Seats Are Still Available

Tickets are still available for our first winter event, featuring Joe Landry's It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play this coming weekend at the Kelsey Theatre on the campus of Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road in West Windsor, NJ.

Tonight was our first technical rehearsal, using mikes and even a few new sound effects for the first time. The cast was a bit taken aback by some of what they were hearing (or not hearing).

It's really starting to take shape now, and the actors are having even more fun with the script (though one or two still forget who they're supposed be at any given moment, but that will stop well before we open -- I hope). In all seriousness, there is no cast like a JTMF cast, and they're with us not just because they want to be onstage, but because they want to make a difference, which means egos go out the door and performance becomes the priority. This is my ninth JTMF show (and seventh time directing) and I can attest to the consistent quality of talent and dedication in our 'family.' That's our cast in the new banner photo and the photo to your right. From left to right in the banner, they are: Sean McGrath; Glen Calhoun; Damian Gaeta (who is setting a JTMF performance record with this, his sixth show with us); Foley Captain, Judi Parrish; Jennifer Barron; Sarah Stryker and John Maurer.

And speaking of making a difference, the JTMF is proud to announce our new beneficiary, The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is a 24 hour suicide-prevention hot line for LGBT and questioning youth. They provide confidential and anonymous ears, while offering counsel to any young person with questions, problems or thoughts of suicide. The Trevor Lifeline's toll-free number is 866-4-U-Trevor (866-488-7386).

LGBT youth are 4 times more likely to commit suicide than straight kids, and it's on the rise. Thankfully, so is awareness of the problem. A portion of the proceeds from It's a Wonderful Life: A live Radio Play will be donated to The Trevor Project. And watch for the JTMF's own "It Gets Better" video, coming in late January.

For Tickets to It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, please call 609-570-3333 or visit www.kelseyatmccc.org. Tickets are also available for purchase at the Kelsey Theatre box office, one hour before curtain.

We look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Two Weeks from Tonight!

The James Tolin Memorial Fund is proud to announce their first Winter event, featuring Joe Landry’s adaptation of Frank Capra’s classic It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, December 3^rd & 4^th at 7:30 PM and December 4^th & 5^th at 2:00 PM at the Kelsey Theater on the campus of Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, NJ.

The production recreates the experience of seeing a live radio broadcast from the 1940’s just as a studio audience would have, complete with a live Foley (sound effects) crew.

It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play was developed from Landry’s full stage production and first mounted at the Stamford Center for the Arts in 1996. It tells the story of George Bailey, a man about to take his own life, and an angel named Clarence who convinces him not to, by showing him how different the lives of his friends and family would have been had he never been born. The 1946 Frank Capra film is a beloved holiday classic and stars James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore. It also served as the inspiration for the names of the “Sesame Street” characters Bert and Ernie.

Tickets are $10.00, $12.00 & $14.00 and can be purchased at the Kelsey Box Office one hour before curtain, online at www.kelseyatmccc.org, or by phone at 609-570-3333. For more information, please visit www.kelseyatmccc.org. For more information about The James Tolin Memorial Fund, please visit www.jtmf.org or search “James Tolin Memorial Fund” on YouTube.

A Long-Overdue Update

That's MCCC student Fredy Barrientos, this year's recipient of The James Tolin Memorial Scholarship. Fredy is a student in MCCC's Entertainment Technology program and has worked on every MCCC show since he started at the college. He is recently married expecting his first child. Fredy is dedicated to receiving his degree and was deeming most deserving of this year's award.

In other JTMF news, make you sure you visit JTMF.org for the latest news about our first Winter Event, featuring It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. An adaptation of the Frank Capra classic, the show recreates the experience of seeing a live radio broadcast, just as audiences of the 1940's would have done, complete with a live Foley (sound effects) crew.

It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play will have four performances, December 3rd and 4th at 7:30 PM and December 4th and 5th at 2:00 PM at the Kelsey Theater on the campus of Mercer County Community College in West Windsor, NJ. Tickets are $10.00, $12.00 and $14.00 and can be purchased by visiting www.kelseyatmccc.org, at the Kelsey box-office one hour before curtain or by calling 609-570-3333.

Please join us for this unusual adaptation of a holiday classic and get into the Holiday Spirit in old-fashioned way. We'll be looking for you!