May 14, 2025

With Senior Inayat Coming Through in the Jumps, PHS Boys’ Track Places 2nd in CVC Championships

By Justin Feil

Ishaq Inayat took on a couple of challenges at the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Track & Field Championships last Saturday at Robbinsville High.

First there was the seen – a strong group of long and triple jumpers from CVC schools.

And there was the felt – a headwind coming directly up the runway.

“When we arrived there in the morning and kind of looked at the weather and saw it’s going to be windy all day, we kind of knew that maybe we weren’t going to jump our best marks today,” said Princeton High senior Inayat. “But it’s the county championships and we want to score as many points as possible so we kind of have to make do and just tough it out and get the furthest we can. And I’d say we’re pretty happy with the marks we performed and we scored some good points in the battle for the county championship.” more

Senior Ewanchyna Spearheads Stingy Defense As PDS Boys’ Lacrosse Advances to CVC Semis

SOUNDING OFF: Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse head coach Sam Kosoff, center, makes a point to his players in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, sixth-seeded PDS edged third-seeded Allentown 5-3 in the quarterfinal round of the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament. The Panthers, who moved to 6-7 with a 10-5 loss to Montclair Kimberley Academy in the Prep Tournament semis last Monday, were slated to face second-seeded Notre Dame in the CVC semis on May 13 with the victor advancing to the final on May 15 at Hopewell Valley. In addition, the Panthers will be hosting Northern Burlington on May 16 in a regular season contest. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Wyatt Ewanchyna was fired up to hit the field for the Princeton Day School boys’ lacrosse team as it hosted WW/P-North last Thursday in the opening round of the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament.

“All of these kids are hockey kids and we have already been through a heartbreaker this year,” said senior defender Ewanchyna, referring to a 2-1 overtime loss to Don Bosco this winter in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public quarterfinal round. “We were really pumped to get into another tournament together.” more

Catching Fire Down the Stretch Again, PDS Baseball Surges into Prep B Semis

NO DOUBT: Princeton Day School baseball player Santino Cignarella takes a swing in a 2024 game. Last Thursday, senior shortstop Cignarella went 1 for 2 with a run as eighth-seeded PDS edged top-seeded Montclair Kimberley Academy 2-1 in the Prep B state quarterfinals. The Panthers, who fell 17-0 to Notre Dame last Saturday in the first round of the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) tournament to move to 7-12, were slated to play at fourth-seeded Pennington in the Prep B semis on May 13 with the victor advancing to the final on May 15 at Diamond Nation in Flemington. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In 2024, the Princeton Day School baseball team started 0-9 but produced a late surge, winning four of its last five games, including the program’s first-ever victory in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public tournament.

History is repeating itself this spring as the Panthers lost their first nine games only to respond with a 7-3 run, earning a spot in the Prep B state semis along the way. more

May 7, 2025

Day of Action

About 250 demonstrators braved the drizzling rain on Sunday, May 4 to gather in Hinds Plaza to voice their opposition to policies and actions of the Trump administration. The May Day National Day of Action rally, in conjunction with hundreds of rallies across the country from May 1 to 4, including a May 1 Princeton rally organized by Resistencia en Accion New Jersey, was hosted by the Coalition for Peace Action, Indivisible Cranbury, Indivisible Princeton, and the Princeton Community Democratic Organization. (Photo by Donald Gilpin)

Local Arts Groups Feel the Sting of NEA Cuts

By Anne Levin

A few weeks ago, McCarter Theatre Center was awaiting delivery on the $35,000 it was to be awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in support of the play Legacy of Light. Nearby, Princeton University Concerts was looking forward to the $20,000 promised by the federal agency to support its Music & Healing series.

In Frenchtown, the Roxey Ballet was anticipating the $10,000 the NEA had allocated for its “Viva Cultura” Cinco de Mayo festival.

