July 31, 2024

Reading J.D. Vance On the Rebound

By Stuart Mitchner

I started reading J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis (Harper 2016) on the rebound from a problem with PayPal, the co-creation of Vance’s venture-capitalist savior Peter Thiel. The 2018 paperback comes with 10 pages of blurbs, including one from Thiel noting that Vance “writes powerfully about the real people who are kept out of sight by academic abstractions.” Quoted on the same page, Bill Gates says the book’s “real magic” is “in the story itself and Vance’s bravery in telling it.”

Friends who read Elegy when Vance was running for the Senate trashed it, calling it “phony.” I read it straight through in one day, absorbed in the story and the characters until the “real people” Thiel refers to were displaced by language like the subtitle’s “Culture in Crisis.” Although I wasn’t looking for “gotcha” moments as I read, I noticed passages that people on the Far Right would hate, and Hillbilly Elegy may yet land on some banned lists in Texas and Florida, given the campaign to rescue red state libraries from “woke” or suspect material. I’m also pretty sure that Mamaw, Vance’s gun-toting grandmother, a Democrat who liked Bill Clinton and The Sopranos, would have told J.D. to stay the hell away from venture capitalists, the Republican Party, and Donald Trump. All of Vance’s retracted defamations of Trump (“Hitler,” “idiot,” “poison”) could have been shouted by Mamaw from beyond the grave, except she’d have loaded her spectral rifle with f-words.  more

A Slave Ship Appears in Front of the Statue of Liberty in “Emergency”; Princeton Summer Theater Performs a Compelling, Versatile One-Man Show

“EMERGENCY”: Performances are underway for Princeton Summer Theater’s production of “Emergency.” Written by Daniel Beaty and directed by PST Artistic Director Layla J. Williams, the one-man show runs through August 3 at Princeton University’s Hamilton Murray Theater. Above: Destine Harrison-Williams portrays a variety of characters, including a reporter and a poet, who react to the sudden appearance of a slave ship in front of modern-day Liberty Island. (Photo by Layla J. Williams)

By Donald H. Sanborn III

Emergency is a one-man show that imagines a slave ship appearing in front of the Statue of Liberty — in the present day.

Written by Daniel Beaty, the play uses this provocative concept to probe numerous issues, particularly ways in which our culture, especially the media, reacts to significant and devastating events. The monologue is an unsparingly candid, yet often wryly humorous, meditation — from multiple viewpoints — on America’s history of racial injustice, from slavery to police brutality.

Beaty is an award-winning actor, singer, motivational speaker, and playwright whose works include Through the Night; Mr. Joy; and The Tallest Tree in the Forest (a play that examines Paul Robeson). He is the founder of I DREAM, an initiative that uses storytelling to help individuals and communities heal trauma. The biography on Beaty’s website describes him as a “social entrepreneur who lives at the intersection of art, spirit, and social change.” more

“Our House” Showcases Music of a Prolific Era

FAMILY AND FRIENDS: Sons of David Crosby and Stephen Stills and others from the days of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young will perform at the State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick on August 16.

State Theatre New Jersey presents “Our House: The Music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY)” on Friday, August 16 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $29-$59.

The concert features family members of the famed musicians, performing the CSNY repertoire. Featured are James Raymond (son of David Crosby), Chris Stills (son of Stephen Stills), Steve Postell (guitarist and musical director with David Crosby and The Immediate Family), Jeff Pevar (lead guitarist with David Crosby, Graham Nash, CSN, Phil Lesh), Steve DiStanislao (drums with David Crosby, David Gilmour), Michelle Wills (keyboardist with David Crosby), and Elijah Thomson (bass with Father John Misty).  more

New Leaders Announced By Westrick Music Academy

François Suhr

Westrick Music Academy (WMA) has announced the appointment of Tyler Weakland and François Suhr as the new co-music directors of the Princeton Boychoir (PBC), effective immediately. This leadership model aims to enhance the educational experience and growth opportunities for all members of the Boychoir.

The transition follows the recent departure of Adam Good, who has served as the music director of PBC. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at WMA working with the talented singers in the Treble Choir and the Young Men’s Ensemble,” he said. “Their dedication and passion have been inspiring, and I will cherish the memories we made this year.”

Suhr and Weakland bring nearly 15 years of combined service to the organization. Suhr will conduct the newly structured Treble Choir, while Weakland will lead the Young Men’s Ensemble.  more

McCarter Announces Cast For “Empire Records”

Lorna Courtney

McCarter Theatre Center has announced the cast for the world premiere of Empire Records: The Musical based on the 1990s cult-classic film. The show runs in McCarter’s Berlind Theatre from September 6-October 6.

