Escape the summer doldrums by joining Mainstage Center for the Arts (MCA) in a season that takes audiences to Wonderland, a magical chocolate factory, France, and Broadway as Summer Stage presents Wonderland, Willy Wonka, Jr., Beauty and the Beast, Jr., and Broadway for Kids musical revue. All 2014 Summer Stage programs are sponsored by AP Construction, while McDonald’s Restaurants of Blackwood and Hurfville sponsor the Children’s Theatre season, along with generous sponsors of each show.
The Children’s Theatre season opens July 16-18, with Wonderland, sponsored by Bowman & Company and First Bank. In this silly adaption of Lewis Caroll’s classic, Alice travels to a magical land and meets a host of characters including Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the Cheshire Cat, a baseball team, light-saber wielding knights, and more.
Then, it’s time to join Charlie on an enchanted tour of the chocolate factory in Willy Wonka, Jr., sponsored by Beneficial Bank and Law Office of Lyndia Hinkle, July 23-25.
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Kids of all ages will delight in watching Oompa Loompas, Charlie’s magical flight, and geese that lay golden eggs.
Next, a teapot, teacups, silverware, and candlesticks come to life while Belle tames the Beast and finds true love in Beauty and the Beast, Jr. July 30- August 1. Precision Power Wash sponsors this production.
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The Children’s Theatre season draws to a close with Broadway for Kids, sponsored by Post-Net of Sicklerville, August 6-8. This musical revue features songs from popular Broadway shows such as Aladdin, Cinderella, Newsies and more.
Performances for each Children’s Theatre production run Wednesday and Thursday evenings, 7:30 p.m. and Friday mornings, 10:30 a.m. There are also Thursday morning performances for groups, which are sign-interpreted.
But, that’s not all Summer Stage has up its sleeve.
For the evening Mainstage production, MCA will present Les Miserables, sponsored by First Bank.
In this school edition of the Tony-award winning, internationally acclaimed musical, the cast will sweep audiences through the epic tale of broken dreams, passion and redemption, against the backdrop of 19th century France in the grip of revolution.
A powerful affirmation of the human spirit, Les Miz, features well-known songs including “I Dreamed a Dream”, “Do You Hear the People Sing?”, and “Castle on a Cloud.” This production runs July 26, 7:30 p.m., July 27, 2 p.m., and August 1 and 2, 7:30 p.m.
“This summer’s Children’s Theatre season is jam-packed with shows that families will surely enjoy. Wonderland; Willy Wonka, Jr.; and Beauty and the Beast, Jr. have been some of our most popular productions over the years,” said Anne Marie Weaver, MCA Director of Special Projects. “And the opportunity to present Les Miserables, a production that’s so moving and beloved around the world is just incredible. It’s really going to be something special.”
Along with its shows, Mainstage is offering special promotions to enhance its audiences’ theatre experience. These include:
* Children’s Theatre Poster contest – This contest is open to children age 3 through grade 6. For rules and entry information, please see contest rules at the bottom of this article.
* Sign Interpreted Thursdays – The Thursday morning performances are primarily reserved for groups; however, patrons may order individual tickets if they would like to purchase seats in the sign-interpreted section. When calling our box office or purchasing tickets at the door, please request to be seated in section 3. Assistive listening devises and large print programs are available upon request. Please contact our office at (856) 227-3091 or email info@mainstage.org in advance to request these items.
* Beauty and the Beast Dress like a prince or princess discount. Children who dress as a prince or princess for Beauty and the Beast, Jr. on Friday, August 1, 10:30 a.m. will receive a $1 discount on their ticket.
Ticket prices for the Children’s Theatre productions are $10 for senior citizens/students and $11 for adults. In addition, a Children’s Theatre season ticket package is available – purchase tickets to all four shows for $32, that’s $8 per show.
Tickets for Les Miserables, School Edition, are $15 senior citizens/students and $18 for adults. Group rates are also available. All productions take place in Camden County College’s Dennis Flyer Theatre. For tickets, visit www.mainstage.org or call (856) 227-3091.
In addition to the Children’s Theatre season and Les Miserables, Broadway Babies (entering kindergarten and first grade) Kids Stuff (entering second and third grade) and Apprentice campers (entering fourth and fifth grades), will each present their own shows.
Broadway Babies and Kids Stuff’s first session performance is July 19, 2 p.m. and its second session performance is August 9, 2 p.m., while the Apprentice production is August 9, 7 p.m.
The Video Film Production students will present their original short films in a Film Premier, Friday, August 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Broadway Dance participants will perform on August 10, 2 p.m.
Also this summer, Harmony Show Choir will present its annual concert, Sunday July 13, 2 p.m. For ticket prices and information, please visit www.mainstage.org.
Summer Stage Children's Theatre Poster Contest
Theme: MY FAVORITE PART: Wonderland, Willy Wonka, Jr., or Beauty & the Beast, Jr.
1.All of these shows are familiar to children. We would like their posters to reflect their favorite part in one of these shows
2. Entry period: The contest will begin accepting submissions July 1, 2014. Entries must be receive no later than noon. July 24th. ALL entries will be put on display in the theatre lobby for the duration of our Summer Stage
Season.
3. Eligibility: The contest is open to children age 4 to entering grade 6. Summer Stage participants and their families are not eligible to enter.
4. Rules of Entry: Mainstage Center for the Arts is not responsible for any lost, late, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, or misdirected entries. Submissions will not be returned and will become the property of Mainstage
Center for the Arts.
5. Entry categories: Entries will be judged in four grade categories based on the grade just completed in June 2014, 4 year olds through kindergarten, first and second grade, third and fourth grade, fifth and sixth grade.
6. Judging Criteria: Entries must meet all rules and submission criteria as stated herein to be eligible. Artwork will be judged on artistic merit, creativity, and uniqueness of the child’s idea and application of theme.
7. Prizes: Mainstage Center for the Arts will notify finalists by phone or e-mail on Wednesday Evening July 30. Winners from each category will receive 4 complimentary tickets to the Friday morning performance of Broadway for
Kids on August 8th at 10:30 am. Winners will take a bow with the cast of the show, and will be presented with a certificate at that time.
8. Publicity: Submission of an entry in the contest constitutes consent for Mainstage Center for the Arts to use the names of artists, and pictures for promotional purposes in any media without further consideration.
9. Entry Instructions: Submission requirements: Size – 11” x 17” maximum Mediums Accepted: Materials that can be used include: crayons, markers, poster paints, watercolors, colored pencils, pastels, ink etc. Poster designs may
not incorporate any computer generated or collage materials including any copyrighted characters, photographs, and magazine or newspaper illustrations. Anything glued or taped to the design of the poster will not qualify for judging
10. Delivery of Poster for Consideration: : Posters should be delivered to Summer Stage at the Mainstage Center for the Arts between July 1 and July 24th when you come to see a show or mailed to Mainstage Center for the
Arts, Camden County College, 27 S. Black Horse Pike, Blackwood, NJ 08012. Each entry must include: Child’s Full Name, grade completed in Spring of 2014, Parent’s Name, e-mail, best phone contact and mailing address to be considered.
