The 2011 Second Stage Series Gears Up for Another Season!

 

March came in like a lion with bitter cold and winds sweeping through the historic streets of Cape May.  T. S. Eliot called April "the cruelest month" but we see it as the harbinger of warmth and laughter as Cape May Stage prepares for our twenty-third season and an especially vibrant Second Stage Series on Monday nights!  Chris and Dave Clemans continue to sponsor the wildly popular Second Stage Series that brings a cornucopia of programming from stand-up comics, to cabaret singers, to modern dance.

Often times, the Second Stage Series presents acts that inform the main-stage show.  We have brought documentary films that examine the life of a real person when that person exists as a fictional character in a play.  We have brought new works that compliment the subject or theme of the main-stage show.  Many people begged us to bring back the wildly popular "Say Goodnight, Gracie" claiming they could not get tickets the first time or hoping to even see it again.  We relented.  Joel Rooks returns to Cape May in his triumphant performance of George Burns.  Not only is this a poignant love story, it is filled with the hilarious acts of Gracie Allen and George Burns.  It is also the story of immigration and trying to make it in show business.  Our Second Stage brings "My Son, The Waiter - A Jewish Tragedy" as a modern day version of George Burns.  Brad Zimmerman has opened for Joan Rivers and his stand up act is truly hilarious!  There will be all sorts of comedy evenings to compliment this show.  We also have big names from the world of Broadway like Liz Calloway, Tovah Feldshuh, Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker.  Our very special treat is Ron Raines performing Broadway legends with Don Poppin- the Tony Award-winning musical director of just about every musical you can think of in the last forty years!  Yes, he goes back to the original "Oliver."

 

The best way to keep up to date is by joining our facebook page, following us on twitter, signing up for our e-blasts and book-marking capemaystage.com as one of your favorites.  Of course, you can always find out about us in "Exit Zero" or call us at 884-1341.

Cape May Stage consistently wins the award for best theatre in Cape May County and the People's Choice awarded us the top theatre in South Jersey and among the top three in the entire state.  We welcome back all of our loyal supporters and look forward to seeing even more new faces as we continue to grow.  You can feel the excitement that is just around the corner.  Come join the party at Cape May Stage!!!

Final Week for "The Little Prince"-- See You Next Year!

Cape May Stage closes its season with a double header on December 30 - there will be a matinee at 3 pm and the farewell performance of The Little Prince at 8 pm.  This beloved children's classic has been re-thought in a stunning production by Scott Hitz! It has been a triumph for the theatre continuing the tradition of bringing the very best theatre to Cape May before these productions move elsewhere. After the December 30 production, crews will pack up the set and puppets to bring them to Bristol Riverside Theatre and then on to New York! That is why you voted Cape May Stage "Best Theater in Cape May County 2010"!

We intend to continue that tradition in 2011 by bringing back favorite productions like Say Goodnight Gracie while adding what are bound to be new favorites like Steel Magnolias and more world premieres! Gift subscriptions are still available by calling 884-1341 or going online to capemaystage.com!

We so appreciate the tremendous support the community bestows upon Cape May Stage.  This past season helped establish us as a serious theatre of stature.  Grantors have taken notice and individuals have stepped up with annual giving so that we can continue the momentum of making Cape May Stage a destination all its own!

We thank you for joining the party and look forward to celebrating again with you next year!  As our reputation grows, so does all of Cape May! We think next season will be the best ever. Happy New Years!  See you in May!

Re-Imagining an International Classic

People are coming from far away as the word spreads that something exciting is happening at the corner of Lafayette and Bank Street. Not simply content with doing the usual Christmas fare, Cape May Stage embraces the essence of the holiday and brings one of the world’s most beloved children’s classics to its stage in a bold new production. The Little Prince has been translated into more than 190 languages and has sold 80 million copies, mak- ing it the biggest selling French-language book and one of the best selling books of all time. When you add puppets by multiple Emmy award-winner Michael Schupbach in a newly conceived production by guest director Scott Hitz, you get a theatrical triumph.

PNC Arts Alive is sponsoring a Pay What You Can Night on Sunday, December 12 at 8pm so that everyone can experience the magic of this show. Just come to the box office at the corner of Lafayette and Bank Streets and pay whatever you can afford.

The demand for tickets is so great that we have added five shows to the schedule for the last two weeks: performances on December 22, 28 and 29 have been added at 8pm as well as a matinees on December 21 at 3:30pm and December 30 at 3pm.

