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
PHOTOS from "Iconic Broadway" at Music Mountain Theatre 
(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) — Relive your favorite moments from Broadway's beloved musicals in a night of unforgettable songs presented by a show-stopping ensemble of two dozen performers with Music Mountain Theatre's 2025 season opener - a new, original concert conceived by MMT's own Louis Palena. Performances runs for 12 performances from January 17 through February 2, 2025. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.
Two River Theater joins forces with Project Write Now and other local non-profits for a New Engagement Program, Community Playmaking 
(RED BANK, NJ) –– Two River Theater, in partnership with Project Write Now, recently launched a new engagement program called Community Playmaking. Run in collaboration with local non-profits, it is open to adults from diverse, underserved communities free of charge. Participants engage in a series of free playwriting workshops fostering their creativity to write their own original short plays which are then performed by professional actors. Community Playmaking requires no prior experience—just a desire to learn and share stories.
This Week in Theatre: Previews for Plays Taking Place January 21-27, 2025 
Here are previews of plays taking place from January 21-27, 2025 including a look at productions currently being presented and those coming soon. New Jersey Stage covers Equity, community, college, and high school theatre. Check back every week for the weekly theatre preview
Classic Radio Road Show to present "Gunsmoke" and "Frontier Gentleman" Radio Plays 
(LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- On Monday, March 3, 2025, Classic Radio Road Show will present two radio plays - episodes of Gunsmoke and Frontier Gentleman - at the West End Arts Center Auditorium (132 West End Avenue) in Long Branch. Showtime is 7:00pm.
Bergen County Players presents "Rabbit Hole" 
(ORADELL, NJ) -- Bergen County Players (BCP), one of America's longest running theater companies, showcases a perfect balancing act of drama, comedy and catharsis in its production of Rabbit Hole, which won playwright David Lindsay-Abaire a Pulitzer Prize in 2007. The show opens Saturday, February 8 and runs weekends through March 1, 2025 at the Little Firehouse Theatre in Oradell.
PHOTOS from "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" at Algonquin Arts Theatre 
(MANASQUAN, NJ) -- Algonquin Arts Theatre is presenting its January musical, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown from January 18-26, 2025. Rediscover the magic of childhood with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Sally and the rest of the gang. The musical brings to life the timeless stories that have captured the hearts of audiences for generations. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.
music
The Newton Theatre presents Everclear on March 8th 
(NEWTON, NJ) -- Everclear, one of the leading alternative rock bands to emerge from the '90s, comes to The Newton Theatre on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 8:00pm. The band celebrated their 30th Anniversary in recent years, and founder, vocalist and guitarist Art Alexakis has made it clear that he has no plans to slow down.
This Week in Music: Previews for Concerts from January 21-27, 2025 
Here is a look at shows taking place from January 21-27, 2025 along with our featured listings and a look at some upcoming shows. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.
Outpost in the Burbs hosts LOD WinterFest 25 Songwriters in the Round on Saturday 
(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs hosts the final Light of Day event for LOD WinterFest 25 - a Songwriters in the Round event on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at the First Congregational Church in Montclair. Doors are at 7:00pm, showtime is 7:30pm.
BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 1/20/25 
Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by The Extensions, Psychic Wars, Synaptic Ooze, James William Eccles, and Southpaw. Plus a look back at "Are We Truly Great Again?" by Laree Cisco.
film
Spring 2025 New Jersey Film Festival to Run from January 24th to February 16th 
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The Spring 2025 New Jersey Film Festival takes place on select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between and January 24-February 16, 2025. The event, hosted in part by Rutgers, features both in-person and online screenings of forty-four films from around the globe as well as a concert featuring Renee Maskin.
UCPAC presents the Rocky Horror Picture Show – A Live Movie Experience with the Cosmic Light Cabaret Shadowcast on Friday 
(RAHWAY, NJ) -- Let's do the Time Warp again! Come see The Rocky Horror Picture Show – A Live Movie Experience with the Cosmic Light Cabaret Shadowcast on Friday, January 24, 2025 at the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC). This will be an interactive and fun night with audience call-backs, props, and more so you can join in all the fun. Live performers will act out the film in front of the screen for an immersive experience like none other. Costumes are welcomed, so don’t dream it – be it! Showtime is 8:00pm.
Masterpiece feature Giant’s Kettle gets its statewide debut at the New Jersey Film Festival 
Giant’s Kettle begins with a black screen, as howling winds are heard in the background. We rest with this image - we stay with this image. Slowly, a hand and a face eerily come out of the darkness, looking straight at us, the viewer. It’s a man. His forehead is bandaged. His expression is blank. He stares at us for an uncomfortably long period of time. We feel that he is trapped. We feel that he holds resentment, but also tiredness. He then finally breaks eye contact with us as he closes his eyes and smudges his face against the glass, breathing heavily.
New Jersey Film Festival Spring 2025 Short Film Video Q+A #2 
Here is the New Jersey Film Festival Spring 2025 Short Film Video Q+A #2 with Sylvia Director Hannah Zipperman, Help Yourself Director Hedvig Andersson, Embryo Directors Joy and Caleb Waldinger, and Crowboy Producer/Writer William Doan and Festival Director Al Nigrin.
art
Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition "Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight" opens on February 7th in Rahway 
(RAHWAY, NJ) -- The City of Rahway is pleased to announce the opening of Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight at The Gallery Space (1670 Irving Street) in Rahway. This is a powerful exhibition chronicling the story of African Americans who, despite facing tremendous racial barriers, attained amazing achievements in aviation history. This exhibition will be on view at the Gallery Space from February 7 through June 30, 2025.
Ocean County Library Long Beach Island Branch presents Art by Bernadette Callanan in February 
(SURF CITY, NJ) -- The Ocean County Library Long Beach Island Branch is pleased to feature the works of Jersey Shore-based artist Bernadette Callanan throughout the month of February 2025. The Branch's Meeting Room is where the Long Beach Township artist's mixed media creations will be on display.
community
More Than Bootstraps Announces Roselyn Muñoz as New Program Resource Fellow 
(PASSAIC, NJ) -- More Than Bootstraps (MTB), a New Jersey non-profit organization, announces that Roselyn Muñoz (Fairleigh Dickinson University) has been selected to take on the leadership position of Program Resource Fellow (PRF).
Events This Week in New Jersey from January 21-27, 2025 
Here is a look at upcoming events taking place from January 21-27, 2025 along with our featured listings. New Jersey Stage offers previews of events throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.
