In Town
West Windsor Lions Club offers two scholarships to college-bound students in the WW-P High School Class of 2014. One student from each school will receive $1,000. Applications — on forms available from school counselors — should be submitted by Tuesday, April 15, to Ronald Slinn, West Windsor Lions Club, Box 295, West Windsor 08550 or E-mail rjslinn@verizon.net.
The Mercer County Library System launches its annual summer reading program on Monday, June 23.
Free registration for the children’s summer reading program begins on June 23 and continues throughout the program, which ends on August 8. Incentive prizes are awarded weekly as children 11 and under make return visits to the library with their reading logs.
The online teen program, “Spark a Reaction,” is available between June 23 and August 22 for ages 12 to 18 years. Teens may register via the library’s website, with a user name and password, returning to their account to record books as they read them.
Educational activities and contests are planned from June through early August at all branches. A variety of programs are scheduled including The Juggling Hoffmans, Kurt Gallagher, What-Knott Farm Petting Zoo, Enjoy Explore India, Miss Penny Puppet Show, Global Rhythms, Mad Science of West New Jersey, Youth Stages, and more.
Some programs require pre-registration with a valid Mercer County Library System card. All programs are free. Monthly event listings and reading log registration details are available in early June at branch locations. Events can also be found at www.mcl.org.
Mercer Community College invites area writers and artists to submit their work for Kelsey Review 2014. The Review accepts short fiction, poetry, personal essays, excerpts of novels, black and white line drawings, and cartoons by those who live, work, or study in Mercer County.
Fiction and essays should be limited to 4,000 words. Poetry is limited to six pages. Material should not have been previously published or be simultaneously submitted to other journals. Visit www.mccc.edu/kelseyreview for information. The deadline is Wednesday, May 14. E-mail kelsey.review@mccc.edu.
For the Young
Celebrate New Jersey seeks favorite New Jersey memories of kids in grades K to 12. Deadline is Friday, April 18. Visit nj350memories.com/student.
Auditions
Yardley Players has auditions for “Meet Me in St. Louis” on Saturday, April 26, noon to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, May 4, 1 to 5 p.m. at Kelsey Theater in West Windsor. The production opens Friday, July 18. Needed are adults ages 18 to 60 plus and young actors ages 6 to 17.
Supporting characters and ensemble should prepare to sing “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “Skip to My Lou,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Visit website for songs for others or an audition form at www.yardleyplayers.com. Bring a recent photo of yourself, a resume, and a prepared song. Be prepared for a dance and stage movement audition. E-mail kristydavis@gmail.com or call at 215-913-6391.
Actors’ NET of Bucks County will hold script in hand auditions for all six supporting roles in its upcoming production of Ken Ludwig’s comedy, “Moon Over Buffalo.” Auditions are Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Heritage Center, 635 North Delmorr Avenue, Morrisville, PA.
George Hartpence and Carol Thompson, who are married in real life, have been cast to star as George and Charlotte Hay. The pair has co-starred in numerous area productions and will, in effect, be lampooning caricatures of their own onstage personas.
Actors are being sought for Ethel, a character actress in her 70s; Rosalind, the couple’s daughter with a British accent; Howard, a wimpish weatherman with physical comedy skills; Eileen, a bombshell actress; Paul, a leading man with a British accent; and Richard, the stuffy lawyer.
No monologues required. Auditioners will read from the script. To schedule an audition, call 215-295-3694 or E-mail actorsnet@aol.com. Walk-ins will be seen if time allows.
Plays-in-the-Park has an open call for adults on Friday, April 4, at 7 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6, at noon. Musicals this coming summer include “Shrek,” “Sunset Boulevard,” and “Bye Bye Birdie.” Be prepared to sing an up-tempo song and bring sheet music in the proper key. An accompanist will be provided. Visit www.playsinthepark.com.
The Mighty Oak Players has auditions for “Evita” on Monday and Tuesday, May 12 and 13, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Monroe High School Performing Arts Center, 200 Schoolhouse Road, Monroe. The show opens Friday, July 25. The director is seeking performers of all ethnicities ages 8 and up to be part of an ensemble cast. Lead roles are for ages 17 and up.
