'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.

'Barefoot in the Park' at Villagers Theatre

Villagers Theatre invites audiences to kick up their heels, relax and go "Barefoot in the Park" this September.

The theatre will launch its new season this September, with Neil Simon's comedy about newlyweds Paul and Corie Bratter. He's a straight-as-an-arrow lawyer, She's a free spirit always looking for the latest kick. After a-six day honeymoon, they get a surprise visit from Corie's mother and decide to play matchmaker during a dinner with their neighbor-in-the-attic Velasco; and inadvertently learn a thing or two about their own relationship in the process.

"Barefoot in the Park" will run Sept. 16-Oct. 2, with the following talents:

DIRECTOR: Matt Lafargue of Dunellen
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

Performances begin at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are available online. Villagers Theatre is located at 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset.

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

Casting Call: 'Titanic'

The sinking of the "Titanic" in the early hours of April 15, 1912, remains the quintessential disaster of the 20th century. A total 1,517 men, women and children lost their lives. That the supposedly unsinkable ship was lost during its maiden voyage is so incredible that, had it not actually happened, no author would dare to contrive it.

The musical "Titanic" examines the causes, the conditions and the characters involved in this ever-fascinating drama. This is the factual story of that ship - of her officers, crew and passengers, to be sure - but she will not, as has happened so many times before, serve as merely the background against which fictional, melodramatic narratives are recounted. The central character of our "Titanic" is the Titanic herself.

PLAYWRIGHT:
Peter Stone

COMPOSER AND LYRICIST:
Maury Yeston

PUBLISHER INFO:
This production of "Titanic" is limited to a cast of 20 people.

PRODUCERS' NAMES:
Darren Nye and David Learn

DIRECTOR'S NAME:
Matthew Muccigrossi

MUSICAL DIRECTOR'S NAME:
Mike Gilch

STAGE MANAGER'S NAME:
Holly Lessing

CHOREOGRAPHER'S NAME:
Genevieve Estanislau

AUDITION DATES:
7-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18
Noon-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20

CALLBACK DATES (IF APPLICABLE):
2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21

REHEARSAL DATE RANGE:
Rehearsals will run Sunday, Sept. 11, through Thursday, Oct. 20. Pre-tech will run Sunday, Oct. 24, through Friday, Oct. 28. Tech will run Sunday, Oct. 30, through senior night, Thursday, Nov. 3.

PRODUCTION DATES:
Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 4-20

MONOLOGUE/READING REQUIREMENTS:
Bring a headshot or recent photo, and a resume. There will not be a dance call. All actors must be at least 18 by the time of auditions, no exceptions.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
Prepare 32 bars of a contemporary musical theatre song in the style of the show, showing range. Please do not sing a selection from the show. Bring sheet music. A piano accompanist will be provided. No a cappella auditions.

CHARACTERS/ROLES/REQUIREMENTS:
***MEN'S PARTS***

THOMAS ANDREWS:
38 - 43. Designer of the Titanic. A very level-headed but passionate man. Leading role, strong vocal and incredible actor needed. Dramatic Bari/Tenor, sings up to G. Accent - Northern Irish/English RP.

FREDERICK BARRETT:
28 - 35. The stoker. Very masculine, handsome, and physically fit. Lyric Bari/Tenor, sings up to G. Accent - English Midlands. Also plays a 1st Class Passenger and 3rd Class Passenger.

HAROLD BRIDE:
18 - 25. The radioman. Slim. A sweet man. Melodic Tenor, sings up to G. Accent - English RP. Also plays a 1st Class Passenger and 3rd Class Passenger.

FREDERICK FLEET:
25 - 35. The lookout. Tall, physically fit actor. Floating Lyric Tenor (hypnotic), sings up to G, but possible High C man. Accent - English RP. Also plays a 1st Class Passenger, 3rd Class Passenger, and Stoker.

CAPTAIN EDWARD SMITH:
55 - 65. Captain of the Titanic. A white-haired man with strong morals, near to retirement. Has a wealth of experience. Character Baritone, commanding voice, sings up to F. Accent - English RP.

BRUCE ISMAY:
47 - 52. The chairman and managing director of the White Star Line. Upper-class ruthless man who stops at nothing to get his own way. Baritone, sings up to G. Accent - English RP.

CHARLES CLARKE:
35 - 40. A man content with his middle-class life and thinks he knows his place, looking forward to his new life in America. Strong actor. Heroic Tenor, sings up to G, but also possible High C man. Accent - English RP. Also plays a 1st Class Passenger.

EDGAR BEANE:
30 - 40. A man content with his middle-class life and thinks he knows his place, looking forward to his new life in America. Strong actor. Character Bass, sings up to D. Accent - General American (Indianapolis). Also plays Joseph Boxhall and a 3rd Class Passenger.

ISIDOR STRAUS:
60 - 65.1st Class Passenger, the highest of social elite. Warm Legit Character Baritone, sings up to F. Accent - General American (New York, Jewish Origin). Also plays Robert Hichens and a 3rd Class Passenger.

JIM FARRELL:
20 - 30. Handsome, romantic lead; a 3rd Class Passenger. Bari/Tenor, sings up to F#. Accent - Northern Irish. Also plays Andrew Latimer, 1st Class Passenger, and Joseph Bell (Chief Engineer).

HENRY ETCHES:
30 - 40. Head Butler on the ship. Strong stage presence. Jaunty Tenor, sings up to G. Accent - English RP. Also plays Herbert Pitman.

WILLIAM MURDOCH:
30 - 40. The first officer on the bridge of the Titanic. Strong actor. Baritone, sings up to F#. Accent - Scottish/English RP.

CHARLES LIGHTOLLER:
30 - 40. Second Officer on board the Titanic. Strong actor. Range up to D, but preferably with Tenor timbre, chorally up to G. Accent - English RP. Also plays a 3rd Class Passenger.