This adaptation, featuring an original rock score by Princeton native Zoe Sarnak and a book by the film’s screenwriter Carol Heikkinen, is produced by special arrangement with Bill Weiner.

The musical reunites Sarnak with director Trip Cullman (Broadway: Choir Boy, Lobby Hero) and choreographer Ellenore Scott (Broadway: Funny Girl) after their work on Sarnak’s The Lonely Few at McCarter earlier this year.  more

“Surroundings” Exhibit Coming to Artists’ Gallery

30 X 40

“ON A COUNTRY ROAD”: This painting by Bill Jersey is part of “Surroundings,” his joint exhibition with Claudia Fouse Fountaine, on view August 8 through September 1 at Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville. An opening reception is on August 10 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville will present “Surroundings,” featuring works by Bill Jersey and Claudia Fouse Fountaine, August 8 through September 1. An opening reception is on Saturday, August 10 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Their last exhibit together highlighted travels around the world and views of different countries; colorful as well as exotic. “Surroundings” brings the focus closer to home, to what we see around us every day. According to the artists, it turns out that can be as inspirational as anything else if we take the time to look carefully. more

New Hope Colony Foundation Presents “Timeless Art” Exhibit

“BANK BARN SHADOWS”: Paintings by Jacalyn Beam, whose work is shown here, are featured in “Timeless Art,” her joint exhibition with sculptor Ashby Saunders and painter Aurelia Nieves-Callwood, on view August 3 through September 8 at the New Hope Colony Foundation for the Arts in New Hope, Pa. An opening reception is on Saturday, August 3 from 4 to 7 p.m.

“Timeless Art,” an exhibition of painting and sculpture by three accomplished artists, will be on view August 3 through September 8, 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, at the New Hope Colony Foundation for the Arts in New Hope, Pa. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, August 3 from 4 to 7 p.m. The exhibition focuses on three artists, two of whom are over 80 years of age, who have continued to paint, sculpt, and create in their chosen medium.

Sculptor Ashby Saunders, from Upper Makefield, Pa., models clay and bronze into exuberant sculptures, often depicting movement. He has been fascinated by clay modeling since childhood. He began sculpting as an adult and studied for two years with sculptor George Anthonisen. Saunders continued to sculpt, while losing his peripheral vision, until he was 85. His work can be seen in public parks in Bucks County.  more

Delaware River Art Exhibit at Johnson Education Center

“THE OLD RED BRIDGE – NEW HOPE”: This pastel by Marina Marino is featured in the group exhibition “Along the Delaware River and Crosswicks Creek,” on view through September 27 at the D&R Greenway Land Trust Johnson Education Center, 1 Preservation Place.

D&R Greenway Land Trust, in partnership with CJ Mugavero of The Artful Deposit Gallery in Bordentown, is hosting the “Along the Delaware River and Crosswicks Creek” exhibit through September 27 at the Johnson Education Center, 1 Preservation Place. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The displayed art will be sold to interested buyers, a portion of which will support D&R Greenway Land Trust to preserve land in the Delaware River region.

According to D&R Greenway, art has a long history of portraying life and the beauty along the Delaware River. From Lenape woodcarvings to the New Hope Art Colony, the Delaware River Valley has been home to creative work for thousands of years. Works like The Delaware River at Prallsville by Jeff Gola and The Run by Shawn Campbell show the level of inspiration the Delaware can instill. more

July 24, 2024

Hemingway at 125 — Don’t Give Up and Don’t Forget to Dance

By Stuart Mitchner

Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same color as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated.

—Ernest Hemingway, from The Old Man and the Sea

Don’t give up, don’t let it get you down,” my 48-year-old son told me when he saw that I was depressed by the post-Biden-debate news cycle. That was before Sunday when the president finally did what he had to do. If nothing else, maybe the media will shut up about how old he is, stop gaslighting his every move, and give him some breathing room.

