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!
If your arts organization sends out press releases, make sure you have info@newjerseystage.com on your media list for coverage.
theatre
The Caribbean Musical Retelling of The Little Mermaid, "Once On This Island," Is Coming To South Jersey 
A restaging of the Caribbean-infused musical "Once On This Island" is coming to the Levoy Theatre in Millville, New Jersey, running for four performances from February 9th through February 11th. Filled with immersive storytelling, the show is directed by Domonic Barnes and choreographed by Olivia Cruz. Conducting a live band is music director Bryan Broughton.
Tony Award-Nominee Kate Baldwin to star in American Theater Group's "A Little Night Music" 
(BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- Broadway's Kate Baldwin will star as Desiree in American Theater Group's (ATG) upcoming season premiere of Stephen Sondheim's beloved A Little Night Music. The production will run March 7-10, 2024 at the Sieminski Theater in Basking Ridge and March 14-24, 2024 at Hamilton Stage in Rahway. Baldwin will share the stage with her husband Graham Rowat (Broadway: Dear Evan Hanson, Sunset Boulevard) as Fredrik.
music
Smooth Jazz NJ presents Lalah Hathaway at Union County Performing Arts Center 
(RAHWAY, NJ) -- Smooth Jazz New Jersey presents five-time Grammy winner Lalah Hathaway at the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) on Friday, April 12, 2024. Tickets range from $50-$85. Showtime is 8:00pm.
Monthly MAC Music Café to Take Place on Sunday 
(MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- The Middletown Arts Center presents the monthly MAC Music Café showcase, an afternoon of live music performed by top-notch musicians, on Sunday, February 11, 2024 from 4:00pm-6:00pm. This month's singer-songwriter showcase features local talent Dan Toye, Kevin Liebkemann, Steve Kunzman and John Siehl. The concert will take place in the MAC theater. The event is free with a suggested donation of $5.
Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites...2/8/24 
"Oh yeah, absolutely! I'm excited to get the music out there and obviously kick-off this tour for 2024 and start playing some of these new songs for the fans," stated Kenny Wayne Shepherd as he discussed his new record, his touring philosophy and the difference between Kenny Wayne Shepherd then and now. "This one is called "Dirt On My Diamonds Vol. 1" because there is a "Volume Two" so we have a whole other record ready to go to follow this one up and that sets us up and puts us in a really good position for the next couple of years to have new material, to keep the tour going and to keep the fans interested in what we're doing for sure."
bergenPAC presents Tower of Power 
(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) presents Tower of Power – 56th Anniversary Tour on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 7:00pm. For over 55 years, Tower of Power has delivered the best in funk and soul music.
Black Box Studios and Liberty Arts Theatre presents The Singer-Songwriter Showcase Vol. 1 
(TEANECK, NJ) -- Black Box Studios and Liberty Arts Theatre presents the full line-up for The Singer-Songwriter Showcase Vol. 1, a new recurring event featuring area bands and artists which will premiere on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at Debonair Music Hall. The night will feature performances by Rene Avila, Esti Mellul, The String Thirys and Leroy Klavis. Doors open at 7:00; showtime is 7:30pm.
comedy
New Improv Classes for Adults, Beginner through Advanced, at Vivid Stage this Spring 
(SUMMIT, NJ) -- Vivid Stage, in residence at Oakes Center at 120 Morris Avenue in Summit, is offering a new season of improv classes for adults this spring. The next session, which includes three different classes, begins on March 5.
film
"Maya," A Social Impact Narrative Thriller Of A Young Girl Who Gets Trafficked Now Available on Most Major Platforms 
(LOS ANGELES, CA) -- Maya, a film by award-winning writer and director Julia Verdin in conjunction with the non-profit Artists For Change, is an engaging, eye-opening social impact thriller about a young girl lured into a human trafficking scheme. The film rolled out the end of January 2024 and is now available on most major platforms to buy/rent. The film is also having a limited theatrical release around the country. Viewers will be taken on a roller coaster ride to find out if Maya (Isabella Feliciana) will be forever lost to the dark world she has fallen prey to.
