Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
A Note from the Artistic Director
I'm really, REALLY excited for our summer camps.
In addition to our old favorites, Jazz Camp and Rock Camp, we're bringing back All-Girl Band Camp for a second time around. If you haven't seen last year's performance videos from the Crossroads and the Oakes Center, they're all up at the Elefante YouTube Channel.
Our Music Theater Camp theme this year is All Roads Lead to Broadway. I got to thinking about all the recent Broadway shows that have been based on movies, and how that was a relatively new phenomenon. It reminded me that shows come from all sorts of sources, but most of them come from four places - the movies, the library, the radio, and real life.
So that's the theme of this year's MTC performances. Each section of the show will feature songs from either film, books and plays, popular music, or history. I can't wait to start putting the show together.
Speaking of which - I know it seems like a long time away, but there's no better time than the present to sign up for summer camp. Contact Stefani at (908) 464-5928 or shealey@elefantemusic.com for more information or to register. Or visit the Summer at Elefante page.
Thanks!
Joe Elefante
Artistic Director
Elefante School for the Performing Arts
Sunday, February 13, 2011
"The Gateway Game"
In Joe's latest column for The Alternative Press, "The Gateway Game," he bids a fond farewell to Guitar Hero, and explores its role in getting kids involved with music.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Jersey Voices
I've forwarded a message from my friend Bob Denmark at Chatham Community Players.
Joe Elefante
Hello New Jersey Playwrights
Hope it has been a good year for all of you. It is once again time to be thinking about submitting one-acts for Jersey Voices. For those of you who have already sent along submissions for Jersey Voices '11 - thank you! For those of you who have not, I want to remind you that the deadline is coming up soon - this years DEADLINE is MARCH 15th. So please put the finishing touches on those plays sitting on you desk/desktop and send them along. This year we are only accepting submissions by e-mail to the address listed below. This transition has been a few years in coming and now it's here.
Play submissions of any genre (including short musical and dance pieces), style and length up to 20 minutes running time will be accepted through March 15, 2011. Selected pieces will be performed in our Black Box Theater in Chatham on the last weekend in July and first weekend in August.
If we've not chosen your work in the past, please don't give up on us. Each year we have produced new pieces by an author whose work we've passed over in the past; it usually has more to do with trying to balance 6 separate pieces for an enjoyable evening of theater than it has to do with the quality of the piece which has been passed over. In fact, under these circumstances, we have often held over a piece we've liked and given it consideration in the following year. Some of these 'holdovers' have subsequently been chosen, produced, and favorably received.
I'm looking forward to seeing your work this year and, as I know that many of you come to see Jersey Voices, to seeing you again this summer. If you have not already introduced yourself, when you're in the audience please stay for the reception we have after each performance and introduce yourself. We'd love to meet you.
If you have any questions, visit our website at www.chathamplayers.org or send me an e-mail at jerseyvoices@chathamplayers.org. We're accepting scripts this year by e-mail only to:
Best regards,
Bob Denmark, Producer
Jersey Voices '11
Friday, February 4, 2011
"Too Much Public Theater?"
Latest column in Elefante on Entertainment: "Too Much Public Theater?"
Brand new National Endowment for the Arts Chairman and perennial firebrand Rocco Landesman made some typically controversial comments at a conference in Washington last week.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The Joe Elefante Big Band Returns
The Joe Elefante Big Band Returns
Sunday, January 30th, 7:30-10:30pm
Trumpets Jazz Club & Restaurant
6 Depot Square, Montclair NJ
(973) 744-2600 * www.trumpetsjazz.com
$10 cover/$5 min.
After a hiatus or nearly five years, the Joe Elefante Big Band is returning to Trumpets, one of the venues it played frequently before becoming the house band at Cecil’s Jazz Club for three years. From 2001-2006, the Joe Elefante Big Band was featured on ABC’s Nightline and the Fine Living Network. Nat Hentoff of the Wall Street Journal wrote: “During the evening, I could barely stay in my seat at times and often shouted in sheer pleasure...The crisp, charging brass section of the Elefante band would have delighted Duke Ellington, and the surgingly cohesive reed section recalled the sound of the Benny Carter and Thad Jones big bands...If the Joe Elefante Big Band gets booked into rooms for dancing as well as listening, there might be a revival, across the age spectrum, of transcendent romance on the dance floor.”
Come celebrate the re-emergence of this internationally acclaimed, original jazz orchestra. Be sure to make a reservation at (973) 744-2600 – it should be a MADHOUSE!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
"Happy New Year, Music World"
Our latest entry in Elefante on Entertainment:
"Happy New Year, all! Here’s to the dawn of another great year in the music world. There’s a lot to look forward to in the coming year so, with no further ado, let’s get started:" click here to continue
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
"Don't Take My Word for It"
Our latest column for Elefante on Entertainment: "Don't Take My Word for It."
