Center Stage @Mainstagearts

The Studio @ Mainstage Center for the Arts is extremely proud of its teaching staff.  All of our Teaching Artists are professionally trained in their field and are working professionally as performers and as teachers.  Please enjoy getting to know them through a small slice of their lives provided below. MEREDITH BECK – Private Voice Meredith  is a professional singer/actress in Philadelphia.  She attended  Ithaca College and graduated magna cum laude with her BFA in voice,  acting, & a minor in dance. She has performed in NYC in the workshops of   “Thanks” & “National Pastime.” – directed by Tony nominee Hunter Foster.    She was a part of the tour of “The Irish & How They Got That Way” as the Philadelphia & Boston cast. (Cast album- principle vocals, flutist) Regional theaters include Kimmel Center, Bucks County Playhouse, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, 11th Hour, Hedgerow, Btop, Heritage, Brickhouse, & more! She was a part o...

  Do you think your kid has an interest in  performing arts ? Do you think your son or daughter can do well in this field? If that’s the case, even if your child has a busy academic schedule, enroll them in virtual performing arts and dance classes without any hesitation. The education of performing arts will undoubtedly play a significant role in the shaping of his or her future. Take note that even the researchers have linked the involvement in the arts for better child development and higher achievement. In this time when many students are worn out with being on the computer or tablet for their academic classes, they find joy and look forward to arts classes on line. They are fun, interactive, less stressful, and provide a great social alternative to all day doing online academics.  A few reasons to consider enrolling your kid in one of the best performing  art education classes in South Jersey  include: Higher academic achievement. Improved confidence and se...

I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing like holiday music to get me in the holiday spirit.   So, I will definitely attend the Mainstage Holiday Concert and Family Festival on December 21, 2019 at 7 pm and again on December 22 at 2 pm. If you’re planning to attend as well, you and your family will enjoy 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, Dance Company, Performing Arts Academy and more.  The  concert  begins at  7:00 p.m. ,  December 21 , and  2:00 p.m. ,  December 22  in Lincoln Hall and the Dennis Flyer Theatre, 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 under12/senior citizens .  For nominal additional fees, those attending c...

Are you familiar with Giving Tuesday? GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world on December 3, 2019, and every day. It was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past seven years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. One of the best ways to get involved is in your own community. The GivingTuesday website has a directory to help you find organizations, events, and ways to give back in your own community. Consider donating to Mainstage Center for the Arts to continue with our programming for our students!

It’s that time of year again, when the Executive Director, Joe Bretschneider, at Mainstage Center for the Arts completes its long-range plan for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which became law in 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. ADA plans are a requirement for all organizations receiving funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State. While it’s a plan that requires ...

Casting "Tuck Everlasting." Synopsis: What would you give for everlasting life? When Winnie goes looking for adventure and meets a family with a fabulous secret, their chance encounter will change them all forever. Based on the bestselling novel, this musical explores eternal love, never-ending life, and what it means to truly feel alive. Auditions: November 22, 2019 at 5p Callbacks(by invite): November 23, 2019 at 2:30 Address: 27 S Black Horse Pike, Blackwood NJ 08012 Please prepare 32 bars of any contemporary piece, singing from the show is welcome! 10th graders and under, musical cuts from the show will be provided. There will not be an accompanist provided, there will be a stereo and aux cord provided, please bring your own music. Come in comfortable dance clothes! If you can't make auditions or have any questions, email  meghan@mainstage.org WINNIE FOSTER  - Female, to play 11. Our story’s protagonist who has recently lost her father. Unhappy...

Pumpkin Festival 2019 Ah, fall – time for pumpkins, cider doughnuts, leaves splashed in color, and the 28th Annual Blackwood Pumpkin Festival sponsored by Mainstage Center for the Arts, Beneficial Bank, and others. This year’s event takes place Sunday, October 6, 2019, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.(rain date: Oct. 13th) in and around The Studio at Mainstage, 27 South Black Horse Pike, Blackwood, NJ. The festival draws 10,000 people each year to enjoy food, games, music, shopping among 200 vendors, and four stages of entertainment. Activities include pumpkin painting, hayrides, amusement rides, Scarecrow making, bounce houses, a pumpkin carving contest, face painting, a costume contest, talent contest and more. “After such a long hot summer, the Pumpkin Festival is a great way to celebrate the joys of the fall season,” said Anne Marie Weaver, Director of Special Projects, Mainstage Center for the Arts. “We look forward to welcoming and entertaining the thousands of families who make it a...

Join us this Sunday, Oct 6 at our Ukulele tent, located in the parking lot of the Blackwood Fire Company, at the 28th Annual Blackwood Pumpkin Festival in Blackwood, NJ. We have copies of music books on hand, opportunities for open mic and all-day jam. We'll also be helping attendees play their first uke chords! Bring your uke, stand and yourself! 40 Easy Songs For Uke https://drive.google.com/open… 2017 Jam Book: https://drive.google.com/open… (We can play from this too, but the official public jam book is the one above.) Mainstage Link: https://mainstage.org/pumpkin-festival/ Festival Info: " (The Pumpkin Festival ) is a great event for kids so people can bring their kids. 0ver 200 craft vendors, 3 food courts, contests, amusement rides for little kids, hayride, pony rides, pumpkin painting contest, and three stages of entertainment. It is a fun day. We will get people who will see the group and will come in to play and learn if we have ukulele's ...

