Welcome to our Online Newsletter and Virtual Bulletin Board!

Question or Suggestion? Contact cslevin59 (at) gmail.org.

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Love Live Theater? Check out Family Day Festival in New Brunswick on Monday as well as NJ Stages Festival in March

12th Annual State Theatre New Jersey Family Day on Presidents Day

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NEW JERSEY FAMILY DAY

WHEN: Monday, February 19, 2018, featuring Mr. Popper’s Penguins at 10am, 12:30pm, and 3pm.
WHERE: State Theatre NJ, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick; The Heldrich Hotel, Mason Gross School of the Arts, and the United Methodist Church
TICKETS: $25-$35.
For tickets or more information, call State Theatre New Jersey Guest Services at 732-246-SHOW (7469), or visit us online at STNJ.org. State Theatre New Jersey Guest Services, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 6pm; Saturday from 1pm-5pm; and at least three hours prior to curtain on performance dates unless otherwise specified. For information on group outings and discounts, call 732-247-7200, ext. 536. Some additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.
Family Day is supported by The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey.

The show follows painter and decorator Mr. Popper, who spends his time dreaming of Antarctic adventures. One day a packing crate arrives on his doorstep and a penguin waddles out. With original songs and performing penguin puppets, this musical adaptation of Richard and Florence Atwater’s popular book is suitable for all ages.

Presidents Day is Family Day at the State Theatre

Families can spend the school-day holiday enjoying dozens of performances, workshops, and hands-on activities—many of them free—plus costumed characters, face painting, balloon animals, sing-a-longs, a photo booth, coloring station, food, and more. The festival, which runs from 10am to 3:30pm, features multiple venues.

“Spending quality time together as a family helps build strong, healthy relationships and that’s why The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey is excited to support this year’s Family Day,” said Executive Director Jonathan Pearson of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. “We’re very happy to again team up with the State Theatre New Jersey to help improve the quality of life for families throughout the state. On behalf of everyone at Horizon, we hope all of the children and families have fun and make memories to last a lifetime.”

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The featured Family Day events include performances of Mr. Popper’s Penguins at 10am, 12:30pm, and 3pm at State Theatre New Jersey. Additionally, there will be free performances in the United Methodist Church, including performances by the Joanie Leeds (10:45am, 11:45am) and one-man band KB Whirly (1pm, 2pm).

A variety of hands-on workshops take place throughout the day, including “Hand-in-Hand” for ages 3-4 (10am), a Beginning Ballet workshop for ages 6-8 (12pm), and a Jazz/Theater Dance workshop for ages 9 and up (2pm), led by American Repertory Ballet; three theater workshops led by coLAB Arts including “Fables in Performance” for ages 3-5 (11am), “Penguin Journey” for ages 3-5 (1pm), and “Intro to Improv and Theater Games” for ages 9 and up (2:30pm); and this year we welcome the Garden of Healing Yoga and Wellness Center leading “Yoga Mad Libs” (10:30am, 12:30pm), “Zumbini” for ages 0-4 (11:30am), and “Kids Zumba” for ages 7-11 (1:30pm). Additionally, FREE arts and crafts activities, will be available from 10am-3:30pm at Mason Gross School of the Arts Bloustein building and on Livingston Avenue there will be FREE Ice Sculpting Demonstrations as 11:15am and 1:45pm. No registration is required for the workshops: first come, first served.

State Theatre New Jersey’s Family Day is supported by The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. State Theatre New Jersey’s Family Series is sponsored by Investor’s Bank. The Family Day Media Sponsor is Magic 98.3.

State Theatre New Jersey—creating extraordinary experiences through the power of live performance. The theater exists to enrich people’s lives, contribute to a vital urban environment, and build future audiences by presenting the finest performing artists and entertainers and fostering lifetime appreciation for the performing arts through education. State Theatre New Jersey’s programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. The Heldrich is the official hotel of State Theatre New Jersey. The Star-Ledger is the official newspaper of State Theatre New Jersey. United is the official airline of State Theatre New Jersey.

