September 18, 2024

After PU Football Endured Series of Near Misses in 2023, Tigers Focusing on Detail in Girding for Opener at Lehigh

POSITIVE OUTLOOK: Princeton University football head coach Bob Surace is all smiles as he fields a question at the program’s media day last month. With Princeton returning starters at 19 positions, Surace is confident that the Tigers can take a leap forward after going 5-5 overall and 4-3 Ivy League last fall. Princeton starts its 2024 campaign by playing at Lehigh (2-1) this Saturday. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Reflecting its rich history, the Princeton University football program will be commemorating the anniversary of three of its greatest teams this fall — the legendary undefeated 1964 Ivy League champions along with the 1969 and 1989 league winners.

Princeton head coach Bob Surace, a star center on the 1989 squad who bonded with members of the 1964 team while working their 25th reunion, is hoping that his battle-tested 2024 crew will join the pantheon of Tiger champions.  more

Adding to PU Football’s Tradition of Stellar Receivers, Colella Primed to Produce Big Senior Season For Tigers

COOL HAND LUKE: Princeton University star receiver Luke Colella heads upfield in a game last fall. Coming off a season where he made 47 catches for 620 yards and six touchdowns, earning All-Ivy League Honorable Mention recognition, Colella is primed for a big senior campaign. The Tigers kick off their 2024 season by playing at Lehigh on September 21. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After making just three receptions in the first two seasons with the Princeton University football team, Luke Colella produced a breakout season last fall in emerging as one of the top receivers in the Ivy League.

Colella hauled in 47 catches for 620 yards and six touchdowns, earning All-Ivy League Honorable Mention recognition in the process. more

PU Women’s Soccer Edged 1-0 by Georgetown As Goalie McCamey Keeps Tigers in the Game

COMING UP BIG: Princeton University women’s soccer goalie Tyler McCamey dives to make a save in 2023 action. Last Sunday, senior star McCamey recorded seven saves in a losing cause as Princeton fell 1-0 to visiting Georgetown. The Tigers, now 4-2, play at Fairfield on September 18. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Tyler McCamey had a hectic day in her office in goal for the Princeton University women’s soccer team as it hosted Georgetown last Sunday evening.

Senior keeper McCamey recorded seven saves, knocked aside several crosses, and faced a penalty kick as Georgetown put the heat on all game long, outshooting Princeton 13-5 overall and 8-2 in attempts on goal on the way to a hard-earned 1-0 victory. more

With Senior Matsukawa Setting Up Powerful Hitters, PHS Girls’ Volleyball Tops Southern in Clash of Champs

SKILL SET: Princeton High girls’ volleyball player Lois Matsukawa sets up a hit in a 2023 game. Last Wednesday, senior star Matsukawa contributed 34 assists, 14 digs, and six service points as PHS defeated Southern 3-1 (25-18, 25-14, 26-28, 25-17) in a clash of defending state champions. The Tigers, who improved to 6-0 with a 2-0 (25-13, 25-17) win over Notre Dame last Monday, host WW/P-South on September 18, Westfield on September 20, and Hopewell Valley on September 23. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Lois Matsukawa and her teammates on the Princeton High girls’ volleyball team were primed for the challenge as they hosted Southern High last Thursday evening in a rare clash of defending state champions.

Coming off a New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 3 state title run in 2023 with a core of five stars returning, the Tigers have brought plenty of self-belief into this fall. more

Ramirez Beginning Her Senior Season with a Bang, Providing a Spark as PHS Field Hockey Falls to 0-2

GOAL-ORIENTED: Princeton High field hockey player Mia Ramirez dribbles the ball last Friday as PHS hosted Notre Dame in its season opener. Senior star Ramirez scored all three goals for PHS as it fell 5-3 to the Irish. The Tigers, who lost 8-1 to Agnes Irwin (Pa.) last Monday as Ramirez scored the lone goal for the Tigers, play at Princeton Day School on September 18, at Robbinsville on September 21, and at Hightstown on September 23. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Mia Ramirez started her senior season for the Princeton High field hockey team with a bang last Friday.