Did you know that the U.S. Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee recommended $157 million for both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities for Fiscal Year 2020.   Sounds like a lot of money, right?   Well, it’s actually $10.5 million less than what the U.S. House approved in May and what advocates asked for on Arts Advocacy Day ($167.5 million).   Arts funding is actually at risk in the federal budget!   Mainstage Center for the Arts , through the NewJersey State Council on the Arts funding, receives money through the federal budget.   Since the Senate and House have different funding levels that are being approved, there will be a conference later this year to reconcile these numbers.   Why is this important to you?   You can take action by contacting your U.S. Senators to request that the higher numbers approved by the U.S. House is also adopted by the U.S. Senate. Arts funding is a smal...

Historically, the Annual Mainstage Blackwood Pumpkin Festival has been a great way to generate funds for Mainstage Center for the Arts.   Another great source of funding is the New Jersey State Council for the Arts .   So what is this Arts Council? Well, in 1966, the legislature passed and the governor signed a law creating the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and directed the Council to do all that is necessary and appropriate to: Support, encourage, and foster public interest in the arts Enlarge public and private resources devoted to the arts Promote freedom of expression in the arts Facilitate the inclusion of art in every public building in New Jersey The New Jersey State Council on the Arts is a division of the New Jersey Department of State.   The Council works with a broad array of partner organizations in carrying out this work, all of which is governed by strategic plans made in the broader context of Arts Plan New Jersey...

October 6, 2019 will be Mainstage’s 28th Annual Pumpkin Festival.   Every year, the team, led by Special Projects Director, AnneMarie Weaver, work super hard to ensure it’s a memorable event.   The team has developed a survey that asks a few questions about the Pumpkin Festival.    Mainstage appreciates feedback from patrons, vendors and volunteers to find out what works and how they can make the event bigger and better each year. So, please be sure to complete the survey, which will be located at each Pumpkin Festival Information Booth.  When you complete the survey, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a prize.  Now there’s an incentive! For more information about our Pumpkin Festival, visit our website or the Pumpkin Festival Information booth the day of the event.

Scarecrows are designed to scare off pesky birds like crows (hence the name scarecrow) and blackbirds.   However, i f you’ve used scarecrows, I’m sure you know that the effect is almost always temporary.  Over time, the birds get used to the stationary dummies and resume their destructive habits. (insert girl shrugging her shoulders emoji) Mainstage will be hosting a scarecrow making station at it’s upcoming Pumpkin Festival on October 6, 2019.   Even if they don’t scare off the pesky birds, they make awesome lawn décor and your children will love this fun activity!  The Scarecrow Making Station will be at Harwan Park, next to the Rite Aid parking lot, just behind the gazebo. For more information about our Pumpkin Festival, visit our website or the Pumpkin Festival Information booth the day of the event.

Mainstage will be hosting a Treasure Hunt for the children that attend the Pumpkin Festival on October 6, 2019.   While it will be incredibly fun, there are actually some educational benefits to treasure/scavenger hunts!    Here are some benefits of scavenger hunts, taken from the Institute of Educational Advancement : Builds Problem-Solving Skills Hands-on learning has numerous benefits , including increased memory of previously taught concepts. Scavenger hunts allow kids to practice problem-solving in a tangible way. It helps to reinforce and act-out methods they have been taught by parents or teachers in a physical way, leading to increased retention of the lessons. Easy to Customize Scavenger hunts are easy to customize to your child’s abilities and interests. Is your child really into pirates? Create a “treasure” hunt with pirate-themed clues. Do you have a math-lover in your life? Have them solve number problems to get to the next clue. If you ...

Word on the street is the Mainstage hosts a pretty amazing bake off contest at it's Annual Pumpkin Festival!   This will be my first year attending the Pumpkin Festival, which will be held on October 6, 2019.   In addition to the talent show, I’m most excited about the Great Cake Bake Off Contest.   I mean, it’s cake! (insert girl shrugging her shoulders emoji)   If you’d like to enter the contest, you can deliver your cake to Mainstage’s Academy Hall, 27 South Black Horse Pike from 11 am to 2 pm.   Winners will be announced at 3:00 pm at the stage in the Blackwood Rotary Library parking lot. For more information about our Pumpkin Festival, visit our website or the Pumpkin Festival Information booth the day of the event.

Hope you’re ready for our Pumpkin Festival on October 6, 2019.  We have something for everyone:  puppy parades , treasure hunt , talent contests, axe throwing, a beer garden and even a basket auction.   Our Basket Auction with baskets filled with wonderful prizes will be held in the Rite Aid parking lot.  For more information about our Pumpkin Festival, visit our website or the Pumpkin Festival Information booth the day of the event. 

I don’t know about you, but I’m super excited to see the performers in this year’s talent contest at our Pumpkin Festival on October 6, 2019.  If I was brave, I’d register and read some of poetry.  But like I said, if I was brave (insert girl shrugging her shoulders emoji).  You can enjoy watching the pre-registered acts between 11:15 am and 3:00 pm at the Library Stage.  You’ll also be in for another treat, because South Jersey  Nashville Recording Artist Sherry Lynn will be performing! For more information about our Pumpkin Festival, visit our website or the Pumpkin Festival Information booth the day of the event. 

Have you always wanted your puppy to participate in a puppy parade?   Well now here’s your chance!   On October 6, 2019 at 12 pm and 1:45 pm at East Railroad Avenue, between Central and West Lake Avenues, your puppy can strut his stuff at our Annual Pumpkin Festival.   Be sure to arrive 15 minutes early to register. Here are two tips to remember when bringing your puppy to the parade: Monitor your dog’s stress levels Many dogs do quite well at events like parades and have a great time with their owners and other four-legged friends.   However, a parade can be a very hectic and stimulating environment for a dog. So, it’s up to you to recognize when your pet is uncomfortable or stressed and help him however you can. Sometimes that means taking your dog away from the crowd for a few minutes. Keep facial accessories at a minimum Most dogs don’t mind costumes that can be worn over their bodies, like jackets or shirts. However, accessories worn on their...