Auditions
Bucks County Playhouse has announced auditions for “We Are The Tigers,” a darkly funny, high-energy musical murder mystery featuring a fierce cheerleading squad, teen drama, and a killer twist. “We Are The Tigers” is presented by the Playhouse Institute Conservatory at Bucks County Playhouse. This program is for high school students who want to take their skills to the next level, offering advanced training that culminates in a fully staged production at Lambertville Hall.
Auditions for students in grades 9 through 12 will be held on Sunday, August 10, from noon to 3 p.m., with callbacks scheduled for Monday, August 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. Rehearsals begin August 17 and continue through October 16, with tech rehearsals October 19 through 23. The production will run for six performances between October 24 and November 2 at Lambertville Hall in Lambertville.
Accepted students for the production will be enrolled in the Fall Conservatory program. Tuition is $1,400 and includes more than 60 hours of professional rehearsal, unlimited access to Bucks County Playhouse Education fall classes, workshops, talkbacks, and enrichment activities tied to the Playhouse’s mainstage productions of “She Loves Me” and “The Rocky Horror Show.” In addition, students will experience workshop time that allows them to explore scenic design, costumes, lighting, and other production elements. Financial assistance is available and strongly encouraged for families who need it.
To sign up for auditions or request materials, students should email bcpedu@buckscountyplayhouse.org. The audition packet includes sides, song selections, and detailed instructions. Headshots and résumés are requested.
Calls for Volunteers
The teens at Princeton Learning Cooperative are always looking for interesting, dedicated people willing to share their knowledge and skills. Generally a one-hour-a-week commitment, PLC volunteers tutor one-on-one, lead small-group classes, or offer a one-time workshop on various topics. Volunteers can teach remotely if the subject does not require hands-on work.
Volunteers are sought for the following topics. In particularly high demand are math tutors (all levels); film appreciation and analysis; hands on science; animal science; political science; and outdoor survival skills.
Also wanted are volunteers for writing; test prep; internet slang; song writing; Latin; American Sign Language; neuroscience and psychology; physiology through clinical case studies;sociology; beginner coding via video games; and photography.
For more information, visit PLC’s Volunteer page at princetonlearningcooperative.org or be in touch with Pan at pan@princetonlearningcooperative.org, 609-851-2522.
The Mercer County AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program is seeking volunteers to prepare federal and state tax returns.
Mercer Tax-Aide volunteers prepare tax returns in Princeton, West Windsor, Hopewell Township, Pennington, Lawrence, Hamilton, Robbinsville, as well as in Plainsboro.
New volunteers attend training classes in November, December and January. IRS certification is part of the training program. Tax preparation begins in February.
All levels and types of experience are welcome. AARP membership is not required. New volunteers will work with a small group of well-trained veteran volunteers.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers prepare millions of tax returns across the country each year. Taxpayers of any age can take advantage this free service.
To learn more about the program and sign up, visit www.aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or call 1-888-227-7669.
Call for Blood Donors
New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS) is kicking off its fourth annual “Pint for a Pint” campaign to encourage blood donations during the critical summer months. Through Sunday, August 31, all adults ages 21 and older who come to donate at NJBS mobile blood drives or donor centers will receive a voucher for a free beverage or frozen treat at a participating local brewery, pub, or frozen treat shop.
Since its launch in 2022, the “Pint for a Pint” campaign has doubled in size, with more than 50 breweries, pubs, and frozen treat shops across the region coming together to support the critical need for blood donations. This year’s full list of participating establishments can be found online at www.nybc.org/pint.
Following a sharp drop in donations over the 4th of July holiday, the region’s supply of O- and O+ blood is currently at a critical 1-2 day level, and overall collections are nearly 25 percent below the level needed to meet hospital demands. Summer has brought an expected decline in donations, driven by vacations and school breaks, but combined with increased trauma cases, the impact on the local blood supply has been severe.
Type O-negative is the universal blood type used when seconds matter and a patient’s blood type is unknown. Type O-positive, the most common type, is in constant demand for surgeries, childbirth, cancer treatments, and daily medical care.
“Every pint counts, especially in the summer, and we are so grateful to these local establishments for coming together to support the critical need for blood donations in the summertime,” said Andrea Cefarelli, senior vice president at New Jersey Blood Services. “We hope this fun incentive will inspire returning and first-time donors to donate blood and enjoy a refreshing beverage or frozen treat on us. Blood donations are needed now more than ever.”
Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. In light of recent updates to FDA guidance, more people than ever may now be eligible to give. To make an appointment, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit nybc.org. Can’t donate blood? You can still make a lifesaving impact by supporting NYBC’s mission through financial contributions or volunteering your time.
Call for Art
The Monmouth County Park System is seeking entries into its upcoming Botanical Musings Exhibit. Held from September 26 through November 14 at the Gallery in the Thompson Park Creative Arts Center, Lincroft, this exhibit will feature artwork inspired by the beauty and complexities of plant life. Entries are open to both realistic renderings as well as conceptual interpretation of plant forms. All mediums are welcome. Additional information and entry form are available on “The Gallery at Thompson Park” page at www.MonmouthCountyParks.com. Entry deadline is Friday, August 22.
To learn more about the exhibit, the Thompson Park Creative Arts Center, or the Park System, please visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call 732-842-4000.
Call for Art Supplies
West Windsor Arts is hosting a unique thrift-style art supply sale on Saturday, August 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring new and gently used art materials. The sale, called Eco-Art Exchange: Thrift, Create, Repeat!, encourages sustainability, nurtures creativity and boosts community. It’s also just a lot of fun to see what you might find.
“This sale really aligns with the mission of West Windsor Arts — that art is for everyone,” says Raina Pahade, who is organizing the event for the arts center. “Art supplies can be very expensive, especially high-quality, durable ones. This makes it hard for many people to pursue their artistic interests. Cost can be a big barrier to making art.”
West Windsor Arts is inviting artists, students, educators and anyone interested in creating art to stop by the arts center and browse an array of materials — from paints and brushes to paper, fabric, tools and more. Items are not priced. “You pay what you wish,” adds Pahade.
“What I love most about this event is that it encourages sustainability as well as inclusivity. We’ll have a scale there, so people can see not only how much money they’re saving, but also how many pounds of materials they’ve diverted from the landfill. That was something we did last year, when we hosted the event with a partner organization, Propagate Studio in Stewartsville, NJ. It was such a hit last year, as well as the ‘pay-as-you-wish’ option, that we brought them back.”
The arts center is seeking donations of new or gently used items for the sale. Donations will be accepted on Saturday, August 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at West Windsor Arts, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor. Donors are asked to bring clean, usable supplies in categories including paints (oil, acrylic, gouache, watercolor), drawing tools, calligraphy inks, brushes, sketchbooks, easels and craft materials, while excluding broken, heavily used, toxic or damaged items.
“You may come across a new product or material you hadn’t thought of using, and it sparks something within you. Most importantly, it makes otherwise expensive materials affordable to all,” Pahade says.
For more information, or to view a list of suggested items to donate, visit westwindsorarts.org/event/ecoarts-exchange.
