PSO Announces Chamber Series at Trinity

We have just unveiled this season's Chamber Series at Trinity! The series opens Thursday, October 23 with a special performance of Johannes Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 with audience-favorite Natasha Paremski. The work will be introduced by Maestro Rossen Milanov, and our Executive Director Marc Uys will perform with the quartet as violinist.

Other concerts in the series celebrate the holiday season, and introduce two ensembles new to Princeton, the Erinys Quartet and Trio Candesco. All concerts take place on select Thursdays at Trinity Church in Princeton.

Purchase tickets for the first three concerts; receive the 4th concert FREE!

2025-26 Chamber Series Info (new window)

NOTE: Single tickets go on sale October 1; $65 for the opening performance and $45 for each remaining concert.

Mercer County Announces Return of Professional Hockey to CURE Arena in Trenton

Trenton, NJ – Today, Mercer County Executive Dan Benson joined Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora and leaders from the CURE Insurance Arena, Mercer County Improvement Authority (MCIA), ECHL (formerly East Coast Hockey League), and Pro Hockey Partners to announce the return of professional hockey to Mercer County. The yet-to-be-named Trenton Hockey Team will make their debut at CURE Insurance Arena for the 2026-2027 season.

"I could not be more excited to welcome professional hockey back to Trenton," said County Executive Benson. "I want to thank Joe Eng, Bob Ohrablo, all the team's co-owners, the ECHL, the MCIA, and the CURE Arena Team for working with us through months of planning and negotiation to make this dream a reality. This is another major step in our mission to make Mercer County, and especially our Capital City of Trenton, a true destination for sports, business, entertainment, and tourism. I can't wait for our new hockey team to drop the puck for its first season."

Ryan Crelin, ECHL Commissioner, announced that the League's Board of Governors has approved the transfer of the controlling interest in the Utah Grizzlies to Pro Hockey Partners, LLC, who will relocate the team to Trenton at the conclusion of the coming season.

"The return of ECHL hockey to Trenton is extremely exciting as we welcome the market back to our North Division for the 2026-27 Season amidst new teams and rivalries in the region," said ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin. "The original ECHL Team served as a catalyst to the opening of CURE Insurance Arena back in 1999 and growing the hockey community in New Jersey, and we look forward to reinvigorating the live entertainment experience in the marketplace with an ownership and operating group that are experienced in developmental league sports.

Pro Hockey Partners LLC was formed to bring professional hockey back to Trenton and is committed to building a successful team and to being a good community partner with a positive impact on the lives of local residents in Central Jersey and Bucks County. The group is led by Joe Eng, an Executive at Billtrust, and by Bob Ohrablo, who recently led the formation of successful ECHL Hockey teams in Jacksonville FL and Savannah GA. The name for the new team will be selected from suggestions submitted by the community.

"We are thrilled to reintroduce the ECHL to Trenton and Mercer County, a region known for its strong hockey culture and passion for the sport," said Bob Ohrablo, President of Pro Hockey Partners LLC & Trenton ECHL Hockey. "The ECHL/Trenton Hockey Club will attract hundreds of thousands of fans to the CURE Insurance Arena and Downtown Trenton each season.  This presents an opportunity for families to enjoy exciting pro hockey nights at affordable prices, along with a variety of family-friendly promotions throughout the season."

The CURE Insurance Arena is owned by the Mercer County Improvement Authority and operated by Oak View Group. The Arena already welcomes over 500,000 patrons each year, providing major benefits to the local economy and offering a wide variety of shows and events to area residents. The arena was home to the ECHL's Trenton Titans until 2013.

"The CURE Insurance Arena is excited to welcome hockey back to Trenton!" said Fran Rodowicz, General Manager, CURE Insurance Arena. "Twenty years ago, we proudly hosted the 2005 ECHL Kelly Cup Championship season with incredible support from our fans and the community. As hockey returns, we are eager to revive that same energy in the arena and in Trenton. We are making some exciting upgrades to the venue in preparation for the team's arrival, and we look forward to showcasing our newly refreshed spaces. Hockey will once again play a prominent role among the many diverse and dynamic events we host each year, and we can't wait to drop the puck!"

Fans and community members can learn more about the team at trentonechlhockey.com, where they can secure a season membership for the team's inaugural season and propose names for the team.

"The return of Minor League Hockey to Trenton will not only bring excitement and entertainment, but also create new economic opportunities and expand recreation for our youth," said Anthony Verrelli, Executive Director of the Mercer County Improvement Authority. "The Improvement Authority is proud to partner in preparing the CURE Insurance Arena for this important undertaking to help bring professional hockey back to Trenton."

"Minor League Hockey's return to Trenton will provide a much needed boost to the city's economic development prospects," said Kristin McLaughlin, Chair of the Mercer County Board of Commissioners. "Mercer County has always been a sports county and looking at the amazing turnout we have at Trenton Thunder, we know many fans will be excited to come watch hockey here as well."

"The return of Minor League Hockey to Trenton is about more than sports – it's about opportunity," said Terrance Stokes, Vice-Chair of the Board of Commissioners. "We look forward to this organization energizing our community, creating additional entertainment and recreational outlets, and inspiring our next generation of hockey players and fans."

"We're excited to welcome professional hockey back to Trenton and the CURE Insurance Arena," said Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora. "This is more than the return of a beloved sport; it's the revival of our proud hockey tradition. The energy and excitement of the game will unite our community, boost local businesses, and once again make Trenton a destination for fans across New Jersey."

Princeton Nursery School Announces the Launch of Capital Renovation Project

Princeton Nursery School is proud to announce the launch of our capital renovation project, made possible through support from the Municipality of Princeton's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for FY24–25 and generous funding from Princeton University. These much-needed renovations will ensure our historic building remains a safe, welcoming, and functional space for generations to come, while uplifting our presence in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood.

The first phase of work will focus on removing and replacing exterior carpentry to improve weatherproofing and sustainability. In the second phase, the building's exterior stucco will be resurfaced to preserve its historic integrity and protect the classrooms inside. Additional improvements funded through the CDBG grant will modernize key areas of our facility, addressing long-standing maintenance needs and enhancing the learning environment for our children.

As we take these important steps forward, we invite our community to join us in supporting future projects that will strengthen Princeton Nursery School's role as a community hub & providing quality early education for children and supportive services for working families. 

LINK TO DONATE

ACP Announces Magical Baby and Toddler Storyplays with Miss Pam in September

Magical Baby and Toddler Storyplays with Miss Pam

American Repertory Ballet Announces 2025/26 Season

NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY – A beloved performing arts institution for over 70 years, led by Interim Artistic Director Samantha Dunster with Artistic Associate Gillian Murphy and Artist in Residence Ethan Stiefel, American Repertory Ballet (ARB) announces a 2025/26 season that elevates its classic repertoire alongside exciting new works, continuing to strengthen the company’s unique voice within the community. A founding resident company of the state-of-the-art New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), American Repertory Ballet kicks the season off at its home venue with the return of Stiefel and Johan Kobborg’s lauded GISELLE in October 2025, followed by a fairytale premiere of CINDERELLA in March 2026, and AMERICANA, a mixed bill of World Premieres and celebrated works in May 2026. Additionally, ARB will present an evening of moonlit ballets at the Union County Performing Arts Center’s Festival of the Moon in October 2025, and ARB’s celebrated touring production of THE NUTCRACKER will return for the holiday season in November and December 2025 at venues throughout New Jersey.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

"It will be a ‘season of seasons’ as ARB leans into a haunting October, magical family fun during the holidays, fairytale romance just after Valentine's Day, and Americana fanfare to celebrate the country's 250th anniversary,” says Executive Director Julie Diana Hench. “We invite audiences of all ages to join us at the theater and make memories together, and to experience the transformative power of the performing arts."

GISELLE

American Repertory Ballet’s 2025/26 season opens with the highly anticipated return of Ethan Stiefel and Johan Kobborg’s acclaimed adaptation of GISELLE. A haunting tale of love, betrayal, and the supernatural, GISELLE tells the story of a young woman who dies of a broken heart—only to forgive her beloved from beyond the grave. Featuring emotionally powerful and technically stunning performances, this moving production had its world premiere at the Royal New Zealand Ballet in 2012 and has since captivated audiences around the world, including at its ARB Company Premiere at NBPAC in 2023. Step into the Halloween spirit with this hauntingly beautiful ballet!

New Brunswick Performing Art Center | New Brunswick, NJ

Friday, October 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM*
Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, October 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM

Tickets for GISELLE range from $42 to $72, not including additional 4% NBPAC Ticket Fee.

*Post-Show Reception ($50 add-on to ticket purchase) with ARB Dancers, artistic leadership, and VIPs immediately following the performance. Light bites and beverages will be served.

SWAN LAKE ACT II & MORE at UCPAC’s FESTIVAL OF THE MOON

Experience dance like never before at the Festival of The Moon, presented by Union County Performing Art Center (UCPAC). On Friday, October 17, 2025 at 7:00PM, ARB will perform the iconic second act of Swan Lake and other works beneath "Museum of the Moon,"  a luminous, 23-ft. diameter sculpture created by UK artist Luke Jerram, which will be suspended in mid-air over the Orchestra section at UCPAC’s Main Stage.

Set against Tchaikovsky’s gorgeous score, Swan Lake transports audiences into the mesmerizing world of Odette, the swan princess, as she reveals her true form to Prince Siegfried. From the famous “Dance of the Cygnets” pas de quatre to the renowned romantic pas de deux, this fairytale scene promises to leave audiences of all ages spellbound.

Also featured will be Ethan Stiefel’s if, a poignant solo that traces the contours of love and loss set to “If I Could Only Fly” by American singer-songwriter and poet Blaze Foley; and Lar Lubovitch’s Something About Night, a mesmerizing dreamlike quintet set to the ethereal voices of Franz Schubert’s male choral songs. ARB is excited to share these impassioned and evocative works with audiences at UCPAC.
 

Union County Performing Arts Center | Rahway, NJ

Friday, October 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM

Tickets for SWAN LAKE ACT II & MORE range from $36 to $56, including all fees.
 

THE NUTCRACKER

A tradition for sixty years, American Repertory Ballet’s THE NUTCRACKER  is one of the longest continuously running productions in the nation and a perfect holiday treat for all ages! With thrilling choreography set to Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, ARB’s professional company will be joined by students from Princeton Ballet School to tell the story of Clara, a young girl who receives a magical Christmas gift and embarks on an enchanted journey. The Nutcracker holds a special place in the hearts of both new and longtime patrons, becoming synonymous with the holiday season. Performances will take place from Friday, November 28 through Sunday, December 21, 2025 in Princeton, Red Bank, and New Brunswick.

McCarter Theatre Center | Princeton, NJ

Friday, November 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM & 6:00 PM
Sunday, November 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM

Tickets for THE NUTCRACKER at McCarter Theatre range from $49 to $79, including all fees.
 

Two River Theater | Red Bank, NJ

Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 1:00 PM & 6:00 PM
Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 1:00 PM

Tickets for THE NUTCRACKER at Two River Theater range from $47 to $79, including service fees.

State Theatre New Jersey | New Brunswick, NJ *

Thursday, December 18 at 7:30 PM (Additional performance added due to popular demand!)
Friday, December 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, December 21, 2025 at 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM

* The only performances featuring musicians of the Nutcracker Orchestra conducted by Kenneth T. Bean, and singers from the Princeton GirlChoir.

Tickets for THE NUTCRACKER at State Theatre New Jersey range from $45 to $90, including service fees.

CINDERELLA

CINDERELLA is the timeless tale of a young woman who, despite life’s hardships, discovers hope, love, and a magical future. Join us for an enchanting journey as her Fairy Godmother transforms her fate, a Prince wins her heart, and courage triumphs over cruelty. With choreography by Samantha Dunster, American Repertory Ballet’s Interim Artistic Director, magical sets and costumes, an international roster of professional artists, and special guests from Princeton Ballet School, don’t miss this spellbinding production - a perfect fit for the whole family!

New Brunswick Performing Art Center | New Brunswick, NJ

Friday, March 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM*
Saturday, March 7, 2026 at, 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 2:00 PM

Tickets for CINDERELLA range from $42 to $72, not including additional 4% NBPAC fee.

*Post-Show Reception ($50 add-on to ticket purchase) with ARB Dancers, artistic leadership, and VIPs immediately following the performance. Light bites and beverages will be served.

AMERICANA

Cue the fireworks! American Repertory Ballet’s 2025/26 season finale at NBPAC will shine bright with AMERICANA — a vibrant mixed-repertoire performance that celebrates the spirit of our country in honor of its 250th anniversary. This dynamic program features two iconic works by George Balanchine -  Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux and an excerpt from Stars and Stripes, with music by John Philip Sousa. Plus two World Premieres by ARB Company Dancer Michelle Quiner and ARB’s acclaimed Artist in Residence, Ethan Stiefel, which will have audiences jumping to their feet.

New Brunswick Performing Art Center | New Brunswick, NJ

Friday, May 1, 2026 at 7:00 PM*
Saturday, May 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Sunday, May 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM

Tickets for AMERICANA range from $42 to $72, not including additional 4% NBPAC Ticket Fee.

*Post-Show Reception ($50 add-on to ticket purchase) with ARB Dancers, artistic leadership, and VIPs immediately following the performance. Light bites and beverages will be served.

For more information, contact Grant Jacoby, Director of Marketing, at gjacoby@arballet.org, or by calling 609-921-7758 x34

#####

ABOUT AMERICAN REPERTORY BALLET

Guided by Interim Artistic Director Samantha Dunster, with Artist in Residence Ethan Stiefel and Artistic Associate Gillian Murphy, American Repertory Ballet (ARB) is recognized as one of the state’s premier performing arts organizations, with a distinctive reputation for innovation and individuality. Presenting classical repertory alongside new and existing contemporary work, ARB is a founding resident company of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center while also performing in major venues across New Jersey and beyond for an annual audience of more than 30,000. Founded in 1954 as the Princeton Ballet Society, ARB has been consistently designated a “Major Arts Institution'' by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for the past two decades and has repeatedly been awarded a Citation of Excellence by the Council. The company has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and other major foundations and leaders in the field as a prominent force in the field of dance. Princeton Ballet School, ARB’s official school, attracts talent from around the world while providing opportunities for local students of all ages, such as through its award winning DANCE POWER program. Find American Repertory Ballet online at arballet.org.

Follow American Repertory Ballet on Social Media:

Facebook: @americanrepertoryballet
Instagram: @arballet
LinkedIn: @american-repertory-ballet
TikTok: @americanrepertoryballet
 

Artworks Trenton Announces Art All Day 2025 Sept 20

Trenton, NJ—Art All Day returns for its 14th year, offering thousands of visitors a dynamic window into Trenton's vibrant artistic community. This year's event will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 12 pm to 6 pm, bringing together art lovers and city explorers alike. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit open art studios, experience live painting demonstrations, enjoy downtown activities, and take a guided art tour around Trenton. The event kicks off at Artworks Trenton, located at 19 Everett Alley, Trenton, NJ 08611. 

Artworks will serve as the hub for Art All Day. Begin your journey at Artworks, preview the participating artists in the main gallery show, sign up for guided tours, scan for the digital map and explore! 

The theme for this year is The Forgotten City. "Trenton has some really beautiful and creative spaces that deserve to be highlighted," says Kenya Bullock, Creative Director of Art All Day. "Our hope every year is that Art All Day provides the platform for artists and partners to do so." 

In addition to exploring the city's artistic landscape, guests can enjoy new family-friendly activities.Live muralists will also be creating art in various locations around the city, The mural initiative is being led by Jonathon Conner (LANK), Artworks' Public Projects Manager, and promises to bring even more color and creativity to the streets of Trenton. 

Throughout the day, attendees can sign up for studio and mural tours that will transport visitors to key artistic destinations around Trenton. Art All Day aims to enrich the community with art, culture, and a sense of connection. Whether you're a long-time Trenton resident or a first-time visitor, this event offers a unique way to experience the city's thriving arts scene and get familiarized with the area. 

Art All Day is brought to you by Princetel and NJM Insurance Group. To become a sponsor contact Craig Shofed at director@artworkstrenton.org or call (609) 394-9436

For more information about registration, event details,volunteering, or to donate visit artallday.artworkstrenton.org. 

Mercer County Library System Announces 2025 Amateur Photo Contest: "Our Vibrant World"

Mercer County, NJ — August 1, 2025 — The Mercer County Library System (MCLS) is excited to announce the 2025 Amateur Photo Contest, inviting amateur photographers of all ages to share their unique perspective on this year's inspiring theme: Our Vibrant World.

This year's theme encourages residents to showcase the colorful, diverse, and dynamic moments that make our world extraordinary. Whether it's the beauty of nature, the energy of community life, or the vivid details of everyday scenes, participants are asked to capture what "vibrant" means to them.

"It's always a pleasure to view the incredible range of photos submitted by our talented residents," said County Executive Dan Benson. "I can't wait to see how the members of our community portray the vibrancy of our County and our world." 

The contest is open to all amateur photographers who live, work, or attend school in Mercer County. Entries will be accepted from Monday, August 11 through Monday, September 15, 2025. Submit your photograph to your local branch! A panel of judges from each branch will choose three photos, which will then be evaluated by a final panel. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

Come share your vision and help us celebrate Our Vibrant World! For full contest guidelines and submission details, please visit www.mcl.org.

Shelley's Table Announces 2026 Culinary Travel Schedule

Princeton Recreation Announces Classes This Fall - CHEER Dancing & STEM

YWCA Princeton Announces Two Additions to its Executive Leadership Team

Kelsey Theatre Announces 2025 -2026 Season
July 30, 2025

Princeton Rec Dept Announces Bathing Suit and Goggles Drive

Make a Splash with a Simple Act of Kindness! ?Princeton Recreation is collecting new, unused bathing suits and goggles through August 15. Access to swim lessons requires proper bathing attire and for some families, this has been a major obstacle to accessing lessons. Items will be donated to children in under-resourced communities in NJ with the help of the NJ Recreation & Parks Association and NJ Swim Safety Alliance. The greatest need is for bathing suits for children sizes 5 through Young Adult. Drop items off at the Community Park Pool and help make water safety more accessible for all.

Recreation 609-921-9480

Mercer County Announces 2025 Summer Concert Series with New Season Pass

West Windsor, NJ – County Executive Dan Benson announced that the Mercer County Park Commission's Summer Concert Series will kick off its 2025 season on July 11. The popular Friday evening concerts continue to be a bargain at just $5 per-ticket, with the addition of a new limited-time season pass option access to all concerts for just $25.

The Summer Concert Series promises seven memorable evenings of community and live music for residents of all ages. As the sun sets, families can bring out blankets and chairs to the expansive Mercer County Park festival grounds, and enjoy a talented lineup of performers offering music from a range of genres and decades.

The introduction of free parking last year made the concerts more accessible than ever, leading to record attendance. This year, residents can get an even better deal with the season pass, which will include tickets to every concert, preferred parking, fast-pass entry, and exclusive perks throughout the season.

"The Summer Concert Series is our marquee event, bringing affordable, quality entertainment to our region," said County Executive Dan Benson. "Our new season pass will make it even easier for those who want to take full advantage and I'm proud to confirm that we will continue to offer parking free of charge."

The series is open to everyone, and children twelve-and-under will be admitted free-of-charge. For more details, or to purchase tickets, go to https://www.mercercounty.org/departments/mercer-county-park-commission/recreation-events/2024-concert-series.

The full concert lineup will run as follows:

July 11: Formerly of Chicago The Players
July 18: Yellow Brick Road & All About Joel
July 25: Best of the Eagles
August 1: Yacht Rock Gold Experience & Elliot Lurie
August 8: Big Hix & Tennessee Whiskey
August 15: FEARLESS the Taylor Swift Experience
August 22: Earth, Wind, and Fire, tribute band & Men of Soul

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Mercer County Library System Announces 2025 Amateur Photo Contest: "Our Vibrant World"

Mercer County, NJ — August 1, 2025 — The Mercer County Library System (MCLS) is excited to announce the 2025 Amateur Photo Contest, inviting amateur photographers of all ages to share their unique perspective on this year's inspiring theme: Our Vibrant World.

This year's theme encourages residents to showcase the colorful, diverse, and dynamic moments that make our world extraordinary. Whether it's the beauty of nature, the energy of community life, or the vivid details of everyday scenes, participants are asked to capture what "vibrant" means to them.

"It's always a pleasure to view the incredible range of photos submitted by our talented residents," said County Executive Dan Benson. "I can't wait to see how the members of our community portray the vibrancy of our County and our world." 

The contest is open to all amateur photographers who live, work, or attend school in Mercer County. Entries will be accepted from Monday, August 11 through Monday, September 15, 2025. Submit your photograph to your local branch! A panel of judges from each branch will choose three photos, which will then be evaluated by a final panel. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

Come share your vision and help us celebrate Our Vibrant World! For full contest guidelines and submission details, please visit www.mcl.org.

McCarter Theatre Announces All-Woman Creative Team for 'I & You: The Musical'

Eno Terra Announces Three-part Wine Tour of Italy This Summer

Join us for an exciting three-part Wine Tour of Italy, hosted by Marcello Miali. Fresh from a scenic journey through Alto Adige and Friuli with our sommelier, Claudia, Marcello is now bringing that unforgettable experience to you.

We'll begin our tasting adventure in Friuli on June 20th with wines from Colli di Poianis and Franciacorta Le Marchesine. Next, we head to the alpine beauty of Alto Adige on July 18th, featuring selections from Kellerei Meran. Our final stop takes us to the heart of Valpolicella Classico with wines from Grotta del Ninfeo on September 26. 

TICKETS

County Executive Benson Announces Inaugural Equality Gala Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Community

Mercer County Executive Dan Benson and the Mercer County Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs announced the first-ever Mercer County Equality Gala, a landmark event celebrating visibility, progress, and the power of community. The gala will take place on Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Social Profit Center, located at 1 N. Johnston Avenue, Hamilton, NJ 08609.   Themed Joy as Resistance, this celebration marks a major milestone for Mercer County's LGBTQIA+ community. The event supports the mission of the recently established Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs, which was launched to ensure inclusive government services, amplify underrepresented voices, and foster a more supportive environment for all residents.   "This Equality Gala isn't just a celebration," said County Executive Benson. "It's a statement, and a call to action. As we reflect on the progress we've made, we also commit to the work ahead through visibility, solidarity, and collective pride."         Purchase Tickets!   Guests can enjoy hors d'oeuvres, an open bar, and a sit-down dinner, all in an atmosphere that blends elegance with activism. Unforgettable entertainment will be provided by Lady Celestina, with music by the celebrated DJ Tee Boogie.   The honoree of the evening will be Jeannine Frisby LaRue, a legendary trailblazer whose leadership and advocacy have left a profound mark on Mercer County and New Jersey. Proceeds from the event will directly benefit outreach, education, and community programming designed to protect and uplift LGBTQIA+ residents across Mercer.   Tickets are available at https://tiny.cc/MercerPride or by contacting LGBTQIA@mercercounty.org. Tickets are $95, with a discount for attendees under twenty-one years. Supporters can also purchase tables and sponsorships.   Residents with questions about the event or about the office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs can reach out to LGBTQIA@mercercounty.org for additional information.

McCarter Announces 5 New Events for 2025 - 2026

ANNOUNCING FIVE NEW SHOWS FOR THE 25/26 SEASON

The Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band – West Side Story Reimagined Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 7:30PM Matthews Theatre Grammy-nominated drummer, composer, and Bronx-born Nuyorican Bobby Sanabria reimagines Leonard Bernstein's iconic West Side Story through the vibrant, pulsing lens of Latin jazz. LEARN MORE

Aída Cuevas – "The Queen of Mariachi" 50 YEARS SINGING TO MEXICO Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 7:30PM Matthews Theatre Prepare for an unforgettable evening of passion, tradition, and the soul-stirring beauty of timeless music as Aída Cuevas, the unrivaled Queen of Ranchera Music, graces the stage for her monumental 50th Anniversary U.S. Tour 2025. LEARN MORE

Heather Headley Friday, November 21, 2025 at 7:30PM Matthews Theatre Tony and Grammy Award winner Heather Headley is known for originating the role of Nala in The Lion King and her Tony-winning performance in the title role of Elton John and Tim Rice's AIDA. Her R&B and gospel album Audience of One won a GRAMMY for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. Accompanied by piano, she will perform a mix of Broadway hits and classic standards LEARN MORE

Ravi Shankar Ensemble Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 7:30PM Matthews Theatre Curated by Sukanya and Anoushka Shankar, the Ravi Shankar Ensemble is a multi-generational collective of world class musicians dedicated to the masterful compositions and enduring legacy of the uniquely legendary musician, Ravi Shankar. LEARN MORE

The Making of Life on Our Planet: Dinosaurs Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 3:00PM Matthews Theatre From the Emmy Award-winning team behind Netflix's Life on Our Planet series comes a new behind the scenes talk focusing on the series' biggest stars: the Dinosaurs. LEARN MORE

Explore the full season lineup, with more performances to be announced throughout the summer and beyond. EXPLORE THE SEASON BUY MORE SAVE MORE  Build your own perfect McCarter season from across the entire lineup of events!  Pick the stories that move you, the artists you can't wait to see, and the performances that spark your imagination.  When you select three or more performances you'll get a discount on tickets plus enjoy exclusive subscriber benefits throughout the season.

CHOOSE YOUR OWN McCarter Subscription and SAVE up to 20% when you choose 3 or more events.   LEARN MORE.

Princeton Summer Theater Announces New Season

PRINCETON, NJ - April 15, 2025 - Alex Conboy ‘25, Artistic Director of Princeton Summer Theater, announced the organization’s 2025 season which will run from June 12th to August 3rd, featuring three main stage productions as well as our annual children’s show.

Founded in 1968, Princeton Summer Theater is a semi-professional summer stock theater company located in Princeton University’s Hamilton-Murray Theater. It won the 2019 JerseyArts.com People’s Choice Award for “Best Small Theater.” Notable alumni include Tony Award-winning actress Bebe Neuwirth (Chicago), Tony Award-winning producer Geo Rich (Avenue Q), and Hollywood actor William Hootkins (Star Wars, Batman).

The summer begins with Jason Robert Brown’s folksy, charming, and loving The Bridges of Madison County, based on Robert James Wallar’s 1992 romance novel, which features a lush and beautiful score. Our season continues with the madcap farce The Mystery of Irma Vep: A Penny Dreadful, a play by Charles Ludlam, which opens on July 3rd and closes on July 19th. The nal production of the summer is Nick Dear's adaptation of Frankenstein, opening on July 24th and closing on August 2nd, which brings a fresh view of the classic gothic horror story.

The season will also feature an End-of-Season Cabaret and Gala on August 3rd!

For more information about Princeton Summer Theater, visit www.princetonsummertheater.org or contact princetonsummertheater@gmail.com.

Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts Announces 58th Season

Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts has announced its 58^th Season, four FREE concerts this summer in Richardson Hall in Alexander Hall on the campus of Princeton University.

Here are the dates and programs for our 58th season:

Thursday, June 26th at 7:30 the IVALAS QUARTET

String Quartet in G Major, Op. 77, No.1                    Haydn

            Deliverance (commission)                                          Skye

            String Quartet in F Major                                           Ravel

Wednesday, July 2nd at 7:30 pm the BENNEWITZ QUARTET

String Quartet in F major, Op. 77, No. 2                    Haydn

String Quartet No. 2 "Intimate Letters"                      Janá?ek
     String Quartet in A flat major, Op.105                       Dvo?ák

Friday, July 11 at 7:30 pm the GALVIN CELLO QUARTET

Selections by Mozart, Debussy, Beethoven, Paganini, Mussorgsky and Mehmari.

Monday, July 14 at 7:30 pm the MANHATTAN CHAMBER PLAYERS

A trio of clarinet, viola and piano will perform selections by Mozart, R. Schumann,

Enescu, Poulenc and Bruch.

[Tickets are free, available online one week before the concert through the university ticket office at: tickets.princeton.edu]

The Summer Chamber Concerts was founded in 1968 by music journalist, pianist and cellist Barbara Sand.   To this day audience members recall sitting on the Graduate College lawn with blankets and picnic baskets for the concerts. Renovations at the Graduate College prompted a change of venue in 1991 to Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall.        

Funding for Summer Concerts is provided by individual contributors, foundations, local corporations and a grant from the Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commission.                 

Further information is at www.princetonsummerchamberconcerts.org or (609) 570-8404.

Princeton University Art Museum Announces Solo Exhibition by Multidisciplinary Artist Léni Paquet-Morante
May 21, 2025

Mercer Street Friends Announces Fifth Annual Leadership Awards Celebration

• Bank of America – Corporate Leadership & Public Service Award

• Phyllis Stoolmacher – Humanitarian Award

• Robert M. Appelbaum Service Award – Dan Rodgers

D&R Greenway Land Trust Announces Annual Greenway Gala June 1

McCarter Theatre Center Announces Costume Sale — May 16–18

American Repertory Ballet | Princeton Ballet School Announce Major Matching Giving Opportunity

DANCE POWER Scholars

PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY – At American Repertory Ballet | Princeton Ballet School’s “Dancing Through Life” Gala at McCarter Theatre Center on April 11, 2025, it was announced that a generous donor has pledged to match every gift the organization receives this spring. Now is the perfect time to make a tax-deductible donation so that your contribution can be doubled and help ensure the continuity of our far-reaching and impactful artistic and educational programs. Donations help provide funds for new artistic work, pointe shoes, health and wellness support for our dancers, faculty, and staff, Princeton Ballet School scholarships, live music in our studios, our Dance for Parkinson’s program, Audrey's Class for dancers with differing abilities, and so much more!
            In conjunction, American Repertory Ballet (ARB) | Princeton Ballet School (PBS) has launched its annual spring appeal as the dynamic 2024-2025 season and school year come to a close. “None of the work that we do and love would be possible without your support,” says Nanako Yamamoto, ARB Company Dancer & Assistant Rehearsal Director. “ARB | PBS as a nonprofit organization that creates a sense of community for so many people, in addition to providing dance classes, world-class performances, and impactful social services.”

Donors are encouraged to go to www.arballet.org/support/support/ to make their gift today and double their impact.

DANCER SPONSORSHIP

            This matching gift opportunity also includes ARB’s newly created Dancer Sponsorship program, an initiative designed to uplift our professional artists while raising critical funds to support their salaries and benefits, in addition to physical therapy, pointe shoes, international employment visa expenses (if applicable) and more. Sponsors are recognized in performance programs, on the ARB website, and also receive invitations to special receptions, in-studio or stage rehearsals, backstage meet and greets, signed shoes and autographed photos, plus coffee or lunch with the dancer(s).

