Top 15 Most Read Stories at New Jersey Stage from January 29 to February 4, 2023

Here's a look at the top 15 most read articles published at New Jersey Stage from January 29 to February 4, 2023. Each week we publish about 70 articles, including several original columns and features, along with news releases for events happening throughout the state and nearby areas like Philadelphia and New York City. This week's top 15 includes articles from 8 counties in New Jersey (Bergen, Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Union).

Makin Waves with Taylor Simon King: 'Crushing the Avenue'

by Bob Makin - published 2023-02-05
Taylor Simon King, a celebration of the three American troubadours James Taylor, Carly Simon, and Carole King, is produced by Jersey Shore musical power couple Lisa Sherman and Franke Previte, an Oscar winner for the 1987 classic “Dirty Dancing.” Their production will be coming to Franke’s hometown of New Brunswick on March 25 with a performance at the grand New Brunswick Performing Arts Center.

Monmouth University Center for the Arts presents An Evening with Cowboy Junkies

(WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- Monmouth University Center for the Arts presents An Evening with Cowboy Junkies on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 8:00pm. The show takes place in the Pollak Theatre. Tickets range from $38-$58.

PHOTOS from "The Secret Garden" at Music Mountain Theatre

by John Posada - published 2023-02-05
(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre is presenting The Secret Garden weekends now through February 19. The enchanting classic of children’s literature is reimagined in brilliant musical style. The Secret Garden sees Mary, an 11- year-old living in British India, forced from her home by tragedy. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.

Exceptional experimental short Revelation to the Disembodied screens at the New Jersey Film Festival on February 10, 2023!

by Emily Ranieri - published 2023-02-05
André Silva’s exceptional experimental short film Revelation to the Disembodied will be shown at the New Jersey Film Festival on February 10, 2023, online for 24 hours and in person at 7 pm. The film will be one of six in the festival’s shorts program. Revelation to the Disembodied is an alluring commentary on the multidimensionality of human existence. André Silva captures the complexity of man’s evolution of intelligence and tells the story of this evolution through the lens of a post-modern dream. In Silva’s dream world, he explores the implications of a world that has become hyper-technological while drawing upon Christian mythology to form an unlikely comparison. This duality makes for a beautifully complex depiction of the equally complex human experience.

Chris Lane’s Excellent Feature Ocean City Monster Building screens at the Spring 2023 New Jersey Film Festival TODAY Saturday, February 4

by Al Nigrin - published 2023-02-04
Ocean City Monster Building by Chris Lane (playing all day online at the Spring 2023 New Jersey Film Festival) focuses on a small sleepy town in upstate New York in 1984.  The former mayor of the city is found dead on the backseat of his car with a local 15-year-old girl. In the aftermath, his wife of 30 years and his adopted daughter have to make sense of this difficult situation, while a detective from out of town is sent in to try to solve the case together with local law enforcement.   Here is my interview with Ocean City Monster Building director Chris Lane:

Black Women's Mural Raises Awareness About Black Suffragists, Celebrates Black Voices, and Sparks Community Pride

by Carolyn M. Brown, JerseyArts.com - published 2023-02-03
Ida B. Wells-Barnett was a prominent journalist and activist who fought tirelessly for women’s right to vote even though she is often left out of historical conversations about the women’s suffrage movement. Today her image graces a mural located in the heart of downtown Englewood, New Jersey, on the east-facing wall of the Women's Rights Information Center building at 108 W. Palisades Avenue. The painting was inspired by the 100th year anniversary of the 19th Amendment. “The Black Women’s Mural: Celebrating Black Suffragists and Black Women in Englewood” is meant to celebrate the achievements of Black women who paved the way for civil and women’s rights as well as serve as a beacon of pride and hope for young girls, Black women and the community-at-large in Englewood.

Algonquin Arts Theatre presents "Wait Until Dark"

(MANASAQUAN, NJ) -- Algonquin Arts Theatre presents its winter thriller, Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott. The show will run from February 18 through February 26. Murder, secret identities, and a switchblade named Geraldine set the stage for this white-knuckle thriller that will have you sleeping with the lights on.

Makin Waves Song of the Week: "In the Night" by Project 18 featuring Dave Vargo

by Bob Makin - published 2023-02-03
Project 18, featuring Monmouth County-based singer-songwriter Dave Vargo, has released a four-song EP, the opener of which, “In the Night,” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.