How To Register
By MAIL
By Mail: : Use the form in the back of this catalog or download the form from the website. Full payment by check or money order must be included. Unless notified to the contrary, your registration has been accepted. If a class is filled, we will mail contact you about your registration. We will contact you if a space becomes available. Please be sure to use the waitlist button. We often fill from our waitlist.
ONLINE
Online: Please visit www.princetonadultschool.org to register for any of our 300+ classes.
Returning students
Returning students: Click on the register tab and enter your email address and password. If you do not remember your password, you may have it emailed to you. If you do not receive the reminder email, please call the office at 609-683-1101 for assistance.
Once you are logged in, you may browse the catalog and add as many courses to your shopping cart as you like. Checkout and pay for your transaction with your credit card and you will receive an email receipt. If you are shopping for more than one person, you will need to shop for yourself first, then exit the system. Please sign back in as each student is required to pay a one-time registration fee of $10 per semester.
New Students
New Students: Click on the register tab and complete the new customer registration form first. Once you are logged in, you may browse the catalog and add as many courses to your shopping cart as you like. Checkout and pay for your transaction with your credit card and you will receive an email receipt. If you are shopping for more than one person, you will need to shop for yourself first, then exit the system. Please sign back in as each student is required to pay a one-time registration fee of $10 per semester.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Princeton Adult School enforces a Code of Conduct that ensures a comfortable and safe environment for all Princeton Adult School attendees. Unacceptable behavior includes actions in classes and on the premises where classes are held which interfere with the participation by other students, create a risk of injury to other students or teachers, inhibit the work of instructors, disrupt the peaceful enjoyment of classes, or create a risk of damage to premises, people or property. Violation of these policies may be cause for a temporary or permanent prohibition of an individual from participation in the Princeton Adult School. The Princeton Adult School Board of Trustees authorizes Princeton Adult School staff to suspend the enrollment of customers whose behavior prevents or interferes with the learning of other students.
ELL Registration
ELL (ESL) in-person registration will be held on Tuesday, September 17, from 6:30–8:00 pm at Princeton High School, 151 Moore St. Princeton NJ—use the main entrance. You must pay by cash or check at in-person registration. Credit cards are only accepted for online registration.
World Language Students
World Language Students:
If you are uncertain about your placement, please contact us at info@princetonadultschool.org or call 609-683-1101 to receive instructions about your placement level.
Refunds and Credits
If a registrant withdraws from a course IN WRITING by mail or email, and the letter or email is received at least one (1) week before the start date, the cost will be refunded less the $10 registration fee. Refunds for cancelled courses will be processed automatically. No refunds will be given for a class session cancelled due to inclement weather but every effort will be made to make up the class. Materials fees are not refundable. We reserve the right to change teachers when necessary.
In Bad Weather
There are no classes in-person when the Princeton Public Schools are closed. Announcements of school closings due to inclement weather or other emergencies will be made on our website and via email or by calling the PAS recorded message at (609) 683-1101 or Princeton Public Schools’ emergency closing number (609) 806-4202. Please make sure your contact information is accurate when registering. Please do not call Princeton High School directly. No refunds will be given for a class session cancelled due to inclement weather but every effort will be made to make up the class.
Mission Statement
The Princeton Adult School, founded in 1939, offers life-long learning opportunities to residents of the greater Princeton area. Drawing on teaching resources from area educational institutions and a wealth of individual talent, it offers a broad range of in-class and on-line courses. The goal is to provide convenient and enjoyable experiences that meet the learning interests and needs of the area’s diverse adult community in pursuing intellectual growth, workplace skills, job opportunities, and personal and civic well-being.
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY
The Princeton Adult School admits adult students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national and ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, domestic partnership status, civil union status, or disability in administration of its policies, admissions, scholarship programs and other school administered programs.
PRINCETON ADULT SCHOOL BOARD 2024–2025
Martha Friedman, Co-President
Carol A. Goodheart, Co-President
Roslyn Vanderbilt, Vice President
Darren Zagarola, Treasurer
Sandra Abraham, Secretary
Marsha Child
Silvia Debenedetti
Susan Doran
Ileen Dube
Jody Erdman
Cindy George
Constance W. Hassett
Martha King
Barbara Kirsh
Alta Malberg
Joe Mazzetti
Melissa Urias Mercuro
(Liason to Princeton University)
Kate Newell
Deborah Nord
Costa Papastephanou
Janet Perkins
Janet Pickover
Elizabeth Read
Lynne Ross
Laurie Russell
Linda Sedgewick
Rashma Sharma
Anne Soos
Linda Ma Sung
Eleanore Szymanski
Marilyn Marks Tal
Toni Turano
Ellen Veden
Jean Yepes
Elizabeth Zuckerman
STAFF
Anne Brener, Executive Director
Debbie Washington, Director of Operations
Nicole Solarek, Accountant
Lilianne Youssef, Office Assistant
Letter from the Presidents
Letter from the Presidents
As we begin our 86th year at PAS, we continue to offer high quality programs and classes to Princeton and the surrounding communities. Over 125+ Zoom classes accommodate busy schedules and eliminate travel time.