This past Friday, these organizations learned that the funding would not be forthcoming. They are among the numerous cultural groups across the nation promised support that has now been rescinded. As a result, a group of senior officials from the NEA announced Monday that they have resigned. more

PHS Science Projects, Powered by Creativity, Achieve Worthy Goals

RAISING THE TOOLSHED: Princeton High School students, assisted by Friends of Herrontown Woods (FOHW) President Steve Hiltner, lifted a toolshed into place at the PHS wet meadow last week. The toolshed was built by FOHW volunteer Robert Chong out of scavenged wood, and its roof will provide water for rain barrels, which will provide water for watering the plants. (Photo by Inge Regan, FOHW)

By Donald Gilpin

Sustainability, innovation, and teamwork are the central themes of two recent projects at Princeton High School (PHS) — one creating a native wet meadow in a large basin on campus and the other repurposing unused COVID-19 Plexiglass for hands-on learning about DNA replication.

“We are in the early stages of designing and implementing a native planting effort as well as improving the site’s functionality for education purposes,” said PHS Science Educator James Smirk in describing PHS’ wet meadow. “In the future the site will be a focal point for our continued efforts to link our local environment and our community in the process of improving sustainability.” more

Nonagenarians, Friends, and Families Gather to Celebrate, Share, Reminisce

90+ AND COUNTING: The Broadway family — John, center right, described by his son as “the strongest man you’ll ever meet,” — accept their family heirloom blanket at Sunday’s event to “Honor and Celebrate 90+ Years of Sharing Wisdom and Joy” sponsored by the Arts Council of Princeton and Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society. (Photo courtesy of the Arts Council of Princeton)

By Donald Gilpin

It was an afternoon of memories, nostalgia, storytelling, and celebration, of laughs and a few tears, and an abundance of wisdom and joy, as the Princeton African American community celebrated its neighborhood elders on Sunday, May 4 at the Arts Council of Princeton (ACP).

A crowd of about 150 overflowed the ACP’s Solley Theater to pay tribute to 14 individuals 90 years old or more, “incredible contributors to our community whose shoulders we all stand on,” as noted by Pastor Gregory Smith, who emceed the event. more

Princeton Pro Musica’s Upcoming Concert Reflects Turing’s Accomplishment and Heartbreak

MUSIC THAT MATTERS: Princeton Pro Musica, led by Ryan James Brandau, presents “Codebreaker: The Alan Turing Story” at Richardson Auditorium on May 18. Brandau is shown here leading the chorus and orchestra in a previous performance.

By Anne Levin

When Princeton Pro Musica’s artistic director Ryan James Brandau considers what kinds of works to program for the 100-member symphonic chorus and orchestra, he finds himself returning to music written about the contributions of historical figures and what they endured to accomplish them.

There was Annelies, in 2022, James Whitbourn’s work based on the writings of Anne Frank. Sanctuary Road, more recently, drew from the writings of Underground Railroad conductor William Still. On May 18 at 4 p.m. at Richardson Auditorium, the chorus will present Codebreaker: the Alan Turing Story, composer James McCarthy’s choral work based on the pioneering British mathematician and logician whose work laid the groundwork for modern computing. Turing, who was gay, committed suicide in 1954 — a time when homosexuality was still a crime in Britain. more

Younity to Host Annual Awards Dinner Highlighting Justice, Healing, Change

By Donald Gilpin

Younity (formerly Womanspace) will be honoring two individuals and a local organization whose work manifests “a commitment to justice, healing, and systemic change” at its 29th Annual Awards Dinner on May 15 at The Boathouse at Mercer Lake in Mercer County Park.

Bringing together civic leaders and other supporters to highlight contributions to the safety and empowerment of victim-survivors of domestic and sexual violence, the event will recognize Moms Demand Action Executive Director Angela Ferrell-Zabala, who will receive the Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award; Kieran John, who will receive the Edwin W. Schmierer Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service; and the Princeton Area Community Foundation (PACF), which will receive the Younity Award for Outstanding Community Partner.

Proceeds from this Younity fundraiser will support several of the organization’s programs, including crisis intervention, emergency safe housing, counseling, legal advocacy, and prevention education. more

Voices in Time — A May 7 Gathering

By Stuart Mitchner

Robert Browning

After looking for poetry in actors last week, I’m thinking of a poet who was a compelling actor in his verse and happened to be born on this day, May 7, in 1812. I formed the habit of reading Robert Browning in lonely motel rooms when I was covering college English departments for W.W. Norton in the mid-sixties. My reading companion was the Norton Anthology of English Literature at a time when Norton’s compact anthologies of English and American lit were being adopted by English Departments from the southland to the heartland. Since I was living on an expense account, most of my salary was going toward a trip to India.