Current sponsors include:

ARB | PBS’s Advisory Committee – in honor of all the dancers

Jane Leslie Burgin – in honor of Seth Koffler

Dorothea’s House – in honor of Andrea Marini

Ken Fredeen and Jane Silverman – in honor of Lily Krisko

Catherine Granzow and Lisa Patterson – in honor of Erikka Reenstierna-Cates

Nancy and Duncan MacMillan – in honor of Aldeir Monteiro

Princeton Spine & Joint Center – in honor of all the dancers

More information can be found at www.arballet.org/dancer-sponsorships/

ABOUT ARB | PBS AND SPRING PERFORMANCES

            With a distinctive reputation for innovation and individuality, American Repertory Ballet is recognized as one of the state’s premier performing arts organizations. Presenting classical repertory alongside new and existing contemporary work, ARB is a founding resident company of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center while also performing in major venues across New Jersey and beyond for an annual audience of more than 30,000. Founded in 1954 as the Princeton Ballet Society, ARB has been designated a “Major Arts Institution'' by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and has been awarded a Citation of Excellence by the Council. The company is a core partner of The Arts Institute of Middlesex County and has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and other major foundations and leaders in the field as a prominent force in the field of dance.
            American Repertory Ballet’s 2024-2025 season closes with PASIÓN, a joyful program with Spanish, Mexican, and Cuban choreographic ties at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center on May 9-11, followed by An Evening at the Princeton Festival at Morven Museum & Garden on Saturday, June 14 at 7:00 PM. Dancers from ARB will perform stunning pas de deux to live music played by the Princeton Symphony Orchestra led by Rossen Milanov. The program includes George Balanchine’s Tschaikovsky Pas De Deux, plus selections from beloved ballets Swan Lake and Don Quixote as well as Delibes Duet, choreographed by ARB Artist in Residence Ethan Stiefel.
            Princeton Ballet School (PBS) is the official school of American Repertory Ballet. PBS has gained an international reputation for its excellent dance training since its founding in 1954 by Audrée Estey. With locations in Princeton, Cranbury, and New Brunswick, Princeton Ballet School offers children’s dance, pre-professional training, and adult classes in ballet, contemporary, flamenco, tap, and more. Classes are available for all ages and levels, including drop-in Open Enrollment options. Everyone is welcome! PBS’s additional offerings include its award winning DANCE POWER program, Dance for Parkinson's, and performance opportunities, such as the option to participate in American Repertory Ballet’s celebrated annual production of The Nutcracker, and the annual PBS spring performance. This year, PBS presents Swan Lake on Wednesday, June 4 at 6:30 PM at McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton. The performance features ARB Company Dancer Tiziano Cerrato alongside pre-professional dancers and young students.
            Enrollment for the 2025-2026 calendar year is now open via the school’s website, with the special offer of an $80 registration discount for the duration of May 2025. What sets Princeton Ballet School apart is its affiliation with a professional ballet company, renowned faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and dedication to live music in the classroom.

To learn more about American Repertory Ballet | Princeton Ballet School, visit www.arballet.org or call 609-921-77458.

Stuart Country Day School Announces Summer STEM Leadership Program for Girls with Princeton University and Full Scholarship Opportunity

Made possible through a generous gift, the program expands access to STEM and leadership education—culminating in the Leadership Scholar Award, a four-year scholarship for one rising ninth grader.

PRINCETON, NJ – In partnership with an anonymous donor, the National Center for Girls' Leadership (NCGLS) at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart is proud to announce the launch of the NCGLS Summer STEM Leadership Program, developed in collaboration with Princeton University and The Watershed Institute, and tuition-free to students from lower-income families. In addition to the establishment of the summer program, this anonymous donor has made possible the Leadership Scholar Award, a full four-year scholarship to Stuart, available to one rising ninth grader who completes the summer program.

 "We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary gift that directly supports our mission to empower girls," said Head of School Julia Wall. "This investment in Stuart's future ensures that more girls and young women will have access to the exceptional education and leadership opportunities that define our school, and bolsters our ability to live Sacred Heart Goal II: The Commitment to Educating to a Deep Respect for Intellectual Values and Goal IV: The Building of Community as a Christian Value. 

"Data from the International Coalition of Girls Schools shows that graduates of girls' schools are six times more likely to consider majoring in math, science, and technology compared to girls who attend coed schools," added Director of Development Beth Marks '84, P '21. "As an alumna, past parent, and member of the Stuart leadership team, I have seen firsthand the profound impact of a Stuart education. The opportunities we provide empower our students to grow into confident, compassionate leaders who are ready to shape the future. By supporting STEM and improving access to this transformative experience through generous funding, we ensure that every student, regardless of background, has the chance to reach her full potential and become the leaders of tomorrow."

This gift will expand STEM programming and partnerships, allowing more students to engage in hands-on learning experiences that nurture curiosity and promote innovative thinking to prepare them for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

Eligible girls in grades 5-8 are nominated by an educational institution or representative from a non-profit partner organization. One qualified rising ninth grade student with outstanding leadership potential who completes the summer program will be considered for admission to Stuart Country Day School through the Leadership Scholar Award. This award allows Stuart to continue its work at removing barriers to receiving a Stuart education while recognizing and supporting a young woman with the potential to lead and inspire in STEM and beyond.

"Guided by the Sacred Heart Goals," states Wall, "Stuart graduates lead purpose-driven lives and careers. This gift empowers more girls with visions of bettering the world to turn those visions into reality."

For more information, or to nominate a student, visit stuartschool.org/summerSTEM. To discuss additional partnership opportunities with Stuart, contact Marissa Muoio, director of the National Center for Girls' Leadership at Stuart, at mmuoio@stuartschool.org. 

About Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart

Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart is a leading preschool to Grade 12 private school in Princeton, NJ designed just for girls. Stuart's mission is to educate young women to a life of leadership and service within the framework of the Goals and Criteria of the Schools of Sacred Heart. With a highly personalized and rigorous curriculum, exceptional faculty who know girls well, and the space given to grow in their faith, Stuart girls graduate as compassionate and empowered global citizens who are driven to be forces of change in our world.

About the National Center for Girls' Leadership at Stuart

The National Center for Girls' Leadership at Stuart (NCGLS) is dedicated to advancing research and programs that empower young women to lead with confidence and purpose. Through partnerships, leadership development initiatives, and interdisciplinary research, the center ensures that girls are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and community support to excel in all areas of life.

Younity (formerly Womanspace) Announces Honorees for 29th Annual Awards Dinner

Mercer County, NJ –Younity (formerly Womanspace) will host its Annual Awards Dinner on May 15, 2025, at The Boathouse at Mercer Lake. Now in its 29th year, the Annual Awards Dinner is Younity's largest fundraiser and a cornerstone community event. It brings together civic leaders, advocates, volunteers, and supporters to recognize those whose work has contributed meaningfully to the safety and empowerment of victim-survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Proceeds help fund a wide range of programs, including crisis intervention, emergency safe housing, counseling, legal advocacy, and prevention education.

Each year, the dinner honors individuals and partners whose efforts reflect a commitment to justice, healing, and systemic change. This year's honorees include Angela Ferrell-Zabala, Executive Director of Moms Demand Action, who will receive The Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award; Kieran John, recipient of The Edwin W. Schmierer Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service; and the Princeton Area Community Foundation, recipient of The Younity Award for Outstanding Community Partner.

The Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award honors a national figure who has used their platform to raise public awareness about domestic and sexual violence and inspire greater community engagement. This award will be presented to Angela Ferrell-Zabala.  Angela Ferrell-Zabala leads one of the largest grassroots networks in the country focused on ending gun violence and has been a strong advocate for closing legal loopholes that enable abusers to obtain firearms. The connection between domestic violence and guns remains a critical public safety issue. Studies show that when an abuser has access to a firearm, the risk of homicide increases fivefold. Firearms are involved in more than half of all intimate partner homicides in the United States. Ferrell-Zabala states: "When gun violence is so deeply connected to domestic violence, we cannot afford to stay silent."

Ferrell-Zabala's advocacy reflects the legacy of Barbara Boggs Sigmund, a former Mayor of Princeton and Mercer County Freeholder whose vision helped launch Younity in 1977. In response to receiving the award, Ferrell-Zabala said: "I am deeply honored to receive this year's Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award. This recognition isn't just a personal honor — it's a tribute to the collective work of so many who are fighting every day for a safer country," said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, Executive Director of Moms Demand Action. "I'm accepting this on behalf of every survivor, student, advocate, and community leader who is fighting for a world where no one has to live in fear of gun violence. Thank you to Younity for this recognition of our movement and for sharing our commitment to empower communities — not just to survive, but to thrive."

The Edwin W. Schmierer Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service will be awarded to Kieran John, founder and CEO of Firstlight Pharmaceuticals. A longtime resident of Pennington, John has led the coordination and fundraising efforts for Younity's Communities of Light campaign for several years. His efforts have helped raise thousands of dollars, engage local volunteers, and increase awareness about domestic and sexual violence. Thanks to his leadership and commitment, Pennington experienced a remarkable showing of community spirit once again in 2024. The Communities of Light event raises awareness of domestic and sexual violence through a countywide display of luminaries each December. "Making the world better for my family, my community, and others worldwide is just as important as any scientific or business goal I pursue," John says.

The Edwin W. Schmierer Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service is named in honor of Ed Schmierer, a dedicated attorney and longtime volunteer who served Womanspace for over 35 years. A respected municipal law expert and pro bono supporter, Schmierer helped guide the organization's legal, governance, and community-building efforts for decades.

The Younity Award for Outstanding Community Partner will be presented to the Princeton Area Community Foundation, whose support has strengthened Younity's ability to serve individuals and families in crisis, including children's services and prevention programs. The foundation has provided both general operating support and funding for pivotal initiatives, including Younity's first centralized client database, expanded outreach efforts in Trenton, and the organization's 2024 rebrand.

"We are thrilled to be honored by Younity, which has been providing critical supportive services and protecting families in our region for almost 50 years," said Mathieu Nelessen, President & CEO of the Princeton Area Community Foundation. "In recent years, Younity has been a recipient of grants from our donor advised fund holders, as well as from our Community Impact Grants Fund, the Fund for Women and Girls, the NextGen Giving Circle, and the Bunbury Fund, including a Bunbury Fund transformational sunset grant, and we could not be more honored to receive this recognition."

Younity's President & CEO, Nathalie S. Nelson, says of this year's honorees, "Each honoree reflects the power of individuals and institutions to drive real change. Angela Ferrell-Zabala's leadership reminds us that the fight to end violence doesn't stop at awareness—it requires action, courage, and policy change. Kieran John's leadership unites entire communities in solidarity, and the Princeton Area Community Foundation invests in services that change lives. They all remind us that change happens when we show up, speak out, and support one another. When we come together, we are stronger than abuse."

Past honorees have included Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (2024), Troy Vincent Sr. (2023), and Elizabeth Smart (2022), as well as Faith Ringgold, Joe Torre, Anna Quindlen, Diane Sawyer, and Cokie Roberts.

The dinner will take place from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at The Boathouse at Mercer Lake, 334 South Post Road, West Windsor, NJ. In keeping with Younity's vision, the evening will emphasize the power of collective action. Together, we are stronger than abuse.

To learn more about our honorees or to place a congratulatory ad in honor of one of this year's award recipients, visit:
 

Younity gratefully acknowledges the NFL as the event's Presenting Sponsor, and early support from this year's Award Dinner sponsors: First Bank Charitable Foundation New Horizon Communications (NHC), Alliant, Capital Health, Church & Dwight, Holman, and NJM Insurance Group. Sponsorship opportunities remain available.

To learn more about our honorees or to place a congratulatory ad in honor of one of this year's award recipients, visit:
https://younitynj.org/2025-annual-awards-dinner-honorees/

About Younity (formerly Womanspace)

Founded in 1977, Younity (formerly Womanspace) is a nonprofit organization serving Mercer County and the state of New Jersey by providing emergency and long-term support to individuals affected by domestic and sexual violence. Services include 24/7 crisis intervention, emergency shelter, transitional housing, counseling, legal advocacy, and crisis hotlines. Younity operates the 24/7 Mercer County domestic violence hotline (609-394-9000), the New Jersey Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline (800-572-SAFE), and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Texting Hotline (609-619-1888). More information is available at www.younitynj.org.

Mercer County Announces Autism & Special Needs Resources Day April 27

YWCA Princeton Announces New Chief Financial Officer

Cranbury Christmas Lights Announces New Pet Therapy - Hairy's Dog House

In the quiet halls of a hospital, where a child battles illness with more courage than any child should need, there’s a light that can break through the fear—Hairy. With every wag of his tail and every gentle nuzzle, Hairy brings laughter to a child who hasn’t smiled in days. In those precious moments, the pain eases, and the hospital room fills with something medicine can’t provide: joy, hope, and the feeling of being loved.

This is the heart behind Hairy’s Dog House, a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (#33-3214715) created by the Shaw family, founders of the beloved Cranbury Christmas Lights. Known for transforming their New Jersey home into a dazzling wonderland that raised over $200,000 for local charities, the Shaws are now channeling their passion for bringing joy into a new, year-round mission.

As featured on countless local and national television shows, the Cranbury Christmas Lights became a symbol of community, generosity, and holiday spirit. Now, Hairy’s Dog House will carry that same spirit into hospitals, nursing homes, and disaster areas—places where comfort is needed most. Hairy, a certified therapy dog, will visit children and adults alike, delivering not only companionship but healing through connection.

Hairy’s Dog House will focus its mission during the first two years on the tri-state area, with Princeton, NJ as its home base. With the support of local and national media contacts, the Shaw family will build a dynamic social media platform to share Hairy's journey in real time.

Everyone is invited to be a part of Hairy’s story. Join the movement! Visit www.hairysdoghouse.com to learn more, click on our social media platforms to follow Hairy's journey from birth to his AKC Therapy Dog Supreme title, and stay connected as we spread joy and healing to those who need it most.

To help launch this initiative, Hairy’s Dog House will be hosting a kickoff fundraiser—a high-end wine tasting event on October 18th at the historic Cranbury Inn. The event will feature exclusive wines, gourmet pairings, and a limited number of VIP experiences. Tickets are limited—please visit Hairy's website to support Hairy through your ticket purchase. Proceeds will directly support Hairy’s outreach visits and therapy dog certification programs.

For more information, email us at hairy@hairysdoghouse.com.

SSAAM Announces Juneteenth 2025: Stories of Freedom June 21

Skillman, NJ – The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM), Central New Jersey's only museum sharing the history of African Americans in our region since the trans-Atlantic Slave trade, will hold its fourth annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 21, from 12 PM to 4 PM (rain or shine). 

Event Highlights: 

? Location: National Historic Register-listed Mt. Zion AME Church and historic Reasoner/True House in Skillman, NJ 

? Features: Live music, spoken word and theatrical performances, drum circle, local artisans, storytelling workshops and museum activities for all ages, and delicious cuisine 

Featured Performances, Activities, and Exhibitions: 

? The SSAAM Heritage Singers and Band 

? Keith Spencer, Vocalist & Storyteller 

? Luna Stage's The Ground On Which We Stand Theatrical Performance ? Mr. Boom Boom: Drum Circle for All Ages 

? Beverly Mills & Elaine Buck, Authors & SSAAM Founders 

? Featured Exhibition: "The Head that Wears the Crown" – Explore the past, present, and future of African American women's headwear. Featuring selections from SSAAM's museum collection and photo portraits of community members across generations modeling early- to late-20th century church hats. 

? Guided tours of Mt. Zion AME Church and SSAAM's Heritage Garden ? Plus ... 

? Spoken Word Performances 

? Read-Aloud Story Corner 

? Museum Scavenger Hunts 

? Launch of SSAAM's Little Free Library of Banned Books 

? "Story Booth" to record memories and reflections 

? And more!

Join the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum for a day steeped in history and community connection. Our family-friendly Juneteenth celebration invites visitors to feel the full range of emotions in our liberation stories, from jubilation to sorrow, from defiance to hope. Freedom has always been hard won. We invite you to answer its call with us. 

SSAAM creates community programming to educate and inspire. Our event ticket prices, inclusive of food, reflect our commitment to accessibility. If you have the capacity to make an additional donation, or if you work for an employer who may be interested in sponsoring our event, we welcome your generous support! At a moment when our federal funding opportunities are in jeopardy, we rely on the continued investment of our local community. 

Thank you to our event sponsor, the Princeton University Art Museum, for making this event possible. 

For more information about SSAAM's Juneteenth celebration and to book tickets, donate, sponsor, or volunteer, please visit https://www.ssaamuseum.org/juneteenth-2025. 

Adult admission: 

$20 online 

$25 at the venue 

Children 14 and under: 

$10 online 

$15 at the venue

Mercer County Announces 2025 Senior Citizen Art Show

West Windsor, NJ  – County Executive Dan Benson invited seniors throughout Mercer County to submit artwork to the 2025 Mercer County Senior Citizen Art Show (MCSAS), to be held this summer.

A joint project of the County's Division of Culture and Heritage and its Office on Aging, the show is open to all Mercer County residents 60 or older. The show will be on display from July 1 through August 4 at the Conference Center at Mercer – located on the campus of Mercer County Community College, located at 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor.

"The annual Senior Art Show is a spectacular display of the creativity and talent of Mercer County residents," said County Executive Dan Benson. "I'm proud that we're continuing this beloved event, and I can't wait to stop by and see the artwork for myself."

Applicants may submit one piece of art in any of the following 11 categories: acrylic, craft, digital art, mixed media, oil, pastel, photography, print, sculpture, watercolor, and works on paper. All submissions must be the original work created within the last three years and not previously entered in a Mercer County Senior Citizen Art Show or the New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show (NJSAS).

The registration deadline is June 13. Artists may register by completing an online registration form at https://shorturl.at/G4IuP or by filling out a print registration form, which can be printed from https://shorturl.at/dDMJ5, and mailing it to the Mercer County Division of Culture & Heritage – 640 South Broad Street Trenton, NJ 08611 – RM 417.  Artists must drop off their registered artwork at the Conference Center at Mercer on June 25 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

For more information about the Mercer County Senior Citizen Art Show (MCSAS), please contact the Mercer County Division of Culture & Heritage at (609) 278-2712 or cultureandheritage@mercercounty.org.  

McCarter Theatre Center Announces 2025-2026 Subscription Season Featuring Theater, Classical Music, and Dance

The season opens in September with the world premiere of I and You: The Musical

McCarter subscription packages for the 2025-2026 season are now on sale!
 

(PRINCETON, NJ) — McCarter Theatre Center has unveiled its highly anticipated 2025-2026 season, continuing its tradition of presenting world-class theater, classical music, and dance.

“At McCarter, we believe in the magic of live performance to inspire joy, start meaningful conversations, and unite us through the power of storytelling,” said Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen. “Our 25/26 lineup is packed with unforgettable moments that you just won't want to miss.”
 

“After dozens of sold-out performances this past year, we’re delighted that audiences are reserving their seats earlier than ever—there’s nothing like the feeling of a buzzy, full house!” said Executive Director Martin Miller. “At the same time, we’ve deepening our mission-driven commitments as a non-profit, welcoming thousands of students and neighbors from throughout the region through our community partnerships. It’s going to be an exciting year.”


THEATER SERIES

The theater season features an exhilarating lineup, including a world premiere musical, a recent Off-Broadway sensation, the return of Chicago’s acclaimed Lookingglass Theatre, a heartwarming multigenerational comedy, and a captivating mystery.
 

“This season is a celebration of storytelling and artistic collaboration,” says Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen. “From thrilling new works to acclaimed productions, we’re inviting audiences to experience theater that entertains, sparks conversation, and brings people together in moments of discovery.” Rasmussen adds, “Theater is about connection—how stories make us laugh, challenge us, and build community.”

I and You: The Musical (World Premiere)
Book by Lauren Gunderson
Music and Lyrics by Ari Afsar
Directed by Sarah Rasmussen
September 13-October 12, 2025

Commissioned by McCarter Theatre Center with support from the BOLD Foundation

 A co-production with Olney Theatre Center

The season opens with the world premiere of I and You: The Musical, featuring a book by Lauren Gunderson and music and lyrics by Ari Afsar. 17-year-olds Caroline—stuck at home with an illness—and Anthony—an earnest overachiever toting Walt Whitman and waffle fries—are classmates pulling an unexpected all-nighter. What starts as a reluctant assignment soon sets both their worlds spinning into a soul-searching exploration of fate, friendship, and the fragile wonder of being alive. Featuring a soaring musical score, I And You is a funny, uplifting, and deeply resonant story that reminds us we all contain multitudes.
 

Lauren Gunderson is one of the most produced playwrights in America. She is a two-time winner of the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award for I and You and The Book of Will, the winner of the Lanford Wilson Award and the Otis Guernsey New Voices Award, a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and John Gassner Award for Playwriting, and a recipient of the Mellon Foundation's Residency with Marin Theatre Company. McCarter Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen has a long history with playwright Lauren Gunderson having directed the world premiere of the play at Marin Theatre Company in 2013.

Ari Afsar is a Bangladeshi-American singer, songwriter, and storyteller who believes in the power of art to drive cultural and policy change. A UCLA Ethnomusicology graduate, she released We Won’t Sleep through Sony Masterworks and co-composed for Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, with her song “Carried Away” sung by Shawn Mendes. She starred in Netflix’s Wedding Season, originated Eliza in Hamilton Chicago, and led Bhangra Nation at La Jolla Playhouse. Her work has been featured at McCarter Theatre, Berkeley Rep, and the O’Neill, where she won the Georgia Bogardus Holof Lyricist Award.
 

300 Paintings
Created and performed by Sam Kissajukian
October 29 – November 2, 2025

McCarter presents the Off-Broadway sensation 300 Paintings, created and performed by Sydney comedian Sam Kissajukian. In 2021, Kissajukian walked away from stand-up comedy, rented an abandoned cake factory, and spent six months in a creative whirlwind—producing 300 large-scale paintings while unknowingly documenting his own mental state. Hilarious, thought-provoking, and wildly original, 300 Paintings takes audiences on an unforgettable ride through art, mental health, and the creative process. A sold-out hit at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 300 Paintings won eight Fringe Festival Awards in Australia, including the Sydney Fringe Festival Award for Best Comedy and Directors Choice Award. Don’t miss the chance to see Kissajukian’s see-it-to-believe-it artwork in a curated exhibition after the show.   

Kim’s Convenience
By Ins Choi
Directed by Weyni Mengesha
January 23 – February 15, 2026

A Soulpepper production in association with Adam Blanshay Productions and American Conservatory Theater.

Before it became an award-winning comedy series on Netflix, the laugh-out-loud, heartwarming Kim’s Convenience was a hit on stage. At Mr. Kim’s corner variety store, the only thing that isn’t for sale is his family legacy—but with big-dollar projects moving in, does everyone have their price? In this heartwarming and hilarious story, audiences follow the Kim family as they tackle their challenging past and look to face an unknown future.

Circus Quixote
A Lookingglass Theatre Company production
Based on Miguel de Cervantes’
Don Quijote of La Mancha
Written and directed by Kerry and David Catlin
Circus by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi
Produced in association with The Actors Gymnasium
March 4 – March 15, 2026

Cervantes’ classic is reimagined in a dazzling new production from the creators of McCarter audience favorites, Lookingglass Alice and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Somewhere in La Mancha there lived a man who read so many books that his brains dried up… so he became a knight! As Don Quixote embarks on his impossible quest for justice, Lookingglass Theatre’s signature acrobatics, breathtaking visuals, and boundless imagination transport audiences into his wild, windmill-tilting world.

Mrs. Christie
By Heidi Armbruster
Directed by Donya K. Washington
May 6 – May 31, 2026

1926. In the library of an English manor, a panicked Agatha Christie bursts in, breathless. Champagne glasses litter the floor, and secrets hang thick in the air. Days later, nationwide headlines trumpet: the Queen of Crime is missing!

2026. Lucy, a spirited and impulsively reckless American, crashes a Christie festival in search of meaning (and maybe a decent cocktail). When she finds a clue to the great writer’s disappearance 100 years earlier, she becomes obsessed.

Blending hilarity and suspense, Mrs. Christie asks: who has the power to rewrite their own destiny?

“When I first sat down to read Mrs. Christie, I was on my phone and my plan was to skim the first few pages to get a sense of it and I planned to read it later.  About 45 minutes later, I realized I was nearly done reading it and I knew I wanted it to be my McCarter directorial debut.,” says Ms. Washington. “I love that it is a mid-life crisis play and a mystery play that maintains a good sense of humor. For those of us who love the Christie books, there are so many easter eggs, and for those people who have never read one of her books, but perhaps have hit moments of feeling lost, lonely or are working through grief – there is so much to recognize in the play.  And the whole time, it retains a sense of fun.”
 

PRESENTED PROGRAMMING

The 2025-2026 season will feature a full roster of multi-disciplinary performances by some of the world’s greatest talents, curated by Paula Abreu, Director of Presented Programming. “Our diverse season reflects McCarter's dedication to showcasing world-class talent as well as extraordinary artists pushing the bounds of their art-form forward, a commitment that resonates with our loyal patrons and attracts new audiences,” says Abreu. "We will also feature exciting new performances in partnership with Princeton University – continuing to enhance our work with creative campus collaborations.”

DANCE SERIES

Camille A. Brown & Dancers: I AM – Friday, September 26, 2025

Camille A. Brown is a prolific choreographer whose work bridges ancestral and contemporary stories, capturing deeply personal experiences and the cultural narratives of African American identity. Seamlessly blending careers in stage, television, and film, she uses dance as a powerful medium for storytelling. With “I AM,” Brown creates a bold new work that celebrates cultural liberation and limitless imagination. Brown, a four-time Tony nominee, is one of the most exciting and original choreographers working today and is currently represented on Broadway with the Alicia Keys musical Hell’s Kitchen and George C. Wolfe’s revival of Gypsy as well as the recent production of Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up My Bones for the Metropolitan Opera.

“The joy of I AM is the joy of being entirely yourself, entirely present in the moment. We are here, Brown and the performers seems to say – and we’ll keep being here, together, dancing into the future.” – The New York Times
 

MOMIX: ALICE – Saturday, January 31, 2026

Travel down the rabbit hole with ALICE, a mesmerizing performance by the renowned dance company MOMIX. Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland, dancers transform into Caterpillars, White Rabbits, Mad Hatters, the Queen of Hearts, and other beloved characters. With mind-bending acrobatics, dazzling illusions, and whimsical surprises, this adventure reminds us that in MOMIX’s world, nothing is as it seems—and anything can happen!

For over 40 years, MOMIX has wowed international audiences with its signature blend of exceptional inventiveness and physical beauty under the visionary direction of Moses Pendleton.

ALICE is a visually stunning journey that pushes the boundaries of movement and imagination.  

Dorrance Dance: The Center Will Not Hold – Saturday, April 4, 2026
In Partnership with the Princeton University Art Museum

MacArthur “Genius” Fellow Michelle Dorrance, a trailblazer in tap, joins forces with Bessie Award-winning Ephrat “Bounce” Asherie to create The Center Will Not Hold —a groundbreaking collaboration exploring rhythm, movement, and social commentary. Set to original music by Donovan Dorrance, with live percussion by world-class drummer John Angeles, the work features 11 extraordinary performers blending street, club, and vernacular dances, including house, breaking, hip-hop, tap, Chicago footwork, Detroit jit, litefeet, and Memphis jookin.   

Through rhythm, movement, and dialogue, The Center Will Not Hold is a must-see for anyone captivated by the future of modern dance.

“One of the most imaginative tap choreographers working today.” – The New Yorker

Co-commissioning support for The Center Will Not Hold was provided by McCarter and the Princeton University Art Museum.   

Mark Morris Dance Group: Dances to American Music – Saturday, May 30, 2026

The Mark Morris Dance Group’s Dances to American Music is a vibrant celebration of the rich tapestry of American music and dance, presented as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. Featuring choreography by the legendary Mark Morris, this dynamic program includes Going Away Party (music by Bob Wills), Three Preludes (music by George Gershwin), Northwest (music by John Luther Adams), and You’ve Got to be Modernistic (music by James P. Johnson). Mark Morris has captivated global audiences with his profound humanity, humor, and the unique ability to fuse live music and dance into an experience that transcends the ordinary.

CLASSICAL MUSIC SERIES

Kyung Wha Chung, violin with Kevin Kenner, piano – Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Born in South Korea, Kyung Wha Chung is recognized throughout the world as one of the finest violinists of her generation. A prolific recording artist, her dazzling and probing artistry has made her a much-acclaimed performer throughout her 50-year career. She will be joined by pianist Kevin Kenner in a program of violin sonatas by Debussy and Franck—trademark works for Kyung Wha Chung, of which she is widely considered a definitive performer—as well as fantasies by Schubert and Schoenberg.

Emanuel Ax, piano – Friday, February 6, 2026

Eight-time GRAMMY Award-winning pianist Emanuel Ax is renowned for his poetic temperament, deeply felt interpretations, and unparalleled virtuosity. Whether performing a timeless sonata or premiering a new work, his artistry reflects a profound love for music and its power to inspire. A beloved favorite of Princeton audiences, Ax first performed at McCarter in 1981 and continues to captivate with his masterful musicianship.

Steven Mackey: MEMOIR – Saturday, April 18, 2026, and Sunday, April 19, 2026
In Partnership with the Department of Music at Princeton University

with
arx duo
Natalie Christa Rakes, narrator

A theatrical musical work by GRAMMY Award-winning composer Steven Mackey and directed by Mark DeChiazza, MEMOIR explores the tumultuous 20th century through the eyes of a first-generation American woman forging her own path in pursuit of the American Dream.

Written for the unique combination of string quartet, percussion duo, and narrator, this 75-minute piece traverses a rich musical landscape—witty and playful at times, deeply profound at others. Inspired by the unpublished memoir of Mackey’s mother, Elaine Mackey, MEMOIR is a deeply personal reflection on resilience, identity, and the power of storytelling.

Mackey is the William Schubael Conant Professor of Music at Princeton University, where he has been a faculty member since 1985. A former Chair of the Department, he has mentored the next generation of composers and musicians through courses in composition, theory, 20^th century music, and improvisation.

Additional concerts, spoken word and special performances will be announced at a later date.

Ticket Information

Subscribers enjoy the best seats at the best price, as well as other benefits including priority access to purchase tickets for other events as they are announced throughout the season, flexible exchange policies and more.

To Subscribe visit McCarter.org or call Patron Services at 609-258-2787.
 

Funding

McCarter Theatre Series is sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies and supported by a grant through Shubert Foundation. All of McCarter Theatre Center’s programming is made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

About McCarter Theatre Center

McCarter is one of the country’s flagship theaters and a vibrant center for community and the performing arts. Located on the campus of Princeton University, the company is an independent nonprofit, serving as a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub for arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages. A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter’s legacy of artistic excellence dates back to the theatre’s first performances in 1930. Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, Kaufmann & Hart’s You Can’t Take It with You, and William Inge’s Bus Stop all had their premieres on the McCarter stage, paving the way for a long history of collaborations with playwrights to launch remarkable works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances, reaching millions of audience members around the world. The company is equally revered for presenting global artists on its stages, including Alvin Ailey, Yo-Yo Ma, Samara Joy, Hasan Minhaj, Jon Stewart, Caetano Veloso, Rhiannon Giddens, Patti Smith, Esperanza Spalding, Lake Street Dive, and Herbie Hancock, among many others. Of the 100,000 community members who directly participate in the company’s work every year, more than 5,000 are students taking part in McCarter’s robust educational offerings in Princeton, Trenton, and schools throughout the region. McCarter leads with values of “justice and joy, and beauty in belonging,” creating stories and experiences that enliven minds, expand imaginations, and engage communities.

Isles' GOTrenton! Announces Major Service Upgrades and Citywide Expansion

• Expanded Coverage Area: Service will extend to include the entire city of Trenton, representing 2.5 times the current coverage area.
   
• Curb-to-Curb Service: On-demand service will now pick up riders at their exact location, eliminating the need to walk to fixed pickup spots.
   
• Vehicle Upgrades: The fleet's smaller GEM vehicles will be replaced with EV Kia Niro crossover SUVs, offering room for 5 passengers with full amenities including heat, air conditioning, highway access, and enhanced safety features.
   
• Customer Service Hotline: During service hours, passengers can call for assistance with the app or to request rides without a smartphone.
   
• Sunday Service Hours: Operations will now include Sundays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
   

Ellarslie Open 42 Announces Juror and Call for Art

(Trenton, NJ) The Ellarslie Open, Trenton City Museum’s annual juried art show, invites artists to enter artwork from April 6 through May 16 via its online Call for Art. Sheryl Liebman Fisher, Associate Director of Gallery Henoch in New York City, will jury the 2025 show.

Artists may submit from anywhere and may enter up to four works. Complete instructions and timeline are found at ellarslie.org/eo42. The link to the Call for Art will activate Sunday, April 6. The show’s five categories are: Paintings; Works on Paper; Sculpture; Photography; and Digital Art. The top award, Best In Show Overall, carries a prize of $1000. Five category awards and sponsored awards also carry cash prizes.