With PHS hosting Notre Dame in its season opener, star forward/midfielder and co-captain Ramirez blasted in a goal three minutes into the contest. more

Featuring Offensive Balance, Clutch Plays on Defense, PHS Football Defeats Ewing 20-13 to Notch First Win

IN HINDSIGHT: Princeton High football player Ellington Hinds surveys the scene in a game earlier this season. Last Friday, junior star Hinds made five catches for 112 yards and one TD and a 17-yard run on a sweep as PHS topped Ewing 20-13 to notch its first win of the season. The Tigers, now 1-2, play at Hamilton West on September 21. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

With the Princeton High football team having started 0-2, Charlie Gallagher decided that it was time for some trickery as the Tigers played at Ewing last Friday night in their West Jersey Football League (WJFL) Valley Division opener.

“We started with a little bit of dazzle dazzle, and it paid off,” said PHS head coach Gallagher.  more

Waiting His Turn to be Starting QB for Hun Football, Moran Producing Prolific Passing Stats for 3-0 Raiders

By Justin Feil

Jack Moran limped off the turf with a leg cramp in the final minutes of the Hun School football team’s opening game this season as it played at Mount Carmel (Ill.).

But nothing was keeping him on the sidelines for the ending.

The senior had waited three years for his shot at being the main quarterback for the Raiders.

Moran returned one play later and moved Hun down the field before throwing a 31-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Kania with exactly one minute to play to give Hun a 42-38 win over Mount Carmel on August 29. Moran finished the day with 517 yards passing and five touchdowns. more

Junior Standout Brodel Displaying Finishing Touch But PDS Girls’ Soccer Struggling as it Starts 0-2-1

MAC ATTACK: Princeton Day School girls’ soccer player Mackenzie Brodel (No. 7) controls the ball last Thursday against Robbinsville. Junior forward Brodel scored a goal in the game but it was not enough as PDS fell 2-1 to the Ravens. The Panthers, who moved to 0-2-1 with the setback, play at Lawrence High on September 19 before hosting Steinert High on September 21 and Princeton High on September 24. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Things looked bleak for the Princeton Day School girls’ soccer team as it trailed Robbinsville 2-0 late in the second half last Thursday but Mackenzie Brodel was not throwing in the towel.

With just over five minutes left in regulation, PDS junior forward Brodel got free on a breakaway and slotted the ball into the back of the net. more

Noting that Town Acquisition of Former Westminster Campus is Wise Move

To the Editor:

Besides the ability to address future school needs, and potentially some of the soon-to-be-announced state requirement for additional affordable housing, the Westminster campus offers great opportunities for other important municipal and community uses, including turning the broad lawn fronting Hamilton Avenue into much needed in-town public open space.

The acquisition will also enable the town to designate the core of the historic campus as a local historic district, as recommended in the Princeton Master Plan adopted last November. A priority to repurpose the historic core buildings and other buildings on the campus will exemplify Princeton’s sustainability goals, as the most sustainable buildings are ones that exist, with all their embodied carbon.  more

Yes We CAN! Food Drives Collects Locally During Hunger Action Month

To the Editor:

September is Hunger Action Month, a time when Yes We CAN! Food Drives pledges to renew its efforts to help our neighbors in Mercer County who don’t have enough food to feed their families or themselves. Thus it is that we need your help so we can help our neighbors.

We are grassroots volunteers who collect money twice a month at both the Princeton Farmers Market and the West Windsor Farmers Market.  The funds collected then allow us to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables from the farmers, which in turn are donated to Arm In Arm to restock its food pantries. more

BOE Candidate Ari Meisel Knows Community and Cares Deeply About it

To the Editor:

Ari Meisel is a pillar of the community who will serve on the Board of Education with his trademark blend of efficiency and boundless energy.

Ari loves Princeton. Years ago, I asked him to name his favorite place he has ever lived. He quickly replied, “Princeton! You can’t beat the sense of community here.” He has embraced this town and he has become an integral part of it. As an EMT, as a PTO board member, and as a CARES committee member, he helps the most vulnerable, the most underserved, and the most sick and injured in Princeton. He also brings a parent’s perspective to the BOE as a father of five children, four of whom attend Princeton Public Schools.  more

Purchase of Westminster Choir College Property is In Best Interest of Community

To the Editor:

Planning for the future is very difficult to do. I would like to thank our mayor and Council for looking out for the entire community in initiating the purchase of the Westminster Choir College property from Rider University. As someone that served as an elected Township Committeeman/Princeton Councilman for 15 years and 10 years prior on Boards and Commissions, I am supportive when our elected officials look out for the interest of our residents.

