In Town
Maurer Productions has an open casting call for “Shrek the Musical” at Mercer Community College in West Windsor. Thursday, January 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. is for ages 8 to 12. Saturday, January 25, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, January 26, from noon to 6 p.m. is for adults and teens.
Close to 21 roles are available for adult and teenage actors, singers, and dancers, as well as four roles for children ages 8 to 12. Visit www.mponstage.com, E-mail audition@mponstage.com, or call 609-882-2292.
YWCA Princeton is accepting registration for winter classes and activities. Before and after school programs, ESL, Breast Cancer Resource Center support groups and wellness classes, gymnastics, martial arts, newcomers group, and more. Aquatics lessons and lap swims are offered at both its Princeton facility and at High School North in Plainsboro. Visit www.ywcaprinceton.org or call 609-497-2100.
Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County offers “Social Skills for Children” for ages 7 to 10. Participants will be placed in a social skills group best suited to meet their needs following an intake screening by the facilitator. The program includes games, modeling, and specific lesson plans to learn targeted skills. Facilitated by Robby Devery, founder of Fun in Motion Occupational Therapy Services.
The eight-week program takes place on Thursdays, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., at West Windsor Arts Center, from January 16 to March 6. The fee is $275. It may be covered by insurance and no one will be turned away due to inability to pay. Call Lara Wellerstein at 609-987-8100 or E-mail laraw@jfcsonline.org.
For the Young
New Jersey’s Soil Conservation districts are now accepting entries in a poster contest designed to raise awareness of natural resources and related issues among young people. The theme for this year’s poster is “Dig Deeper — Mysteries in the Soil.”
Students may compete in the following categories: Grade 2-3; Grade 4-6; Grade 7-9; and Grade 10-12. First place winners in each category will receive $200 savings bonds; second-place $100 bonds; and third-place $50 bonds. All first-place winners will be entered in the National Association of Conservation Districts poster contest.
Visit www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/nrc/conservdistricts.html for information and entry form.
Good Causes
Institute of Wonderful Women Working for Empowerment offers a benefit theater event featuring a performance of “Fences” on Sunday, January 12, at 2 p.m. at McCarter Theater in Princeton. Tickets are $80. Visit www.wonderfulworkingwomen.org or call 609-388-1867.
Interfaith Caregivers of Greater Mercer County is a volunteer-powered nonprofit organization that serves hundreds of homebound elderly and people with disabilities through its Neighbors Helping Neighbors program each year. E-mail roz@icgmc.org or call 609-393-9922 to request services, volunteer, or make a donation.
Community Options offers employment and housing opportunities to people with developmental disabilities. The STEP program (School to Employment) has clients who work throughout Mercer and Middlesex counties. They interact with trained job coaches on a daily basis. Meghan Hunter, the manager of STEP, is looking to expand the program through the job coach team. Contact her at 609-951-9900, ext. 165.
PEAC Health & Fitness will host a collection of items for the Rescue Mission of Trenton on Wednesday, January 29, from 9 to 11 a.m. at 1440 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing. All clothing donations go directly to the Rescue Mission, either to be sold in the Mission Store at 100 Carroll Street, Trenton, or given to needy members in the community.
They will not accept sofa beds, mattresses, wall units, baby toys, high chairs, pack and plays, and cribs. Visit www.rmtrenton.org or call 800-528-8825 to schedule a pick up.
Theater Classes
Paper Mill Playhouse has auditions for its 2014 Summer Professional Training programs for performers ages 10 to 18. The Summer Musical Theater Conservatory opens June 30, in its new home at the Union County Performing Arts Center. Auditions are Saturdays, January 25 and February 1 at Hamilton Stage for the Performing Arts, 360 Hamilton Avenue, Rahway. E-mail summer@papermill.org. Auditions are mandatory.
Prospective students should select a portion of a song from a musical of approximately 32 bars. Bring sheet music with full piano accompaniment. Bring footwear for dancing. Download forms from www.PaperMill.org.