The Princeton Adult School board and staff have once again assembled an exciting Fall 2024 roster of classes and lectures that we hope will stimulate and inspire you. We encourage you to browse the catalog of over 325+ classes and go to www.princetonadultschool.org or use the enclosed registration form to register. We remain dedicated to providing an extensive array of enriching courses and timely lectures.
On behalf of the entire Princeton Adult School Board, we hope you find something that piques your interest and that you choose to join us this coming semester. Wishing you a fall full of learning,
Martha Friedman and Carol A. Goodheart
Co-Presidents, Princeton Adult School Board
CATALOG DIRECTORY
Phone 609-683-1101 Fax 609-688-1181
Phone 609-683-1101 Fax 609-688-1181
P. O. Box 701
Princeton, NJ 08542
Email: info@princetonadultschool.org
HOLIDAYS: Please check the dates next to your course details as some classes may not be held depending on the schedule of the instructor.
ELL STUDENTS - ELL in-person registration will be held on Tuesday, September 17, from 6:30–8:00 pm at Princeton High School, 151 Moore St. Princeton NJ—use the main entrance. You must pay by cash or check at in-person registration. Credit cards are only accepted for online registration.
WORLD LANGUAGE STUDENTS - It is the student's responsibility to select the appropriate course level before registering. If you are uncertain about your placement level, please contact us at info@princetonadultschool.org or call 609-683-1101.
Cover designed by Sophia Schreiber PHS, class of 2021, Rhode Island School of Design 2025
Catalog Directory
Location Key
Most PAS classes are held at Princeton High School, but classes are also held at several other locations in Princeton. An abbreviation of the location is noted after each course name in the brochure. For example, For example, LEARN TO KNIT, PHS, or MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS, JW. All locations, abbreviations and addresses are given below. They are in Princeton unless otherwise noted.
1 ACP
Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street
2 DH
Dorothea’s House, 120 John Street. Located at the traffic light/intersection of Chambers Street and Paul Robeson Place, between the YW/YMCA and First Baptist church. Please use entry ‘D’ to 1st floor.
3 JW
John Witherspoon Middle School, 217 Walnut Lane. From Guyot Avenue, use back entrance from driveway for music classes. Use entrance across from teacher’s parking lot for other classes.
5 PCV
Princeton Community Village, Turn right off of Bunn Drive at Karl Light Boulevard, Princeton Community Village. Follow road to Sassafrass on right. Clubhouse will be ahead on left.
6 PHS
Princeton High School, 151 Moore Street. Entrance faces Houghton Street between Moore and Walnut Lane.
7 PPL
Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street.
8 PU
Princeton University. The Art Museum, Friend Center Auditorium (8a), and Frist are in the center of the campus. A detailed map of Princeton University is available at www.princeton.edu.
9 PUMC
Princeton United Methodist Church. Corner of Nassau Street and Vandeventer Avenue. Park behind the church and use the back door.
11 SP
Suzanne Patterson Center, Princeton Monument Hall. Enter from Stockton Street to parking lot.
The Claire R. Jacobus Lecture Series
001 International Hot Spots: Crisis in Context
(In-Person) (see note for location)
NEW!
Tues., 8:00 pm, Oct. 15, 7 sessions
$135
International Hot Spots: Crisis in Context is a seven-part lecture series that aims to illuminate today’s many complex and ongoing geo-political crises. Beginning with Deborah Amos, International Correspondent for National Public Radio, and ending with Professor Mark Beissinger, Professor of Politics at Princeton University, on Ukraine, the contributors will bring experience and deep understanding of historical contexts, providing facts and accurate analysis to shed light on—and not just add heat to—hot spots in our world. Other talks will address China, regime change in Latin America, nuclear threats from countries like Russia, the war in Gaza, and rising populism in Europe.
These lectures are co-sponsored by the Princeton Adult School and the Community Auditing Program of Princeton University’s Office of Community and Regional Affairs.
NOTE: Lectures will be held in the Friend Center Auditorium, William and Olden Streets. Participants can park in any PU lot for free without a permit in the evening. The closest lots to the Friend Center would be Lot P10 (behind Thomas Sweet) and P13 (across from Lot P10) and both are entered from William Street. The Garmin address for Lot P10 (behind Thomas Sweet) is 41 William Street, Princeton NJ. The P13 lot across the street sits behind the former elementary school building (which was formerly known as 185 Nassau Street building) and it is the bigger of the two.
You will receive a course ticket for the entire series at check-in at the first lecture you attend. No prior confirmation will be sent. Masks are strongly encouraged, but not required.
Oct. 15 - Click on Dates for Details
Justice in a Post-Truth World
DEBORAH AMOS, Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence, Council of the Humanities, Princeton University; International correspondent for National Public Radio
Oct. 22
The Past, Present, and Future of U.S.-China Relations
AARON L. FRIEDBERG, Professor of Politics and International Affairs; Co-Director, Center for International Security Studies, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
Oct. 29
Homicidal Ecologies: Complicit States in Latin America
DEBORAH J. YASHAR, Donald E. Stokes Professor of Public and International Affairs, Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs; Director, Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS), Princeton University
Nov. 12
Confronting the Nuclear Doomsday Machine in the 21st Century
ZIA MIAN, Senior Research Scholar and Co-Director, Program on Science and Global Security (SGS), Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
Nov. 19
The Rise and Rise of Populism
JAN-WERNER MÜLLER, Roger Williams Straus Professor of Politics, Director, Program in Political Philosophy, Princeton University
Dec. 3
Security and Dignity: Keys to Israeli-Palestinian Reconciliation
UDI OFER, John L. Weinberg/Goldman Sachs & Co. Visiting Professor and Lecturer, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
