www.kidsguide.com/new jersey/music & dance

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Hours, prices, exhibit and event information are subject to change.
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Concerts in the Park | Movies in the Park | Plays in the Park | Music & Dance | Children's Radio

arts in the parks
Bring a lawn chair or blanket and picnic in the park. Free, unless indicated. Summer 2009 will be posted in June.

the arts
Performances under "The Arts" category may be specifically geared to young children or their subject matter may appeal to children and family audiences. Many are full-length -productions with discounted student rates, suitable for older children or teens, but not appropriate for young children. Parents must use their discretion in determining their child's readiness for a -theater, music or dance performance.
The Arts Council of the Morris Area (973-258-5115) and Arts Council of the Essex Area (973-744-1717) publish com-plete arts calendars each quarter. Subscriptions and other benefits are available with membership.
Calendars for many venues are not available until mid- -summer for the new season. Call individual venues for their schedules or go to the "Hot Picks," "Music &Dance" or "Theatre" pages at www.kidsguide.com for convenient links to websites.

music & dance

Afternoon Music
At Unitarian Church, 4 Waldron Ave., Summit, 908-273-3245. Four Sunday concerts Oct.-April at 4pm, reception for the musicians follows. Students free, sub-scriptions available.

Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre
732-255-4071. Flamenco and Spanish dance company performs -during fall and spring at venues throughout the state.

American Repertory Ballet
80 Albany St., New Brunswick, 732-249-1254. Oct.-May -season with annual Nutcracker performances at theaters throughout the state. Special subscription for young adults (age 18-25).
Dec
Graham Lustig's The Nutcracker.

Arts Maplewood
Burgdorff Cultural Center, 10 Durand Rd., Maplewood, 973-378-2133. Hosts annual Maplewood Jazz Weekend in Oct., What Exit? theater company, Modern American Composers series, Underground Concert series and Music for Kids.

Bergen Performing Arts Center
30 NorthVan Brunt St., Englewood, 201-227-1030. Oct.-May season offers music, dance, musicals, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra concerts, comedy, family and special events. See listing under Theatre for selected events.
Oct 30
     Celebrate Halloween with Alice Cooper.
Nov 8
     Shangri-La Acrobats.
Dec 5
     Idols in Concert for the Holidays.
Dec 6-7
     New Jersey Ballet's Nutcracker.
Dec 19
     Vienna Boys Choir.
Feb 4
     Pink Floyd Experience.
Feb 5
     Guitar Blues-Robin Ford, Ruthie Foster &Jorma Kaukonen.
Feb 17
     Irish Spectacular of Song &Dance.
Feb 26
     Cirque Mechanics Birdhouse Factory, members of Cirque du Soleil.
Mar 3
     National Acrobats of China.
Mar 14
     Russian National Ballet's Giselle.
Mar 20
     Trinity Irish Dance.
Apr 4
     Russian American Kids Circus.
Apr 16
     Itzhak Perlman.
May 1
     Momix.

Bickford Theatre Wyeth Jazz Showcase
Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, 973-971-3706. Summer concert series. All shows begin at 8pm. Tickets $13 advance, $15 at door.
Jun 30
     Bob Seeley, boogie-woogie pianist.
Jul 7
     Summit Stompers, full band.
Jul 21
     Silver Starlite Orchestra, Big Band sounds.
Aug 4
     The Wolverines.
Aug 5
     Paris Washboard, featuring Jeff Barnhart, piano.

Bloomfield Youth Band
Comprised of high school and collegiate musicians, the band performs three or four public concerts each year. Performances at Bloomfield Middle School, 60 Huck Rd., Bloomfield. Sponsored by the Bloomfield Recreation Commission. Tickets $8, 12 & under free.
Jun 21
The Sounds of Summer, 7:30pm.

Calvary Chorale
31 Woodland Ave., Summit, 908-277-1547. Sept.-May season of concerts on Sundays at 3pm.

Central Presbyterian Church Music
70 Maple St., Summit, 908-273-0441. Friday music concerts celebrate the holiday seasons during advent & lent. Bring your own lunch or buy at church kitchen. All concerts Fri. 12:15-1pm, unless noted. Free, open to the public.
Dec
Advent Concerts.
Mar
Lent Concerts.

