iMPACt
A look behind the curtain at Mayo Performing Arts Center
Nutcracker: An Annual Delight! PAGE 6
Inside:
Starlight Ball Shines New shows added!
iMPACt A look2018 behind the curtain at Mayo Performing Arts Center winter
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Season’s Greetings! We hope that you and your family are enjoying a fabulous holiday season. MPAC has been celebrating the season with great holiday shows including the annual return of New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker, returning on December 14. If you’ve never seen Nutcracker with a live orchestra, this is a bucket-list entertainment experience for your family. There’s been much happening at MPAC over the past few months, including our annual Starlight Ball, our holiday food drive and more, and we’ve added several new and exciting events that may just happen to make great ideas for presents! Of course, don’t forget about MPAC gift certificates — great stocking stuffers for family, friends and co-workers to share your MPAC love. Happy Holidays from the entire staff at MPAC!
Fall highlights
Seen and heard around MPAC this fall!
MPAC celebrated the beginning of the 18-19 season with a performance by Vanessa Williams.
MPAC and Hanover Wind Symphony honored area military with a Veterans Day concert on November 11.
Over a dozen local high school musicians were honored prior to the November 26 Canadian Brass concert as November Music Students of the Month.
Roy Orbison came “back to life” as a first-ever hologram concert held on November 12.
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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Connect with us
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Starlight Ball Shines
It truly felt like a night in Monte Carlo when
MPAC rolled a seven at the 20th Annual starlight Ball, Friday, november 16th at the Park savoy in Florham Park. MPAC’s major fundraising event of the year was the most successful one in our organization’s history, drawing a sold out crowd of nearly 300 people who came to honor Board Chair Joseph goryeb and celebrate the theatre. over $540,000 was raised to support MPAC’s world-class arts education programs that will serve 40,000 students and families this fiscal year, including an expansion of the Miracle Project at MPAC, a theater arts program for children and young adults on the autism spectrum and with other special needs.
MPAC President & CEO Allison Larena and Board Chair and honoree Joseph Goryeb
Attendees dance the night away to the music of the Tom Costello Orchestra.
the James Bond “Casino royale” themed evening included a silent auction, “casino cocktail hour” and formal dinner, dancing, music from the tom Costello orchestra, and a performance by MPAC’s Performing Arts Company that brought down the house. Joining the PAC were professional performers scott McCreary, Jason sofge and Jaime westberry who were leads in MPAC’s three most recent spring productions. starlight Ball Co-Chair and MPAC trustee Marylyn Mclaughlin said, “Joe goryeb has been our rock for many years. the success of this year’s starlight Ball is a testament to how this community feels about Joe and his outstanding contributions to our theatre and community.” Please save the date for next year’s starlight Ball which will return to the Park savoy estate on november 15, 2019.
Jeanne Goryeb enjoys a game of chance.
MPAC Board Chair and honoree Joseph Goryeb with Chairman Emeritus Bud Mayo and his wife Sudy.
Click here to see more photos from the starlight Ball. The Performing Arts Company wows the audience
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A look behind the curtain at Mayo Performing Arts Center
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Member News
Give a Ticket, Uplift a Spirit
This holiday season please join MPAC in giving joy, inspiration, imagination and hope to thousands of people in need in our community. Did you know that each year, MPAC proudly provides over 8,000 lower-income and at-risk members of our community with free tickets to world-class performances through our partnerships with social service organizations? The cost of this commitment is over $300,000 a year. We are able to provide arts
access to all thanks to the outstanding generosity of members like you. Your contribution to our year-end campaign makes an iMPACt! For a donation of $50, you will give one grateful individual the opportunity to enjoy a world-class
performance right here in Morristown. For $100, you’ll give this opportunity to a couple, and for $250, you’ll give a soul-enriching evening to a small family. Thank you for your outstanding generosity, and we wish you and your family the happiest of holidays! Please click here to donate today.
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Ready, set, SHOP!
