MCCC's Kelsey Theatre Announces 2010-2011 Season Inspired by Seuss, Shakespeare

Inspired by the late greats, Dr. Seuss and William Shakespeare, "Oh, the Places You Will Go With Kelsey Theatre!" is the theme of the 2010-2011 schedule announced by Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre. Kelsey Theatre is Mercer County's premiere family theater, located on MCCC's West Windsor Campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road. Discounted series packages are on sale now; subscribers will receive savings of up to 40% off regular ticket prices. Tickets for all individual Kelsey performances go on sale August 25. In response to audience requests, evening shows will begin at the earlier start time of 7:30 p.m.

The adventure begins Sept. 3 with a musical of "Hansel and Gretel," followed by 17 additional full-length productions for family and adult audiences. Included on the schedule are "Seussical the Musical," "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" "Amadeus," "The Tempest" and "Blithe Spirit." For younger audiences, the Kelsey Kids Series offers 12 productions, most of which are presented by professional touring companies, bringing to the stage adaptations of famous fairytales and popular children's stories.

According to Kelsey Theatre Artistic Director M. Kitty Getlik, this year's offerings celebrate the interconnectedness between poetic and prose theater. Although vastly different stylistically, there are common elements found in the iambic pentameter of Shakespeare and the lyrical rhyming of Dr. Seuss and children's literature in general. Says Getlik, "Drawing on the theme of Seuss's popular book, ‘Oh, the Places You Will Go,' theater can take you many places without leaving your seat. You can go to the French Riviera with ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,' a Mediterranean island with ‘The Tempest' and to Whoville with ‘Seussical,' just to mention a few. That's the magic of live theater."

The season of full-length productions opens with the fairy tale classic, "Hansel & Gretel," with music and lyrics by Marilyn Gerold. Presented by 20 Minutes to Curtain Productions, the show opens Friday, Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m., followed by a reception with the cast and crew. Additional performances are from Sept. 4-19. Next up is "Seussical," the whimsical, magical musical that brings familiar Seuss characters to life, performed by The Pennington Players Sept. 24-Oct. 3. For one show only, the amazing Joshua Kane provides thrills for all in his one-man show, "Borders of the Mind: The Psychic Show for The Whole Family," on Sunday, Oct. 10.

Cold War tensions prevail in Pierrot Production's adaptation of Tim Rice's cult rock opera, "Chess," from Oct. 15-24, followed by irreverent teen merriment, mayhem and audience participation in Playful Theatre Production's "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" Nov. 5-14.

The mood is upbeat with the approach of the holiday season. The Yardley Players will present the classic Irving Berlin musical, "Annie Get Your Gun," Nov. 19-28, followed by "It's a Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play," presented by The James Tolin Memorial Fund Dec. 3-5.

To start the new year, meet Mozart, the genius rock star of his time, when PinnWorth Productions presents "Amadeus" Jan. 7-16. A military courtroom thriller follows in "A Few Good Men," presented by the Perry Award-winning Maurer Productions Onstage Jan. 21-30.

The music continues when Cheng Ferrara Productions presents "The Wedding Singer," a 1980s romantic comedy Feb. 11-20, followed by the sultry musical, "A Little Night Music," presented by Pierrot Productions Mar. 4-13. For classic rock lovers, Kelsey presents "Quadrophenia: The Reock & Roll Revue," featuring the music of The Who performed by Tom Reock's band, with guest vocalist Joe D'Angelo, Mar. 19-20.

Drama takes over with The Pennington Players' bittersweet take on Southern women in "Steel Magnolias" Mar. 25-Apr. 3, followed by another portrayal of powerful women in "Hello Dolly," presented by Playful Theatre Productions Apr. 8-17.

Romance mixes with trickery in the next two productions - William Shakespeare's "The Tempest," presented by MCCC's very own Theatre, Dance and Entertainment Technology students from Apr. 29-May 8, and Maurer Productions Onstage's presentation of the riotous musical "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" May 13-22. MCCC students once again take center stage June 4-5 when the Mercer Dance Ensemble presents "MDE, Poetry in Motion," featuring students, alumni and special guests under the direction of Janell Byrne.

The full-length season ends with two comic melodramas, the hilariously spooky Noel Coward play, "Blithe Spirit," presented by Pierrot Productions June 10-19, and the decidedly R-rated "Die, Mommie Die," presented by The James Tolin Memorial Fund June 24-26. (This annual fundraising benefit includes a Sunday matinee performance at regular ticket prices.)

With its one-hour productions just right for the younger set, the Kelsey Kids Series kicks off with Theatreworks/USA's musical revue of the popular children's book "Duck for President and Fancy Nancy" Oct. 9, followed by Arts Power's musical adaptation of Marcus Pfister's best-selling book "Rainbow Fish" Oct. 23.

Two annual family favorites will add to a festive holiday season: "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," presented by The Kelsey Players Dec. 10-12, and "The Nutcracker," performed by New Jersey Youth Ballet Dec. 17-19.

First up in 2011 is "The Love Bug's Hug," an interactive magical show that will be presented by the husband and wife duo, Bugs and Balloons, on Jan. 22. The fairytale classic, "Pinocchio," is presented by The Yardley Players Feb. 4-6. Young thespians hailing from MCCC's Tomato Patch summer workshops team up with The Kelsey Players to perform "Disney's High School Musical 2, Jr." from Feb. 25-27.

A beloved character from children's literature, "Pippi Longstocking," is the star of American Family Theatre's charming production Feb. 26. Other children's stories that will come to life are Bits ‘n Pieces giant puppet show, "The Ugly Duckling, Starring Pinky Flamingo," Mar. 12; the ArtsPower's musical, "Jigsaw Jones, The Case of the Class Clown," Apr. 2; and Matt Murphy Productions and Theatreworks/USA's "The Berenstain Bears in Family Matters, The Musical" April. 30. The season concludes with Kaleidoscope Theatre's hilarious musical adaptation of "Jack and the Beanstalk" May 21.

Ticket prices for most full-length musicals are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors, and $12 for students/children. Prices for non-musicals are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $10 for students/children. Ticket prices for most shows in the Kelsey Kids Series are $8 for children and $10 for adults/seniors. Discounted subscriber packages include premium seating, exchanges for performances of the same show, special "add-a-show" rates, and advance sales of single tickets. Group discounts are also available.

E-tickets may be purchased online and printed out at home by visiting the Kelsey website at www.kelseytheatre.net. Tickets may also be purchased with a credit card by calling the Kelsey Box Office at (609) 570-3333; by mail with checks made payable to MCCC/Kelsey Theatre, P.O. Box B, Trenton, NJ 08690; or by ordering in person at the Box Office. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon; and one hour before show time for in-person purchases only. Gift certificates are available in any amount. To request a hard copy of the 2010-11 season brochure, email kelsey@mccc.edu or call the Box Office.

Kelsey Theatre has open auditions for many of its productions and welcomes assistance from community volunteers as ushers. The theater gratefully accepts donations to cover needed upgrades to the lighting and sound systems. Call (609) 570-3581 or visit the website for more information.

The theater is wheelchair accessible and has secure lighted parking. Funding for performances is made possible in part by the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission through funding from the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.

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