A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES Thursday, March 14, 2019 Page 19 Fanwood Poetry Reading to Feature McBride, Saunier FANWOOD – The Carriage House teaching artist living in the Philadel- Poetry Series invites the public to at- phia area. She has published four tend a free event on Tuesday, March 19, collections of poetry and was the 1991 at 8 p.m., featuring distinguished poets Bucks County Poet Laureate. She won Bernadette McBride and Hayden the 2011 Rattle Poetry Grand Prize, Saunier in the Kuran Arts Center on the 2011 Pablo Neruda Poetry Prize, Watson Road, off North Martine Av- and the 2013 Gell Poetry Prize. Her enue, adjacent to Fanwood Borough acting resume includes film and tele- Photos courtesy of Premiere Stages Hall. (GPS use 75 N. Martine Avenue). vision appearances in The Sixth FINALISTS...The 2019 Premiere Play Festival finalists are, pictured from left to Bernadette McBride is the author Sense, Philadelphia Diary, House of right, Amy Berryman, Kari Bentley-Quinn, Vincent Delaney and Tammy Ryan. of four books of poetry and was the Cards, Mindhunter, and Do No Harm, 2009 Poet Laureate of Bucks County, and numerous roles at regional the- Pennsylvania. She’s the poetry editor atres such as the Guthrie Theatre, for the Schuylkill Valley Journal and George Street Playhouse, Walnut Premiere Play Festival taught creative writing and literature Street Theatre, Interact Theatre, and TWO- STEP...On Saturday, March 16, at 8 p.m., Aztec Two-Step 2.0 featuring at Temple University for many years. People’s Light and Theatre Company. Rex Fowler & Friends, with narration and multimedia by Tony Traguardo, are A former singer in an Irish/Celtic The Carriage House Poetry Series Finalists Announced to perform The Simon & Garfunkel Songbook: an Evening of Songs & Stories. The band, as well as a journalist, Ms. was founded in 1998 at the Patricia show will take place at the JCC of Central New Jersey in Scotch Plains. McBride conducts community writ- Kuran Arts Center, an historic 19th UNION – Premiere Stages, the pro- globes and the best fudge around. Also ing workshops and programs in the century Gothic Revival structure that fessional theatre company in residence working in the shop are Michelle’s son, Philadelphia area. She was a second- was once a carriage house, hence the at Kean University, has selected its four Tommy, back from his second stint in Simon & Garfunkel Tribute place winner of the 2006 Interna- name of the series. The March 19 finalists for the 2019 Premiere Play rehab, and Lauren, home from college tional Ray Bradbury Writing Award. reading is free and open to the public. Festival, an annual competition for to tend to her ailing mother. As the By Aztec Two-Step at JCC Her poems have appeared in numer- An open mic will follow the featured unproduced scripts that offers develop- summer blends into winter, a bond be- ous journals in the U.S., the U.K. and performance, so individuals are in- mental opportunities to playwrights with tween Tommy and Lauren forms that SCOTCH PLAINS – On Saturday, FM radio, rock historian and author. Canada, and on PRI’s The Writer’s vited to read one poem of their choice. strong affiliations to New York, New threatens to change everyone forever. March 16, at 8 p.m., Split Level Con- Now emceeing, and the show’s narra- Almanac with Garrison Keillor. For online directions, and the 2019 Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Set in the not-so-distant future, Ms. certs will present The Simon & tor and multimedia director, is Mr. “I often incorporate music into my Carriage House Poetry Series calen- Delaware. Berryman’s Walden imagines a world Garfunkel Songbook: an Evening of Fornatale’s longtime friend and protégé poems and public readings since these dar, visit All finalists will receive professional where climate change has intensified Songs & Stories performed by Aztec Tony Traguardo, WCWP radio host arts are so very kindred,” Ms. carriagehousepoetryseries.blogspot.com/ readings directed by John J. Wooten, and scientists are recommending that Two-Step 2.0 featuring Rex Fowler and Long Island Music Hall of Fame McBride said. . Or call (908) 889-7223 or (908) Producing Artistic Director of Premiere humans colonize other planets. Cassie, & Friends, with narration and multi- co-founder. A sing-along is always in Hayden Saunier is a poet, actor and 889-5298. Stages, as part of Premiere’s 15th an- a NASA botanist, returns from deploy- media by Tony Traguardo. The show the mix. nual Spring Reading Series today, ment in space and is shocked to find her will take place at the JCC of Central Aztec Two-Step burst onto the scene March 14 through Sunday, March 17, sister, Stella, a former NASA architect, New Jersey, 1391 Martine Avenue, in 1972 and became staples of progres- and will be considered for expanded engaged to an Earth Advocate. As the Scotch Plains. sive FM radio and college radio, help- POPCORN development in Premiere’s mainstage twins grapple