I’ve been thinking about “don’t” songs. When I promised my son not to let the polls get me down, I thought of John Lennon singing “Don’t Let Me Down.” A friend says “Don’t forget to write,” and my inner jukebox clicks into action, playing “Don’t Forget to Dance,” a song from the early 1980s by the Kinks. Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” would make a great campaign anthem for either party this year except that it’s forever associated with the blackout finale of The Sopranos. Which reminds me of the 1992 Democratic convention and one of the most effective presidential campaign songs ever, Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow).” more

New Jersey Symphony Showcases Rising Composers in “New Scores” Concert

By Nancy Plum

On the 55th anniversary of man landing on the moon, it was fitting that New Jersey Symphony showed Princeton the future of musical composition. As part of its commitment to contemporary works, the Symphony sponsored its annual, weeklong, tuition-free Institute devoted to “enhancing the careers of four emerging composers” who, through in-depth coaching and rehearsals with the Symphony, were able to hone their craft and “move the ball forward” with orchestral music. This year’s culminating Edward T. Cone Composition Institute concert was held last Saturday night at Richardson Auditorium, featuring new pieces exploring a wide range of ideas. Conducted by Christopher Rountree, the performance brought well-deserved attention to four distinctive individuals with clear futures in the performing arts.

Composer Leigha Amick believes that music has the potential to “reflect on both the current and the timeless human experience, to provide grounds for intellectual fascination, and to quench the need for emotional expression.” Her extensive repertory, for both instrumental and vocal ensembles as well as electronics, has been performed nationwide. Amick’s Cascade, inspired by a composition by American Carl Stone for electronics, bagpipes and organ, was built around an altered passacaglia in which the character changed with each of a series of harmonic cycles.  more

Single Tickets Available for Orchestra Concerts

MILESTONE FOR A MAESTRO: Princeton Symphony Orchestra conductor Rossen Milanov celebrates his 60th birthday in the coming concert season. (Photo courtesy of Princeton Symphony Orchestra)

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) box office is now open for the 2024-25 season, which celebrates Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov’s 60th birthday. Guest artists will include violinists Leila Josefowicz and Aubree Oliverson, pianist Orli Shaham, Princeton University’s Performers-in-Residence So Percussion, and pianist Natasha Paremski.

Milanov has programmed favorite works including concertos by Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, and Viet Cuong’s Re(new)al. Beethoven’s Triple Concerto will feature concertmaster Basia Danilow and principal cellist Alistair MacRae with pianist Steven Beck. more

Fiber Art Exhibit at New Hope Arts Center

OPENING NIGHT: Exhibiting fiber artist Sandra Eliot stands by her and other artists’ work during the opening night of “Structures and Constructions in Fiber” at the New Hope Art Center in New Hope, Pa., on June 29. The exhibit is on view through August 18.  (Photo by Dave Garrett)

“Structures and Constructions in Fiber” opened on June 29 and runs through August 18 at the New Hope Arts Center in New Hope, Pa. The juried exhibit features over 80 original, contemporary fiber artworks from more than 30 artists across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Notable artists in various national and international collections include Marilyn Cowhill, Rita Romanova Gekht, Bojana Leznicki, Nelly Kouzmina, Susan Martin-Maffei, Michael Ross, Mary-Ann Sievert, and Katie Truk. For the complete list of participating artists, visit newhopearts.org. more

Call for Art: “95th Juried Art Show at Phillips’ Mill”

“MARCH AFTERNOON”: A pastel by Donna Ruane Rogers depicting the historic mill where the annual “Juried Art Show at Phillips’ Mill” has been held for 95 years was selected as this year’s Signature Image. Registration for this year’s show opens on July 28.

Registration for the “95th Juried Art Show at Phillips’ Mill” in New Hope, Pa., opens July 28 and runs through August 25. All submissions must be registered through Smarter Entry during this period and delivered to the mill for in-person jurying on Friday, September 6 or Saturday, September 7. The exhibition will be held at the mill and online, September 21 through October 27, daily from 1 to 5 p.m.

Artists can view and download the show’s prospectus at phillipsmill.org/art/juried-art-show-prospectus. The prospectus outlines a host of details including the link to Smarter Entry, important dates, and guidelines for each of three categories of submissions, as well as tips on photographing your work for best results for the online portion of the show. Note: All artwork must be for sale. more

Hopewell Valley Arts Council Celebrates 10th Anniversary

“HOPEWELL VALLEY STAMPEDE”: A valley-wide public art display of 69 life-size oxen decorated by artists and students in 2014 raised the initial funds for the Hopewell Valley Arts Council. Their initial arrival before decoration is pictured here.

The Hopewell Valley Arts Council is celebrating 10 years since its founding by a group of dedicated volunteers who envisioned a way to involve the community in the arts and support many local artists, a mission that continues to this day.