Chatham Opera
973-635-9824.

Coffee with Conscience
908-412-9105. Monthly folk concerts Sept.-June featuring professional and touring singer/songwriters. Performances at 1st United Methodist Church of Westfield, 1 E. Broad St., Westfield. Suggested dona-tion of $16 for most shows, net proceeds donated to charity.

Colonial Symphony
973-984-7400. Subscriptions available for Oct.-May season at Community Theatre at Mayo Center for Performing Arts, 100 SouthSt., Morristown. Pre-concert conversation 7pm, concert 8pm. High school, college students, and grade K-8student discounts. School programs.

Community Theatre at Mayo Center for Performing Arts
100 SouthSt., Morristown, 973-539-8008. 1,200-seat venue offers a wide array of classical music, jazz, dance, drama, comedy, children's programming and contemporary music. Create-your-own subscriptions; family subscriptions; student and group discounts. Internship/community service programs available to high school students. School-time shows open to school groups. See listing under Theatre for additional events.
Family Wonder Series
Jun 22
     Dan Zanes &Friends, 1:30 & 4:30pm.
Selected Summer Events
Aug 2
     B.B. King, 8pm.
Aug 7
     Hootie &the Blowfish, 8pm.
Aug 14
     Herbie HancockRiver of Possibilities Tour.
Aug 31
     Hot Tuna/David Lindley/Tony Trischka Band, 7pm.

Count Basie Theatre
99 Monmouth St.,Red Bank, 732-842-9000. Nov.-June season of concerts by major recording artists, comedy, dance, theater, classical music and family events in a 1,550 seat theater circa 1926. Cool School offers classes in acting, dance, music, voice and videography; youth jazz training program for middle and high school students; school shows. See listing under Theatre for additional events.
Selected Events
Jun 28
     TheFab Faux, 8pm.
Nov 6
     Spyro Gyra & The Rippingtons, featuring Russ Freeman. 8pm.
Feb 5
     Pink Floyd Experience, 8pm.
Feb 6
     David Bromberg Band, 8pm.
Feb 27
     Momix Remix, 8pm.

Discovery Orchestra
P.O. Box 4064, Warren, 908-226-7300. Professional symphonic orchestra presents a Sept.-June season of concerts, in-home recitals and listening courses appropriate for ages 13 and up. Student and subscription discounts.

Friends of the Library Concert Series
Somerset County/Bridgewater Library, N. Bridge &Vogt Dr., Bridgewater, 908-526-4016 x119. Monthly concerts Sept.-Nov. and Jan.-May. 8pm. Free.
Children &Family Events
Jun 8
Annie Bauerline, children's songs. Ages. 3 & up. 2pm.

Gaelen Center for the Arts
JCCMetroWest Maurice Levin Theatre, Leon &Toby Cooperman JCC, Ross Family Campus, 760 Northfield Ave., West Orange, 973-530-3444. Performance season includes shows for children and families as well as chamber music series, speaker series, New Jersey Jewish Film Festival and performances by the JCC's own orchestra, musical theater and children and teen production companies.

Hanover Wind Symphony
973-ANDANTE. Free concerts Dec.-Aug.

Jazz in Bridgewater
Somerset County Vo-Tech HighSchool Theater, Vogt Dr. off N. Bridge St., Bridgewater, 908-781-0470. Classic jazz from the earliest influences through the Swing Era raises funds for the Somerset County United Way. Visit website for upcoming events.

Kean University Performing Arts
Wilkins Theatre, Morris Ave., Union, 908-737-7469. Sept.-May season includes dance, music, professional theater, stand-up comedy, solo acts, classical concerts, New Jersey Ballet repertory and children's ballet, Kean -theater, music and dance depts. performances and recitals (many free), Holocaust Resource Center events, family series and on school time performances. Student rates; subscriptions.

Livingston Symphony Orchestra
Concerts at Livingston High School auditorium, South Livingston Ave., Livingston, 973-635-8656. Four concert series Nov.-June. Student winner of annual concerto competition held in Dec. (open to ages 14-21) performs as a soloist with the orchestra in the spring.

