In Town
Plainsboro Recreation offers “Rhythms and Rhymes” for Plainsboro youngsters ages 18 to 36 months with a parent, Mondays, 9:30 a.m. Ages 3 to 5, 10:30 a.m. Singing, music, creative movement, and playing rhythm instruments. Classes for a 12-week sessions begin September 14. Register. $20. Call 609-799-0909, ext. 332 about this program or other pre-k programs.
Kelsey Theater has auditions for “Bugsy Malone Jr.” on Thursday, September 10, 7 p.m.; and Saturday, September 12, at noon. Must be 10 to 15 years old to audition. Tomato Patch experience is a plus. Prepare a one-minute comic or semi-comic monologue and 16 bars of a classic musical theater song (bring sheet music). Be prepared to dance. Bring a resume and photo. Contact Amy Bessellieu for appointment at forisa@mccc.edu or 609-570-3581. For a January production.
Youth Orchestra of Central New Jersey has auditions for strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion musicians, on Tuesday, September 15, at 4 p.m. Visit www.yocj.org for registration forms and requirements.
Mercer College offers two “Short-Term Study Tours” in May and June with destinations of Italy and Germany/Switzerland. The tours are incorporated into the curriculum of three-credit courses and may be taken on a credit or noncredit basis.
The trip to Italy, Wednesday, May 19, to Thursday, May 27, includes four days in Campania and five days in Rome. $3,100 includes airfare, hotel accommodations, and more. A $500 non-refundable deposit is due by Monday, October 5.
The trip to Germany and Switzerland, from Saturday, June 5 to Sunday, June 13, includes three days each in Frankfurt, Zurich, and Geneva. $3,350 includes airfare, hotel, some meals, activities, and more. A $500 non-refundable deposit is due by Friday, November 6.
Information sessions will be held Thursday, September 10, at noon and 6 p.m., Wednesday, September 23, at 6 p.m.; and Tuesday, September 29, at noon and 6 p.m. in the Communications Building, West Windsor campus. Call Andrea Lynch at 609-570-3660 or E-mail studyabroad@mccc.edu.
Auditions
McCarter Theater seeks children of all ethnicities to sign up to audition on Tuesday, September 22, 3 to 6 p.m., for this year’s production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Performers aged 5 to 13 are needed for a variety of roles — including Tiny Tim and the Cratchit children. Sign-ups will be held in the Matthews Lobby of McCarter Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton.
At the sign-ups, the young performers will be screened, measured, and given appointments for the actual auditions, which will be held on Sunday, October 4. No auditions will be given without an appointment. Rehearsals begin November 12. The production runs December 6 through 27. For more information, call 609-258-6504.
Somerset Valley Players has auditions for “And Then There Were None” on Sunday, September 27, and Wednesday, September 30. Needed are eight men and three women. January production. Also, auditions for “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Wednesday and Thursday, October 14 and 15, for a December production. Needed are 12 men, 10 women, two boys, and two girls. 689 Amwell Road, Hillsborough. Visit www.svptheatre.org or call 908-369-7469.
Arts Grants
Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission offers arts grants to fund projects taking place in 2010. A grant writing workshop will be held on Wednesday, September 23, at 7 p.m., East Jersey Olde Town Village, 1050 River Road, Piscataway. Open to any non-profit organization interested in applying for a grant. An arts grants help clinic will be held at 703 Jersey Avenue, New Brunswick, on Tuesday, October 15, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Wednesday, October 14, at 4:15 p.m. Call 732-745-4489 to register.
