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Film Review - "The Influencer Project"

by Eric Hillis, TheMovieWaffler.com

It's no surprise that filmmakers have taken a generally dim view of online influencers in their screen portrayals of that modern phenomena. After all, such figures are taking eyes away from cinema and TV screens and directing them towards phones instead. Many a horror movie has featured an influencer among its roster of characters, and they're usually either a villain or a victim who is so unlikeable we're practically encouraged to celebrate their demise.



 

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Brian Ostering and his band present The Elvis Spectacular at the Middletown Arts Center

(MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- Brian Ostering and his band present The Elvis Spectacular at the Middletown Arts Center on Saturday, November 28, 2026. Showtime is 7:00pm.


Thank You 5 Productions presents Disney's "Descendants: The Musical"

(WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- Thank You 5 Productions presents Disney's Descendants: The Musical across two weekends from November 20-29, 2026 at the Kelsey Theatre. Based on the popular Disney Channel Original Movies, this is a musical jam-packed with comedy, adventure, Disney characters, and hit songs from the films!


Theater to Go presents "1776, the Musical" at the Kelsey Theatre

(WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- Theater to Go presents 1776, the Musical across two weekends from November 6-15, 2026 at the Kelsey Theatre.  Igniting the stage in honor of our 250th Anniversary, the Tony Award-winning hit that brings America's founding to thrilling life!


Music Mountain Theatre presents "A Christmas Carol"

(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre presents A Christmas Carol weekends from November 20 - December 13, 2026. The popular musical features Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and Book by Mike Ockrent and Lynn Ahrens.  It is based on the novel by Charles Dickens.


NJIT's Theatre Arts & Technology Program presents "Sense & Sensibility"

(NEWARK, NJ) -- NJIT's Theatre Arts & Technology Program presents Sense & Sensibility from November 5-7, 2026 in the Jim Wise Theatre.  Kate Hamill's playful adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved novel follows the fortunes (and misfortunes) of the Dashwood sisters after their father's death leaves them financially destitute and socially vulnerable.


Gas Lamp Players presents "How to Train Your Dragon, JR."

(GLEN RIDGE, NJ) -- Gas Lamp Players presents How to Train Your Dragon, JR. from November 20-22, 2026 at Ridgewood Avenue School. Based on the DreamWorks Animation hit, How to Train Your Dragon, Jr. brings fire-breathing action, epic adventure and big laughs to the stage. Presented with two casts, the production is directed by Heather Ballantyne and Erin Dilly.


Bergen County Players presents "The Guys" this weekend

(ORADELL, NJ) -- As September 11 rapidly passes from living memory into recorded history—with well over a third of Americans today knowing that tragic day only through history books—Bergen County Players (BCP) invites the community to meaningfully "never forget" with a special, limited-run Second Stage presentation of Anne Nelson's The Guys.


Princeton University's High Meadows Environmental Institute and Lewis Center for the Arts and The Civilians theater company announce fourth-year Next Forever artist commissions

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Princeton University's High Meadows Environmental Institute and Lewis Center for the Arts and The Civilians, a New York City-based theater company, have announced the 2026-27 artists of their collaborative initiative, The Next Forever: playwright Lyndsey Bourne and actor/writer SEVAN.


Chris Rockwell is Dropping 'Rockwell Rebel Radio 2 DELUXE' with a Heavy-Hitting Mutual Aid Show on Friday

(BRICK, NJ) -- If your local playlist has been feeling a little quiet lately, get ready to crank the volume! Ocean County spoken word poet and Hip-Hop artist Chris Rockwell is back, celebrating the 10th anniversary of his pivotal album Rockwell Rebel Radio and simultaneously dropping his new release, Rockwell Rebel Radio 2 DELUXE, featuring the explosive lead single "Mash Tape Supreme." But this isn't just your standard album drop, it's a full-blown community movement. On Friday, November 6, 2026, Chris and the crew are celebrating the launch with a massive show right here in town at Carmela's Collective in Brick, proving that great music and solid community support go hand in hand.


ACC Gallery presents exhibitions by Jin Young Yoon and Kim Kyung Yi

(TENAFLY, NJ) -- ACC Gallery presents two exhibitions from November 7-13, 2026. The exhibitions are Diary-My Halu by Jin Young Yoon and Dear My Nature by Kim Kyung Yi.


State Theatre New Jersey presents CoComelon: Sing-A-Long LIVE!