Over these past 10 years, the HV Arts Council has woven itself into the fabric of the community by being part of the area’s everyday community events and significant cultural celebrations, and creating many of their own public art displays.  more

Doylestown Arts Festival Returns This September

DOYLESTOWN ARTS FESTIVAL: The art and music festival in downtown Doylestown, Pa., returns for its 33rd year on September 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

The Doylestown Arts Festival will return for its 33rd anniversary this September 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The festival remains free to attend and is designed to illuminate the region’s ongoing commitment to arts and culture. For two days the historic downtown Doylestown, Pa., streets will be transformed into a lively outdoor marketplace full of art and music from local and regionally recognized creators. more

July 17, 2024

Arts Council’s ART OF Series Continues with Latest Roster of Fundraisers

MIXING IT UP: Last January’s “ART OF Mixology” at the Arts Council of Princeton was such a success that a second round has been scheduled for July 31, as part of the ART OF series of fundraising events.

By Anne Levin

When the Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) was planning its annual big fundraiser two years ago, staff members came up with an idea for something more affordable and inclusive. Instead of the standard gala party, they decided to try a series of participatory gatherings covering a range of topics — from the difference between French and Spanish wines to making perfect holiday wreaths.

That first series was a success. Since then, some 30 ART OF events have been held by the ACP. The latest batch begins July 31 with part two of “Mixology with 3BR Distillery,” a cocktail-crafting session back by popular demand. Following throughout the fall are “Matcha with Ooika,” “Vintage Jewelry with H1912,” “NJ Farming and the Future,” a trip to see the Broadway show Hell’s Kitchen, “Thriving in a Toxic World with Melissa Klepacki,” “Holiday Magic with Francisco Irala,” and “Thrifting, a Journey to the Golden Nugget Flea Market.”  more

Playing the Name Game with Freud, Biden, and Trump

By Stuart Mitchner

(…what interrupts our concentration as readers may be as telling as the book we are reading: Freud is always making the case for interruption). We make a Freudian slip when we thought we knew what we were saying. We dream beyond the bounds of intelligibility….

—From Becoming Freud

Why Freud and why now?” That is the question. After a lifetime of relative indifference to most things Freudian, it’s taken the attempted assassination of a former president plus the massive media freak-out inspired by the current president’s shabby debate performance and slip-of-the-tongue doubleheader to send me to Adam Phillips’s Becoming Freud: The Making Of a Psychoanalyst (Yale University Press) and the Gutenberg text of The Psychopathology of Everyday Life translated by A.A. Brill.

Meanwhile we have this week’s “telling” interruption in the form of the All-Star game and the Republican National Convention, held in the aftermath of Saturday’s game-changing event while I’m still gamely trying to find a place in the psychopathology of everyday baseball life for Biden’s Freudian slips. Talking heads on CNN and MSNBC have already begun portraying the president as a veteran pitcher whose late-inning moment has come as the manager walks out to the mound to take the ball and bring in the closer. Except by now everybody knows Biden intends to finish the game and there’s no manager and no closer. more

Princeton Summer Theater Succeeds with “The Last Five Years”; Musical Depicts a Couple’s Breakup Through Unique Viewpoints

“THE LAST FIVE YEARS”: Performances are underway for Princeton Summer Theater’s production of “The Last Five Years.” Written and composed by Jason Robert Brown and directed by Eliyana Abraham, the musical runs through July 21 at Princeton University’s Hamilton Murray Theater. Above: Events leading to the estrangement between Cathy Hiatt (Kate Short) and Jamie Wellerstein (Julien Alam) are told from dual perspectives — Jamie’s story is told in chronological order, while Cathy’s tale moves backward in time. (Photo by John Venegas Juarez)

By Donald H. Sanborn III

The Last Five Years is an intimate, poignant musical that depicts a married couple’s gradual estrangement.

The story, songs, and script for the mostly sung-through musical are by Jason Robert Brown. The story is inspired by Brown’s first marriage. Brown carefully describes the subject matter of The Last Five Years (2001) as “personal” (rather than “autobiographical”).

A unique narrative device is employed. For the husband, a successful author, events are seen in chronological order, starting just after the couple meets. For the wife, a struggling actress, the story begins after the breakup, moving backward in time.

This concept recalls Merrily We Roll Along, a musical (adapted from a play) that portrays three friends who grow apart, telling their story in reverse chronological order. The Last Five Years takes the idea a step further; by telling the story in both directions, the characters’ timelines are allowed to intersect once, in a central scene.

 more

Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts Presents Chamber Ensemble of Established Soloists 

By Nancy Plum

Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts continued its 2024 season this past week with a presentation by three instrumentalists who have put their collective talents together to create an exciting new experience for their audiences. Violinist Friedemann Eichorn, cellist Peter Hörr, and pianist Florian Uhlig each have had successful international solo careers and have joined forces in the past five years to explore chamber repertory as the Phaeton Piano Trio. Named for a mythological character but performing with solid down-to-earth musicianship, the Trio came to Richardson Auditorium last Monday night for an evening of Franz Joseph Haydn, Felix Mendelssohn, and Antonin Dvorák. The ensemble may be relatively new, but its playing style is rooted in centuries-old performance practice and interpretation of the classics. more

New Jersey Lyric Opera Returns to Kelsey Theatre

SUMMER OPERA: New Jersey Lyric Opera returns to Kelsey Theatre for the Summer Opera Festival July 26-28, opening with the Verdi classic “Rigoletto.”

