Greater Morristown weekend preview: Big 4-0 at Minstrel, starry Shakespeare, Paxton sendoff

Mike Agranoff of the Folk Project sings at Morris Arts 2015 awards. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Mike Agranoff of the Folk Project sings at Morris Arts 2015 awards. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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Compiled by Kevin Coughlin

Greater Morristown offers plenty of diversions this weekend!

The Minstrel celebrates 40 years of music with more music… Tom Paxton sings here one last time… Jazz fills the library… Americana permeates the garden.

It’s your last weekend to catch Shakespeare Under the Stars — highly recommended!

Historical tours, antiques, comic books, basketball wizardry, outdoor worship services…scroll down for all the details. And check our handy calendar for even more great options.


THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015:

avengers posteThe Harlem Wizards bring their basketball magic to the Morris Museum, with shows at 11 am and 1:30 pm. Admission: $10 members/$12 general public, $9 Groups of 20 or more. At 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morris Township. Call (973) 971-3700.

The Teen Movie series at the Morristown & Township Library features The Avengers Movie  at 3:30 pm.  Earth’s mightiest heroes must learn teamwork to save humanity from Loki and his alien army. After the movie, stick around (literally) for the duct tape super hero costume design. Admission: Free. At One Miller Road, Morristown.

Shakespeare was WAY ahead of his time. In Love’s Labour’s Lost, the Bard invents the Buddy Picture and the Chick Flick.  It’s a marvelously entertaining romp — the second half is a hoot! — about four young noblemen who vow to swear off women and hit the books. And you have four more nights to see it, under the stars, at the amphitheater of the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morris Township. This production by the The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey runs through Sunday, with 8 pm shows each night and an extra 4:30 pm performance on Sunday. Tickets are $15-$35. Call 973-408-5600. At 2 Convent Road, off Madison Avenue. Parking is free. Bring lawn chairs or beach blankets.

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST. Left: Rosaline (Susan Maris) and Berowne (Ben Jacoby) flirt, as Berowne tries to adhere to his oath of study and a stoic life. Right: Holofernes (Bruce Cromer) and Don Armado (Jeffrey M. Bender). Photos by Jerry Dalia, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.
LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST. Left: Rosaline (Susan Maris) and Berowne (Ben Jacoby) flirt, as Berowne tries to adhere to his oath of study and a stoic life. Right: Holofernes (Bruce Cromer) and Don Armado (Jeffrey M. Bender). Photos by Jerry Dalia, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.

 

mary poppins playTrilogy Repertory Plays in the Park presents Mary Poppinsfeaturing Danielle Becht of Morristown’s Got Talent fame — starting at 8 pm, with encore performances on Friday and Saturday. Admission: Free. At Pleasant Valley Park in Basking Ridge, at the Outdoor Amphitheatre.

Twenty-five years after hatching in a Princeton basement, Blues Traveler (Run–Around) still is going strong. Just how strong will be on display at 8 pm, at Morristown’ Mayo Performing Arts Center.    The Annie Minogue Band opens the show. Tickets: $29-$59. At 100 South St. Call 973-539-8008 for more.

Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler

 


FRIDAY, JULY 24:

Jazz in JulyIt’s time for Jazz in July, at 7 pm in the Morristown & Morris Township Library. This two-hour show features jazz standards from the American Songbook, presented by Tony Signa, sax and flute; Chuck D’Orazio, trumpet/flugelhorn; Bob McHugh, piano; Ron Naspo, bass; and David Humm, drums. Tickets are $20, at the door; proceeds benefit the Library. Refreshments  provided.  At One Miller Road, Morristown. Sponsored, in part, by the Friends of the Morristown & Morris Township Library.

It’s gone by different names, at different venues. But The Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series has maintained one common thread for the last 40 years: Good music. Celebrate that at 8 pm, when a talented bunch of Folk Project regulars (they probably would call themselves Irregulars) takes the stage at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship in Morris Township. This week’s $10 admission includes birthday cake and refreshments. At 21 Normandy Heights Road. Read more here.

Video: Mike Agranoff’s musical tribute to The Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series

 

Love’s Labour’s Lost, Shakespeare at his whimsical best, romps across the amphitheater stage at the College of Saint Elizabeth at 8 pm. See Thursday entry for details.


SATURDAY, JULY 25:

The Morris Plains Farmers Market is back for its 13th season, every Saturday through Oct. 10, 2015, from 9 am to 2 pm.  It’s on the Merchant Block, at the Speedwell Avenue extension, just before the train trestle.

Shopper Jim Dennison with his prize, a rubber duck, at Eric Johnson House garage sale. Program Manager Elizabeth Burna and volunteer Kay Leidy close the deal. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Shopper Jim Dennison with his prize, a rubber duck, at Eric Johnson House garage sale. Program Manager Elizabeth Burna and volunteer Kay Leidy close the deal. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Rummage for a good cause: A garage sale at 44 South St. benefits Morristown’s Eric Johnson House, a transitional residence for people living with AIDS / HIV.  Volunteers have donated all kinds of furniture, appliances, household items and baby accessories. The sale runs from 9 am to 4 pm, with proceeds benefiting the Eric Johnson House.

