New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

PHOTOS from The Wag's Halloween Spectacular at The Strand


By John Posada

originally published: 10/31/2023

(LAKEWOOD, NJ) -- The Wag presented their Halloween Spectacular shows across the Garden State in October with performances at The Landis Theater in Vineland on October 20th and The Strand Theater in Lakewood on October 28th.  Photographer John Posada was on hand at the latter show to take photos.

The annual show includes Halloween-themed songs plus dance numbers, costume changes, and comedy sketches, along with a few of the band's original songs. Most of all, the show is fun for everyone.

The Wag is a band from the Bayshore area of New Jersey that mixes a love for the British Invasion bands of the sixties with a Jersey Shore vibe. This year marks their 25th as a band, a truly remarkable feat. The band includes Brian Ostering (Bass and vocals), Alicia Van Sant (Keyboards, vocals, percussion, some flute, occasional guitar), Don Lee (Guitar and vocals), and Joshua Van Ness (Drums, percussion, guitar and vocals).

In February, New Jersey Stage spoke with Brian Ostering about the band's 25th anniversary and their latest album, Blue Bottles and Copper Coins. You can read that interview here.

If holiday tunes are more of your thing, The Wag will be back at The Strand with their Christmas Spectacular show on Saturday, December 9th. It's a fun show steeped in the traditions of the holiday tv shows we've  all grown up with.  In addition to having dance numbers, costume changes, and comedy sketches, the show includes a look at holiday songs and sketches from places like Ireland, Germany, Spain, and more. For more info or tickets, click hereThe Christmas Spectacular will also take place at the Middletown Arts Center on Saturday, December 16th as a benefit for the Monmouth County SPCA.  For more info or tickets about that show, click here.




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



You can find The Wag performing at area festivals, in bars, theaters, coffeehouses, and libraries throughout the state. In addition to performing locally, the band has a couple of shows in Maine and Vermont in November and has taken part in regional and international tours, including England, Canada, and Japan. They will be back at the Landis Theater for a show on Saturday, December 23rd.

Here are more photos from the show.

John Posada is a New Jersey based photographer specializing in photographing live theatre and music performances. For more than 15 years, John has photographed live events where he mastered the techniques of timing and capturing fast moving action under challenging lighting conditions. Currently, John has spent the last 3 years concentrating on photographing almost 200 theatre productions for over 70 different theatres. Click here for John's website.




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here


FEATURED EVENTS

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

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


The

The West Point Concert Band

Tuesday, April 01, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

Tuesday

Tuesday Night Record Club - Led Zeppelin, IV

Tuesday, April 01, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Monmouth University - The Great Hall
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music


 

MAC

MAC Jazz Orchestra

Wednesday, April 02, 2025 @ 3:30pm
Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748
category: music


 

Bywater

Bywater Call

Wednesday, April 02, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Experience

Experience Hendrix

Wednesday, April 02, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 



Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info





 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Split

Split Level Concerts presents Rod Picott and Anya Hinkle at Jersey Shore Arts Center

(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- Critically acclaimed singer/songwriters Rod Picott and Anya Hinkle will co-headline a performance at Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Showtime is 8:00pm. The show closes out the 2024-25 season of the Split Level Concerts series which highlights renowned Americana and contemporary folk musicians in a uniquely intimate setting. The series will resume in the fall.



HOT

HOT 97's Summer Jam 2025 to Take Place at Prudential Center

(NEWARK, NJ) -- HOT 97, New York's #1 station for Hip Hop, is again turning up the heat with Summer Jam 2025, the ultimate one-night-only celebration of the culture. Produced by The Black Promoters Collective and part of the Prudential North to Shore Festival, the biggest names in Hip Hop will take the stage on Friday, June 20, 2025 at the Prudential Center.



Freedom

Freedom Mortgage Pavilion to host the 92.5 XTU Anniversary show headlined by Luke Bryan

(CAMDEN, NJ) -- Freedom Mortgage Pavilion will host the 92.5 XTU Anniversary show headlined by Luke Bryan on Friday, June 6, 2025 at 7:00pm. The lineup includes George Birge, Ashland Craft, Adrien Nunez, and DJ Rock.



WDHA

WDHA presents Ace Frehley at Starland Ballroom

(SAYREVILLE, NJ) -- WDHA presents Ace Frehley on Friday, May 2, 2025 at the Starland Ballroom. Support comes from Mainline, Rahway, and Ten Ton Mojo. Doors are at 6:00pm, showtime is 7:00pm.



Gary

Gary Solomon of The THE BAND Band to pay tribute to Bob Dylan at Lizzie Rose Music Room

(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents a solo acoustic tribute to Bob Dylan featuring Gary Solomon of The THE BAND Band on Friday, April 4, 2025. Doors are at 7:00pm, showtime is at 7:30pm.