New Jersey Lyric Opera (NJLO) performs at Mercer County Community College’s Kelsey Theatre for a second year with a weekend of opera favorites on MCCC’s West Windsor Campus, July 26-28, during the Summer Opera Festival. The weekend includes the presentation of three operas, plus the Gala Spectacular, a showcase of opera favorites.

The opera weekend kicks off with Rigoletto (Friday, July 26, 7:30 p.m.), the tragic story of the unprincipled Duke of Mantua, his hunch-backed court jester Rigoletto, and Rigoletto’s daughter Gilda. It’s a cautionary tale of love and jealousy, with famous melodies La donna è mobile and Caro Nome. The performance stars Christopher Connelly, Amanda Simms, and John Villemaire. more

Christmas in July

“Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical” at the State Theatre in New Brunswick is among the productions coming to area theaters during the winter holidays. Special offers are available for discounted tickets in advance to see “The Muppet Christmas Carol with New Jersey Symphony,” “The Nutcracker,” “An Evening with Chevy Chase” following a screening of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” and “A Magical Cirque Christmas,” all at the State Theatre, as well as “A Christmas Carol” at McCarter Theatre. Visit Mccarter.org or STNJ.org.

Phillips’ Mill Presents Premiere Showcase “The Half of It”

Drama at Phillips’ Mill presents The Half of It, a new play written by Domenick Scudera and directed by Griffin Horn, as this year’s Premiere Showcase production. An original, fully developed, never-before-performed play, The Half of It runs July 18-20 at 7 p.m. with a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday, July 21.

The Half of It is a new biographical drama based on the life of Bert Savoy, one of Broadway’s first major drag performers. The story is retold by his partner, Jay Brennan, years after Bert’s death. As Jay explores his memories of Bert, he pulls back the curtain on the dazzling life they lived together — traveling the Vaudeville circuit, advising would-be celebrities backstage, playing the press against itself, dodging their exes, discovering new ambitions as performers and falling in love along the way.

“The play highlights the groundbreaking and inspirational work of this artist while shining a light on the origins of contemporary drag performance and the LGBTQ+ community in the early part of the 20th century,” said Scudera. “I am a proud and vocal member of the LGBTQ+ community. I am hopeful that The Half of It will allow audiences to learn more about our community’s history and to learn from the lessons of our past.”  more

Winners Announced for 2024 LHT Photo Contest

“PRINCETON PIKE OAK”: This photograph by Samuel Vovsi of Princeton was tops in the Nature category in this year’s Lawrence Hopewell Trail Photo Contest.

The Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT) Corporation has announced the winners of its 2024 photo contest. Many photos were submitted in two categories, Nature and People.

The winner in the Nature category is Samuel Vovsi of Princeton for his photo of the sun shining behind the Brearley Oak on the Princeton Pike. The winner in the People category is Anthony Plisko of Lawrenceville for his photo of a person enjoying Rosedale Lake. All the submissions can be viewed on the LHT website at lhtrail.org/trail-pics-and-videos. more

HV Arts Council Awards Annual Student Scholarships

SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS: Hopewell Valley Central High School 2024 graduating seniors Rose Andreski and Jacob Brown were recently awarded scholarships by the Hopewell Valley Arts Council. (Photos courtesy of Hopewell Valley Arts Council)

The Hopewell Valley Arts Council has awarded its annual scholarships to two Hopewell Valley Central High School 2024 graduating seniors: Rose Andreski and Jacob Brown.

“This year is particularly special as we celebrate our 10th anniversary,” said HV Arts Council Board President Carol Lipson. “These scholarships are a critical part of our mission in encouraging creativity in the Hopewell Valley community and fostering a lifelong participation in the arts.”  more

“Lassen Volcanic National Park”

Travel photography by Jeffrey Edward Tryon, Town Topics art director, is featured in the Red Barn at Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, through August 31. A meet the artist event is on Saturday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The exhibit also features work by Kevin Frankenfield Photography and Joseph F. Hendrickson.