Lyrica Chamber Music
202 Fairmount Ave., Chatham, 973-701-1734. Concerts held on Sundays at Presbyterian Church of Chatham Twp., 240 Southern Blvd., Chatham, at 3pm. Subscriptions; single tickets; students free (available half hour before concert with ID). Outreach program for school groups and special needs children.

Mason Gross School of the Arts
Rutgers University, 33 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, 732-932-7511. Student and faculty dance, music, theater and visual art events Sept.-May. Student rates.

McCarter Theatre Center for the Performing Arts
91 University Place, Princeton, 609-258-2787. Internation-ally known artists in music and dance, theater and special events. Extensive education programs include student matinees, touring shows, theater workshops, group backstage tours, in-school programs and professional development. Discount subscriptions for ages 35 & under. Also see Theatre listings.
Selected World Passport Events
Feb 6
     The Pink Floyd Experience, 7:30pm.
Feb 21
     Golden Dragon Acrobats, 7:30pm.
Jun 9-1
      Rain, The Beatles Experience, 8pm.

Meet the Orchestra Series
Burgdorff Hall, 570 Central Ave., Murray Hill, 908-790-0700. Members of the NJYouth Symphony introduce children ages 3-8 -to each family of instruments in a series of four concerts. Sponsored by the Suburban Community Music Center. Sundays at 2pm. Single tickets; subscriptions available.

The Minstrel Coffeehouse
Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, 973-335-9489. Friday concerts feature hand-made music from local and internationally known performers. Second Fri. of the month is an open stage/audition night.
Fridays
8:30pm.

Montclair State University
Alexander Kasser Theater, Montclair State University, One Normal Ave., Montclair, 973-655-5112, box office; 973-655-3059, info. Presents School of the Arts theater, music and dance performances and professional arts events through Peak Performances.

Morris Conservatory of Music
POBox 416, Mountain Lakes, 973-402-2004. Independent non-profit organization consists of Symphonic Chorus, Orchestra, Chamber Choir &Youth Choruses for grades 1-9. Performances throughout northern New Jersey. Student discounts.

Mostly Music
Morrow Memorial Methodist Church, 600 Ridgewood Rd., Maplewood; Temple Emanu-El, 756 E. Broad St., Westfield, 973-762-0108. Five-concert chamber music series Sundays at 2:30pm in Maple-wood, 7: 30pm inWestfield. Subscriptions; single tickets; in Westfield only students age 10-21 $1.

Music at Morristown
United Methodist Church, 50 Park Place (on the Green), Morristown, 973-538-2132. 30 min. Music at Noon concerts in Dec. &Jan. Abendmusik concert series Feb.-April.

New Jersey Ballet Company
973-597-9600, njballet.org. Oct.-May season features performances throughout the state, Sunday matinee Kids &Families and annual Nutcracker performances. Adult, sr., student tickets. Subscriptions available through New JerseyBallet. Call box office of venue for individual tickets.
Dec
Nutcracker, Paper Mill Playhouse.

New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra
POBox 432, Cranford, NJ07016, 908-522-0100. Com-munity orchestragives free concerts in winter and spring and has an outreach program which brings musicians to nursing homes and community events. Email info@njio.org,

New Jersey Performing Arts Center
One Center St., Newark, 1-888-GO NJPAC. 2,750-seat Prudential Hall and 500-seat Victoria Theater in Newark. Classical music, international dance, world music &jazz, special variety events, theater and Familytime series. Subscriptions; individual tickets; $10 student rush tickets offered at the box office one hour before curtain time. Subject to availability, valid ID required, limit two per student. Also see Theatre listings.
Selected Events 2008-09Season
Nov 14
     Led Zeppelin: IV, classic albums live. 8pm.
Dec 27
     Video Games Live with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. 2 & 8pm.
Jan 24
     Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon, classic albums live. 8pm.
Feb 8
     Natalie MacMaster & Band; David Bromberg Big Band, 4pm.
Feb 22
     Golden Dragon Acrobats, 3pm.
May 1
     Queen: A Night at the Opera, classic albums live. 8pm.
Jun 12-14
     Rain: The Beatles Experience, 7:30, 2 &3pm.
FamilyTime Series 2008-09
Performances in Victoria Theater at 2 or 7pm unless noted.
Dec 13
     Rockapella, ages 8 & up. 2 &7pm.
Dec 18
     A Joyous Gospel Holiday, Byron Cage. 12 & up.
Jan 15
     Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, Richard Smallwood &Vision. Ages 12 & up.
Jan 24-25
     Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, Year of the Ox. Ages 8 & up.
May 15
     Jazz Sensations:A Tribute to Art Blakey, Valery Ponomarev &Friends, Ages 12 & up.
SchoolTime Performance Series
973-642-2002. Large selection of music, dance, theater, puppetry and holiday performances for grades pre-K-12. Curriculum guides, professional development workshops, "meet-the-artist" periods, post-performance tours available.

