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Review: MADDIE & ELEANOR at The Growing Stage

"There's so much to be done and I want to help if I can." Eleanor Roosevelt in Maddie & Eleanor

The Growing Stage (TGS), The Children's Theatre of New Jersey has done it again! They have succeeded in providing area audiences with the finest in youth and family entertainment with the 2022 Laurie Award winning play, Maddie & Eleanor. Written by Martha King DeSilva and expertly directed by the theatre's Executive Director, Stephen L. Fredericks, the play should have many opportunities to be produced in the future. At the weekday matinee we attended, the show's well-crafted story, top-notch staging, and cast that shined bright in their roles captivated the student audience.

Maddie is a fourth grader experiencing many of the issues that kids her age encounter including best friend problems and her indecision about participating in after school activities. When Maddie's I-Phone is accidently breaks, it mysteriously connects to Eleanor Roosevelt's microphone when the First Lady is preparing her radio address. During their regular conversations across time, Maddie learns about Eleanor's fine qualities and history while Eleanor relates well to the trials of a young girl. Other characters that round out the story include Maddie's mother, Karen; Maddie's classmates, Eleanor's daughter, Anna; and the First Lady's assistant.

The cast mastered their roles and several of the actors portrayed multiple characters seamlessly. The company included Brianna Martinez as Maddie, Lisa G. Andreacchi as Eleanor Roosevelt, Belinda Diaz-Perez as Karen, Jeorgi Smith as Anna/Sophia, Donald Danford as Young Man/Others, Davis Cameron Lemley as Josh/Others, Nicole DeLuca as Chloe/Others.

The many well-played scenes included Maddie telling her mom about her difficult day at school; Maddie breaking her I-Phone and being connected to Eleanor; Eleanor's surprise at hearing communication through her radio microphone; the commercials that precede Eleanor's radio addresses; Josh hoping for a snow day; Maddie and Eleanor doing a Tik-Tok dance; Eleanor's assistant telling her that he will be going to war; Karen giving Maddie a new phone; Maddie and Karen at the Apple Store; Anna's pride in her mother; and Maddie making a new friend, Sophia. The authentic projections depicting events surrounding WWII are a fascinating feature of the show.

The Creative Team has done a top job of bringing Maddie & Eleanor to the stage. They include scenic design, set construction, and lighting design by by S.L. Fredericks; costume design by Lori B. Lawrence and Scaramouche LLC; and projections design by David O'Neill. Becky Nitka is the Stage Manager.

The Growing Stage has given Maddie & Eleanor a wonderful world premiere and we hope that the play will be staged at other venues in the future as it is entertaining, clever, and provides a unique learning experience.

The Growing Stage, The Children's Theatre of New Jersey is located in the historic Palace Theatre, 7 Ledgewood Ave, Netcong, NJ 07857. For more information on the theatre's upcoming shows and their education programs, please visit https://growingstage.com/ and call 973.347.4946.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Growing Stage

Location: The Growing Stage – The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey

Address: 7 Ledgewood Ave, Netcong, 07857

Event Date: 03/10/2023 - 03/26/2023

Event Time: 2:00 pm

Event Description:

The Growing Stage proudly presents THE LIGHTNING THIEF: The Percy Jackson Musical from March 10-26, 2023. The Growing Stage – The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey is located in the Historic Palace Theatre in Netcong. Performances take place on Saturdays at 4:00 pm, Sundays at 2:00 pm. In addition, a special Opening Night Performance takes place on Friday, March 10th at 7:30 pm.

Tickets are on sale now and cost $28 per adult, $22 per senior and $18 per child. Group rates and season packages are available. THE LIGHTNING THIEF is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals.

Click Here to Purchase Tickets | Call The Growing Stage | Email Their Box Office.

When teenager Percy Jackson discovers he’s a demigod, he and his friends embark on an epic journey: To find Zeus’s missing lightning bolt and prevent a war among the gods.

THE LIGHTNING THIEF: The Percy Jackson Musical is adapted from the book “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan. This performance is adapted by Joe Tracz with music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki, and directed by Stephen L. Fredericks. (The Growing Stage’s Executive Director.) Musical direction is by Laura Petrie with choreography by Jillian Petrie.

