iMPACt
A look behind the curtain at Mayo Performing Arts Center
BASF Makes Chemistry with MPAC PAGE 4
Inside:
iMPACt A look2019 behind the curtain at Mayo Performing Arts Center spring
it’s member month! Student Art Cover Contest Grease is the Word
MayoArts.org
| fall 2018
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March is Member Appreciation Month! Thank you to all of our members who help to
sustain our mission year and after year. Your support helps to make MPAC the best venue in New Jersey. Learn more about membership on p. 6. This month’s cover story looks at the reasons behind how one corporation supports MPAC through sponsorship of programs that align with its corporate mission. Find out other ways your company can support MPAC on p. 5. Every spring brings the excitement of new beginnings, and we’re thrilled to be presenting great concerts, community events and more, including our annual free National Geographic Live! speaker and our upcoming spring production of Grease. More details are available inside the pages of this quarter’s iMPACt.
Winter highlights
March Music Students of the Month — Outstanding Percussionists — were recognized prior to the performance of the Kodo Drummers March 14. MSOM is supported by the Walter F. and Alice Gorham Foundation.
Comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short delighted a sold out crowd at MPAC on March 1.
MPAC staged a free community concert featuring the Jazz Ambassadors of the U.S Army Field Band on Monday, March 18.
MPAC served as a regional host to the statewide student spoken word competition Poetry Out Loud. MPAC also coordinated the statewide finals in Toms River this year.
OUR MISSION: Mayo Performing Arts Center, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit performing arts organization, presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey.
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Seen and heard around MPAC
iMPACt
A look behind the curtain at Mayo Performing Arts Center
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MayoArts.org | spring 2019
Education News Area Students Design MPAC Program Book Covers Winning selections to be distributed on programs in March–June
Anna Thach, Grade 8, East Hanover Middle School, and Aliyah Ravin, Grade 11, Randolph High School, were selected as the winners of Mayo Performing Arts Center’s annual student art cover contest. The winning works will appear on MPAC program book covers that will be seen by approximately 10,000 patrons who use those books in that timeframe.
Grease is the Word!
“Being the winner of this year’s program is certainly an honor,” Miss Thach said. “When the arts have played such a significant role in my life, whether music or actual art or theatre, it’s easy to really appreciate and acknowledge it.”
MPAC’s annual spring
“I am more than grateful for my piece to be selected,” Miss Ravin added. “It was amazing to see how others took the four words given to us and created such a variety of different pieces. Contests such as this one are extremely import to allow people to explore their mind and transfer it into art, but also for others to expand their imagination by seeing how others took the prompt.”
MPAC ’s 7th spring production to take the stage at the end of May musical is currently in rehearsals! This year, MPAC presents the classic stage musical, Grease.
Grease will be staged May 31–June 2. Tickets will go on sale April 1. Over 140 young performers auditioned for the show, which will have a cast of over 50.
top photo: Anna Thach, East Hanover; bottom photo, Aliyah Ravin, Randolph.
Over 60 students from area schools participated in the contest. The winning entries were announced at a reception on Monday, February 25, and all entries were on display in the MPAC’s Art Upstairs Gallery through March 3. “The MPAC Program Art Contest is an incredibly wonderful program providing students with the opportunity of taking on the role of a graphic artist while designing a potential cover for MPAC’s cultural presentations,” said Mercedes Ingenito, Art Teacher, Randolph High School. “MPAC is extremely student and teacher friendly, treating our student artists with great respect and professionalism. This is an event that I continue to look forward to each year while incorporating it within my curriculum as it provides such great real life experience for the students.” Click here to view a gallery of the entries.
iMPACt
A look behind the curtain at Mayo Performing Arts Center
MPAC spring productions are unique in that the cast of young performers have an opportunity to work with a professional director, musical director, choreographer and production staff, as well as Equity Guest artists, to get a fully immersive experience of being in a professional production. Previous productions have included Shrek: The Musical, West Side Story, Mary Poppins, Les Miserables, Hairspray and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. If your company or business is interested in supporting this year’s production through sponsorship or program book advertising, please contact Justin Wynn at jwynn@mayoarts.org. MayoArts.org | spring 2019
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BASF Creates Chemistry with MPAC
Why BASF Supports MPAC’s National Geographic Live! Speaker programs
On May 1, MPAC presents two free National Geographic talks from noted photographer Bertie Gregory (see sidebar): A morning presentation for schools at 10:30 am; and a public evening presentation at 7:30 pm.