Dec. 10
Understanding Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
MARK R. BEISSINGER, Henry W. Putnam Professor of Politics, Princeton University
002 El Camino de Santiago (Virtual) NEW!
Karen Carothers, and her husband,
Rich, have walked
The Camino nine times
over the past ten years
Mon., 7:00–8:00 pm, Feb. 26, 3 sessions
$50
You’ll learn about the centuries old Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile historical “pilgrimage,” which begins in St. Jean du Port, France, traverses northern Spain through Pamplona, Burgos, and Leon, and ends at the Cathedral de Santiago. Annually it attracts 400,000+ “pilgrims” from all over the world. A brief history of its origins, traditions, and topography will be accompanied with photos taken recently on Karen’s 9th Camino with her husband, Rich. You will also learn about the practicalities of planning for a trip and why it’s so compelling for so many.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
003 From Village to Town: The Transformation
of Princeton between 1910 and the 1950s
(In-Person) PHS
Adrian Trevisan, MS in Historic Preservation,
University of Pennsylvania
Tues., 7:30–9:00 pm, Feb. 27, 3 sessions
$60
In this second class on Princeton’s history, we’ll look at different aspects of Princeton’s growth from 1910 to about 1955. We’ll look at how the population grew and changed in composition, where people lived, where they shopped, where they sent their kids to school, and how they got around. Some mundane aspects of Princeton that we interact with on a daily basis were intended as revolutionary developments. Others had unintended consequences.
PHS - Princeton High School - 151 Moore St. Princeton NJ
004 “The Great Decipherments” (Virtual) NEW!
Gary A. Rendsburg, Blanche and Irving Laurie Chair
of Jewish History, Rutgers University
Tues., 7:00–8:30 pm, Feb. 27, 3 sessions
$60
Writing begins in the ancient Near East, first in Egypt and Mesopotamia, and then somewhat later in Canaan, but how are scholars able to read any of these texts?!? Our three-part series introduces you to each of the three writing systems, with a focus on the remarkable 19th century scholars who cracked the codes of cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and the ancient alphabet. Each narrative unfolds like a detective story, with cues and clues along the way, until eventually each writing system revealed its secrets. Topics will be as follows: Session 1: The Decipherment of Egyptian Hieroglyphics: The Rosetta Stone and Beyond; Session 2: The Decipherment of Cuneiform Writing: A Cliffhanger (literally!); Session 3: The Phoenician Alphabet and Its Spread throughout the World—Including to Us.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
005 First Five: The Julio-Claudian Dynasty
of Rome (Virtual) NEW!
Jessica Ambler, art historian; PhD, art history,
director of the Martin Art Gallery
at Muhlenberg College
Thurs., 6:30–8:00 pm, April 18, 5 sessions
$100
How do you turn a republic into an empire? You establish an imperial dynasty! The members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty were the first five emperors of ancient Rome in the first century CE: Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. Each member of the dynasty made an indelible mark on Rome from public architecture to palace gossip. This class will look at this impressive (and often notorious) group through a mix of art, architecture, history, archaeology and classical texts.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
006 Biography as History:
Antebellum America through the
Lives of Some of Its Most
Fascinating People (In-Person) PHS NEW!
Walter Frank, former chief of litigation,
Port Authority of NY and NJ
Tues., 7:00–8:30 pm, Feb. 20, 5 sessions
$100
Examining individual lives provides a valuable entry point for considering the larger developments and forces at work in any given period. This is particularly true for antebellum America when democracy thrived and then failed over the issue of slavery, a time very different from our own but in important ways not unfamiliar. Lives to be examined include those of Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Walt Whitman, John Jacob Astor, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Abraham Lincoln.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
007A Astronomy I (Virtual)
Paul Cirillo, member of NJ Astronomical Association,
founder of Somerset County’s 4-H Space and Astronomy Club
Tues., 7:00–8:30 pm, March 12, 3 sessions
$67
Topics in Astronomy 1 will focus on understanding the night sky, our solar system, meteoroids, asteroids, comets, eclipses, galaxies, nebulae and how to use internet astronomy resources (e.g. observing satellites and Space Stations).
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
007B Astronomy II (Virtual)
Paul Cirillo, member of NJ Astronomical Association,
founder of Somerset County’s 4-H Space and Astronomy Club
Tues., 7:00–8:30 pm, Nov. 7, 3 sessions
$67
Astronomy II will explore the life cycle of stars, black holes, major observatories on and off the earth, why we have seasons, asteroid belt, dwarf planets, moons of the outer planets, spectroscopy and dark energy/matter.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
007A Astronomy I (Virtual)
Paul Cirillo, member of NJ Astronomical Association,
founder of Somerset County’s 4-H Space and Astronomy Club
Tues., 7:00–8:30 pm, March 12, 3 sessions
$67
Topics in Astronomy 1 will focus on understanding the night sky, our solar system, meteoroids, asteroids, comets, eclipses, galaxies, nebulae and how to use internet astronomy resources (e.g. observing satellites and Space Stations).
