If you’ve never seen Next to Normal, you’re in for the emotional roller coaster ride of your life with this story of how one suburban household copes with crisis and mental illness. If you’re no stranger to the musical, Vanguard Theater Company’s production will cause you to see it anew, with fresh nuances and messages.

The Paper Mill Playhouse production will feature a bevvy of familiar faces.

Gas Lamp Players, located in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, is doing something that most youth theatre companies would rather not do- putting on one of the most well-known musicals of all time- Les Misérables. I was able to talk to Broadway Veteran Stephen Buntrock, who played Enjolras, leader of the student revolutionaries, during the Broadway run of the show in 1997-1998 who is co-directing this complicated production alongside Kristy Graves. 

The owner of a private performing arts studio in the Whiting section has been charged with endangering the welfare of children, after police said he gave the youths alcohol and took photos and videos of them in various states of undress.

Michael W. Grande, 43, of Manchester, runs the Westminster School for Performing Arts, where he also is a teacher. Additionally, he is the artistic and education director for the Westminster Theatre Company. Both the studio and theatre company are in Whiting, said Capt. Todd Malland, a police spokesman.

“On several occasions, Mr. Grande provided alcoholic beverages to the victims, who were between the ages of 16 and 20, and also took photos and videos of them in various stages of undress,” Malland said in the prepared statement.

 A critically acclaimed production of Denmark’s revenge-seeking prince comes to Jersey City next month.

Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) presents Hamlet by Bedlam – a now famous stripped-down version of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy – at White Eagle Hall,  February 8-10. Hamlet by Bedlam is JCTC’s first full theatre production at the restored, historic theater which reopened last year.