Welcome to our latest edition of The South Jersey Local!
Now that our region is coming out of the deep freeze (hopefully, anyway) we’re turning our attention toward getting out and experiencing some of the performing arts offerings coming to South Jersey this spring. We’re specifically focusing this issue on some of the great upcoming events and happenings on stage and in the local film industry.
For us personally at South Jersey Local, the performing arts have always played a large role in our lives here.
On our cover you’ll see the Broadway Theatre. This storied institution in the center of Pitman is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and its revival over the past 20 years has helped breathe new life into the town and to the South Jersey arts community as a whole.
Growing up just down the road in Mantua, the Broadway looms large in my memories. As a kid, it was a place to see movies on their second run, for just a couple bucks, instead of making the trip to the Deptford Mall multiplexes.
Mel Brooks, who has been around almost as long as the theatre, is now reportedly working on “Spaceballs 2.” Personally, I’ve just made it to the half-century mark, and can remember seeing his first film in that series at the Broadway, along with other 80s and 90s classics like the original “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
I can also remember our entire senior class at Clearview Regional being taken on a just slightly more serious trip to the theatre to see Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List.”
Spielberg, incidentally, spent part of his childhood growing up in South Jersey, in Haddon Township, and has attributed his experiences at the Westmont Theatre, a movie house not unlike the Broadway, to sparking his initial interest in cinema. The acclaimed director has also recently returned to South Jersey to film scenes for his upcoming film, “Disclosure Day,” due out in June.
These days, though, the Broadway has moved its programming away from films and more towards being a place for touring musical acts and comedians.
But that too sparks a memory, as I can remember going with my father to see legendary comic George Carlin on one of his stops to play on Broadway’s stage, perhaps at an age too young for all seven of his famous dirty words.
The theatre also now boasts its own in-house company for stage productions in both children’s and adult community theater.
And again, being involved in local theater in South Jersey, has been a huge part of our lives for a long time.
It began when our oldest, Hannah, landed the role of her then eight-year-old life as Monkey #3 (or was it #2?) in the production of “The Jungle Book,” with West Deptford Little Theatre, just about a decade ago.
We were sad to hear of the passing late last year of Susan Schramm, the co-founder of that company, which used theatre to enrich the lives of children in the area for more than 50 years.The program she built undoubtedly led to the creation of thousands of theatre kids across South Jersey and beyond, and taught them all how to make their own sunshine.
Hannah’s experience with that company certainly launched her love of theater that continues to today.
She’s now a senior in high school, and has already co-founded her own theater troupe – Bee Kind Theatre Company, has won national awards for her singing and acting, has led local stage productions, and just took first prize in a state-wide Shakespeare competition.
She’s now deciding on where she’ll go to continue studying acting and theater in college.
We can definitely attribute her continued interest in the arts and her success, once again, to being fortunate enough to raise our family in South Jersey.
Hannah has attended the Gloucester County Institute of Technology for all of her high school career, and the experience she’s gained and the opportunities she’s enjoyed in GCIT’s drama program have been outstanding. While she’s probably going to flee South Jersey for college, despite our best efforts, we couldn’t be prouder of all she’s accomplished, or more excited to see what’s next for her.
Our son Ben has also taken advantage of the arts programs at GCIT, studying digital media there for his first two years of high school, with hopes of a career in the film industry some day.
Again, being in South Jersey may prove advantageous for him as well. Should he decide to stay in the area after high school, he could find opportunities closer to home, as it seems the film industry is making more and more inroads here all the time, as you’ll see from some of the stories in this issue. Who knows, maybe the next Spielberg will have even deeper ties to our area?
We hope you enjoy this latest issue, and that you too get out and get involved with the performing arts in South Jersey, and with that…it’s showtime!
Leave a Reply