“One sees clearly only with the heart. The essential is invisible to the eyes.” These words uttered by the fox to the little prince might serve as a theme for the whole of the 2010 season. Cape May Stage has endeavored to bring the- atrical fare that touches the heart from the very first play – Class – through comedies like I Hate Hamlet and musicals like romance/romance to the more challenging works like Happy Days and topdog/underdog. Even the Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) brings a love for theatre and great language so that it can lampoon it. The Little Prince is the grand finale of an extraordinary season.  Call (609) 884-1341 to order your tickets today!

A Heart-warming Holiday Event Opens this Week at Cape May Stage

TOMORROW is Thanksgiving and we at Cape May Stage give thanks for having an open and embracing community of theatre-goers along with artists that choose to do their work on our intimate stage.  After feasting with friends and family members, the artists and staff of Cape May Stage return to open the most anticipated show of the season: Antoine de Saint -Exupery’s The Little Prince.

Every opening at Cape May Stage is a joyous event, but this Friday, November 26 will be particularly special. Congress Hall is the location of the festivities, and all of the actors and puppeteers will be celebrating the launch of a major theatrical event. Scott Hitz is the creator of this extraordinary show. He was the Master of Puppetry this past season at the famed O’Neill Center in Connecticut.  Scott was on the production team of the Broadway hit Avenue Q and has been working on this show for over a decade.

Michael Schupbach (pictured) is a multiple Emmy Award-winner known for his work on Sesame Street and the prestigious Shakespeare in the Park in New York. Michael has designed the puppets for this production and will be performing here at Cape May.

After performing throughout December at Cape May Stage, The Little Prince will move to Bristol Riverside Theatre in Pennsylvania and continue from there.  Because this production is geared for families, Cape May Stage has introduced a matinee schedule on Saturdays and Sundays. The anticipated demand for tickets has the premier Equity theatre producing two shows every Saturday and Sunday.

There will be a half-price senior night on Sunday, December 5 at 8pm sponsored by PNC Arts Alive. We are able to do these special shows because PNC believes in what Cape May Stage is doing.  We are in an elite group of theatres chosen for this honor. You have also chosen Cape May Stage as the Best Theater in Cape May County 2010. We have chosen to do The Little Prince at Christmas time in an effort to expand holiday fare. This children’s classic is a celebration of seeing through new eyes. The wonder and mystery of an aviator landing his plane in the desert is re-imagined in a giant sand box with talking flowers and wise animals. The holidays are a time of magic, and The Little Prince will be a magical evening of theatre.

Call (609) 884-1341 for tickets today and don't miss out on this inspiring event!

Comedy Makes Way for Holiday Cheer! As "Complete Works..." comes to a close November 20, "The Little Prince" Opens Friday, November 26!

"The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)" roars in for its final performance on Saturday night, November 20!  Our three comedians will be riding that roller coaster ride to your funny bone for the rest of this week and then those walls of the Globe Theatre will come tumbling down to make room for a giant sand-box that will house our next production of "The Little Prince."


PNC Arts Alive selected Cape May Stage to be part of an elite group of theatres to receive support from its five year, five million dollar arts initiative from the PNC Foundation. Through their support, Cape May Stage is producing a special ASL performance on Friday, November 19th.  At this performance, signers will be at the side of the stage translating the antics of our cast to American Sign Language.  This is yet another way that Cape May Stage reaches out to all members of the community so everyone can enjoy what you voted "The Best Theatre in Cape May County 2010".


Thanksgiving is around the corner and the hustle and bustle of shopping could use a brief pause to catch one's breath.  Retailers have dubbed the Friday after Thanksgiving "Black Friday" because they expect so much traffic as the holiday season gets started.  At Cape May Stage, we call that Friday "Opening Night"!  "The Little Prince" is Antoine de Saint-Exupery's most famous novella and Cape May Stage brings that story to life in a groundbreaking production that is already scheduled to move on to bigger venues.  The holidays bring out the child in everyone and this production celebrates that innocence. Little nuggets of wisdom are told through words like "One sees clearly only with the heart.  The essential is invisible to the eyes."  Scott Hitz was on the production team of the Broadway smash hit "Avenue Q" and uses his expertise with puppets to tell this story in a whole new way.