Showcasing contemporary creations by established and emerging artists, the Ellarslie Open has developed into the area’s premier annual juried exhibition since its beginnings in the early 1980s. In 2024, out of 555 entries, the juror selected 110 diverse pieces by artists from across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and beyond. The 2025 show will open with an Artists’ and Members’ Reception Saturday, June 21, and will remain on view through September 7. Further details about gallery talks and other programming related to the exhibition will be announced.

SHERYL LIEBMAN FISHER, JUROR

Ellarslie Open 42 Juror Sheryl Liebman Fisher discovered her passion for contemporary art while earning a degree in Art History and Business at New York University. With over 20 years of experience in the gallery world, both in New York City and London, she is currently an Associate Director at Gallery Henoch in Manhattan. Sheryl also holds a certificate in Appraisal Studies in Fine and Decorative Arts from NYU and the Appraisers Association of America. Her extensive gallery background has positioned her as a key bridge between artists and collectors. She thrives on discovering new talents and trends in the art world, and is dedicated to supporting innovative voices and bringing exciting artwork to the forefront of contemporary art.

THE TRENTON CITY MUSEUM

The Trenton City Museum is housed in Ellarslie Mansion, an 1848 Italianate Villa designed by John Notman. It is in the heart of Trenton’s historic Cadwalader Park, designed by the legendary Frederick Law Olmsted. The building is owned by the City of Trenton and operated by the nonprofit Trenton Museum Society, founded in 1973. The museum explores and celebrates Trenton’s history and culture, showcases contemporary art, artists, and performers, and offers community events, talks, and workshops for all ages. Hours for the museum and its gift shop are Thursdays through Saturday from 12 to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. There is no admission fee to view the museum’s art and history offerings, but donations are welcomed. Learn more at ellarslie.org or 609-989-1191. For more on Ellarslie Open 42: ellarslie.org/eo42; exhibits@ellarslie.org; 609-989-1191.

Princeton University Concerts Announces 2025-26 Season

Princeton University Concerts' 132nd year of programming includes the world's greatest classical music stars playing repertoire from early music to contemporary, including Princeton University Department of Music graduate students. The upcoming performance season marks 10 years of the Performances Up Close series and ushers in new directions for the ever-innovating Music & Healing series. Information is available at puc.princeton.edu.

PRINCETON, NJ—Princeton University Concerts (PUC)'s 2025-26 season offers more opportunities than ever before to experience the world's most celebrated musicians, among friends. From September 2025-April 2026, 23 performances span diverse artists, repertoire, and formats in which to experience chamber music. Curated series include:

·       Concert Classics Series: A tradition since 1894, this mainstage series presents world-renowned musicians in the intimate Richardson Auditorium.

·       Performances Up Close Series: Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this unique series invites audiences on stage with performers for informal, hour-long concerts. This season's programming honors standout themes from the series' past decade.

·       Music & Healing Series: A thought-provoking exploration of the intersection of music, healing, and the human experience. This season focuses on how music helps us process endings and transitions, featuring renowned artists such as choreographer Mark Morris, director Peter Sellars, and violinist Lisa Batiashvili.

·       Special Events: Two groundbreaking theatrical programs pushing artistic boundaries: Dies Irae (Day of Wrath), a dramatic multimedia work conceived by violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja responding to modern warfare and the climate crisis, performed in the Princeton University Chapel; and Emily—No Prisoner Be, a new semi-staged song cycle by Kevin Puts inspired by Emily Dickinson, performed by mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and string trio Time for Three in Richardson Auditorium.

·       Community Engagement: All in the Family programing for children ages 3-12; programs curated by Princeton University Department of Music performance faculty and students as part of the Richardson Chamber Players; Do-Re-Meet pre-concert social events and documentary screenings at the Garden Theatre; and free programs including Live Music Meditations, the Annual Chamber Jam, and book discussions at the Princeton Public Library.

CONCERT CLASSICS SERIES

"When Philena Fobes Fine founded the Ladies Musical Committee in 1894—the seed that blossomed into today's Princeton University Concerts—they exclusively presented string quartets," notes PUC Director Marna Seltzer. "Our programming celebrates these beginnings by presenting the world's greatest string quartets and star string soloists at the lowest prices in the region. That said, there is something for everyone, including fans of great pianists and opera singers. All the artists are bringing exceptionally thoughtful programs, and many are making rare recital appearances."

The season opens with the return of the Belcea String Quartet on Thursday, October 23, 2025, following their electrifying collaboration with the Ébène String Quartet in a program of string octets last season. This year, each ensemble will take center stage in its own spotlight, with the Ébène Quartet performing on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

Adding a unique twist, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Richard Tognetti, returns on Thursday, April 23, 2026, with an innovative program that transforms works originally composed for string quartet into striking new interpretations for chamber orchestra.

Acclaimed pianist Paul Lewis makes his long-awaited return to PUC on Thursday, November 6, 2025, with a program exploring the ongoing evolution of the sonata. This season also welcomes two sought-after pianists in highly anticipated PUC debuts, each performing alongside world-renowned string players. Spanish pianist Javier Perianes will take the stage with legendary violist Tabea Zimmermann on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in a duo program. Pianist Giorgi Gigashvili—the Georgian protégé of pianist Martha Argerich—joins celebrated violinist Lisa Batiashvili for her return appearance on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

February 2026 will bring two more exciting PUC debuts. On Thursday, February 5, 2026, tenor Benjamin Bernheim, hailed as "the most beautiful tenor voice since Luciano Pavarotti" (Süddeutsche Zeitung), will perform with Canadian pianist Carrie-Ann Matheson. Many may recognize Bernheim from his performances at the closing ceremonies of the Paris Olympics and at the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. The following Thursday, February 12, 2026, the Marmen String Quartet, who have developed a reputation for their refreshing and daring interpretations at prestigious venues like Wigmore Hall and the BBC Proms, will explore the deep connection between folk traditions and the most innovative voices in classical music, including Canadian composer Cassandra Miller.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Two groundbreaking, theatrical programs define this season's Special Events: Emily—No Prisoner Be (Sunday, February 22, 2026), a new work by Kevin Puts for mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and string trio Time for Three inspired by Emily Dickinson, and Dies Irae (Day of Wrath, Thursday, March 26, 2026), violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja's powerful multimedia reflection on war and climate change, performed together with the University's own Richardson Chamber Players and the Princeton University Chapel Choir, and amplified by the evocative setting of the Princeton University Chapel.

"These two leading ladies are always pushing the boundaries of the concert experience," says Seltzer. "We're so fortunate that, because of our ongoing relationship with both Joyce and Patricia, they chose Princeton as the place to bring these extraordinary projects to life."

PERFORMANCES UP CLOSE SERIES (10-Year Anniversary)

This beloved series, where audiences sit on stage alongside the artists, turns 10 with a season celebrating its innovative spirit and nodding to the many kinds of programs it has hosted over the past decade: exciting artistic collaborations such as the Takács String Quartet with special guest violist Jordan Bak (September 25, 2025); genre-defying musicians like cellist Abel Selaocoe who blends classical cello with the traditions of his South African roots and throat singing (September 30, 2025); bringing to life the conviviality of baroque jam sessions, for which early music band Ruckus and flutist Emi Ferguson are so renowned (November 13, 2025); giving voice to underrepresented instruments like the accordion, as performed by Théo Ould on December 10, 2025; and the personal connections at the heart of all chamber music, manifested through the hometown return of violist Natalie Loughran, a Princeton High School alumna, alongside her ensemble the Castalian String Quartet.

Do-Re-Meet social events for music lovers, including pre-concert speed dating, speed friend-ing, and an LGBTQIA+ Mingle, will be paired with select concerts on this series as an extension of the community-building heart of the Performances Up Close series. These events are available for priority registration to curated series subscribers and will become available to single ticket buyers on September 8, 2025.

MUSIC & HEALING SERIES

For the past three seasons, PUC's Music & Healing series has delved deeply into the intersection of music, healing, and the human experience. As kamancheh master Kayhan Kalhor poignantly expressed during his appearance in the series, "Music is life." The 2025-26 season continues this exploration centered on one of life's most inevitable truths: endings—and the new beginnings they create.

On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, legendary choreographer Mark Morris, one of the most prolific and musically insightful artists of our time, will reflect on how he is preparing his dance company and his body of work with an eye towards his own mortality in a conversation interwoven with dances performed by members of his company titled The Dance Lives On: Contemplating Artistic Legacy.

On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, MacArthur "Genius" Fellow and visionary opera and stage director Peter Sellars will lead an intimate conversation, Mourning through Music, sharing how some of his most powerful artistic works have emerged from his darkest moments—and how music has helped both himself and others navigate grief and loss.

The series concludes on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, with an evening featuring daring violinist Lisa Batiashvili in Sounding Defiance: Georgia & Ukraine, a powerful reflection on music's resilience in the face of attempted cultural erasure.

Patrons are also encouraged to attend the Special Event Dies Irae, violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja's urgent musical response to the concept of the end of the world, performed in the Princeton University Chapel on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

"Lisa Batiashvili has poignantly said, 'First of all, we are human beings, and then we are musicians—not the other way around,'" says Outreach Manager Dasha Koltunyuk. "We look forward to exploring this idea together with our audiences."

ALL IN THE FAMILY & RICHARDSON CHAMBER PLAYERS

The 2025-26 season will also feature All in the Family concerts and performances by the Richardson Chamber Players, a resident ensemble of Princeton University performance faculty, distinguished guest artists and supremely talented students. On Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 1PM, musicians from The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will be joined by host Bruce Adolphe for a performance curated for children ages 6-12 at Richardson Auditorium. Relaxed-format performances curated for children ages 3-6 and neurodiverse children will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 1PM and 3PM, with host Rami Vamos leading us on a kid-friendly exploration of classical music. The Richardson Chamber Players will present a concert on Sunday, November 2, 2025 at 3PM at Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall and will perform as part of violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja's Dies Irae production on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

SUBSCRIPTION & TICKET INFORMATION

Princeton University Concerts continues to offer the lowest ticket prices in the region.

Curated Series Subscriptions are now available, including the Concert Classics Subscription (8 concerts starting at $208), Performances Up Close Subscription (5 concerts for $170), and Music & Healing Subscription (3 events for $66), with the option to add on Special Events to any series. Beginning May 12, audiences can create their own packages by selecting three or more concerts across series. Single tickets go on sale August 4 online and September 8 by phone. More details at puc.princeton.edu.

Patrons enrolled in qualifying aid programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, and public housing, as well as to NJ Families First Discovery Pass holders, are encouraged to enroll in PUC's Admit All program. Admit All provides access to discounted tickets for $11 or less at select concerts throughout the season. Those interested in participating in the Admit All program can visit puc.princeton.edu/admit-all or call the PUC office at 609-258-2800 to learn more.

Free opportunities, including Live Music Meditations, Book Group discussions at the Princeton Public Library, and the Annual Chamber Jam, will be announced at a later date.

For more information, please visit puc.princeton.edu or call 609-258-2800.

THE 2025–26 SEASON

(Organized by series, then chronologically)

*Denotes Princeton University Concerts debut

 All events are held at Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall on the Princeton University campus unless otherwise noted.

CONCERT CLASSICS SERIES (8 CONCERTS)

Hear the world's most vibrant and celebrated classical musicians—both fan favorites and long-awaited debuts— within the intimacy of Richardson Auditorium on our mainstage series.

Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 7:30PM

BELCEA STRING QUARTET

Mozart String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K. 465 "Dissonance" | Brett Dean New String Quartet (composed for the Belcea Quartet) | Beethoven String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135

Thursday, November 6, 2025 | 7:30PM

PAUL LEWIS, Piano

Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 1 | Thomas Larcher Piano Sonata (New Commission) | Schubert Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-flat Major, D. 960

Thursday, February 5, 2026 | 7:30PM

BENJAMIN BERNHEIM*, Tenor

CARRIE-ANN MATHESON*, Piano

Henri Duparc L'invitation au voyage, Chanson triste, Phidylé | Ernest Chausson Poème de l'amour et de la mer, La fleur des eaux, La mort de l'amour | Frederic Mompou Damunt de tu només les flors | Alberto Ginastera Canción al arbol del olvido | Giacomo Puccini Mentìa l'avviso, Terra e mare, Sole e amore | Joseph Kosma Les feuilles mortes | Charles Trenet Douce France | Jacques Brel Quand on n'a que l'amour

Thursday, February 12, 2026 | 7:30PM

MARMEN STRING QUARTET*

Haydn String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 76, No. 4 "Sunrise" | Cassandra Miller Leaving (2011) | Bartók String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Sz. 67 | Debussy String Quartet

Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 7:30PM

TABEA ZIMMERMANN, Viola

JAVIER PERIANES*, Piano

Robert Schumann Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 | Johannes Brahms Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 120 No. 2 | Benjamin Britten Lachrymae, Op. 48 | Dmitri Shostakovich Viola Sonata, Op. 147

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | 7:30PM

ÉBÈNE STRING QUARTET

Mozart String Quartet No. 15 in D Minor, K. 421 | Ravel String Quartet | Brahms String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 51, No. 2

Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 7:30PM

AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

RICHARD TOGNETTI, Director

Franz Schubert "Quartettsatz" in C Minor, D. 703 | John Luther Adams New Work | Ralph Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending | Fanny Mendelssohn String Quartet No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 12

Thursday, April 30, 2026 | 7:30PM

LISA BATIASHVILI, Violin

GIORGI GIGASHVILI*, Piano

Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 12, No. 3 | Bartók Violin Sonata No. 1, Sz.75 | Josef Bardanashvili New Work | Franck Violin Sonata in A major

PERFORMANCES UP CLOSE SERIES (5 CONCERTS)

Sit on Stage! Experience these one-hour concerts up close in an intimate, immersive setting. Celebrate the 10th anniversary of this beloved series—now available as a subscription for the first time. Enjoy music that's immediate, informal, and perfectly timed for your schedule.

Thursday, September 25, 2025 | 6PM & 9PM

TAKÁCS STRING QUARTET

JORDAN BAK, Viola

W.A. Mozart String Quintet No. 3 in C Major, K. 515, String Quintet No. 4 in G Minor, K.516

Tuesday, September 30, 2025 | 6PM & 9PM

ABEL SELAOCOE*, Cello

Works by J.S. Bach, new works by Michel van der Aa and Ben Nobuto, and more

Presented in collaboration with the African Music Ensemble

Thursday, November 13, 2025 | 6PM & 9PM

RUCKUS Early Music Band*

EMI FERGUSON, Flute

"Fly the Coop," a joyous, kaleidoscopic romp through some of J.S. Bach's most playful and transcendent works, including his flute sonatas and keyboard works.

Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 6PM & 9PM

THÉO OULD*, Accordion

Works by Bach, Piazzolla, Bartók, Villa-Lobos, Rameau, and others

Presented in collaboration with Princeton Sound Kitchen

Sunday, March 1, 2026 | 3PM & 6PM

CASTALIAN STRING QUARTET

Leoš Janá?ek String Quartet No. 2 "Intimate Letters" | Felix Mendelssohn String Quartet No. 5 in e-flat Major, Op. 44, No. 3

MUSIC & HEALING SERIES (3 EVENTS)

Explore the intersection of music, healing, and human experience through conversation and performance with multifaceted artists. This season, the series explores how music helps us navigate endings—shaping artistic memory, offering solace in times of loss, and sustaining cultural heritage.

Wednesday, October 8, 2025 | 7:30PM

MARK MORRIS, Choreographer

"The Dance Lives On: Contemplating Artistic Legacy"

A conversation with Mark Morris, permeated by selections of his choreography.

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 | 7:30PM

PETER SELLARS*, Director

"Mourning through Music"

A conversation with Peter Sellars, permeated by live performance.

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 | 7:30PM

LISA BATIASHVILI, Violinist

"Sounding Defiance: Georgia & Ukraine"

A conversation with Lisa Batiashvili complemented by live performance, featuring the violinist alongside her fellow Georgian, pianist Giorgi Gigashvili.

To further explore music's role in navigating endings and envisioning new beginnings, Music & Healing series subscribers have the exclusive opportunity to add the Special Event "Dies Irae" to their subscription at a 20% discount.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Patrons who purchase a series subscription can add one or both of the following Special Events at a discounted rate when placing a subscription order:

Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 3PM

JOYCE DiDONATO, Mezzo-soprano

TIME FOR THREE String Trio

Kevin Puts Emily—No Prisoner Be, a new, semi-staged song cycle based on poems of Emily Dickinson 

Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 7:30PM at the Princeton University Chapel

PATRICIA KOPATCHINSKAJA, Violin

Princeton University Chapel Choir

Richardson Chamber Players

Dies Irae

A semi-staged multimedia work conceived by violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja merging a fierce musical enactment of the day of judgment with a sharp critique of war and the climate crisis as drivers of our self-destruction, weaving together the compositions of Giacinto Scelsi, Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, George Crumb, Jimi Hendrix, Antonio Lotti, John Dowland, and Galina Ustvolskaya to evoke a haunting final "day of wrath."

RICHARDSON CHAMBER PLAYERS (2 CONCERTS)

Formed in 1994–95 on the occasion of PUC's 100th anniversary, this mixed ensemble comprises Princeton University's performance faculty, distinguished guest artists, and supremely talented Princeton University students. 

Sunday, November 2, 2025 | 3PM

Program to be announced at a later date

Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 7:30PM at the Princeton University Chapel

The Richardson Chamber Players will perform in violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja's Dies Irae, a semi-staged musical portrayal of judgment day that reflects on war and the climate crisis, spanning music from John Downland to Jimi Hendrix.

ALL IN THE FAMILY—2 PROGRAMS FOR KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES

PUC nurtures a lifelong love of music by offering kids a chance to encounter chamber music in person through two special programs featuring world-class musicians.

Saturday, October 18, 2025 | 1PM

"Meet the Music: Musical Fairy Tales" with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and host Bruce Adolphe

Curated for kids ages 6-12 and their families

Saturday, March 14, 2026 | 1PM & 3PM

"Little Listeners: Time for Music" with host Rami Vamos

A relaxed-format concert curated for kids ages 3-6, including neurodiverse children, and their families

Works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Dvo?ák, Rorem, and Leroy Anderson

LIVE MUSIC MEDITATION

PUC's internationally acclaimed, groundbreaking initiative, a partnership with the Princeton University Office of Religious Life, pairs guided meditation with live performance by the world's greatest musicians. The hour-long, free sessions, are held throughout the year. Dates and artists TBA. 

ANNUAL CHAMBER JAM

Princeton University Concerts' Annual Chamber Jam is an opportunity for amateur musicians of all ages and levels to make music alongside professional artists. Past participants include members of the Berlin Philharmonic with conductor Gustavo Dudamel, Chicago Symphony Winds, East Coast Chamber Orchestra, Escher String Quartet, St. Lawrence String Quartet, Takács String Quartet, and the Tenebrae Choir. The 2025-26 Chamber Jam artists are to be announced.

DO-RE-MEET

Concertgoers can extend their experience with pre-concert social events for music lovers. Presented by Princeton University Concerts in partnership with Risa Grimaldi of TheSinglesGroup.com. These events are held at the historic Maclean House on the Princeton University campus, just steps away from the concert hall. Do-Re-Meet events are available for priority registration to Performances Up Close series subscribers and will become available to single ticket buyers at a later date.

Thursday, September 25, 2025 | 7 PM
Pre-Concert Speed Dating
Paired with Takács String Quartet & Jordan Bak, Viola (Performances Up Close, 9 PM)

Tuesday, September 30, 2025 | 7 PM
Pre-Concert Speed Friend-ing
Paired with Abel Selaocoe, Cello (Performances Up Close, 9 PM)

Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 7 PM
LGBTQIA+ Mingle & Holiday Ugly Sweater Party!
Paired with Théo Ould, Accordion (Performances Up Close, 9 PM)

Sunday, March 1, 2026 | 1 PM
Pre-Concert Speed Dating
Paired with Castalian String Quartet (Performances Up Close, 3 PM)

AT THE MOVIES

Enjoy films related to the programs and artists on our series through our partnership with the Princeton Garden Theatre, the community's local nonprofit arthouse theater. Screenings TBA.

American Repertory Ballet | Princeton Ballet School Announces Its "Dancing Through Life" Gala

PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY – American Repertory Ballet (ARB) | Princeton Ballet School (PBS) will present its 2025 Dancing Through Life Gala on Friday, April 11, 2025 at McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton. This celebratory fundraising event will feature a lively cocktail hour, dynamic performances from American Repertory Ballet company artists and Princeton Ballet School students, delectable catering, specialty drinks, live music and, of course, dancing.

            The organization will honor B. Sue Howard, current ARB | PBS Trustee, for her longtime commitment and passion for the arts. A major institutional supporter, Ms. Howard is not only an original PBS student who studied under the organization’s founder, Audrée Estey,  but is also a visual artist and visionary philanthropist devoted to supporting dance and live music, including as a Trustee for Princeton Symphony Orchestra.
            Amy Megules will be presented with the Audrée Estey Award for Excellence in Dance Education. Ms. Megules has been a PBS faculty member for nearly 17 years and is a former professional dancer with American Repertory Ballet. She has served as the Children’s Coordinator for the organization’s celebrated annual production of The Nutcracker and as the Rehearsal Director for Princeton Ballet School spring performances.
            Gala attendees will enjoy delicious passed hors d’oeuvres and specialty cocktails in McCarter’s Lockwood Lobby before heading into the esteemed Matthews Theatre for spirited performances and a live auction. The program will open with a stunning défilé featuring 80 Princeton Ballet School students, followed by the Company premiere of Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux choreographed by George Balanchine, as well as excerpts from work by Charles Askegard, Samantha Dunster (ARB’s Director of Artistic Operations), Lar Lubovitch, Stephanie Martinez, Ethan Stiefel (ARB’s Nora C. Orphanides Artist in Residence), and some surprise performances.

“Funds raised from this signature event will support our nonprofit organization’s artistic, educational, and outreach programs, such as in-school residencies, Dance for Parkinson’s classes, and so much more,” says Julie Diana Hench, Executive Director. “Students at Princeton Ballet School benefit from live musical accompaniment and world-class training, plus performance opportunities at major venues such as McCarter Theatre and the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. These kinds of opportunities would not be possible without the support of individuals and community partners who believe in the transformative power of the arts and our mission-driven work.”

After the performance and auction, guests may return to McCarter’s lobbies to enjoy decadent dinner selections catered by IQuisine of Rocky Hill, live music, and dancing. Various tiers of ticketing and sponsorship opportunities are available. For details, please visit arballet.org/event/gala/.

In addition, American Repertory Ballet | Princeton Ballet School will be simultaneously hosting a Junior Gala at McCarter Theatre for PBS students levels 3 and up. Mirroring the primary event, Junior Gala tickets include the performance, food by B Bistro, dancing, festivities, and a chance to win prizes! The event is also open to friends of Princeton Ballet School students. Attendees under the age of 15 must have a parent or guardian in attendance at the main Gala.

For more information about the Gala, contact support@arballet.org, or call the Gala hotline at 732-249-1254 x11.

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ABOUT AMERICAN REPERTORY BALLET | PRINCETON BALLET SCHOOL

With a distinctive reputation for innovation and individuality, American Repertory Ballet (ARB) is recognized as one of the state’s premier performing arts organizations. Presenting classical repertory alongside new and existing contemporary work, ARB is a founding resident company of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center while also performing in major venues across New Jersey and beyond for an annual audience of more than 30,000. Founded in 1954 as the Princeton Ballet Society, ARB has been designated a “Major Arts Institution'' by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and has been awarded a Citation of Excellence by the Council. The company is a core partner of The Arts Institute of Middlesex County and has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and other major foundations and leaders in the field as a prominent force in the field of dance.

Princeton Ballet School (PBS) is the official school of American Repertory Ballet. PBS has gained an international reputation for its excellent dance training since its founding in 1954 by Audrée Estey. At its three locations in Princeton, Cranbury, and New Brunswick, PBS offers classes in ballet, modern dance, jazz, hip-hop, character, and more. PBS provides opportunities for students ages 3 through adult, including its award winning DANCE POWER program, and performance opportunities, such as the option to participate in American Repertory Ballet’s celebrated annual production of The Nutcracker.

What sets Princeton Ballet School apart from the usual dance school are its affiliation with a professional ballet company, its renowned faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and its dedication to live music in the classroom.

Visit www.arballet.org or contact 609-921-7758 or info@arballet.org to learn more!

Follow American Repertory Ballet | Princeton Ballet School on Social Media:

Facebook: @americanrepertoryballet | @princetonballetschool
Instagram: @arballet | @princetonballetschool
LinkedIn: @american-repertory-ballet
TikTok: @americanrepertoryballet | @princetonballetschool

PSO Announces 2025-2026 Season of Music

Aubree Oliverson

Princeton, NJ—The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) announces its 2025-26 Season with a line-up of superb guest artists assembled by Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov. Audience favorite Aubree Oliverson returns to the PSO stage along with violinist Bella Hristova who last performed with the orchestra in 2014. Exciting pianists Maxim Lando and 2025 GRAMMY® winner Michelle Cann, noted harpsichordist Mahan Esfanhani, and Serbian-French cellist Maja Bogdanovi? will each be appearing with the PSO for the first time at Richardson Auditorium.

The season promises exciting performances of concertos composed by Antonín Dvo?ák, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sergei Prokofiev, Edvard Grieg, and Camille Saint-Saëns as well as the world premiere of a new work for harpsichord and small orchestra by Princeton-based composer Julian Grant. Additional contemporary compositions include Dobrinka Tabakova’s Orpheus’ Comet, Andreia Pinto Correia’s Ciprés, Jessie Montgomery’s Records from a Vanishing City, and Viet Cuong’s Extra(ordinarily) Fancy.

Maestro Milanov says, “I am always amazed by the Princeton audiences and their curiosity for fresh viewpoints and artistic expression. The juxtaposition of new works with beloved classics invites comparison and stimulates dialogue.”

Among the masterworks to be presented are Johannes Brahms’ Piano Quartet No. 1 as orchestrated by Arnold Schoenberg, Felix Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony, Dmitri Shostakovich’s First Symphony, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Second Symphony, and Sergei Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony. Princeton Festival veterans Aubry Ballarò, soprano, Nicholas Nestorak, tenor, and Joseph Barron, bass, will perform the full version of Igor Stravinsky’s Pulcinella.

All performances take place on select Saturdays at 7:30pm (a new start time) and Sundays at 4pm, at Richardson Auditorium on Princeton University’s campus. Rossen Milanov conducts all but the February concert.

The season opens October 25-26, and features the return of violinist Aubree Oliverson who wowed audiences in 2024 with dynamic performances of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. This season, she’ll be playing Antonín Dvo?ák’s Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 53. The program includes Bulgarian composer Dobrinka Tabakova’s energizing Orpheus' Comet, drawing sound inspiration from bees, and renowned twentieth-century composer Arnold Schoenberg’s orchestration of Johannes Brahms’ stately Piano Quartet in G Minor.

On November 8-9, the brilliant 22-year-old American pianist Maxim Lando performs Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s rarely-heard Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Op. 44. Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 “Italian” and Gioachino Rossini’s sparkling overture to L’italiana in Algeri complete the program.

Bulgarian-American violinist Bella Hristova returns to perform Sergei Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 19 at performances January 10-11. Andreia Pinto Correia’s 2018 work Ciprés explores themes of trees and water, and the program concludes with Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 10, an early work revealing the composer’s profound talent.

2025 GRAMMY® Award-winning pianist Michelle Cann graces the PSO stage February February 7-8 with performances of Edvard Grieg’s majestic Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 16. Jessie Montgomery’s 

Records from a Vanishing City is based on her recollections of growing up on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36, one of his lesser-known works, brims with positivity. Georg and Joyce Albers-Schonberg Assistant Conductor Kenneth Bean conducts.

March 7-8, leading harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani performs a world premiere work by Julian Grant for solo harpsichord and orchestra. Viet Cuong’s Extra(ordinarily) Fancy cleverly reinterprets the baroque double oboe concerto, and Stravinsky’s neo-classical ballet Pulcinella features Aubry Ballarò, soprano, Nicholas Nestorak, tenor, and Joseph Barron, bass.

Serbian-born cellist Maja Bogdanovi? makes her long-awaited Richardson Auditorium debut May 9-10 with Camille Saint-Saëns’ melodic Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33, one of the most popular in the repertoire. Aaron Copland’s Letter from Home, an emotional wartime offering and Sergei Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 100, one of his most beloved works, complete the program.

Initially, these concerts are available only by subscription, with single tickets going on sale over the summer. Concerts will take place earlier on Saturdays with a new time of 7:30pm, with Sunday performances remaining at 4pm. Full Season subscriptions start at $192. Youths 5-17 receive a 50% discount with an adult purchase. To subscribe, visit the Princeton Symphony Orchestra website at princetonsymphony.org or call 609-497-0020.

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ABOUT THE PRINCETON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is a cultural centerpiece of the Princeton community and one of New Jersey’s finest music organizations, a position established through performances of beloved masterworks, innovative music by living composers, and an extensive network of educational programs offered to area students free of charge. Led by Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov, the PSO presents orchestral, pops, and chamber music programs of the highest artistic quality, supported by lectures and related events that supplement the concert experience. Its flagship summer program the Princeton Festival brings an array of performing arts and artists to Princeton during multiple weeks in June. Through PSO BRAVO!, the orchestra produces wide-reaching and impactful education programs in partnership with local schools and arts organizations that culminate in students attending a live orchestral performance. The PSO receives considerable support from the Princeton community and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, regularly garnering NJSCA’s highest honor. Recognition of engaging residencies and concerts has come from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the PSO’s commitment to new music has been acknowledged with an ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming and a Copland Fund Award. The only independent, professional orchestra to make its home in Princeton, the PSO performs at historic Richardson Auditorium on the campus of Princeton University.

Find the PSO online at www.princetonsymphony.org; on facebook at www.facebook.com/princetonsymphony; on “X” at www.twitter.com/psomusic and on flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/princetonsymphony.

School of Rock Princeton Announces Summer Camp Line Up

Do you want to learn how to play in a band or learn to write songs? School of Rock Princeton offers a wide variety of music camps and workshops that cover topics such as these. Our local music camps are perfect for musicians of various skill levels who want to play guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, or vocals.

Summer Camp Programs

JCC Princeton Mercer Bucks & Abrams Camps Announces MARCH MADNESS Events

Meals on Wheels of Mercer County (MOWMC) Announced Today Its Support of End the Wait
February 28, 2025

Princeton Dance and Theater Studio Announces Summer Registration/Early Bird Options

Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and HomeFront Announce Expansion of Diaper Access

Lawrenceville, NJ – Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson visited HomeFront, the long-standing social service agency located in Lawrenceville, NJ for a check presentation ceremony to highlight the Assemblywoman’s successful advocacy for funding in the state budget to increase diaper access in New Jersey. The Assemblywoman’s $250,000 state budget appropriation will support the expansion of HomeFront’s Diaper Bank, a program that provided over one million diapers to families in need last year alone. The new funding will support expansion to offer diapers in bulk to other community organizations that support families in Central New Jersey.

Diapers are critical to a family’s stability and well-being, enabling children to go to daycare healthy and dry, parents to go to work, and families to put money toward other crucial expenses – ultimately helping the Central New Jersey community thrive.

Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson has prioritized women’s health and health equity policies in various aspects of her work. “This is a dream come true to be able to start this expansion here at HomeFront,” she says. “I do a lot of work around maternal health and the need for diapers always comes up, including the cost to have enough diapers for childcare so parents can go to work. Ultimately, it’s a high cost for families to have all the things that are necessary when having a baby,” she emphasizes.

HomeFront is already serving as one of the state’s largest distributors of no-cost diapers to families and currently partners with four local organizations to provide diapers in bulk. HomeFront’s Diaper Bank Expansion pilot will expand partnerships with up to 10 new organizations in its first year. The program will leverage the partner organizations’ existing relationships with families in the community who are facing diaper need and their existing capacity to connect those families with resources that make a difference.