This production of THE LIGHTNING THIEF: The Percy Jackson Musical features the talents of many professional performers. Tyler Miranda of Highland Falls, NY plays Percy. Jeorgi Smith of Green Township, NJ plays Annabeth. Dan F. Sims of South Plainfield, NJ plays Grover/Others. Davis Cameron Lemley of Cedar Grove, NJ plays Luke/Others. Casey Esbin of New City, NY plays Clarisse/Others. Meg Foley of Livingston, NJ plays Sally/Others. Finally, Joshua Laudor of Mount Olive, NJ portrays Mr. Brunner/Other

About The Growing Stage

The Growing Stage’s programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Likewise, the theatre receives contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. The Growing Stage continues to nurture the development of the performing arts through education; as well as through creating, producing, and performing works that engage the entire family.

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Upcoming Events at The Growing Stage – The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey:

Here is a roundup of arts events taking place around the state, through March 15.

MUSIC

• John Mayer will kick off a rare solo tour — backing himself mostly on acoustic guitar and also, on some songs, piano or electric guitar — at the Prudential Center in Newark, March 11 at 8 p.m., with J.P. Saxe opening.

Mayer and Saxe also will perform at Madison Square Garden in New York, March 15 at 7:30 p.m.

The solo tour is scheduled to last until April 14. From early May to mid-July, Mayer is then scheduled to perform with Dead and Company, with dates including Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, June 15; and Citi Field in New York, June 21-22. The band — also featuring former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, plus Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti — has announced that this tour will be its last.

• Five New Jersey Symphony musicians — violinist Eric Wyrick, bassist Ha Young Jung, horn player Chris Komer, trumpeter Garth Greenup and cellist Nayoung Baek — will be featured in the orchestra’s concerts at Prudential Hall at NJPAC in Newark, March 16 at 1:30 p.m.; the Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, March 17 at 8 p.m.; the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, March 18 at 8 p.m.; and the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, March 19 at 3 p.m.

NJS music director Xian Zhang will conduct, and the program will include Rossini’s Overture to The Barber of Seville; Darryl Kubian’s The Well of Urðr – A Tone Poem for Three Soloists and Orchestra (New Jersey Symphony commission and world premiere); Bottesini’s Gran Duo Concertante; Bizet’s Selections from L’Arlesienne, Suites Nos. 1 & 2.

THEATER

• Actress Isabella Rossellini will present a show titled “Darwin’s Smile,” March 11 at 7 p.m. and March 12 at 3 p.m. at ArtYard in Frenchtown. According to the venue’s website, in the show, Rossellini “explores how empathy, that is at the base of acting, is also necessary for the studies of animal behavior (ethology). The show is both a lesson on evolution and acting. In her usual comical tones, she demonstrates how acting could be used to understand the mysterious nature of animals and their emotions. With humor and simple, innocent devices she plays on stage dogs, cats, chickens, peacocks, and, of course, Charles Darwin.”

• Starting in March and continuing through May, the New Jersey Theatre Alliance presents its annual Stages Festival, with more than 50 free or low-cost in-person and online theater events — including fully staged shows, readings, workshops and classes — offered by many of the state’s theater companies. For complete listings, visit njtheatrealliance.org/seasons/stages-festival.

• The Black Box Performing Arts Center in Englewood will present a staged reading of Daniel Handler’s “Imaginary Comforts, or the Story of the Ghost of the Dead Rabbit,” March 13-15 at 8 p.m. Handler is best known for his children’s book series “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” published under the pen name Lemony Snicket. According to a press release, the play is “a comedy about grief, the power of storytelling, and the difference between a rabbi and a rabbit.”

ANDREA PHOX PHOTOGRAPHY

• New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch presents the world premiere of “The Rosenberg/Strange Fruit Project,” March 9 through April 2. Written by John Jiler and featuring him along with musician “Sweet” Lee Odom, the play tells the story of the youngest child of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were controversially executed for espionage in 1953. He was adopted Abel and Anne Meeropol; Abel was a songwriter and poet whose most famous works include “Strange Fruit” (the Civil Rights Era anthem popularized by Billie Holiday) and “The House I Live In” (famously recorded by Frank Sinatra).