The Westminster location is one of the most important developable land mass sites left in Princeton. With all the building of houses, apartments, condos, and townhouses, we are going to need more public facilities. I am sure we are going to need an additional school in the near future. Planning, planning, planning is everything.

I am asking that we all open our minds and try to understand this purchase of the Westminster Choir College site. Making difficult decisions in the beginning can save each of us a lot of additional taxes in the end. My plea is that the mayor and Council continue to do due diligence to make sure the residents have a super win. Let’s get behind this project and continue to watch Princeton become the best town to live in. We are so fortunate to live in Princeton.

Lance Liverman
Former Council President
Witherspoon Street

Lisa Potter and Shenwei Zhao Will Bring Fresh Perspectives to BOE

To the Editor:

Trust takes years to build, but it can be broken in a single moment. For many of us in the Princeton community, that trust was shattered last year when the Board of Education mishandled both the firing of Princeton High School Principal Frank Chmiel and the drama surrounding Superintendent Dr. Carol Kelley. These events exposed a lack of decisive leadership and a failure to address the concerns of the community.

The turning point for many of us came during Frank Chmiel’s “Donaldson” hearing. This was the Board’s chance to acknowledge that the situation could have been handled better, without explicitly apologizing. However, when only two out of 10 board members voted to reinstate Chmiel, it became clear that our voices weren’t being heard. Our concerns as residents and parents were ignored, and any remaining trust in the Board evaporated. more

Meisel is Highly Invested in PPS, Doesn’t Back Away from Complicated Discussions

To the Editor:
There are three precious spots open on the Princeton Board of Education. This year is extremely important. We need to find BOE candidates committed to hiring a superintendent who is invested in our district, not their own agenda, and also not temporary (we are grateful to the lovely temporary superintendents we’ve had in the past five years, but we deserve long-term investment). With so much change and turnover in this district (on all levels) we are missing the opportunity to form our own identity. The identity of our district should not come from how it wants to be perceived but should come from the needs of the kids. It’s not an agenda put upon them, but a collaborative development toward the future together.

Ari Meisel encompasses skills to help bring this district its identity. Ari should fill one of the three open positions.  more

Obituaries 10/18/2024

Maximilian Urquhart Wright

Maximilian Urquhart Wright, a longtime resident of the Princeton area, died unexpectedly on September 12, 2024, at the age of 44.

Max was born on October 4, 1979 at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., to Richard LaFollette and Margaret Walker Wright, with whom Max shared a birthday.  In the early 1980s the family moved to Princeton where Max grew up on Jefferson Road in a loving home that was a hub of activity and community.

Max attended Community Park Elementary School, John Witherspoon Middle School, and The Hun School for high school, from which he graduated in 1998. Max attended Denison University in Granville, Ohio, and received a BA in 2002.

In his youth Max cultivated a love for the outdoors and biked around Princeton with his friends. He was fond of furry animals of all sizes and over time developed an eclectic musical preference for Bruce Springsteen, Elvis, Guns & Roses, and Willie Nelson. Max rooted passionately for the New York Mets and San Francisco 49ers. His clear favorite local delicacy was a plate of Buffalo wings from Chuck’s Spring Street Café. He looked forward to annual family trips to Greece and the Jersey shore.

A natural “all round athlete,” Max loved the competition and camaraderie that came from participation in many different sports. Whether it was gymnastics, wrestling, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, football, baseball, or lacrosse — Max had a reputation for excelling within Princeton’s local sporting community. He set scoring records in the Dylan Youth Basketball league in middle school and was known to have hit the very first homerun at the then newly constructed Princeton Little League fields by the Shopping Center. At Hun, Max received many state and regional distinctions in both football and lacrosse, serving as a captain to each team.  Max chose Denison University to play both football and lacrosse, the latter of which was consistently nationally ranked, accomplishing two NCCA Division III Final Four appearances during his college career.