Thanks to Ruth Ross www.njartsmaven.com for this information.



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THE 2018 STAGE FESTIVAL INTERACTIVE CALENDAR IS UP AND RUNNING!Visit stagesfestival.org to search 90+ performances, readings, workshops, camp samplers, and special theatre events all over New Jersey throughout the month of March. 85% of them are FREE, and the rest run from $2 to $20.

Every March, The Stages Festival offers free and discounted performances, workshops, play readings, and behind-the-scenes events for all ages. Make sure you're the first to learn about Stages Festival events by signing up for our mailing list. The Stages Festival is in its 21st year of bringing free and low-cost theatre to comunities across New Jersey.

Events are presented by professional Equity theatres; some take place at their theatres, and some take place in libraries, community centers, performing arts houses, senior centers and more.

Bring your family and your friends, to experience the quality, inspiration and richness that New Jersey's professional theatres have to offer. Find a Stages event near you.



Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Thanks to everyone who came to my Retirement Party, Caldecott & Newbery Winners Announced, Meet “Peter Pan” “Thomas Jefferson” & “Cinderella” plus indoor play spaces for cold days.

I want to thank everyone who came to my retirement party on Sunday 2/11/18. It was so gratifying to be able to see people and say goodbye. I tried to send “thank you’s” individually but realized I didn’t have emails, addresses or phone numbers for Benjamin & Annika and Billy’s families. Please contact me at cslevin59 (at) gmail.com and know your cards, gifts, flowers, bookmarks, and (last but definitely not least!) kind words were so appreciated! 



2018 Caldecott winner and honor books2018 Newbery Award Winner and Honor Books

Caldecott & Newbery Winners were announced this week -- Read more: http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal
http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal


Upcoming activities:

Hulafrog | Local things for kids to do.
Hula Hot List: Indoor Play Places When It's Cold Outside Near Bridgewater!

 

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When it's just too cold for outdoor fun but the kids are bouncing off the walls from being cooped up all day, let them get some energy out at one of these  indoor places to play! Bonus: Some have added perks like Wifi or coffee for the parents! Check out the list here: https://hulafrog.com/bridgewater-nj/hula-hot-list-indoor-play-places-when-it-s-cold-outside-near-bridgewater-489012

 

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It's officially the week of love! Kick it off with some fabulous, family fun. Check out Hulafrog's "The Week Ahead" for a list of the events that you should not miss this week!


PODCAST * BLOG * NEWS * CALENDAR * MEMBERSHIP

DID YOU KNOW? While Frederick Douglass’ exact date of birth is unknown, the abolitionist and African-American icon picked February 14 as the date to celebrate his birthday. Happy African American History Month! Celebrate with some great books http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2014/03/school-age-storytimes-black-history.html

 

 

Presidents Day Weekend February 17-19, 2018 Free Admission on Presidents Day

This Presidents Day Weekend, visitors can participate in a presidential festival while learning about the role of the president and what it takes to be commander in chief. On Presidents Day, Monday, February 19, families can also participate in our Presidential Costume Contest and join us for a Kids Town Hall to meet some very special guests: Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt!

LEARN MORE



Last weekend for Peter Pan Play at Villagers Theater in Somerset:
Peter and the Starcatcher


Performance Times: Fridays/Saturdays 8:00pm  Sundays 2:00pm

Buy Tickets
Reservation Request


Tony-winning Peter and the Starcatcher upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter Pan). A wildly theatrical adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s best-selling novels, the play was conceived for the stage by directors, Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, and written by Rick Elice, with music by Wayne Barker. From marauding pirates and jungle tyrants to unwilling comrades and unlikely heroes, Peter and the Starcatcher playfully explores the depths of greed and despair… and the bonds of friendship, duty and love.

A young orphan and his mates are shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They know nothing of the mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin, which contains a precious, otherworldly cargo. At sea, the boys are discovered by a precocious young girl named Molly, a Starcatcher-in-training who realizes that the trunk’s precious cargo is starstuff, a celestial substance so powerful that it must never fall into the wrong hands. When the ship is taken over by pirates – led by the fearsome Black Stache, a villain determined to claim the trunk and its treasure for his own – the journey quickly becomes a thrilling adventure.


