Beauty and the Beast – A Gothic Romance
American Repertory Ballet
Thu, Oct 4 and Fri, Oct 5 at 10am & 12:30pm / Victoria Theater
Introduce your students to contemporary ballet with this intriguing version of Beauty and the Beast – here reset in 19th century New Jersey, deep in the haunted forests of the Pine Barrens, and with the legendary Jersey Devil as the monster of the title. This major new work for young audiences, choreographed by Graham Lustig, is danced to lush string music of Rossini.
Grades 4 – 6

Latin Jazz Festival
with Los Hombres Calientes
Mon, Oct 29 at 10am & 12:30pm / Victoria Theater
Jazz, Cuban music, Brazilian rhythms, American funk – they all come into play with Los Hombres Calientes. Led by acclaimed trumpeter Irvin Mayfield, this Grammy-nominated, brass-powered jam-band brings together some of the best players from New Orleans, who will transport students through a sweeping panorama of Afro-Caribbean styles. “This is one of the smartest – and most fun – bands anywhere!” raves Newsweek.
Grades 6 – 12

The 5 Browns
Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondre and Desirae Brown, pianists
with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Fri, Nov 2 at noon / Prudential Hall
They’ve been breaking records for attendance at classical music concerts around the country, exciting young audiences new to classical music – and now they come to NJPAC’s SchoolTime series. These Utah-born brothers and sisters (ranging in age from 20 to 27) are Juilliard-trained pianists who bring all the youthful zest of pop music to the classical realm. Their program at NJPAC will include arrangements of music for multiple pianos, including works by Mozart, Stravinsky, and Gershwin.(This performance is in Prudential Hall.)
Grades 5 – 8

Dying to Be Thin
Roseneath Theater
Wed, Nov 14 and Thu, Nov 15 at 10am & 12:30pm / Victoria Theater
This company specializes in original productions that address the complex issues impacting today’s young audiences. In Dying to Be Thin, they go behind closed doors to take a powerful look at eating disorders and the effects of bulimia on one young woman. Provocative, poignant, and surprisingly humorous, Dying to Be Thin is sure to open a dialogue with students on issues like body image and peer pressure.
Grades 7 – 11

The Sound of Music
Salzburg Marionette Theater
Fri, Nov 30 at 10am & 12:30pm / Victoria Theater
Enjoy a few of your favorite things in a delightfully different way! This magical troupe returns to NJPAC, this time to spin some entirely new magic with their one-of-a-kind production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s immortal Sound of Music. "Spellbinding artistry!" says The New York Times.
Grades 2 – 5

Oy Vey! Chanukah!
Sruli & Lisa
Fri, Dec 7 at 10am & 12:30pm / Victoria Theater
Chanukah comes to vibrant life onstage with this delightful musical duo, a favorite on NPR and on a series of best-selling family albums. Sruli & Lisa’s Oy Vey! Chanukah! is an amusing, interactive celebration of traditional Klezmer and other holiday music. "Superb musicians!" says The Los Angeles Times. "A delight from start to finish!"
Grades 2 – 6

The Spirit of Kwanzaa
Seewe African Dance Company
Wed, Dec 12 through Fri, Dec 14 at 10am & 12:30pm / Victoria Theater
Celebrate Kwanzaa with this expert company of dancers and musicians dedicated to African song, dance and folklore. Their high-energy, colorfully costumed performances incorporate live music played on traditional instruments, including the bote, the krin, the balaphone, and the djembe orchestra.
Grades 5 – 12

CeCe Winans
A Joyous Gospel Holiday
Thu, Dec 13 at noon / Prudential Hall
Grammy Award-winner CeCe Winans headlines this spirited holiday celebration. This electrifying vocalist, who has been winning acclaim for her latest praise and worship CD, Purified, will bring a soulful program of gospel classics and holiday favorites. “With each successive release, Winans continues to grow in artistic leaps and bounds,” says Billboard.
Grades 7 – 12

Three Kings Day Celebration
¡Retumba!
Fri, Jan 4 at 10am & 12:30pm / Victoria Theater
This colorful Three Kings Day celebration welcomes the one-of-a-kind ¡Retumba!, a multi-ethnic, all-female ensemble dedicated to the folkloric culture of Latin-European and Afro-Caribbean cultures, including music andf dance from Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Do minican Republic, Haiti and Brazil.
Grades 4 – 8

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Sounds of Blackness
Thu, Jan 10 at noon / Prudential Hall
Celebrate the life of one of the twentieth’s century’s most inspiring leaders with Sounds of Blackness, a Grammy-winning ensemble that performs the vast array of African-American music – from jazz, blues and soul to reggae, hip-hop, and rock-and-roll. This celebration will also include a guest speaker to be announced.
Grades 7 – 12

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