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Terrific animation Godzilla’s Day Off screens at the 2026 New Jersey International Film Festival on May 30!

            I loved the introduction to the short film Godzilla’s Day Off.  It was very retro and fun. I love, love, love this style of animation, it's very South Park which is the reason I was so drawn to this piece, it's very nostalgic for me as my dad was always watching South Park when I was growing up #cartman #godzillabuiltlikecartman #southparkxgodzilla #cartmansdayoff. To get more into the artistic nature of this I love how they crinkled the background to look like a rock and that everything makes sense with Godzilla’s character, to be honest I’ve never seen Godzilla so I do not know if this film accurately represents his day off or his personality, I think he might appear in a season of the Flash, but that was past my time so I have no idea.  The colors are warm and bright which provides a sense of childlike whimsy accompanied with the fact each drawing looks to be created with crayons or some pencil found on the ground in a middle school hallway, as it appears everything is shaded with the same graphite color, beats me though I left the drawing world a long time ago #theyvelostme. Lowkey did not know Godzilla had a gender until now. I had to look that up, I was super confused about the dream and all that, I thought he was meant to be some confused genderless monster and that's why he was terrorizing the people (?). Godzilla lowkey got beef with everyone, like a girl you’d expect on his rest day he wouldn’t be picking a fight with everyone, but alas you are wrong, but honestly maybe that's what Godzilla truly finds peaceful, that's his zen, it's the calm before the store. He is like me, someone who is always on edge and takes everything as a personal attack and I love that for him #mybrotherjustanotherme.



 

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Learn to Make Simple, Sustainable, Delicious Meals during Sana Javeri Kadri and Asha Loupy Virtual Author Talk on June 23rd

(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Join Sana Javeri Kadri and Asha Loupy as they talk about their new book, The Diaspora Spice Co. Cookbook, during a virtual discussion on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at 2:00pm. The event is presented by the Ocean County Library. Come celebrate beautiful, simple, and seasonal cooking with recipes adapted from India and Sri Lanka’s best family spice farms.



Daily Edition 05-27-26

Here is the morning update from New Jersey's arts newswire. 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!



Events This Week in New Jersey from May 27 to June 2, 2026

Here is a look at upcoming events taking place from May 27-June 2, 2026 along with our featured listings. New Jersey Stage offers previews of events throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.



This Week in Music: Previews for Concerts from May 27 to June 2, 2026

Here is a look at shows taking place from May 27 to June 2, 2026 along with our featured listings and a look at some upcoming shows. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.










EVENT PREVIEWS

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

To narrow results by date, categories,
or region of New Jersey click here.
(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Arden Theatre Company brings the Tony Award-winning musical, Dear Evan Hansen, to the F. Otto Haas Stage this spring. Featuring a book by Steven Levenson and music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the production is directed by Terrence J. Nolen and co-conceived by Jorge Cousineau and Nolen. Performances begin May 21, the show opens May 27, and runs through July 5, 2026.

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- This spring, Arden Children's Theatre invites families into a hilariously twisted world where classic fairy tales don't go quite as expected in its next production of the 2025/26 season, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales (The Stinky Cheese Man). Based on the beloved book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, adapted by John Glore, the production brings the book's fractured fairy tales to life for kids and adults alike. Directed by Steve Pacek, the production runs on the Arden’s Arcadia stage with previews starting April 8, opening night on April 18, with performances running through May 31.

(HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- The Camden County Board of Commissioners, along with Haddon Township, invites residents and visitors to the fourth annual String Band Parade down Haddon Ave, featuring the Philadelphia Mummers String Bands on Saturday, May 30, 2026 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. (note: it was rescheduled from April 25th due to the weather)

(ORADELL, NJ) -- Fresh off being named the top live music or theater venue by 201 Magazine's "Best of Bergen" readers, Bergen County Players (BCP) invites audiences to brace themselves for a whirlwind of espionage and outrageous comedy with the Tony Award-winning The 39 Steps, which runs weekends from May 2-31, 2026. Directed by BCP life member Steve Bell, this breakneck adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 film classic blends film noir suspense with Monty Python-style absurdity.

(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- In May alone, Classic American Tales performs on a farm, in two different libraries, and at historic Peachfield.