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
007B Astronomy II (Virtual)
Paul Cirillo, member of NJ Astronomical Association,
founder of Somerset County’s 4-H Space and Astronomy Club
Tues., 7:00–8:30 pm, Nov. 7, 3 sessions
$67
Astronomy II will explore the life cycle of stars, black holes, major observatories on and off the earth, why we have seasons, asteroid belt, dwarf planets, moons of the outer planets, spectroscopy and dark energy/matter.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
008 An Insider’s View into a
Commercial Airline Flight (Virtual)
with 25 years of experience
Tues., 6:30–8:00 pm, Feb. 20, 1 session
$35
This presentation takes participants on a behind-the-scenes look at airline passenger flights—from the pilot’s perspective. We’ll learn about pre-flight preparations and crew briefings, discuss the supporting roles played by airport ground and gate personnel, get familiar with the sophisticated technologies that help pilots navigate, and understand the key role that air traffic controllers play in getting commercial flights to their destinations. This will be an interactive course with numerous visual aids and plenty of time for your questions. Join us for the ride!
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
009 Conquering the Fear of Flying:
A Pilot’s Guide to Overcoming Flight Anxiety (Virtual)
Brett Berg, U.S. Air Force pilot for 20 years
(15 years as an instructor pilot),
current pilot for commercial U.S. airline
Wed., 6:30–8:00 pm, Feb. 21, 1 session
$35
Are you among the estimated 25% of Americans nervous about flying? This class, led by an experienced airline captain, tackles common causes of flying fear, using visual aids and non-technical explanations to demystify turbulence, landings, and more. Confront fears about thunderstorms, in-flight malfunctions, and aircraft safety, concluding with an audience Q&A.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
010 Your Second Career: Becoming a Flight
Attendant (In-Person) PHS NEW!
Susan Chang, veteran flight attendant
with 25 years of experience
Tues., 6:30–8:00 pm, April 2, 1 session
$35
Are you feeling unfulfilled in your current job, craving a change or facing early retirement? Do you have the itch to travel to new places and try new things? Come discover the possibility of a second career as a flight attendant—a career open to men and women from a broad spectrum of backgrounds, ages and educational experience. Becoming a flight attendant encompasses a new lifestyle and calls for the acquisition of special knowledge and skills that go far beyond the simple serving of food and drinks.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
011 Emotional Intelligence ABCs;
an EI Vocabulary to Sustain and
Build Friendships A midst Change and
Transformation (Virtual) NEW!
Dr. Nithila M.P. Peter, PhD, Emotional Intelligence coach
and counselor for individuals and leaders
Sun., 6:30–8:00 pm, Feb. 18, 5 session
$100
Change and uncertainty challenge our friendships and dearest relationships. How do we attend to emotions that will help make our relationships more resilient amidst changes? The five sessions we will share together will, in part, explore the emotions that block our mental ability to navigate change and transformation. How do we guide our internal processes to avoid cultivating thought patterns or affective states that are not helpful? In contrast to constricting processes, we will also explore life-giving, altruistic, expansive emotions that foster the spirit of focus, self-assurance, and a sense of triumphant accomplishment, building genuine connections. Let us explore and build our awareness of the entire vocabulary of emotions that assist the process of navigating change, both light and dark, aided by cinematic and literary meditations, as well as some scintillating
conversations. So, together, let us commit to embracing change and transformation while servicing the ecosystems that sustain us—of authentic friendship.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
012 Understanding Personality Styles and
How It Can Improve Your Personal and
Business Relationships
(In-Person) PHS NEW!
Stuart Binstock, expert in
organizational development
Tues., 6:30-8:30 pm, March 19, 1 session
$40
This class explores the four different personality styles that govern how we view the world. Through the use of a personality assessment profile called the Strength Deployment Inventory, we will explore the strengths and weaknesses of each personality style and how it impacts how we address issues in our personal and professional lives. This class also explores how different personalities view conflict and how to deal effectively with difficult people. This class can help you more effectively deal with people in all facets of your life. It will not only help you understand others but it will help you realize what motivates your own personal behavior.
NOTE: If interested in completing an individual personality assessment profile, copies of the profile will be available in class from the instructor for $65 per booklet. The course will cover the fundamentals of these four basic personality types. If you want to understand what motivates your own behavior, you can complete the profile and retain your own personal profile.
Princeton High School - 151 Moore St. Princeton NJ
013 Genres of Indian Music (In-Person) PHS NEW!
Rashika Ranchan, global social impact
changemaker, leader in strategic philanthropy,
an international singer
and classical musician
Tues., 7:00–8:30 pm, Feb. 20, 4 sessions
$80
Indian music is rich in cultural heritage and its diverse forms. It encompasses different genres, such as, Hindustani Classical, Gazal, Bhajan, Folk, Thumri, Sufi and Film (Bollywood) music. This course is a unique opportunity to experience the musicality of these seven genres of music- all in one place, including embracing global influences. It will also be an enriching experience for those new to Indian music. The course is designed to be informative, interactive and interesting. Participants can learn in a lecture-demonstration style, through several songs, over four sessions. Take this journey to explore the knowledge and beauty of music.
Princeton High School 151 Moore St. Princeton NJ
014 Venice: The Serenissima—
Her History, Her Art (Virtual) NEW!