with questions of rivalry Tickets are $32 in advance ($35 at ing to usher in the folk-rock music of Fighting with My Family season. Readings are offered by invita- and love, humanity hangs in the bal- the door) and are available online at the 1960s into the ’70s and beyond. tion only. To request admission to any ance. jccnj.org, by calling (908) 889-8800, Rex Fowler and Neal Shulman went on Truth in Wrestling of the readings, please call (908) 737- What happens when your best friends ext. 253, or by email to to spend a lifetime making music to- 3 popcorns 4077 or email [email protected]. lose their home but refuse to leave it? [email protected]. gether. However, after 47 years of re- This year’s finalists are: Hyannis by And how much do we really owe (or This show will celebrate the iconic cording and non-stop touring, Neal has One Popcorn, Poor — Two Popcorns, Fair — Three Popcorns, Good — Four Popcorns, Excellent Kari Bentley-Quinn, a former finalist know?) our neighbors? Mr. Delaney’s songs and career of Simon & retired following the passing of his for the O’Neill National Playwrights Foreclosure poses questions to those Garfunkel, as well as their contribu- wife. He and Rex shared a wholehearted By Michael S. Goldberger stage is set for a troublesome rift in Conference and Playwrights Realm answers in a sharply comic look at a tion to American pop culture in the decision that the ATS legacy should be film critic the heretofore proudly close brood Writing Fellowship; Walden by Amy modern collapse that shows no sign of 1960s and beyond. The music speaks carried forward, so Rex with his new Watching director Stephen who all but have a framed tapestry on Berryman, winner of the LA Short Film ending. for itself, but so does the storyline of wife Dodie Pettit and bassist Steven Merchant’s Fighting with My Family, the parlor wall declaring, “The Fam- Festival’s Best Drama Award for You In Ms. Ryan’s The Wake, Maggie and the Songbook show, which was origi- “Muddy” Roues, have embraced a busy about a tightknit family of profes- ily That Wrestles Together Stays To- Are Everywhere, which she wrote, co- Rosemary rent a beach house in Florida sional wrestlers whose two youngest gether.” produced and starred in; Foreclosure to scatter their sister’s ashes six months nally created by the late Pete Fornatale, touring schedule, earning overwhelm- members have aspirations of making It is to director Merchant’s credit a renowned pioneer of progressive ingly enthusiastic reviews. by Vincent Delaney, a past recipient of after her death, only to find themselves the bigtime, I of course had to think of and thanks to a fine ensemble cast the Reva Shiner Comedy Award and and their respective partners staring my father. Daniel Goldberger, a truck- that what might have devolved into a ing company owner who submerged predictable, made-for-TV melodrama McKnight and Bush Fellowships; and down a hurricane. As the strong winds Trent Johnson to Perform in into the Polish underground in 1939 rises above its seemingly formulaic The Wake by Tammy Ryan, a past win- and rain bands begin, strange encoun- just before the Nazis confiscated his parts, tapping with insight into the ner of the Francesca Primus Prize and ters with wildlife signal something more trucks and painted swastikas on them, heart of family dynamics and aspira- Carbonell Award. Two of this year’s is going on. Filled with humor and Festival of Organists Mar. 17 was a kind but serious man. Even his tions. The Knights/Bevises are work- four finalists are past winners of the heart, The Wake explores grief, family, WESTFIELD — Trent Johnson, Christmas Spectacular Show at Radio jokes more often than not made a ing-class heroes…folks trying to Premiere Play Festival: Ms. Ryan in and America’s shifting cultural and en- well known in Westfield as the Music City Music Hall. point, which played quite entertain- carve out a living for themselves…in 2010 for Lost Boy Found in Whole vironmental climates. Director and Conductor of the Orato- Four other prominent organists are ingly against Mom’s rather satiric sense search of a safe place where their Foods and Mr. Delaney in 2016 for Las One of the four plays will be selected of humor. Thus it is an anomaly I’ve mutual love can flourish unhampered. Cruces. for an Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) rio Singers, will be one of the fea- featured in the concert, titled “Pipe never figured out that my Dad loved And if there’s a little bit of distin- tured organists in Crescent Concerts’ Dreams”: Ron Thayer and Edwin professional wrestling. It was as if he guishing glory to be achieved along In Ms. Bentley-Quinn’s Hyannis, 29-Hour Reading in June, and the most “Festival of Organists” on Sunday, Lopez, Peter Isherwood and Shea simply didn’t hear you when you tried the way, then bring it on, mate. Cape Cod residents Michelle and her promising play will be awarded a full March 17, at 3 p.m. The concert venue Velloso. Among the works being