'FORUM', SPAMALOT & More Set for MCCC's Kelsey Theatre's 2013-14 Season

Something familiar, something peculiar, something for everyone, a comedy tonight! Mercer County Community College's (MCCC) Kelsey Theatre kicks off its 2013-14 season with a trip back to Roman times when PinnWorth Productions presents "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" Sept. 6 to 15. This high-energy classic starts off a colorful season of 22 full-length dramas and musical productions, along with eight shows for the younger set through the Kelsey Kids Series, performed by traveling professional troupes and local companies.

Kelsey Theatre is conveniently located on the college's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.

Discounted series packages are on sale now; subscribers receive over 45 percent off regular ticket prices. Subscriptions are also available for the Kelsey Kids Series. Current subscribers must renew by Aug. 10 to receive priority seating. New subscriber orders will be filled after Aug. 10. Tickets for all single shows go on sale Aug. 20.

In addition to "A Funny Thing Happened," the fall scheduled includes: "A Flea in Her Ear" Sept. 20-29 (The Yardley Players); "Big River - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" Oct. 4-13 (The Pennington Players); "Laramie Project - A Staged Reading" Oct. 6 (The James Tolin Memorial Fund); "TBA, The Musical" Oct. 18-27 (a Halloween special based on the bestselling novel by the King of Horror that just recently left Broadway and presented by Pierrot Productions); "Rosmersholm" Oct. 24 (MCCC Academic Theatre Company and Professor Emeritus Mel Leipzig); "Working" Nov. 1-10 (Playful Theatre Productions); and "Spamalot" Nov. 15-Dec. 1 (Maurer Productions OnStage).

Family events in December will add to holiday merriment. Children and their grown-ups will enjoy "Annie the Movie Sing-Along" Dec. 13-14, followed by the Nutcracker-inspired Latin and Spanish dance spectacular "El Sueno" Dec. 15 (Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre).

More memorable events come to Kelsey Theatre in 2014: "Love! Valour! Compassion," Jan. 10-19 (PinnWorth Productions); "The Actor's Nightmare and A Night in the Theatre" Jan. 24-26 (M&M Stage); "The 39 Steps" Jan. 31 to Feb. 9 (Pierrot Productions); "Eric Clapton - Journeyman," Feb. 15-16 (Reock & Roll Revue); "Master Class" Feb. 21-March 2 (The Pennington Players); "Peter Pan, the Musical" Mar. 8-14 (The Yardley Players); the acclaimed Broadway musical set in 19th century France - we can't mention the name in print, but let's just say that we can "hear the people sing" - Mar. 28-April 13 (Playful Theatre Productions); "Hair" April 25-May 4 (MCCC Theatre and Entertainment Technology students); "Something for Everyone" May 10-11 (Mercer Dance Ensemble); "The Great American Trailer Park Musical" May 16-25 (Pierrot Productions); "Shrek, the Musical" May 30-June 8 (Maurer Productions); and "Much Ado About Nothing" June 13-22 (Shakespeare '70).

Children's shows include "The Velveteen Rabbit" Oct. 19 (Theatre IV); "Heidi" Nov. 9 (Kaleidoscope Theatre); "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" Dec. 6-8 (The Kelsey Players); "The Nutcracker" Dec. 20-22 (The New Jersey Youth Ballet); "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" Jan. 11 (Theatreworks/USA and Two Beans Productions); "The Monster Who Ate My Peas" Feb. 8 (ArtsPower); "Stuart Little" April 5 (Theatre IV); and "The Emperor's New Clothes" May 17 (Kaleidoscope Theatre).

Ticket prices for full-length musicals are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $16 for students/children; non-musicals are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, and $14 for students/children. Ticket prices for the Kelsey Kids Series are $10 for children and seniors, and $12 for adults. Discounted subscriber packages include premium seating, exchanges for performances of the same show, special "add-a-show" rates, and advance sales of single tickets. Group discounts are also available.

To purchase a subscriber series or for tickets to individual shows, call the Kelsey Theatre Box Office at 609-570-3333. Online purchases will be available Aug. 20 at www.kelseytheatre.net. Patrons may also purchase tickets by mail with checks payable to MCCC/Kelsey Theatre, P.O. Box 17202, Trenton NJ 08690, or by ordering in person at the Box Office. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon; and one hour before show time. Gift certificates are available in any amount. Kelsey Theatre has open auditions for many of its productions and welcomes assistance from community volunteers to usher and work behind the scenes. The theater gratefully accepts donations. Call 609-570-3581 or visit the website for more information.

The theater is wheelchair accessible and has secure lighted parking. Funding for performances is made possible in part by the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission through funding from the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.

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