A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES Thursday, August 20, 2015 Page 15 UCPAC To Hosts Grease POPCORN Sing-a-Long Event Sept. 19 Ricki and the Flash No Flash in the Pan RAHWAY – Celebrate "Summer Every performance starts with a Lovin" when Sing-a-Long-a Grease Sing-a-Long-a host who warms up 3 popcorns rolls into the Union County Perform- the audience, trains them how to One Popcorn, Poor — Two Popcorns, Fair — Three Popcorns, Good — Four Popcorns, Excellent ing Arts Center Mainstage on Satur- "hand-jive," use the contents of their day, September 19 at 8 p.m. free magic moments fun packs and By MICHAEL S. GOLDBERGER Adding their own vitriol to the fire are The classic movie musical becomes heckle in all the right places. Sing-a- film critic twin brothers Josh (Sebastian Stan) an interactive show, complete with Long-a Grease is "the one that you Seeing Meryl Streep dissolve into and Adam (Nick Westrate). on-screen lyrics and the chance to want" for a night of fun entertainment rock musician Ricki Rendazzo in The subsequent train wreck and become a Pink Lady or T-Bird for the and nostalgia with a group of friends. Jonathan Demme’s Ricki and the rather predictable upshot veers to the night and enter the costume competi- Tickets start at only $12 and dis- Flash, it occurred to me how lucky I clichéd side of things. But again, at the tion. Sing-a-Long-a Greasers will be counts are available for groups of 10 am. The simple facts of chronology risk of seeming très ad nauseam, and decked out in their own versions of or more. UCPAC's Mainstage is lo- precluded me from seeing baseball using an adverb as an adjective, it fifties high school garb worn at Rydell cated at 1601 Irving Street in the players like Babe Ruth, Mel Ott, Tris requires noting that Miss Streep uti- High, including poodle skirts and heart of Rahway's Arts District and Speaker and Ty Cobb play their craft. lizes the dysfunctional typicalness as a saddle shoes, black leather biker and easily accessible to major roads and But in that fickle, sometimes great telling contrast to how far from the powder-pink bomber jackets, chiffon public transportation. To purchase equalizer of fate, I’ve had the opportu- fold the housewife turned rocker has scarves and skinny ties. Costumes are tickets, call the box office at (732) nity to witness the Great Streep’s ca- drifted. In a poignant monologue from definitely encouraged, but singing is 499-8226 or visit the website at www. reer, right from the beginning. A few the stage, a bit in her cups, Ricki notes mandatory. ucpac.org. A LEARNING EXPERIENCE...Students in the Westfield Public School’s En- films in, I actually disliked her in how it’s funny that Mick (Jagger), who glish Language Learners (ELL) summer program enhanced their study of English with activities in and out of the classroom. One of their favorite outings was to the Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) because has seven children by four women, is Westfield Fire Department, where the children met Firefighter Craig Manning she gave my man Dustin the gate. I “still the man.” Yet she, who gave up The Bandstand to Premiere and observed the station’s functions firsthand. In preparation of the guided tour, have since forgiven her. hearth and home for her passion, is the students learned vocabulary associated with emergency response systems and Fast forward a few decades and you deemed a monster. crafted several questions. The twelve participants in the extended school year can’t help taking her for granted. She’s Playing kindred spirit to her diva, At Paper Mill Playhouse program are from six countries: China, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Germany, and always going to be good. More likely real rocker Rick Springfield is decent Switzerland, and will enter Westfield’s first, second, or third grades in the fall. the question is, will she score yet an- as Greg, who’d like to be more than MILLBURN – Paper Mill Play- every ounce of talent, stamina and This summer, the federally-funded program was taught by Westfield ESL teacher other best actress nomination? She just Ricki’s lead guitarist. And Flash house announced that Tony Award raw nerve that these musicians pos- Maggie Gonzalez and student teacher Elizabeth Fredas. “The major focus of the already has 19. That’s seven more than members Rick Rosas, Joe Vitale and program is to ensure that students are continuing to grow in their English nominee Laura Osnes, Corey Cott sess. language acquisition throughout the summer and are given opportunities to Katharine Hepburn (who has one more Bernie Worrell, accomplished musi- and Tony