FAMILY

• Rick Riordan’s popular 2005 novel “The Lightning Thief,” which is about a 12-year-old who discovers that he is a demigod, was made into a musical that ran on Broadway in and 2019 and 2020, and will be produced by the Growing Stage in Netcong from March 10 to March 26.

• The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey at Drew University in Madison annually presents shortened, family-friendly versions of The Bard’s plays. It will do so this year with “Macbeth” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” “Macbeth” will be presented March 11 at 11 a.m., with later shows on April 29 and May 6 and 13. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” follows at 2 p.m. March 11, with later shows on April 29 and May 12 and 14.

VISUAL ARTS

• Rock guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani, who is also a painter, will make an appearance at the Wentworth Gallery at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, March 11 from 6 to 9 p.m., in conjunction with a display of his art titled “Beyond Reality.” Check out one of his works to the right.

WORDS

• Jelani Remy, who has starred on Broadway in “The Lion King” and “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations,” will be interviewed by actor and singer Robert Bannon at StageWorks at Studio 237 in Pompton Lakes, March 11 at 3 p.m. This event is part of Bannon’s “Broadway Lecture Series,” whose future installments will feature Jennifer Holliday, April 15; Kerry Butler, May 13; and Eden Espinosa, June 17.

FILM

• The New Jersey Jewish Film Festival runs from March 12 to March 26 at JCC MetroWest in West Orange, opening, March 12 at 3 p.m., with “Only in Theaters” (see trailer below), a documentary about the Laemmle family and the art house movie theaters it has owned and operated in the Los Angeles area for decades.

OTHER/MULTIMEDIA

• The Newark Museum of Art will celebrate the unveiling of a new Harriet Tubman statue by Nina Cooke John and the reopening of its “Seeing America: 18th & 19th Century” galleries with “Community Day: Her Story/Our Story,” a free event (though registration is required) on March 11 featuring performances, art-making activities, gallery tours and more.

Activities will take place from 11 a.m. through 5 p.m. at the museum and across the street at Harriet Tubman Square (formerly known as Washington Square Park). Performers will include the Yendor Theatre Company, hip-hop, spoken word and storytelling artist Fyütch, DJ Quin Bee, gospel singer Seychelle Elise, New Jersey Tap Ensemble and more.

According to a press release, the “Seeing America” galleries “reframe the Museum’s historical American art collection to foreground slavery and Black and Indigenous histories.”

REVIEWS

“Wuthering Heights” at McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton. (Through March 12)

“Raisin” at Axelrod Performing Arts Center, Deal. (Through March 12)

“Hercules” at Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn. (Through March 19)

“Quarter Rican” at Mile Square Theatre, Hoboken. (Through March 26)

“New Jersey Arts Annual: Reemergence” at State Museum, Trenton. (Through April 30)

“vanessa german: … please imagine all the things i cannot say …” at Montclair Art Museum. (Through June 25)

“Ladies and Gentlemen … The Beatles!” at Grammy Museum Experience Prudential Center, Newark. (Through June 25)

“Komar and Melamid: A Lesson in History” at Zimmerli Art Museum, New Brunswick. (Through July 16)

“George Inness: Visionary Landscapes” at Montclair Art Museum. (Through June 30, 2024)

Suspended by the state office, locked out of their building and out of money, members of Morris County's oldest Veterans of Foreign Wars post voted on Tuesday to consider dissolution and the surrender of their charter.

But not so fast, said state officials, who informed Netcong Post 2347 that its suspension last week precludes any actions − including a decision for their post to stand down.

"They can't do that," said VFW state Adjutant Ken Hagemann. "They are under the control of the state department commandeer through the administrative committee. They can't do anything. They can't even hold the meeting they held yesterday."

But post Commander Martin Bischoff said that with his members locked out of their deteriorating building and without a canteen license, which allows the post to sell liquor, he sees no way to continue.

"Suspending us and closing our canteen choked our last trickle of income," said Bischoff, a retired Army colonel. "My poor post, after 70 years what a way to go out, by our own guns."

