Jersey Arts Resolutions, Part 1.

As we head towards the close of another trip ’round the sun, we wanted to share with you some of our reflections and thoughts on both 2010′s arts experiences and our hopes for what 2011 may hold. Here’s some resolutions from Shen, Gary, Patricia and Cat–check back for part 2 later this week. We hope you enjoy, New Jersey–and stay warm! –CV

SHEN SHELLENBERGER, our Blogger-at-Large:

When Twyla moves, you listen...

Twyla Tharp said that “art is the only way to run away without leaving home” and, really, isn’t that the truth?

I’ve always had art in my life – whether I was pounding out adolescent stories on the hulking Royal typewriter in my grandmother’s basement or listening to “West Side Story” and “Funny Girl” with my mother in the living room of our circa 1950s Cherry Hill ranch home.

Through writing for Culture Vultures this year, I’ve been more tuned in to art than I have for a long time.  Not only have I gone to musical concerts, which I’d likely have done regardless, but I also visited a jewel of a cultural site, saw a marvelous art exhibition at an equally marvelous South Jersey museum, watched a remarkable theatre production and attended the WheatonArts fest.

And the conversations that I had with people who make art – or in the case of the Civil War reenactors, keep history alive – reminded me of how glorious it is to have that passion to create.

In the coming year, I want to hear more stories – told from the stage in theatre productions and from authors reading and discussing their work.  I want to see more visual art, and maybe finally get my boyfriend to Grounds for Sculpture.  And I’d love to be a student and challenge myself to learn a new skill or fine-tune something I once knew how to do.  In short, my goal is to spend more time surrounded by art and the people who make it.

And, you’re right, Twyla, I won’t even have to pack a bag.

Les Miserables Reboots at Paper Mill Playhouse.

The Paper Mill Playhouse is soon to be at the center of national theatrical attention when it hosts the US premiere of Cameron Mackintosh’s revived production of Les Miserables. Essentially a reboot of the classic Boublil/Schonberg/Kretzmer musical, the production features new staging, set design, costumes, and orchestrations. Simply translated: there’s no turntable. Most musicals don’t have to explain themselves when undergoing a reimagining, but Les Miserables is like a Fourth of July hamburger—people have a clear idea of how they want it.

The Rocky Horror Show and Asbury Park: Let Your Freak Flags Fly

Call it the quirky, little play that inspired a world-wide cult following.

The Rocky Horror Show began as homage to horror films and science fiction at the Royal Court’s experimental Theatre Upstairs in London back in 1973 with a six-week workshop run.  An immediate success, the show soon moved to the much larger King’s Road Theatre and was named “Best Musical of 1973” by the London Evening Standard’s annual poll of drama critics.  Yet, the play’s early success was nothing compared to the madness that would take place shortly after the film version opened in America on September 26, 1975.

The film’s place in cinematic history was cemented just a few months later on April 1, 1976.  That was the day the film became known as the ultimate midnight movie when it began its run at the Waverly Theatre in New York City.  Soon theaters around the country began showing The Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight and within three years the film was playing on hundreds of screens including over 20 in the New York City region alone.  As the midnight showings spread, a strange phenomenon began taking place.  It started when people began shouting out phrases to the characters on the screen, then people came to the theaters dressed up in costume; eventually, audience members began bringing props and throwing items like rice and toilet paper during specific parts of the film.  It was clear the evolution was now complete — Rocky Horror had successfully shattered the fourth wall and invited everyone into its own world!   The midnight showings continue to run while touring companies have brought the stage version of Rocky Horror to every corner of the globe.   In fact, a special version is coming to New Jersey this week just in time for Halloween.

Surflight Theatre: Sand, Surf, and Songs.

Tucked away on a cozy street in Beach Haven on the family beach getaway that is Long Beach Island, the Surflight Theatre churns out productions like ice cream sundaes in July. They do that too, in fact, as the 60-year-old theater has an adjoining 1950s-style ice cream parlor that doubles as a singing-waiters performance space. Producing musicals throughout the warm months in summer-stock format that run for two weeks then give way to another production, the theater runs straight plays in the fall and an always sold-out Christmas spectacular in December. Committed to family entertainment, the Surflight also produces children’s theater on site, as well as a traveling troupe. Take a tour through this cherished-by-vacationers theater, which has grown quite a bit since originally being housed in what is now its scenery shop.