BELLBOY:
18 - early 20s. The youngest worker on board the ship (13 - 16 years old). Must have a very young look and childlike quality. Tenor, solo up to G, but also possible High C man. Accent - English RP. Also plays Wallace Hartley, 3rd Class Passenger and Stoker.

***WOMEN'S ROLES***

ALICE BEANE:
28 - 38. An aspirational young woman who dreams of becoming a 1st Class Passenger. Alto, belts up to E. Accent - General American (Indianapolis). Also plays a 3rd Class Passenger.

CAROLINE NEVILLE:
30 - 40. A woman who dreams of becoming part of the social elite. Strong actor. First Soprano, lyric, chorally up to High C. Accent - English RP. Also plays a 1st Class Passenger and Stewardess.

KATE MCGOWAN:
18 - 25. A feisty and strong girl, 3rd Class Passenger. Celtic Mezzo, solo singing up to F#, chorally up to G. Accent - Northern Irish/English RP. Also plays a 1st Class Passenger.

KATE MURPHEY:
18 - 30. 3rd Class Passenger. Strong actor. Alto/Mezzo, sings up to F#, but also possible High C. Accent - Northern Irish/English RP. Also plays a 1st Class Passenger and Stewardess.

KATE MULLINS:
18 - 30. 3rd Class Passenger. Strong actor. Alto/Mezzo, sings up to F#, but also possible High C. Accent - Northern Irish/English RP. Also plays a 1st Class Passenger and Stewardess.

IDA STRAUS:
60 - 65. Calm and content member of the Upper Class but very down-to-earth and accepts her fate. Contralto, sings up to D (an octave above Middle C). Accent - General American (New York, Jewish Origin). Also plays a 3rd Class Passenger.

LIABILITY/PHOTO RELEASE FORM:
All those auditioning must agree to and sign the Villagers Liability/Photo Release Form found at:
www.villagerstheatre.com/liability-photo-release-form.pdf

FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS - CONTACT:
Darren Nye
darren@villagerstheatre.com
(732) 429-8258

Dragonfly summer camp

Looking for something for your children to do this August? Have you considered theater camp?

Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center will offer a two-week summer theatre camp from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays Aug. 8-19, for children in third through eighth grades. Dragonfly Camp will give participants the opportunity to play theater games, act in improvisational scenes, write plays, film movies, design costumes and sets, and to act in a full production.

Camp costs $500 for two weeks, with extended care available for $50 per week. The camp will be located at Metuchen Reformed Church, 150 Lake Ave., Metuchen.

The program will be planned, taught and supervised by Dragonfly Artistic Director, Catherine LaMoreaux, a certified experienced educator in theatre, English and elementary education.

For more information, visit DragonflyArtsNJ.com, or call (908) 930-3210.

To register, click the Buy Now button below or download the registration form and mail.

'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.

Casting Call: 'And Then There Were None'

The only mystery right now is who will be cast for the show.

Westfield Community Players will hold auditions next month for an upcoming production of "And Then There Were None." Directed by Steve Lemenlle, the show is based on the Agatha Christie novel about 10 strangers who are invited to an island where someone begins killing them one at a time. As the victims pile up, the list of suspects dwindles until the story reaches its surprise conclusion.

Auditions will run from 7-9:30 p.m. July 11, 12 and 14. Characters should be able to speak with an English accent. Sides will be provided. Audition forms are available on the theater's web site.

The theater is located at 1000 North Ave. W., Westfield. Performances are scheduled for Oct. 15, 22, 23, 28 and 29.

The cast of characters:

SIR LAWRENCE WARGRAVE - (male) [stage age: 50's-60's] A recently retired judge. Wargrave is a highly intelligent older man with a commanding personality. As the characters begin to realize that a murderer is hunting them, Wargrave's experience and air of authority make him a natural leader for the group.

VERA CLAYTHORNE - (female) [stage age: 20's-30's] A former governess who comes to the island purportedly to serve as a secretary to their absent hostess, Mrs. Owen. Vera is one of the most intelligent and capable characters in the play, but she also suffers from attacks of hysteria, feels guilty about her supposed crime, and reacts nervously to the uncanny events on the island.

PHILIP LOMBARD - (male) [stage age: 30's-40's] A mysterious, confident, and resourceful man who seems to have been a mercenary soldier in Africa. Lombard is far bolder and more cunning than most of the other characters, traits that allow him to survive. He also has an interest in Vera.

WILLIAM BLORE - (male) [stage age: 30's-40's] A former police inspector. Blore is a man whose experience often inspires others to look to him for advice. He acts boldly and frequently takes initiative, but he also makes frequent blunders.

DR. ARMSTRONG - (male) [stage age: 40's-60's] A gullible, fussy and slightly timid doctor. Armstrong often draws the suspicion of the other guests because of his medical knowledge.

EMILY BRENT - (female) [stage age: 50's-60's] An older, ruthlessly religious spinster who is disagreeable and suspicious.

GENERAL MACKENSIE - (male) [stage age: 60s] The oldest guest. An upright soldierly old man with a gentle and tired face, often gets lost in his thoughts.

TOM ROGERS - (male) [stage age: 40's-50's] A competent manservant who is quick and deft but just a bit shifty.

MRS. ROGERS - (female) [stage age: 40's-50's] Tom Rogers's wife. At first, Ethel is opinionated and seems fine, but underneath Ethel is a frail woman.

ANTHONY MARSTON - (male) [stage age: 20's] A rich, athletic, handsome youth. Tony Marston likes to drive recklessly and seems to lack a conscience.

FRED NARRAGOTT - (male) [stage age: 30's-40's] A delivery person that also provides ferry service to and from the island.