Otherwise, I spent my motel life writing a novel narrated by a fantasist obsessed with Browning. Besides filtering semblances of the master into the twisted prose style of my narrator, I read the dramatic monologues aloud, with gusto, especially my favorite “Fra Lippo Lippi,” all 392 lines of it. You can hear James Mason read the whole thing online. It’s magificent, a one-man opera, every nuance, every smirk, every suggestive snort right down to the nightcrawling painter’s farewell: “Your hand, sir, and good-by: no lights, no lights! The street’s hushed, and I know my own way back, Don’t fear me! There’s the gray beginning. Zooks!” more

Voices Chorale NJ Presents Diverse Classical Requiem Masses

By Nancy Plum

Not many performing ensembles have the capability to reinvent themselves. Voices Chorale NJ was founded in the late 1980s as a fully professional vocal ensemble, later adding a “Chorale” to include volunteer singers. The chorus has been through some reconfiguration in the past four decades, both in response to economic challenges and to expand their activities, but one thing that has remained consistent is the dedication of its singers. Voices Chorale NJ currently offers an annual concert series as well as educational programs for the community, all overseen by Artistic Director David A. McConnell. The Chorale presented its closing concert of the season this past weekend, featuring vocal soloists and the Berks Sinfonietta in a performance of a Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart tour de force and a relatively obscure work by a Brazilian contemporary of the Viennese master.

Mozart’s setting of the Requiem stands out as a pinnacle of late 18th-century symphonic choral composition, and even in the pre-technology 1700s, it was clear that the influence of the prodigious composer was felt far and wide. On the other side of the world, sacred music in Brazil at that time was heavily influenced by the mass settings of European composers, especially Mozart. On Saturday afternoon at Princeton’s Trinity Church, Voices Chorale NJ paired Mozart’s poignant Requiem with a setting of the same text by a very under-represented Latin American composer. Born in Rio de Janeiro 11 years after Mozart, José Maurício Nunes García sustained a dual career as musician and priest, composing more than 240 surviving works with another possible 170 which have been lost. Nunes García conducted the Brazilian premiere of Mozart’s Requiem, so the coupling of these two pieces was musicologically appropriate and imaginative. Dating from 1816, Nunes García’s own Requiem is rarely heard on either side of the Atlantic.  more

Princeton Youth Ballet Presents “Cinderella”

CINDERELLA STORY: Princeton Youth Ballet’s upcoming production of “Cinderella” stars Mackenzie Klaus in the title role, partnered by Alastair Donofrio as the Prince.

Princeton Youth Ballet (PYB) invites the community to celebrate Mother’s Day with its production of Cinderella, choreographed by former Artistic Director Risa Kaplowitz and adapted by current Artistic Director Talin Kenar. Performances, at the Princeton High School Performing Arts Center, are Saturday and Sunday, May 10 and 11 at 4 p.m.

The ballet features a cast of more than 60 young artists. Projection backdrops were created by Raymond DeVoe, and bespoke costumes have been reimagined this season by artist Anne Schwantes.
The ballet transports the audience to Cinderella’s cottage, a royal ballroom, and an enchanted garden, where amidst songbirds, woodland creatures, and butterflies, Cinderella, with the help of her Fairy Godmother, discovers the enduring power of her mother’s love.  more

Folk Music Society Presents Trio from Italy

ITALIAN FOLK: Ensemble Sangenito, from Northern Italy, brings an eclectic mix to Christ Congregation Church on May 16. (Photo courtesy of Ensemble Sangenito © Allessandro Erbetta)

On Friday, May 16 at 8 p.m., the Princeton Folk Music Society brings Ensemble Sangenito to Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane, for a program mixing the old and the new.

Blending ancient melodies and modern rhythms, the trio from northern Italy, was formed in 2000 by the twins Adriano and Caterina Sangineto, children of the well-known harp and psaltery maker Michele Sangineto. Growing up under their father’s influence, the twins developed a natural flair for music.  more

Garden Theatre Hosts Special Film Event

The Garden Theatre will present an evening dedicated to the magic of film projection on May 21 at 7 p.m. with a screening of the documentary Film is Dead. Long Live Film!

