Center Stage @Mainstagearts

Happy Halloween! Our studio  classes   at Mainstage Center for the Arts  are off tonight. We wish everyone a safe and happy time trick-or-treating!  The photos above show folks, and dogs, in the spirit of the season at the 27th Annual Blackwood Pumpkin Festival presented by Mainstage earlier this month. Photo credit: Christy Enright

Meet the cast:  CHICAGO (High School Edition) Isabella “Bella” Negrete – Roxie Hart Bella is thrilled to be making her Mainstage debut as Roxie Hart. Originally from the Bay Area in California, Isabella is currently a freshman pursuing her BFA in musical theatre at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She is also a former student of the youth program at the American Conservatory Theater i n San Francisco. Past credits include: Hope Harcourt (Anything Goes), Alice ( You Can’t Take It With You ), and Lucy (Chronicles of Narnia). Many thanks to Grace, Francine, and Jill for making this show come to life! Of portraying Roxie, Isabella said, "Roxie Hart is such a fascinating individual to explore and become. She is the perfect paradox between sweet and sultry; and will stop at nothing to get what she wants." CHICAGO (High School Edition) runs November 16, 7 p.m. and 17, 2 & 7 p.m. Tickets available at  mainstage.org  or (855) 936-2467, ext 3. This edition is...

The Mainstage Center for the Arts Ukulele Meetup First Sunday of Each Month (next) Sunday, Nov 4, 2018 1 pm - 4 pm.  Spend the whole time, or a Portion of the Time Mainstage Center for the Arts 27 So. Black Horse Pike (next to Gloucester Twp Library) Blackwood, NJ 08012 Do you play the ukulele? Would you like to play the ukulele? Do you own a ukulele? Would you like to borrow a ukulele? If your answer is "YES" to any of these questions, then please consider joining us for our ukulele meetups and spend some time sharing good company, music, and fun, and it is all for FREE! Ukulele people are the friendliest in the world and we would love to share our love for the ukulele with you. Even if you never played before, we will loan you a ukulele and show you how to begin. You will be playing songs in 30 minutes or less. PLAY UKES & SING  the world's GREAT SONGS with us ALL SKILL LEVELS Welcome:  From beginner to intermediate and thos...

Co-director and Co-choreographer Francine Odri with the Scoop on Bringing the Iconic  CHICAGO  (High School Edition)  to Mainstage Since opening on Broadway in 1996, the  Chicago  revival has run for over 9,110 performances and won six Tony awards, including Best Revival of a Musical. The original production, directed and choreographed by the legendary Bob Fosse, opened in June of 1975 and was nominated for nine Tony awards. Now that it’s coming to  Mainstage Center for the Arts , Francine Odri filled us in a little about what audiences can expect. "Grace Szczepkowski and I are so excited to finally direct and choreograph  Chicago   at Mainstage! We have loved creating the complex, show-stopping dance numbers and working with our talented cast. It is fitting that this female-centered show also has a predominantly female creative team. In addition to Grace and I, there’s  Jillian Clark as musical director, Meghan Kennedy as stage...

The Harmony Show Choir spent Friday evening at Studio Crash in Philadelphia recording for the 99th Annual 6ABC Dunkin Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade. Harmony will be appearing in the spectacular Opening, the Grande Finale, dancing and vocally backing up Davonda Simmons, and featured vocally in the Youth Choir performance of "This is Me" from the movie, THE GREATEST SHOWMAN.  They will also be appearing with Recording Artist Linda Eder on the Hess Float. Each year, Harmony looks forward to their recording session at Studio Crash. It is a wonderful opportunity for the choir members to be in a professional recording studio, along with Disney producers, and the exceptionally talented sound engineer, Michael Harmon, who is also the owner of Studio Crash. DaVonda Simmons Linda Eder

Harmony Show Choir to Appear with Broadway Star and Recording Artist Linda Eder Harmony Show Choir will be joining Linda Eder on the HESS FLOAT during the 99th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia. Linda will be singing, "Before the Parade Passes By." Showcasing one of the greatest voices of our time, Linda Eder’s diverse repertoire spans Broadway, Standards, Pop, Country, and Jazz. When she performs “live” in concert, it is amazing to experience the ease with which she moves back and forth from one genre to another as if she were gifted with the vocal ability to perform each genre as well as all the others. Eder launched her recording career in 1991 with her self-titled debut album and soon established a vital niche as America’s most popular and acclaimed new interpreter of Pop, Standard  and  Theatrical genres. She released two more solo albums before starring in the Broadway production of JEKYLL & HYDE beginning on April 28, 1997. As the...

Get in the Holiday Mood with Mainstage's Holiday Concert &  Family Festival Mainstage Center for the Arts' Holiday Concert &  Family Festival  on December 21 and 22 is a treat for the entire family to enjoy! It comes complete with hot chocolate, a visit with Santa, and a joyful holiday concert  featuring Mainstage Center for the Arts ’ professionally-staged and choreographed show choirs, Harmony and Encore; its School of Dance , and performers from the Mainstage Performing Arts Academy .  The concert begins at 7:00 p.m., December 21, and 2 p.m., December 22, in Lincoln Hall and the Dennis Flyer Theater, Camden County College, Blackwood, NJ. Doors will open for festival activities one hour before each show time. Tickets are $16 for adults and $13 for children under 12/senior citizens.  For nominal additional fees, those attending can participate...

