A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES Thursday, January 26, 2017 Page 17 POPCORN Hidden Figures Amounts to an Important Tale 3 popcorns One Popcorn, Poor — Two Popcorns, Fair — Three Popcorns, Good — Four Popcorns, Excellent

By MICHAEL S. GOLDBERGER suffer foolery. So, when he discovers film critic that Katherine is away from her desk Watching director Theodore Melfi’s for inordinate amounts of time be- Hidden Figures, about the African- cause she has to run a half mile each American women working for NASA way to the “colored only” bathroom, who were instrumental if not indis- we cheer his abashment and resolu- TOP PLAYERS...Seven Westfield High School (WHS) Band students were pensable to getting our first man in tion. accepted to the 2017 Music Education Association Region Band or space, we scratch our heads and can’t In smart, contextual contrast to the Orchestra. Three of the seven students placed first overall in their instrument: help but ask ourselves, “How come I hard work of tearing down the unpro- Dale Beyert - Wind Ensemble and Orchestra, Trumpet; Michael Hauge - Wind didn’t know this?” But figuring the ductive, age-old injustice of discrimi- Ensemble, Eb and Bb Clarinet, and Brooke Walden - Wind Ensemble and truth here isn’t rocket science. So many nation that Katherine, Dorothy and Orchestra, Piccolo and Flute. In addition, Austin Chen performed on trumpet years after the fact, ’s the same depth Mary devote themselves to, director LOVE IS IN THE AIR...The Westfield High School choirs will reprise their with the Symphonic Band; Matthew Schiff - Wind Ensemble, Alto and Bass of prejudice that hampered Katherine Melfi intersperses the drama with real- annual Night of Love Songs on Saturday, February 11 at 7 p.m. Clarinet; Sara Shen - Symphonic Band, Flute; and Daniel Shenker - Symphonic Band, Alto Saxophone. The performances took place on January 8 and January G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary life from the era. Footage of 15 – both at Montgomery High School. Pictured, from left to right, at the January Jackson and their sister colleagues from President John F. Kennedy exhorting 15 regional concert are: Trevor Sindorf – WHS Band Director, Matthew Schiff, convincing the space agency of their us to noble deeds cannot help but bring A Night of Love Songs Brooke Walden, Sara Shen, Dale Beyert, Austin Chen, Michael Hauge, Daniel genius that has squirreled away their a tear as we are reminded of the hope Shenker, and Chris Vitale, WHS Band Director. The seven students also audi- story. for social enlightenment that was tioned for All-State on January 21. This is a civics lesson, especially snatched from us. To Benefit WHS Choir important at this tremulous juncture Putting it in perspective, while we when a sizable portion of our popula- Americans at that time, both Demo- WESTFIELD – The Westfield High is being sponsored by the Westfield tion wishes to forego the humanitarian crat and Republican, were of course School (WHS) Choir Department will Choral Parents Association, Inc., and Continuo Arts Celebrates advancement of our species for the devoted to our partisan ideologies, we perform “A Night of Love Songs” on the proceeds will be applied toward sake of a personal interest that they’ve were not so divided that we couldn’t Saturday, February 11 at 7 p.m. (door choral performance opportunities for been tricked into believing is at war imagine a greater good… one we knew opens at 6:30 p.m. in WHS Cafeteria the students, such as trips, clinicians A Decade of Music with all progressive thought. As such, we were capable of attaining if we B) under the direction of John and special events.Planning is under- its dramatically satisfying treatise on selflessly sought it. But the assassina- Brzozowski, Choir Director. While way for the choir's spring 2018 trip to SUMMIT – The Continuo Arts summer programs. In addition to the the snail’s pace of civil rights is just as tion launched a cynicism that eroded having coffee and desserts, enjoy an Helsinki and the Baltic States. Foundation begins its 10th anniver- Foundation office and studios, the much pragmatic as it is sweetly ideal- the postwar feeling of renewed inno- evening of wonderful solo and group For more information, or to make a sary year and celebrates a decade of Continuo Conservatory Hall is home istic. By personalizing the tale through cence, vitality and goodwill, causing performances by members of the monetary or other charitable dona- music, inspiration and opportunity. to the seven