Elena Livingstone-Ross,
professor of art history and
European history, TCNJ
Thurs., 7:00–8:30 pm, Feb. 15, 6 sessions
$115
This class will present an illustrated history of an exquisite city of unrivaled beauty, from its humble beginnings in an uninhabitable lagoon, to its miraculous rise to international power. Venice ruled the entire eastern Mediterranean and traded world-wide, purveying silks and spices from China and India, ivory from Africa, furs and amber from Russia. Although, with time, other lands replaced it in power, its beauty remained. Indeed, it is unique in that it has changed little in appearance since its days of glory and, as such, is a living and breathing historical phenomenon.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
015 Gallery Hopping After Dark (Virtual) NEW!
Eva Mantell, art instructor and creator, BA,
University of Pennsylvania, MFA from School
of Visual Arts, NYC
Section A: Wed., 7:00–8:00 pm,
Feb. 21, 5 sessions
Section B: Wed., 7:00–8:00 pm,
March 27, 5 sessions
$65
Join us for an art party on Zoom—a series of fresh encounters with unexpected artwork currently on view in galleries and museums around the country and the world. We’ll explore contemporary photography for an upcoming Philadelphia Museum of Art exhibit, contemporary design for the Museum of Modern Art, NYC, multi-media art for the new installation at the Tate, St. Ives, England, and more. The instructor will delve deeper into these exhibitions, sharing extra artwork images, providing context, biographical insights, screening artists’ interviews, and fostering engaging discussions with participants. Explore multiple galleries from the comfort of your home and consider planning your own visit afterward. Tour the world with us in an hour. All levels are welcome.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
016 Beyond the Ballroom—Tango’s
Musical and Poetic Treasure (Virtual) NEW!
Eugenio Monjeau, essayist, translator,
music history professor with a
Philosophy degree from Universidad
de Buenos Aires
Thurs., 6:30–7:45 pm, Feb. 15, 5 sessions
$85
Originating in late 19th-century Buenos Aires, tango swiftly became an international sensation celebrated in countless films and TV shows. But there’s more to it than meets the eye, and tango’s truest legacy lies in its music and lyrics. From Carlos Gardel’s voice to Astor Piazzolla’s bandoneon and Jorge Luis Borges’ words, this course will guide you on a journey through an enormously rich musical and poetic landscape.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
017 More Beethoven Sonatas (Virtual) NEW!
Dr. Clipper Erickson, prize winning pianist,
music educator, faculty member of
Temple University and
Westminster Conservatory
Sun., 6:30–8:30 pm, Feb. 18, 5 sessions
(No class March 10)
$135
The 32 piano sonatas of Beethoven are considered the Mt. Everest of three centuries of piano music. After a brief overview, we will do an in-depth study of sonatas not covered in the fall semester. Each class session will include listening to some of the greatest recordings made and class discussion. Bibliography will be supplied. Ears and enthusiasm are the only prerequisite. The course would be appropriate for both new and returning students.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
018 Theatre in 3D (In-Person)
McCarter Theatre NEW!
C. Ryanne Domingues, assistant professor in the BFA
Acting Program, Rider University,
Artistic Director at Passage Theatre
Thurs., 6:30–8:00 pm, Feb. 29: Pre-show class
Wed., 7:30 pm, March 6:
Performance of Dreamgirls
Thurs., 6:30–8:00 pm, March 21: Post-show class
Thurs. 6:30–8:00 pm, May 2: Pre-show class
Wed., 7:30 pm, May 8: Performance of Choice
Thurs., 6:30–8:00 pm, May 16: Post-show class
$150
Join us in an immersive exploration of the scripts, production components, acting, directing techniques, artistic decisions, and thematic intricacies behind two of the McCarter Theatre Center’s flagship stage productions: “Dreamgirls” and “Choice.” Across four engaging sessions, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss each production, witness their live performances, and contemplate your journey as a theater enthusiast. This class is open to individuals of all skill levels, making it the perfect space for theater enthusiasts who relish both the stage and lively discussions.
NOTE: All sessions will take place at McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place, Princeton. Students will be sent a link to purchase tickets for each show at $41 per ticket (limit two per person). Students will also be notified about meeting place in McCarter Theatre for the pre-show and post-show classes. The Theatre will attempt to acquire a free electronic script but there may be a nominal charge for each performance payable to McCarter Theatre for a paper version.
019 Off the Beaten Track Films: Film Discussions
(In-Person) PHS NEW!
Gail Gendler, founder of Buffalo Girl Productions
Tues., 6:30–8:00 pm, March 19, 6 sessions
(No class March 26)
$115
During this six-week class, we will explore six films that you will watch on easily accessed platforms. You may have seen one but you probably missed most of them. Here is your chance to dive into films you might have missed. We will discuss themes in class after at-home screening of feature and documentary features and one Oscar-winning short. In class, the conversation will focus on your reactions to the films, including how each character navigates their situation, questions about character growth, the reality of these stories and what drove the directors, many of them first time directors, to navigate such emotional material on screen. The films you’ll screen for this class will be Mustang (2015), Fill the Void (2012), Nafi’s Father (2019), Sand Storm (2016), Children of the Mist (2021) and A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness (2015).