George Street Playhouse Theater Academy in New Brunswick offers classes for all ages and theater experiences. Auditions are not required. Ages 5 to 8, 9 to 12, and 13 to 18, have morning classes on Saturdays, March 15 to May 10. Adult classes are Mondays, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., March 24 to May 19. Call 732-846-2895, ext. 117 or visit www.georgestreetplayhouse.org.
Paper Mill Playhouse offers classes for adults in Milburn. The newest program, the Intergenerational Theater Company, brings together youth, teens, adults, and seniors in a series of short plays for 10 weeks.
Breakfast at Paper Mill meets on the first Monday of every month from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for a discussion on the live theatrical experience, backstage tours, and special performance highlights.
Musical theater audition class meets Saturdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Teachers will help pick out and develop the 16 or 32 bars of a song that showcase their best work. Adult acting class meets Saturdays from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Private acting and vocal coaching sessions are also available. E-mail Michelle Tempkin at mtempkin@papermill.org or visit www.PaperMill.org.
Auditions
Sourland Hills Actors Guild has auditions for “Shrek the Musical” on Friday, January 17, and Thursday, January 23, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the Otto Kaufmann Community Center, 356 Skillman Road, Skillman. All ages are welcome to audition. Performances will be in early April. E-mail info@sourlandhills.org or visit sourlandhills.org.
Actors’ Net of Bucks County has auditions for “Julius Caesar” on Monday and Tuesday, January 20 and 21, at 7 p.m., at the Heritage Center, 635 North Delmorr Avenue, Morrisville. Auditions will be cold readings from the script. Bring a resume. Contact the director at aaronwexler@comcast.net.
For Seniors
Princeton Senior Resource Center offers free tax assistance for low and moderate income people in the area, with special attention to those age 60 plus. IRS trained volunteers from AARP will be available to prepare individual New Jersey state and federal returns. Returns may be filed electronically. Assistance is available by appointment on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Suzanne Patterson Building, 45 Stockton Street, Princeton, beginning February 7.
Bring copies of 2012 federal and New Jersey tax returns, as well as all necessary 2013 tax information. Call 609-924-7108.
AARP tax aides will also be available at Princeton Public Library on Mondays and Nassau Presbyterian Church on Saturdays.
Evergreen Forum, a daytime adult study program under the auspices of PSRC, is accepting registration for 21 spring courses. Classes begin Friday, March 7. Enrollment is open to adults in the greater Princeton area. Most courses run for eight weeks, cost $60, and are held at the Princeton Senior Resource Center. Visit www.TheEvergreenForum.org or call 609-924-7108.
For Singers
Hopewell Valley Chorus welcomes all who love to sing. There are no auditions. “The Road Home” is the theme of its 54th season. An open rehearsal takes place on Monday, January 13. Rehearsals take place from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Hopewell Valley High School, 259 Pennington-Titusville Road, Pennington. Dues are $45 a season. Visit www.hopewellvalleychorus.org, E-mail hopewellchorus@aol.org, or call 609-737-3177.
Faith
Church of Saint Ann in Lawrenceville offers a five-week program for adults that will focus on Pope Francis’ new Apostolic Exhortation. All sessions will be facilitated by Pastor R. Vincent Gartland. Each session covers a chapter from “The Gospel of Joy” on Mondays, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 1253 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville. Free. Contact Gary Maccaroni at 609-882-6491, ext. 116 or E-mail gmacc@churchofsaintann.net.
Art Workshops
Morven Museum & Garden offers three workshops in conjunction with Arts Council of Princeton.
“Pastels at Morven” led by Ray Brown, Thursdays, February 13 to March 6, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Ages 16 plus. $165.
“Painting on Silk led by Lian Sawires focuses on techniques of painting on silk, Mondays, January 27 to February 10, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ages 15 plus. $145.
“Alla Prima Painting” for ages 16 and up of all levels of experience will be held Thursdays, January 16 to February 6, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. $165.