weekly choir rehearsals. the eyes of its three protagonists, the us a suspicion of conspiracy at almost WHS Choir. In addition, there will be tion, please contact Holly Zakharenko In its relatively short tenure, the “We are excited to celebrate with screenplay studies the stresses, fears every turn, too often corroborated. It many beautiful gift baskets to raffle at [email protected], Eliana Continuo Arts notable impact includes the community and to expand our and ingrained mysteries of bigotry. helped fuel the revolutionary 1960s, as well as a 50/50 raffle. Tickets will Carvajal at [email protected] or the establishment of New Jersey’s musical offerings and outreach to lo- Thus we shockingly learn that, at was held at bay, but has now again be sold at the door and are $5 per Karna Cestero at most comprehensive cal singers, artists and composers Langley Research Center in Hampton, reared its ugly head. student and $10 per adult. This event [email protected]. intergenerational choral program with across greater New Jersey,” says Virginia, where Al Harrison, played Our story takes place at the nexus seven choirs for singers of all ages; Candace Wicke, Executive Director by Kevin Costner, heads the Space between these two epochs, when the producing concerts and premiering and Principal Conductor. “This year’s Task Group of the era’s supposed Best country still has an appetite for real, Local Student Named to major choral and orchestral works in first event takes place Sunday, Febru- and the Brightest, Jim Crow is very honest-to-goodness heroes and anx- Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the ary 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Continuo much alive and at work, keeping hu- iously anticipates our astronauts catch- Music Center at Strathmore, making Arts Conservatory Hall and the pub- mankind from its destiny. There, work- ing up with and surpassing those darn Hamilton College Dean's List history as the first US organization to lic is invited to our 2017 Annual Fund ing at the segregated West Area Com- Russian cosmonauts. The Cold War is present a concert inside the Sistine Kick-off Cabaret. There will be per- puters section, circa 1962, Katherine, being played out in the heavens. Man- CLINTON, N.Y. – Brian P. Burns, Mr. Burns, a senior majoring in Chapel, on the Paper Mill Playhouse formances by Conservatory and mem- a math wiz played by Taraji P. Henson; aging a balancing act between suing son of Laura and Jeffrey Burns of cinema and media studies and litera- main stage for 42 shows premiering ber soloists, ensembles, as well as Dorothy, a team leader portrayed by for their rights and nonetheless cham- Scotch Plains, has been named to the ture, is a graduate of Scotch Plains- Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre hors d’oeuvres and beverages. There Octavia Spencer; and Janelle Monáe’s pioning the pioneering efforts of a Dean's List at Hamilton College for Fanwood High School. Dame, producing the Minuetto Mu- will be entertainment for everyone to Mary Jackson, an engineer, crunch land that once counted them as 3/5ths the 2016 fall semester. sic Festival and serving as musical enjoy!” important numbers in relative obscu- of a citizen, the story of our math- To be named to the Dean's List, a ADS PLACED IN ambassadors around the world at pres- Opportunities for local singers in- rity. ematical troika is an uplifting, educa- student must have carried throughout tigious international music festivals clude choirs for children, youth, But, as necessity is the mother of tional and compelling lesson in patrio- the semester a course load of four or THE LEADER/TIMES in Rome, Vatican City, Ireland, Czech adults, seniors and professionals; call invention, sometimes it can also be the tism. more graded credits with an average BRING RESULTS Republic, and other world stages of to schedule your audition today. Pri- arbitrator of racial tolerance: i.e. - As Coupled with the technical ins and of 3.5 or above. note. vate lessons are available for begin- admirable as Branch Rickey’s deci- outs of putting a manned rocket out Opening their new facilities this ners to advanced students with a free sion was to have Jackie Robinson break among the stars, this PG-rated cornu- September at 36 Chatham Road in introductory lesson and assesment, the Major League Baseball color line, copia of human potential should be Summit, Continuo launched a Con- music theory and audition prep, mas- it was essentially a way for the sport to liberally shown in schools wherever LEADER/TIMES