Sarah Steward, HomeFront’s Chief Executive Officer, commented that she knows that long-term solutions are about “finding the right partners to bring a solution to bear.”

“I give a lot of credit to Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson for being laser focused on supporting women and families because we know that that is what’s going to drive the economic engine and create healthy futures for children down the road,” she added.

Steward also addressed the connection between diaper access and housing insecurity. “HomeFront is known primarily as an agency that supports families experiencing homelessness, and we do a lot of work trying to prevent homelessness before it happens. The diapers and other basic necessities we provide give room in the monthly budget for families living paycheck to paycheck,” Steward explains. “Wherever we can create space for people to save, that’s progress on their path to providing more stability for their families.”

With additional funding in place, HomeFront is seeking interested community groups with established relationships that might be interested in receiving bulk diapers to provide to the community. Groups interested in becoming a partner of the HomeFront Diaper Bank should complete the survey at bit.ly/hfdiapers2025.

For community members interested in helping HomeFront’s Diaper Bank, the organization coordinates an annual Diaper Challenge, aiming to collect 500,000+ diapers and baby wipes. The HomeFront Diaper Challenge will run from March 3rd through the day after Mother’s Day, May 12th.

HomeFront is a social service agency with a comprehensive slate of programs designed to empower families in economic crisis address whatever issues they are facing—both now and for the future. We offer safe and secure emergency housing, feed thousands of hungry households a year, provide other necessities such as diapers, personal and household items, and offer comprehensive wraparound services to partner with families on their path to stability. From our earliest days, we have honed our tools and our procedures as a “first responder,” as we worked toward our mission to end homelessness in Central New Jersey. For more information about how you can help, visit www.homefrontnj.org or call (609)-989-9417.

YWCA Princeton Announces Eight Honorees for the 41st Annual Tribute to Women

We are excited to announce our 2025 Tribute to Women Awards, held at Cooper's Riverview in Trenton on Thursday March 27th at 8:30 am. This celebration is not just about recognition of our honorees, it is about telling their stories, amplifying their voices, and showcasing their incredible achievements. This year's honorees represent a multitude of different industries, all working towards bettering the lives of those in our community. They are equally passionate about our vital mission of eliminating racism and championing women's rights; we are grateful for their contributions to our area. At YWCA Princeton, we believe that real change happens when individuals step up to make a difference.   

This year's honorees are (in alphabetical order):?? 

·                     Councilwoman Teska T. Frisby – Trenton City Council and The Smith Family Foundation 

·                     Chantille Kennedy, M.S.Ed., M.Phil.Ed – The Hun School of Princeton? 

·                     Tawanda R. McCrae – Red Queen Foundation and Clarke Caton Hintz Architects 

·                     Jennifer Weisberg Millner, Esq. – Stark & Stark 

·                     Jack Morrison (Male Ally) – JM Group 

·                     Cheryl Towns BSN RN – Trenton Health Team 

·                     Atiya Weiss - The Burke Foundation 

·                     Brenda Whitaker - Homefront 

?? 

"We are honored to celebrate the incredible leaders in our community who embody our mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and strengthening families," said YWCA Princeton CEO Rose Wong. "The honorees' dedication and resilience inspire us all to keep pushing for a more just and equitable world. By sharing their journeys, we hope to inspire others to take action and continue the fight for equity and justice. We look forward to shining a light on their achievements and celebrating each of our honorees as true driving forces creating lasting change."? 

Tickets are now on sale, sponsorship opportunities are available, and submissions for our digital ad reel are currently being accepted. More information about the distinguished 2025 honorees and the rich history of this prestigious award can be found at www.ywcaprinceton.org/tribute2025. For any inquiries or additional details, please feel free to contact Karen Faiman, our Chief Advancement Officer, at kfaiman@ywcaprinceton.org or 609-497-2100 x316.? 

About YWCA Princeton? 

YWCA Princeton is proudly #OnAMission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Our programs are deeply mission-based and specifically designed to empower, uplift, and inspire women and their families. We offer a range of services, including affordable and accessible childcare, English as a Second Language classes that help bridge communication gaps, a supportive Breast Cancer Resource Center, comprehensive workforce development classes, dynamic speaker events, and so much more to meet the diverse needs of our community. For more details regarding our impactful programs and advocacy efforts, we encourage you to visit our website at www.ywcaprinceton.org. 

Bucks County Playhouse Announces 2025 Mainstage Season

Launching on February 28, Bucks County Playhouse’s season
includes new musicals “Hard Road to Heaven” and “The Apple Boys,” plus new productions of “Leader of the Pack,” “She Loves Me” and “Elf: The Musical”

Subscriptions and Single Tickets On Sale Now

New Hope, PA (January 17, 2025) — Under the artistic leadership of Producing Director Alexander Fraser, Executive Producer Robyn Goodman and Producer Josh Fielder, Bucks County Playhouse announced plans for its 2025 season, which includes six productions — including two world-premiere musicals — and features the expansion of its mainstage programming from its traditional season launch in the summer to a new start date in the first quarter of the year. The first production, the debut of the country musical, “Hard Road to Heaven,” will kick off the season on February 28.

Founded in 1939 as a summer theatre — and one of the crown jewels in the Straw Hat Circuit — the Playhouse has transitioned to one of the top professional theatres of the East Coast. After closing briefly in 2010, the Playhouse reopened after a top-to-bottom renovation and conversion to a non-profit theatre in 2012. Since its reopening, and the arrival of the current producing team more than a decade ago, the theatre has seen unprecedented growth in both audience and programming.

“Last year, more than 40,000 new patrons walked through our doors for the first time,” says Producing Director Alexander Fraser. "And so, we continue to grow. Now with five, self-produced original productions in our subscription series, including two world premieres and three terrific musicals we love, we are proud to finally realize our dream of becoming a year-round producing theater.”

Two new musicals, the compelling country musical, “Hard Road to Heaven” and charming and boisterous “The Apple Boys,” will launch the season — continuing the Playhouse’s commitment to developing new works. Last year, the Playhouse produced “Last of the Red Hot Mamas,” which was the 11^th world premiere production at the New Hope theatre since 2012.

The season will also feature fresh productions of “Leader of the Pack: The Ellie Greenwich Musical,” considered by most to be the first jukebox musical, as well as “She Loves Me” and “Elf: The Musical.” In addition, the Playhouse will revive its popular production of “The Rocky Horror Show,” which, with Frankie Grande as star, once again broke box office records in October 2024.

Season tickets are now available at $300 for a five-show package (including fees). Special discounted subscriptions are available for patrons under 40. Single tickets for most shows are currently on sale and prices begin at $39. Discounted rates are available for groups of 10 or more. All play titles, artists, and dates are subject to change. Additional details on casting will be announced soon. For tickets and information, visit www.BucksCountyPlayhouse.org or call 215-862-2121.

Bucks County Playhouse’s 2025 Season:

HARD ROAD TO HEAVEN

Book by Willy Holtzman, Music and Lyrics by David Spangler, Jerry Taylor and Marty Dodson

February 28 – March 23

Directed by Jackson Gay

Experience the heart and soul of country music in “Hard Road to Heaven,” a powerful new musical that takes you on a journey through the highs and lows of fame, family and faith. Jenny Dixon, the reigning queen of country, navigates the ups and downs of a superstar career and the gospel-singing family she left behind. With unforgettable songs and a gripping narrative, “Hard Road to Heaven” is a must-see tale of ambition, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bonds of family.

THE APPLE BOYS

May 2 - 25

Book by Jonothon Lyons, Music and Lyrics by Ben Bonnema

Choreographed by Marc Kimelman

Directed by David Alpert

Step back in time to the early 20^th-century Coney Island with a fast-paced new musical comedy, “The Apple Boys.” Jack Chapman III, grandson of Johnny Appleseed, rallies a colorful cast of characters — including the founder of Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs, and the world’s strongest man — to save his family’s struggling apple orchard. “The Apple Boys” is a joyous show that will leaving you cheering for the underdogs and celebrating the bonds of friendship.

LEADER OF THE PACK

June 20 – July 20

Music and Lyrics by Ellie Greenwich and friends

Based on a concept by Melanie Mintz

Directed and Choreographed by Shea Sullivan

Before there was “Beautiful,” there was “Leader of the Pack.” Bob along to the songs you love in this Broadway musical celebrating the life and times of Ellie Greenwich, whose doo-wop sounds skyrocketed to the top of the ‘60s charts. Ellie’s rise to fame is told via a virtual hit parade of her music including “Chapel of Love,” “Da Doo Ron Ron,” “Be My Baby,” “River Deep, Mountain High,” “And Then He Kissed Me,” and, of course, the title song, “Leader of the Pack.”

SHE LOVES ME

August 15 – September 14

Book by Joe Masteroff

Music by Jerry Bock

Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick

Amalia and Georg, two clerks in a 1930s perfumery, are constantly at odds. They both find joy, however, in the romantic letters exchanged with anonymous pen pals they discovered through a “lonely hearts ad.” Little do they know they are writing to each other! Based on the classic film, “The Shop Around the Corner,’ and the inspiration for the blockbuster romantic comedy, “You’ve Got Mail,” She Loves Me” is a delightful musical that celebrates one of the most enchanting love stories ever told.

ELF: THE MUSICAL

November 21– January 4

Book by Thomas Meehan & Bob Martin

Music by Matthew Sklar

Lyrics by Chad Beguelin

Directed by John Tartaglia

Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity.

Additional Off-Subscription Productions:

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

October 10 – November 2

Book, Music and Lyrics by Richard O’Brien

Choreographed by Shannon Lewis

Directed by Hunter Foster

Strap on your corset and roll up your stockings, Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show” returns to Bucks County Playhouse in an all-new production.  The musical that inspired the 1975 classic cult film, “The Rocky Horror Show” follows engaged couple Brad and Janet on the adventure to beat all adventures. As they seek shelter at a mysterious old castle on a dark and stormy night, they encounter transvestite scientist, Dr. Frank ‘N’ Furter, as he unveils his perfect male creation, “Rocky.” With an infectious rock n’ roll score, “The Rocky Horror Show” is the most fun you can have in fishnets!

Subscription packages and single tickets for the 2025 Season are currently available and may be purchased at BucksCountyPlayhouse.org or by calling the Box Office at 215.862.2121.

ABOUT BUCKS COUNTY PLAYHOUSE

Steeped in a theatrical history that stems back to its founding in 1939 by a roster of theatrical royalty, Bucks County Playhouse is celebrating the twelfth anniversary of its 2012 re-opening and restoration. With more than 75,000 patrons walking through its doors every year, the Playhouse is leading the economic resurgence of New Hope and the surrounding community. In 2014, Tony Award-winning producers Alexander Fraser, Robyn Goodman and Josh Fiedler took the helm of the Playhouse, and it has reclaimed its reputation of attracting Broadway and Hollywood artists.  Playhouse productions of “Company” starring Justin Guarini, and William Finn’s “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” were named by Wall Street Journal to its “Best of Theatre” list for 2015. In 2018, the Wall Street Journal again hailed the Playhouse and Artistic Associate Hunter Foster in its Best of the Year listings for its production of “42nd Street” and in 2019 labeled the Playhouse “one of the best regional theaters on the East coast.”  Box office records have been repeatedly broken by signature productions of “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,” “Steel Magnolias” directed by Marsha Mason, “Million Dollar Quartet,” “42nd Street,” and “Guys & Dolls” (all directed by Hunter Foster) and “Mamma Mia!” directed by John Tartaglia and choreographed by Shannon Lewis. The 2023 season was the brightest yet, featuring hit productions of Jonathan Larsen’s
“Tick, Tick Boom” directed by Eric Rosen, “Bridges of Madison County” directed by Hunter Foster, who also led “The Rocky Horror Show” starring Frankie Grande.  “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” became the top-selling show in Playhouse history. In 2024, more than 40% of the audience was new — flocking to record-breaking productions of “Grease!” and “Anastasia: The Musical.” The creative teams who come to create new productions at the Playhouse are among the most talented artists working in the professional theatre today and relish the opportunity to work on the historic stage where Grace Kelly, Robert Redford, and Jessica Walter began their careers.

Jewish Family & Children's Service Announces Rose & Louis H. Linowitz Mensch Award

Princeton, NJ, January 2025—JFCS of Greater Mercer County announces the Rose & Louis H. Linowitz Mensch Award.  This is a merit-based award for deserving Jewish eighth-grade and high school senior students living in Greater Mercer County.  Candidates should exemplify what it means to be a mensch – a person of integrity and honor, a doer of good deeds, and an all-around good person.  Students must be nominated by a member of the community such as a Rabbi, educator, youth group advisor, secular school guidance counselor, teacher, etc.  Eighth-grade Mensch-In-Training and high school senior Mensch Award winners will receive prizes up to $500 and $3,500 respectively. This is not a need-based scholarship.

Selected winners are required to attend a recognition event to receive their Award on April 1st, 2025.

Applications are due by February 24, 2025.

For more information or to nominate a student, visit www.jfcsonline.org/awards-scholarships, or contact Joyce at 609-987-8100, ext. 201 / JoyceW@JFCSonline.org.

YOCJ Announces 2025 Concert Schedule
January 10, 2025

The Meeting House restaurant in Princeton Announces Princeton Community Hospitality Micro-grant Program

We built the Meeting House restaurant in Princeton, N.J. with the intention of creating a space that invites community gathering–a place where people come together to build relationships that matter and improve the quality of life in the neighborhood we serve.  The pandemic that began in 2019 was difficult for our team and for the restaurant, as it was for everyone. But we made it through and our community was a big reason we survived. We are now finally in a position to continue our mission and are beginning efforts to give back in our own small ways.

We are excited to announce that for a second year we are offering an opportunity for Princeton students to earn income for furthering their education, while also learning hospitality and what it takes to work at a food service company. Our micro-grant hospitality program offers $2,500 scholarships to two 2025 seniors at Princeton High School. Our goal is to find two individuals who enjoy learning, are interested in hospitality and are passionate about working in our community. These two individuals will be offered the $2,500 scholarship upon completion of the program, which is a 200 hour paid internship for 2 possible positions (front of house, and back of house).

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

• Q: What is the The Meeting House Scholarship?
• A: These scholarships are for members of the Princeton High School class of 2025 who are passionate about learning, interested in hospitality and want to make a positive impact on our community. Two students will each receive a $2500 scholarship.
• Q: What are the jobs available?
• A: Possible FOH (Front of House) jobs include hosting, bussing and food running. Possible BOH (Back of House) jobs include food prep, line cook, and salad station.
• Q: How much do I work and will I get paid?
• A: We will offer a flexible schedule, but ask that award winners work a minimum of 200 hours between Feb 1 of 2025 and Sept 1 2025. Yes, we will be paying $16 per hour.
• Q: When does the application open?
• A: The application is open from 8:00 a.m. January 13th 2025 to 5:00 P.M. January 31st, 2025.
• Q: When will recipients be notified?
• A: Recipients will be announced on or about February 15th, 2025
• Q: Does it cost money to apply?
• A: No, applications are free.
• Q: How do I apply?
• A:  All applicants must submit a one page letter expressing why they believe they are a strong candidate for this scholarship by January 31st. Send letter to scholarship@mhprinceton.com

USE OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS

• Q: What can the scholarship funds be used for in my education program?
• A: Awards can be applied in any area of study at any accredited institution of your choice, including two- or four-year colleges and universities, online programs, or vocational-technical schools. The funds are to be used to pay for course work only.  (e.g., not for housing, books, etc.)
• Q: What year can the scholarship money be used for? I graduate in 2025.
• A: Scholarship funds will be available in the fall of 2025 and payments will be paid directly to the institutions.

Artworks Trenton Announces New Exhibition - Clifford Ward: I'LL MAKE ME A WORLD, prologue

Trenton, NJ — December 17, 2025 — Artworks Trenton is proud to announce an upcoming exhibition, Clifford Ward: I'LL MAKE ME A WORLD, prologue.  The exhibition will run from February 1 through April 12, 2025, with an opening reception on February 1, 2025 from 6 to 9PM, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience Ward's captivating artwork.

Clifford Ward: I'LL MAKE ME A WORLD, prologue will be an enchanting exhibition that brings together selected works from multiple series of works by Ward, celebrating the intersection of Ward's artistic journey with the imaginative and forward-looking spirit of Afrofuturism.  Curated by Addison Vincent, Artistic Director of Artworks Trenton, this exhibition represents a unique collaboration between Artworks Trenton and Grounds For Sculpture (GFS), located in nearby Hamilton, New Jersey. The Artworks Trenton exhibition is a first look at select pieces to be featured in GFS's upcoming exhibition, Clifford Ward: I'll Make Me a World. The exhibition at GFS is guest curated by Noah Smalls and will be on view in its Museum Building from May 18, 2025 to January 11, 2026. Expanding on the Artworks Trenton exhibition, GFS will display Ward's work in a larger context, revealing the complete narrative and the interconnectedness of his greater oeuvre.

Clifford Ward, known for his innovative and thought-provoking pieces, has gained recognition for his works inspired by the mythologies, cultures and pathos of the African Diaspora, Australian Aborigines, Native American and M?ori people. His work spans a variety of mediums and styles, consistently pushing the boundaries of contemporary art.

"We are excited to present Clifford Ward's exhibition. His talent for engaging and inspiring audiences perfectly complements our mission to nurture creativity and artistic expression within the community. Furthermore, his work embodies the ideals of Black History Month, extending its significance beyond just February," stated Artworks Trenton's Artistic Director, Addison Vincent.

"My sculptures either remain in their mixed media form (steel, newspaper, plaster bandages, cowrie shells, acrylic paint or amber shellac with brown wax) or they are cast in bronze, iron or aluminum," said artist Clifford Ward. "I like to explore my love of geometry, cubism, mythology, anthropomorphism, textures and Egyptian/Nubian art and symbols."

"We are delighted to collaborate with Artworks Trenton," said Kathleen Greene, Chief Audience Officer at Grounds For Sculpture. "It provides both of our organizations the opportunity to celebrate Ward's extraordinary work while deepening our organizations' connectivity and growing our mutual audiences within the local community."

The exhibition at Artworks Trenton will include a diverse collection of Ward's works created over the last decade, providing an immersive experience for art enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Special events, including an artist talk and community events, will be scheduled throughout the exhibition period. 

More information is available on the Artworks Trenton website, www.artworkstrenton.org, and on the Grounds For Sculpture website, www.groundsforsculpture.org/.

The Grounds For Sculpture exhibition Clifford Ward: I'll Make Me A World is made possible by generous exhibition support from Julie and Michael Nachamkin. Additional support is provided by NRG Energy and Marjorie Ogilvie. Support is provided in part by the Atlantic Foundation, The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a division of the NJ Department of State, and a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.

About Grounds For Sculpture

Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) is a 42-acre not-for-profit sculpture park, arboretum, and museum, founded by the late Seward Johnson. Featuring over 300 contemporary sculptures by renowned and emerging artists in a beckoning, ever-changing landscape, Grounds For Sculpture combines art and nature to surprise, inspire, and engage visitors from all backgrounds in the artist's act of invention. In addition to its permanent collection, Grounds For Sculpture offers exhibitions in six indoor galleries, alongside experiential art, horticulture, and wellness programs for all ages. Located in Hamilton, New Jersey, Grounds For Sculpture is easily accessible from the New York City and Philadelphia metropolitan areas by public transit and is open year-round. For more information, visit groundsforsculpture.org.

Princeton Recreation Dept Announces Trip To See 'The Lion King" March 2

We have some exciting news to share!

For the first time ever, PRD is heading to Broadway, and you're invited! Join us for a magical Community Trip to see The Lion King on Broadway in NYC on Sunday, March 2nd, 2025. This incredible opportunity is open to both residents and non-residents, making it the perfect way to experience the magic of Broadway with friends and family.

Give the gift of a Broadway experience this holiday season – it's the perfect present for your loved ones! Space is limited, so be sure to register early! To Register: https://register.communitypass.net/princeton under "2025 Community Programs"

For More Information: www.princetonrecreation.com

Email cpetrucelli@princetonnj.gov or mespitia@princetonnj.gov

Mercer County Library System Announces Winter Reading Program

What better way to spend the cold winter months than curled up with a good book? The Mercer County Library System has announced the dates of their 2024-25 Winter Reading Program. The program will run from December 16, 2024 through January 25, 2025.

"As the weather gets colder there's no better time to curl up with a good book," said County Executive Dan Benson. "We're proud of Mercer County Library's work building community around reading for residents of all ages."

Participants can keep track of books on a Winter Reading BINGO sheet. Complete some of the activities to get five in a row - up, down, across, or diagonal. Then bring the BINGO sheet back to your local branch where kids and teens will automatically receive a prize, and adults will be entered into a raffle for a prize!

BINGO sheets are available on the library's web site at www.mcl.org, or at any of the nine library branches: Lawrence Headquarters, Ewing, Hickory Corner, Hollowbrook, Hopewell, Hightstown Memorial, Robbinsville, Twin Rivers, and West Windsor. 

For more information about Winter Reading or any of the programs the library offers, please visit our web site at www.mcl.org. 

Mercer County Announces Hightstown Grant Awardees, Will Host Nov. Event for Borough Businesses & Non-Profits

The Father Center of New Jersey Announces 2nd Statewide Fatherhood Conference

TRENTON, NJ, October 25, 2024 — The Father Center of New Jersey (TFCNJ) proudly announces its 2nd Statewide Fatherhood Conference, taking place on Thursday, November 7, 2024, from 9 am to
2 pm, in New Brunswick, NJ. Themed "Stronger Fathers BUILD Stronger Families," this event will emphasize the critical role of fatherhood in building strong families and thriving communities.

The conference will gather leading experts, including keynote speaker Dr. Reggie Wright, to explore topics central to fatherhood and community development. This FREE event, led by Bryan Evans, CEO of The Father Center of New Jersey, is designed to equip social workers, mental health professionals, caseworkers and community leaders with tools to help fathers become engaged, effective parents.

"At The Father Center, we believe that fostering strong fathers uplifts entire families and communities. The conference is an opportunity for professionals who work with fathers to gain critical insights, network and learn techniques to strengthen family units," said Evans.

The Father Center remains committed to highlighting the importance of fatherhood in both family life and community well-being. This conference will showcase how fathers play a key role in building resilient families and robust communities, offering attendees strategies and resources to empower fathers.

Dr. Reggie Wright, a former professional basketball player and renowned motivational speaker, will deliver the keynote address. A native of Trenton, Wright's personal journey — overcoming adversity to achieve success — fuels his passion for community service. He will share his insights on how fathers can bridge the academic achievement gap and raise resilient children.

"I'm passionate about helping fathers realize their potential to shape not only their children's futures but the future of our society. I'm honored to speak at this year's Statewide Fatherhood Conference and share insights that can help fathers and families thrive," said Wright.

Dr. Wright holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from New Jersey City University, a master's degree from Cairn University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Liberty University. He is the founder of Reggie Wright Enterprises, is a mentor with Raising Black Men, and serves on the Board of Directors of The Charlie & Tonja Ward Family Foundation.

Anyone working in the social services, mental health, housing or community organizations is encouraged to attend this FREE Statewide Fatherhood Conference. For more information about the conference or to register, visit thefathercenter.org or call 609-695-3663.

About The Father Center of New Jersey
The Father Center of New Jersey is an innovative community organization, headquartered in Trenton, with locations in Burlington, Camden and Westampton, NJ. It offers fathers the emotional, social and economic resources they need to improve their lives and those of their children. From stress management training and anger management programs to adult computer classes, The Father Center supports men in gaining life skills to be there for their families. When fathers are empowered to be good partners, the entire community benefits. thefathercenter.org

Princeton Academy and Ridgeview Conservancy Announce Partnership to Promote Conservation and Ecological Knowledge
October 15, 2024

Boheme Opera NJ Announces 'Opera & Broadway' Oct 27

Join Boheme Opera NJ at Acacia in Lawrenceville on October 27 at 4:00 PM for Opera & Broadway – our last restaurant revue of 2024!

Prepare yourself for a memorable evening of tasty, timeless tunes and pitch-perfect, unforgettable dining. Boheme Opera NJ will satisfy your musical appetite with three outstanding singers, while the culinary artists of Acacia tantalize your tastebuds with its sophisticated fare with a flair. Featuring soprano Kerri Lynn Slominski, mezzo-soprano Amy Maude Helfer, baritone Wayne Hu and pianist Sandra Pucciatti.

Seating is limited – $90 per person ($40 tax deductible). Learn more and RSVP today at https://www.bohemeopera.org/opera-broadway-acacia.

Princeton Symphony Orchestra Announces New 4-Concert Chamber Music Series at Trinity

Black Oak Ensemble

Concerts at Trinity Church, Princeton, select Thursdays at 7pm; first performance - October 10
 

Princeton, NJ—The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is proud to announce the opening of its all-new, 4-concert chamber music series at beautiful Trinity Church in Princeton. The series begins Thursday, October 10 with a concert featuring music composed for piano trio. The trio consists of Emma Richman, violin, Wangshu Xiang, cello, and Yoon Lee, piano. Additional concerts showcase a rare instrument of the viol family, a string trio, and string quartet, successively. General admission tickets are $45 per person, per concert with a 50% discount for children 5-17.

PSO Executive Director Marc Uys is enthusiastic about the new series at Trinity. He says, "Thanks to ideal acoustics and an intimate setting, performances at Trinity Church have become favorite fixtures on our Princeton Festival calendar. I am thrilled to now extend our treasured partnership with Trinity throughout our season with a new series specially curated for this beautiful space.”

The remaining three concerts on the series take place after the new year as follows:

Valencia Baryton Project
Thursday, February 27, 2025 – 7pm
The baryton is a cross between the viol da gamba and lirone, with 10 resonating and plucked strings down the back of the instrument. The baryton gives the traditional string trio an entirely new dimension. Ensemble members include Matthew Baker, baryton, Brett Walfish, viola, and Ismar Gomes, cello.

Black Oak Ensemble
Thursday, March 20, 2025 – 7pm
The Black Oak Ensemble is one of the most innovative and exciting chamber ensembles on the international stage. “The players fully inhabit the spirit of whatever work they are playing at the moment, performing each one with as ardent a flame as if they had written it themselves” (Fanfare Magazine). Members include Desirée Ruhstrat, violin, David Cunliffe, cello, and Aurélien Fort Pederzoli, viola.

Signum Quartet
Thursday, May 1, 2025 – 7pm
Performances of unsparing expressivity, intimacy and vitality are hallmarks of the Signum Quartet, pairing music making of the subtlest order with playing of the highest intensity. The dramatic composition of their programs is innovative and distinct. Members include Florian Donderer, violin
Annette Walther, violin, Xandi van Dijk, viola, and Thomas Schmitz, cello.

General admission tickets for each of the four chamber concerts are now available for $45 per person. Youths 5-17 receive a 50% discount with an adult purchase. Visit the Princeton Symphony Orchestra website at princetonsymphony.org or call 609-497-0020.

Princeton Rec Announces Basketball Clinics with Coach Bailey

Register now for our Fall Basketball Clinics with Coach Kamau Bailey under "2024 Fall Youth Sports Programs."

Girls Basketball Clinics

When: Tuesday, 9/24 & Tuesday, 10/1 

      Grades 3-5: 5:30 - 6:15pm

      Grades 6-8: 6:30 - 7:15pm

Where: Princeton Middle School Gym

Coach: Kamau Bailey, Director of the Bailey Basketball Academy

 

Boys Basketball Clinics

When: Wednesday, 9/25 & Wednesday, 10/2 

      Grades 3-5: 5:30 - 6:15pm

      Grades 6-8: 6:30 - 7:15pm

Where: Princeton Middle School Gym

Coach: Kamau Bailey, Director of the Bailey Basketball Academy

More Info

Princeton Public Library Announces Historic Walking Tours This Fall

George School Announces Transformational $17.75M Gift

George School has received a transformative $17.75 million gift from an anonymous George School family to be added to the George School endowment.

The gift will be distributed among three funds, centering on support of international and experiential learning, co-curricular student programming, and student leadership development.

"We are tremendously excited and deeply grateful," Head of School Justin Brandon said. "This generous gift will serve as a key step in supporting the integration of our co-curricular student opportunities as consistent, equitable, and deep parts of our learning environment."

More Info

Princeton Ballet School Announces NEW Scholarships for 2024-2025

Thanks to a generous donation from an anonymous supporter, Princeton Ballet School (PBS) is excited to announce the opportunity for dance students to receive a merit-based scholarship for the 2024-2025 school year!

To be considered for these merit awards, students must be:

-       Ages 5-13

-       New to Princeton Ballet School’s full-year program *
 

* students who have participated in a PBS summer program, but have not ever registered for the full academic year, may still be considered 

No prior dance training is required to be eligible!

Year-long classes are offered in ballet, with optional flamenco and tap classes for certain ages. PBS students enrolled in Primary B classes and above may also have the opportunity to participate in American Repertory Ballet’s celebrated annual production of The Nutcracker!

Interested students must register to attend one of the following free classes at PBS’ Princeton Studios, 301 N. Harrison Street, Princeton, NJ, for the chance to be awarded a full tuition PBS scholarship for the 2024-2025 school year.

Monday, August 19 through Thursday, August 22

Ages 5-7: 9:30 - 10:30 AM

Ages 8-9: 9:30 - 11:00 AM

Ages 10-13: 9:30 - 11:30 AM

Monday, August 26 & Wednesday, August 28

Ages 5-7: 5:30 - 6:30 PM

Ages 8-9: 6:30 - 7:30 PM

Ages 10-11: 5:30 - 6:30 PM

Ages 12-13: 6:30 - 7:30 PM

Saturday September 7

Ages 5-7: 10:00 - 11:00 AM

Ages 8-9: 11:00 - 12:00 PM

Ages 10-11: 10:00 - 11:00 AM

Ages 12-13: 11:00 - 12:00 PM

There are a limited number of scholarships available for NEW students, don’t miss this opportunity!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP 

Princeton Ballet School (PBS), the official school of American Repertory Ballet, has locations in Cranbury, New Brunswick and Princeton. What sets PBS apart from the usual dance school are its renowned faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, affiliation with a professional ballet company, its dedication to live music in the classroom, and its philosophy to nurture developing dancers in a safe and progressive way.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PBS

Scholarship Event FAQs

Where is the scholarship event class?

-       Princeton Ballet School’s Princeton Studios are located at 301 N. Harrison Street, Princeton, NJ. The entrance is to the right of McCaffrey’s up one flight of stairs or via elevator.

What should my child wear?

-       We encourage comfortable clothing that’s easy to move in. Dancewear if they have it, but not required. Socks are okay! Dancers can wear pointe shoes if the student has already been taking pointe classes at another dance school.

What should my child expect?

-       A classical ballet class appropriate for the child’s age and level.

How will my child be evaluated?

-       A member of our very experienced Princeton Ballet School faculty will lead the class, looking for interest, joy of movement, musicality, and demonstrated ability to learn basic ballet positions and/or steps.

-        

When will we be notified about the results of the class?

-       Within 3 to 5 business days.

If my child is not selected for a scholarship, can they still enroll for classes?

-       Yes! All students are accepted and welcome at Princeton Ballet School. Children who are not selected for a merit scholarship will still be able to register for the 2024-2025 school year, and their registration fee will be waived. Financial assistance is available upon request.

What if my child is not yet 5 years old, or will be turning 14 years old later this year?

-       In order to be considered for the scholarship, children must be 5 years old by October 1, 2024; and still 13 years old as of October 1, 2024.?

?

For any additional questions, please contact 609-921-7758

American Repertory Ballet (ARB) Announces Highly Anticipated 2024-2025 Season

A vibrant, global, and whimsical journey through dance

NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY – American Repertory Ballet (ARB) announces its highly anticipated 2024-2025 season, a dynamic celebration of classic repertoire alongside exciting new works. The season’s journey will be a global passport, taking audiences from a state of awed admiration, through The Nutcracker’s Land of Sweets, to enjoying a passionate fiesta of movement after a jaunt through the Scottish Highlands.