After college Max worked in the commercial and residential real estate sectors in Boston and San Francisco, while traveling the world when he could.  Max eventually returned to New Jersey to manage residential and farm properties. During this time Max developed a lasting love for golf while maintaining a regular presence at the YMCA on Paul Robeson Place for early morning pick-up basketball.

More than his devotion to any hobby, sport or vocation, Max was passionate about people. He truly loved a vast amount of friends and individuals from across the community. Max is survived by his parents Margaret and Richard Wright of Princeton, his older brother Walker Wright of Oakland, California, his two nephews, Cooper and Sawyer, and numerous loving cousins, aunts, and uncles.

Max’s family and close friends will host a celebration of Max’s life on Thursday September 19 at 1 p.m. at Springdale Golf Club, 1895 Clubhouse Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540.

Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

———

Robert John Higgins
1927–2024

Robert John Higgins was born in Princeton and remained a lifelong resident. He was an Army veteran who was stationed in Europe during WWII. Bob was also a member of Engine Co. #1 (We Lead, Let Others Follow), Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad, and St. Paul’s Church. He was a graduate of Princeton High School and General Motors Institute. Bob retired from Ford Motor Co. after a career spanning four decades.

Bob is predeceased by his wife, Clarice (Chris) Boice Higgins; his parents, James and Julia; his brother, James Jr.; and his sister, Katharine.

Bob is survived by his son, Robert “Bob” Jr. (Janet); his daughter, Lynn Higgins Miller (Paul); his grandchildren, Michele and PJ Miller; and his much-loved great-grandpups, Mulligan (Westie) and Chloe (Frenchie).

A funeral mass will be held at St. Paul’s Church on Tuesday, September 24 at 10 a.m. A burial will follow at Princeton Cemetery, during which time Bob and his beloved wife, Chris, will be laid to rest together, as they desired.

Contributions in Bob’s memory may be made to Engine Co. #1 or Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad.

———

Ernest Samuel “Chubby” D’Andrea

Ernest Samuel “Chubby” D’Andrea, of Ewing, NJ, formerly of Princeton, NJ, passed away on Friday, September 13, 2024 at Serenity Hospice at RWJ – Hamilton, Hamilton Township, NJ, at the age of 89.

He was born in Princeton, NJ, and attended the Princeton schools. After graduation, he worked for the Princeton Township Road Department for over 40 years and Tiger Refreshments at Princeton University. After his retirement he was a crossing guard at Littlebrook School and at the Guyot Avenue/Jefferson Road crossing.

Ernest was a member of the Princeton Elks and life member of the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad.

Predeceased by his parents, Ernest P. and Josephine Crocetti D’Andrea, he is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Jane Duncan D’Andrea; his daughter and her partner, Sarah D’Andrea and Dusty Thayer of Port Leyden, NY; grandson Gregory Griffis and his wife Jaclyn and great-granddaughters Josephine and Guiliana all of Lawrenceville, NJ; sister and brother-in-law Loretta and Steven Derochi of Skillman; nephew Jonathan Derochi of Rocky Hill, NJ; and two nieces and their husbands,Andrea and Luke Moix of California and Elisa and Chuck Welles of Pennsylvania.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Paul Parish, 214 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ, on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 10 a.m. Burial will follow, in the family plot, in the church cemetery.

A gathering of family and friends will be on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Kimble Funeral Home, 1 Hamilton Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08542.

Contributions, in his memory, to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital can be made, in various ways, at stjude.org/donate.

Extend condolences and share memories at TheKimbleFuneralHome.com.

———

Robert Fones Williams

Robert Fones Williams, 96, of Princeton passed away on September 3, 2024, at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.

Bob was born in Bessemer, AL. After studying mathematics as an undergraduate with R. L. Moore at the University of Texas, he received his doctorate from the University of Virginia. He worked as a professor of mathematics at a number of universities, including Northwestern University and the University of Texas at Austin. At various times throughout his career he was a Member at the Institute for Advanced Study. He liked to say he studied chaos, otherwise known as dynamical systems. Both modern dance and mountaineering were important activities for him. He was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton.

