State Museum and Planetarium Offer
Free Second Saturday Performances
Free Admission Provided by Merck Foundation
TRENTON, NJ, October 9, 2009 - Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells announced that the New Jersey State Museum auditorium performances and Planetarium science exploration sky shows on the second Saturday of each month will be FREE to the public. The year-long, free Second Saturday performances at the State Museum and Planetarium are made possible by a grant from the Merck Foundation.
The New Jersey State Museum is proud to offer learning experiences that will expand the horizons of future generations. The thrilling theatrical auditorium performances are produced with young audiences in mind, and the Planetarium sky shows provide breathtaking images of the universe beyond Earth's atmosphere, said Secretary Wells. Second Saturdays are sure to be memorable and, thanks to a generous gift from the Merck Foundation, these exciting and educational performances are available to families and children at no cost in these challenging economic times.
To kick off the next free Second Saturday scheduled for October 10, the Planetarium hosted a special showing of the science exploration show Extreme Planets for 4 th grade students of the Cadwalader School .
We at Merck consider ourselves very much a part of the communities in which we live and work. And we work hard to make a positive contribution in those communities. We do this in part by supporting a wide range of local art and cultural initiatives, said Ellen Lambert, executive director of corporate contributions for the Merck Foundation.
The planetarium is a wonderful asset that makes learning fun, said Education Commissioner Lucille E. Davy. In addition, with discretionary entertainment dollars tight for everyone these days, the free shows provide all parents with the opportunity to spend some time together with their children learning new things about science and art.
The free Second Saturday Museum auditorium performance scheduled for October 10 is entitled Freespace Dance: Dance Inspirations created for children in grades K- 12, presented by Young Audiences New Jersey dance company. Demonstrating what inspires a choreographer to create dances, Freespace Dance uses shapes, patterns and the student's everyday interaction to create the movement in Dance Inspirations. Through audience participation and wonderful dancing, the company presents an excellent introduction to the world of modern dance as the students are encouraged to find their own dance inspirations.
The 145-seat Planetarium at the New Jersey State Museum recently re-opened following a major renovation and technical upgrade, and is the largest public planetarium between Philadelphia and New York City. Major portions of the Planetarium renovation and upgrade were funded by the Prudential Foundation.
The Planetarium now boasts a five-projector, full dome immersive video and digital surround sound system, providing seamless, 360-degree sound and imagery, filling viewers' senses with the wonder and awe of the universe.
The upgrade includes:
• A new five-projector, 360-degree hi-def, hi-res immersive video system;
• A new surround sound system;
• New computer system to seamlessly tie the sound and images together; and
• Refurbished original 1965 cast-iron, wood, vinyl and fabric seating.
Other attributes that make experiences in this planetarium unusually powerful are:
• The ability to integrate special effects, slides, analog, and 3D laser functionality with the new immersive systems;
• A sloping floor specially designed to give every seat the best possible viewing angle at normal postures, and excellent lines of sight from every seat.
For more information about the Second Saturday schedule of performances, visit: http://www.nj.gov/state/museum/do_saturday_performances.htm
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About the New Jersey State Museum
The New Jersey State Museum was established in 1895 - one of the nation's first state museums founded with an educational mission. Today, that mission comes alive across four distinct subject areas Archaeology/Ethnology, Cultural History, Fine Art and Natural History offering a dynamic experience of "four museums in one" and a galaxy of activities for every member of the family. Treasures are exhibited thematically across an expansive, three-building campus that includes the newly renovated four-level main building, a 384-seat auditorium, and a 150-seat planetarium, which is undergoing renovations and will reopen in September 2009. Together, the State of New Jersey and the foundations, corporations and citizens of the state are transforming the "People's Museum" into a premiere location for cultural exchange and education. For more information go to www.newjerseystatemuseum.org.
About the Extreme Planets sky show
For centuries, humans have wondered whether we are alone in the Universe. Now, we are one step closer to knowing the answer. With the discovery of the first planet orbiting another star, we now know that planets are not unique to our Solar System. In fact, these "extra solar" planets now appear to be quite common. Extreme Planets explores what makes a planet "Earth-like" and takes an immersive full dome tour of several worlds that just might fit the conditions we're looking for. From water worlds to molten landscapes, inhabitable moons to planets with multiple suns, these exotic worlds are not just science fiction anymore! Suitable for general audiences. |