This marks the sixth year that MPAC has presented Earth Day-related National Geographic Live! presentations, all of which have been made possible by the generous support of the BASF Corporation, based in Florham Park. Thanks to BASF’s support, over 12,000 students and adults have had the opportunity to hear these prominent photographers and environmentalists speak at MPAC.
Why is it important for young students to attend sustainability events? As future stewards of the planet, today’s children will be tasked with protecting and preserving the environment. By engaging students at an early age, when they are most curious about the workings of the world, these programs help them gain knowledge and develop an appreciation of the environment and its relationship to their world.
BASF’s Andrea Studwell talks about why her organization sponsors this program and why it’s important to support MPAC. 4
iMPACt
A look behind the curtain at Mayo Performing Arts Center
That appreciation can be carried with them throughout their lives. Why is it important for BASF to give back to their community? With more than 100 locations throughout North America, our employees and sites are an integral part of the communities in which they reside. BASF understands the importance of being a good neighbor and actively participating in the communities where our employees live and work. We
above and left: Students participate in a post event Q&A with Nat Geo speakers.
MayoArts.org | spring 2019
regularly contribute to environmental and life-enhancing organizations to strengthen our communities and improve their quality of life.
economic factors. Just as importantly, we aim to create connections between people, organizations and institutions. One of BASF’s goals is to foster a collaborative and cooperative approach to solving the world’s sustainability challenges. On Earth Day and every day, BASF is proud to play a key role in creating chemistry to meet the needs of a thriving tomorrow. The arts can inspire creative scientists. How do you channel this at BASF?
CristinA MittErMEiEr sPEAkinG At 2018’s nAt GEo EvEnt
Why do you sponsor nat-geo events at MPaC? bAsF is proud to partner with MPAC and national Geographic to present programming that fosters greater awareness of the incredible world that surrounds us. At BASF, we have a very specific purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future . We are focused on developing innovative technologies to help power, feed, move, house and improve the lives of the growing world community. In both our operations and products, we seek the best possible balance among environmental, social and
Science and the arts are both creative processes. At BASF, we hope to inspire future scientists through a variety of STEM education programs for children ranging from grades K-12. We also partner with many science centers and museums to offer our interactive Kids’ Lab program (ages 4–12) by pairing chemistry and fun. We give children what they love: hands-on opportunities to explore connections between science and their world. Since 2010, we’ve had more than 170,000 students participate in Kids’ Lab across North America. As recent as this January, BASF sponsored a sold-out, STEMrelated event at MPAC for students and teachers called That Physics Show. Educational experiments were presented in a way that was exciting, fun and easy to understand for students.
About Bertie Gregory: “A Wild Life” Whether camping with wolves on Vancouver’s western beaches, pursuing peregrine falcons in London, or filming leopards in the streets of Mumbai, Bertie Gregory captures the essence of what it means to coexist peacefully — with respect and humor — alongside the magnificent creatures of the natural world. Gregory is a 24-year-old wildlife filmmaker, photographer and presenter. In July 2014, Gregory graduated in Zoology with First Class Honors from the University of Bristol. The next day, he boarded a plane to begin assisting Steve Winter in South Africa on assignment for National Geographic. Gregory is a National Geographic Young Explorer and was named the Scientific Exploration Society Zenith Explorer 2015. Prior to landing the job with Steve Winter, Gregory was named “Youth Outdoor Photographer Of The Year 2012” and his first film, West Coast Adventure, was nominated for the Youth Award at the Wildscreen Panda Awards 2014. Tickets will be available in April.