Hagemann was more upbeat about the possibilities to revive Netcong and other posts suspended this month for administrative and other infractions by the state VFW office. Denville Post 2519 and Woodbridge Post 4410 quickly resolved their largely administrative issues and are no longer under suspension. But 10 others remain shuttered and under state control with their futures in limbo.

Hagemann said the state office will send a letter to Netcong members informing them their meeting "was unauthorized and any action taken there is null and void."

"We're going to try and revitalize the post," Hagemann said. "We want to make these posts successful. We don't want to close them down."

Suspended:12 New Jersey VFW posts placed under suspension by state office

Hagemann said he met Tuesday with a Camden County post that had not met since the beginning of the COVID pandemic.

"A lot of members transferred out because they weren't doing much," he said. "But a few people showed up who want to keep it going. We're going to help them move forward."

Hagemann said the state office did grant Netcong an operating exception to allow hall rentals in hopes of generating income. But Bischoff said rentals are not currently practical after a neighboring business prohibited VFW parking in its lot, which the hall had used for decades.

Bischoff said Netcong is down to about 62 members, but many are older veterans, some of whom live in Florida and rarely participate.

"I'm one of the younger guys, and I'm 60, which [the state] beats us up about," he said. "It's hard right now attracting new members."

"It hurts to see a VFW Post close in my legislative district," said state Assemblyman Brian Bergen, a West Point graduate who serves as commander of the Denville post. "As their Assemblyman and their VFW District 10 junior vice commander, I will actively support the members of Post 2347 in finding a new post to call home."

Bischoff said he called a special meeting to vote on the dissolution on Aug. 23. Hagemann said the state office will schedule its own meeting with members.

If Bischoff will not cooperate, "he'll have to be moved aside," Hagemann said.

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: [email protected]dailyrecord.com

Twitter: @wwesthoven

Following last week’s report about the New Jersey VFW office suspending chapters statewide for various infractions, the struggling Netcong chapter, Morris County’s oldest, unanimously votes to begin dissolution.

The VFW has around 1.5 million members, a drop of a million from 1992. The average age is 67, with 400,000 members over 80. The largest organization of veterans' clubs, the American Legion, has two million members, down from 3.3 million in 1946.

America’s largest and oldest war veterans’ organization began its new membership year earlier this month with almost 1.165 million members, a million less than its peak in 1992, yet significant nonetheless, according to VFW National Commander B.J. Lawrence, who attributes the growth to the organization being more visible on the national scene as well as in more than 6,000 communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, four U.S. territories, and 11 foreign countries.

(NETCONG, NJ) -- The Growing Stage, The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey, presents their first Studio Series of the 41st season, The Giver by Eric Coble from January 19-22 . This play is based on the Newbery Award-winning book by Lois Lowry. This production is directed by Matthew Fralley, The Growing Stage’s Production Manager.

The Giver introduces us to Jonas, who’s world is perfect. Everything is under control and safe. There is no war or fear or pain. There are also no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. But when Jonas turns 12, he is chosen for special training from The Giver—to receive and keep the memories of the community. The Giver is the only person who holds the memories of real pain and real joy. Now Jonas will learn the truth about life—and the hypocrisy of his utopian world. Through this astonishing and moving adaptation, discover what it means to grow up, to grow wise, and to take control of your own destiny.

The production features 17 young performers and one adult performer in the role of “The Giver,” hailing from Morris, Sussex and Warren counties. This production is a part of their Studio Presentation Series. This series, initiated in the fall of 2009, has succeeded in engaging both patrons and artists. Targeted for specific-aged audiences rather than the wide-reaching family fare of the Main Stage, the series provides community artists with a unique opportunity to participate in the creative process of “trying out” new, more experimental works under the direction of our professional artists. This program allows their company to both cultivate new talent and challenge audiences.

Tickets are $15 for Adults and $12 for Young People (17 and under) and Seniors (62 and above). To make a purchase, visit www.growingstage.com or call the TGS Box Office at (973) 347-4946. Performances take place Thursday and Friday at 7:30pm, Saturday at 4:00pm and Sunday at 2:00pm.

The Growing Stage is located in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong, New Jersey. The Growing Stage – The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals.

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