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
Classic Stage Company Welcomes SheNYC Arts Into Theater After Controversial Connelly Theater Loss 
(NEW YORK, NY) -- SheNYC Arts is excited to announce that after being kicked out of their home of 8 years, The Connelly Theater, they have found a new home at Classic Stage Company's 13th Street theater.
East Lynne Theater Company to Celebrate the Holidays with "Lennie's Christmas Extravaganza: A Holiday Cabaret with Special Guests" 
(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- Lennie McKenzie, a favorite among the New York City piano bar scene, will return to East Lynne Theater with "Lennie's Christmas Extravaganza: A Holiday Cabaret with Special Guests" for two weekends: December 6-7 and December 13-14, 2024.
PHOTOS from "The Old Man and The Old Moon" at Academy for Performing Arts at UCVTS 
(SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ) -- The Academy for Performing Arts at Union County Vocational-Technical Schools (UCVTS) brought magic and wonder to the stage with their production of The Old Man and The Old Moon on November 22 and 23, 2024. The performances captivated audiences with their creativity, heartfelt storytelling, and imaginative staging. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.
music
Garden State Philharmonic To Close Its Doors 
In an email sent to subscribers on November 21st, the Garden State Philharmonic announced that it will be closing its doors on December 4, 2024. The orchestra performed concerts in three counties: Ocean, Monmouth, and Essex and was the "Orchestra in Residence" at Ocean County College. They will be missed.
Recap: Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country at Brooklyn Bowl 
Back on October 24, 25, & 26, 2024, Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country rolled into Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg (Brooklyn), NY for a 3-night residency part of an overall east coast run in Asbury Park, NJ and Ardmore (Philadelphia, PA), along with an appearance in Syracuse, NY October 23. During this time at Brooklyn Bowl, Phil Lesh (bass) from the Grateful Dead passed on October 25. This loss is a marker on this leg of fall tour and Cosmic Country paid tribute to Lesh during that night's show with encore performances of the Grateful Dead's Box of Rain and Samson and Delilah. We are all connected. On the same night, Phish played its Box of Rain debut to open their 10/25/24 show at MVP Amphitheater in Albany, NY.
Ben Folds LIVE! at MPAC 
Music lovers are rockin' the suburbs at MPAC in Morristown, NJ as they ready themselves for a sold out Paper Airplane Tour performance by singer/songwriter, Ben Folds.
Celebrate the Holiday Season with New Jersey Festival Orchestra! 
(MADISON, NJ) -- From traditional to pops, choral favorites, and Broadway classics, New Jersey Festival Orchestra’s (NJFO) holiday concerts promise to fill the entire family with warmth and cheer.
MPAC presents Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis on November 30th 
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Mannheim Steamroller's annual Christmas tour pulls into Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) for two performances on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 2:00pm & 7:30pm. Led by Chip Davis, this has been America's favorite holiday tradition for more than 35 years!
Wharton Arts Presents Violins of Hope in A Concert for Peace - Youth Musicians To Perform on Instruments Saved from the Holocaust 
(NEWARK, NJ) -- Wharton Arts will present A Concert for Peace with Violins of Hope, a poignant tribute to human resilience and the power of music, on January 12, 2025 at 3:00pm at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark. Led by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Helen H. Cha-Pyo, this special concert showcases the extraordinary Violins of Hope, precious stringed instruments that survived the Holocaust.
Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Quasimodo's Love Note" by Never the Name 
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Quasimodo's Love Note," the debut single of the new all-Star band Never the Name.
film
"Laufey's A Night at the Symphony: Hollywood Bowl" to Hit Theaters December 6th 
Laufey's A Night at the Symphony: Hollywood Bowl is a visually stunning concert film showcasing the singer's mesmerizing vocals alongside the legendary Los Angeles Philharmonic. Filmed in her adopted hometown, the film, directed by Sam Wrench (Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour), takes audiences on a spellbinding sonic journey under the stars. Performing at the iconic venue that has hosted musical legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Laufey gives a behind-the-scenes look at the monumental show. As Variety notes, "Laufey feels like she was born to play the Hollywood Bowl."
dance
Lydia Johnson Dance to Perform at Graham Studio Theater 
(NEW YORK, NY) –- Lydia Johnson Dance (LJD), a company known for its distinctive choreography by Artistic Director and Choreographer Lydia Johnson, which fuses ballet technique with contemporary phrases and gestures, will perform at the Graham Studio Theater on Wednesday, December 4 at 7:30pm; Thursday, December 5 at 7:30pm; and Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 3:00pm.
art
GlassRoots Announces Re-Design of Custom Glass Awards Made By Hand In Newark 
(NEWARK, NJ) -- Newark's Glass Art Center, GlassRoots, prides itself on their glass awards made by hand right here in downtown Newark! This year alone, they have created custom glass awards for dozens of clients including NJPAC, Rutgers Law, Harvard University, NJ Symphony, Horizon, The Newark Museum of Art and Honeywell, among others.
community
JAZZ HOUSE KiDS Founder Melissa Walker Honored with Inspiration Through the Arts Award at 92NY's Extraordinary Women Awards 
(NEW YORK, NY) -- On Monday, November 18, 2024, JAZZ HOUSE KiDS founder Melissa Walker was honored with the Inspiration through the Arts Award at 92NY's Extraordinary Women Awards. Hosted by Juju Chang, Co-Anchor of ABC News' Nightline and board member of the 92nd Street Y, the event took place at 92NY's David Geffen Stage in the Kaufmann Concert Hall.
Fund for Irish Studies at Princeton University presents a Conversation with Ireland's Abbey Theatre 
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Princeton University's Fund for Irish Studies continues its 2024-2025 series with a conversation with Caitriíona McLaughlin, Artistic Director of Ireland's Abbey Theatre, and Jen Coppinger, Head of Producing at Abbey Theatre. Fund for Irish Studies Co-chair and Director of Princeton's Program in Theater and Music Theater Jane Cox will moderate the conversation on December 6, 2024 at 4:30pm at the James Stewart Film Theater at 185 Nassau Street. The event is free and open to the public; no tickets are required.
Top 15 Most Read Stories At New Jersey Stage From November 17-23, 2024 
Here's a look at the top 15 most read articles published at New Jersey Stage from November 17-23, 2024. 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 9 counties in New Jersey (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, Sussex, and Union).
January 2025 Events at MPAC 
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- New year, great shows coming to Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)! January sees the annual return of the Dancing with the Stars Tour, as well as Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Country favorites Blackberry Smoke make their MPAC debut at the end of January, and there's tribute bands galore, featuring the music of the 1980s (Jessie's Girl), Taylor Swift (Dream Like Taylor), The Eagles (Eaglemania) and Billy Joel and Elton John (The Piano Men). Plus, fun family shows, comedy and gospel greats The Blind Boys of Alabama.
Bergen County and Community Food Bank of NJ Team Up to Distribute Fresh Produce for Thanksgiving 
(RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ) -- On Monday, November 18, 2024, the Bergen County Office of Food Security, in partnership with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, distributed 90,000lbs of fresh produce to 40 food pantries from across Bergen County to support their Thanksgiving food distributions. The participating pantries received boxes of mixed produce than included potatoes, yams, lettuces, onions, apples and other items that help provide healthy side dishes on the Thanksgiving tables of thousands of families in Bergen County this year.
books
Asbury Book Cooperative presents Local Author Panel Discussion on December 7th 
(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- All are welcome to join a Local Author Panel Discussion with Tim DeMarco (Release Me), Anthony Ausiello (Brooklyn '76), and Luigina Vecchione (Italian American) on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at Asbury Book Cooperative. This discussion will be mediated by local author and Asbury Park High School Alumnus, Paul Bomba.
