Bard at Bell

Holmdel welcomes The Bard at Bell Works, and so do we! It’s one of the first festivals of 2021 — hosted by Axelrod Performing Arts Center (AXCBT) — and Shakespeare fans are in for a treat. We had the fortunate opportunity on Sunday to catch a performance of 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream,' presented by Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s traveling company Shakespeare LIVE, directed by Brian B. Crowe. It was a delight — the acting, the creative adaptation, the wardrobe, and the speed in which just nine actors rolled through set changes were all impressive. We look forward to seeing more from this traveling company!

After leaving the performance, we took stock of the experience. The excitement we felt before the show was unmatched to the feeling we felt afterwards. Happiness, for seeing such a great performance; calm, for having to sit back and do nothing but watch others do their best work; relaxed, for experiencing something very different and entertaining. So glad to see live theater coming back.

Why attend the live theater?

1. Take a break. Watching theater is not only entertaining but has also been shown to have many benefits in terms of mental wellbeing, and if you can be entertained in the process, then all the better.

2. Broaden the mind. Live theater opens audiences up to new thoughts and ideas, creating an understanding of people and situations beyond what you see in day to day life. The impact is much more substantial when you watch live theater as opposed to watching a movie or television show. Your mind reacts differently in-person, with the creative and imaginative brain firing on all fronts. A broader mind will allow you to be a more cultural consumer in general.

3. Access hidden emotions. Theater encourages embracing and expressing emotions in their most extreme form. Not only do actors feel a range of emotion in theater, but they also exaggerate them. As a human, watching others express emotions can trigger that emotional response in you as well. Theater shows you it's ok and healthy to feel all types of emotion and to understand empathy.

4. Stress-relief. Live theater allows you to forget about your daily stresses and feel at peace while you are watching a performance. When you watch a movie at home, there are often distractions present, or you can rewind and go back to what you missed. In live theater, you are part of the show and feel a connection with the actors that makes your worries disappear. The magical moments you experience at a live show will leave you feeling a sense of euphoria even after you leave the theater.

For these reasons and more, we encourage readers to see a show, and what better time than now to see AXCBT's The Bard at Bell Works! The festival began April 10th, and has so far included 'Bard On Broadway,' AXCBT’s 'Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Ballet, The Shakespeare Theater of NJ’s ‘Midsummer’ Play.

One week remains in this three-weekend festival — in celebration of William Shakespeare’s 457th birthday this month. Tickets are still available, but seating is limited. Get your tickets today for the following remaining shows:

Fri, APRIL 23

‘Bard On Broadway’, 5:30 pm

The Shakespeare Theater of NJ’s ‘Midsummer’ Play, 7:30 pm

Sat, APRIL 24

AXCBT’s ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Ballet, 3:00 pm

‘Bard On Broadway’, 5:00 pm

‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Movie, 6:30pm

Sun, APRIL 25

'Gnomeo and Juliet' Movie, 1:00 pm

‘Bard On Broadway’, 3:00 pm

AXCBT’s ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Ballet, 5:00 pm

For more information about the events, visit AxelrodArtsCenter.com. Bell Works is located at 101 Crawfords Corner Rd, Holmdel.

Until next time, peace!