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents CoComelon: Sing-A-Long LIVE! on Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 1:00pm. This brand-new production, featuring favorite characters and songs that kids and parents know by heart, is specially designed as the perfect live show experience, a true 'first' for little ones and their families. With engaging moments, playful surprises, and nonstop fun, the show delivers a perfect introduction to the magic of live entertainment, creating big smiles for little ones and unforgettable memories for grown-ups.


George Street Playhouse presents "2 Pianos 4 Hands"

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- George Street Playhouse presents 2 Pianos 4 Hands, written by Ted Dykstra ("The Expanse") & Richard Greenblatt (Letters from Lehrer), and directed by Tom Frey (Souvenir). 2 Pianos 4 Hands begins previews December 1, 2026, at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center and is set to open December 4, for a run through December 20, 2026.


Albert Music Hall to Celebrate Pinelands Folklore with Annual Jersey Devil Show on Saturday

(WARETOWN, NJ) -- Halloween may have come and gone, but the Jersey Devil is always lurking in the Pines! On Saturday, November 7, 2026, Albert Music Hall will celebrate one of New Jersey's most enduring legends with its annual Jersey Devil Show, an evening combining live music, storytelling, and the rich folklore of the New Jersey Pinelands.


Trilogy Repertory presents "Clue"

(BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- Trilogy Repertory presents Clue across two weekends from November 7-15, 2026 at The Sieminski Theater. It's a dark and stormy night. Whodunit? And how? The answer(s) may surprise you.


James R. Halsey Foundation Student Film Showcase to Take Place November 12th

(TRENTON, NJ) -- The James R. Halsey Foundation of the Arts (JRH), a 501c3 non-profit agency dedicated to providing quality arts education and mentoring to youth in the City of Trenton and greater New Jersey area presents the 2026 Student Film Showcase. Taking place on November 12th at the New Jersey State Museum Auditorium from 5:00pm - 8:00pm, this event features three films, written, directed, and produced by students, as well as a documentary focused on raising awareness on men's mental health, featuring authentic student voices and professional interviews.


County Brief Launches "Best of" Readers' Choice Awards in All 21 New Jersey Counties

County Brief, a free local news site covering all 21 New Jersey counties, has opened nominations for its first Best of [County] 2027 Readers' Choice awards, a separate program in every county, from Best of Sussex to Best of Cape May.


Holmdel Theatre Company presents "Love, Loss, and What I Wore"

(HOLMDEL, NJ) -- Holmdel Theatre Company presents Love, Loss, and What I Wore from November 13-15, 2026. Told through a series of personal stories and monologues, Love, Loss, and What I Wore reveals how the clothes we wear often become intertwined with who we are and the moments we never forget. The show celebrates the humor and heartbreak of everyday life, reminding audiences that while fashion trends may come and go, the experiences that connect us are timeless.


Centenary Stage Company presents Disney's "Frozen: The Musical"

(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company presents Disney's Frozen: The Musical, this year's Family Holiday Spectacular, running November 27 through December 13, 2026 in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center. Based on the beloved Academy Award-winning Disney animated film, this musical features music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, with a book by Jennifer Lee.












FEATURED EVENTS


Drew Forum Presents: Michael Douglas

Monday, November 02, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) Morristown, NJ
 

Paul Anka

Tuesday, November 03, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) Morristown, NJ
 
 
 
 




EVENT PREVIEWS

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American Theater Group to present WE ARE Concert presentation on November 2nd

(UNION, NJ) -- American Theater Group (ATG), led by Producing Artistic Director Charlotte Cohn, will present a one-night concert event of WE ARE -- a contemporary musical feature about identity, family, love, and America's complicated Civil Rights legacy — on Monday, November 2, 2026 at the DMK Black Box Theater in Union. The concert will feature Tony Award-winner Lillias White (Hadestown, The Life, Fela!) as well as Tony Award-nominee Christiani Pitts (Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York). Showtime is 7:30pm.


Women+ on the Edge of Democracy presents a play reading evening on November 2nd

(SUMMIT, NJ) -- Women+ on the Edge of Democracy presents a play reading to foster community and conversation on Monday, November 2, 2026 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Summit. The event, which begins at 7:00pm, is co-sponsored by St John’s Lutheran Church, Interweave, and Vivid Stage. Admission is free, but registration is required.


Author Katherine Rodriguez presents The Tree Within at Brown Sugar Café

(BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- Local author Katherine Rodriguez is inviting readers to The Tree Within — An Intimate Author Gathering, a public author reading, conversation and book signing on November 4, 2026 at Brown Sugar Café in Warren. The event begins at 6:30pm.


