"Clean Slate" Marks a Fresh Start With World Premiere in Trenton, NJ

by Gina Marie Rodriguez & Dave Tavani, JerseyArts.com - published 2023-03-02
A rehabilitation camp for disaffected teens, a haunted wood plagued by lost souls, and a path to redemption for all — this is but a taste of the upcoming musical "Clean Slate."

REVIEW: "Disney's Hercules" at Paper Mill Playhouse

by Adam F. Cohen - published 2023-03-02
There’s a fine line with Disney’s adaptations of its animated musicals to the stage. Of the cannon, only “Lion King” has successfully fully made the leap from two dimensional. Paper Mill Playhouse and Disney’s stab at updating the big screen version of “Hercules” has wonderful elements, many strong performances, a solid book, but feels under baked in battle for audience dollars. There's clear appeal for families, especially boys which is admirable.

The MAC PLAYERS presents "Seussical"

(MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- The MAC PLAYERS, Middletown Arts Center’s community theater group, kicks off its 2023 season with Seussical, a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Fun for the whole family, Seussical creates the witty, wild and whimsical world of Dr. Seuss as it has never been seen before. When chaos erupts in the Jungle of Nool, it will take The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz and a gaggle of characters to bring harmony back to their world. The production runs over two weekends at the Middletown Arts Center, March 3-5 and March 10-12, and offers new reserved seating.

PHOTOS from Disney's Hercules at Paper Mill Playhouse

(MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse is presenting Disney's Hercules through March 19. It's a terrific twist of fates! The inspired Disney animated film is now a mythical new musical adventure. Hercules is the divinely funny story of an honest-to-Zeus hero on a quest to discover who he is and where he belongs. Is love a possibility too? Oh, Hades, yes! The roof-raising score features all the hits you love from the film, including the Oscar-nominated song "Go the Distance," as well as "Zero to Hero" and "I Won’t Say (I’m in Love)," along with new songs written for the stage.

PHOTOS from "Raisin" at Axelrod PAC

by John Posada - published 2023-02-27
(DEAL PARK, NJ) -- To mark the 50th anniversary of its 1973 premiere on Broadway, the Axelrod Performing Arts Center is presenting the musical Raisin now through March 12. The musical is based on Lorraine Hansberry’s classic A Raisin in the Sun, which explores a Black family's journey to a better life as they aspire to move out of the projects in the Southside of Chicago in the 1950s. Raisin is a poignant reflection on the American Dream. Photographer John Posada was there to take photos.

PHOTOS from "Drop Dead!" at WHATCo

by John Posada - published 2023-02-27
(WEST HUDSON, NJ) -- The West Hudson Arts & Theater Company (WHATCo) is celebrating their Main Stage 2023 season with the debut of the comedy farse Drop Dead! by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore, and with a much-anticipated move to a new performance space in Harrison, NJ. Productions of this potboiler murder mystery continue Friday and Saturday, March 3rd and 4th at 7:00pm. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.

State Theatre New Jersey Presents "R.E.S.P.E.C.T."

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The fully renovated State Theatre New Jersey presents R.E.S.P.E.C.T., an electrifying tribute celebrating the legendary Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin on Saturday, March 11 at 8:00pm and Sunday, March 12 at 2:00pm. Tickets range from $40-$98.

Axelrod Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Tony Award-winning Musical "Raisin"

by Gina Marie Rodriguez & Dave Tavani, JerseyArts.com - published 2023-02-25
What happens to a dream deferred?

Inside Algonquin Arts Theatre's 2023-2024 Season

(MANASQUAN, NJ) -- Algonquin Arts Theatre has announced their 2023-2024 Broadway Series featuring six musicals and two plays. Algonquin begins the summer with one of the world's most beloved musicals, The Sound of Music followed by the Tony Award-winning Avenue Q, an adults-only musical featuring puppets and actors. In October, Algonquin Arts Theatre presents their premiere of The Hunchback of Notre Dame based on the Victor Hugo novel with the beloved Disney music. Just in time for the holidays and back by popular demand is ELF: The Musical based on the 2003 film. In the winter, the theatre will present two thrilling plays, Ira Levin's murder mystery/comedy Deathtrap and Stephen King's Misery (adapted by William Goldman). The 2023-2024 season will close with two of the most popular musicals of all time, Fiddler on the Roof and Grease!