New JerseySymphony Orchestra
60 Park Place, 9th floor (admin. office), Newark, 1-800-ALLEGRO. Performances at New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark; State Theatre, New Brunswick; Richardson Auditorium, Princeton; War Memorial, Trenton; bergenPAC, Englewood; and Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank. Subscrip-tions; individual tickets; student discounts; pre-concert happy hours for ages 21-39. See display ad on page 46.
NJSO FamilySeries-Stories Through Music
The young and young-at-heart will discover the magic of story-telling with three timeless tales told through music during this Saturday matinee concert series. All concerts feature the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, are conducted by Jeff Grogan, feature a pre-concert adventure 1-hour prior to the show and start at 2pm in Prudential Hall at NJPACin Newark. Subscriptions are only$30.
Nov 8
     Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra with guest Greater Newark Youth Orchestra.
Feb 7
     Carnival of the Animals.
May 16
     "Scheherazade: Arabian Tales" with guest Enchantment Theatre Company.
New Best of..... Series
75-minute concerts in Millburn,Trenton, Englewood and Red Bank locations focus on either one composer or a specific theme.
Oct 23-
Nov 1
     Best of Beethoven.
Jan 1-4
     Best of Vienna.
Feb 19-22
     Best of Shakespearean Romance.
May 28-31
     Best of Nature.

New Jersey Youth Symphony
570 Central Ave., Murray Hill, 908-771-5544. Three orchestral groups, two orchestral training ensembles, and flute choir of youth in grades 3-12 present orchestra and chamber music concerts from Sept-May. Auditions held annually each June for the following year.

New Philharmonic of New Jersey
POBox 244, Cedar Knolls, 07927-0244, 973-267-0206. Concert series at the Community Theatre at Mayo for Performing Arts in Morristown, Nov.-May. Sounds Like Fun! music education program available for bookings Jan.-Mar. Subscriptions; special pricing available for children's tickets and group sales.

Outpost in the Burbs
40 South Fullerton Ave., Montclair, 973-744-6560. Presents affordable, quality acoustic entertainment Sept.-June at the First Congregational Church of Montclair, the Unitarian Church of Montclair, 67 Church St., or the Montclair High School auditorium. Advance tickets by mail or through Ticketweb, 866-468-7619.

Plainfield Symphony Orchestra
P.O.Box 5093, Plainfield, NJ07061, 908-561-5140. New Jersey's oldest community symphony presents concerts Oct.-May at Crescent Ave. Presbyterian Church, 7th St. &Watchung Ave., Plainfield. Student rates; subscriptions.
2008-09 Season
Sept 13
     Free Children's Concert.
Oct 11
     Opening Concert.
Nov 8
     Tribute to Leonard Bernstein.
Feb 14
     A Symphonic Valentine. Allen Yueh, piano.
Mar 28
     Springtime Pops. Allen Baer, tuba.

Raritan Valley Community College
Edward Nash Theatre, Rt. 28 & Lamington Rd. (Rt. 78 exit 26 or Rt. 22W), North Branch, 908-725-3420. Major Artists Series, Sunday Sampler Series for younger children, FamilySeries for children ages 8 and older and their families, and School-Time performances. See additional listings under Theatre. Student & series discounts.