Historic Speedwell. Photo: Morris Tourism Bureau
Historic Speedwell. Photo: Morris Tourism Bureau

Historic Speedwell Gets a Makeover: Visit the birthplace of the telegraph,  discover parts of the mansion never seen by the public, and see restoration plans for a home built two centuries ago. This walking tour by the Morris Tourism Bureau costs $15, and includes all-day admission to the site. Tour size limited to 25 people. At 333 Speedwell Ave., Morristown. Free parking. Call 973-631-5151 or email here for more.

The Garden State Comic Fest comes to Mennen Arena in Morris Township, from 10 am to 6 pm, and again on Sunday. Tickets for Saturday are $15 in advance, $18 at the door; Sunday, $13 in advance,$15 at the door. Children 10 and under are free with paid adult; two-day discounts are available.  Email here for more.  At 161 E. Hanover Ave.

The Birchwood Manor Antiques Show comes to Whippany from 10 am to 6 pm, and resumes on Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Admission: $8. At 111 N. Jefferson Road.

Tom Paxton. Photo by Michael G. Stewart
Tom Paxton. Photo by Michael G. Stewart

Tom Paxton, who has given us such timeless tunes as The Last Thing on My Mind, Bottle of Wine and Ramblin’ Boy, has had enough ramblin’.  His last concert in these parts happens at 7:30 pm, as part of The Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series 40th anniversary.  Tickets are $30 for this show, at the Presbyterian Church at 240 Southern Blvd. in Chatham.  It’s SOLD OUT — but if you arrive early, you may score a seat if someone’s a no-show.  While you’re waiting, please enjoy our podcast with Tom Paxton, who shared his songwriting secrets and reminisced about his Greenwich Village days with Bob Dylan.

It’s the penultimate night for Shakespeare Under the Starswith Love’s Labour’s Lost at the College of Saint Elizabeth at 8 pm. See Thursday entry for details.

 


SUNDAY, JULY 26:

The Morristown Farmers Market celebrates its 25th season, from 8:30 am to 2 pm every Sunday through Nov. 22, 2015, in municipal lot 10. That’s behind the Morristown Post Office, accessible via Morris Street or Dumont Place.  Organized by the Morristown Partnership, the market features 16 area farms and specialty vendors, with entertainment offered once per month.

Three area churches together offer a communal worship service at 10 am, outside on the Morristown Green.  All are welcome to join members of The Presbyterian Church in Morristown, the Morristown United Methodist Church, and the Bethel AME Church. Some seating will be provided; or bring a lawn chair.

Summer worship services return to the Morristown Green.
Summer worship services return to the Morristown Green.

 

The Garden State Comic Fest comes to Mennen Arena in Morris Township, from 10 am to 6 pm. See Saturday entry for details.

The Birchwood Manor Antiques Show runs from 11 am to 5 pm. See Saturday entry for details.

Josh Oliver, singer, guitarist
Josh Oliver

The Macculloch Hall Historical Museum concludes its Summer Concerts in the Garden Series with a 4 pm concert by Josh Oliver, a singer and guitarist who has toured or recorded with many top acts on the folk/Americana circuit, including Mandarin Orange, The Black Lillies and Amy Speace.  Tickets are $15 for the general public, and $10 for members, seniors and students. Children under 12 are free. Discounted tours of the museum are available to concert-goers. Please bring blankets or lawn chairs for the performance. Not pets; service animals, only. If the weather is bad, the concert moves indoors. At 45 Macculloch Ave., Morristown.

Studio Yoga in Madison hosts a 4 pm concert to honor the late composer and artist Paul J. Gallagher.   Mezzo soprano Ella Ackerman, a former student of Gallagher, will perform, along with flutist Martha Cargo and the duo Naked Roots Conducive.  Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and $10 for students (with ID) and seniors.  At 2 Green Village Road. Call 973-966-5311 for more.

paul gallagher tribute poster

It’s your last chance to share some outdoor laughs with four girl-crazy young scholars, at Shakespeare Under the Stars.  The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents its last two performances of Love’s Labour’s Lost, at 4:30 pm and 8 pm at the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morris Township. See Thursday entry for details.

The Market Street Mission shelters upwards of 90 people on winter nights. Photo by R.J. Meyer
The Market Street Mission . Photo by R.J. Meyer

The Market Street Mission  has been reclaiming lives for more than a century.  At 6 pm, the public is invited to its Life Class Graduation ceremony on the Morristown Green, followed by a reception across the street at the Morristown United Methodist Church (where the ceremony will move, if it rains).  The event will celebrate victories of men who have completed their recovery programs.

 

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