NOTE: Please visit the class details section on our website for available viewing platforms for each film.
Princeton High School - 151 Moore St. Princeton NJ 08540
020 The Great Directors:
Still More Great Forgotten Directors (Virtual) NEW!
Mark Schwartzberg, holds a Ph.D. from
New York University, professor of
film studies, literature and the humanities
Wed., 7:00–8:30 pm, Jan. 24, 6 sessions
$125
For the third consecutive year, we offer a class about the life and work of three great filmmakers that were well known in their time but are virtually forgotten today. These include F.W. Murnau, the masterful director of the silent classics Nosferatu and Sunrise, Lewis Milestone, who was the first director of an Academy Award-winning best picture (All Quiet on the Western Front) to also win the award for best director, and John Frankenheimer, a director whose films, such as The Birdman of Alcatraz, the original The Manchurian Candidate, and Seconds, continue to resonate powerfully today. In this latest Zoom class in our Great Directors series, students will have an opportunity to learn about the careers of these forgotten masters and will get to watch and discuss some of their greatest films.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
021 Classics of World Cinema (Virtual) NEW!
Mark Schwartzberg, holds a Ph.D. from
New York University,
professor of film studies,
literature and the humanities
Wed., 7:00–8:30 pm, March 27
(No class April 24), 6 sessions
$125
A sleepwalking killer terrorizes a town, a man and his son chase a thief that stole their bicycle, and a knight challenges Death himself to a game of chess. These plotlines are from some of the greatest films of all time, and they are just three of the six that we will explore in this special class on international classics, ranging from the silent era or to the 1950s. In this Zoom class featuring works by Ingmar Bergman, Akira Kurosawa, Jean Renoir and Sergei Eisenstein, among others,
we will watch and discuss a film from each of the following countries: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, and Sweden.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
020 Representations of Women in Ovid’s
Metamorphoses: Toxic Masculinity or
Proto-Feminism? (Virtual) NEW!
Wed., 6:00-7:00 pm, Oct. 25, 8 sessions
(No class Nov. 22)
$105
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
021 Nabucco: The Operatic Sensation That Galvanized
Verdi’s Stardom and Italy’s Nationhood
(Virtual) NEW!
Thurs., 6:00-7:00 pm, Nov. 2, 6 sessions
(No class Nov. 23)
$75
At the nadir of his professional and personal life, Giuseppe Verdi vowed to abandon opera entirely…until presented with the story of Nebuchadnezzar, the Biblical King who proclaimed himself God. Verdi’s Nabucco, an instant success, permanently established him as Italy’s preeminent composer. Its chorus of Hebrew slaves, in their struggle for freedom, resonated with sentiments of nationhood across Italy. “Viva VERDI”— acronym for Vittorio Emmanuel Re d’Italia—became the Risorgimento rallying cry. In this course, we study the opera in its historical context, as well as Verdi’s revolutionary influence on opera. Each class focuses on key arias and ensembles, using a bilingual (Italian-English) libretto, to introduce and/or reinforce basic skills in learning Italian. The instructor will host optional trips to the Met’s Sunday matinée, and local Live-in-HD screenings.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
022 Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet:
The Invention of Romantic Love (Virtual) NEW!
Denise Asfar, teacher of Romance Languages/Literature
and Classics; writer/reviewer/translator for
theater and music
Mon., 6:30–7:30 pm, Jan. 29, 13 sessions
$165
October 10th marks the 60th anniversary of the passing of Edith Piaf, legendary chanteuse whom Marlene Dietrich called “the soul of Paris”. In this course, we celebrate Piaf’s life and music: viewing the award-winning biopic, “La Vie en Rose” (2007); and studying Piaf’s best-known songs, using bilingual (French-English) texts, to introduce (or review) basic French language skills; for more advanced students, the course offers deeper appreciation of the poetry of Piaf’s verses—most of which she wrote herself—and how they reflect various aspects of her turbulent life. Each session features classic Piaf recordings, as well as live (amateur) performances, with optional audience participation and open “micros”.
NOTE: Students who register for this course may take it in-person and/or on-line (at no extra cost to those who attend both sessions).
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
023 Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette:
The Apogee of French Romantic Opera (Virtual) NEW!
Denise Asfar, teacher of Romance Languages/Literature
and Classics; writer/reviewer/translator for
theater and music
Wed., 6:00–7:00 pm, March 6, 10 sessions
$125
Of the hundreds of operas based on Shakespeare plays, Charles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette remains one of the most popular ever. This sumptuous opera expresses the intense passion of the “star-crossed lovers” through some of the most beautiful music in the French repertoire—in the Romantic tradition of sensual and graceful vocal delivery. In this course, we study the opera in its original French, as well as through an English translation, to deepen appreciation of that interrelationship between the music and the language which is unique to opera. The use of bilingual (French-English) texts—introduces and/or reinforces basic language skills, while (for the more advanced students), enhancing literary appreciation of the lyrical passages inspired by Shakespeare’s play.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
026A Researching Your Jewish Ancestors
(In-Person) PHS
Elana Broch, Princeton University
research librarian
for more than 20 years; genealogy addict
Tues., 6:00–7:30 pm, April 9, 16, 30, 3 sessions
$60
Enhance your genealogy skills with a focus on Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and top Jewish genealogy sites like JewishGen, GesherGalicia, and JRI-Poland. Even if you've taken the course before, it's worth revisiting. Register for a free Ancestry trial (start on the first day of class so you can use it for weeks 1 and 2). Week 3 explores JewishGen (subscription available, not required). Sephardic genealogy and DNA won't be covered, but you will be provided resources. The instructor will email slides beforehand; bring a printed copy if you want to follow along. If you can, bring a laptop and people you would like to research. You can access Ancestry Library Edition post-course at your local library.