Beforehand, an antique projector demonstration will be given by the Garden’s Operations Director, Jesse Crooks. The event is free for members of the nonprofit cinema.

Film is Dead. Long Live Film! is a tribute to the private film collector. As studios and distributors neglected and disposed of countless reels of film throughout the 20th century, these individuals worked in the shadows to preserve much of cinematic history. The documentary highlights the efforts of some of the most important people in the cause, including the late Lou DiCrescenzo – mentor of the Garden’s own Jesse Crooks, who is also featured in the film.  more

State Theatre Announces 2025-26 Broadway Series

The lineup for State Theatre New Jersey’s 2025-26 Broadway series has been announced by the New Brunswick theater, which is located at 15 Livingston Avenue. Tickets are available for those purchasing season tickets, which can be ordered without fees through May 30.

On the list are Mrs. Doubtfire, November 1 and 2; Kinky Boots, February 27-March 1; Stereophonic, March 27-29; and Meredith Willson’s The Music Man, May 8-10.

Also planned are the shows Elf The Musical November 14-16, Richard Thomas in Mark Twain Tonight by Hal Holbrook March 5-6, and Monty Python’s Spamalot June 27-28.

Visit stnj.org for tickets and further information.

Songs and Stories By Collins and Peyroux

MUSIC ICONS: Judy Collins, pictured, will perform with Madeleine Peyroux on Saturday, May 10 at State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick.

State Theatre New Jersey presents folk legend Judy Collins and jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux on Saturday, May 10 at 8 p.m.

Collins has long inspired audiences with vocals, songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a commitment to social activism. In the 1960s, she evoked both the idealism and determination of a generation united against social and environmental injustices. The award-winning singer-songwriter is known for her interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk standards and her own original compositions. Her 55th album, Spellbound, was released in February 2022. more

Registration Open For Summer Arts

SUMMER ON STAGE: Registration is now open for Tomato Patch Summer Workshops at Mercer County Community College, where students are offered classes in the performing and visual arts, culminating with an Evening of the Arts for family and friends on the last day of each session.

The Tomato Patch summer workshops at Mercer County Community College (MCCC) begin June 30, and registration is now open for all school age students.

Now in its 25th year, Tomato Patch is the longest-running multi-disciplinary visual and performing arts program in central New Jersey. Featuring classes for all school-age students, Tomato Patch is taught by a artists and theater professionals. more

McCarter Theatre Tickets On Sale for Next Season

SEASON PLANNED: Humorist David Sedaris is among the performers scheduled for McCarter Theatre’s 2025-26 season. Tickets are now available. (Photo by Anne Fishbein)

McCarter Theatre Center has announced that subscriptions, tickets, and flexible Choose-Your-Own packages for the 2025/26 season are now on sale.

The season kicks off with the world premiere of I and You: The Musical, featuring a book by Lauren Gunderson and music and lyrics by Ari Afsar. Directed by McCarter Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen and co-produced with Olney Theatre Center, this musical runs from September 13–October 12. Other highlights include Camille A. Brown & Dancers: I AM on Friday, September 26. Brown, a 2025 Tony Award nominee for Gypsy, returns to McCarter with a new work celebrating cultural liberation and imagination through movement. more

“Being Present” Exhibition Coming to Arts Council

“BEING PRESENT:” The photographic artwork of Princeton-based artist Robin Resch will be featured in a dual exhibit with Shirley Kern, on view at the Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) May 17 through June 14.

The Arts Council of Princeton has announced a two-person exhibition, “Being Present: Exploration of Abstraction,” featuring the work of Princeton-based artists Robin Resch and Shirley Kern. It will be on view May 17 to June 14 in the Taplin Gallery.

“Being Present” explores abstraction through the photographic artwork of Resch and paintings of Kern. They have long been drawn to each other’s work, finding that it resonates mutually in an emotive way that they feel is worth sharing. more

Princeton Art Bazaar

The third annual Princeton Art Bazaar presented by the Arts Council of Princeton drew a crowd of 8,500+ attendees on Saturday, May 3. Art lovers shopped from 100 makers, enjoyed local beers and live music in the Triumph Beer Garden, and tried their hand at a variety of art-making stations. (Photo courtesy of Arts Council of Princeton)

Olivia & Leslie Foundation + Johnson Park Student Art Show

Olivia & Leslie Foundation + Johnson Park Student Art Show will be held at the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, on Saturday, May 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This special event will showcase the artistic achievements of students in the foundation’s Art + Math Program. RSVP at oliviaandlesliefoundation.org/rsvpnj. For more information, visit oliviaandlesliefoundation.org.