Posted by Jesse North, JerseyArts.com’s Theater Blogger.

Calvin Berger at George Street Playhouse: Get Your Glee On.

Post Show, Pre Party, Ready to Boogie Down.

Hi everyone! I’m a 25-year old arts professional, and I have complex relationship with GLEE. I want to get that out of the way up front–Ryan Murphy’s excellent new television show is at the same time a shout-out and a legacy to the perceptions of high school and growing up that John Hughes created a generation ago. And those same thoughts and feelings come rushing back in George Street Playhouse’s Calvin Berger, playing now through March 14. Barry Wyner’s new musical takes the classic Cyrano De Bergerac, spins it up, adds a character, and sets it down in a modern American high school.

Calvin Berger  is about the challenges of fitting in; I definitely can relate to that experience, as I was not one of the popular kids in high school (although, in hindsight, who was?). In keeping with the theme, I brought my best friend from high school, Sonny, to the show and the Generation Next event following.

Welcome, Culture Vultures!

Hi There; welcome to the JerseyArts.com blog. We’re in the process of rolling out great new content here this winter and spring–you’ll be able to find blogs on the NJ arts scene from some of the smartest, most connected, and most insightful bloggers around, covering a broad array of topics and genres. So stay tuned for new posts coming soon!

Meanwhile, there’s a whole bunch of Jersey Arts adventures from the past few months to explore right here.Take a peek:

• This blog launched with two live-bloggers at the XPoNential Music Festival. You can follow John’s thoughts, or Raegan’s thoughts, or check out the whole experience here.
• We then covered the opening of Noises Off at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.
• Opera-lover Patricia checked out Destination: Opera at Ocean Grove, presented by New Jersey State Opera.
• Our Generation NEXT program features exclusive events and special offers for young professionals; our GenNEXT bloggers explored I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, MacHomer, and ABBA-Mania.
• In November, our blogger wrote about his experiences at Full Circle 2009: Voice and Vision at Matheny Arts Access in Peapack.

If you’re interested in some casual browsing, we’re also developing general categories organized by genre–right now you can peruse all of the GenNEXT posts, Opera and Theater, and more are coming!

So, that’s a bit about who we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re going–we hope you enjoy the JerseyArts.com blog, and please feel free to join the conversation with your thoughts and comments!

Generation NEXT at the Bickford 3: The Review!

I Love You, You're Perfect...Now Pizza.

(Sorry this show is just so good; I really couldn’t edit this down!)

There are some genuinely tender moments in this show, especially Christine Marie Heath’s rendition of “I will be loved tonight” and Marc G. Dalio’s performance as an old man looking across the table to his wife of many years and singing “Shouldn’t I be less in love with you?”

Even though the ages in the theater seemed to range from 21 to 75, there wasn’t one member who laughed particularly louder at a comic scene or sighed at a touching moment.  There really is something for everyone.

My moment would have to be the single woman trying to get off the phone with her anxious mother wanting to know if the man she went on a date with the other night has called yet.  She chides her mother with “he said he’d call tonight so of course he won’t call tonight” line.  Every single woman knows the x 3 rule when it comes to a guy.  (Take the day he says he’ll call you and add three days and that’s the actual time you will hear from him.  It’s as valid as the Pythagoras Theorem).  So imagine the woman’s surprise, along with the audience’s, when the man actually calls her!

The stage erupts into a musical spectacular of “He Called Me,” complete with a dancing duo of Italian pizza delivery men.  When the man calls her again, the spectacular abruptly ends as she turns to the audience with a sigh to say “He’s needy.”   And alas, the relationship ends before it can even begin.  I hate to admit it but I am guilty of such a judgment.  So I guess after seeing the other side, I will have to respectfully retract my former statement that “boys are stupid” and merely conclude that it is not about finding that perfect person but finding a person who embraces your “baggage” and inner-weirdness.

When I find mine, he will take me to see theatre.