(MONTVILLE, NJ) -- The Barn Theatre presents Monty Python's Spamalot weekends from May 15 through June 6, 2026. King Arthur's legendary quest for the Holy Grail gets a hilarious twist in this uproarious musical, lovingly ripped from the 1975 classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail.







LATEST FEATURES

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

THEATRE REVIEW: 'Private Lives' Brings Comedy and Passion to Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey




Arrival from Sweden LIVE! at UCPAC

Spotlight Central and Love Imagery have photos and a recap of Arrival from Sweden at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) on May 16, 2026.




2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Sonia and Lisa on Mushrooms Video Q+A

Al Nigrin, Executive Director and Curator of the New Jersey International Film Festival, leads a Q+A with Sonia and Lisa on Mushrooms Lead Actor Taylor Lhamon and Director Vincent Turturro. Sonia and Lisa on Mushrooms will be screened on May 29, 2026.




2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Interview with Counterfeit Kids Director/Writer James Sclafani!

Here is Festival Director Al Nigrin’s interview with Counterfeit Kids Director/Writer James Sclafani! Counterfeit Kids screens at the New Jersey International Film Festival on Saturday, May 30, 2026.




"Mesmerizing!" Punch Brothers LIVE! at MPAC

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Spotlight Central and Love Imagery have photos and a recap of Punch Brothers at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on May 14, 2026.




2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Short Film Video Panel

Here is the 2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Short Film Video Panel that features Festival Director Al Nigrin and NJIFF Official Selection filmmakers: Jen Nista, Max Beckerman, David Arrow and Gianfranco and Stefania Bello.




Two amazing shorts Bottom Feeder and Impivaara screen at the 2026 New Jersey International Film Festival on May 29!

We are always being watched, always being seen, always looking. But where are we? Who are we looking at? What are we seeing? Is it all a dream? Who’s dream is it? ‘Bottom feeders’ are the lowest form of species on the pyramid at the bottom of the deep, dark, and unexplored sea. Sometimes, if you pay attention, ‘bottom feeders’ take shape in the lowest form of human beings at the bottom of the deep, dark, and unexplored subconscious. Bottom Feeder is a black and white experimental film, shot on 16mm film in a square 4x3 format. Vito Trabucco is a Los Angeles based filmmaker, is known for his award-winning films Charlie Christ (2024), Britney Lost Her Phone (2023), and Kevin Can Wait (2020). In Bottom Feeders, Trabucco brings you on a dream-like journey with a woman, the aptly named Pageant (an uncommon name historically associated with theatrical spectacles), who by way of nature, explores her own dream and the meanings behind her visions, both in her head and what she sees. A front door, fractured. A home, for whom? A doll, draped in desire. A sunset, alone but for how long? A reflection, a gaze. A location, unknown




Jersey Arts Podcast: Assimilation, Immigration, and the Dance-Nation within West Side Story

(MILLBURN, NJ) -- "West Side Story" is making its way to the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn this May and we could not be more excited. If you're unfamiliar with the classic tale, we suggest you buckle up and get ready for an evening of music you’ll be singing all the way home, and likely for the foreseeable future.










UPCOMING EVENTS


Chris Duarte Group

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton, NJ
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




LATEST COLUMNS

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Shine" by Princeton singer-songwriter Helen O'Shea. The song from Helen's latest album, "Songs in the Key O," features E Street Band backing vocalist Michelle Moore.



Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 05/21/2026

"I'm enjoying the beautiful weather here in Florida, I live in Orlando. I used to live in Nashville for about six years but I'm originally from Transylvania, Romania," said an excited Alex Kilroy as he happily discussed the release of his album "Break My Chains," his classical training, Vince Gill and more.



This Week in Comedy: May 19-25, 2026

Here's a look at comedy shows taking place across the state from May 19 to May 25, 2026. New Jersey Stage compiles this list from comedy clubs, casinos, and performing arts centers



* Events This Week in New Jersey

* This Week in Music

* This Week in Theatre

* Top 15 Most Read Stories
from the Past Week




DAILY EDITION


Daily Edition 05-27-26

Here is a look at the articles published yesterday. The Daily Edition comes out Monday through Friday with a recap of articles published Friday through Sunday on Mondays.