servatory of Music offering music ter classes and music theater work- at last avail itself of the vast talent pool parents want their children to be able lessons in voice, piano, instrumental shops. For additional information visit swelling the Negro leagues. Likewise, to say, “Yes we can.” Indeed, we are QUESTIONS & ANSWERS as well as music theory and audition continuoarts.com or call (908) 264- when it’s discovered just how brilliant impressed as well as thankful when we prep, musical theater workshops and 5324. Katherine is, she’s invited to work learn that John Glenn insisted that alongside her white counterparts. How- Katherine look over the trajectory num- Q ever, just like the famed Brooklyn bers before he would leave Earth. For : How do I download the newspaper at Pushcart Players Present Dodger, her admittance is fraught with in the process, the mathematician did goleader.com? rather unseemly resistance. some trailblazing of her own, clearing In a tragicomic comment on the the path for future generations to dream A: Click the Download the Newspaper link, enter your Stone Soup and Other Stories invisible wall that defies reason in the out in the open, and not as Hidden name of deep-rooted bias, it is a while Figures. Customer Number (#) then click the Log In button. RAHWAY – Pushcart Players, New can be seen in the films “I Hate before Costner’s Al Harrison, the egg- *** Jersey’s Emmy nominated and award- Being Black” (which she co-wrote head boss under pressure to catch up Hidden Figures, rated PG, is a Twen- winning touring theater for young and produced) and “Damsel.” with the Russians following the tieth Century Fox release directed by audiences presents Stone Soup…and Chris Morrissey recently graduated Sputnik’s success, becomes aware of Theodore Melfi and stars Taraji P. other stories at 10:30 a.m. on Wednes- with a BFA in Musical Theatre from the roadblocks Katherine faces. But Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Q: How do I get a Customer #? day, February 8 at Union County Per- the Cincinnati College-Conservatory he is a devoted scientist who doesn’t Monáe. Running time: 127 minutes forming Arts Center, Rahway NJ. of Music (CCM) where he received A Stone Soup… is a charming musi- the Lehman Engel Award for Excel- : If you are a subscriber, your Customer # is cal compilation of short literary fa- lence in Musical Theatre. Chris has Alan Sepinwall to Visit printed on the mailing label located on the front page vorites from Africa, India, Eastern performed at venues across the coun- of your newspaper. It looks like this: Europe and the of try including Paper Mill Playhouse, America. Filled with exuberant mu- Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy The Town Book Store sic, fantasy, and comic plot lines, Center. Phebe Taylor has been a each tale introduces the spirit and Pushcart Player since 2004. She was WESTFIELD – The Town Book minating essays on short-lived favor- customs of these unique cultures. In recently seen flying around as Peter Store will host a meet-and-greet for ites such as “Taxi,” “Freaks and Geeks” so doing, the production provides a in “Peter Pan” at Beef and Boards local TV critic Alan Sepinwall, co- and “My So-Called Life,” “TV (The springboard for reading and subse- Dinner Theatre. A company member author of “TV (The Book): Two Ex- Book)” is sure to spark conversation quent literacy-related activities. of the Heartland Actors’ Repertory perts Pick the Greatest American and debate among readers. If you are not a subscriber and wish to be, please “The play gently raises universal Theatre in Indianapolis, she appears Shows of All Time” on Saturday, Janu- Mr. Sepinwall, who has been writ- value clarification issues,” said Ruth in their summer Shakespeare produc- ary 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. ing about for over 20 years, subscribe and have the newspaper mailed to you Fost, Pushcart’s founder and co-au- tions, and is a frequent performer at The authors have established the began as an online reviewer of containing your Customer #. thor of the play. “Family audiences Indianapolis' Phoenix Theatre, in such Pantheon of top TV shows using a “NYPD Blue,” then for 14 years was will be delighted by the show. Then shows as Urinetown, Bloody Bloody complex, obsessively all-encompass- the TV critic for The Star-Ledger, they’ll find themselves discussing why Andrew Jackson, The Zippers of ing ranking system by which to order then at HitFix.com and now as au- certain characters made certain Zoomerville, Boston