Sanctuary Concerts
Presbyterian Church of Chatham Twp., 240 Southern Blvd., Chatham, 973-376-4946. Oct.-May acoustic music series features concerts by well-loved national, regional and local artists.
Sept 27
     Poco with special guest TBA. $25.
Oct 11
     Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul &Mary with special guest Thea Hopkins. $25.
Oct 25
     Chad &Jeremy, with special guest Anthony da Costa. $25.
Nov 8
     Tom Rush, with special guest Christine DeLeon. $25.
Nov 15
     An Evening withJanis Ian, $25.
Nov 29
     LoudonWainwright III, with special guest Sloan Wainwright. $25.

Shea Center for Performing Arts
William Paterson University, 300 Pompton Rd., Wayne, 973-720-2371. Arts hotline: 973-720-ARTS. Theater, world music, jazz, classical, new music, family shows and special events presented Sept.-May.

South Orange Performing Arts Center
One SOPACWay, South Orange, 973-275-1114. Intimate 415-seat theater presents performances by major artists in theater, dance, folk/rock, big band, jazz and classical music, SOGreat to Be A Kid events and performances presented by the Seton Hall University Arts Council.

South Orange Symphony Orchestra
Performances at South Orange Middle School, 70 N. Ridge-wood Ave., South Orange, email sosymphony@aol.com. Not-for-profit community orchestra, founded in 1949, presents three to four free classical concerts per year to the local community.

State Theatre
15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, 732-246-7469. Full schedule of Broadway, music, dance, opera, symphony and variety events plus a children's series. Student matinees (open to students &general public), artist-in residence program, Symphony Scholars program, and professional development workshops for teachers. For education program information, call 732-247-7200, ext. 534. 50% student rush tickets offered to most events on date of performance. Also see Theatre listings.
Selected Events
Jun 23-24
     The Backyardigans Live!
     Loud
Oct 13
     David Crosby &Graham Nash.
Dec 5-6
     Sleeping Beauty, St. Petersburg Ice Ballet.
Dec 20-21
     The Nutcracker, American Repertory Ballet.
Feb 19-20
      DrumLine Live.
Mar 13
     Cinderella, Russian National Ballet.
Apr 24
     Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet.

Summit Symphony
Oct.-May concerts at Summit HighSchool, Kent Place Blvd., Summit. No admission; sponsored by Summit Board of Recreation, local businesses, and Friends of the Symphony.

Underground Concert Series
Hotline: 973-762-0119. Eclectic world and folk music brought to different venues in Maplewood for fall and spring series.

Union County Arts Center
1601 Irving St., Rahway, 732-499-8226. Concerts, jazz, comedy, theater, family and children events are presented in a 1,300 seat vintage 1920's auditorium. Student/sr. discounts. Summer theater programs for ages 5-18.
Selected Events
Jul 5
NJUltimate Elvis, tribute artist contest.
Oct 4
The Broadway Stars of Beatlemania.

Watchung Arts Center
18 Stirling Rd., Watchung Circle, Watchung, 908-753-0190. Non-profit, volunteer-run center offers new art exhibitions each month, performances in music, comedy and improv, film series, and classes in drawing, photography and yoga.
Jun 14
     Improvables, family improv for children 10 and up and adults. 8pm. $8.

The Sunday Night Music Club
Monthly acoustic music series features national touring musicians in an intimate cozy space. Doors open at 6:30, music at 7pm. 973-376-4946.
Film Series
Films shows in the upper gallery Sundays at 7pm. Donations suggested.
Jun 15
     400 Blows, directed by Francois Truffaut.
Jun 22
     Harold & Maude, directed by Hal Ashby.
Jun 29
     The Conformist, directed by Bertolucci.

Westfield Symphony Orchestra
908-232-9400. Oct.-May season features concerts in Westfield and nearby communities. Adult/sr/student rates, subscriptions. Westfield Symphony Caravan, outreach program.

children's radio

Radio Disney
1560AM.

WBGO Children's Jazz Series
WBGO 88.3FM. 54 Park Place, Newark, 973-624-8880. Member-supported station presents jazz, blues, public affairs programming, and sponsors a free children's jazz series in Newark.

WFUV-FM
90.7FM, Public Radio from Fordham University.

WNYC New York Kids
WNYC New York Public Radio, AM820, Sun., 6-8pm. With hosts Florence Barrau and David Rafael Gonzalez, talk and interviews for ages 8-12. 1-800-KID-2KID. FM93.9.