Each week, New Jersey Stage shines a spotlight on events happening throughout the Garden State. Events are chosen from the NJ Stage online calendar. Event listings are free and visitors to the website are encouraged to vote for their favorite events. The event receiving the most votes receives the "People's Choice Award" for the week. This week's People's Choice takes place on Saturday, August 27 when Jersey legend Billy Hector celebrates his 60th birthday at The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park. Hector, one of the best known blues performers in the state, was part of the 2016 XpoNential Music Festival earlier this summer. He's also been invited twice to perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was invited to perform at The Kennedy Center in DC for the "Leadbelly at 125" concert. Hector will be performing with The Midnite Horns for this show.
THEATRE
A couple of shows caught our eye including the opening of IAGO at New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch. In this play by James McLure, backstage intrigue, romance, and scandal take place during rehearsals of the Shakespeare classic Othello, which serves as the backdrop for this comedic-drama. The production runs from August 25 through September 25.
The wonderful play My Name is Asher Lev by Aaron Posner will be performed at Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly August 27-29, Adapted from the novel by Chaim Potok, the play follows the journey of a young Jewish painter torn between his Hassidic upbringing and his desperate need to fulfill his artistic promise. When his artistic genius threatens to destroy his relationship with his parents and community, young Asher realizes he must make a difficult choice between art and faith.
And Cape May Stage presents The God Box, A Daughter's Story on Wednesday, August 29. This one-night performance benefits PRISMS (Parents and Researchers Interested in Smith-Magenis Syndrome). The show is co-written and performed by Mary Lou Quinlan, author of the book that inspired the play, New York Times bestseller The God Box. It is the story of her remarkable discovery of her mother’s “God Boxes” filled with hundreds of private petitions on torn pages and Post-its written by the very hand that had slipped away.
MUSIC
The final week of August features several great shows. On Wednesday, August 24, The Billy Walton Band will be at Tim McLoone's Supper Club in Asbury Park with the Karen Mansfield Two opening. Sticking with Asbury Park on Thursday, the House of Independents hosts Hall and Oatzes in which a local supergroup (Jeff Plate, Pete Steimkopf of Bouncing Souls, Paul Ritchie of The Parlor Mob, Sam Sherman of The Billy Walton Band, and Sam Bey of The Parlor Mob) offer their take on Hall & Oates songs. Elsewhere in the state on Thursday, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band continue their run at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford and country music star Martina McBride is at the State Theatre in New Brunswick.
Friday, August 26 is packed with good shows across the state. The Stone Pony in Asbury Park has Blues Traveler and The Wallflowers sharing a bill with Howie Day opening; The PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel hosts Rage Against The Machine, Public Enemy, and Cypress Hill; Country music legends The Oak Ridge Boys come to The Levoy Theatre in Millville; The Bergen Performing Arts Center (BergenPAC) in Englewood has hard rockers Kix and Raftree take the stage; and Lonestar is at The Broadway Theatre of Pitman.
Two shows featuring New Jersey artists also make our radar on Friday. North Jersey meets the Jersey Shore at The House of Independents when Bone & Marrow celebrate their CD release with friends Homeless Apians, The Porchistas, Tony Appleseed, Wendy Bird Hoops and more. And The Strand in Lakewood hosts a Jerry Garcia Celebration presented by Musicians on a Mission. The night features Rainbow Full of Sound with special guest Bob Steeler as well as acoustic performances by Musicians on a Mission members.
Saturday, August 27 includes a performance by the great Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys at Caesars in Atlantic City on his Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary Tour. Elsewhere around the state we have the Long Branch Jazz & Blues Festival and Butch Walker at House of Independents in Asbury Park.
We close out our look at music with Sunday's performance by The Bangles at The Newton Theatre. This show by the 80s girl band is long sold out. Hope you've got a ticket in time!
COMEDY
A pair of comedy shows caught her eye. On Thursday, Andrew Dice Clay comes to Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank. He's back in the spotlight with his Showtime series, Dice. Then on Friday and Saturday, Vic DiBetto returns to Uncle Vinnie's Comedy Club in Point Pleasant. Vic is a legend from YouTube videos like the classic "Gotta Get The Bread & Milk" clip that continues to go viral every time it snows.
DANCE
The Atlantic City Ballet travels to their home away from home - the Strand Theater in Lakewood - to present Sleeping Beauty on Saturday, August 27.
GET ON OUR RADAR!
Just go to www.newjerseystage.com/events to add your events to the calendar at New Jersey Stage and get on our radar and have your shows considered for this column. Listings are promoted on our twitter account, added to major search engines, and can easily be shared across social media.