Serving Adults and Children, Princeton YMCA Offers Dynamic and Engaging Youth Programs

BUNNY HOP: The Easter Bunny welcomed children to a special Aquatic Egg Hunt, where hundreds of colorful plastic eggs were floated in the Princeton YMCA’s swimming pool. The children gathered them and then traded them in for prizes.

By Jean Stratton

During its 110-year history, the Princeton YMCA has offered a wide-ranging program of activities for the community. Adults and children have benefitted from an amazing number of opportunities — everything from exercise to enrichment to enlightenment.

Initially serving as a recreational club for youth and young adults in private homes, it later became a branch of the national YMCA, and moved to 102 Witherspoon Street in 1914. more

Coming Off Tough Loss to Cornell in Ivy Final, PU Men’s Lax Hosting Towson in NCAA Opener

FACE TIME: Princeton University men’s lacrosse face-off specialist Andrew McMeekin, right, goes after the ball in a game earlier this season. Last weekend, junior McMeekin starred as Princeton competed in the Ivy League tournament. McMeekin went 31 for 54 on face-offs with 22 ground balls as second-seeded Princeton defeated third-seeded Harvard 11-8 in the semis on Friday before falling 20-15 to top-seeded Cornell in the final on Sunday. The Tigers, now 12-3, received an at-large bid to the upcoming NCAA tournament where it will host Towson in a first round contest on May 10. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In 2022, the Princeton University men’s lacrosse team caught fire down the stretch, getting an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and making a stirring run to the semifinals.

With Princeton having earned an at-large bid to this year’s NCAA tourney, where it will host Towson in a first round contest on May 10, the team’s seniors are looking to come full circle by making a second run to the Final 4. more

Blake Sets Goal Record for Tiger Women’s Lacrosse But Tigers Fall in Ivy Final, Aim to Rebound in NCAAs

FOR THE RECORD: Princeton University women’s lacrosse player McKenzie Blake, right, looks to get past a Brown defender last Friday in the Ivy League tournament semifinals at Class of 1952 Stadium. Senior attacker Blake fired in five goals in a 17-16 win over the Bears, making history in the process as she scored her 209th goal as a Tiger to break Kyla Sears’ program record for career goals. On Sunday, Blake scored two goals but it wasn’t nearly enough as the top-seeded Tigers fell 17-6 to second-seeded Yale in the Ivy final. Princeton, now 14-3, received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and will face Massachusetts in a first-round contest on May 9 in Baltimore, Md. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Last Friday, McKenzie Blake helped spark a rally for the top-seeded Princeton University women’s lacrosse team as it overcame a 7-3 second quarter deficit to edge fourth-seeded Brown 17-16 at the Class of 1952 Stadium in the Ivy League tournament semifinals.

Senior attacker Blake fired in five goals, making history in the process as she scored her 209th goal as a Tiger to break Kyla Sears’ program record for career goals. more

With Senior Star Zang Saving Her Best for Last, PHS Girls’ Golf Wins CVC, Sectional Crowns

ON COURSE: Members of the Princeton High girls’ golf team enjoy the moment after they placed first at the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Championship last Wednesday at the Mountain View Golf Club in Ewing. The Tigers had a winning score of 339, 38 stokes better than runner-up WW/P-South. PHS senior star Jacqueline Zang placed first individually with a three-over 75, three strokes better than second place finisher Charlotte Reid of Allentown. The Tigers went to win the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) South Jersey – Group A Sectional Championship last Monday at McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links in Egg Harbor Township. The Tigers had a winning team score of 314 with Clearview taking second at 345. Pictured, from left, are PHS head coach Jess Monzo, Shreya Gaekwad, Yasna Shahriarian, Jacqueline Zang, Alice Ye, and Kyuyoung Chung.

By Justin Feil

Jacqueline Zang was the top finisher at the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Girls Golf Tournament last Wednesday at Mountain View Golf Club in Ewing.

But that wasn’t her biggest joy of the day. more