Shop Amazon – Support MPAC
MPAC’s annual online auction is on! Bid on signed memorabilia, restaurant gift certificates, tickets to sporting events, fun overnight packages and more! All Signed Jackson Browne memorabilia is just one proceeds from the amazing item in our holiday auction. auction support MPAC’s arts education programs. Click here to bid on our The auction runs through online auction items. Monday, December 10th at 8:00 p.m.
Did you know that you can support MPAC while you shop during the holidays and all year long at smile.amazon.com? Amazon will donate .5% of eligible purchases to MPAC at NO cost to you. Please sign up for MPAC Amazon Smile by clicking here and make MPAC your default charity of choice. Every time you shop Amazon, just make sure you log on to smile.amazon.com and you don’t have to do anything else but shop!
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A look behind the curtain at Mayo Performing Arts Center
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Starlight Members Celebrate the Season
Starlight Members Jeff and Jennifer Kalajian enjoy festive spirits at the Starlight Society Holiday Happy Hour on November 26.
MPAC PRESENTS ACClAIMED DOCUMENTARy several hundred people came out for MPAC’s free screening of the acclaimed documentary Intelligent Lives on october 22. Following the screening, a Q/A discussion was held with richard Feldman and Janice Fialka (pictured below), parents of Micah, featured in the documentary. october was national disability Awareness Month. the free screening at MPAC was made possible by the generous support of Bruce and Ilene Jacobs, pictured above with their daughter Lauren Jacobs-Lazer. Intelligent Lives stars three pioneering young American adults with intellectual disabilities — Micah, Naieer, and Naomie — who challenge perceptions of intelligence as they navigate high school, college, and the workforce.
MPAC hosted a Holiday Happy Hour for Starlight Members and their guests on Monday, November 26, prior to the concert by the Canadian Brass. The Happy Hour was a chance for the Theatre to thank Starlight Members for their generous support throughout the year. Click here to learn more about The Starlight Society and membership benefits.
MPAc Business Breakfast MPAC’s most recent Business Breakfast took place on Thursday, October 25. Michele N. Siekerka, Esq. (pictured right) from the New Jersey Business & Industry Association presented a talk on “Millennial Outmigration” in MPAC’s Starlight Room. According to Ms. Siekerka, “New Jersey is bleeding its future workforce with the outmigration of high school students to institutions outside the state. But there are ways to get a better return on our educational investment by retaining and attracting our future workforce.” At the Breakfast, Business Circle members and guests enjoyed networking and complimentary breakfast, as well as backstage tours of MPAC’s venue. Click here to learn more about the Business Circle and other membership options.
Purchase Gift Memberships for your friends and have them share your joy of MPAC! Click here to order. iMPACt
A look behind the curtain at Mayo Performing Arts Center
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NJ Ballet’s Nutcracker a Feast for the Eyes and Ears When the curtain rises, you will be swept away into the magical world of Nutcracker!
New Jersey Ballet’s seasonal presentation of the holiday classic returns to Mayo Performing Arts Center for 14 performances beginning Friday, December 14 at 7:30 pm. New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Gary S. Fagin, will provide live orchestral accompaniment. Tickets are $29-69. Audiences in Morristown can expect the eye-popping special effects, brilliant dancing, glorious costumes, and the magic and pantomime that have inspired critics to call it “A spectacle that never seems to age…magic that should go on and on,” and “One of the best…as good as it gets.” There is no better way to enjoy this holiday tradition than seeing it live on stage with an orchestra.
New this season are three performances held post-Christmas, Dec. 26 and Dec. 27. As the time leading up to the holidays may be too busy for some families, MPAC will hold three perfor mances after the holidays — including two matinees — for families who want to keep the spirit of the season going even after Christmas. New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker is the longest running original professional production in the
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A look behind the curtain at Mayo Performing Arts Center
state. It debuted in Millburn in 1971 with international star of New York City Ballet Edward Villella as the Cavalier. Since then, the company has given approximately 900 per formances in theatres throughout New Jersey, with more than 5,000 dancers and children, and more than a million viewers. Many in the audience who saw the production as children now bring their own children and grandchildren to see this cherished holiday tradition. While you are in town, make sure that you explore the many other traditions in Morristown during the holiday season, including activities on the Morristown Green, explore then many shops and make it a day with lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants in town. MayoArts.org
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MPAC News and Notes MPAC Named Employer of the Year Mayo Performing Arts Center was honored as “Employer of the Year” by Employment Horizons at its annual Recognition Dinner on October 18th at Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park.