"The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create." - Barack Obama
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Spiderman on the "Web"/Holiday Entertainment Options
In his latest article for The Alternative Press, Joe chronicles some of the salty banter being hurled throughout the Twitterverse about the recent spate of injuries at Spider-Man, Turn off the Dark:
And here is an article from Examiner.com about Holiday performance options:
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
R.I.P. James Moody
Today is a celebration of the life of one of the greatest jazz musicians who ever lived - and the pride of Newark, NJ.A Jazz Giant Passes
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
JerseyArts.com People's Choice Awards
If you'd like, write in "Elefante School for the Performing Arts" as best classes for kids and adults, and for best theater camp! I did... ;0)
Friday, December 3, 2010
Why You Shouldn't Watch the Grammys
Our latest column for the Alternative Press:
Monday, November 29, 2010
"Today, for Many Kids, It's Not a Choice" (pt. 4 of 4)
Robert B. Morrison has a long history as a supporter of music education and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading advocates for music and arts in education and in society. He is the founder of Quadrant Arts Education Research, the nation’s leading arts education research and intelligence organization. Mr. Morrison’s leadership in research, public policy and advocacy efforts has led to significant advancements in access to music and arts education programs across the nation.
Prior to founding Quadrant Arts Education Research Mr. Morrison was the founder of Music for All, one of the nation’s largest and most influential music education organizations where he remains Chairman Emeritus. Mr. Morrison helped develop and then served as the CEO of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation where he took a small promotional idea and created a major national brand donating more than $25 million of musical instruments to restore more than 1200 music programs. Previously, Mr. Morrison was a senior executive for the NAMM - International Music Products Association, where he served as Executive Director of the American Music Conference where he worked with the late Michael Kamen and Richard Dreyfus to create the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.
It was my immense pleasure to spend an evening with Mr. Morrison. I hope you've enjoyed his insight as much as I did. Again, if you have any comments or would like to add to the conversation, feel free to reach me at joe@elefantemusic.com. Thanks for reading!
Friday, November 19, 2010
[title of show]
Go support my friends Matt Lenz and Susan Mosher:
George St. Playhouse presents
[title of show]
November 16 - December 12, 2010
Music and Lyrics by Jeff Bowen
Book by Hunter Bell
Directed by Matt Lenz
Music Directed by Jesse Vargas
with Lauren Kennedy, Tyler Maynard, Susan Mosher and Seth Rudetsky
A musical comedy for anyone who has followed a dream. When two struggling writers make a commitment to write something new in three weeks, they quickly find that writing a comedy about the process of writing was more interesting than anything else they could write! A show about four friends taking risks, creating art, killing Vampires (the dream-destroying kind, not the Dracula kind) — and how relationships change when life happens.
Auditions for David Mamet's GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS
The Chatham Community Players will hold open auditions for GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS by David Mamet. The production runs March 4 – 19, 2011 at the Chatham Playhouse. Chase Newhart directs.
Auditions will be held on Sunday, December 5 at 6:30pm and Monday, December 6 at 7pm. Both auditions will be held at The Chatham Playhouse, 23 North Passaic Ave., Chatham. Director Chase Newhart asks that actors be familiar with the script. Sides will be provided at the audition.
The Chatham Players have an open call casting policy. ALL roles are open, none are precast, and everyone is encouraged to audition. Any questions please call Kristin Furlong at (732) 208-4184 or email her at kristinbarber33@yahoo.com. For directions or additional information, please visit www.chathamplayers.org.
Synopsis:
David Mamet's 1984 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Glengarry Glen Ross, follows the lives of four unethical Chicago real estate agents who are prepared to go to any lengths (legal or illegal) to unload undesirable real estate on unwilling prospective buyers.
Character Breakdown:
Ricky Roma (Salesman, 40s) Suave, successful, devious and out for himself.
Shelly Levine (Salesman, 50s/60s) Sinking desperately in tragic quicksand, his boastfulness will lead to humiliation.
John Williamson (Manager, 30s/40s) Without real sales experience, apparently a company man – but nevertheless willing to scam in his own interest.
Dave Moss (Salesman, 50s) Tough, crude, and too bitter to play well the hand he’s been dealt.
George Aronow (Salesman, 50s) Frustrated and meek, depressed but accepting, he is needy – but still has common sense.
James Lingk (married, 30s/40s) We meet him drinking alone. Sensitive, malleable to others and deeply flawed.
Detective Baylen (Police Officer, 40s) Experienced, no-nonsense cop. Strong – will use force when needed.
* No MSG was used in the preparation of this audition notice.
Chris Furlong
Publicity Director
Chatham Players
(201) 602-8562
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