A founding resident company of the state-of-the-art New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), American Repertory Ballet presents three engaging programs of dance at its home venue with WONDERMENT in October 2024, the world premiere of SPIRIT OF THE HIGHLANDS in March 2025, and PASIÓN in May 2025. Additionally, ARB’s celebrated touring production of THE NUTCRACKER will return for the holiday season in November and December 2024 at various venues throughout New Jersey.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

“Our 2024-2025 season has American Repertory Ballet going to the next level and then some!” says Ethan Stiefel, ARB’s visionary leader who has artfully curated each program. “From superlative, existing works by preeminent choreographers like Lar Lubovitch, Antony Tudor and Stephanie Martinez, to new creations by Luis Napoles and myself, the company's notable versatility and artistry will be on full display. Whether one has a fondness for the full-length classics such as The Nutcracker and Spirit of the Highlands (La Sylphide), or one relishes innovative, shorter works thoughtfully selected for our dancers and audiences, there is no doubt that each ARB experience promises to captivate and delight."

WONDERMENT

WONDERMENT, American Repertory Ballet's opening program of the 2024-2025 season, will delight both audiences new to ballet and aficionados alike. Presented at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC) on Friday, October 18 through Sunday, October 20, 2024, WONDERMENT is an innovative program of four diverse dance works. Featured on the bill will be Antony Tudor’s Little Improvisations, a “[depiction of] two children playing in an attic on a rainy day,” per AntonyTudor.org archives, and Lar Lubovitch’s Something About Night, set to choral music by Franz Schubert. Also featured will be the renowned Swan Lake “Black Swan Pas and Coda,” an iconic display of technical bravura, and the world premiere of a new ballet choreographed by Ethan Stiefel inspired by prolific baroque composer, conductor, and ballet dancer Jean Baptiste Lully, and one of his protégés, Marin Marais.

New Brunswick Performing Arts Center | New Brunswick, NJ

Friday, October 18, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 2:00 PM
 

THE NUTCRACKER

A holiday tradition for sixty years, American Repertory Ballet’s THE NUTCRACKER  is one of the longest continuously running productions in the nation and a treat for all ages! With thrilling choreography set to Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, ARB’s professional company will be joined by students from Princeton Ballet School to tell the story of Clara, a young girl who receives a magical Christmas gift and embarks on an enchanted journey. THE NUTCRACKER holds a special place in the hearts of both new and longtime patrons, becoming synonymous with the holiday season. Performances will take place from Friday, November 29 through Sunday, December 22, 2024 in Princeton, Red Bank, Trenton, and New Brunswick.

McCarter Theatre Center | Princeton, NJ
* Ticket link coming soon

Friday, November 29, 2024 at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 1:00 PM & 6:00 PM
Sunday, December 1, 2024 at 1:00 PM

Two River Theater | Red Bank, NJ
* Ticket link coming soon

Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 1:00 PM & 6:00 PM
Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 1:00 PM

Patriots Theater at the War Memorial | Trenton, NJ
* Ticket link coming soon

Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM

State Theatre New Jersey | New Brunswick, NJ

* With live orchestra and choir

Friday, December 20, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM

SPIRIT OF THE HIGHLANDS

American Repertory Ballet presents the breathtaking world premiere of Ethan Stiefel’s SPIRIT OF THE HIGHLANDS on Friday, March 7 through Sunday, March 9, 2025. An adaptation of the well-known Bournonville ballet La Sylphide, SPIRIT OF THE HIGHLANDS re-imagines the tale of a Scotsman's romantic pursuit of a mystical forest spirit. Stiefel traces his mother's family roots back to the Scottish Highland Clan Munro, and will infuse his own authentic Scottish heritage into the choreography and overall design aesthetics of this lively and bewitching ballet. Partnering once again with Howard C. Jones (scenic design), Janessa Cornell Urwin (costume design), and Joseph Walls (lighting design), Stiefel assembles an extraordinary creative team to help fully realize his artistic vision.

SPIRIT OF THE HIGHLANDS is made possible by a generous Leading Sponsor gift from The Ted & Mary Jo Shen Charitable Gift Fund.

Additional production support comes from B. Sue Howard and the E.J. Grassmann Trust.

New Brunswick Performing Arts Center | New Brunswick, NJ

Friday, March 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
 

PASIÓN

ARB’s 2024-2025 season at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center concludes with PASIÓN, a mixed bill of new and known works, presented on Friday, May 9 through Sunday, May 11, 2025. The program includes an excerpt from the classic Marius Petipa ballet Paquita, as well as the highly anticipated return of Stephanie Martinez’s celebrated commission The Time That Runs Away. Heralded as “an example of dance art at its finest” by Critical Dance, the piece showcases nine dancers morphing dreamily through a variety of configurations to six diverse songs that will leave the audience teeming with a sense of carpe diem.

Also featured will be a world premiere by Cuban choreographer and Princeton Ballet School faculty member Luis Napoles. Taking the word “Compasso” (c.1300, meaning: space, area, extent, circumference) as a starting point, the work explores the balance of the individual voice within a larger group, relating the term’s meanings and origins to our lives via the physical dancing body.

New Brunswick Performing Arts Center | New Brunswick, NJ

Friday, May 9, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 10, 2025 at, 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
 

In addition to its highly anticipated 2024-2025 season, American Repertory Ballet also announces exciting new artists and artistic transitions to support the organization’s growth. Ethan Stiefel moves into the newly created role of The Nora C. Orphanides Artist in Residence, focusing on the creation of new work and the continued artistic and technical development of Company dancers. Gillian Murphy continues in her role as Artistic Associate while performing as a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. Samantha Dunster, former Assistant Artistic Director of Philadelphia Ballet, joins ARB’s leadership team as the organization’s first-ever Director of Artistic Operations.

“It is truly an honor to be joining American Repertory Ballet this season,” says Dunster, who will be managing daily Company operations and coordinating guest artist collaborations.  “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the diverse, dedicated, and talented dancers of ARB. I am also incredibly excited to be working with Ethan Stiefel and Gillian Murphy alongside Executive Director Julie Diana Hench and School Director Aydmara Cabrera. Their strength, intelligence, and passion are truly inspirational. Together, we will continue to share our love for dance and creativity with the New Jersey community and beyond. This season promises to be an exciting one for ARB, including the premiere of Ethan Stiefel’s Spirit Of The Highlands. His love and passion for this art form radiate through every company dancer, and I am thrilled to be here to help them shine.” 

ARB Company Artist Nanako Yamamoto, a longtime audience favorite, will continue to grace the stage while also stepping into a leadership role behind the scenes as Assistant Rehearsal Director. Gavin Hounslow joins ARB as a Company Artist, most recently from Oregon Ballet Theatre.

Rylee Berger joins the organization as the newly appointed Production Manager. Berger, a graduate of Rider University, previously worked with ARB as a stage manager and technical director, with additional roles at Berkshire Theatre Group, McCarter Theatre, Passage Theatre Company, and the Hangar Theater.

ARB also welcomes Kristine Brown to the Board of Trustees. With over 30 years of experience in marketing, communications, and public relations, including her current role as Vice President of External Affairs at Rider University, Brown brings expertise and a passion for dance to her role as Chair of the Board’s Marketing Committee. Brown says: "I am honored and proud to join the Board of Trustees for American Repertory Ballet & Princeton Ballet School. I look forward to supporting and advancing the mission of this esteemed institution, which has been a cornerstone of artistic excellence and innovation in our community."

For more information, contact Grant Jacoby, Director of Marketing, at gjacoby@arballet.org, or by calling 609-921-7758 x 34.

#####

ABOUT AMERICAN REPERTORY BALLET

With a distinctive reputation for innovation and individuality, American Repertory Ballet (ARB) is recognized as one of the state’s premier performing arts organizations. Presenting classical repertory alongside new and existing contemporary work, ARB is a founding resident company of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center while also performing in major venues across New Jersey and beyond for an annual audience of more than 30,000. Founded in 1954 as the Princeton Ballet Society, ARB has been designated a “Major Arts Institution'' by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and has been awarded a Citation of Excellence by the Council. The company is a core partner of The Arts Institute of Middlesex County and has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and other major foundations and leaders in the field as a prominent force in the field of dance. Princeton Ballet School, ARB’s official school, attracts talent from around the world while providing opportunities for local students of all ages, such as through its award winning DANCE POWER program. Find American Repertory Ballet online at arballet.org.

Follow American Repertory Ballet on Social Media:

Facebook: @americanrepertoryballet
Instagram: @arballet
LinkedIn: @american-repertory-ballet
TikTok: @americanrepertoryballet

2024 Amateur Photo Contest Announced at MCLS

The Mercer County Library System (MCLS) is proud to announce it will soon be accepting entries for its 2024 Amateur Photo Contest. This year's theme is "Adventures in Mercer County and Beyond!" Submissions will be accepted beginning Monday, August 12 and ending Monday, September 16. Submit your photograph at your local branch!

A panel of judges from each branch will choose three photos which will then be sent to our West Windsor Branch where all photos will be evaluated by a final panel. Please remember the following when submitting your photograph:

Amateur photographers only. Photo retouching (including filters) is prohibited. All photographs must be printed on photo paper and sized to 5×7. Please do not frame photo. Do not put any identifying information on the photo.

Submit your photo with a completed entry form (found at your local branch). Winners will be announced in early October! For more information about the 2024 Amateur Photo Contest please contact Dana Benner, Marketing Librarian, at marketing@mcl.org.

Kelsey Theatre Announces 2024 -2025 Season
July 24, 2024

New Events Announced @McCarter

Just Announced!

Our 2024-2025 season just keeps getting better with the addition of An Evening with Natalia Lafourcade, The Laurie Berkner Band, Zakir Hussain, Our Planet LIVE and MORE.

Member & Subscriber Pre-Sale begins Tuesday, July 23 at 12PM General Public On-Sale begins Friday, July 26 at 12PM

*CHOOSE YOUR OWN McCarter Subscription and SAVE up to 20% when you choose 3 or more events.     LEARN MORE.

An Evening with Natalia Lafourcade October 6, 2024 at 6:00PM Matthews Theatre LEARN MORE Choir! Choir! Choir! Presents: We Will CHOIR! You! Sing-Along November 3, 2024 at 6:00PM Matthews Theatre LEARN MORE

Sun Ra Arkestra January 30, 2025 at 7:30PM Berlind Theatre LEARN MORE Chief Adjuah (Formerly Christian Scott) February 13, 2025 at 7:30PM Berlind Theatre LEARN MORE

Mandy Patikin In Concert: Being Alive February 14, 2025 at 7:30PM Matthews Theatre LEARN MORE New Orleans Songbook a Jazz at Lincoln Center PRESENTS Production featuring Luther Allison, Quiana Lynell and Milton Suggs February 28, 2025 at 7:30PM Matthews Theatre LEARN MORE

The Laurie Berkner Band March 1, 2025 at 11:00AM (Solo/Relaxed Performance) & 3:00PM (Full Band Performance) Matthews Theatre LEARN MORE Zakir Hussain's Masters of Percussion April 24, 2025 at 7:30PM Matthews Theatre LEARN MORE

Esk and Silverback Films present OUR PLANET LIVE A Netflix Original Documentary Series with Dan Tapster May 3, 2025 at 7:00PM Matthews Theatre

LEARN MORE

Princeton Battlefield Society Announces New Program to Honor Men Who Fought at Princeton

PRINCETON, NJ, July 2, 2024  – On the 248^th Anniversary of New Jersey signing the Declaration of Independence, the Princeton Battlefield Society (PBS) announced it has honored Willis Mercer, seventh generation descendant of General Hugh Mercer,  as the first member of its new “Heroes of Princeton” program

PBS created “Heroes of Princeton” to honor the Americans who fought at the Battle of Princeton nearly 250 years ago. This Honor Roll will encourage patriotic Americans as well as descendants of these brave soldiers to recognize their service in one of the most critical victories of the Revolutionary War.

Under General George Washington, 4500 Americans defeated the British at the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777. The successful battle is considered a pivotal moment in the fight for American Independence.

“We want to strengthen the link between the heroism of those men in 1777 and the present,” said PBS President Benjamin Strong. “In a Tik Tok age, when things don’t matter if they weren’t captured on a phone, our job is to make sure people understand what happened here and why it matters.

“One of the ways to do that is to renew the ties between the men who fought and today’s Americans by learning about the Battle of Princeton. Our shared Revolutionary War history is brought to life by this type of program.”

PBS honored its first “Hero of Princeton,” on April 25, when it recognized Willis Mercer, a direct descendant of Gen. Mercer, at a wine tasting event featuring wines from Mercer Estates, the Mercer family vineyards in Washington state.

Gen. Mercer, who was immortalized by John Trumbull’s painting,  led the first Americans onto the battlefield and was mortality wounded by the British in the battle. Approximately ten towns, as well Mercer County, New Jersey, and the Mercer Oak - which is featured on the seals of the County and as well as the Town of Princeton - were named after Hugh Mercer.

“We think of this as one of the first steps we will take to mark the 250^th anniversary of the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 2027,” Strong said. “We will continue to announce new 250^th events going forward.

“In the meantime, anyone who is interested in honoring a Patriot soldier who fought at Princeton, including those whose ancestors fought at Princeton, is encouraged to join us by signing up here or by going to the PBS website as we honor the sacrifice and courage of Washington’s army on that critical day.”

The historic Princeton Battlefield  is located at 500 Mercer St. (Princeton Pike), Princeton, NJ 08540?.

About The Princeton Battlefield Society

The Princeton Battlefield Society is the Officially Recognized Friends Organization of the Princeton Battlefield State Park.  In support of the battlefield’s designation as a national historic site, its mission reflects commitments to protection, preservation, and promotion of the battlefield and American Revolution history through education.  Its website is www.pbs1777.org and PBS is also found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/princeton.battlefield.society.

Media Contact:  Todd Quackenbush, PBS Communications, communications@pbs1777.org

Princeton University Concerts Announces 2024-25 Season

SSAAM Announces Juneteenth Artist Lineup

Skillman, NJ – The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM), Central New Jersey's only museum sharing the history of African Americans since the trans-Atlantic Slave trade, will hold its third annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 15, from 12 PM to 4 PM (rain or shine). 

Event Highlights:

• Location: National Historic Register-listed Mt. Zion AME Church and historic True Farmstead in Skillman, NJ.

• Features: Live gospel music, dancing, original performances, local artisans, games and creative workshops for all ages, and delicious cuisine, including vegan options.

Featured Artists,Storytellers, and Exhibitions:

• Rap Artist: Dayne Carter

• SSAAM 13 member Gospel Choir

• Candance Ray and the Band - Gospel

• Interactive Praise Dance Workshop Leader: Tomia MacQueen

• Authors & SSAAM Founders: Beverly Mills & Elaine Buck

• Award-Winning Author: Dr. Isabela Morales

• Actor & Poet: Olivia Altidor

• Featured Exhibition: "Art of the Witness Stones Project," featuring student artwork from Timberlane Middle School's 8th-grade classes that honors the lives of three enslaved individuals from Hopewell

• Tours of the historic True Farmstead, Mr. Zion AME church, and heritage garden

Juneteenth "Freedom Forward" Celebration:

This year's theme, "Freedom Forward," will explore the power and influence of gospel music. Join us for a day filled with outstanding music, interactive workshops, and enriching experiences that celebrate African American freedom, resilience, culture, and history.

Juneteenth is celebrated across Central New Jersey, but there's nothing like experiencing it with the SSAAM community. This event provides a wonderful opportunity for SSAAM to connect with new friends and supporters while sharing our future-focused mission and important history.

We would like to thank our event sponsors, the Somerset Patriots, Penn Medicine, Princeton University Art Museum, Genmab, and Bloomberg Corporation. This event is also made possible by a generous Preserving Black Churches grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, as well as many local artists, businesses, and organizations. We appreciate their generous support in making this event possible.

For more information on how to sponsor SSAAM's Juneteenth "Freedom Forward," secure a vendor table, and purchase tickets visit https://www.ssaamuseum.org/juneteenth-2024. 

Adult admission: 

$30 online 

$35 at the venue

Children 14 and under: 

$20 online 

$25 at the venue

McCarter Announces 2024/2025 Classical Music Series

This season, we are honoring McCarter's legacy as a stalwart presenter of classical music, while also pushing the boundaries of the genre, integrating traditional compositions with modern interpretations to create something truly unique and extraordinary

Become a Classical Music Series subscriber today and guarantee the best seats at the best prices for the five-concert series. PLUS enjoy exclusive benefits including hassle-free exchanges, and special pre-sale access for a full roster of McCarter events throughout the season.

Click HERE for more info

Morven Announces Call for New Jersey Gravestones and Cemetery Views

Morven Museum & Garden in Princeton, NJ is researching an exhibition (planned for 2025) on New Jersey tombstones and burial grounds. Morven is interested to know of any:

New Jersey gravestones in public or private collections

New Jersey cemetery views and maps

Artifacts and ephemera related to New Jersey carvers

We welcome your insight and invite you to contact Elizabeth Allan, Deputy Director & Curator at eallan@morven.org or by phone at (609) 924-8144 ext. 102.

Mercer County Announces Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Awards Dinner

Mercer County - The Mercer County Park Commission is proud to announce the Mercer County Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2024. This year’s honorees have made extraordinary achievements in the field of tennis and expanded the popularity of the sport.

The Class of 2024 includes Jim Cryan, Co-Director of the Cryan Memorial Tennis Tournament; Mike Ehrenberg, longtime Director of the G. Nelson Green Memorial Tournament; Ginny Mason, a founding member and continuous supporter of National Junior Tennis and Learning of Trenton (NJTL); Glenn Michibata, a Wimbledon Doubles Semifinalist and Princeton Tennis Program Teaching Professional; and Betty Sander Thompson, who is receiving a posthumous honor and had received a USTA Umpire Emeritus Award for 32 years of service.

The Hall of Fame dinner will be held on Friday, June 14 at 6:00 p.m. at the Boathouse at Mercer Lake in Mercer County Park, West Windsor.

“I’m pleased to announce this year’s Mercer County Tennis Hall of Fame honorees,” said County Executive Dan Benson. “Mercer County produces incredible talent in every field imaginable and I’m always thrilled for an opportunity to highlight the leaders in our community. Thanks to the work of the Mercer County Park Commission, the Mercer County Tennis Center isn’t just a place where people can play the sport, it is a center for the tennis community in our region.”

Marc Vecchiolla, Director of the Mercer County Tennis Center, has been the Hall of Fame Chair for 12 years. Throughout his tenure, he has found each year’s honorees to be incredibly inspirational.

“Their shared love of tennis has made each inductee monumentally influential to thousands within Mercer County and beyond,” said Mr. Vecchiolla. “The Park Commission is proud to recognize the indelible contributions the inductees have made to our tennis community.” 

The Mercer County Tennis Hall of Fame was initiated in 1992 by the Mercer County Tennis Council to recognize people with ties to the County who have made outstanding contributions to the sport. Since the dissolution of the Tennis Council, the Mercer County Park Commission has overseen the nominating committee, voting process and dinner committee. The Hall of Fame honors individuals for their involvement in competition, education, officiating, recreation, media, industry, or in the advancement of tennis. 

Induction ceremonies are held every four years, with the honorees selected by 50 leaders in the area’s tennis community. Criteria for induction stipulate that “the record of achievement must be balanced by a reputation that can be admired and respected. Membership is intended to represent a highly selective group.”

Tickets for the Hall of Fame dinner are $100 per person. For more information or to receive an electronic invitation, please contact Marc Vecchiolla at mvecchiolla@mercercounty.org or by phone at (609) 448-2088.

Bucks County Playhouse Announces 2024 Mainstage Season

New Hope, PA (March 28, 2024) — Bucks County Playhouse's Producing Director Alexander Fraser, Executive Producer Robyn Goodman, Producer Josh Fiedler and Managing Director, Adele Adkins, are pleased to announce the Playhouse's 2024 subscription season. Featuring four productions in the historic playhouse, the Playhouse's 85th season kicks off in May with a new production of Michael Frayn's outrageous farce, "Noises Off," and is anchored by a world premiere musical, "Last of the Red Hot Mamas."

The season will also feature new productions of "Grease," and "Anastasia: The Musical." In addition, the Playhouse will revive its production of "The Rocky Horror Show," which broke box office records last October.

"For 2024, we're taking a fresh look at three of the greats: "Noises Off," "Grease," and for the holidays, 'Anastasia,' says Alexander Fraser, producing director. "In between, we are proud to produce another world premiere, the new musical 'Last of the Red Hot Mamas.' We hope these shows will honor the Playhouse's history in presenting first-class productions of well-loved revivals while also fostering new works that reflect the diversity of the modern American theater."

The 2024 season comes on the heels of a 2023 season when two productions break box office records. "The Rocky Horror Show" starring Frankie Grande as Dr. Frank 'n' Further kicked off the first string of sold-out houses, culminating in a holiday engagement of "Irving Berlin's White Christmas," which became the top-selling title in the Playhouse's storied history.

"The success of 'Rocky Horror' and 'White Christmas' last season was overwhelming but also encouraging. In 2024, we look to continue the growth and momentum we experienced last year," says Adkins. "There is genuine excitement surrounding the audiences that continue to return to the theatre. We are happy to offer a starting ticket price of $39 with the hopes that it will make theater accessible to as many people as possible."

The 2024 season will begin May 17 with a new production of Michael Frayn's "Noises Off!" directed by Bucks County Playhouse Artistic Associate Hunter Foster.

"Noises Off" reunites performers who have made a strong impression on Playhouse audiences. Jennifer Cody, who will perform the role of Dottie, and John Bolton, who play Freddy, both appeared in Playhouse productions of "Company" and "The Rocky Horror Show." They will be joined by Marilu Henner, who is reprising her performance of Belinda, a role she played 32 years ago in Peter Bogdanovich's star-studded film adaptation.

"We're thrilled to present an original musical, 'Last of the Red Hot Mamas,' about the pioneering comedienne, Sophie Tucker. This is a passion project for the writing team of Susan and Lloyd Ecker and Harrison David Rivers, and with director/choreographer Shea Sullivan, they are excited to introduce to audiences this woman who was a trailblazing figure on stage and off," says Producer Josh Fiedler.

A star in Vaudeville, on Broadway and in the Ziegfeld Follies, the full-figured Tucker was known for her risqué songs, including "Red Hot Mama", "The Right Church But The Wrong Pew" and her theme song, "Some of These Days." The musical will feature these songs, along with other classics of their time. 

Closing out the summer at the Playhouse is a fresh take on one of the world's most popular musicals, "Grease!" Foster will return to direct the show that he appeared in on Broadway in the 1994 revival. The 2024 season will conclude with a new production of the Broadway musical, "Anastasia." Casting for the 2024 season is by Paul Hardt, Hardt Casting LLC.

Season tickets are now available at $240 for a four-show package (including fees). Special discounted subscriptions are available for patrons under 40. A special pre-sale for single tickets starts Friday, March 15, with prices beginning at $39. Discounted rates are available for groups of 10 or more. All play titles, artists, and dates are subject to change. Additional details on casting will be announced soon. For tickets and information, visit www.BucksCountyPlayhouse.org or call 215-862-2121.

Season details:

NOISES OFF

By Michael Frayn

May 17 - June 16

Directed by Hunter Foster

A director and a troupe of mediocre actors blunder from a bad dress rehearsal to a spectacularly disastrous performance. Yet, no flubbed line, missed cue, slamming door, falling trouser or flying sardine will keep the show from (hilariously) going on. Starring Jennifer Cody (Broadway's "Urinetown," "Grease," "Shrek" and BCP's "The Rocky Horror Show") as Dotty, John Bolton (Broadway's "Dames at Sea" and BCP's "Company") as Frederick, and Marilu Henner as Belinda, reprising the role she first played in the 1992 film version of "Noises Off."

LAST OF THE RED HOT MAMAS

June 28 – July 27

Book by Susan Ecker, Harrison David Rivers and Lloyd Ecker

Directed and Choreographed by Shea Sullivan

Before Mae West, Bette Midler or Queen Latifah, there was Sophie Tucker. A fabulously full-figured teenager, Sophie was determined to conquer vaudeville – whatever the cost. With the help of two former Harlem headliners, Sophie's rise from a deli to international fame is told with song, dance, and a big dose of Sophie's groundbreakingly sassy humor. 

GREASE

August 9 - September 8

Book, Music and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey

Choreographed by Shannon Lewis

Directed by Hunter Foster

It's Rydell High in 1959 and the duck-tailed, hot-rodding "Burger Palace Boys" and the gum-snapping, hip-shaking "Pink Ladies" rule the roost. After a summer romance, Danny and Sandy are unexpectedly reunited for their senior year, but can they survive the good and bad times at Rydell High?

ANASTASIA: The Musical

November 22 – January 5

Book by Terrence McNally

Music by Stephen Flaherty

Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens

Featuring the popular songs from the original animated feature and more, "Anastasia" is a sweeping musical adventure that transports its audience from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s. A brave young woman named Anya sets out to discover the mystery of her past but is pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her.

Additional Off-Subscription Productions:

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

October 11 – November 3

Book, Music and Lyrics by Richard O'Brien

Choreographed by Shannon Lewis

Directed by Hunter Foster

Strap on your corset and roll up your fishnets, Richard O'Brien's "The Rocky Horror Show" returns to Bucks County Playhouse in an all-new production. The musical that inspired the 1975 classic cult film, "The Rocky Horror Show" follows engaged couple Brad and Janet on the adventure to beat all adventures. As they seek shelter at a mysterious old castle on a dark and stormy night, they encounter transvestite scientist, Dr. Frank 'N' Furter, as he unveils his perfect male creation, "Rocky." With an infectious rock n' roll score, "The Rocky Horror Show" is the most fun you can have in fishnets!

Subscription packages and single tickets for the 2024 Season are currently available and may be purchased at BucksCountyPlayhouse.org or by calling the Box Office at 215.862.2121.

ABOUT BUCKS COUNTY PLAYHOUSE

Steeped in a theatrical history that stems back to its founding in 1939 by a roster of theatrical royalty, Bucks County Playhouse is celebrating the twelfth anniversary of its 2012 re-opening and restoration. With more than 75,000 patrons walking through its doors every year, the Playhouse is leading the economic resurgence of New Hope and the surrounding community. In 2014, Tony Award-winning producers Alexander Fraser and Robyn Goodman took the helm of the Playhouse, and it has reclaimed its reputation of attracting Broadway and Hollywood artists. Playhouse productions of "Company" starring Justin Guarini, and William Finn's "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" were named by Wall Street Journal to its "Best of Theatre" list for 2015. In 2018, the Wall Street Journal again hailed the Playhouse and Artistic Associate Hunter Foster in its Best of the Year listings for its production of "42nd Street" and in 2019 labeled the Playhouse "one of the best regional theaters on the East coast."  Box office records have been repeatedly broken by signature productions of "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story," "Steel Magnolias" directed by Marsha Mason, "Million Dollar Quartet," "42nd Street," and "Guys & Dolls" (all directed by Hunter Foster) and "Mamma Mia!" directed by John Tartaglia and choreographed by Shannon Lewis. The 2023 season was the brightest yet, featuring hit productions of Jonathan Larsen's

"Tick, Tick Boom" directed by Eric Rosen, "Bridges of Madison County" directed by Hunter Foster, who also led "The Rocky Horror Show" starring Frankie Grande. "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" became the top-selling show in Playhouse history. The creative teams who come to create new productions at the Playhouse are among the most talented artists working in the professional theatre today and relish the opportunity to work on the historic stage where Grace Kelly, Robert Redford, and Jessica Walter began their careers.

McCarter Announces 2024/2025 Theatre Season

Theatre Series

The 5-Play Series includes a gravity-defying spectacle, a ripped from the headlines new play from Moisés Kaufman and the legendary Tectonic Theater Project, two new comedies, and a world-premiere new musical based on the cult classic Empire Records. Subscribe and save 20% on tickets.

MORE INFO

Princeton Symphony Orchestra Announces Special 2024-25 Season

Princeton, NJ—The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) announces a very special 2024-25 Season capturing the passions of guest artists including violinists Leila Josefowicz and Aubree Oliverson, pianist Orli Shaham, Princeton University's Performers-in-Residence S? Percussion, and pianist Natasha Paremski with programming designed to showcase their extraordinary artistry and technical prowess.

In celebration of his 60th Birthday, Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov has created an extraordinary line-up of favorite works including concertos by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Igor Stravinsky, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Viet Cuong's Re(new)al. Ludwig van Beethoven's Triple Concerto will display the talents of PSO concertmaster Basia Danilow and principal cellist Alistair MacRae with pianist Steven Beck.

Maestro Milanov says, "I'm thrilled and excited to celebrate with the musicians of Princeton Symphony by performing works by some of my favorite composers. This season promises to bring to life spectacular music, with emotionally charged performances by passionate artists that I love to share the concert stage with."

In addition to Viet Cuong, other living composers include Gemma Peacocke, Michael Abels, and Carlos Simon. There are also symphonies by Johannes Brahms, Sergei Prokofiev, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven, an all-Mozart concert conducted by Gérard Korsten, plus choral music by Brahms and Tchaikovsky performed by Rider University's Westminster Symphonic Choir.

All performances take place on select Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 4pm, at Richardson Auditorium on Princeton University's campus. Rossen Milanov conducts all but the all-Mozart program in February.

The season opens September 14-15, and features the PSO debut of dynamic, young violinist Aubree Oliverson in performances of Tchaikovsky's beloved Violin Concerto. Princeton composer Gemma Peacocke's Manta draws inspiration from nature's magnificent manta ray, and Brahms' sweeping fourth and final symphony concludes the program.

On October 19-20, the PSO draws from its own talented roster, highlighting concertmaster Basia Danilow and principal cellist Alistair MacRae joined by pianist Steven Beck in Beethoven's "Triple" Concerto. 2023 Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Michael Abels, well known for his film scores, takes inspiration from Vivaldi for his More Seasons. Prokofiev's first symphony channels the classical style and bears the hallmarks of the composer's unmistakable voice.

At January 11-12's Edward T. Cone Concert, Rossen Milanov celebrates his milestone sixtieth birthday with one of his most valued collaborators and some of his favorite works. Powerhouse violinist Leila Josefowicz returns to the PSO with Stravinsky's brilliant neoclassical Violin Concerto. Tchaikovsky's monumental symphony Manfred, a rarely-heard masterpiece and one of the Maestro's favorite works to conduct, utilizes the forces of an expanded orchestra.

The PSO celebrates the later music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart February 8-9 with an all-Mozart concert led by South African conductor Gérard Korsten. Referred to by The Chicago Tribune as "a first-rate Mozartean," Orli Shaham brings her expert interpretation to Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20. At the request of his commissioners, Mozart wrote a fifteen-minute ballet to be performed within his opera Idomeneo, the music of which stands on its own as a stately example of Mozart's best work. The program concludes with the effervescent Symphony No. 39, a classic in the repertoire.

March 8-9, spring-minded patrons will be treated to Beethoven's pastoral sixth symphony. Described by the composer as "Recollections of Country Life," it evokes scenes of nature and the serene beauty of the countryside. Carlos Simon's lively Four Black American Dances showcases dance styles with cultural significance to Black American communities. Princeton's own S? Percussion performs Viet Cuong's Re(new)al, a fascinating work inspired by the power of hydro, wind, and solar energies.

Audience favorite Natasha Paremski returns to the PSO stage May 10-11 with Rachmaninoff's fiendishly demanding third piano concerto, a perfect showcase for her expert technique and dynamic style. The Westminster Symphonic Choir features in two works: Tchaikovsky's beautiful a capella "Hymn of the Cherubim," drawn from his Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and Brahms' Schicksalslied ("Song of Destiny"), an example of the great composer's exceptional choral writing.