Marriage, Pe- and stack them up against each other. thor of the popular blog What’s Alan choices, and how outcomes would ter and the Starcatcher, and the Na- With a mix of lively entries on criti- Watching? on Uproxx.com. Q: What if I only want to read the paper online? have differed with different behavior. tional New Play Network's “Rolling cally acclaimed and commercially suc- The Town Book Store is located at That being said, the show is still a World Premiere” of End Days. cessful classics such as “Seinfeld,” 270 East Broad Street in Westfield, at A: You can become an Online Only subscriber fun-filled romp through delightful Paul Whelihan directs, stage- “,” “,” “The the corner of East Broad and Elmer stories.” manages and performs off-Broad- Simpsons” and “” and illu- Streets. by going to goleader.com/form/enroll.htm. The cast of Stone Soup…and way (47th Street Theater, 59 East You will receive your Customer # by email other stories includes: Oscar 59 Theatres, NY Fringe Festival, 54 after filling out the form. Castillo, Christina Gordon, Chris Below) and regionally (Royal FEBRUARY 2017 Morrissey and Phebe Taylor. Artis- Poincianna Playhouse, Broward EVENTS AT THE WESTFIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY tic director Paul Whelihan guides Center for the Arts, Centenary Stage, 550 East Broad Street, Westfield 908.789.4090 www.wmlnj.org the production. Orchestrations are The Bickford Theatre, The Grow- Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:30 am - 9:00 pm by Tony Award-winner, Larry ing Stage, Luna Stage Company, Friday & Saturday 9:30 am - 5:00 pm Sundays Hours 1:00 - 5:00 pm Q: What if I can’t remember my Customer #? Hochman. Choreography is by Susie Forum Cultural Arts Center, Quillo Closed February 20 for Presidents Day Paplow. Arts Center, Premiere Stages, A Oscar Castillo, a graduate of Kean Dreamcatcher Rep) in musicals, dra- Programs for Adults : If you forgot your Customer #, please email University with a BFA in theatre, mas, and original works. He has 2/1 6:30 pm Excel Basics-Advanced computer class [email protected]. Include your name and co-founded The Theatre Project and appeared in locally produced tele- email address. performs frequently throughout vision, film, and web series projects. 2/2 2:00 pm Origami-Make a Valentine’s Token w/Joy Lara NYC with Peculiar Works Produc- Larry Hochman is the Tony Award- tions. Christina Gordon is a New winner for orchestrations for “She 2/2 7:00 pm Raconteur Radio presents “Gaslight” Jersey native with an M.F.A. in Loves Me” (2016 ) and Tony Acting from Rutgers University/ and Drama Desk award-winner for 2/3 1:30 pm TGIF! Georgia O’Keefe (video) Mason Gross School of the Arts. “The Book of Mormon.” He received SUGGESTION: She’s performed in Good People Tony nominations for The Scottsboro 2/4 2:00 pm Lincoln Center Local: Lang Lang at the Philharmonic 2015 (The Public Theatre & Shadowland Boys, Monty Python's Spamalot, 2/8 7:00 pm Armchair Art Tour: Meet Ben Franklin Include your Customer # when submitting press Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s (Hochman also received Drama Desk Dream, As You Like It and Reasons nominations for both), Fiddler on 2/10 1:30 pm TGIF! Ella Fitzgerald (video) releases to get priority handling. For additional to be Pretty. Television credits in- the Roof (2004 revival) and A Class guidelines, please read the Help Page online at 2/14 10:00 am Coloring for Adults (Supplies provided) clude: “,” “Person of In- Act. Larry composed additional goleader.com/help. terest” and “Guiding Light.” She music for Disney’s Little Mermaid. 2/17 1:30 pm TGIF! Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird (video) 2/24 1:30 pm TGIF! Movie: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day Thank You for Your PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN (Check website for sign up, eligibility info)

           2/1, 8, 15, 22 10:30 am Time for 3’s Storytime (caregiver attends) Continued Support!         2/2, 9, 16, 23 10:30 am 2’s on Thursday Storytime (caregiver attends)                  2/3, 10, 17, 24 10:00 am Playgroup for Babies 0-23 months (caregiver attends) The Westfield Leader        2/3 3:45 pm Chess Club for Kids (must know how to move pieces)     The Scotch Plains – Fanwood )   * 2/7, 14, 21 1:00 pm Afternoon Fun for 4’s and 5’s Storytime &    ) TIMES '#  ! )( 2/7 6:30 pm Evening LEGO Club (grades 1-5)  !%  )  +"&#    +"+ "& '++ "& #"# 2/9 7:00 pm Scavenger Hunt at Library (child must know how to read) 908-232-4407 goleader.com/form/enroll