NOTE: There is a free basic search on Jewishgen and Gesher Galicia, but to use the advanced search features students will need to make the minimum donation to their sites. During class, the instructor will use her personal account, which has access to the advanced features of each of these sites.
Princeton High School, 151 Moore St. Princeton NJ
026B Search Ancestry like a Genealogy Pro
(In-Person) PHS NEW!
Elana Broch, Princeton University
research librarian
for more than 20 years and
Carla Zimowsk, Princeto Adult School
instructor of technology for genealogy
Tues., 6:00–7:30 pm, April 2, 1 session
$35
Ancestry.com (subscription version) and Ancestry Library Edition (available for free at your local public library) are amazing resources to start or continue your family research. After a brief overview of the United States Census, Immigration, Naturalization, and Military Records, we will spend the majority of the class time in hands-on searching (with help from the instructors). Register for a free Ancestry trial the day the class starts. If you can, bring a laptop, but definitely bring names and anything else you know about one or two people you would like to research.
Princeton High School, 151 Moore St. Princeton NJ
027 Creating a Children’s Picture Book (Virtual)
Duncan Ewald, art teacher and director, Center for
Writers and Illustrators, South Orange, NJ
Thurs., 7:00–8:30 pm, March 7, 1 session
$36
Turn your great idea for a children’s book into a successful published book! Author and illustrator, Duncan Ewald, will walk you through the steps of creating a publishable children’s picture book manuscript, focusing on what story ideas sell best in today’s competitive market and examining ways to develop a character in your story that children of all ages will love and ask: When is his/her next book coming out?”
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
028 Nature Journaling: Where Science and the
Arts Come Together for a
Relaxing Exploration of
Nature (In-Person)
Mary Ann Hoffman, teacher of nature
journaling for over 20 years
Lecture: Tues., 6:00–8:00 pm,
April 23, 1 session (In-Person) PHS
Field Trip: Sat., 10:00 am–12:00 pm,
April 27, 1 session
Bowman’s Tower Wildlife Preserve,
New Hope, PA
(rain date, Sun., April 28)
$75
If you love nature, sketching, and writing, this is the course for you. In this two-part class, you will learn the fundamentals of observing nature, learn contour drawing, and how to set up a nature journal as well as making a field bag. We will take basic nature journaling a step further with creative activities such as Haiku to make your journal personally unique to you. Students will learn resources to support this new hobby and will receive a packet of supplies to launch your
nature journaling hobby. The second session will be a fieldtrip to Bowman Hill Wildflower Preserve to have a hands-on experience using your new journaling skills. You will discover the gift of peace that nature journaling gives each time you open your sketchbook.
NOTE: A ticket for Bowman Tower Wildflower Preserve fieldtrip is included in the price of the course as well as a supply packet that includes a 6 × 8 blank hardbound book, 12 pack Crayola colored pencils, two mechanical pencils, a pencil sharper, and eraser pen and informational booklet.
Lecture - Princeton High School - 151 Moore St. Princeton NJ
Field Trip - Bowman’s Tower Wildlife Garden, New Hope, PA (rain date, Sun., Oct. 15)
029 Keep it Short: Writing Mini Stories
(Virtual) NEW!
James D’Angelo, Esq., MFA, published author,
college writing instructor, attorney and mediator
Thurs., 7:00–9:00 pm, Feb. 15, 8 sessions
(No class March 28)
$180
This course introduces the basic elements of writing fiction such as tense, point of view, the balance of exposition, dialogue, and action, as well as story structure. Lessons will include short
lectures, class discussions on select sample stories provided, writing from prompts, and critiques sessions. Students will undertake the entire writing process from brainstorming and outlining, to drafting, then workshopping, and finally revising. Students will draft, workshop, and revise one or two short pieces and leave the course with strong writerly habits.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
031 Micro-Memoir: Making Sense of Your Life
in a Flash (In-Person) PHS
Sue Repko, writer, freelance editor, and writing coach
Tues., 6:30–8:30 pm, March 5, 6 sessions
$160
Making sense of the past can be empowering and transformative for a writer. Doing it within strict word limits can be sublime for the reader. People crave these literary moments of profound understanding and connection that break through the background noise of tweets and sound-bites. Students will read and discuss examples of the genre, generate new work, receive supportive feedback, and come away with a list of publications that accept flash nonfiction.
Princeton High School, 151 Moore St. Princeton NJ 08540
031A Introduction to Sketch Comedy (Virtual) NEW!
