Around the Towns – This Weekend’s Activities and Events

Friday February 22

The Chatham Community Players present their newest production, “Play On!”, beginning on February 22 and will run through March 9. If you are looking for a good laugh, the Chatham players may have a cure with Rick Abbott’s hilarious play within a play.

4th Wall Theatre continues its 22nd season with the one weekend production of Lynn Nottage’s, “Intimate Apparel” at the Burgdorff Cultural Center for the Performing Arts in Maplewood.  Inspired by a true story, Intimate Apparel is a heart-rending contemporary work from Nottage, the first female playwright to win two Pulitzer Prizes. The show will be presented as part of the Black History Month celebrations on February 22, 23, and 24.

Saturday February 23

From 1:00 to 4:00, the Westfield YMCA will be hosting a Kids Expo featuring inflatables, sports class stations, dance academy, camp open house, carnival games, and arts & crafts.

Sunday, February 24

Learn how early settlers tapped maple trees and turned the sap into delicious maple syrup at Summit Reeves-Reed Arboretum Maple Sugar Fest.  Maple Sugar scavenger hunt and local maple sugar sampling will round out the day.  Maple Sugaring Fest is FREE for RRA Members and children under 3. The cost for Non-Members is $5 per person, $25 maximum per family. 1:00 – 4:00pm

New Jersey Festival Orchestra presents TOSCA at the Concert Hall at Drew University.  Come watch a cast of internationally acclaimed guest performers for this gripping tale of love, lust, corruption and ultimate struggle for survival. Composter Puccini’s irresistible lyric genius has long made Tosca one of opera’s most breathtaking masterpieces.For tickets and information www.njfestivalorchestra.org

Organist Kevin Davis will be accompanied by Jeffrey Clearman in a stirring and entertaining Organ Duet: 4 Hands and 4 Feet at the Calvary Church in Summit.    The program will feature music for 2 organists playing a single instrument in addition to several organ solos by each performer.

From 9:00 to 10:00am, the Van Vleck House and Gardens in Montclair will be hosting a guided family hike through their gardens where you will learn all about bustling activity of birds and other critters during the winter months .

To celebrate the Lunar New Year, a celebration will be held at Livingston Public Library at 3:00 pm. The celebration will include traditional Chinese dancing, singing, and music played on Chinese instruments called Pipa and Hulusi.

Livingston Symphony Orchestra presents “Musical Storytellers” through Britten’s”Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” and Strauss’  playful “Till Eulenspiegel”.  Narrated by professional actor Jimmy Noonan, the program will be followed by complimentary Tofutti frozen desserts. Tickets at door.