In Town
West Windsor-Plainsboro Community Education offers Mini Explorers Club in math, French, and science for ages 3 1/2 to 5. Millstone River School, Plainsboro, Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 11 a.m., beginning February 4. Visit www.ww-p.org or call 609-716-5030.
Yardley Players has auditions for “The Sound of Music on Saturday, February 9, noon to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, February 10, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Mercer County College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Needed are adults ages 20 to 60s, children ages 6 to 23, and a few older teens ages 16 to 19. Rehearsals are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 to 10 p.m.; and Sundays, from 2 to 6 p.m. Download an audition form from www.yardleyplayers.com, bring a recent photo, a resume, and a prepared song. Songs for each role are listed on page two. Be prepared to dance.
All children will be required to have a parent or other adult backstage for each dress rehearsal and performance. Most actors will need to supply their own stockings, tights, and shoes. Call Marge Swider at 215-968-1904.
DanceVision has auditions for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” a new ballet choreographed by Risa Kaplowitz on Sunday, January 27, at Princeton Dance and Theater, 115 Rockingham Row, Forrestal Village, Plainsboro. Age 12 and up at 11 a.m. Age six and up at 12:45 p.m. E-mail info@dancevisionnj.org.
DanceVision and Parkinson Alliance begin a free six week series of the Princeton Dance for Parkinson program on Wednesday, January 30. The series is open to anyone with Parkinson’s Disease, as well as their caregivers, friends, and family members.
Participants explore elements of modern dance, ballet, social dance, and repertory in a non-pressured environment that features live musical accompaniment. The 75 minute classes are appropriate for anyone with Parkinson’s Disease.
The series will be held from 1 to 2:15 p.m. at PDT Studio, 116 Rockingham Row, Plainsboro. The dates include February 6, 13, 20, 27, and March 6. Participants can start anytime during the series. Visit www.dancevisionnj.org, E-mail info@dancevisionnj.org, or call 609-520-1020.
Attitudes in Reverse, an organization based in Plainsboro, seeks artists for logo on new shirts. The focus should reflect “Just like air, mental illness is all around us. Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.” Deadline for entries is Thursday, February 28. The winning design will be presented during the second annual Miki & Friends: Walk & Run for AIR on Saturday, May 18. E-mail Tricia@AttitudesInReverse.org.
Support Groups
Think You’re Stuck?, an eight week workshop for people over 50, will be offered on Mondays, starting January 28, at 7:30 to 9 p.m. at 601 Ewing Street, Princeton. The new group will be led by psychotherapist, Jane Adriance MSW, LMFT. The workshop asks the questions “Are you leading your life or is life leading you?” and “Are you willing to write the next chapter of your life?” Register with Adriance at 609-452-8576 or E-mail janeadriance@comcast.net.
Grief and Loss Support Group, an eight session program, meets at United Methodist Church, 23 Church Street, Allentown, beginning Wednesday, January 23. The sessions begin with dinner at 6:15 p.m. Free. Call 609-259-7392.
Auditions
Villagers Theater has auditions for “The Lion in Winter” on Sunday and Tuesday, February 3 and 5, at 7 p.m. E-mail marie@villagerstheatre.com for information.
New Jersey Repertory Company has auditions for “Noir,” a new play by Stan Werse, at Friday, February 1, at Ripley-Grier in New York City. E-mail njrep@njrep.org for audition appointment and script. No phone calls. For both Equity and non-Equity actors. Rehearsals begin in March.
For Teens
Princeton Photography Club and D&R Greenway Land Trust calls for photographs in the juried show for high school students. The theme is “Plantscapes” and the deadline is Monday, February 25. Submit up to three photos (jpg). No entry fee. E-mail tiffanyso@drgreenway.org or carlgeisler@gmail.com.
New Jersey high school students are invited to compete in the 2013 Central New Jersey Regional Brain Bee. Modeled after a traditional spelling bee, in the live question and answer competition students are quizzed about the human brain and central nervous system. There is no cost to participate. The contest will be held Saturday, February 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway. Visit https://rwjms.umdnj.edu/neuroscience/BrainBee/BrainBee.html for registration and information. Contact Joan Mordes by E-mail at mordesja@umdnj.edu or call 732-235-5390.
For Young Musicians
Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey has auditions for new students at Tuesday, January 29. Recommendation from a private teacher and registration is required in advance. Visit www.yocj.org or E-mail contact@yoch.org.