Cape May Stage creates seminal theatre.  Work that begins here is often seen later in larger and more expensive venues.  The best value for art and entertainment is right here in our little town.  Call 884-1341 or go to capemaystage.com and reserve your seats today!

FInal Two Weeks of Shakespeare before The Little Prince Opens!

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) roars in for its final performance on Saturday night, November 20!  Our three comedians will be riding that roller coaster ride to your funny bone for the rest of this week and then those walls of the Globe Theatre will come tumbling down to make room for a giant sand-box that will house our next production of The Little Prince.


PNC Arts Alive selected Cape May Stage to be part of an elite group of theatres to receive support from its five year, five million dollar arts initiative from the PNC Foundation. Through their support, Cape May Stage is producing a special ASL performance on Friday, November 19th.  At this performance, signers will be at the side of the stage translating the antics of our cast to American Sign Language.  This is yet another way that Cape May Stage reaches out to all members of the community so everyone can enjoy what you voted "the best theatre in Cape May County 2010".

Thanksgiving is around the corner and the hustle and bustle of shopping could use a brief pause to catch one's breath.  Retailers have dubbed the Friday after Thanksgiving "Black Friday" because they expect so much traffic as the holiday season gets started.  At Cape May Stage, we call that Friday "Opening Night"!  The Little Prince is Antoine de Saint-Exupery's most famous novella and Cape May Stage brings that story to life in a groundbreaking production that is already scheduled to move on to bigger venues.  The holidays bring out the child in everyone and this production celebrates that innocence. Little nuggets of wisdom are told through words like "One sees clearly only with the heart.  The essential is invisible to the eyes."  Scott Hitz was on the production team of the Broadway smash hit Avenue Q and uses his expertise with puppets to tell this story in a whole new way.


Cape May Stage creates seminal theatre.  Work that begins here is often seen later in larger and more expensive venues.  The best value for art and entertainment is right here in our little town.  Call 884-1341 or go to capemaystage.com and reserve your seats today!

Savings and Special Events are On Deck this November for the Hilarious "Complete Works of William Shakespeare [abridged]"!

T.S. Eliot said that "April is the cruelest month" but the folks at Cape May Stage feel that November can be the cruelest month and, so, they mounted a very funny play suitable for the whole family called The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) that plays through November 20th!  In celebration of Veterans’ Day, PNC Arts Alive has sponsored a Veterans’ Night on November 11 with special discounts for all veterans and their families. 

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) is a three-person parody of all of Shakespeare's plays in ninety minutes.  You don't need to know a thing about Shakespeare as these improvisational comedians take you on a roller coaster ride that is all mayhem.  Prepare to laugh yourself silly as this piece makes no pretense of being anything but a good time.  PNC Arts Alive has sponsored a "Pay-What-You-Can" matinee on November 14 at 3PM, so everybody can enjoy these antics.  Everybody needs a pick-me-up in November and this play provides a jolt of adrenaline!

Coming up, the performance on November 19 will include a sign language interpreter for the deaf community.  It is fascinating to watch the American Sign Language interpreter at the side of the stage signing the words of the play (even for hearing audience members).  Cape May Stage brought in a Guest Director who is the Artistic Director of the Colonial Shakespeare Festival.  Harland Meltzer is a respected Shakespearean director who is having fun taking a break from the serious stuff to use his vast knowledge in pursuit of a cheap laugh!  Artistic Director Roy Steinberg has known Harland Meltzer for decades and has directed at Harland's theatre on numerous occasions.  They both love good actors and Harland has assembled a first rate cast to entertain Cape May Stage audiences.

A very exciting event is happening this week in New York and Cape May!  On Friday, November 12 at 2 PM, the Drama Book Shop at 250 West 40 Street in Manhattan will host a reading and book signing of the publication of Class by Charles Evered. Cape May Stage acting intern Meghan Hoffman (seen in Romantic Fools and Cape May Kids) will join Artistic Director Roy Steinberg in reading excerpts from the play. The author will fly in from California to sign copies of this text, which lists Cape May Stage as having produced the world premiere!  The event will be repeated at Cape May Stage on Sunday, November 14 at noon.  Both events are FREE and open to the public.

So get out your calendars and find a time to see The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) and come to the reading of Class by Charles Evered which is published by Broadway Play Publishing, Inc.  People are talking about Cape May Stage all over the country. See what all the buzz is about!  Call 884-1341 or go online to capemaystage.com to reserve your seats right now!