Rob Stern, comedian, actor and TV writer
Mon., 7:00–9:00 pm, Oct. 9, 5 sessions
$130
This course is an introduction to sketch comedy, a comedic artform made famous by Saturday Night Live, Monty Python, Jack Benny, Sid Caesar, Carol Burnett, Key and Peele, and many more. The course will begin with a basic break-down of what successful sketch comedy looks like and each week students will engage in exercises that will explore different ways to form a comedic sketch. Students will leave the class with an understanding of how an observation, thought or idea can be turned into a fun comedic scene and each student will have the opportunity to create their own written sketch utilizing tools learned in this class.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
032 Playwriting (Virtual)
Jessica Fleitman, award-winning playwright
Thurs., 6:30–8:45 pm, Oct. 19, 8 sessions
(No class Nov. 23)
$225
Have you ever wanted to write a play? Or are you an experienced playwright looking to take your writing to the next level? This workshop will develop and support each writer’s unique voice and
vision through a combination of exercises, readings, discussions, and more—giving you the tools you need to write the play you want to write. After having several of her plays produced in NYC, Jessica knows how to develop an idea into an actor-ready script. The class will culminate in the creation of your own ten-minute script, and with ten-minute play festivals enjoying popularity across the U.S., you’ll be able to submit for future production opportunities! And best of all, the skills you’ll develop apply to writing plays of any length (not just ten minutes!), so you’ll leave prepared to tackle your next story for the stage. Class is limited to six students.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
033 Introduction to Screenwriting (Virtual) NEW!
Eric Naessig, professional screenwriter,
script reader, and creative consultant
Thurs., 7:00–9:30 pm, Oct. 12, 8 sessions
(No class Nov. 23)
$250
This course explores the screenwriting craft and the conventions of the medium, with the curriculum covering screenplay structure, formatting, characterization, arcs, dialogue, theme, and plenty of other storytelling considerations that factor into the writing process. Students will develop and workshop their own projects, receiving guidance to help them develop their pitches, outlines, and script pages. A list of screenwriting software options will be provided to students, including free programs that can be used for the course.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
034 Connecting with Proust (Virtual) NEW!
Beverly Sce, Ph.D., MFA(C), published author,
writing coach, NJ Director of Oral Health (retired)
Tues., 6:30–8:30 pm, Oct. 10, 6 sessions
$165
The Proust Questionnaire is a series of questions that helps a writer reveal the nature of his characters. It also can show a lot about an individual’s thoughts, values and experiences. Using questions from the Proust Questionnaire, our writings will answer those questions and develop them into meaningful written pieces. Participants will write and read their responses in a supportive writing community and come away with a collection of pieces that will help the writer reveal true nature of the characters or that of the writer.
Virtual - Zoom Online Video Conference
036 Discover the Power of Drawing: Ways to
Understand What We See,
Beginner to Advanced (Virtual)
Nancy C. Zamboni, college drawing teacher, BFA, MFA
Tues., 7:00–9:00 pm, Feb. 13, 10 sessions
No class March 26
$210
Students will be introduced to new ways of approaching some of the main aspects of drawing. Topics include use of line and shape, ways of developing perception, strategies for checking proportion, approaches to establishing value relationships, and a brief introduction to the figure. Based partly on the basic drawing course at Yale, Nancy Zamboni has modified her class during years of teaching to students of all levels. Whether you are just beginning your journey or looking to deepen or strengthen your skills, this course is for you.
NOTE: Materials: Bring an ebony or 2B pencil, 11" × 14" acid-free sketch pad and an eraser.
Princeton High School - 151 Moore St. Princeton NJ 08540
037 Go with the Flow
(includes all materials)
Adriana Groza, fluid acrylic artist
Section A: Sat., 10:30 am–1:30 pm, Feb. 17, 1 session
Section B: Sat., 10:30 am–1:30 pm, April 13, 1 session
$225
An all-inclusive three-hour event, geared towards those who want to learn fluid acrylics or just need a morning to disconnect in a positive energy environment, where they can forget about rules and pressures, and just go with the flow. Remove limiting beliefs, try something new, and enjoy a couple of hours of creative time. Following an introduction on the background of fluid acrylics, and demonstrations by the instructor, students will create their own works using materials provided. Each student will end the workshop with a finished 16 × 20-inch work, which, after at least two days of undisturbed drying time, can be picked up from Princeton Makes.
Classes are held at Princeton Makes in the Princeton Shopping Center, 301 N. Harrison St. Princeton, NJ, located next to the Metropolis Spa + Salon.
038 Introduction to Fluid Acrylics (In-Person)
(includes all materials)
Adriana Groza, fluid acrylic artist
Section A: Fri., 5:30–7:30 pm, Feb. 16, 1 session
Section B: Fri., 5:30–7:30 pm, April 12, 1 session
$160
An all-inclusive two-hour event, geared towards those who want to learn fluid acrylics or just need a morning to disconnect in a positive energy environment, where they can forget about rules and pressures, and just go with the flow. Join career artist and art instructor Adriana Groza for an interactive, and engaging hands-on fluid acrylics experience! Remove limiting beliefs, try something new, and enjoy a couple of hours of creative time. Following an introduction on the background of fluid acrylics, and demonstrations by the instructor, students will create their own works using materials provided. Each student will end the workshop with a finished 12 × 12 inch work, which, after at least two days of undisturbed drying time, can be picked up from Princeton Makes.
Classes are held at Princeton Makes in the Princeton Shopping Center, 301 N. Harrison St. Princeton, NJ, located next to the Metropolis Spa + Salon.