Articles By Patricia Kiernan Johnson
"Breaking The Glass Ceiling" at Rowan University
How will you close out your Women’s History Month this year? I submit for your consideration: Rowan University College of Performing Arts’ “Breaking the Glass Ceiling: A Celebration of Women in Choreography” performance on Thursday, March 28. This evening features original choreography by Helen Simoneau, Dawn Marie Bazemore and Leslie Elkins. But wait, there’s more! Following the performance, stay for a talk with the artists, moderated by Dr. Brenda Dixon Gottschild, dance scholar and professor emeritus of dance studies at Temple University.
published on 03/20/2019
The Meeting Of Minds (And Words)
Despite being the shortest month of the year, there’s a heck of a lot that goes on in February: Groundhog’s Day, the Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day and, of course, Black History Month.
In honor of Black History Month, Dunbar Repertory Company is presenting a production of “The Meeting,” a one-hour drama written by Jeff Stetson. A total of four performances take place at Middletown Arts Center from February 22 to 24.
published on 02/22/2019
If It Ain't Baroque... Bach's Brandenburg Concertos With Symphony in C
You know the old joke: If it ain’t Baroque, don’t fix it? Well, put away those tools, dear reader. Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos ARE Baroque, so no fixing necessary.
This Saturday, December 1, Symphony in C is performing Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 2 through 6 at the Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts. Officially presented in 1721, these collective works are considered to be some of the finest orchestral compositions of the Baroque era (generally 1600 to 1750). These six concertos are among the most recorded, performed and beloved works by Bach. – And that’s J.S. Bach, for those of you keeping score at home. There are a LOT of Bachs.
published on 11/28/2018
Beautiful Singing, Indeed: Bellini's "Norma" With Verismo Opera At BergenPAC
You might not know it, but starting this Friday, October 26, through Sunday, November 4 is National Opera Week. Looking for a way to celebrate? Try seeing Vincenzo Bellini’s opera “Norma,” presented by the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera, at the Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) this Sunday, October 28 at 3:00 p.m.
published on 10/25/2018
Kennedy Dancers Take On Anderson Park
Trust me when I tell you that the Kennedy Dancers do it all. No joke. The company, which is based in Jersey City and was founded in 1976 by Artistic Director Diane Dragone, is a professional dance company (performing all manner of styles), a pre-professional training company, a dance school and a producer of a television show.
published on 08/08/2018
Westminster's Cooperative Operatic Arias Concerts
School may be out for the summer, but Westminster Choir College’s CoOPERAtive Program is definitely in session and ready for several performances of their Operatic Arias concerts. In Bristol Chapel on the Westminster Choir College Campus in Princeton at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays July 11 and 18 and Fridays July 13 and 20, young artists in the CoOPERAtive program will perform arias written by some of opera’s greatest composers.
published on 07/10/2018
Nurturing The Future of Dance In New Jersey
On Friday, June 15, NJPAC present an evening of world-premiere dance in a program called the Jersey (NEW) Moves! Festival of Dance.
published on 06/06/2018
Puccini's Last Opera Makes Its First Appearance At Verismo Opera
My boss, the CEO of OPERA America, has a favorite “first question.” Every time he interviews an opera creator, artist, board member or business partner, he asks them, “What is the first opera you saw? Who took you?”
published on 04/18/2018
CAMILLE A. BROWN'S "INK" AT PEAK PERFORMANCE
From February 1 through 4, Peak Performances at Montclair State University presents Camille A. Brown and her dancers in “ink,” the final installment in Brown’s dance theatre trilogy about identity. The first installment was “Mr. TOL E. RAncE” in 2012 and “BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play” from 2015. The hour-long “ink” is a new work, having received its premiere on December 2, 2017 in Washington, D.C.
published on 02/01/2018
Timely Content, Timeless Music - Montclair State University Opera Workshop: Crime-And Punishment?
From politics to business to the entertainment industry, we are living in an extraordinary, historical moment. Those who were once voiceless and powerless have become powerful Silence Breakers. Even the opera world – one that I bet you rarely think about and which NEVER rises to the top of the news cycle – found itself the subject of breaking news alerts and the top story on the national evening news this week.
published on 12/07/2017
Lee Hogans Quartet in New Brunswick
Looking for something cool to do this week that won’t cost an arm and a leg, and will totally impress your date? Try the Lee Hogans Quartet performance on Thursday, August 17 at 8:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick, presented by the New Brunswick Jazz Project.
published on 08/16/2017
Music Beyond Borders: Feraba in Morristown
With Music Beyond Borders in Morristown, the world is literally at your doorstep.
Now in its eighth season, Music Beyond Borders: World Music and Dance is a festival put on jointly by Morris Arts and the Mayo Performing Arts Center, taking place at the Morristown Green on Park Place in Morristown, NJ. Every other Tuesday from June to August, music and dance groups from all over the globe bring free performances to those lucky enough to be in (or can get to) Morristown for a Tuesday afternoon break.
published on 07/18/2017
Celebrating Love, Family and Joy with "La Cage Aux Folles" at AxelrodPAC
With Sunday’s 71st Annual Tony Awards fresh in our minds, I bet you’re thinking of seeing some great musical theater, huh? Well, of course we have lots going on in N.J. right now, including “La Cage aux Folles” at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal Park (Monmouth County).
published on 06/14/2017
A Ballet (and a Company) for All to Love — Roxey Ballet’s Sensory Friendly “Cinderella”
Through my nearly 10 years at my arts administration day job, I’ve seen a lot of performing arts organizations throughout North America do some really interesting and great work to build relationships with audiences of all kinds. Not to sound jaded or anything, but I’m really not the easiest girl to impress when it comes to innovative audience programs.
published on 05/03/2017
Westminster Choir: Anthracite Fields
On Friday and Saturday, April 21 and 22, Westminster Choir College of Rider University will perform Julia Wolfe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork “Anthracite Fields” with Bang on a Can All-Stars at the Roebling Wireworks in Trenton, site of the annual Art All Night Festival.
published on 04/13/2017
