fee; all door orders have a $1 facility fee.

To purchase tickets, click here. The Holmdel Theatre Company is located at the Duncan Smith Theatre on 36 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel.

'Tenali Raman: Folk Tales of India' at Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center

Dragonfly will perform their original show, "Tenali Raman: Folk Tales of India," at the Center of Contemporary Art April 3. Based on a real-life Indian poet and the folk tales that grew up around him, the show was written by Dragonfly’s artistic director Catherine LaMoreaux and choreographed by Dragonfly company member Shauni Ramai.

Tenali Raman was the jester-poet in the court of Krishnadevaraya, the Vijayanagara emperor in 16th-century India. Despite having no formal education, Tenali Raman used his brilliance and great wit to work his way into the emperor’s court. Dragonfly brings Tenali Raman to life through stories of his adventures and tricks. With music, dance, and comedy, these folk tales are delightful for both those who know the Tenali Raman stories and those new to his tale.

The show features Shauni Ramai, Anna Paone, Shailendra Khurana and Kush Mathur. Tickets cost $10 per adult and $5 per child.

To purchase tickets, click here and scroll. The Center for Contemporary Art is located at 2020 Burnt Mills Road, Bedminster.

'Wendy's Shadow' at Mystic Vision Players

Mystic Vision Players will present "Wendy's Shadow," which retells the mischievous and magical adventure of Peter Pan from Wendy's adult perspective with a contemporary folk/rock score. The musical takes the audience back to Neverland – where dreams are born, and time is never planned – and asks if it’s possible to leave the one you loved.

The show will run at 8 p.m. March 24-26 and at 2 p.m. March 26; tickets cost $22.50. It is directed by Mikaela Kafka.

To purchase tickets, click here. For more information, fill out the contact form here. The performance will be at UCPAC'S Hamilton Stage on 360 Hamilton Street, Rahway.

'Dear Edwina Jr.'

Villagers Theatre's production of the musical "Dear Edwina Jr." opens tomorrow.

Thirteen year-old Edwina Spoonapple is desperate to be a part of the Kalamazoo Advice-a-palooza Festival and prove herself the equal of her talented siblings. When a talent scout from the convention visits her hometown, she introduces her musical advice giving shows live from the family garage in hopes of finding her place in the spotlight. She is helped by her older siblings, quirky friends, and neighbors. Together they set out to tackle the world's problems with hysterical numbers about everything from birthday party etiquette to the proper table settings.

The show features Jessica Kimberlin as Edwina Spoonapple, Brandon Luckenbaugh as Scott, Sierra Emery as Becky, Gina Maille as Kelli, Abigail Semsel as Lars, Abigail Pollard as Billy, Maddie Myre as Cordell, Naomi Taylor as Annie, Kevin Luck as Bobby, Melodie Richard as Katie Spoonapple; and Sophia Bulbulia, Lexi Thomas, Ruth Learn, Carmela Beitler, Rayna Richard, Jillian Huston, Felicity Howard, Samantha Biondi, Chloe Garcia, Grace LaMantia, Deanna Miller, and Sarah Stefanik as members of the ensemble. It is directed by Devin Massih.

The show runs at noon and 2 p.m. Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays March 12-20. Tickets cost $10 each.

To purchase tickets, click here. Villagers Theatre is located at 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset.

'Lost in Yonkers' at Playhouse 22

Playhouse 22's production of Neil Simon's "Lost in Yonkers," set in 1942, will open April 1.

As the play opens, ne’r do-well son Eddie deposits his two young sons on his mother, Grandma Kurnitz’s, doorstep. He is financially strapped and taking to the road as a salesman. The boys are left to contend with Grandma, with their aunt Bella and her secret romance, and with Louie, her brother, a small-time hoodlum in a strange new world called Yonkers.

The show features Joseph Kalet as Jay, Ryan Gordon as Arty, Lee Grabelsky as Eddie, Ana Kalet as Bella, Sherry Lilenfeld as Grandma Kurnitz, Rupert Ravens as Louis, and Jackie Master as Gert. It is directed by Deborah Pedretti.

The show will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays April 1-17. Tickets cost $22 per adult and $20 per senior or student.

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

'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson' at Edison Valley Playhouse

With a raucous blend of outrageous comedy, anarchic theatricality and an infectious rock score, this wildly entertaining musical tells how A.J. kicked British butt, shafted the Indians and smacked down the Spaniards all in the name of these United States--who cares if he didn't have permission?

"Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" will open at Edison Valley Playhouse March 18.

The show follows America's seventh president from his early days as a child on the wild frontier to his controversial reign in the White House. With the country divided into rich and poor (and with continued skirmishes with the Native Americans upsetting pieces of the new world), Jackson begins his steady climb from military strategist to populist rabble-rouser to President of the United States. Along the way, he meets his wife, Rachel, takes on the Founding Fathers, and rocks like no political figure has ever rocked before!

The show will run at 8 p.m. March 8, 19 and 25 and April 1 and 2; at midnight March 26; and at 2 p.m. March 20. It is written by Michael Friedman and Alex Timbers, and directed by Alan Van Antwerp. Tickets cost $20 per adult and $15 per senior, student or military personnel.

To reserve tickets for pickup and payment right before the show, call (908)755-4654 and leave a message stating name, which show you wish to attend, number of tickets needed and your phone number; there will not be a return call unless there is a problem with the reservation. To reserve and pay for tickets online, click here.

Edison Valley Playhouse is located at 2196 Oak Tree Road, Edison.