Hispanic Night at MPAC MPAC welcomed members of the Morris County Arts and Culture Collective to the November 17 performance of Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. A pre-show cocktail hour celebrated the kickoff of LatinX ConeXiones 2019, a year-long initiative celebrating Hispanic arts and artists throughout the county at theatres, colleges, art galleries and more. MPAC is a member of the Collective.
MPAC Hosts Holiday Food Drive Mayo Performing Arts Center is holding a food drive this holiday season with all donations going to Community Soup Kitchen (CSK) of Morristown. Patrons attending events are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items and personal care items at shows. Donations may also be dropped off at the box office during regular business hours (10 am – 6 pm, Mon. – Sat.). The Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center provides nutritious meals in a warm, safe and caring environment, free of charge, no questions asked, to anyone who comes seeking nourishment.
MPAC was honored for its proactive support of diversity in the workplace for people with special needs and other barriers to employment. Employment Horizons noted that MPAC “values Employment Horizons clients, collaborates on ways to help them succeed without judgement and welcome the opportunity to help them on their career path.” “MPAC is committed to creating opportunities and opening doors for individuals without barriers,” said Allison Larena, President and CEO, Mayo Performing Arts Center. “We value all of our employees as important members of the MPAC family and thank Employment Horizons for this incredible recognition.”
Education Update
Miracle project expands MPAC is adding an “Improv for Interaction” Miracle Project class — a class designed to help young adults with autism build real life skills at a time when most resources drop off for them. This component of The Miracle Project will repurpose traditional theater games to “rehearse for life” by exploring self-advocacy, selfesteem, relationships, self-care, job skills and others topics related to being a young adult. Click here for more information.
–––––––– · Registration is ongoing for Spring Performing Arts School Classes. Register online today! · Look for a BIG announcement for our Spring musical – coming soon!
iMPACt
A look behind the curtain at Mayo Performing Arts Center
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On Stage
Just added!
Coming Soon December
Ask the Matchmaker: Patti Stanger Live! Thursday, February 7
NEEDTOBREATHE: Acoustic Live Tour Sunday, March 17
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Nutcracker
1/4 Comedy Night 1/6 Sing-A-Long Grease 1/11 The Capitol Steps 1/13 Pinkalicious 1/19 American Girl Live 1/24 Josh Gates 1/25 Tuck & Eaglemania 1/26 The Magic of Adam Trent
Jackie Evancho: An Evening with the New American Songbook Saturday, February 23
Johnny Mathis: The Voice of Romance Tour 2019 Friday, March 15
Donny & Marie Holiday Show 98 Degrees at Christmas Free Movie: The Polar Express
January
Cat & Nat: #MOMTruths Live Thursday, March 21
Steve Martin & Martin Short: “ Now You See Them, Soon You Won’t” Featuring Chatham County Line and Jeff Babko Friday, March 1
12/6 12/7 12/9 12/14– 12/27
Foreigner: The Hits on Tour Wednesday, May 8
february
2/1 Havana Cuba All Stars 2/2 Legends in Concert 2/3 Johnny Peers and the Muttville Comix 2 /8–9 Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella 2/13 Love Letters 2/15 Disney’s DCappella 2/17 Shanghai Opera Symphony 2/21 Reduced Shakespeare Co. 2/23 Jackie Evancho 2/28 Rain — A Tribute to The Beatles
See the full schedule of events at MayoArts.org
Concert Spotlight
Happy Together Tour 2019 Friday, June 14 A look behind the curtain at Mayo Performing Arts Center
Pitch Perfect meets Disney classics in a mashup that’s 100% voice and 100% Disney. Hear your favorite Disney songs in a way you’ve never heard them before! Click here to learn more. MayoArts.org
| fall 2018