Grand Kyiv Ballet presents Swan Lake: Symphony of Lights at the Rosen Performing Arts Center

(WAYNE, NJ) -- Grand Kyiv Ballet presents Swan Lake: Symphony of Lights at the Rosen Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 7:00pm. For over a century, Swan Lake has stood as one of the most cherished treasures of classical ballet. Its sweeping Tchaikovsky score, timeless choreography, and iconic white swans have captured hearts across generations...


2026 Teaneck International Film Festival announces Lineup

(TEANECK, NJ) -- The Teaneck International Film Festival, a project of The Puffin Foundation, Ltd., will celebrate its 21st anniversary November 5–12, 2026 with a lineup of documentaries, narrative features and shorts focused on the festival's enduring theme, "Activism: Making Change." The eight-day festival will bring filmmakers, actors, activists, producers and community leaders to venues throughout Teaneck and Fort Lee for screenings, filmmaker conversations and special events.








LATEST FEATURES

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY | KIDS

State Theatre New Jersey presents CoComelon: Sing-A-Long LIVE!

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents CoComelon: Sing-A-Long LIVE! on Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 1:00pm. This brand-new production, featuring favorite characters and songs that kids and parents know by heart, is specially designed as the perfect live show experience, a true 'first' for little ones and their families. With engaging moments, playful surprises, and nonstop fun, the show delivers a perfect introduction to the magic of live entertainment, creating big smiles for little ones and unforgettable memories for grown-ups.


George Street Playhouse presents "2 Pianos 4 Hands"

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- George Street Playhouse presents 2 Pianos 4 Hands, written by Ted Dykstra ("The Expanse") & Richard Greenblatt (Letters from Lehrer), and directed by Tom Frey (Souvenir). 2 Pianos 4 Hands begins previews December 1, 2026, at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center and is set to open December 4, for a run through December 20, 2026.


NJPAC presents the 15th Annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival

(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents the 15th Annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival, November 6–22, 2026, bringing world-renowned jazz artists and rising voices to Newark for a celebration of musical legacy, innovation and community. This year’s Festival features world premiere concerts, debut collaborations and free performances, alongside tributes to some of music’s most influential artists.


Monty Alexander at Kean Stage

by Andrew Schinder

Monty Alexander grew to become one of the most legendary pianists in jazz, in part, by marrying the pleasure points of two musical worlds. A native of Kingston, Jamaica, Alexander grew up listening to the island's celebrated local music – reggae, calypso, folk. At the same time, he became a huge jazz fan at an early age, influenced by his music enthusiast parents, and was sure to catch heroes, Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole, whenever they crossed the Caribbean into Jamaica. By blending Jamaica's native sounds with traditional American swing, Alexander became an icon, creating a unique -- and irresistible -- take on jazz music.


State Theatre New Jersey and Relix present Joe Russo's Almost Dead

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey and Relix present Joe Russo's Almost Dead on Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 7:30pm. The band was formed in Brooklyn, NY in 2013. While they are a Grateful Dead cover band, they are known more for interpreting songs by the Dead rather than attempting to replicate the band's work.





LATEST COLUMNS

Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Big Black Car" by Part Time Baby

by Bob Makin

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Big Black Car" from "My Island," the third album from Jersey rocker Part Time Baby, aka singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mike Goldstein.


Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 10/29/2026

by Danny Coleman

"I heard you're coming to The December 6 Christmas party only because I'm playing," laughed Dave Keyes as he discussed his upcoming gigs at The Lizzie Rose Music Room on October 24, Jamey's House of Music in Lansdowne, PA on Halloween and the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation's holiday party on the aforementioned December 6 at McCloone's Supper Club in Asbury Park, NJ. "It's gonna be a hell of a band, Bernard (Purdie) is playing drums and Mike Merritt from Conan O'Brien's show is playing bass and Arthur Nielson from Shemekia's (Copeland) band is gonna play guitar so it should be a fun soiree as they say and then I have a gig with Benny Turner down at Jamey's so I've got some interesting stuff coming up." 


Makin Waves Song of the Week: "If the World Is Ending" by Renee Maskin

by Bob Makin

Beloved Asbury Park singer-songwriter Renee Maskin recently dropped "If the World Is Ending," her fifth LP since 2022.



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BANANAHere is a look at the articles published yesterday. We regularly publish between 8-15 new articles and news reports each day. Nobody covers the Arts throughout the Garden State like New Jersey Stage!