Shakespeare NJ Hosts Costume & Prop Sale 10/20

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will hold its second Biennial Costume and Prop Sale on Saturday October 20 at The Shakespeare Theatre's Main Stage - the F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre.  Doors open at 10AM sharp.  Admission is free.

The sale will feature hundreds of items from The Shakespeare Theatre's vast costume collection in addition to one-of-a-kind items from the prop collection.  From period style dresses to masks to decorative items for the home, there is sure to be something for everyone.    All items are priced to sell.   All proceeds raised by the sale will support The Theatre's educational and artistic programs. 

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Main Stage, the 308-seat F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, is conveniently located in Madison at 36 Madison Avenue (Route 124) at Lancaster Road (on the Drew University campus), just minutes from routes 287, 78 and 10. Parking is free.   For more information, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.  

Also part of the Halloween week celebration, The Shakespeare Theatre will debut a new education program, Midday With Masters, on Thursday, October 25 at 11AM with a program entitled The Art of the Mask.  The program features a 90-minute presentation on the role of the masks in theatre, a plethora of mask samples of all varieties and styles and an on-stage demonstration of various mask-making techniques.   In addition, the program will feature a demonstration of head-casting - a process used to create the heads-on-pikes for The Shakespeare Theatre's production of Henry VI: Blood & Roses running October 10 through November 11.    Following the session, participants are invited to lunch at The Garlic Rose, offering 10 percent off the meal with your ticket; or Soho 33, offering a free dessert and coffee with your meal.

Tickets are $25 each or $75 for the series of four events which also include "Scenic Painting Tricks of the Trade: Techniques to Bring Home" on November 15, "A Victorian Christmas Adventure" on December 6 and "Bonnets Bows & Beehives" on January 17.    For more information or to purchase tickets, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.  

As a not-for-profit regional theatre, approximately 50% of the annual cost to produce The Shakespeare Theatre season and educational programs is earned through ticket sales. The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey relies on contributions from corporate, foundation, and government sources and donations from individuals to maintain its Main Stage, Outdoor Stage and educational programming. Only with such support can The Shakespeare Theatre continue its education programs such as Shakespeare LIVE! which tours 1-hour versions of Shakespeare and other classic works to schools throughout the region annually; the Student Matinee Series which offers middle and high-school students and teachers the opportunity to attend school time performances of Main Stage productions and the Summer Professional Training Program which offers young actors, designers, technicians, and administrators hands-on professional training during an intensive 11-week summer program annually.

The 45th Anniversary Main Stage Season continues with Henry VI: Blood & Roses adapted by Brian B. Crowe (Oct. 10 - Nov. 11); and the American East Coast premiere of the family classic tale A Christmas Carol, based on the novel by Charles Dickens, adapted for the stage by Neil Bartlett (Nov. 27 - December 31).