Call for Community
In anticipation of the second-annual Princeton Porchfest, the Arts Council of Princeton is seeking performers and hosts to make the event a reality. Taking place on Saturday, April 29, Porchfest is a walkable music festival where neighbors offer up their front porches as DIY concert venues. Talented local performers play rotating sets throughout the neighborhood during this day-long celebration of music, art, and the Princeton community.
To sign up as a Porchfest host or performer, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org. The deadline to sign-up to participate is Friday, March 3.
Sponsorship opportunities for Princeton Porchfest are also available now. For a full list of sponsor benefits, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org.
Audition
Director George Hartpence is seeking a diverse cast for a production of “The Merry Wives of Windsor” by William Shakespeare at ActorsNET of Bucks County. Auditions are being held Sundays, February 19 and 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday, February 25, from 3 to 5 p.m.; and Monday, February 27, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Performances will take place from June 9 to June 25, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Heritage Center Theater. A one weekend extension (July 8 and 9 at 7 p.m.) outdoors at Fonthill Castle is under negotiation.
If you have a prepared monologue, you are welcome to perform it. Otherwise, sides will be prepared for cold readings.
Auditions will be held at the Heritage Center, 635 North Delmorr Avenue, Morrisville, Pennsylvania. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins will be seen on a time-available basis. To sign up for an audition appointment, visit www.actorsnetbucks.org.
Call for Plays
Villagers Theatre in Somerset is accepting submissions for the 2023 New Playwrights Series. Selected plays will be presented as Staged Readings in our Zaidi Black Box from March to June, 2023.
The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, February 28. Script word count must be 20,000 words or less.
Scripts must be original, completed, unpublished works of professional quality. In addition to full-length scripts, one-act plays and shorter scripts will be considered. Musicals will note be considered.
Plays with smaller casts (under seven characters) are preferred, but larger cast size will be considered. We also prefer shows designed to be performed on one set, with an eye toward future community theatre productions.
No hardcopy paper manuscripts will be accepted. All submissions must be digital and sent via e-mail to NewPlaywrights@villagerstheatre.org.
The body of the email that contains the attached script must be formatted exactly as follows:
Author’s name, address and phone numberTitle of playGenre of play (comedy, drama etc.)Word countNumber of charactersBrief description of story’s premiseCharacter breakdownDetailed synopsis of playBrief biography of author
Selected plays will be presented as staged readings in the Zaidi Black Box from March to June, 2023. Playwrights chosen for this series are required to attend the readings and to participate in talk-backs with the audience.
If your play is selected for a staged reading, you may work with the Producer Darren Nye to select a director, cast, and crew (if necessary). Use of minimal furniture and props is allowed.
Call for Volunteers
The D&R Greenway seeks volunteers for numerous springtime opportunities.
• Become a Docent at Point Breeze: The historic Gardener’s House at Point Breeze transformed into a new Discovery Center. The Greenway is seeking docents for Point Breeze with an interest in history, Lenape culture, birds, nature, plants, gardens, and the Delaware River. Training and opportunities to share stories and knowledge with visitors at our new Discovery Center at Point Breeze, opening soon, will be provided.
• Help Prepare the Nursery for the Spring Native Plant Sale: Native Plant Nursery volunteers annually plant and care for more than 50 species of native plants. Volunteers assist with watering, maintenance, and the sales.
These trees, shrubs, grasses, sedges and wildflowers are being used to restore native landscapes on D&R Greenway preserves, on partner lands and in yards of local gardeners who are planting native.
Email kclerico@drgreenway.org for more information about volunteer and docent opportunities with D&R Greenway Land Trust.
• Group Volunteer Opportunities: Are you a member of a group that is looking for a volunteer project? The Greenway’s Stewardship team works with community groups of volunteers on trail maintenance, tree plantings, and habitat improvements. Contact kclerico@drgreenway.org to learn how your group can get involved.
Does your company organize Volunteer Days? The Greenway’s Business Partners in Preservation are offered special opportunities to assist with event and stewardship work, giving participants access to unique properties and guest tours.
Contact dkilmer@drgreenway.org to learn about Business Partnerships that benefit the community where you work.
For Teenagers
The New Jersey Department of Human Services is inviting teenagers across the state to begin submitting entries for the 28th Annual New Jersey Teen Media Contest, highlighting Human Services’ mission to support families.
The contest, run by Human Services’ Division of Family Development, is open to all New Jersey middle- and high school-aged students. This year, the contest will once again accept entries in the hand-painted/hand-drawn and written word categories.
This year’s contest challenges teens to illustrate — through art or the written word — the following theme: How do your parents or loved ones make everyday things special? What do they do to celebrate these small milestones and achievements?
“Every year we are blown away by the talent that abounds in our state. I look forward to seeing this year’s submissions, and seeing the theme of celebrating everyday moments come to life,” said Deputy Commissioner of Social Services Elisa Neira.
All entries must be postmarked no later than April 26, 2023. Staff from the Division of Family Development, with representatives from various other organizations and/or corporations in the state, will judge the contest. Winners will be selected and prizes awarded in first, second, and third places in both the middle and high school groups, for each of the two entry categories. Winning entries from the contest will be included in the 2024 Office of Child Support Calendar.
The 2023 calendar with last year’s winners can currently be viewed or downloaded from www.NJTeenMedia.org. The website also provides the official rules, complete submission guidelines, entry forms, frequently asked questions, a look at the winners and honorable mentions from previous contests and other important contest information.
Teachers and administrators can register their school by visiting www.NJTeenMedia.org, emailing NJTeenMedia@gmail.com, or by contacting Nicolette Omelczuk at 732-833-3783. Young artists can enter the contest directly without going through their school and no advance registration is necessary.
For more information about child support services, call 1-877-NJKIDS1 or visit www.NJChildSupport.org.