per- to explain that it was fake. The inherently poetic contradic- mother Fran run a small shop where AEA production as part of Premiere’s is the Crescent Avenue Presbyterian formed by these musicians: But his curious suspension of dis- tion here is that to the backdrop of they sell beach gear, souvenirs, snow 2019 season. Church in Plainfield. Albrechtsberger’s, Prelude and Fugue belief wound up working out just professional wrestling, which our pro- Mr. Johnson, also a noted and re- in C for four hands (Thayer and fine for me. The rare quality time I tagonists vehemently maintain is corded composer, will play one of his Lopez), Dupre’s, Prelude and Fugue got to spend sitting on the carpet next “fixed, not fake,” their saga is as real Dickinson to Host Talk own works, “Tocatta on Engelberg” to Dad in the classically worn easy as it gets. In the strange literary Twi- in G (Isherwood). Other composers chair Mom was always trying to get light Zone that exists between reality (When in Our Music God is Glori- include Vierne, Durufle and local rid of was priceless. His vigorous, and fiction, Fighting with My Family About Mental Health fied). Two choral preludes by Max musician and Crescent Choral Soci- animated rooting for the good guys unearths truths for all their heart- Reger and Messiaen’s, “Apparition ety singer, Robert Paoli. proved a preciously unforgettable aches and joys. And, if we are to take GARWOOD — Join What’s Your continued support for victims of de l’Eglise eternelle” will fill out his Tickets may be purchased at the tutorial in morality, even if it did this allegory yet one more elucidative Story? Storyteller, Westfield resident, sexual, physical and emotional abuse widely anticipated program. door on the day of performance. Gen- make Mom worry it would give him a step, the contention worthy of mental health advocate and author of at their new location - Marilyn’s Place. Beyond his conducting and con- eral Admission, $25; Seniors, $20; heart attack. Often joined by Taffy, Aristotle, Socrates and Groucho Marx “Breaking Into My Life,” Michelle Marilyn’s Place is run solely by survi- certizing, Mr. Johnson, a graduate of Students, $10. The Crescent Avenue the wirehaired mutt terrier with a is that true happiness is only possible Dickinson and other area vors so that all who the Juilliard School, is the Organist Presbyterian Church is located at 716 perfect black eye with whom I emu- when we summon the courage to as- residents and special visit know that every- and Assistant Director of Music at All Watchung Avenue in Plainfield. Ample lated the roughhousing on the tube, certain and embrace the truth. guests tell stories of suc- one they speak to has the resultant rhubarb guaranteed a The engaging ethic is dramatically cessfully creating new experienced the emo- Souls Unitarian Church in New York free, secure parking is available. For convivial bedlam in the living room illustrated in a smoothly achieved, to- City. And usually in the month of De- more information, call (908) 756-2468 on fight night. and-fro switching between the Bevis possibilities in the world tions and struggles of cember, Mr. Johnson can be heard or visit crescentconcerts.org and the So it is with no difficulty that I family’s challenges back on the home at Crossroads in Garwood the trauma they have playing “the Mighty Wurlitzer” for the Crescent Concerts’ Facebook page. embrace the passion that Norwich, front in stark Norwich and Saraya’s on Saturday, March 16, endured. All of the England’s, Bevis family holds for pro- travail in sunny Miami, where our from 4 to 6:30 p.m. meetings, events and fessional wrestling. Depicted as a lady wrestler, instructed to choose a Michelle will share a workshops at Witness the Untold Stories balm against a previous life of crime ring name, decides she is now Paige. very raw look into what it Marilyn’s Place are for Nick Frost’s Ricky, the Mohawk- But what about it? What is her inner is like to be a child of a free of charge. coiffured dad, photographs and post- essence, contends the always chal- bipolar parent. This diffi- Maureen Spataro, Of Women of War ers of World Wrestling Entertainment lenging Hutch, aiming to surface the cult, but inspiring talk will Founder of Because (WWE) greats throughout the home star power that caused him to single COUNTY – In recognition of her participation in this project, and for attest to the religious fervor of their out his prodigy in the first place. Prob- have you looking at men- She is, will be a story- Women’s History Month, the Union her efforts to raise awareness about the patronage. Establishing their own cot- lem is, that inner greatness, conceiv- tal health and the stigma teller, too. The event is County Board of Chosen Freeholders lives and experiences of women in war,” tage industry wrestling exhibitions ably built of a winning vulnerability around mental health in a Emily Dickinson $10 in advance, and will present a performance of the play Freeholder Chair