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The February lineup at The Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg includes an eclectic blend of performances featuring puppetry, dance and spoken word; jazz, folk and world music; children’s stories; a mechanical interpretation of a one-ring circus; biographical rap songs and documentary-style music videos. The following shows will be presented:

When I Put On Your Glove (Sandglass Theater), Friday, February 1, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, February 2, at 3 p.m.; $15

Through puppetry, dance and spoken word, a daughter explores what it means to slip into her father’s art—both the art form and the actual pieces. This work addresses universal questions of belonging, childhood, loss, death and the complicated nature of navigating generational artistic legacy. As the puppets are passed into new hands, it marks a pivotal moment of generational transition for Sandglass Theater. The performance explores what legacy means in the field of puppetry, how an art form endures and transforms as it is handed to the next generation.

Hiroya Tsukamoto, Thursday, February 7, at 1 p.m. & 7 p.m.; $15 (General admission; audience members may pre-order a $5 box lunch and dine before the 1 p.m. show. The 7 p.m. show includes light refreshments.)

Innovative composer, guitarist and singer/songwriter Hiroya Tsukamoto fuses folk, jazz, world music and storytelling into intoxicating performances. Tsukamoto’s unique, impressionistic sound can be described as “cinematic guitar poetry,” and he also uses real-time recording “loops” to create layers with voice and guitar. Originally from Kyoto, Japan, Tsukamoto currently lives in NYC and tours throughout the country. He has appeared at the Blue Note in New York City and has performed, recorded and shared the stage with Esperanza Spalding, Marta Gomez, Kendrick Scott (The Crusaders), Pete Kennedy (The Kennedys), and Dave Maxwell (Muddy Waters Band).                                                       

Emily Brown and the Thing (Tall Stories), Saturday, February 9, at 1 p.m.* and 3:30 p.m.; $10 (*Relaxed performance; recommended for ages 3 and older)    

One evening, Emily Brown and her old grey rabbit, Stanley, hear a Thing crying outside their window. The poor Thing just can’t get to sleep, so Emily Brown and Stanley set off on incredible adventures to the Dark and Scary Wood, the Whirling Wastes and beyond to find the Thing’s cuddly, his bedtime milk and his medicine. But nothing seems to help him settle. This magical show, based on the much-loved, same-titled book by Cressida Cowell (author of How to Train your Dragon) and Neal Layton, features great songs, clever puppets and lovable characters. The 1 p.m. show is a “relaxed” performance, offering an inclusive environment that is welcoming for all theatre audiences.

42FT – A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels (Cirque Mechanics), Friday, February 15, at 7 p.m.; $25 & $35

Step right up ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, to Cirque Mechanics’ world of gears and canvas, pulleys and sawdust! At the center of every circus rests a 42-foot ring, and 42FT – A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels is the latest invention from the creative minds of Cirque Mechanics. Experience a unique mechanical interpretation of the traditional one-ring circus, where the action brims with theatricality and a modern sensibility. Mechanical marvels include a rotating tent frame for strongmen, acrobats and aerialists and a galloping mechanical horse. It’s a show filled with thrills, laughs and excitement—plus a little clowning around. A free pre-show juggling workshop for ticketholders will be held from 6-6:40 p.m. Registration is required and space is limited. Email lisa.melillo@raritanval.edu for information and to reserve your spot.

Kristin Andreassen, Thursday, February 21, at 1 p.m. & 7 p.m.; $15 (General admission; audience members may pre-order a $5 box lunch and dine before the 1 p.m. show. The 7 p.m. show includes light refreshments.)

Nashville-based Kristin Andreassen is a singer, award-winning songwriter and percussive dancer whose performances are both “inventive” (The New Yorker) and “haunting” (NPR’s Folk Alley). Her songwriting spans the playfulness of her #1 hit children's song, "Crayola Doesn't Make a Color for Your Eyes” (featured on NPR's A Prairie Home Companion), and the visceral truth in her war ballad, “How the Water Walks.” A respected voice in songwriter circles, Andreassen has created music for Showtime’s The Affair and ABC’s Nashville. Her live show has made Top 10 lists at Pop Matters and NPR’s Mountain Stage.

The Bright Siders, Friday, February 22, at 7 p.m.*; $10 (*Relaxed performance; recommended for ages 4 and older)

The Bright Siders present music that helps kids and families have meaningful conversations about emotions. Created by award-winning songwriter Kristin Andreassen and Brooklyn child psychiatrist Dr. Kari Groff, the Bright Siders offer excellent musicianship and skillful audience engagement. Andreassen had a #1 kids’ radio hit with the infectiously rhythmic “Crayola Doesn’t Make a Color for Your Eyes,” and Dr. Groff is well-known in NYC and beyond for her warm and genuine approach to young patients and her joyful music. The “relaxed” performance offers an inclusive environment that is welcoming for all theatre audiences.

Shaun Boothe’s Unauthorized Biography Series, Thursday, February 28, at 7 p.m.; $15 & $25

An award-winning hip hop artist, TEDx speaker and creator of The Unauthorized Biography Series, Shaun Boothe celebrates the world’s greatest cultural icons—including Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammed Ali, Oprah Winfrey, and President Barack Obama—through biographical rap songs and documentary-style music videos. The high-energy performance tells the life stories of eight of the world’s greatest leaders and heroes, repackaging history through hip-hop. Boothe is renowned for his conceptual and highly interactive performances—many of which have opened concerts of multi-platinum recording artists. This critically acclaimed performance is much more than a presentation; it’s a celebration and a chance for all of us to learn from the “greats.”

For tickets, call the Box Office, 908-725-3420, or order online at www.rvccArts.org. Senior citizen, student and group discounts are available for most performances.

RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 9, 2019

PR #76