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
Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center presents NJ Premiere of "Jaja's African Hair Braiding" 
(PLAINFIELD, NJ) -- duCret Center of Art's stage will become a braiding salon when Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center presents the New Jersey premiere of Jaja's African Hair Braiding, a hit play in New York, from February 21–23, 2025.
The Theater Project presents THINK FAST short play competition online 
Theatergoers from all over North America will have the chance to enjoy and be a part of live theater from the comfort of their own homes as voters in THINK FAST, a virtual short-play competition presented online by The Theater Project, February 28 – March 1, 2025.
music
Makin Waves with Tusk: Chemistry, Synergy, Intuition 
Tusk has been criss-crossing the country since 2008 as the classic Fleetwood Mac tribute. The five founding members have a rich history that spans more than four decades and cultivates an intimate familiarity with each other's musical nuances that shapes their performances with precision and unspoken understanding.
Harmonium Broadway Cabaret Troupe presents their 2025 Broadway Cabaret Benefit 
(WHIPPANY, NJ) -- Harmonium Broadway Cabaret Troupe presents their 2025 Broadway Cabaret Benefit on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at the at the Ukrainian American Cultural Center in Whippany. The event begins at 6:00pm.
Pianist Luther Allison Brings the Music of New Orleans to Audiences Across the Country 
James Black was a New Orleans-based jazz drummer, little known outside of the Crescent City. James Carroll Booker III was called the "piano prince of New Orleans." Harold Battiste was a reedist and composer who worked closely with such artists as Ellis Marsalis, Sam Cooke, and Dr. John.
McCarter Theatre presents The Crossing on Tuesday 
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- On Tuesday, February 4, 2025, three-time Grammy Award-winning chamber choir The Crossing will perform David Lang's poor hymnal at Richardson Auditorium on the Princeton University campus. Presented by McCarter Theatre, this performance explores themes of community, responsibility, and connection. Premiered in December 2023 in Philadelphia, the concert-length work has already become a staple in The Crossing's repertoire. Showtime is at 7:30pm.
Middletown Arts Center presents the MAC Music Café on Sunday 
(MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- The Middletown Arts Center presents the MAC Music Café, monthly music showcase featuring singer-songwriters Dan Toye, Gwynne Alden, Kevin Liebkemann and Patrick Bamburak on Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 4:00pm. The concert will take place in the MAC Theater. The event is free with a suggested donation of $5.
Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Conquer And Divide" by The Grip Weeds 
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Conquer and Divide" from The Grip Weeds' brand new EP, "Early Clues."
Bell Theater brings the music of CSNY, David Bowie and Woodstock in Classic Rock Spring Concert Series 
(HOLMDEL, NJ) -- Bell Theater at Bell Works is pleased to present three classic rock concerts, bringing a little musical heat to the cold spring months. Whether it’s the memorable melodies, nostalgia for a misspent youth or solidarity with the social and cultural movements of the time, all agree that the music of the '60s,'70s, and '80s was pretty good! The tunes of the past are presented at Bell Theater by some of the most exciting local musicians, bringing today's energy to yesterday's classics.
film
Captivating short The Traumatist screens at the 2025 New Jersey Film Festival on February 7th! 
The Traumatist is a captivatingly spun story of intense catharsis.
As Avery Vaughn goes through the process of “Immersive Retribution Trauma Therapy” the audience is pulled into the past alongside her, forced to relive flashbacks of the most impactful moments in her life. It’s almost impossible not to connect with Avery, her story made so tangible and the results of her trauma evident in every sentence, movement, and glance that she makes throughout her story.
New Jersey Film Festival Interview with God Teeth director Robbie C. Williamson! 
God Teeth – Robbie C. Williamson (Puntaneras, Costa Rica) God Teeth is a wildly original and fantastical odyssey about four recently deceased souls who find themselves on an abandoned ship at sea. Part confessional, part elegy, the narrators must recount the circumstances which led to their untimely deaths, before a marauding gang of sting rays destroys their memories, banishing them to an eternity in purgatory. Created entirely from found internet footage, God Teeth offers the viewer a new and profound experience culled from the infinite digital world and turns it into a thought provoking, cinematic song of mourning and acceptance - The glory of life and death. Boom, a 10-year-old swimmer endeavors to make sense of the loss of her father in a world of dragons, magical sea creatures and underwater superheroes, but will she be destined to repeat history? Albert, leather clad and speeding through a tunnel, flashes back to his life wandering the streets of Hong Kong in search of desire and connection, but with an increasing sense of unease and isolation, he must finally confess to a long-held and shameful secret. Rose, an ambitious sports agent is on the cusp of experiencing a career defining moment, when out of the blue, she takes a bold left turn - with horrific and unintended consequences. Devoted family man, Campbell, speaks only in third person as he reluctantly recalls a raging forest fire that would forever change his existence, leaving him stuck atop a thousand-foot pole. 2024; 60 min.
Here is my New Jersey Film Festival Interview with God Teeth director Robbie C. Williamson:
First Look Review - "Inheritance" 
For some reason, the most popular sub-genre when it comes to original movies greenlit by Netflix and Amazon seems to be the spy comedy. These movies usually feature a variation on the same central setup, that of someone discovering a person they thought they knew well has secretly been living the life of a spy. By all accounts these films are uniformly awful. Director Neil Burger's Inheritance is made for neither Netflix nor Amazon but it has the sort of premise those streaming services seemingly can't get enough of. In this case it's a young woman who discovers her estranged father is secretly a spy.
Enlightening documentary The Storm & The Boats premieres at the New Jersey Film Festival on February 8! 
When it comes to documentaries, I often prefer those with a distinctive narrative, something provocative or emotional. Yet, The Storm & The Boats won me over in the first five minutes in a much different manner. The filmmaker Jody Small did not come with tissues, prepared to tell a heartfelt tale, but rather a calm and collected story where she presents a more objective, comprehensive view of what has happened in the past. It feels like someone you come across at the train station who has no makeup, no jewelry, no extravagant clothes or attitude, she looks at you with a peaceful look in the eyes, speaking with an even tone: “Wanna hear some stories?” And then, she would share with you the most heart-touching experiences.
Ten great films screen at the 2025 New Jersey Film Festival this weekend! 
Ten great films screen at the Spring 2025 New Jersey Film Festival this weekend!
art
Rainbow Thursdays: Artists 2025 art exhibit On Display in Jersey City 
(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- On Wednesday, January 29th, Hudson County Executive Craig Guy hosted a reception to celebrate the Rainbow Thursdays: Artists 2025 art exhibit which features pieces created during free art classes. Rainbow Thursdays Artists classes are provided by the Hudson County Local Arts Grant Program (LAP) and are administered by the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs /Tourism Development, CDBG/City of Bayonne, and the Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust. This art exhibit is open to the public until February 7th and is located in the Historic Brennan Courthouse Rotunda.
community
Top 15 Most Read Stories At New Jersey Stage from January 26 to February 1, 2025 
Here's a look at the top 15 most read articles published at New Jersey Stage from January 26 to February 1, 2025. 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 (Atlantic, Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union).
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