Kowalski added. as the Knight family, both locally and just aching to scream its ethos to the brand new way! You will tickets can be pur- In Their Footsteps on Saturday, March The afternoon includes: a short talk via ragtag but ambitious barnstorm- world, won’t easily peek out from its leave wanting to create conversations chased at the Crossroads website 30, at 1:30 p.m., at the Union County and introduction by Freeholder Chair ing excursions, they develop a fol- protective shell. around mental health. www.xxroads.com or What’s Your Performing Arts Center’s Hamilton Kowalski; debut of the Union County lowing, which in due time earns the What follows is a “Rocky”-like pag- What’s Your Story? Will be raising Story, wysusa.com and $15 at the Stage, located at 360 Hamilton Street, Women Making History Video, fea- notice of those major wrestling pow- eant of strenuous training sequences, money for Because She Is. The Mis- door. Crossroads is located at 78 North ers that be. Daughter Saraya, formi- both visceral and emotional as Paige sion of Because She Is… is to provide Avenue, Garwood. Rahway. Admission is free but seat- turing Judy Jenkins Gaudino; show- dably portrayed by Florence Pugh, is dared to shed the safety of smalltime ing is limited and pre-registration is ing of the play In Their Footsteps; a and son Zak, played by Jack Lowden, competition for the risks and obstacles required at ucnj.org/women. question and answer session with Judy are invited to WWE’s regional cattle that comprise the real deal. Compet- In their Footsteps honors five Jenkins Gaudino and actors. call for talent. ing against a field of decidedly glam- Useful Information for Our Loyal Readers: American women who served in the In Their Footsteps was created by Unfortunately, but providing the orous, more likely looking candidates Q: How do I download the newspaper at goleader.com? Vietnam War, using their own words the non-profit theatre company Infi- biopic with an absorbingly etched for grappling glory, she is the likable to tell the story. One of the five women nite Variety Productions, through in- sibling rivalry, WWE scout Hutch, underdog for whom we develop a A: Click the Download the Newspaper link, enter your featured in the play is Judy Jenkins terviews with five women who served smartly realized by Vince Vaughn, vicarious, cheering interest. I’m sure believes only Saraya is the goods. both Taffy and Dad would have been Customer #, then click the Log In button. Gaudino, a resident of Summit. in Vietnam: Ann Kelsey (Special Ser- Fast forward and the spunky gal is in her corner. “Over 50 years ago, thousands of vices Librarian), Judy Jenkins Gaudino rocketed to the opulence, splendor … young American women went to Viet- (Special Services Recreation Em- and no-nonsense demands of the Fighting with My Family, rated PG- Q: How do I get a Customer #? nam to serve their country. For the ployee), Jeanne “Sam” Christie (Red WWE training camp in Miami, 13, is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer re- A: If you are a subscriber, your Customer # is most part, these women’s stories re- Cross, Donut Dollie), Lily Adams (U.S. Florida, while Zak is left to stare into lease directed by Stephen Merchant main untold,” said Freeholder Chair Army Nurse), and Doris “Lucki” Allen the vacuum of hopelessness that in- and stars Florence Pugh, Jack Lowden printed on the mailing label located on the front page Bette Jane Kowalski. “In Their Foot- (U.S. Army Intelligence Specialist). evitably first follows when your long- and Vince Vaughn. Running time: of your newspaper. It looks like this: steps recovers this lost chapter of For additional details, contact Jen- held dreams are crushed. Hence the 108 minutes. women’s history in vivid detail.” nifer Erdos, Union County Office on “On behalf of the Freeholder Board, Women at [email protected], or (908) I would like to thank Ms. Gaudino for 527-4216. RICHARD J. KAPLOW, ESQ.
"40+ Years Experience" Presents If you are not a subscriber and wish to be, please subscribe String concertos by and have the newspaper mailed to you containing your Bach, Tartini, Haydn and Kriesler Customer #. CIVIL & CRIMINAL Trial Lawyer March 24, 2019 Former Asst. Union County Prosecutor ǡ ǡ͵ǣ͵ͲǤǤ Q: What if I only want to read the newspaper online? ǦǡͷǤǡǡ A: You can become an Online Only subscriber • Divorce • Domestic Violence Violin by going to goleader.com/form/enroll.htm. • Custody • Child Support ǡ Violin You will receive your Customer # by email • DWI • Criminal Defense ǡ Violin after filling out the form. • School Law • HIB Cases ǡ Viola • Civil Litigation • Business Disputes ǡ ǡCello Suggestion: ǡBass Include your Customer # when submitting 53 Elm Street • Westfield NJ • 07090 ǡHarpsichord press releases to get priority handling. For additional guidelines, please read the Help Page online (908) 232-8787 ̈́͵ͷǦǦʹͳ ǣȀȀ Ǥ at goleader.com/help. ͻͲͺǦͺͻǦͺͷͺ [email protected] richardjkaplow.com The Westfield Leader and The Times