VIOLET, THE FANTASTICKS & More Set for Kelsey Theatre's 2015-16 Season

The 2015-2016 season at Mercer County Community College's (MCCC's) Kelsey Theatre promises to be one of adventures that span history and continents! Nineteen full-length dramas and musical productions come to the Kelsey stage, along with eight shows offered through the Kelsey Kids Series. "Little Women - The Musical" (Pierrot Productions) kicks off the season Sept. 11 to 20.

Kelsey Theatre is conveniently located on the college's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. Orders are now being taken for discounted series packages; subscribers receive over 45 percent off regular ticket prices. Subscriptions are also available for the Kelsey Kids Series. Current subscribers must renew by Aug. 10 to receive priority seating. New subscriber orders will be filled after Aug. 15. Tickets for all single shows go on sale Aug. 20.

In addition to "Little Women - The Musical," the fall schedule includes: "The Fantasticks" (PinnWorth Productions) Sept. 25-Oct. 4; "Around The World In 80 Days" (Maurer Productions) Oct. 9-18; Neil Simon's "Rumors" (The Yardley Players) Oct. 23-Nov. 1; and "Violet - A Musical" (The Pennington Players) Nov. 6-15.

Kelsey Theatre will be a wonderful place to make holiday memories. M&M Stage presents "It's A Wonderful Life" Nov. 20-29, followed by a Forté Dramatic Productions' premiere of "A Very Kelsey Christmas" Dec. 11-13. Children and their grown-ups will enjoy "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" from Dec. 4-6 (The Kelsey Players) and a special abridged, fully-narrated version of "The Nutcracker" (The New Jersey Youth Ballet) Dec. 18-20.

Family themes take center stage in the new year with "August: Osage County" (PinnWorth Productions) Jan. 8-17, followed by a decidedly lighter look at family dysfunction in "Arsenic And Old Lace" (M&M Productions) Jan. 22-31. Three comedies continue to keep the mood light: "Zombie Prom - The Musical" (The Kelsey Players and Tomato Patch Workshops) Feb. 5-7; "Room Service" Feb. 12-21; and "The Addams Family" (Playful Theatre Productions) Feb. 26-March 6.

Other spring shows include: "The Diary Of Anne Frank" (The Pennington Players) March 11-20; "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (MCCC Theatre, Dance and Entertainment Technology programs) April 1-10; "Disney's Mary Poppins" (The Yardley Players) April 22-May 1; "City Of Angels" (Maurer Productions OnStage) May 6-15; "Dancer Diaries" (Mercer Dance Ensemble) May 21-22; "Hamlet" (Shakespeare '70) June 3-12; and "Bonnie & Clyde - The Musical" June 17-26.

Kelsey Theatre also offers productions for children and their grown-ups. Presented by professional traveling troupes, the 2015-16 Kelsey Kids Series includes: "Alice In Wonderland" (Kaleidoscope Theatre) Sept. 19; "Curious George & The Golden Meatball" (TheatreWorks/USA) Oct. 3; "Hiawatha" (Theatre IV) Nov. 14; "T- Bone's Camp Muckalucka" (Tom Stankus) March 5; "Little Red Riding Hood" (Kaleidoscope Theatre) May 14; and "Junie B's Essential Survival Guide To School" (TheatreWorks/USA) June 4.

Ticket prices for full-length musicals are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $16 for students/children; non-musicals are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, and $14 for students/children. Ticket prices for the Kelsey Kids Series are $10 for children and seniors, and $12 for adults. ("Mary Poppins" is $20 for all.)

Discounted subscriber packages include premium seating, exchanges for performances of the same show, special "add-a-show" rates, advance sales of single tickets, and as much as 45 percent off regular ticket prices. Group discounts are also available; daytime performances are available for select shows.

Patrons may purchase a subscriber series or tickets to individual shows by calling the Kelsey Theatre Box Office at 609-570-3333. Tickets for all shows go on sale Aug. 20 and may be purchased online at www.kelseytheatre.net. Tickets may also be purchased by mail with checks payable to MCCC/Kelsey Theatre, P.O. Box 17202, 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. Gift certificates are available in any amount. To request a print copy of the 2015-16 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 to usher and work behind the scenes. The theater gratefully accepts donations. Call 609-570-3581 or visit the website for more information.

The theater has free, lighted parking and is wheelchair accessible. 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.