Initially, these concerts are available only by subscription, with single tickets going on sale over the summer. Concerts take place on Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 4pm. Full Season subscriptions start at $189. Youths 5-17 receive a 50% discount with an adult purchase. To subscribe, visit the Princeton Symphony Orchestra website at princetonsymphony.org or call 609-497-0020.

# # #

Health and Safety

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra is closely monitoring and adhering to the New Jersey Department of Health's COVID-19 Requirements. Attendees will receive information regarding safety procedures, entry, seating directions, etc. in advance of their selected live performance(s).

Accessibility

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra is committed to ensuring all programming is accessible for everyone, working with venues such as Richardson Auditorium to provide needed services. Contact Mika Godbole for questions about available services at mgodbole@princetonsymphony.org or (609) 905-0931. Note: some services require at least two weeks' notice to arrange.

Programs, artists, dates, and times are subject to change.

ABOUT THE PRINCETON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is a cultural centerpiece of the Princeton community and one of New Jersey's finest music organizations, a position established through performances of beloved masterworks, innovative music by living composers, and an extensive network of educational programs offered to area students free of charge. Led by Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov, the PSO presents orchestral, pops, and chamber music programs of the highest artistic quality, supported by lectures and related events that supplement the concert experience. Its flagship summer program the Princeton Festival brings an array of performing arts and artists to Princeton during multiple weeks in June. Through PSO BRAVO!, the orchestra produces wide-reaching and impactful education programs in partnership with local schools and arts organizations that culminate in students attending a live orchestral performance. The PSO receives considerable support from the Princeton community and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, regularly garnering NJSCA's highest honor. Recognition of engaging residencies and concerts has come from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the PSO's commitment to new music has been acknowledged with an ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming and a Copland Fund Award. The only independent, professional orchestra to make its home in Princeton, the PSO performs at historic Richardson Auditorium on the campus of Princeton University.

Find the PSO online at www.princetonsymphony.org; on facebook at www.facebook.com/princetonsymphony; on "X" at www.twitter.com/psomusic and on flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/princetonsymphony.

Mercer County Improvement Authority Announces Free Recycling Buckets Available Again

Mercer County - Today the Mercer County Improvement Authority announced that free recycling buckets are available again for Mercer County residents.

“We have ordered an additional 2500 free recycling buckets to ensure everyone can get one if they need it,” said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson.

“Recycling coordinators across the county are prepared to provide a county recycling bucket to any resident in need. If residents are unable to obtain a bucket, they can call the Improvement Authority directly at (609) 278-8086,” explained Mercer County Improvement Authority Director Anthony S. Verrelli.

Due to an increase in contractor employee’s collection-related injuries, County residents are asked to please utilize county provided recycling buckets.

The Mercer County Improvement Authority will continue picking up all flattened cardboard outside of the bucket.

For replacement buckets, please contact your municipality’s Recycling Coordinator using the information below.

Please note that Hightstown and East Windsor do not participate in the county-wide recycling program.

Free recycling buckets are also available to Mercer County residents, at The Mercer County Connection Route-33 at the Acme Shopping Center in Hamilton. Residents can reach the County Connection by calling (609) 890-9800.

Morven Museum & Garden Announces New Executive Director Rhonda DiMascio
February 22, 2024

CMAP Announces Spring Health Fair Feb 27

Princeton, NJ Join the Center for Modern Aging Princeton (CMAP) for our annual Health Fair on Tuesday, February 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.! Immerse yourself in a world of health, smiles, and community connection as we bring together enriching experiences.

Explore the latest in dental care with Zufall Dental Van, indulge in a vibrant marketplace featuring diverse wellness vendors, and kickstart your day with informative sessions covering various health topics virtually online.

From complimentary dental check-ups to free giveaways and engaging info sessions, this event is designed to inspire and equip you on your journey to a healthier, happier lifestyle.

Bring the whole family and be a part of this celebration of well-being!

This is a hybrid event with virtual presentations available from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and in-person screenings and live presentations from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at our Nancy S. Klath Center for Lifelong Learning located at 101 Poor Farm Road. Event details and registration is available at https://cmaprinceton.org/health-fair/.

CMAP, the Center for Modern Aging Princeton (formerly Princeton Senior Resource Center), is a community nonprofit where aging adults and their families find support, guidance, education, and social programs to help them navigate life transitions and continue to be active, healthy, and engaged in the community.

Princeton Speech-Language and Learning Center Announces Mommy & Me Early Learning Camp Play Group

Princeton Speech-Language and Learning Center is introducing our Mommy & Me Early Learning Camp play group. The group is for children ages 2-3 years old, and promotes early language learning through play! Activities will include toddler arts & crafts, sensory play and story time.

It will be held in the Princeton (615 Executive Drive) and Madison (340 Main Suite 240) offices, on Wednesdays starting February 28, 11-11:45am. The groups last 6 weeks, and the cost is $200. Call 609-924-7080 to register, space is limited.

PSO Announces 2024 Princeton Festival Line-Up of Opera, Dance, and Superstar Soloists

Angel Blue

Princeton, NJ—The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) announces its artistic line-up for this year's Princeton Festival, New Jersey's premier performing arts extravaganza. The Festival takes place June 7-22, 2024 with a state-of-the-art tented pavilion erected on the grounds of beautiful Morven Museum & Garden. The layout features concessions and space for attendees to gather outdoors before performances and during intermissions. Events range from an opening night concert featuring star soprano Angel Blue to a comic opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a tribute honoring Tina Turner, plus dance, a Juneteenth celebration with Black choral music, a Family Day with Latin American music, genre-defying ensembles, and a superstar finale with Sierra Boggess. Baroque and chamber concerts take place at nearby Trinity Church.

Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov, the Festival's artistic visionary, says, "We are offering Festival goers a chance to come together through the shared experience of delightful summertime live musical performances, light in mood, but with exceptional artistry."

Opening weekend begins with Metropolitan Opera superstar soprano Angel Blue with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (Friday, June 7). Ms. Blue comes fresh off a season of performances in major houses both at home and abroad, joining the PSO for a program of favorite arias.

Saturday night (June 8), the mainstage is devoted to The Music of Tina Turner, a tribute honoring the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll." Three prominent artists including Broadway star and American Idol finalist LaKisha Jones, plus guest conductor Lucas Waldin and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra perform some of the trailblazing artist's mega hits including "What's Love Got To Do With It," "Simply the Best," "Proud Mary," and "River Deep, Mountain High."

Family Day (Sunday, June 9) offers child-centered activities culminating in a concert of Latin American family music featuring musical storytelling by Latin GRAMMY® nominee Sonia De Los Santos. De Los Santos and her band invite audiences to enjoy a delightful collection of original songs sung in Spanish and English.

The centerpiece of this year's Festival is a fresh production of Mozart's comedic opera Così fan tutte (June 14, 16, & 18), sung in the original Italian with English subtitles. The opera will be directed by James Marvel, with scenic design by Blair Mielnik and costumes by Marie Miller. This is the creative team hailed for last year's rollicking version of Rossini's The Barber of Seville. Performing the roles of the lovers are Aubry Ballarò as Fiordiligi, Alexis Peart as Dorabella, David Walton as Ferrando, and Benjamin Taylor as Guglielmo, with Calvin Griffin as the freewheeling Don Alfonso and Zulimar López-Hernández as the crafty maid Despina. Rossen Milanov will conduct all three performances.

Dance and orchestral worlds combine (June 15) in Interwoven: American Repertory Ballet + PSO Strings, a program of dance works performed by ARB dancers with string ensemble conducted by Rossen Milanov. The evening features choreography by Arthur Mitchell and Meredith Rainey, with music by Glass, Grieg, Scripp, and Sibelius.

The PSO celebrates Juneteenth (June 19) with a concert Honoring Black Choral Music. Choral conductor Vinroy D. Brown, Jr. of Westminster Choir College, leads a choir drawn from the community and anchored by the Capital Singers of Trenton. The program will feature Robert Ray's iconic Gospel Mass with additional choral selections highlighting the joy and spirit of Black music.

Genre-bending, Juilliard-trained trio Empire Wild (June 21) takes over the pavilion stage with a captivating program featuring two cellos and piano, with vocals. The group brings its signature mix of original music, inventive covers, and twists on the classical canon.

Across the way at Trinity Church, Festival attendees can take in the award-winning sound of the Abeo Quartet (Thursday, June 13). In its debut Princeton Festival performance, the quartet presents works by Beethoven, Shostakovich, and Esmail. The Sebastians: Brandenburgs and More (June 20) will also take place at Trinity. The acclaimed Baroque ensemble returns for its third Princeton Festival appearance with an exciting program featuring three of J.S. Bach's beloved "Brandenburg" concerti along with classic works by Telemann and Vivaldi.

Anchoring the Festival is An Evening with Sierra Boggess (June 22). Broadway superstar Boggess (The Little Mermaid, The Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock), returns to the Princeton Festival with an intimate, cabaret-style solo concert featuring Broadway classics and her personal favorite songs.

2024 Princeton Festival tickets are available now, and range in price from $10 - $135. While most performances take place in the pavilion at Morven Museum & Garden, some are located inside at Trinity Church. For dates, times, program information, and tickets, visit princetonsymphony.org/festival.

About The Princeton Festival

Founded in 2004, the Princeton Festival quickly established a reputation for artistic excellence and innovative programming in the performing arts. Every year in June, thousands of people from the mid-Atlantic region and beyond come to the Festival to enjoy the quality and variety of its programs. Offerings include opera, musical theater, dance, and a constantly evolving selection of other genres, including jazz, world music, orchestral pops, choral concerts, country music, chamber recitals, and an annual piano competition. The Festival has long-standing partnerships with public libraries and local churches, and promotes life-long learning in the arts through free educational lectures presented to a wide and diverse community. 

# # #

Health and Safety

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra is closely monitoring and adhering to the New Jersey Department of Health's COVID-19 Requirements. Princeton Festival attendees will receive information regarding safety procedures, entry, seating directions, etc. in advance of their selected live performance(s).

Accessibility

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra is committed to ensuring all programming is accessible for everyone, working with venues such as Morven Museum & Garden and Trinity Church to provide needed services. Contact ADA Coordinator Mika Godbole for questions about available services at mgodbole@princetonsymphony.org or (609) 905-0931. Note: some services require at least two weeks' notice to arrange.

Programs, artists, dates, and times are subject to change.

ABOUT THE PRINCETON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is a cultural centerpiece of the Princeton community and one of New Jersey's finest music organizations, a position established through performances of beloved masterworks, innovative music by living composers, and an extensive network of educational programs offered to area students free of charge. Led by Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov, the PSO presents orchestral, pops, and chamber music programs of the highest artistic quality, supported by lectures and related events that supplement the concert experience. Its flagship summer program the Princeton Festival brings an array of performing arts and artists to Princeton during multiple weeks in June. Through PSO BRAVO!, the orchestra produces wide-reaching and impactful education programs in partnership with local schools and arts organizations that culminate in students attending a live orchestral performance. The PSO receives considerable support from the Princeton community and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, regularly garnering NJSCA's highest honor. Recognition of engaging residencies and concerts has come from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the PSO's commitment to new music has been acknowledged with an ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming and a Copland Fund Award. The only independent, professional orchestra to make its home in Princeton, the PSO performs at historic Richardson Auditorium on the campus of Princeton University.

Find the PSO online at www.princetonsymphony.org; on facebook at www.facebook.com/princetonsymphony; on Twitter at www.twitter.com/psomusic and on flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/princetonsymphony.

Rider University Announces Spring 2024 Performing Arts Schedule

Princeton Municipality Announces Youth Leadership Program

Attention student leaders from PHS, PDS, Hun, and Stuart Country Day School, we are currently accepting applications for the Municipality's 2024-2025 Youth Leadership Programs! We seek a diverse group of energetic, enthusiastic, and committed individuals who will make a unique contribution to our programs. These programs are designed to challenge you to expand your knowledge, develop your presentation and small group facilitation skills, and enhance your leadership abilities. The program is open to all sophomores and applications are due on March 19!

Apply Here

Programs

CMAP Announces New Spring EVERGREEN Courses

Princeton, NJ “Technology, Society, and You,” “Historic Foundations of East Asian Cultures,” and “Charles Dickens’s Bleak House,” are just a few of the exciting new courses that will be offered for the spring 2024 session of the Evergreen Forum, a program of the Center for Modern Aging Princeton (formerly Princeton Senior Resource Center). Starting in March, the program will offer twenty courses for adults that focus on science, literature, art, history, social studies, and culture.

Our returning instructors this spring include: Wendy Worth who will be teaching “Understanding Contemporary Art,” and Larry Danson who will teach “Shakespeare Doubled.”

Registration is first-come, first-served. Online registration opens on January 30 at 9:30 a.m. at https://cmaprinceton.org/evergreen-forum/. Electronic brochures are available online on the CMAP website.

Most classes begin the week of March 4 and meet once a week for two hours. Fees are $110 for six- to eight-week courses. Senior Scholarships are available to those for whom the fee is a hardship. To apply, contact Johanna Peters, director of social services, at jpeters@cmaprinceton.org, or 609.751.9699, ext. 111.

CMAP, the Center for Modern Aging Princeton (formerly Princeton Senior Resource Center), is a community nonprofit where aging adults and their families find support, guidance, education, and social programs to help them navigate life transitions and continue to be active, healthy, and engaged in the community.

The Evergreen Forum is an affiliate of the Road Scholar Institute network. The Evergreen Forum corporate sponsors for spring 2024 are Brandywine Living: Princeton, Pennington, & Serenade at Princeton; Capital Health; Homewatch CareGivers; McCaffrey’s Food Markets; Penn Medicine Princeton Health; and Stark & Stark Attorneys at Law.

Mercer County Library System announces 15th Annual TrashedArt Contest

Lawrenceville — The Mercer County Library System has announced the dates for its 15th Annual TrashedArt Contest. The contest celebrates Earth Day by encouraging patrons to turn ordinary trash into extraordinary art. The library will accept artwork starting Wednesday, February 28, 2024 through Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Accepted artwork will be on display at Mercer County Library System branches throughout the month of March and April. Adults and teens (ages 14 and up) who live, work or go to school in Mercer County are eligible to participate. Contest entry forms and information will be available online at www.mcl.org/events/trashedart starting in January 2024.  

Entries must be original artwork, no larger than 2.5' by 2.5' by 2.5' and no heavier than 10 lbs. Any art medium is acceptable, as long as a minimum of 75% recycled content is used. Some examples of recycled content include metals, paper, rubber, glass (but no sharp shards), plastic and cloth. The contest is limited to one entry per artist. Please see https://mcl.org/events/trashedart/ for details. The Mercer County Library System will not be held responsible for any damage, theft or loss to art entries. 

The Grand Prize winners in first, second and third place for adults, first place in a special student category, and People's Choice award winners will be announced at the TrashedArt Contest Reception at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch on Tuesday, April 23rd at 6:30pm. Entries will be anonymously judged by local artists and representatives of the Mercer County Library System on creativity, originality and artistic merit. Patrons will have a chance to vote for the "People's Choice" awards in-person at each of the nine branches and virtually on the MCLS website. Please register online for the TrashedArt Reception at www.mcl.org.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library Ewing Branch, Friends of the Hickory Corner Library, Friends of the Hopewell Library, Friends of the Lawrence Library, and Friends of the West Windsor Library. The Friends help support programs at the library branches, including the Summer Reading Program. 

For more information about the TrashedArt Contest and all the library's programs and events, please visit www.mcl.org.

Park Commission Announces 2024 Nature Camps

The Mercer County Park Commission hosts thrilling and educational summer nature camps for children ages 7-15 years. With activities like fishing, trail exploration, and nature games, these camps are designed for children who love to explore nature or want to build their experiences in the great outdoors. Registration opens January 30, and camps fill quickly. How to Register and more info HERE

Jewish Family & Children's Service Announces Rose & Louis H. Linowitz Mensch Award

Princeton, NJ, January 2024—JFCS of Greater Mercer County announces the Rose & Louis H. Linowitz Mensch Award.  This is a merit-based award for deserving Jewish eighth-grade and high school senior students living in Greater Mercer County.  Candidates should exemplify what it means to be a mensch – a person of integrity and honor, a doer of good deeds, and an all-around good person.  Students must be nominated by a member of the community such as a Rabbi, educator, youth group advisor, secular school guidance counselor, teacher, etc.  Eighth-grade Mensch-In-Training and high school senior Mensch Award winners will receive prizes up to $500 and $3,000 respectively. This is not a need-based scholarship.

Selected winners are required to attend a recognition event to receive their Award on April 17th, 2024.

Applications are due by March 6, 2024.

For more information or to nominate a student, visit www.jfcsonline.org/awards-scholarships, or contact Joyce at 609-987-8100 / JoyceW@JFCSonline.org.

Jewish Family & Children's Service (JFCS) of Greater Mercer County is a nonprofit, non-sectarian agency providing social services, counseling and support to individuals, families, children and teens.  Professional, licensed social workers offer one-on-one and group counseling, family education, crisis and domestic violence support, re-employment assistance, grief and bereavement programs, and services for special needs children and their siblings. Services include food vouchers, meals on wheels, the kosher food pantry and kosher cafes, which serve thousands of meals to the elderly.  Youth programs include leadership, social skills and peer education. Visit the JFCS website for a complete listing of services www.jfcsonline.org

Princeton Public Library Announces Matinee Movie Series: Best of British Cinema

Mobile Minds of NJ Inc. (MMNJ) Announce Adult Only Sip & Science Fundraiser Jan 13
December 29, 2023

Friends for the Abbott Marshlands (FFAM) Announces Mark Gallagher to Board of Trustees

Hamilton and Bordentown, NJ: The Friends for the Abbott Marshlands (FFAM) is pleased to announce the addition of  Mark Gallagher to their Board of Trustees. “Mark is a pioneer in the field of restoration ecology, and helped get the conservation science movement off the ground in the 1980s… He has overseen wetland and terrestrial ecology projects at Princeton Hydro, including many complex restoration projects that require unique solutions. He is extremely knowledgeable about local, state, and federal regulations, especially when it comes to ecological impact. Mark has made a positive impact on water quality and wildlife, designing and permitting hundreds of acres of restoration, mitigation, and enhancement projects throughout the Northeast.” (https://princetonhydro.com)

Mark had received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the NJ Highlands Coalition recognizing his decades of work protecting environmental, cultural, natural and scenic NJ resources. In his role as Cofounder and Vice President at Princeton Hydro, Mark knows the land at Abbott Marshlands – Roebling Park through the treatment and ongoing eradication of invasive phragmites (Phragmites australis).. Although there is a subspecies of phragmites that is native in the U.S., it is rare. The invasive species is not a valuable food source for waterfowl. It grows quickly into a monoculture, blocking out the native species which animals depend on for survival. Removing the invasive species was paramount to allowing the native seeds in the marsh’ banks to have a chance to grow. Seeds like wild rice and others have indeed grown with access to sunlight and nutrients in the marsh. The Friends for the Abbott Marshlands feel fortunate to have Mark’s experience and expertise as an addition to their executive board.

One of two recent FFAM events was a successful, sold-out fundraiser at the Tulpehaking Nature Center at Abbott Marshlands – Roebling Park, Hamilton. Trivia Night host Righteous Jolly kept the group laughing on November 2; food and drinks were enjoyed by all, and the top teams scored well in their overall knowledge. The Friends for the Abbott Marshlands members appreciated donations from corporate sponsors: PSEG, NJM Insurance Group, Wegmans and Salon Bellissimo. They thank Mercer County Park Commission; Kelly Rypkema, director and the staff at the Tulpehaking Nature Center, the FFAM Fundraising Committee and volunteers. They especially are thankful for their guests in support of the nonprofit’s mission to preserve, protect and allow all to enjoy the natural beauty of the marshlands.

The second event was the visitation of published author and botanist, Jared Rosenbaum of Wild Ridge Plants, who presented an excellent, thought-provoking talk on Wild Plant Culture at the Tulpehaking Nature Center at Abbott Marshlands – Roebling Park, Hamilton. Participants were able to purchase an autographed copy of his book, “Wild Plant Culture: A Guide to Restoring Edible and Medicinal Native Plant Communities”. Integrating restoration practices, foraging, herbalism, rewilding and permaculture, the book is a comprehensive guide to the ecological restoration of native habitats in any location. Jared Rosenbaum is also a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner. He is a founding partner at Wild Ridge Plants LLC, a business that grows local ecotype native plants using sustainable practices and he performs botanical surveys. Besides Wild Plant Culture, he also wrote a children’s book The Puddle Garden, about native plants and wildlife.

Ivy League Educational Foundation Announces 43rd Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Scholarship Breakfast

TRENTON, N.J. – The Ivy League Educational Foundation, Inc., in collaboration with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., will be hosting the 43rd Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Scholarship Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024.

More than 400 people are expected to attend, including many office holders in the city, county, state and federal governments, as well as other civic and religious leaders.

The Reverend Danté R. Quick, Ph.D., senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens (FBCLG), will give the keynote speech. He was elected to serve as the fourth senior pastor of the church in Somerset, New Jersey, on May 22, 2021. The Rev. Dr. Quick previously served as pastor of  Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Vallejo, California, for more than 10 years. He is a graduate of Morehouse College, Princeton Theological Seminary and the Graduate Theological Union, University of California at Berkeley.

The breakfast will be held at 9 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Princeton at 102 Carnegie Center, (off Route #1 north) Princeton, New Jersey. Doors open at 8:00 a.m. Tickets are $65 and will be available at bit.ly/mlkbreakfast24 until Jan. 12.

All proceeds support The Ivy League Educational Foundation, Inc., an I.R.C. Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization, to provide scholarships and book awards for area high school students who are pursuing higher education.

Our theme for the 2024 celebration is “Shine a Light on Him- Make Room and Let’s Work.”

Kelli S. Wiggins, president of the Ivy League Foundation, said, “We gather on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day not only to raise scholarship funds for deserving students, but to shine a light on those whose life and work inspires student achievement and parallels our cause. We observe this day ‘as a day on, not a day off,’ as well as a day of service.”

Sponsors of the breakfast this year are Wells Fargo, the African American Chamber of Commerce New Jersey, NJM Insurance Group, Cross Community, Mercer County Community College, the Smith Family Foundation Inc., Barbara P. Brown Family and Friends and Growth Potential Consulting.

The breakfast has been the premiere event for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day  for the Trenton-area community for more than four decades. This event allows the foundation to raise money for scholarships for outstanding local high school graduates, honor nonprofit organizations doing important work, and showcase the talent of people in our community as we reflect on Dr. King’s legacy in the quest for justice and equality.

At the breakfast, the foundation will present awards to two community organizations:

Trenton Museum Society and the Mitchell A Davis American Legion Post 182.

Founded in 1973, the Trenton Museum Society oversees the only museum devoted to New Jersey’s capital city. The Museum Society is a 501(c)3 non­profit corporation that supports and showcases the work of contemporary visual artists and musicians from the greater Trenton area. It uses its collections and resources to foster an understanding of Trenton history and instill a growing interest in the creative arts among Trenton’s students.

The Mitchell A. Davis American Legion Post 182. is an organization for veterans of the U.S. armed forces. The association organizes events and commemorative celebrations. The organization is also lobbying for the welfare and interest of the veterans, including pensions and health programs.

Entertainment at the breakfast will be provided by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Upsilon Omega Chapter’s Pearl Ensemble  and the Higher Ground Interdenominational Church (HGIC) Praise Dancers.

To promote small local businesses, the breakfast organizers also provide space near the ballroom for vendors during and after the breakfast. Eight entrepreneurs will participate, marketing goods ranging from jewelry and hats to boutique fashions, as well as items with the insignia of Greek-letter organizations. Sorority members who have businesses will also share an information table.

Chairperson: Adrienne King. Co-chairs: Dionne Hallback, Alicia Malone, Helen Walker and Lauren Washington.

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Note:  Kelli S. Wiggins will be available for interviews to discuss the breakfast and  the foundation’s work.

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Keynote Speaker Bio

Reverend Danté R. Quick, Ph.D.

The Reverend Danté R. Quick, Ph.D., was elected to serve as the fourth senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey on May 22, 2021.

Prior to joining FBCLG, Pastor Quick served Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Vallejo, California, for more than 10 years.

Pastor Quick was born and reared in Washington, D.C. He attended Morehouse College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a concentration in pre-law. While at Morehouse, he was one of the first recipients of the William H. Cosby Grant for Landmark College’s gifted-dyslexic student program.

Quick accepted his call to ministry under the pastorate of the Reverend Dr. Aaron L. Parker of the Zion Hill Baptist Church in Atlanta.

Pastor Quick received a Master of Divinity with a concentration in theology from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey. He was the recipient of the Jean Anne Swope and James L. Mechem Prize in Christian Ethics. He served as the president of the Association of Black Seminarians, an organization that represents all Princeton seminarians of the African Diaspora. Pastor Quick also served as a graduate chaplain for the African American students at Princeton University.

In 2006 he was called to serve New Liberation Presbyterian Church in San Francisco. In addition, Pastor Quick served as a policy analyst for ITC/Faith factor, a presidential Initiative of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta.

Pastor Quick has served in the offices of Mayor Marion Barry in Washington, D.C.,  the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis and Governor Zell Miller of Georgia. He also served as the legislative representative for the Atlanta Board of Education. He also served as the Special Programs Administrator for the Fulton County District Attorney in Atlanta.

In 2017, Pastor Quick was conferred with his Ph.D. in philosophical and systematic theology with a focus on African American Studies from the Graduate Theological Union, University of California at Berkeley.

The Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey Announces Winter Concerts
December 13, 2023

Princeton U Concerts Announces a New Writing Contest in Collaboration with the Isolation Journals

Princeton University Concerts (PUC) has launched the newest iteration of the annual Creative Reactions and Audience Voices Writing Contest, the Impromptu Challenge, in partnership with the Isolation Journals founded by PUC artist Suleika Jaouad.

PRINCETON, NJ – Princeton University Concerts ("PUC") is pleased to announce the newest iteration of the annual Creative Reactions and Audience Voices Writing Contest: the Impromptu Challenge. This new partnership with the Isolation Journals, an international community founded by PUC artist Suleika Jaouad that cultivates creativity and fosters connection through journaling, invites music lovers of all ages to reflect on their relationship to music through a series of journaling prompts. Prompts will be released on a monthly basis, in December 2023, January 2024, and February 2024.

The Impromptu Challenge launched on Sunday, December 3, 2023 with a prompt from Isolation Journals founder, Emmy award-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author Suleika Jaouad. The prompt is inspired by her recent appearance with musician Jon Batiste on PUC's  Healing with Music Series: "The Beat Goes On: Healing from Cancer through Music" (November 15, 2023):

Write about a time when music served as a healing force in your life or in the lives of those around you. –Suleika Jaouad

Future Impromptu Challenge prompts will be related to topics on the 2023-24 Healing with Music series. These events include Dance for PD® (Parkinson's Disease), a Mark Morris Dance Group Program (presented March 3, 2024), and "Anxiety, Depression, and Music" featuring pianist Jonathan Biss and writer Adam Haslett (presented April 24, 2024).

"When we launched our Healing with Music series last year, we were blown away by the beautiful responses our audiences wrote in after attending events," says Dasha Koltunyuk, PUC's Outreach Manager who conceived of the series. "While community has always been at the core of what we do at PUC, we have expanded our programming outside the concert hall significantly since launching the Healing with Music series, partnering with other local organizations to offer facilitated opportunities for people to enter or continue the deeply meaningful conversation about music's role in our lives, including book clubs, embroidery circles, bone marrow drives, documentary screenings... The Impromptu Challenge allows the conversation to go global, reaching well beyond our local communities and concert audiences by inviting readers of the Isolation Journals to submit their responses to multiple prompts. We can't wait to see what people write and to experience the ripple effects of this initiative."

Everyone is welcome to participate in the Impromptu Challenge, regardless of whether they choose to submit their writing as part of the contest. The information below outlines the contest's parameters:

CONTEST PRIZE

A range of prizes for the winning entries include a concert poster signed by Suleika Jaouad and Jon Batiste; an embroidered piece featuring an excerpt from the submission created by Diana Weymar (Tiny Pricks Project, Interwoven Stories); Ways of Hearing: Reflections on Music in 26 Pieces, PUC's anthology published by Princeton University Press; and more.

PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES

Contest Deadline:
Contest entries are due by March 22, 2024 will be divided into two categories—General Public & Current Princeton University Student—and evaluated anonymously by a panel of judges from across the Princeton University campus and town community. Winners will be announced at the final Healing with Music event of the 2023-24 season on April 24, 2024.

Submission Guidelines:
Participants are welcome to submit as many entries as they like. Entries must be submitted electronically in a PDF format. Submissions must be anonymously identified by the entrant's Personal ID number in both the submission file title and in the work title. The author's name must not be included anywhere on the submission.

Please note: Former winners of Princeton University Concerts' Creative Reactions or Audience Voices Contest must wait two years before being eligible to register again. Otherwise, there are no eligibility requirements.

The Pennington School Announces New Varsity Lacrosse Coaches

PENNINGTON, N.J., December 2023 --- The Pennington School has announced that Dr. Kristin McCarthy has been appointed as the new head coach of its varsity girls’ lacrosse team and Shane Taggert has been appointed the new head coach of its varsity boys’ lacrosse team. McCarthy coached field hockey at The Pennington School this fall.

Prior to taking on the field hockey and lacrosse role at Pennington, McCarthy coached in the Hunterdon County Recreation Program. McCarthy coached both youth league and select team girls’ lacrosse for ten years in Flemington, NJ. She also served as a coach for the Triple Threat Elite Lacrosse Club and is a certified varsity-level girls' lacrosse official.

McCarthy is an assistant professor at Rider University. She received her B.A. from Dickinson College, majoring in international studies and political science. She earned a Master of Public Health from City University of New York - Hunter College, Community Health. She then earned her Doctor of Public Health degree from Columbia University.

Shane Taggert is a former Division I Men’s Lacrosse student-athlete who attended Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA, earning his B.S. in Interdisciplinary Health Services with a minor in business. During his senior season at Saint Joseph’s, Taggert was a National Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award Nominee for Character, Community, Competition, and the Classroom as part of the Men's program.

Shane Taggert currently serves as a tournament director and club lacrosse coach at NXT Sports, where he has coaching responsibilities for the girls’ and boys’ elite-level teams. Taggert also assists at his alma mater in the sports media department as a broadcaster for the St. Joseph’s Men’s Lacrosse program.

The Pennington School is an independent coeducational school for students in grades 6 through 12, in both day and boarding programs. The curriculum is college preparatory, with an emphasis on individual excellence, fostering the development of the whole student through academics, athletics, community service, and the creative and performing arts.

D&R Greenway Land Trust Announces Return to the "Speakeasy" at the Masquerade Ball October 28

D&R Greenway Land Trust's Masquerade Ball, featuring musicians and visual artists, will be held at Hillside Farm on the evening of October 28, from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. Tickets to the event are available starting from $250 and can be purchased at www.drgreenway.org or by calling D&R Greenway at 609-924-4646. Proceeds support D&R Greenway's work to preserve and care for land and provide public trails where people can benefit from being outdoors in nature. Guests at the Masquerade Ball will enjoy first time access to the private estate home, formerly owned by philanthropist Betty Wold Johnson and donated to D&R Greenway by her sons, owners of the Jets football team.  

The Masquerade Ball will celebrate the vision and legacy of the late Betty Wold Johnson, in whose honor her family donated the 800-acre Hillside Farm to D&R Greenway in 2021.  A fierce champion of conservation and decades-long partner with D&R Greenway for land preservation, Betty Wold Johnson spent forty years assembling the estate, which encompasses extraordinary expanses of farm fields, meadows and forests, as well as historic structures and a Revolutionary War encampment site. She lived at Hillside Farm, where she built a distinctive home that uniquely interprets the past using modern materials and amenities.  

