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REGIONAL ARTS PROFILE
The Bickford Theatre

The Bickford Theatre began its life as the Morris Museum Theatre in Fall of 1970. The tangible result of a major development fund drive launched in 1967 by members of the Museum’s Administration and Board of Trustees (Chester Newkirk, W.H. McElwain, Arnold R. LaForce, Early E. Welch and Mrs. Edward L. Vogt), the newly added 300 seat theatre began scheduling programs, featuring such outstanding guest lecturers and performers as anthropologists Margaret Mead and Mary Leakey, primate specialists Jane Goodall (chimpanzees) and Diane Fosse (gorillas), the fabled Martha Graham Dance Company, legendary ballet star Edward Villela and prominent actor/writer/director Emlyn Williams.

In April of 1983, the Morris Museum Theatre was renamed to honor one of the most philanthropic contributors as well as long-term Chairman of the Board of Trustees, John H. Bickford. Under its new name, the theatre continued presenting music and educational events and, in 1986, also began children’s theatre programming under the name "Curtain Up". Major improvements, in the form of dressing rooms, additional stage space, and loading docks, followed in 1989 and even the New Jersey Symphony "stopped by" for a concert in 1990.

The year 1994 brought a reassessment of the vision for the theatre. The eldest son of the late, great entertainer Jimmy Joyce, and a professional actor by trade, Mr. Walker Joyce approached the Museum management about making the Bickford Theatre a self-producing theatre. In his first Playbill Notes, Walker expressed his aspirations, "Our theatre will join the pantheon that includes such stages as the Papermill and the McCarter," both being award-winning "professional" theatres in the state of New Jersey. Walker’s first mission was simple, to be a storyteller. The first play he produced was the very funny comedy, Lend Me a Tenor, supported by the Friends of the Museum, which held an opening night raffle and reception. Setting a box office record yet to be beaten, the Bickford’s second season featured full houses and consistent standing ovations for its production of the musical, 1776, starring Walker Joyce as Ben Franklin. Dramas, comedies and musicals filled the many subsequent successful seasons for this community theatre, reaching a zenith in 1997 with 1,000 subscribers. In the fall of 2000, after 6 years, Mr. Joyce resigned to pursue other interests, having established the Bickford Theatre as a recognizable entity on the NJ theatre scene but not yet having reached the "pantheon" goal.

Eric Hafen, Artistic Director of Bickford Theatre

In December of 2000, with an audience ready for the next step, the Theatre Committee of the Museum’s Board of Trustees hired Eric Hafen, who brought his more than 24 years of experience as an actor, director and producer to bear in guiding the Bickford’s next phase. He took over the remainder of the 7^th season, directing Crimes of the Heart and then oversaw the transformation of the Bickford into a professional theatre, entering into an agreement with the Actors Equity Association, becoming a senior member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, developing title sponsorships for its Main Stage and children’s theatre series, and establishing the Bickford Theatre Guild, a theatre subscribers’ support group headed Ms. Ellie Nice (a supporter of the Bickford since Lend Me a Tenor).

Paul Barry in A Shayne Maidel Casey Carle in Bubble-Mania, Bayer Children’s Theatre

Annie Figenshu in I ought to be in pictures, directed by Eric Hafen (2002)

Today, in addition to its Main Stage series, Bickford Theatre proudly offers its very popular Wyeth Jazz Showcase, featuring the top jazz artists within the tri-state area and the Brightest Star Musical Theatre Camp for students ages 10-16. The Theatre is provides a home for the 4^th Wall Musical Theatre Company, the County College of Morris International Film Series, and the Fairleigh Dickinson Lecture Series. Celebrating its 10^th Anniversary during the 2004-2005 season, the Bickford Theatre today boasts a presence among the professional theatres in the state and sports a new mission statement, "To give second life to worthy plays, following the Aristotelian theory that the theatre should both teach and please".

The Theatre is located at:
Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, NJ 07960.
Other contact information:
Box office: (973) 971-3706; Information: (973) 971-3700; website: www.morrismuseum.org

The Bickford Theatre
At The Morris Museum
6 Normandy Heights Road
Morris Township, NJ 07960
Eric Hafen, Artistic Director
(973) 971-3700, business office (Morris Museum); FAX (973) 538-7945
(973) 971-3706, box office
email: information@morrismuseum.org
website: www.bickfordtheatre.org
The Bickford Theatre, located within the Morris Museum, is a 312-seat professional theater that produces and presents a variety of performances for adults and children, including plays, musicals and concerts. Programs for children are year-=round and include public and school group performances.

Growing Stage Theatre
The Palace Theatre
7 Ledgewood AVenue, Route 183
P.O. Box 36
Netcong, NJ 07857
Stephen Fredericks, Executive Director
(973) 347-4946; FAX ((73) 691-7069
email:: info@growingstage.com
website: www.growingstage.com
This professional member of the Association of Actors Equity provides quality theater for young people and their families. A mainstage company made up of professionals and members of the community presents five productions per season. Educational programs and workshops are available for children in preschool through high school year-round.

New Jersey Theatre Alliance
163 Madison Ave., 5th Floor
Morristown, NJ 07960
John McEwen, Executive Director
(973) 540-0515; FAX (973) 540-9799
www.njtheatrealliance.com
The alliance of New Jersey s professional, not-for-profit theaters promotes growth and attendance through numerous programs for audiences and theater professionals. For a free copy of the season calendar, published four times a year, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the above address.

Opera at Florham
at Fairleigh Dickinson University, 285 Madison Ave., Madison
mailing address: P.O. Box 343, Convent Station, NJ 07961
Thomas Bo, Artistic Director
Ursula Sommer (908) 273-5685
Box Office (973) 443-8620
website: www.operaatflorham.org
A professional opera company in residence at the Florham-Madison campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University, which has been providing fine opera for the residents of Morris County and the state of New Jersey for 21 years, producing cabarets, recitals, and two operas per season drawn from both traditional favorites and innovative, less conventional works.

Peters Valley Craft Center
19 Kuhn Road
Layton, NJ 07851
(973) 948-5200
www.pvcrafts.org
Peters Valley shares the experience of the American Craft Movement through interactive workshop learning. We nurture both those who learn and those who teach to assure the continuation of the movement. All are welcome!