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Makin Waves with Alex Dawson: Helluva Hoedown

Alex Dawson is full-time faculty at Rutgers University, where he teaches creative writing with a focus on folklore, fantasy, and horror; hosts Inside the Writers House, a video chat with acclaimed authors from all over the world; and leads fable-fueled Study Abroad programs to some of the planet's most mythical places.



 

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Richard Elliot LIVE! at The Vogel

Spotlight Central and Love Imagery have photos and a recap of saxophonist Richard Elliot at The Vogel on January 30, 2026.



Van Halen to Release Expanded Edition of "5150"

Van Halen began a new chapter 40 years ago with the release of 5150, the first album featuring the lineup of Sammy Hagar, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, and Michael Anthony. 5150 marked the band's first #1 album with hits like "Why Can't This Be Love," "Dreams," and "Best Of Both Worlds" and continued their streak of multi-Platinum releases.



Photos from "Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale" at Growing Stage

(NETCONG, NJ) -- The Growing Stage: The Children's Theatre of New Jersey is presenting Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale. With a book and lyrics by Karen Zacarías (Ella Enchanted) and music by Deborah Wicks La Puma (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus), this vibrant production runs weekends from February 6–15, 2026. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.



Top 15 Most Read Stories At New Jersey Stage from February 1-7, 2026

Here's a look at the top 15 most read articles published on New Jersey Stage from Febuary 1-7, 2026. Each week we publish at least 70 articles, including original columns and features, promoting events and covering arts news taking place throughout the state and nearby areas like Philadelphia and New York City. This week's top 15 includes articles from 7 counties (Atlantic, Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean).










EVENT PREVIEWS

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

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or region of New Jersey click here.

A Decade in the Making: Nimbus Dance Unveils ANIMA Trilogy - A Visceral Exploration of Humanity's Fragile Bond with Nature

(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Following ten years of creation and collaboration, Nimbus Dance presents the world premiere of ANIMA, Samuel Pott's evening-length work that confronts our most primal and precarious bond: humankind's relationship with the natural world. The tumult of environmental crises, human impact on the planet's cycles, and, most intrinsically, the disorientation and disconnect from nature, are the themes that drive this powerful and epic trilogy of dances. By turns, achingly evocative and visually astounding, ANIMA offers audiences an immersive, visceral experience that questions and reimagines our place in the natural world.


Princeton Makes and Ragged Sky Press present Second Sunday Poetry Reading featuring Caroline Johnson and Amy Rosi

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Princeton Makes, a Princeton-based artist cooperative, and Ragged Sky Press, a local publisher focused on poetry, will host a Second Sunday Poetry Reading on Sunday, February 8, 2026 at 4:00pm. The readings will take place at the new Princeton Makes store in the Princeton Shopping Center. The reading will feature poetry by Caroline Johnson and Amy Rosi.


The Broadway Theatre of Pitman presents "Merrily We Roll Along"

(PITMAN, NJ) -- The Broadway Theatre of Pitman presents Merrily We Roll Along weekends from January 16 through February 8, 2026. Sondheim's semi-autobiographical musical turns back the clock on friendship and the high price of success. It is a spirited and moving cautionary tale for anyone who has ever pursued a dream.


Black History Month events at MPAC

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Legendary Motown singers...West African acrobatics...a joyful youth chorus. From the Temptations and The Four Tops to Mayo Performing Arts Center's visual art exhibit by Art in the Atrium, MPAC has a variety of events celebrating excellence in black artistic achievement during Black History Month.


Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company Celebrates Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse

The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company celebrates Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse with a lineup of performances in NYC, New Jersey, and beyond! In honor of the Year of the Horse, the Company, with artistic director Greta Campo at the helm, will present two world premieres by choreographers Lawrence Jin and Zhongmei Li.


NJPAC presents a Spring Season of Jazz

(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents a Spring Season of Jazz with free monthly jazz jams at Clement's Place and two special concert events inside the Victoria Theater. This series, running from September through June, is co-presented by NJPAC's Jazz Advisory Committee and Rutgers University–Newark's Institute of Jazz Studies (IJS). Immerse yourself in the relaxing sounds of jazz music that stimulate the players’ and listeners' minds.


Arden Theatre Company presents the Philadelphia Premiere of "Good Bones"

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Arden Theatre Company presents the Philadelphia premiere of Good Bones, the newest play by Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright James Ijames (Fat Ham), about gentrification and the consequences of change in a neighborhood and in a family. Directed by Philadelphia-based award-winning actor Akeem Davis, the production begins performances January 22, opens January 28, and runs through March 8, 2026.