Youth Orchestra of Bucks County offers master classes for middle and high school students. Sunday, January 20, French horn presented by Jonathan Clark; Sunday, February 24, percussion by Bill Trigg, the director of TCNJ Percussion Ensemble. Register at www.yobc.org.
Sharim v’Sharot invites composers ages 8 to 24 to submit new Jewish songs for possible performance in May. Visit sharimvsharot.com. Deadline is Thursday, March 14.
For Young Actors
Allegra School of Performing Arts offers actor training workshops for ages 8 through college freshman. Students participate in classes on lighting, set design and building, and stage management. To audition for a musical, prepare one song and a two minute monologue. To audition for the play prepare a two minute monologue. Register at www.allegrasma.com or call 908-874-4351.
For Seniors
55 Plus offers a trip to Thomas Edison National Historic Park on Friday, May 3, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The bus leaves the Jewish Center in Princeton at 8 a.m. $65 to $75. Register with Samuel Goldfarb at 609-924-2008.
For Authors
Princeton Public Library is accepting applications from authors interested in participating in an author fair as part of the library’s fifth annual Local Author Day on Saturday, April 13. Open to authors from Central New Jersey and Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with preference given to those who live within 20 miles of the library.
Space is available for 40 authors with priority given to writers of adult fiction or non-fiction. Writers in other genres, or for other age groups, are also welcome to apply.
Four featured authors will be selected and given a 12 to 15 minute time slot to read from their work during the fair. Ten additional authors will be chosen by lottery to read for 5 to 7 minutes. Authors supply their own books and keep all proceeds from sales. Visit https://bit.ly/PPL2013LAD for an application and submit by Tuesday, February 19.
Calling All Strings
Princeton University invites amateur string players to perform with the East Coast Chamber Orchestra on Tuesday, February 12, at 7:30 p.m. at Richardson Auditorium. Princeton students, high school students, and adult amateurs are welcome. All participants must have concert tickets ($5 to $10). Call 609-258-9220 or visit princeton.edu/utickets. Visit princetonuniversityconcerts.org.
ECCO comprises members of the orchestras of Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, along with leading young chamber musicians and Time For Three’s Nick Kendall. Call 609-258-2800 or E-mail John Burkhalter at jburkhal@princeton.edu with your name, phone number, and instrument. The deadline is Friday, February 1.
Call for Art
Monmouth Museum calls for entries in “From Plate to Paper: The Art of Printmaking,” an exhibit of printmaking media including montotype, monoprint, lithography, silk screen, woodcut, linocut, engraving, giclees, offset reproductions, handmade books, and three dimensional works. Open to ages 18 and up. Work must be from the last five years. Submit up to two pieces ($20 each) by Wednesday, February 6. Visit www.monmouthmuseum.org, E-mail cclark@monmouthmuseum.org, or call 732-747-2266.
Volunteer Please
CONTACT offers Crisis hotline training weekly from Tuesday, February 5 to April 23. A one hour, no obligation, orientation session will be held on February 5 at 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., at Pennington United Methodist Church, 60 South Main Street, Pennington. The courses teach compassionate listening skills, telephone crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and much more. Representatives from community programs are speakers on a variety of topics. Visit www.contactofmercer.org or call 609-883-2880.
CONTACT of Mercer County also hosts a day for potential volunteers for its Retired and Senior Volunteer Program on Tuesday, January 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 60 South Main Street, Pennington. Meet with representatives from local agencies to consider volunteer services at their agencies. Bring a non perishable food item or cash donation. Call 609-883-2880, E-mail rsvpmc.contact@verizon.net, or visit www.contactofmercer.org
Good Cause
Nassau Tennis Club invites registration for a President’s weekend tennis tournament in support of Montgomery Township first responders. Must be 18 or older. Men and women, singles and doubles. Saturday, February 16 to Monday, February 18. $55 for singles; $35 for doubles. Register by Sunday, February 3 at nassautennis.net or call 908-359-8730. The facility is at 1800 Route 206, Skillman.
Donate Please
Calvary Baptist Church seeks furniture, clean clothing in good condition, books, jewelry, toys, games, household items, small appliances, and tools for its annual rummage sale. Furniture will be picked up after March 1. E-mail hbco@verizon.net or call 609-466-1880.
Habitat for Humanity of Trenton invites residents of Mercer County to help celebrate its Restore on Saturday, January 19, at 10 a.m., at 106 Ewing Street, Trenton. Restore provides very low cost new and pre-owned furniture, appliances, and building materials. The ReStore will pick up large items. Call 609-218-6863 to arrange for a pick up, to volunteer, or for questions.