Award winner Beth Leavel The Bandstand will be performed understand the various roles the many members of any vibrant community play,” win—4) and nine more than Bette cians all, create an authentic milieu as will star in the theater’s world-pre- at Paper Mill Playhouse eight times explained the District Supervisor of World Languages and ELL, David Greer. In Davis, esteemed colleagues in that our gal’s loyal band of cohorts. But miere musical The Bandstand . a week, Wednesday through Sun- addition to being welcomed at the Westfield Fire House, the students toured the pantheon of which she’s now a full- like the patrons of the story’s Salt The Bandstand will be directed day. Performance schedule: Wednes- operations within the town’s Post Office. They also experienced a day at the fledged member. Well, we’ve come to see Ricki, to once and choreographed by Tony Award day at 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 1:30 Newark Museum, where they learned about the importance of preserving cultural Such accomplishment comes with again be amazed, and left to wonder winner Andy Blankenbuehler. The p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., artifacts. a challenge. Each succeeding perfor- not what Ricki and the Flash’s blazing Bandstand features a book and lyr- Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. and mance is an in event unto itself, which star can do, but rather, if there’s any- ics by Richard Oberacker and Rob- Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tick- can easily upstage the drama encom- thing she can’t do? ert Taylor and music by Richard ets are on sale now and start at just The Wild Party to Bring passing it. But the greats have a way of *** Oberacker. The Bandstand begins $29. Tickets may be purchased by ameliorating that, employing some sort Ricki and the Flash, rated PG-13, performances Thursday, October 8, calling (973) 376-4343, at the Paper of secret thespic supercharger to direct is a Sony Pictures release directed by 2015, and runs through Sunday, No- Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Prohibition Era to Life our focus. Therefore yes, we know Jonathan Demme and stars Meryl vember 8, 2015. The official press Brookside Drive in Millburn, or that’s Ms. Streep up there on the silver Streep, Rick Springfield and Mamie opening night is Sunday, October online at www.PaperMill.org. Visa, RAHWAY – The roaring twenties whose lives are spiraling downward screen, larger than life. Still, as the Gummer. Running time: 101 minutes 18, at 7 p.m. Complete casting will MasterCard, Discover, and Ameri- are set to come alive this September fast, filled to the brim with meaning- reels roll, we’re certain that she’s also be announced at a later date. can Express accepted. Groups of 10 at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage in a less sex, drugs, drinking, jealousies, Ricki, the struggling singer who gave Deutscher Club to Host Set in 1945, The Bandstand tells or more can receive up to a 40 per- Gatsby-esque production of Andrew and casual betrayals. it all up for her music. the story of a mismatched band of cent discount on tickets and should Lippa’s The Wild Party, presented by The show runs at the UCPAC’s So of course, as the captivating lead German Biergarten military veterans who join together call (973) 315-1680. College stu- Fearless Hearts and Fearless Produc- Hamilton Stage Fridays and Satur- singer of the title rock group that is a CLARK – The Deutscher Club of to compete in a national radio con- dents can order $20 rush tickets over tions through the Union County Ad- days, September 11 and 12, 18 and 19 regular attraction at the Salt Well, a Clark will host an authentic German test in New York City with a prize the phone or in person at the Paper vancing Community Theater at 8 p.m., Sunday, September 20 at 3 San Fernando Valley saloon, the ac- Biergarten on Friday, August 28 from that will guarantee instant stardom Mill Playhouse Box Office on the (UCACT) Program. p.m., Saturday, September 26 at 8 tress also convincingly plays rhythm 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. to the winners. But with compli- day of the performance. A steamy prohibition tale p.m. and Sunday, September 27 at 3 guitar. The train of big money stardom The Deutscher Club of Clark is cated relationships, the demands of "I’m thrilled that The Bandstand steamrolling and roaring its way p.m. pulled out of the station some years located at 787 Featherbed Lane, Clark. the competition and the challenging will make its world premiere at the across the stage, Andrew Lippa's Wild Tickets are available now and can ago.