LATEST FEATURES

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

First Look Review - "Atropia"
As movie settings go, the backdrop of Atropia is one of the more arresting you'll find. Actress Hailey Benton Gates' feature debut as writer/director is set in Fort Irwin, a sprawling US military training compound in the California desert where young men and women are acclimatised to whichever corner of the world they're set to be deployed. Within Fort Irwin is a 600,000 acre area known as "The Box," which is used to recreate foreign lands, filled with actors performing as natives and insurgents.



State Theatre New Jersey presents the Tony and Grammy Award-winning Musical "Kinky Boots"

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents the national tour of the Award-winning musical Kinky Boots for four performances from February 27 to March 1, 2026. Winner of the Tony®, Grammy®, and London's Olivier Awards for Best Musical, Kinky Boots captivates and entertains audiences around the world with a Tony® Award-winning score by Cyndi Lauper, book by four-time Tony® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein, and original direction and Tony®-winning choreography by Jerry Mitchell.




Jersey Arts Podcast: George Lopez on Comedy, Culture, and Representation

Today we're speaking with comedian George Lopez about the ins and outs of fame, the current sociopolitical climate, and how these things inform his life and his comedy.




12 great films at the 2026 New Jersey Film Festival this weekend!

12 great films at the 2026 New Jersey Film Festival this weekend! Check out the 2026 New Jersey Film Festival schedule and more info at this link: https://newjerseyfilmfestivalspring2026.eventive.org/welcome




State Theatre New Jersey presents Dru Hill

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents Dru Hill featuring SisQo, Nokio, Jazz, Smoke, Black, and Scola on Friday, February 20, 2026 at 8:00pm. DJ Ralphie Mercado will perform an opening set at 7:15pm. In honor of their 25th Anniversary in the music industry, Dru Hill is featuring all members of the group, past and present, to give fans an experience they will never forget.




An Interview with Rob Derhak of moe.

Beginning on February 5, 2026, moe. will start their upcoming Born to Fly tour in South Burlington, VT with a 3-night run. This tour will feature a 4-night run at the Ardmore Music Hall in Ardmore, PA from March 4-7th, the longest of many multiple night residencies. Moe. will also perform at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, NJ on April 11th. This tour marks over 3 decades of music and life for these jam band veterans. Prior to the start of the new tour, I was honored to speak with Rob Derhak (bassist).




New Release Review - "Shelter"

Whether it's True Grit, Leon: The Professional, Man on Fire or the recent Dust Bunny, movies love to pair off gruff tough guys with precocious young girls. It was only a matter of time before Jason Statham found himself in such a scenario, which is exactly what we get from director Ric Roman Waugh's Shelter.




Vivid Stage Brings Pop-Up Theatre: Crossroads on the Canvas to the Visual Arts Center of NJ on February 27

(SUMMIT, NJ) -- Vivid Stage will bring a fresh format of theatre to the community on Friday, February 27, 2026. Crossroads on the Canvas is a Pop-Up show that will appear at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in Summit for one night only. This unscripted story will be improvised by the Vivid company of actors while the audience joins them in one of the center's art studios.










FEATURED EVENTS

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

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.

The

The Growing Stage presents "Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale"

 Sunday, February 08, 2026 @ 2:00pm
The Historic Palace Theatre
7 Ledgewood Avenue, Netcong, NJ 07857



Pioneer

Pioneer Productions presents "What the Constitution Means to Me"

 Sunday, February 08, 2026 @ 3:00pm
Morristown United Methodist Church
50 S Park Place, Morristown, NJ 07960



Mama's

Mama's Voice - Online for 24 Hours!

 Sunday, February 08, 2026 @ 12:00am
NJ Film Festival
71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901



Kim's

Kim's Convenience

 Sunday, February 08, 2026 @ 2:00pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Berlind Theatre)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540



Art

Art on Screen "Exhibition on Screen – Klimt and The Kiss"

 Monday, February 09, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764







LATEST COLUMNS
Asbury Park hero Dave Vargo will drop his fourth album, "Ghost Towns" on March 27. The first single, "Anything at All," is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.


“I want to make sure that I pay homage to three gentlemen because this film was really a group effort because it not only involves filming and talking to people but there is original new music that’s part of the film and Dave, Frank and Tommy have all contributed major pieces to make this thing happen.”


Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by Evil6, Fairmont, Loose Panic, and Miracleworker. Plus a look back at "Syd Barrett" by Dipsomaniacs.



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