<p>Gas Lamp Players Nonetheless, the shop’s profits do provide an assured source of income and allow its overseeing visionaries to dream even bigger. So move over Even though Tom Cruise (aka Tommy Mapother) Tom Cruise, as the young luminaries of the Gas got his rise from the stage of the Ridgewood Lamp Players continue to take center stage. Avenue School auditorium in the early ‘80s, there was a dearth of theater arts offerings in town until the Gas Lamp Players was organized in 1997. Nonetheless, its founders could never have anticipated that it would end up putting Glen Stop and Smell (or Tend) Ridge so prominently on New Jersey’s cultural the Roses map. “Clearly it struck a nerve that allowed it to become a vibrant and irreplaceable part of the Residents on the far north end of town may not communal fabric,” explained one enthusiast. be aware of what a rare jewel of a public garden is available to all of us. Indeed, the Freeman To director Jessica Sporn its success lies in the Gardens, located at the corner of Hawthorne and fact that it offers children a meaningful Maolis Avenues, have been recognized by complement to athletics in which to “find Horticulture Magazine and the Smithsonian themselves and feel great about themselves.” As Institution’s Archives of American Gardens and she points out, “the arts are inherently accepting are listed on the State and National Registers of of uniqueness, yet provide a sense of Historic Places. community.” So as the Gas Lamp Players has taken off, so too has its offerings – with an What makes these gardens so special is that they academy and costume shop thrown into the mix – were designed in 1935 by one of the preeminent in keeping with its mission of community service landscape architects of the day, Ethelbert on behalf of the arts. Furlong, in his characteristic axial symmetrical design. Originally the gardens were In part, it is its success that has forced it to commissioned and owned by Glen Ridge resident evolve. One turning point came in the fall of and benefactor, Clayton Freeman, whose estate 2006 with the staging of “Fiddler on the Roof” bequeathed them to the borough in 1967. So, when 140 children tried out and 55 had to be despite the fact that Furlong had numerous turned away. In the past, the Players had been commissions over a career that spanned some 60 able to accept all comers. It was at this point years, this is the only one of his gardens that has that the decisions were made to hold “break” been preserved in its original design and is open workshops in February and April, during which to the public, May through October, from about 9 children have the thrill of staging a play within the am to dusk. week, and to produce an all-kids show in the summer. For last summer’s offering, “The Wizard of Oz,” 55 children turned out, 25 more than hoped for. This year’s break workshops are fully subscribed, and another smashing success is expected when “Seussical the Musical” is presented this summer.</p><p>In addition, the Gas Lamp Academy offers semester-long courses in creative and musical theater, including improvisation and dance, for grade 3 to adult. Its newest offering is “Gas Lamp Touring Teens,” for grades 7 to 11. This troupe is being prepared to perform at enrichment assemblies in elementary and middle schools during the academic year 2008-2009. This spring Gas Lamp Players also held its first What also make these gardens special are the collaborative effort with Fitzgerald’s 1928 and the dedicated volunteers of the Freeman Gardens N.J. Arts Collective. Entitled “Food for Thought,” Association who maintain them at almost no cost it was, as billed, “a delicious evening of theater, to taxpayers. Of course, they could use much music and fine dining.” more help. So by all means take a book or a</p><p> picnic lunch and putter in the garden. But also Certainly a key ingredient in the Gas Lamp consider volunteering even a few hours to help Players’ success has been the acquisition of a with pruning, watering or weeding. No gardening 5,000 piece costume collection, donated to it by expertise is required, and volunteers actually the Summit Junior League last spring. believe they get more than they give. At least Fortunately the group was able to acquire and that is the view of rose specialist, Horace salvage a long-neglected retail space on Herman Ashenfelter, who has been working in the gardens Street and open a bustling shop, manned by its for more than 30 years! relentless volunteers. But, true to form, the shop makes costumes available to schools throughout For more information about the gardens, you are northern New Jersey at less than half the price of welcome to call Larry or Pricilla Stauffer at 973- most costume shops and contributes to such 748-3730. charitable endeavors as “Dress for Success.” Page 3</p>