The ensemble is onstage throughout most of the show. Ability to read music is a plus. Prepare 32 bars of a musical theater piece in the style of the show. An accompanist will be provided. E-mail jalagna@monroe.k12.nj.us.
Berdanhand Productions has auditions for “Calamities at Clo-Achers,” a spoof about the interactions among residents in an active adult community. Open auditions will be held at Twin Rivers Library, 276 Abbington Drive, East Windsor, at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8. E-mail berdanhand@gmail.com.
For Teens
Princeton Photo Workshop presents a new summer day program for enthusiastic young photographers to learn the fundamentals of digital photography while exploring their creativity and enjoyment of photography. For ages 13 to 17 to participate in one or two weeks hands-on workshops, which will include both classroom time and in-the-field practice.
Working with their own DSLR cameras, teens will learn the basics of taking a really good picture. Like real professional photographers, they will shoot in the field and in the studio, exploring lighting options and composition techniques while each student receives personal attention from experienced instructors. Week two focuses on organizing and enhancing their images using Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop.
Workshops will be held at Harlingen Studios in Belle Mead and at Princeton area locations. Visit princetondigitalphotoworkshop.com.
Jewish Family & Children’s Service is accepting 11th and 12th grade teens to participate in Gesher LeKesher, a Jewish peer leadership program. Teens will have the opportunity to lead a group of 7th to 9th grade students in outreaches about various life issues, such as healthy dating relationships, Judaism, and friendships. Contact Celeste Albert at 609-987-8100, ext. 210 or E-mail celestea@jfcsonline.org.
Call for Art
Artsbridge is hosting its 20th annual juried show in June at the New Hope Arts Center. Artists from a 50-mile radius are invited to submit two-dimensional work or sculpture. Works will be accepted in categories of paintings, watercolors, works on paper, mixed media, photography, and sculpture. There will be more than $3,000 in prizes awarded. Visit www.artsbridgeonline.com/show for prospectus and to register. Deadline is Sunday, April 13.
Monmouth Museum seeks lighthearted, whimsical, satire, or parody art for “What’s So Funny? Humor in Art,” a juried exhibition opening Friday, May 9. Visit www.monmouthmuseum for information. The deadline is Friday, April 11.
Good Causes
HomeFront is collecting food and donations for the Stop Hunger Now food campaign and the Feinstein Foundation will make a donation based on the amount donations received through the end of April. Visit www.homefrontnj.org or call 609-989-9417, ext. 132 for information and materials about holding a food drive, a list of grocery items donors can purchase, to make a cash donation, or to hold a food drive.
Boys & Girls Club Bike Exchange in Capitol Plaza is open for the cycling season. The all-volunteer effort is to get bikes into the community and to raise money for the after school programs of the club. In five years, the bike exchange has raised $415,124.
Volunteers collect, repair, and sell bikes that have been donated from families and individuals who have bikes in their garage no longer being used. The intern program provides the opportunity for teens to learn bike repair and apply the new skill. There is also an ongoing program with the NJ Department of Corrections where inmates repair bikes.
For information about working in the shop, transporting, or repairing bikes E-mail info@BikeExchangeNJ.org. Donations may be made to any bike shop in Mercer County. The Bike Exchange in located in the Capitol Plaza Shopping Center at 1500 North Olden Avenue in Ewing. Visit www.BikeExchangeNJ.org.
Parkinson Alliance has its fifth annual “Princeton Dines Out for Parkinson’s Disease Research” from Friday, April 25, to Thursday, May 1. Dine at one of the participating restaurants and a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the organization. The restaurants include Blue Point Grill, elements, Eno Terra, Gennaro’s, Mediterra, Mistral, North End Bistro, PJ’s Pancake House, Teresa Caffe, the Peacock Inn, and Witherspoon Grill. Visit www.parkinsonalliance.org or call 800-579-8440.