Click here to learn more about BASF.
MPAC is good for business For visibility among MPAC’s diverse network of patrons, networking opportunities, educational Business Breakfasts and world-class entertainment for clients and employees, contact Justin Wynn at jwynn@mayoarts.org to explore greater involvement at MPAC. Opportunities include Business Circle membership, performance sponsorship, and advertising.
iMPACt
A look behind the curtain at Mayo Performing Arts Center
MayoArts.org | spring 2019
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Member News Thank you, members!
March is Member Appreciation Month. It’s our opportunity to thank our generous members for their support of our programs. On March 7, members were invited to a special reception in the Starlight Room prior to a performance by the Scharoun Berlin Ensemble. There is still time to become a member at MPAC! Join anytime in March and you will be entered in a new member raffle to win two tickets to an upcoming performance at MPAC. You will also receive advance ticketing prior to the public for added events, exchange privileges and many more exciting benefits!
Starlight Society member Maggi Sellers (right) and guest Katherine Cuno (left) enjoy a glass of wine at the Membership Month Reception in the Starlight Lounge prior to the Scharoun Berlin Ensemble on March 7th.
Upgrade your membership to the Starlight Society by the end of the month and you will also be entered in a raffle to win two tickets to an upcoming performance at MPAC, and you will also receive a Bluetooth speaker. Additional exciting benefits of the Starlight Society include a special invitation for two guests to the annual Chairman’s Reception in May on the Theatre’s stage, first access to tickets for MPAC’s next season and much more! Click Here to view Membership levels and to join online or call 973-539-0345 x6526.
February’s Business Breakfast Inspires People to Find Happiness and Success
On February 26th at
MPAC’s Business Breakfast, nationally-acclaimed speaker Dennis Budinich, SVP & Chief Culture Officer of Investors Bank, delivered an inspirational talk on how to achieve success in today’s ultracompetitive world. He spoke about applying principles of positive psychology for a productive mindset, personally and professionally. Business Breakfasts are a benefit of Business Circle membership. In addition to informative topics, members enjoy networking, complimentary breakfast and backstage tours. Business Circle members also receive first access to purchase tickets to events and other great benefits. Click here to learn more.
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iMPACt
Dennis Budinich of Investors Bank speaks at the MPAC Business Breakfast on February 26.
A look behind the curtain at Mayo Performing Arts Center
MayoArts.org | spring 2019
On Stage
New events added to the schedule!
Be sure to check your MPAC emails and the MPAC website for announcement of summer concerts. We’ll be adding lots of shows to our summer schedules in the upcoming weeks! Recently announced shows
Double Dare Live May 19
Rob Thomas August 3 (SOLD OUT)
Styx May 20 (limited tickets)
Summer of Love — Woodstock Edition August 15
Collective Soul and Gin Blossoms June 4
Graham Nash September 20
Herb Alpert & Lani Hall August 1
For a full list of events, go to MayoArts.org
Don’t Be Tricked by Third Party Ticket Sites Some tips to make sure you are not getting ripped off.
MayoArts.org is the official ticketing site of Mayo Performing Arts Center. We do not work with or endorse any third party ticket sellers except NJArtsTix.com, Groupon and Goldstar (all of which discount tickets), and our presenting partners. We DO NOT sell tickets on Ticketmaster. There are many unauthorized sellers that create sites to look like ours, often selling tickets at inflated prices. A few red flags to look for:
Sample of a Third-Party site that is NOT MPAC.
• The website address is not MayoArts.org • The venue is listed as “Community Theatre” or “Mayo Center for the Performing Arts” • The ticket fees are very high • You are not shown specific seat numbers Buying directly from MPAC ensures you are getting legitimate tickets at face value, and our customer service assistance should the need arise. Always feel free to call the box office at (973) 539-8008 with any questions or if you are unsure!
iMPACt
A look behind the curtain at Mayo Performing Arts Center
MayoArts.org | spring 2019
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