He was predeceased by his parents Elgin and Ann (Brown) Williams, and two brothers Elgin Williams and Joe Williams.

Robert is survived by his wife Karen K. Uhlenbeck, a daughter Ellen Lindsay Williams, nieces and nephews Brett Williams, Robert Williams, Cathy Harrison, Nancy Goodhew, Wade Williams, and Carol Kirksmith.

In memory of Bob, memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org) or the Bob Williams Endowment for Excellence in Undergraduate Mathematics (give.utexas.edu/?menu=OGPNSBW)

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

September 11, 2024

All About Bugs

Participants collected insects for identification on Saturday at the Annual Insect Festival, led by Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County at Mercer County Educational Gardens in Hopewell Township. Participants share what they liked best about the event in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Sarah Teo)

Council Moves to Acquire Westminster Campus

By Anne Levin

At its meeting on Monday, September 9, Princeton Council voted unanimously to introduce two ordinances designed to start the process of acquiring the former Westminster Choir College property.

“This evening the Mayor and Council voted unanimously to introduce two ordinances which begin the process for the Municipality to acquire 101 Walnut Lane, former site of the historic Westminster Choir College,” reads a statement issued by Council President Mia Sacks on Tuesday morning. “The public hearing for Ordinance #2024-35 will be held on September 23 and the public hearing for Ordinance #2024-34 will be held on October 14.

“Acquisition of this property would represent a generational investment — enabling Princeton to more effectively plan for its long-term future — including but not limited to the provision of much-needed educational and recreational facilities for the community and school district, and other public needs.  more

All Six PPS Schools Win Certification From Sustainable Jersey

By Donald Gilpin

With sustainability remaining a high priority in the new school year, Princeton Public Schools (PPS) reports that all six of its schools have achieved Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification.

Princeton High School (PHS), Princeton Middle School (PMS), Community Park Elementary (CP), and Riverside Elementary have met the requirements to achieve certification this year, joining Littlebrook Elementary and Johnson Park Elementary, who won certification in 2022. There are 375 certified schools in New Jersey.

“We are all incredibly proud of our schools’ commitment to sustainability and all the hard work that has gone into achieving this certification,” said PPS Interim Superintendent Kathie Foster, as quoted in a press release. “By integrating sustainable practices into our buildings, operations, and curriculum, we are not only reducing our footprint but also inspiring our students to be the changemakers of tomorrow.” more

University Welcomes 1,411 First-Years, Only Small Changes in Racial Diversity

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton University has welcomed 1,411 first-year students in the Class of 2028, the first class admitted following the Supreme Court’s June 2023 decision banning race-conscious affirmative action in college admissions. Comparative numbers reveal little change in racial diversity from other recent first-year classes.

In a statement released at the time of the Court’s decision, Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber emphasized the importance of having a diverse student body and stated that Princeton would “work vigorously to preserve — and indeed grow — the diversity of our community while fully respecting the law as announced today.” more

Serious Music in a Relaxed Atmosphere at “Bach en Bandoneon” Performance

BETWEEN THE KEYS: Pianist Cristina Altamura, artistic director of Altamura Legacy Concerts, brings the Avalos-Solera Duo to Princeton on September 29 for a concert celebrating the Argentinian tango instrument, the bandoneon. The event is a collaboration with the Princeton Tango Club. (Photo by Maria Grazia Facciolá)

By Anne Levin

Should the audience at the September 29 “Bach en Bandoneon” concert at Princeton United Methodist Church (PUMC) be inspired to break into a spontaneous tango at its conclusion, nothing would please the planner of the concert more.

Cristina Altamura, artistic director of Altamura Legacy Concerts, wants the performance — as well as all events in the year-old music series — to be as much a house concert as a serious cultural event.

“I like to just set the stage,” Altamura said. “I want to encourage people to feel welcome, and comfortable to express themselves. It’s a very informal space. We’ll see what happens.” more

“Stand with the Banned” Read-Out Promotes Awareness of Censorship

“STAND WITH THE BANNED”: Author Airlie Anderson, whose children’s book “Neither” is frequently challenged, will participate in the read-out on September 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. on Hinds Plaza.