Surreal short Wiener screens at the Spring 2024 New Jersey Film Festival on Friday, February 9 
In her short film Wiener, Natalie Peracchio tackles the timeless theme of being yourself through a very unusual college admissions tour. Here we follow Simone and her father, who have traveled all the way from Ohio to Boston to visit “Overton College”, but Simone has a trick up her sleeve: President Weiner.
dance
PHOTOS from "The Jungle Book" at Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater 
(DEAL, NJ) -- Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater (AXCBT) is presenting a newly revised and revitalized version, with a new score, of Artistic Director Gabriel Chajnik's ballet The Jungle Book, based on Rudyard Kipling's beloved stories about a boy adopted and raised by wolves fulfilling his quest for identity, love and belonging, Performances conclude this weekend at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.
art
Jersey Arts TV: Alonzo Adams tells stories of the Black experience at Zimmerli Art Museum 
Alonzo Adams has been using his paintings to tell stories of the contemporary Black experience for over 25 years. In his first solo museum exhibition at Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University, his own story as an artist is being told, from his very first painting to pieces that have not been seen publicly for years. We went to New Brunswick to speak with the artist about putting this exhibition together, and how it feels to return to Rutgers, where he once studied. "Alonzo Adams: A Griot's Vision" is on display through February 25.
food
Her ALS Story Launches Wine Collection to Raise ALS Awareness 
(RINGOES, NJ) -- Her ALS Story is excited to announce their new fundraising custom labeled wine collection, a new collaboration with Old York Cellars Winery in Ringoes, NJ. Available on bottles of Old York Cellars' What Exit charitable series of white, red, and blush blend wines. The custom label has been designed to create awareness of ALS and support for the organization which consists of young women living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is commonly known as a disease that afflicts older men, but Her ALS Story challenges that stereotype with nearly 100 members across the country and globally diagnosed by age 35.
FEATURED EVENTS
To narrow results by date, categories,
or region of New Jersey click here.
A Girl Can Touch The Sky – Online for 24 Hours Only!
Saturday, September 07, 2024 @ 12:00am
NJ Film Festival
71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: film
Click here for full description
MD Keep the Faith Fundraiser
Saturday, September 07, 2024 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: comedy
Click here for full description
Premiere Stages presents "Diversion"
Saturday, September 07, 2024 @ 8:00pm
Premiere Stages - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center
1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
category: theatre
Click here for full description
Premiere Stages presents "Diversion"
Saturday, September 07, 2024 @ 3:00pm
Premiere Stages - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center
1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
category: theatre
Click here for full description
Veronica Swift
Saturday, September 07, 2024 @ 7:30pm
The Vogel
99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701
category: music
Click here for full description
Sugar Mountain - Celebrating the Genius of Neil Young
Saturday, September 07, 2024 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music
Click here for full description
Broadway Night: Set Rudetsky Live! with Sierra Boggess
Saturday, September 07, 2024 @ 8:00pm
Bell Theater
101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
category: theatre
Click here for full description
Empire Records
Saturday, September 07, 2024 @ 7:30pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Berlind Theater)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
category: theatre
Click here for full description
Americana Women
Saturday, September 07, 2024 @ 7:30pm
Avenel Performing Arts Center
150 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001
category: music
Click here for full description
Click here for more events
Listings are available for $10 and included with our banner ad packages.
Click here for more info.
EVENT PREVIEWS
Seth Rudetsky hosts Broadway Concert with Sierra Boggess at Bell Theater in Holmdel on Saturday
(HOLMDEL, NJ) -- SiriusXM radio host Seth Rudetsky is bringing Seth's Big Fat Broadway LIVE! concert series to Bell Theater in Holmdel on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 8:00pm. Rudetsky's guest is Broadway's Sierra Boggess (The Little Mermaid, The Phantom of the Opera). This up-close and personal concert series is a mix of the greatest hits from the Boggess' Broadway career plus intimate, behind-the-scenes stories, coupled with Rudetsky's funny, insightful and revealing questions. The series continues in the fall with Adam Pascal, J. Harrison Ghee and Krysta Rodriguez.
ON-GOING EVENTS
Montclair Art Museum presents "Family, Community, Belonging: Works from the Collection"
(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- The Montclair Art Museum is thrilled to present its latest exhibition, Family, Community, Belonging: Works from the Collection. This unique collection-based exhibition delves into the ever-evolving notions of family and community, and explores themes of belonging, diversity, and inclusion through a diverse array of artworks. The exhibition opens on February 9, 2024, and will be on display at the museum until January 2026.