"The addition of Hillside Farm to the long list of properties preserved by D&R Greenway is just one more example of why I am proud to support their work.  This incredible property will be a tremendous asset for everyone in our community and I am thrilled it will be there, preserved and cared for, for future generations to enjoy."              Daniel Motto, Trustee, D&R Greenway Land Trust  

 The theme of the Masquerade Ball is a return to the "speakeasy" culture of the 20s, 30s and 40s. A "secret" password will open the door to the private estate residence for registered guests. Libations and hors d'oeuvres will be served in the house and can be enjoyed in hidden nooks and crannies guests may discover. Scrumptious cheesecake desserts from Maddalena's will top off the evening. 

Live music from the era will keep the mood swinging and toes tapping throughout the evening. Bassist Justin Lee will lead a talented jazz trio with guitarist Raúl Abbad and singer Monika Ryan, a New York style classic jazz singer who recently released her fourteenth album, "Playfully."  The local trio is a D&R Greenway community favorite; most recently they wowed the crowd at September's Harvest Moon Ball at Point Breeze. 

Adding to the beauty of the evening, four artist members of the Garden State Watercolor Society will collaborate throughout the evening to paint watercolor landscapes depicting Hillside Farm. Guests may bid on a painting to take home, a memorable piece of artwork created before their eyes during an unforgettable evening. 

As the sun sets over the Hopewell hills, specially designed Art Deco-style lanterns will add a soft glow to the ambience of the evening, "lighting the way to preservation." The lanterns will also be available as keepsakes to the highest bidders.   

Guests are welcome to attend attired in fashions of the era, or to come as they are, all in the spirit of fun and romance. This is a perfect opportunity to gather friends to experience another era with a cool vibe, all the while supporting land preservation. 

"This event will be as exciting and vibrant as the significant property where it is being hosted. Layered with history and preserved in perpetuity, Hillside Farm is the perfect place to relive the best parts of the past as we celebrate its important future."     Diana Moore, Trustee, D&R Greenway Land Trust   

 Proceeds from sponsorships and auction items will support D&R Greenway's work to open Hillside Farm as a public preserve in the future. The property, most of which lies in Hopewell Township, is larger than Hopewell Borough. It is contiguous with two other D&R Greenway preserves (Cedar Ridge and Sourlands Ecosystem) and has sweeping views of D&R Greenway's St. Michaels Farm Preserve across town.  It provides critical habitat for birds and other wildlife.  Altogether, D&R Greenway has protected over 3,000 acres of land in the immediate area. The Masquerade Ball is a sneak peek at the beginning of a preserve and an opportunity to support its creation, while celebrating the legacy of Betty Wold Johnson to preserve land and forge community. 

Admission to the Masquerade Ball on October 28 is by advance ticket purchase by October 23 at www.drgreenway.org or by calling (609) 924-4646.    

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About D&R Greenway Land Trust: D&R Greenway Land Trust is an accredited nonprofit that has reached a new milestone of over 22,000 acres of land preserved throughout central New Jersey since 1989. By protecting land in perpetuity and creating public trails, it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The land trust's preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for residents of the region—including those most in need. Through strategic land conservation and stewardship, D&R Greenway combats climate change, protects birds and wildlife, and ensures clean drinking water for future generations.  D&R Greenway's mission is centered on connecting land with people from all walks of life. www.drgreenway.org; info@drgreenway.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.   

Hélène Lanctuit Announced as First Chief Executive Officer of Share My Meals

Princeton, NJ — Oct 4, 2023 — Princeton based Share My Meals has appointed Hélène Lanctuit as its first Chief Executive Officer. The newly created role highlights the growth of the nonprofit which was established in 2020 with the double objective of reducing the environmental impact of food waste and serving the food insecure. 

Since its inception, Share My Meals has recovered over 70,000 healthy, prepared meals from corporations, educational establishments, hotels and hospitals in New Jersey, and served them directly to individuals in their homes or through its network of community partners. 

"We are delighted to welcome Hélène," says President and Co-founder, Isabelle Lambotte, "Share My Meals has grown quickly over the last three years. We are now working with over 40 food donor organizations, serving food insecure constituencies in Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset Counties and have saved over 400,000 lbs of C0? emissions from food waste. Hélène has the perfect mix of knowledge, skills and experience to take Share My Meals forward, to build greater capacity to deliver healthy meals to vulnerable people and further reduce the environmental impact of food waste."

As CEO, Lanctuit will be focusing on building more partnerships to accelerate Share My Meals' growth and increase its impact. She brings ten years of experience in corporate environmental sustainability, including three years working for Nestlé to measure and minimize food waste across the value chain. And, having already served on the Share My Meals Board since October 2021, she has an enthusiasm for the nonprofit's dual mission and innovative approach.

Share My Meals recovers healthy, prepared cuisine from cafeterias and restaurants. They match the food donors with individuals or recipient organizations . Then, using technology they ensure compliance to food safety standards, monitor and track bar-coded meal trays, and schedule volunteers to deliver the meals to those in need.

Lanctuit remarks, "I am excited to be joining at this stage of Share My Meals' development. There is so much potential to further increase our impact through innovative approaches. It is especially important now, when the rising cost of living is driving an ever greater need for regular access to healthy food. We find that corporations, restaurants and other establishments want to play a positive part in their neighborhoods, reduce their food waste and decrease their environmental impact. Share My Meals provides the link so that everyone benefits."

Lanctuit will continue to work closely with Isabelle Lambotte who will remain as President. 

USRowing Announces the 2023-2024 Scholastic Honor Roll

USRowing is happy to announce the Class of 2024 Scholastic Honor Roll. With a record number of nearly 500 applicants, this year's recipients were selected based on their academic achievements, on the water successes, and involvement within their community and school. The 2024 applicant pool was the most competitive yet, and we are excited to see where the future takes these incredible scholars!

Honor Roll 

Sara Adler 
Hava Appleyard 
James Balsamo
Michael Balsamo 
Nora Barth 
Deven Battish 
Victoria Bell 
Deanna Besart 
Michela Biondi 
Aydin Bonenberger 
Kailey Burns 
Alexander (Sasha) Cafritz 
Gabriella Carter 
Kalia Cheung 
Taj Chunawala 
Ben (Harper) Conde 
Connor Cowan
Tara Cuddapah 
Savannah Cunningham 
Kira Davis 
Avery  Douglas 
Sarah Drabkin 
Lindsey  Eattock  
Julia Fede 
Nola Foote 
Kyle Fox 
Ava  French 
Michael Goodall 
Michael Grillo 
Dillan Grimes 
Ben Guerriero  
Kendall Guith 
Coleman Hayes  
Ethan Hough 
Jack Hume 
Parker Hurley 
Jenny Jin 
Caroline Johnson 
Edith Jones 
Charles Josephbek 
Elise Justman 
James Kaye 
Nicolette  Kirikian 
Olivia  Knight  
Pauline Kopasz-Gemmen 
Bryn Lantz-Goldstein 
Beatrice Laterman 
Eleanor Lennon 
Audrey  Leurck  
Noa Levin 
Hanna Lyons 
Sophia Mammucari 
Shivani Manikandan 
Maya McCottry 
Aidan McDonnell 
Patrick McKenna 
Lily McKenna 
Elijah Murphy 
Nathan Myers 
Grace O'Connor 
William O'Donnell 
James O'Neill 
Joshua Ogburn 
Clara Pagano 
Brendan Paul 
Isabella Perez 
Dante Pittorino 
Rohan Prakash 
Ashvin Puri 
Molly Quinn 
Logan Reed 
Ashley Rohloff 
Cormac Rooney 
Emily Rossmeisl 
Roni Saffar 
Andrew Schmidt 
Peter Schmidt 
Ellie Shames 
Nicholas She 
Joseph Shelby 
Joseph Sitarski 
Annika Sivi 
Henry Slinger 
Maude Smith-Montross 
Luke Sternberg 
Mallory Stetler 
Caroline Stevens 
William Stutzman 
Elle Tinsky 
Carmen Torrecilla 
Rohith  Tsundupalli 
Isabel Ueber 
Brendan  Wallace 
Sam Wang 
Sara Wasserman 
Rowan Watson 
Erica Wayland 
Kalista Whildin 
Keen Williams 
Grace Worthington 
Stella Xu 
Gabrielle Zammit 

Honorable Mentions

Lucie Boillet 
Charles Boldt 
Eliza Boniface 
Ryan  Brewington 
Ryan Brom 
Brooke  Busk 
Amelia Cadwaladr  
Alexander Califano 
Ella  Casano 
Anna Conen 
Olivia Corbett 
Jack Craig 
Jackson Davis 
Ella Dowley 
Angelina Ferrandino 
Joseph Fontanilla 
Evelyn Fox 
Ryan Fox 
Lucy Greenup 
Kyle Grose 
Tarini Gupta 
Reilly Harris 
Tess Herrick 
James Hess 
Hannah Husain 
Ronin Jones 
Luke Joseph 
Ania Kelly 
Sarah  Lucas 
Shaila Man 
Keri  Manning  
Campbell McClellan 
Taylor McCoy 
Jack Mershon 
Chloe Moore 
Ian O'Riley 
Riley Parker 
Samantha Pelter 
Maura  Quinn 
Piper Ritchie 
Brook Smart 
Jocelyn  Stillman 
Olivia Stinson 
Zoe Stone 
Arudra Venugopalan 
Mia White  
Sara Willhauck 
Nate Wilson 
Aubrey Winczewski 
Britt Wotovich 
Henry Yoon 

D&R Greenway Announces First Harvest Moon Ball at Point Breeze September 30

D&R Greenway Land Trust's Harvest Moon Ball, featuring musicians and theatre performers, will be held at the Discovery Center at Point Breeze on the evening of September 30, from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. at 101 Park Street, Bordentown, NJ. The ticket price of $60 supports the historic and ecologically important property and can be purchased at www.drgreenway.org or by calling D&R Greenway at 609-924-4646. 

In the tradition of Joseph Bonaparte, the exiled King of Spain who entertained prominent scientists, artists and leaders here in the 1820s and 1830s, guests are invited to dress as someone who once visited Point Breeze or to come as you are to see who's who. Prominent people who walked on this land in the 19th century included the Marquis de Lafyette, Dolley Madison, John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, John James Audubon, Louis Mailliard, and Joseph Bonaparte's daughter Zenaide for whom a dove was named. Thirteen thousand years of history provides a creative playground for the imagination of partygoers who choose to participate in the parade of characters.   

Improv performances and music by a jazz trio will keep the mood swinging throughout the evening. Libations and desserts and cheeses from Toscano, a popular Bordentown restaurant, will be served under the full harvest moon. 

"We designed this to be an affordable, community-focused event to get people out on the land in an unforgettable setting," says Linda Mead, D&R Greenway's president and CEO. "Sunset is magic at Point Breeze. Watching the full moon rise will make this night shine on under the Harvest Moon, like the song!" 

This fun garden party will be inspired by the unexpected.  Pegasus Theatre, sponsored by Bordentown Arts, a community-based nonprofit, will perform improv. Principals Peter Alexander and Jennifer Nasta Zefutie will bring their theatrical storytelling to an intimate setting inside the Discovery Center, opened in May 2023, surrounded by colorful exhibits, art, and artifacts of note. 

Bordentown's vibrant arts scene received a boost in the last few years from the recently formed Bordentown Arts. "There's an insane amount of talent in this one square mile – just as there's an insane amount of history!" exults Leon Stanley, who founded the nonprofit in 2020 to support arts and cultural experiences within Bordentown City, where he lives with his wife, gallery owner C.J. Mugavero. "We want Bordentown to be the best it can be," says Stanley. "The arts bring a quality of life, are a driver of the economy, and dovetail with the city's reputation as a restaurant town."   

Musician Justin Lee will lead a talented jazz trio with guitarist Raúl Abbad and singer Monika Ryan, a New York style classic jazz singer who recently released her fourteenth album, "Playfully." A local resident, Lee is no stranger to Point Breeze; he played a virtuoso solo of both the US national anthem and the French national anthem on Bastille Day when a delegation from Bordentown's French sister city, Mortefontaine, visited the preserved property. He's thrilled that Point Breeze will now be a multi-faceted community asset. "I'm excited that my kids will get to enjoy the open space and the programs."  

The first ever Harvest Moon Ball celebrates that Point Breeze is now a Bordentown treasure, preserved forever. Point Breeze is an apt location to celebrate, as well, the recent election to D&R Greenway's Board of Trustees of longtime Bordentown public servant, former mayor James E. (Jim) Lynch, Jr. 

As Bordentown's mayor in 2020, Jim Lynch seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to preserve Point Breeze – and with it, the unique character of the small city. Developers had been salivating over the site. "The Divine Word Fathers, who were here for 80 years, were hounded by developers who wanted to build warehouses or a thousand condos," Lynch recalls.  D&R Greenway and State Green Acres partners joined with the city to permanently preserve the land. 

Lynch, now a City Commissioner, joined D&R Greenway's Board of Trustees in 2023, the latest chapter in a 34-year relationship. "I started working on behalf of Bordentown with D&R Greenway in 1989 [the land trust's founding year], and it just blossomed from there." Joining the Board "is a great honor for me," he says. 

For Point Breeze, says Jim Lynch, "The best is yet to come." 

Admission to the Harvest Moon Ball on September 30 is by advance ticket purchase by September 25 at www.drgreenway.org or by calling (609) 924-4646.  Limited tickets will be available at the door, first come, first served. Proceeds benefit D&R Greenway's Discovery Center at Point Breeze. 

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About D&R Greenway Land Trust: D&R Greenway Land Trust is an accredited nonprofit that has reached a new milestone of over 22,000 acres of land preserved throughout central New Jersey since 1989. By protecting land in perpetuity and creating public trails, it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The land trust's preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for residents of the region—including those most in need. Through strategic land conservation and stewardship, D&R Greenway combats climate change, protects birds and wildlife, and ensures clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway's mission is centered on connecting land with people from all walks of life. www.drgreenway.org; info@drgreenway.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.   

D&R Greenway Announces Fall Native Plant Sale Sept 22 & 23

Princeton, N.J. — D&R Greenway announces a wide variety of healthy local plants are ready for purchase at their annual Fall Native Plant Sale taking place on Friday, September 22: 2:30 pm-5:30 pm and Saturday, September 23: 9:30 am-12:30 pm.  

Planting natives enhances home gardens in natural beauty, attracts butterflies and birds in the landscape, and contributes to protection of a healthy bioregion. The Nursery is on the grounds of D&R Greenway's Conservation Campus at the Johnson Education Center, One Preservation Place, [off Rosedale Road] Princeton, NJ 08540.  Native Plant Sale proceeds support D&R Greenway's preservation and stewardship mission. www.drgreenway.org.  

Tina Notas, Director of Land Stewardship for D&R Greenway, remarks, "Fall is a great time to plant natives!  Give them a head start for the next growing season." 

Noted biologist, professor and author Doug Tallamy, is a biodiversity warrior.  In the Summer 2023 issue of Saving Land from the national Land Trust Alliance, he is quoted as saying, "In my view, the only way to achieve E. O. Wilson's dream of protecting the natural world on at least half of the planet, as described in his 2016 book "Half Earth," is to coexist with nature, in the same place, at the same time. We must bury forever the notion that humans are here and nature is someplace else, for there are no longer enough "someplace else's" to meet the need. We have persisted for the last century in the misguided belief that humans can only thrive when segregated from the natural world, and, as a result, the U.S. has formally protected only 12% of its land. We can achieve Wilson's lofty goals without excluding the human enterprise, but the key to doing this is to practice conservation not only in protected wildlands, but also outside of parks and preserves: where we live, work, farm and play." 

D&R Greenway's CEO Linda Mead encourages local residents to support D&R Greenway's land protection work and biodiversity by purchasing natives for your backyard at the nonprofit organization's Native Plant Sale, "This provides every one of us a way we can do good while helping D&R Greenway's work to do well." 

D&R Greenway's native trees, shrubs, perennial wildflowers, grasses, and ferns are grown either on-site or purchased from reputable local native-plant growers. Native Plant Nursery specimens are grown from locally sourced starter plants, and are free of harmful nicotinoid insecticides. Planting natives that evolved locally requires less maintenance, in terms of fertilizer, water and pesticides.  Possibilities include the popular Cardinal Flower, as well as Evening Primrose, Scarlet Oak, Sweet Joe Pye, and Trumpet Honeysuckle, among others. Visit our website at www.drgreenway.org.  

The Meeting House Announces Hospitality Internship & Scholarship Program

We opened the Meeting House Restaurant in 2019 with the intention of creating a space that invites community–a place where people could come together to build relationships that matter and improve the quality of life in the neighborhood we serve.   The pandemic was difficult for our team and for the restaurant, as it was for everyone.  But we made it through, and our community was a big reason we survived.  We are now finally in the position to continue our mission and are beginning efforts to give back.

We are excited to announce that we will be offering a paid internship to two qualifying seniors at Princeton High School. Our goal is to find two individuals who enjoy learning, are interested in hospitality and are passionate about working in our community. Upon completion of the program, these two individuals will each be awarded a $2,500 scholarship for further education (more information in the Q & A below).

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Q. Who is eligible for the Meeting House hospitality internship & scholarship program?

A.  Current students of Princeton High School in their senior year who are expected to graduate in the spring of 2024.

Q What kinds of roles are available?

A: Possible FOH (Front of House) roles include host, busser and food runner. Possible BOH (Back of House) roles include food prep, line cook, and garde manger (salad station).

Q: How much do I work & will I get paid?

A: We will offer a flexible schedule but will require that interns work a minimum of 200 hours between October 30th, 2023 and June 30th, 2024 in order to qualify for the scholarship. Both interns will be paid $15 per hour.

Q: What is the Meeting House Scholarship?

A: Upon completion of the internship program, each student will each receive a $2500 scholarship.

Q: What education programs can the scholarship funds be used for?

A:  Awards can be applied in any area of study at any accredited institution of your choice, including two or four-year colleges and universities, online programs, or vocational-technical schools. The funds are to be used to pay for course work only.  (e.g., not for housing, books, etc.)

Q: What year can the scholarship money be used for? I graduate in 2024.

A: Scholarship funds will be available in the summer of 2024 and payments will be paid directly to the institutions.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Q: When does the application open?

A: The application is open from 8:00 a.m. September 11th 2023 to 5:00 P.M. September 29th, 2023.

Q: When will recipients be notified?

A: Recipients will be announced on or about October 13th, 2023.

Q: Does it cost money to apply?

A: No, applications are free.

Q: How do I apply?

A:  All applicants must submit a one-page letter expressing why they believe they are a strong candidate for the internship & scholarship program by September 29th, 2023. To apply, please send your letter to scholarship@mhprinceton.com

Mercer County Announces New Ropes Course

The highly anticipated Ropes Course at Mercer County Park is set to open Sept. 10 to limited patrons, and brave members of the Mercer County Park Commission recently volunteered themselves for a trial run of the course.

“I love a good challenge,” said Park Commission Executive Director Aaron T. Watson, who admitted to being on the “and above” side of the age requirement. “I felt like I was amongst the trees and got a fantastic bird’s eye view of Mercer Lake. Along with our campgrounds and our outdoor exercise equipment, I’m proud to add this additional feature to Mercer County Park.”

More Ropes Course Info HERE

ACP Announces Art Roadtrips 2023 - 2024

FEELING ADVENTUROUS? We’re hitting the road for some unforgettable travel experiences. From city centers to lush countryside, we’ll meet artists, gallery owners, and cultural experts, enjoy delectable cuisine, and expand our creative horizons as we see the sights.

Schedule/Info

American Repertory Ballet Announces Exciting Dancer Promotions and New Hires for the 2023/24 Season

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – American Repertory Ballet (ARB) is excited to announce the latest appointments and promotions within its Company for its upcoming 2023/24 season. These advancements mark a significant milestone in the dancers’ careers, underscoring their talent and commitment as professional ballet dancers.  

Tiziano Cerrato, Roland Jones, Seth Koffler, Lily Krisko, Leandro Olcese, Anthony Pototski and Savannah Quiner have been elevated to the main ARB Company. The roster now includes 17 main Company dancers, three Apprentices, and two members of ARB2.

American Repertory Ballet welcomes two experienced Rehearsal Directors, Harriet Clark and Calvin Hilpert, whose vast expertise will undoubtedly enrich ARB’s creative endeavors. Complementing this artistic team will be Jeremiah Bischoff, assuming the role of Director of Production, and Janessa Cornell Urwin has been named ARB Resident Costume Designer.

In addition to dancer and artistic appointments, American Repertory Ballet and its official school, Princeton Ballet School, are experiencing organizational growth. Megan Teat steps into the role of PBS Administrative Manager, while ARB dancer Michelle Quiner takes on the position of ARB Social Media Manager. Erikka Reenstierna-Cates, an ARB dancer and accomplished writer, will contribute insightful articles to performance programs throughout the season.

American Repertory Ballet’s 2023/24 season opens in October and runs through May. The season features a captivating lineup, including the beloved holiday favorite The Nutcracker; Classic Beauty, an enchanting program featuring excerpts from iconic classical ballets Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty; and Ethan Stiefel’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The season launches with Elevate, showcasing a new piece by acclaimed choreographer Stephanie Martinez; a world premiere by the celebrated Philadelphia-based choreographer Meredith Rainey, featuring new music commissioned by emerging composer Miranda Scripp; and the highly-anticipated return of Ethan Stiefel’s rousing and poignant Wood Work. Tickets are now on sale at arballet.org.

ABOUT AMERICAN REPERTORY BALLET

Led by Artistic Director Ethan Stiefel, and with a distinctive reputation for innovation and individuality, American Repertory Ballet (ARB) is recognized as one of the state’s premier performing arts organizations. Presenting classical repertory alongside new and existing contemporary work, ARB is a founding resident company of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center while also performing in major venues across New Jersey and beyond for an annual audience of more than 30,000. Founded in 1954 as the Princeton Ballet Society, ARB has been designated a “Major Arts Institution” by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts consistently for the past two decades and has repeatedly been awarded a Citation of Excellence by the Council. The company has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and other major foundations and leaders in the field as a prominent force in the field of dance. Princeton Ballet School, ARB’s official school, attracts talent from around the world while providing opportunities for local students of all ages, such as through its award-winning DANCE POWER program. For more info, please visit arballet.org.

Terhune's Announces BARN ART Sale & Show

Following our very successful art show last year “Celebrating Old Trees”, this year we hope everyone will join us with art depicting barns — all kinds of barns, barns from everywhere (not just here at Terhune Orchards.) All media is accepted. Artwork should be submitted by September 5th, framed and ready to hang.

Before you bring your artwork to the farm, make sure you fill out the submission form. https://www.terhuneorchards.com/barn-art-show/ Multiple entries are allowed, but please submit one form per piece. We will host the “Barn Show” in our 250-year-old red barn from September 9 until December 10. Artists may sell their works; buyers will contact artists directly.

American Repertory Ballet Announces Its 2023/24 Season

Ethan Stiefel's A Midsummer Night's Dream

NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY – American Repertory Ballet (ARB) unveils its 2023-2024 season under the leadership of Artistic Director Ethan Stiefel. A bold reflection of the company's uniqueness, the upcoming season expands artistic boundaries and introduces exciting new dance and music.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

"ARB's artists and programming together create exceptional experiences unlike the repertoire that others are presenting. We do this not simply to be different, but because this is how we as an organization believe that we can contribute to our communities and beyond, as well as towards the broader context of the art form," says Stiefel. "We've placed an emphasis on showcasing new work and a dynamic range of talent while also exhibiting a true commitment to advancing classical ballet. Our 2023-2024 season will continue to further and freshly evolve both ourselves and our art."

ELEVATE

A founding resident company of the state-of-the-art New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), American Repertory Ballet returns to its home venue October 13-15, 2023 with Elevate, an innovative program of three new-fashioned ballet and contemporary works. The program includes:  a new creation by dance influencer and award winning artist Stephanie Martinez; a world premiere by Philadelphia-based choreographer Meredith Rainey, featuring new music commissioned by up-and-coming composer Miranda Scripp; and the anticipated return of Ethan Stiefel's rousing and poignant Wood Work, set to modern renditions of Nordic folk tunes by the Danish String Quartet.
 

THE NUTCRACKER

After a record-breaking year, American Repertory Ballet's time-honored holiday tradition - The Nutcracker - returns to delight audiences throughout New Jersey. For the first time in five years, ARB's The Nutcracker will be on stage at Two River Theater in Red Bank, N.J. In addition, performances will be at McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton, and at State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick. The Nutcracker holds a special place in the hearts of both new and longtime patrons, becoming synonymous with the holiday season. Its endearing story, Tchaikovsky's brilliant score, and iconic choreography create a memorable experience for the whole family.

McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton | November 24-26, 2023
Two River Theatre, Red Bank | December 1-3, 2023
Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, Trenton | December 9, 2023
State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick | December 15-17, 2023

CLASSIC BEAUTY  

This enchanting program at NBPAC, March 8-10, 2024 features excerpts from two crown jewels of the classical ballet repertoire:  Swan Lake Act II and Sleeping Beauty Act III. 

Swan Lake Act II takes audiences into the bewitching world of Odette, the swan princess, as she reveals her true form to Prince Siegfried. From the famous "Dance of 4 Little Swans" to the poignant and romantic pas de deux between Odette and the prince, this fairytale scene will leave audiences spellbound.

Sleeping Beauty Act III is a grand celebration of love and happiness, culminating in the wedding of Princess Aurora and Prince Désiré. This act is a highlight of the ballet with its elegant and virtuosic divertissements that spotlight the technical skills and artistry of ARB dancers.

A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT DREAM

The return of A Midsummer Night's Dream, a one-act ballet conceived and choreographed by Artistic Director Ethan Stiefel, will once again have audiences of all ages cheering, laughing out loud, and mesmerized by the ballet's whimsy and stylish storytelling. Set to Felix Mendelssohn's iconic score, with additional music arranged by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, this charming production promises to transport audiences to a fantastical forest filled with fairies, mischief, romance, and, of course, humor.  Performances run May 10-12, 2024 at the NBPAC.

Tickets go on sale August 21, 2023 at www.arballet.org  

For more information, contact Dan Bauer, Communications Manager, at dbauer@arballet.org, or by calling 609.921.7758.
 

ABOUT THE CHOREOGRAPHERS

Chicago-based choreographer, Stephanie Martinez, moves her audiences along a journey guided by the kinetic momentum of her award-winning works spanning over 12 years. With original creations for Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Charlotte Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Bruce Wood Dance, Nashville Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, BalletX, and Milwaukee Ballet, among others. Theatre credits include Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Martinez's versatility expands the boundaries of contemporary ballet movement. Martinez has created over 70 ballets on companies and collegiate programs across the country. Martinez has received numerous grants for her work and is continually recognized for her work as a female artist of color. Dubbed "a chameleon" of choreography by the Chicago Tribune, Martinez's psychologically revelatory works challenge the viewer's notion of what is possible. Martinez is the founder and artistic director of PARA.MAR Dance Theatre in Chicago, IL established in July 2020. (Photo credit: Todd Rosenberg)

Meredith Rainey began dancing at 15 in his hometown of Fort Lauderdale.  In 1985, he became the first African American dancer of the Milwaukee Ballet.  In 1987, he was invited to join the newly formed Pennsylvania-Milwaukee Ballet, when the collaboration ended, he remained with the Pennsylvania Ballet for 17 years—much of that time as a soloist—until his retirement in 2006. Among other awards and fellowships, Rainey has been the recipient of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowship (1995 & 2002), the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Artist as Catalyst Grant (2001), the Independence Foundation Fellowship in the Arts (2002), a finalist for the Pew Fellowship in the Arts (2003), and a Pew Center for Arts and Heritage Grant (2010). He has been commissioned to create works for Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, BalletX, Delaware Ballet, Hubbard Street 2, National Ballet De Cali, Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble, and institutions such as The University of the Arts, Drexel University, Stockton University, Georgian Court University, Goucher College, Swarthmore College, and Bryn Mawr College. His work has been performed in North and South America and throughout Spain. In 2009, Rainey founded and directed Carbon Dance Theatre, a contemporary ballet company in Philadelphia. In 2014 after deciding to concentrate on artistic projects, he closed the company and remained a sought-after teacher, mentor, and independent choreographer. In the fall of 2019, Rainey graduated with top honors as a member of the first cohort of candidates for the Master of Fine Arts in Dance from The University of the Arts. (Photo credit: Portia Jones)

 
Ethan Stiefel is an internationally recognized Instructor, Coach, Director and Choreographer. Stiefel became American Repertory Ballet's Artistic Director in July, 2021. In 1989, Stiefel began his professional dance career at age 16 with the New York City Ballet where he quickly rose to the rank of Principal Dancer. Stiefel was also a Principal Dancer with Ballett Zürich followed by being a Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre (ABT) from 1997-2012. Stiefel has served as Dean of the School of Dance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) as well as the Artistic Director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet. During his celebrated performing career, Stiefel danced leading roles in all the full-length classics and performed in an extensive range of shorter classical, contemporary, and modern works. Guest appearances include dancing with The Royal Ballet, The Mariinsky Ballet, New York City Ballet, Teatro Colon, The Australian Ballet and many others. He has appeared in numerous film, video and television productions including the feature film Center Stage and the documentary Born to be Wild. As a choreographer, he has created new works for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, The Washington Ballet, American Repertory Ballet, ABT Studio Company, Northern Ballet (UK), The Royal Ballet School, UNCSA, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the television series Flesh and Bone on the STARZ network. Stiefel has received a number of prestigious awards such as the Statue Award of the Princess Grace Foundation and the Dance Magazine Award. (Photo credit: Harald Schrader)

ABOUT AMERICAN REPERTORY BALLET

Led by Artistic Director Ethan Stiefel, and with a distinctive reputation for innovation and individuality, American Repertory Ballet (ARB) is recognized as one of the state's premier performing arts organizations. Presenting classical repertory alongside new and existing contemporary work, ARB is a founding resident company of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center while also performing in major venues across New Jersey and beyond for an annual audience of more than 30,000. Founded in 1954 as the Princeton Ballet Society, ARB has been designated a "Major Arts Institution" by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts consistently for the past two decades and has repeatedly been awarded a Citation of Excellence by the Council. The company has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and other major foundations and leaders in the field as a prominent force in the field of dance. Princeton Ballet School, ARB's official school, attracts talent from around the world while providing opportunities for local students of all ages, such as through its award-winning DANCE POWER program. arballet.org

Princeton University Concerts Announces Admit All: Ticket Access Program

In its continued mission to make the world’s most celebrated musicians accessible to all, Princeton University Concerts has unveiled a new ticket access program for qualified low-income patrons.

PRINCETON, NJ – When Princeton University Concerts (“PUC”) releases single tickets for the 2023-24 season on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, patrons will have access to a brand new Admit All ticket access program, which provides discounted tickets to those enrolled in qualifying aid programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, and public housing, as well as to NJ Families First Discovery Pass holders. All tickets offered through the Admit All program will be $10 or less for qualified applicants. The Admit All program is supported by the generosity of Princeton resident and PUC Committee member Reba Orszag.

“Accessibility is at the heart of our mission,” says PUC Director Marna Seltzer, “and PUC is committed to a price point that is one of the lowest in the region. I try to ensure that there is ‘something for everyone’ throughout each season, and we want to ensuring that everyone can experience the world’s greatest musicians among friends, regardless of financial circumstance.”

In the spirit of making music more accessible to all, PUC has multiple free community offerings extending beyond the concert hall, including: its annual Live Music Meditation series and community Chamber Jam, new Healing with Music book clubs presented in partnership with the Princeton Public Library, and Dance for Parkinson’s Disease classes offered in partnership with American Repertory Ballet.