Designed for high school juniors and seniors considering the possibility of majoring in Acting or Musical Theatre in college, this intensive runs Saturday, January 5 and January 12, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m, at Mainstage Center for the Arts' Performing Arts Academy..  Candidates will work with professionals in their field polishing monologues, and vocal music selections just in time for the Unified Auditions, which allow students to audition for numerous university programs in one location over the course of a few days.   Mainstage's workshop will conclude with an audition in front of a panel who will give feedback on the auditions to better prepare candidates for college auditions.   The fee for this workshop is  $75. To register call 856-302-6485 between 10 and 2, or 5-8 Mondays through Thursdays.    

Co-director and Co-choreographer Francine Odri with the Scoop on Bringing the Iconic  CHICAGO  (High School Edition) to Mainstage Use code: "Razzle Dazzle"   at checkout for $1.25 savings Since opening on Broadway in 1996, the  Chicago  revival has run for over 9,110 performances and won six Tony awards, including Best Revival of a Musical. The original production, directed and choreographed by the legendary Bob Fosse, opened in June of 1975 and was nominated for nine Tony awards. Now that it’s coming to Mainstage Center for the Arts , Francine Odri filled us in a little about what audiences can expect. "Grace Szczepkowski and I are so excited to finally direct and choreograph  Chicago   at Mainstage! We have loved creating the complex, show-stopping dance numbers and working with our talented cast. It is fitting that this female-centered show also has a predominantly female creative team. In addition to Grace and I, there’s  Jil...

Soccer or other sports ending soon for your little one? Looking for something new to fill their time? Check out Mainstage School of Dance to see all the fun the dancers have in class.  Click here  to learn more about the studio or call 856-582-4422. ACTING FOR THE CAMERA  I - Commercials Returns to Mainstage Performing Arts Academy for Winter/Spring Semester Students loved the fall semester of  Acting for the Camera I  class so much that Mainstage Center for the Arts is offering it again in the winter/spring semester.   Details on registration will be out soon. The class will meet Mondays, 6:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Academy Hall, 27 S. Black Horse Pike, Blackwood, NJ. Call for info: 609-227-3091

SPECIAL OFFER No Ticket Fees Today or Tomorrow, Oct 24 & 25 for CHICAGO (High School Edition) Dennis Flyer Theatre November 16 & 17 Use code: Razzle Dazzle  at checkout for $1.25 savings Click here  to redeem! Hurry offer expires tomorrow night 10-25! Photo credit: Joe Grasso

Harmony Show Choir will join Linda Eder on the HESS FLOAT during the 99th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia . Linda will be singing, "Before the Parade Passes By." Showcasing one of the greatest voices of our time, Linda Eder’s diverse repertoire spans Broadway, Standards, Pop, Country, and Jazz. Eder launched her recording career in 1991 with her self-titled debut album and soon established a vital niche as America’s most popular and acclaimed new interpreter of Pop, Standard, and Theatrical genres. She released two more solo albums before starring in the Broadway production of JEKYLL & HYDE beginning on April 28, 1997. As the tragic character “Lucy” in this new musical, Eder blew the roof off New York City’s Plymouth Theatre eight times a week as she belted out her signature songs “Someone Like You” and “A New Life.” She received a Drama Desk nomination for this Broadway debut.   “I saw Linda Eder in Jekyll & Hyde when it was workshopped, before...

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13 - Day 7 AM Breakfast on your own (student cost), last swim, packing, last minute shopping 11:00 AM Check out Place luggage in the storage area for the bus 12:30 PM Depart for Pearl Harbor 2:30 PM Enjoy a self-guided tour of the USS Arizona Memorial 5:00 PM Load motor coach; depart for the airport Upon arrival Begin check-in process and head through security.  EVERYONE needs to bring a picture ID along with their ticket. Anyone 18 yrs. and older will need a government issued id.  Keep them handy throughout check-in and security processing.   PM Dinner at the airport (student cost) 8:20 PM Depart for Denver on United Flt. 383.  Just an FYI-- getting a night departure is great. This means we fly through the night when we would naturally sleep and we won't be so tired when we get off the pane on Wednesday WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14 - Day 8 6:59 AM Arrive in Denver; switch planes 8:45 AM De...

View from the top of Diamond Head Crater. These are the troopers who made it all the way to the top. MONDAY, AUGUST 12 - Day 6 This is a huge day for us We will be spending the day getting on a off a tour bus will need bathing suit, towel, and dress clothes for the luau 7:00 AM Breakfast on your own (student cost) 7:30 AM Depart for Diamond Head Crater This famous landmark wasn’t always called Diamond Head.  Native Hawaiians referred to this famous landmark as Mount Leahi. The ¾ of a mile trail you will be hiking was built in 1910 to serve as a military observation station along the rim of the crater.  The 360-degree view at the top of the mountain made Diamond Head Crater strategically beneficial.  Don’t forget to bring your camera! 10:00 AM Enjoy an early lunch at Rainbow Drive In (on your own) 12:00 PM Load motor coach; depart for the Island tour Includes the North Shore Tour where surfing daredevils gath...