By Wendy Greenberg

Rallying against an uptick in banned or challenged books, community members can stand against restricting access to books when Princeton area leaders, authors, and advocates read aloud from some of these targeted books.

“Stand with the Banned,” a read-out sponsored by Princeton Public Library, Labyrinth Books, and Princeton University Press, with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, will take place on Monday, September 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. on Hinds Plaza. The library Community Room will serve as a rain location.  more

University Seeks Even-Handed Response As Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators Return

By Donald Gilpin

Princeton University continues to negotiate the fine line between allowing free speech on the one hand and maintaining an atmosphere of civility and respect for all on the other, as pro-Palestine student organizers continue to press their cause.

About 150 demonstrators gathered at McCosh Courtyard after the first day of classes last week and marched past Clio Hall and on to Nassau Hall, sites associated with last spring’s Princeton Gaza Solidarity Encampment, which held out for almost three weeks, calling for the University to divest and disassociate from companies with ties to Israel. Princeton avoided the kinds of large-scale demonstrations that roiled many other universities last spring and led to thousands of arrests and the departure of a number of college presidents. more

Computer Coding Opportunities for Children are Available at The Coder School Montgomery

LOOKING GOOD: A group of students at The Coder School Montgomery take a break from coding to try on their new Coder School shirts.

By Jean Stratton

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” —Arthur C. Clarke
Magic is indeed at work at The Coder School Montgomery!

A 7-year-old boy is busy creating a pong game in the coding language of Scratch. An 11-year-old is using the Python coding language to develop a Wordle app. A 16-year-old, also using Python, is designing an advanced app that determines the user’s carbon footprint and makes suggestions on how to minimize it.

The Coder School Montgomery, which opened in 2019 at The Grove at Montgomery, 21 Belle Mead Griggstown Road, just off Route 206 North in Montgomery, is one of 65 Coder School franchises nationwide. Owned by Michael and Dominique Young, it offers computer coding instruction for students ages 7 to 17.

The original Coder School was founded by Hansel Lyn and Wayne Teng in 2014, and now includes 1000 coder coaches, teaching 7,000 students every week.

 more

A Tale of Two Events — D.H. Lawrence and a Perfect Rainbow

(Photo by Leslie Mitchner)

By Stuart Mitchner

If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite.

—William Blake

On Britannica’s website “This Day in History: September 11,” an image of the World Trade Center in flames sits beside a photograph of D.H. Lawrence, who was born on that date in 1885. Lawrence is not listed, however, among Wikipedia’s notable September 11 events between 1601 and 1900, such as the the theft of the Hope Diamond (1792), the Battle of Tampico (1829), the anti-Masonic Party convention (1830), or the capture of Gaki Sherocho, the last king of the Kaffa (1897).

You may wonder why the birth of a mere author rates a place on that list. In fact, Britannica has it right. The author of The Rainbow is an event unto himself. Diamonds, battles, conventions, and kings are trivia next to what he produced, not to mention what he was: the Lawrence experience. As his friend Cynthia Asquith once said, Lawrence could make washing dishes an adventure. Imagine standing side by side with Lorenzo, he doing the scrubbing with his sleeves rolled up, holding forth on the American soul while you do the drying. In the Lawrentian overflow, there’s a clarity to everything, the cups and saucers gleaming like porcelain hallucinations. more

McCarter Presents the World Premiere of “Empire Records: The Musical”; Production is a Homecoming for Songwriter, Princeton Native Zoe Sarnak

“EMPIRE RECORDS: THE MUSICAL”: McCarter Theatre Center is presenting “Empire Records: The Musical.” Written by librettist Carol Heikkinen in collaboration with composer and lyricist Zoe Sarnak, and directed by Trip Cullman, the musical will run through October 6 at McCarter’s Berlind Theatre. Above: Liam Pearce and Lorna Courtney. (Photo by Daniel Rader)

By Donald H. Sanborn III

McCarter Theatre is presenting the world premiere of Empire Records: The Musical. Adapted from the 1995 coming-of-age comedy film, the show has a book by Carol Heikkinen, the film’s screenwriter; and a score by composer and lyricist Zoe Sarnak.

Performances run through October 6. more