Monday, February 19 --  Presidents’ Day for Kids

imageMontclair, NJ – Monday, February 19 from 10 am to 12 pm. Presidents' Day should be about more than just a good sale. At the Crane House and Historic YWCA, your child will discover how our past presidents (and their wives and children) lived through crafts and other activities at this drop-off program. Activities include a Symbols of our Country scavenger hunt, making a log cabin, play-acting George Washington’s Rules of Civility by the hearth fire, historic selfies, and signing the Declaration of Independence with a quill pen.

110 Orange Road, Montclair. Admission is $10/child. Registration required to mail@montclairhistorical.org or 973-744-1796 to reserve a place by Wednesday, February 14. Appropriate for children ages 6 to 10, children under 6 cannot be left unattended. www.montclairhistory.org.

If you are not a member, you may join prior to the event or at the event for admission by contacting the Montclair History Center at 973-744-1796, at www.montclairhistory.org, or sending a note to mail@montclairhistorical.org.



 

Monday, February 19 – Morris County  Abraham Lincoln Remembered

image10:00-11:30 am; 1:00-2:30 pm; 3:30-5:00 pm

Explore Lincoln's whistle-stop train ride from Springfield, Illinois to Washington, D.C. to take the presidential oath of office in 1861. Using a large floor map, follow his journey with "travel cards" marking significant events. Design a booklet using images and famous quotes.

$8 general admission, $6 members, adults free.

Pre-registration requested with Cynthia Winslow at cwinslow@maccullochhall.org or (973) 538-2404, ext. 16.

 



February 25th -- Make History Come Alive -- Meet Thomas Jefferson

The American Historical Theatre presents Steven Edenbo as Thomas Jefferson

Meet Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, the first Secretary of State, the second Vice President and the third President of the United States.

Sunday, February 25, 2018   1pm & 3pm Sessions

East Jersey Old Town Village  1050 River Road  Piscataway, NJ  Directions

Funded by: New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of the Department of State

FREE EVENT AND PARKING

NO REGISTRATION - LIMITED SEATING

Text CULTURE to 56512 for more details

www.middlesexcountynj.gov



Then Make a Wish Come True with Cinderella! in March


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https://shsdrama.ticketleap.com/cinderella/


When cavemen invented the wheel thousands of years ago, it was probably wood or rock. It probably wasn't a rubber tire full of air, and they probably didn't use it to go sledding. That's called inner tubing: you sit or lie down on a giant donut-shaped balloon, someone gives you a push, and you slide down the snowy, slippery hill. It's called an "inner" tube because it's from inside an even bigger circle: a truck tire. Humans first started snow tubing in 1820 in Switzerland, a long time after the cavemen -- but a long time before cars and trucks, so where did they get their tubes? More importantly, what happens when you spin as you slide? Lots of math, as you'll see here!

Wee ones: If your inner tube spins once to the left, then once to the right, then once to the left, then once to the right...which way do you spin next?

Little kids: If you, 3 friends, and 2 snow-loving dogs all pile onto an inner tube, how many riders are there?  Bonus: You can also ride tubes on waterslides. If you go 10 miles an hour on snow but twice as fast in water, how fast do you tube on the water?

Big kids: If you start sliding facing downhill, with the hill's right side on your right, and as you slide you spin 1/2 turn to your left, then 1/4 of a turn to your right, then 3/4 turn to the left, which way are you facing now?  Bonus: If 1/2 the tubes are double tubes (seating 2 people) and the other 1/2 are single tubes, how many tubes are there if they hold 18 people total?

The sky's the limit: If your tube spins once around every 2 seconds, your friend spins once every 3 seconds, another friend spins once every 4 seconds, and the last friend spins once every 5 seconds, what's the soonest you'll all face forward at the same time if you all started facing forward?

Find more Bedtime Math here.

Why should people have all the fun – see a dog and a crow sledding by clicking on their hotlinks!