Regular ticket prices to PUC events range from $15-$60 General/$5-$10 Student. 2023-24 season artist highlights include: the Chanticleer vocal ensemble, whose program will center around the a new arrangement of a piece by Princeton alumna Majel Connery (Class of 2001); the acclaimed Hagen and Doric String Quartets; Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist Brad Mehldau; Icelandic pianist sensation Víkingur Ólafsson playing Bach’s Goldberg Variations; renowned pianists Mitsuko Uchida and Jonathan Biss playing Schubert works for four-hands; baroque violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte alongside harpsichordist Justin Taylor; the inimitable pianist Hélène Grimaud; celebrated South African soprano Golda Schultz; and the trio of violinist Isabelle Faust, cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras, and pianist Alexander Melnikov.

For more information about the Admit All program, including eligibility requirements and concerts for which Admit All tickets are available, please visit puc.princeton.edu/admit-all or call 609-258-2800.

Friends for the Abbott Marshlands Announces Mary Alessio Leck Award

The Mary Alessio Leck Award for 2023 was presented to Bob Simmons (center) with left, Pat Coleman, President of FFAM; and to his right, Mary Leck, Emeritus FFAM, and marsh researcher for 40+ years, and Kelly Rypkema, Director of Tulpehaking Nature Center, Hamilton

Hamilton, NJ: The Friends for the Abbott Marshlands (FFAM) at the Annual Meeting held in April at the Tulpehaking Nature Center celebrated the distinguished 2023 Mary Alessio Leck Award. The award is presented each year to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional volunteer service to the Abbott Marshlands. The award is named in honor of Mary Alessio Leck in gratitude for her many years of service to the marsh. See her in the “Turning the Tide” video on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qDW_JZHhzk

This year, the award was presented to Hamilton resident Bob Simmons, a hard-working and diligent supporter of the FFAM. Bob is often available to help with needed tasks at the marshlands. He has been a wonderful advocate of FFAM. Over the years Bob has done everything from directing parking for night programs, setup and breakdown of tables and chairs, to helping to hang photos/art for Tulpehaking Nature Center exhibits. Even before becoming an Abbott Marshlands Ambassador, Bob joined the welcome team to cover shifts at the nature center’s front desk. He assisted the Stewardship team by joining the Bordentown Bluffs Reboot project to reroute a steep trail near Crosswicks Creek. Bob was an early volunteer for Abbott Marshlands cleanups and is a jack of all trades. Those who are familiar with him were especially delighted with the selection of Bob Simmons for the 2023 Mary Alessio Leck award.

Any member of the FFAM may nominate an exceptional volunteer for the award at the beginning of each calendar year. Persons being nominated for this award will have consistently demonstrated volunteer service in the marshlands. The service listed on the nomination cannot be part of the nominee’s job description or duties and the individual cannot receive monetary benefits from their involvement. Members of the FFAM Board of Directors are not eligible. The judging criteria uses the following weighted formula: 40% – The nominee’s services or actions have made a lasting, meaningful impact on the marshlands; 20% – The length and degree of their service; 20% – The extent to which service is above and beyond the call of duty; and 20% – Their service is recognized and valued by peers/community leaders.

Visitors to the unique freshwater tidal marsh of the Abbott Marshlands over time remark on it being an urban oasis, a critical wildlife habitat in the Delaware River’s estuary to be relished and protected. The public is invited to join in on this important endeavor. Their goal this year is to reach 150 members.

The Abbott Marshlands are situated in Lenapehoking, the traditional and ancestral homeland of the Lenape. These lands include over 3000 acres of open space along the Delaware River in Central New Jersey. Although a satellite view of the area quickly reveals its ecological unity, the lands there are actually divided among two counties, four municipalities, and numerous landowners. Crisscrossed by a canal, a railroad, and even a major highway interchange, the essential nature of the northernmost freshwater tidal marsh on the Delaware River becomes evident. It provides rich habitat for a wide variety of birds, fish, mammals, plants. FFAM is the only organization whose sole focus is the promotion and stewardship of the entire marshlands.

FFAM’s efforts include a volunteer trail stewardship program, an active calendar of programs on marshlands ecology and history, and other community outreach activities including a biennial juried photography exhibition in 2024. They coordinate their work with Tulpehaking Nature Center in Hamilton, the Mercer County Park Commission, the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park and the Point Breeze property in Bordentown. The Abbott Marshlands Cooperative Stewardship Council members include representatives from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the D&R Canal Commission, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, Mercer County, and local municipalities of Trenton, Hamilton, Bordentown City and Bordentown Township. The website, https://abbottmarshlands.org, provides extensive information regarding ecology, cultural history, archaeology, recreation, education and stewardship.

BACKGROUND:
Historically, what we now call the Abbott Marshlands was known as the Trenton Marsh or the Hamilton Marsh or sometimes the Hamilton-Trenton-Bordentown Marsh. In 2011, a coalition of marsh supporters, working on an interpretive plan for the marsh, saw the opportunity to change the name to the Abbott Marshlands, to acknowledge the historical and natural significance of the area. The Abbott Farm Historic District, on December 8, 1976, became the first National Historic Landmark in New Jersey, designated by the U.S. Department of the Interior. It is a unique archaeological site, recognized as the site of the largest Middle Woodland village of its type on the east coast of the United States. It was named after Charles Conrad Abbott, whose early archeological work and writings from the 1850s on spurred much research there.

Princeton University Concerts (PUC) Announces Community Events Beyond The Concert Hall

Extending beyond its suite of community-focused offerings, including its Live Music Meditation series and annual Chamber Jam, Princeton University Concerts (PUC) has partnered with local organizations to offer book clubs, documentary screenings, an embroidery workshop, Dance for PD® (Parkinson’s disease) classes, and social events related to the artists and events on PUC’s 2023-24 Season.

PRINCETON, NJ – Princeton University Concerts (PUC) encourages its audiences to engage with live music in new ways, such as seated on stage alongside the performer at a Performances Up Close concert, in a meditative state at a free Live Music Meditation event, at relaxed-format family concerts, or through making music together at PUC’s annual community Chamber Jam. PUC also provides opportunities for community members to continue to engage with music and PUC artists beyond the concert hall. To that end, PUC has forged deep partnerships with local organizations, including American Repertory Ballet, Princeton Public Library, The Princeton Garden Theatre, and The Singles Group (TheSinglesGroup.com), and with local artist Diana Weymar, to offer learning experiences and events which foster community outside the concert hall, including book clubs, documentary screenings, an embroidery workshop, Dance for PD® (Parkinson’s disease) classes, and facilitated social events. Many of these events will be free.

“We are Princeton University Concerts, presenting chamber music concerts by the most celebrated musicians in the world, but I like to think that the ‘C’ of ‘PUC’ stands for community and collaboration as much as it stands for concerts,” says PUC Director Marna Seltzer. “Community is at the core of our mission to make classical music accessible to all. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. This year, in particular, our vision for creating connection through music has blossomed into multiple partnership programs. It’s about creating pathways for the music to meet you where you are and speak to you in deep, perhaps surprising, ways.”

Healing with Music Together

“When it comes to our Healing with Music series, in particular, we aim to not only encourage but also facilitate ongoing conversations about music’s vital role in our lives, beyond the concert hall,” says PUC Outreach Manager Dasha Koltunyuk. “With the launch of these events this year, we created a way for people to send postcards—physical or digital—to the artists. We also launched an Audience Voices contest, where community members submitted written and visual art responses to music’s healing role in their lives or how their relationship to music has changed since the pandemic. Every single response highlighted the deep importance music plays in our sense of connection—not just to others but also to aspects of ourselves. We wanted to extend the conversation even further this year, and we are so grateful to our wonderful community partners for helping us bring this vision to life through a varied host of related programming.”

Princeton Public Library (PPL) Book Club in Partnership with PUC’s Healing with Music Series

In advance of each Healing with Music event, the Princeton Public Library will host free book clubs focused on related texts, all culminating in facilitated discussions offered in-person and online. The books discussed will include two-time NY Times Bestseller Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Healing with Music guest Suleika Jaouad (Princeton University Class of 2010); Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain by Oliver Sacks; Imagine Me Gone by Healing with Music guest and finalist for the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize Adam Haslett.; and Unquiet: My Life with Beethoven, an audiobook by Healing with Music guest and renowned pianist Jonathan Biss.

PPL Book Club: Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad

Culminating facilitated discussions: Wednesday, November 1, 2023

10:30AM: Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon St., Princeton, NJ

7PM: online (Zoom)

Between Two Kingdoms follows Suleika Jaouad’s incredible battle with cancer, her journey with introspection once she recovered, and the role creativity played throughout. These book club discussions will be led by PPL Adult Programming Manager Janie Hermann and PUC Outreach Manager Dasha Koltunyuk. Visit princetonlibrary.org or call 609-924-9529 for details.

PUC Healing with Music event:

The Beat Goes On: Healing from Cancer through Music

with Suleika Jaouad, Writer and Jon Batiste, Musician

Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 7:30PM

Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall, Princeton University

A conversation centered on the role creativity and music has played in Jaouad’s battle with cancer, or, as she terms it, “life, interrupted.” The evening will be permeated with live performance by musician Jon Batiste, Jaouad’s husband, who brought live music to Jaouad’s oncology ward years ago.

Visit puc.princeton.edu or call 609-258-2800 for tickets and more information.

PPL Book Club: Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain by Oliver Sacks

Culminating facilitated discussions: Wednesday, February 28, 2024

10:30AM: Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon St., Princeton, NJ

7PM: online (Zoom)

Through a collection of short stories, neurologist Oliver Sacks explores the place music occupies in the brain and how it affects the human condition. These book club discussions will be led by Dr. Concheta Tomaino, Sacks’ fellow co-founder of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, to whom the book is dedicated.

Visit princetonlibrary.org or call 609-924-9529 for details.

PUC Healing with Music event:

Exploring the Intersection of Dance, Music, and Parkinson’s Disease

Sunday, March 3, 2024, 3PM

Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall, Princeton University

An experiential panel with: Dance for PD® (Parkinson’s disease) founding teacher and Program Director David Leventhal; experts including Dr. Concheta Tomaino and Princeton University Professor Elizabeth Margulis; and a performance of adapted Mark Morris choreography by local Dance for PD® participants, with music played live by cellist Joshua Roman.

Visit puc.princeton.edu or call 609-258-2800 for tickets and more information.

PPL Book Club: Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett and Unquiet: My Life with Beethoven by Jonathan Biss

Culminating facilitated discussions: Wednesday, April 10, 2024

10:30AM: Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon St., Princeton, NJ

7PM: online (Zoom)

Imagine Me Gone is the unforgettable story of what unfolds when, in an act of love and faith, Margaret decides to marry John despite his crippling depression. Visit princetonlibrary.org or call 609-924-9529 for details.

With Unquiet, a free Audible Words + Music series book, Jonathan Biss, the world-renowned pianist and critical Beethoven interpreter of our time, reveals his grapple with anxiety in the face of “living with Beethoven.” Unquiet both begins and ends with Jonathan Biss staring down the daunting complexity and infinite majesty of Beethoven's last piano sonatas. But between these two points, the singular pianist has traversed a world of healing. 

PUC Healing with Music event:

Anxiety, Depression, and Music

with Jonathan Biss, Pianist and Author and Adam Haslett, Writer

Wednesday, April 24, 2023, 7:30PM
Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall, Princeton University

A conversation centered on anxiety, depression, and music, permeated with live performance. In addition to conversation and Q&A, the event will include live performance of Schubert and Schumann as well as excerpts from the author’s latest novel, Imagine Me Gone.
Visit puc.princeton.edu or call 609-258-2800 for tickets and more information.

Threading the Needle with Artist Diana Weymar

Friday, November 17, 2023, 7PM
As part of a blossoming partnership with PUC, local artist Diana Weymar, founder of the Tiny Pricks Project and the locally focused Interwoven Stories project, will host a community embroidery circle open to patrons of the November 15 Healing with Music event with writer Suleika Jaouad and musician Jon Batiste, both of whom have collaborated with Weymar before. Further details will be announced at a later date. Please call 609-258-1179 for more information.

Dance for PD® (Parkinson’s Disease) Partnership Classes

As an extension of PUC’s Healing with Music event exploring the intersection of music, dance, and Parkinson’s disease on Sunday, March 3, 2024, American Repertory Ballet will offer free Dance for PD® (Parkinson’s disease) classes for those with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers. This host of classes will kick off with a class at Princeton Ballet School in Princeton on Monday, July 31, 2023. More information can be found at puc.princeton.edu and arballet.org.

Live Music Meditation

PUC’s internationally-acclaimed Live Music Meditation program, launched in 2015 in collaboration with Princeton University Office of Religious Life, was created to facilitate poignant, focused listening experiences.

Held over lunchtime on weekdays, Live Music Meditations are free and open to the public. Each event begins with a brief period of meditation instruction led by Matthew Weiner, Princeton University Associate Dean of Religious Life. Then, attendees settle into a meditative state for a few minutes before the music emerges from the silence. This fall, PUC invites the community to “Breathe in Music” performed live the vocal ensemble Chanticleer and harpsichordist Jean Rondeau:

Live Music Meditation with Chanticleer Vocal Ensemble

Thursday, October 12, 2023, 12:30PM

Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall, Princeton University

Live Music Meditation with Harpsichordist Jean Rondeau

Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 12:30PM

Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall, Princeton University

PUC at the Movies, in Partnership with The Princeton Garden Theatre

Princeton University Concerts continues its partnership with The Princeton Garden Theatre, a non-profit movie theater in downtown Princeton, to screen movies related to classical music and performances on PUC’s current season. This year, PUC will screen award-winning documentaries in aligned with The Garden once again, including a film in partnership with the March Healing with Music event exploring the intersection of music, dance, and Parkinson’s disease:

PUC at the Movies: Capturing Grace documentary screening and post-screening Q&A with director David Iverson

Monday, March 4, 2024, 7PM

The Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ

Capturing Grace explores the Mark Morris Dance Group’s development of the Dance for PD® program and takes a poignant look at the program’s role in participants’ lives.

This screening of Capturing Grace will be followed by a Q&A with director David Iverson. For those who attend PUC’s Healing with Music: Exploring Music, Dance, and Parkinson’s event on Sunday, March 3, this March 4 screening and talk-back is an opportunity to learn even more about the Dance for PD® program and how people dealing with Parkinson’s disease find relief and joy in moving to music.

Visit princetongardentheatre.org for more information.

Do-Re-Meet Social Events for Music Lovers

Do-Re-Meet creates opportunities for concertgoers to connect with fellow audience members over a shared love of music in a facilitated format, allowing for connections ranging from platonic to romantic to business. Co-hosted by The Singles Group (TheSinglesGroup.com), this year’s Do-Re-Meet events include pre-concert speed dating; an LGBTQ+ Mingle; and Find Your Friends (a “speed friending” event). Attendees will enjoy hors d’oeuvres, catered by Do-Re-Meet community partner Tipple & Rose, and new connections at the historic Maclean House on Princeton University’s campus. Each Do-Re-Meet experience includes special access to a concert on PUC’s Performances Up Close series, just steps away from the Maclean House at Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall.

Sunday, October 8, 2023

1PM Speed Dating social event at Maclean House

3PM concert featuring Dreamers’ Circus at Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall

Sunday, October 8, 2023

4PM LGBTQ+ Mingle social event at Maclean House

6PM concert featuring Dreamers’ Circus at Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

6PM concert by harpsichordist Jean Rondeau at Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall

7:30PM Find Your Friends “speed friending” social event at Maclean House

Visit puc.princeton.edu/do-re-meet or call 609-258-2800 for more information and tickets.

PUC Events for Your Whole Family

Princeton University Concerts annually hosts a Chamber Jam event, where amateur musicians are invited to play or sing along with professional artists, and All in the Family concerts curated children and their families.

This year, PUC’s annual Chamber Jam will take the form of a community choir sing-along with Chanticleer vocal ensemble on the evening of Wednesday, October 11 at 7:30PM at the Princeton University Chapel.

PUC will host three interactive All in the Family concerts, featuring artists from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, two of which will be relaxed-format concerts friendly to neurodiverse and non-neurodiverse children, alike.

More details about Chamber Jam and All in the Family Concerts will announced when online single tickets sales begin on Tuesday, August 1, 2023.

Hopewell Valley Arts Council Announces 2023 Scholarship Winners

Emma Coyer and Michaela Kwak 

We are excited to announce our scholarship award winners for 2023: Michaela Kwak and Emma Coyer!

The Hopewell Valley Arts Council has awarded art scholarships to Hopewell Valley Central High School graduating seniors every year since 2015. These scholarships are a critical part of our mission to encourage creativity in the Hopewell Valley community and foster a lifelong participation in the arts. 

Both students illustrate substantial talent and deep interest in their selected area of study, and demonstrate commitment to furthering their education in the arts. Emma will continue her passion for art at Syracuse University this fall as a student in the College of Visual and Performing Arts majoring in design. Michaela Kwak will also coincidentally be attending Syracuse University in the fall and will major in film production. 

We received applications from many wonderful students. We wish them all the very best, and hope they will continue to enjoy art and make art, as they move on to the next phase of their lives.

Princeton U Concerts Announces 23/24 Do-Re-Meet Social Events for Music Lovers

Designed to help people connect over a mutual interest in music, this groundbreaking program—facilitated by The Singles Group—will bring concertgoers several opportunities to connect with Speed Dating, an LGBTQ+ Mingle, and Find My Friends events at the historic Maclean House on the Princeton University campus.

PRINCETON, NJ—In December 2022, Princeton University Concerts (PUC) launched a first-of-its-kind series: Do-Re-Meet – Social Events for Music Lovers. Do-Re-Meet creates opportunities for concertgoers to connect with fellow audience members over a shared love of music in a facilitated format, allowing for connections ranging from platonic to romantic to business. Co-hosted by The Singles Group (TheSinglesGroup.com), this year's Do-Re-Meet events include pre-concert speed dating; an LGBTQ+ Mingle; and Find Your Friends (a "speed friending" event). Attendees will enjoy hors d'oeuvres, catered by Do-Re-Meet community partner Tipple & Rose, and new connections at the historic Maclean House on Princeton's campus. Each Do-Re-Meet experience includes special access to a concert on PUC's Performances Up Close series, just steps away from the Maclean House at Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall.

On Sunday, October 8, 2023 there will be two versions of Do-Re-Meet: a Speed Dating event at 1PM and an LGBTQ+ Mingle at 4PM. Both events are paired with a performance by the genre-defying Nordic band Dreamers' Circus. The ensemble blends vibrant Danish, Swedish, and Icelandic folk traditions with influences from jazz, classical, and pop music spheres. Rounding out the Fall suite of Do-Re-Meet events is Find Your Friends "speed friending" on Wednesday, November 8, paired with a concert by the trailblazing star harpsichordist Jean Rondeau.

While each Do-Re-Meet event is centered around open and carefree conversation, the facilitated matching system is handled with attention to security and protecting confidentiality. All attendees are provided nametags listing only first names and a registration number. At the end of the event, attendees can indicate the level on which they would like to match with others: business connection, friend, or second date. If two people indicate the same level of desired connection with each other, Risa Grimaldi provides the pair each other's contact information.

"At each of my events, including 8-minute dating, mingles or 'Dating for a Cause', people can match on a variety of levels," explains Grimaldi, who has been running facilitated social events across New Jersey for over 16 years. "At Do-Re-Meet, all of the matches feel extra special and meaningful. The fact that all of the attendees love music and get to experience a Princeton University Concerts performance together is an automatic bond. The odds of connecting go way up when there is a common interest like music. The average match rate at the Do-Re-Meet events in our inaugural year was over 90%!"

"So many of our patrons have spoken to me about a desire to connect more meaningfully with the people they see in the concert hall," says PUC Director Marna Seltzer. "Each Do-Re-Meet event this past year, the series' inaugural season, was bustling with conversation. The Speed Dating version had a waitlist! Do-Re-Meet has been a beautiful way to facilitate connection over a shared love of music not just for those who are familiar with our concerts, but also for new audience members. About half of Do-Re-Meet attendees were new to us this year and came back for subsequent events. We are privileged to partner with the wonderful Risa Grimaldi of The Singles Group, who has helped make our far-out idea of making matches over music a reality."

Tickets for the full evening—admission to both the Do-Re-Meet event and the concert with which it is paired—are $50 General/$20 Student. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit puc.princeton.edu/do-re-meet or call 609-258-2800.

UPCOMING DO-RE-MEET EVENTS:

Sunday, October 8, 2023

1:00 PM Speed Dating social event

3:00 PM concert featuring Dreamers' Circus

Wondering where your concert date is Haydn? Meet other music-loving singles* in your age group by participating in 8-minute speed dates while enjoying catered appetizers on the historic Princeton University campus! Everyone will then head over to the concert hall to be dazzled by the Nordic band Dreamers' Circus.

Age Groups:

·       Group Do: 24-39

·       Group Re: 40-59

·       Group Mi: 60+

*This event is designated for individuals seeking heterosexual connections. There will be an LGBTQ+ Single Mingle later in the day on Sunday, October 8.

Sunday, October 8, 2023

4:00 PM LGBTQ+ Mingle social event

6:00 PM concert featuring Dreamers' Circus

B-sharp...B-natural...Be YOU! Mingle with other music-loving members of the LGBTQ+ community as you enjoy refreshments and ice-breaker activities before being dazzled by Dreamers' Circus together.

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

6:00 PM concert featuring harpsichordist Jean Rondeau

7:30 PM Find Your Friends "speed friending" social event

Add to your music-loving friend Liszt! It's Friendsgiving Season! Get to know your fellow audience members by experiencing harpsichordist Jean Rondeau's magic before enjoying organized rounds of 8-minute "speed friending" sessions over some locally-catered snacks on the historic Princeton University campus!

ABOUT THE SINGLES GROUP

The Singles Group (TheSinglesGroup.com) is the largest full-service singles company in the tri-state area, founded by Risa Glaser Grimaldi in 2006. An attorney with an MBA, Glaser pivoted her volunteer experiences running events for charities and non-profits to a singles business more than 16 years ago. Glaser has now hosted more than 5,000 singles events and has sparked countless matches, weddings, and engagements. She even met her husband at one of her own "8minuteDating" events!

For further information please contact Alexis Branagan at abranaga@princeton.edu or 609-258-1179.

Princeton Public Library Announces Summer Music Events

From concerts to dancing to open-mic performances, Princeton Public Library has a variety of music events planned this summer. Most events will be moved to the Community Room in the event of rain. Details are available on the calendar at princetonlibrary.org.

Concerts and tribute shows continue June 9 with “From Janis to Alanis – Women Who Rock” on Hinds Plaza at 7 p.m. Featuring five female vocalists, backed by Princeton-area musicians, the show celebrates and traces female rock pioneers across time.

Helen O’Shea & Friends and guests Small Town Strings perform An Evening of Americana Music Thursday, June 29, at 7 p.m. in the Community Room.

Midsummer Music in the Woods, an afternoon concert at Herrontown Woods, features acoustic music interspersed with poetry on Saturday, July 15 at 4 p.m. Crown Acoustic and The Ragtime Relics will perform folk, country, jazz and vintage American music in the clearing near Veblen House. Vivia Font will provide poetic interludes between sets.

The S? Percussion Summer Institute Showcase is planned for Saturday, July 29 at 3 p.m. on Hinds Plaza.

“Make Me Smile – The Music of Chicago,” a tribute featuring the greatest hits of one of the longest running and best-selling pop/rock groups in history, will be presented by the Einstein Alley Musicians Collaborative on Sunday, Aug. 27, at 3 p.m., on Palmer Square.

Starting June 11, the Listen Local Series returns to Hinds Plaza with a performance by New Yacht City (smooth "yacht rock" from the '70s and '80s) at 4 p.m. Additional Sunday Listen Local concerts on the plaza at 4 p.m. include Love? Said the Commander (indie folk music) on July 9; Joy & Rob with The Beagles (blues and soul) on July 30; Putman County (rock and blues) on Aug. 13 and The Professors (classic rock) on Sept. 10.

Open Mic events hosted by the Einstein Alley Musicians Collaborative are planned for Friday, June 2, 6-9 p.m., and Sunday, July 16, from 3-6 p.m., on Hinds Plaza. All are welcome to sign up to perform or just come to listen. Sign-up details are available on the events calendar at princetonlibrary.org. An additional open mic date is to be announced.

Dancing Under the Stars returns to Hinds Plaza on two Friday nights each month during the summer when Members of Central Jersey Dance demonstrate basic steps and lead others in an evening of dancing to recorded music of all kinds. Dates are June 16 and 30; July 14 and 28, Aug. 11 and 25 and Sept. 8 and 22.

Princeton Girls Hoops AAU Announces Summer Programs/Camps

Get ready for Summer with PG Hoops! We have basketball options for girls of all ages and skill abilities including: 1) AAU Competitive Club - 5th-12th graders, 2) Two weeks of evening camps (dates tbd), and 3) Skills Academies for 3rd-12th graders. Register at www.pghoopsnj.com. Questions? Contact Coach Brian at pghoopsnj@gmail.com or 609-792-7561.

Princeton Girls Hoops (PGH) AAU is the preeminent, GIRLS ONLY competitive basketball club in Central NJ. Our diverse and inclusive culture is built from great kids from all over the area from Hamilton to Hopewell/Pennington to Princeton, Lawrence, and West Windsor and places in between. In its 8th year, PGH is a year-long program offering 5th-12th grade hard working, competitive and passionate girls players looking to thrive. PGH doesn't just develop basketball skills, but also strives to empower girls to be confident, capable, and selfless. Join the Family!

Princeton University Announces 23/24 Season

Sunday, October 8, 2023, 3PM & 6PM

DREAMERS’ CIRCUS*

Thursday, October 12, 2023, 7:30PM

CHANTICLEER* with students in the

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY GLEE CLUB

Thursday, October 26, 2023, 6PM & 9PM

THÉOTIME LANGOIS de SWARTE*,

Baroque Violin

JUSTIN TAYLOR*, Harpsichord

Thursday, November 2, 2023, 7:30PM

DANISH STRING QUARTET

Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 6PM & 9PM

JEAN RONDEAU*, Harpsichord

Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 7:30PM

SULEIKA JAOUAD*, Writer

JON BATISTE*, Musician

Sunday, November 19, 2023, 3PM

RICHARDSON CHAMBER PLAYERS

Thursday, January 18-Sunday, January 21, 2024

MAHLER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

in Virtual Reality

Wednesday, January 24, 2024, 7:30PM

HÉLÈNE GRIMAUD*, Piano

Thursday, February 1, 2024, 7:30PM

BRAD MEHLDAU, Piano

Thursday, February 8, 2024, 7:30PM

VÍKINGUR ÓLAFSSON, Piano

Thursday, February 15, 2024, 7:30PM

ISABELLE FAUST, Violin

JEAN-GUIHEN QUEYRAS, Cello

ALEXANDER MELNIKOV, Piano

Sunday, March 3, 2024, 3PM

DANCE FOR PD®: A MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP PROGRAM

Thursday, March 7, 2024, 7:30PM

Hagen String Quartet

Sunday, March 24, 2024, 3PM

RICHARDSON CHAMBER PLAYERS

Wednesday, April 3, 2024, 7:30PM

JONATHAN BISS, Piano

MITSUKO UCHIDA, Piano

Monday, April 8, 2024, 7:30PM

GOLDA SCHULTZ*, Soprano

JONATHAN WARE*, Piano

Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 7:30PM

JONATHAN BISS, Piano

ADAM HASLETT, Writer

Thursday, May 2, 2024, 3PM

DORIC STRING QUARTET*

Trenton City Museum Announces Juror and Call for Art for Ellarlsie Open 40

(Trenton, NJ) Trenton City Museum announces Reginald M. Browne, Vice-Chair of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and Chairman of the Creative Capital Foundation, as Juror for the 40th Ellarslie Open. Artists from greater Trenton and beyond may enter artwork online from April 1 to May 11 for consideration in the show, which runs from June 24 through September 30.

Diane Ciccone, Vice President of the Trenton Museum Society, said, “Reginald Browne brings a fresh and exciting perspective as a supporter of artists and the arts. We look forward to his vision as juror for Ellarslie Open 40.”

“Forty is quite a milestone not only for the Ellarslie Open but also for the Trenton Museum Society, which itself marks 50 years in 2023,” said TMS President Joan Perkes. “The Open debuted a few years into the partnership with the City of Trenton that transformed Ellarslie Mansion into the Trenton City Museum. Since its inception, the Ellarslie Open has been fully intertwined with the museum’s history and with the TMS and community members who create and sustain the museum’s offerings.”

Artists may submit up to four works online for consideration in Ellarslie Open 40. The prospectus, timeline, and entry link (the Call for Art goes live April 1) are at ellarslie.org/EO40. The top honor, Best In Show Overall, comes with an award of $1000. Top prizes will also be given in each of five categories (painting; works on paper; sculpture; photography; digital art) and through special sponsorships.

Showcasing contemporary works by established and emerging artists from across the region and beyond, the Ellarslie Open has developed into the area’s premier annual juried exhibition since it began. In 2022, from 528 entries, 163 diverse works of art were exhibited by artists from greater Trenton, across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, and beyond. The 2023 show will open Saturday, June 24, with an EO40 Artists & Members Reception. It will remain on view through September 30. Gallery talks and other events related to the exhibition will be announced.

JUROR REGINALD M. BROWNE

Reginald M. Browne is the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), Chair of PAFA’s Board of Governors of Art College, and a member of the Executive Committee. He is the Chairman of Creative Capital Foundation, a nonprofit, grantmaking organization whose mission is to provide grant funding to artists in the creation of groundbreaking new work. He is on the board of Silver Art Projects, a nonprofit organization that provides artists with free, year-long studio space and career development opportunities that accelerate and enhance their artistic practice. 

A Principal of GTS Securities, an automated multi-asset class market maker headquartered in New York City, Mr. Browne has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from La Salle University where he serves on the Board of Trustees. He and his wife Dr. Aliya Browne are known as influential collectors of contemporary African diasporic portraiture and abstract expressionist art.

EXHIBITIONS THROUGHOUT 2023 CELEBRATE TRENTON MUSEUM SOCIETY AT 50

Leading up to and following Ellarslie Open 40, a year of exhibitions celebrates the Trenton Museum Society’s support of art and artists.

• “Trustees Collecting”: Curated by Joan Perkes and Diane Ciccone. On view through April 16. 80+ eclectic works from the personal art collections of over 40 current and former TMS trustees.
• “Fast Forward to 40”: Curated by Carol Hill. Opening April 21, this special show takes viewers on a flight through art and time, displaying four decades of memorabilia plus Ellarslie Open artwork purchased by TMS.
• “Ellarslie Open 40”: Juried show opens June 24; Juror: Reginald M. Browne.
• “Tiles of Trenton”: Exploring Trent Tile and other tile manufactures from Trenton’s decorative arts and industrial history. Opening date to be announced.
• “TAWA at 45”: Curated by Elizabeth Aubrey and Mary Yess. A celebration of the incredible talents of artists who have participated in the Trenton Artists Workshop Association throughout its continuous history. Opening Reception October 7.
• “NEXT: Not Just an Exhibition, a Happening”, juried and curated by Diane Ciccone, Jane Malloy, and Edwin Torres. Cutting-edge artwork and diverse media, materials, and performances will consider the question, “What’s next?” Show opens December 9.

THE TRENTON CITY MUSEUM

The Trenton City Museum is housed in Ellarslie Mansion, an 1848 Italianate Villa in the heart of Trenton’s historic Cadwalader Park, which was designed by the legendary Frederick Law Olmsted. The building is owned by the City of Trenton. Ongoing and rotating shows explore and celebrate Trenton’s history and culture and showcase contemporary regional art and artists. Museum hours are Friday and Saturday from 12 to 4 pm and Sundays from 1 to 4 pm. There is no admission fee, but donations in support of the museum’s mission and programs are welcomed. Visit ellarslie.org to learn more.

For more on Ellarslie Open 40 and other museum programming, visit ellarslie.org/EO40 or contact exhibits@ellarslie.org or 609-989-1191.

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