"How to Throw Your Own Goodbye Party" is Released Online

​​​​​​​In honor of what would have been Josh Fischel's 53rd birthday, a feature-length documentary about the last years of his prolific life titled How to Throw Your Own Goodbye Party was released on June 25th, 2022. You can watch it for free on Vimeo.

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NJPAC presents Kat Timpf and Tyrus

(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents Fox News contributors and comedians Kat Timpf and Tyrus on Friday, September 23 at 7:00pm.

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JetBlue's "Soar With Reading" Initiative Launches At Newark Public Library

(NEWARK, NJ) -- Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr., JetBlue dignitaries, and children's book authors joined to launch the airline's "Soar With Reading" initiative by cutting the ribbon to unveil one of the five vending machines located in Newark to give out FREE children's books to young residents. The ceremony was held at the Newark Public Library, located 5 Washington Street, on June 28, 2022.

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Paul Cullen, Formerly of Bad Company, to Perform in Cape May

(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- Paul Cullen, formerly of Bad Company, is the headline performer with a talented trio of guest performers on Thursday, August 11, for a special night of storytelling and classic hits from the man himself, unplugged on an intimate stage, in the heart of Cape May and outside, on the beautiful and historic grounds of the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate (1048 Washington Street). The show is part of Cape May’s new Summer Sunset Solo Series. Enjoy a variety of classic hits such as “Feel Like Makin‘ Love,” “Shooting Star” and more.

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Monmouth County Fair To Take Place July 27-31

(FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Summer is here and brings with it the Monmouth County Fair.  Held at East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold, the Monmouth County Fair runs Wednesday-Sunday, July 27-31.  Packed with excitement, the Monmouth County Fair features live entertainment, 4-H shows & exhibits, the Park System's exhibit Trails, Trees and Tents of Turkey Swamp Park, opening night fireworks (weather permitting), and more.

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American Repertory Ballet Announces 2022-23 Season

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Still invigorated by a year of standing ovations and critical success, American Repertory Ballet (ARB) has announced its dramatic 2022/23 season - a dynamic mix of new works and iconic story ballets

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Art House Cares Artist Grant Recipients Announced

(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Art House Productions has announced the ten Hudson County artists who will receive Art House Cares Grants. The artists include Samantha Benvissuto, Jasmin Casiano, Zhnai Davis, Benedicto Figueroa, Kent Jackman, Shiva Jlayer, Antonio Martez, Bryant Small, Elizabeth Weitzen, and Lisa Marie Zapata. This grant program is made possible by support from New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund at the Princeton Area Community Foundation.

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Vivid Stage partners with Eleven+ to provide internships for students of color

(SUMMIT, NJ) -- Vivid Stage has announced a partnership with Eleven+ to help underserved students gain important, paid work experience that will better prepare them for the job market when they complete their education.

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Bergen County Players Announces 2022-2023 Season

(ORADELL, NJ) -- The Bergen County Players has announced their 2022-23 season. They will return full-time to the stage with an ambitious, joyous and playful year of audience-pleasing musicals and innovative plays for its 90th season. From delightful musicals to hilarious comedies to thought-provoking dramas, BCP has garnered a reputation for outstanding quality productions at affordable prices. As audiences have been anxiously anticipating the return to theater, the company is excited to kick off the season with the Tony Award-winning play, RAGTIME: The Musical.

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Newark to Hold Literacy Fair

(NEWARK, NJ) -- The City of Newark and the Mayor's Book Club are joining with 10 sponsors to host a Literacy Fair on Saturday, July 2 from 11:00am to 3:00pm at Newark School Stadium, located at 516-566 Roseville Avenue in the City's North Ward. In case of rain, the event will be held on Saturday, July 9. At the giveaway, families and youth aged Kindergarten and below will be given free books, with the goal of the children getting prepared for both reading and school by reading 1,000 books before entering kindergarten.

“I Love This!” Dark Star Orchestra LIVE! in Seaside Heights, NJ

It’s a gorgeous summer’s eve on the Seaside Heights, NJ, Boardwalk this Saturday, June 25, 2022, as music lovers line up for a concert on the beach by the world-renown Grateful Dead tribute band, Dark Star Orchestra. The group’s show this evening is the opening night event of a spectacular Seaside Heights Live series of summer concerts here at the shore.

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"The Great Gatsby" - Yet Again

​​​​​​​Remember high school? You had to read William Shakespeare’s MacBeth and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. MacBeth was about the pursuit of power and fortunes in Great Britain and the 1925 novel Gatsby was about power and fortune in America’s Roaring Twenties. 

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PHOTOS from Jarrod Spector at Axelrod PAC

(DEAL PARK, NJ) -- On Thursday, June 23, the Axelrod Performing Arts Center held its annual Gala where they honored Axelrod Executive Board Member James Aaron and celebrated the mission of providing cultural arts to the community. The night was capped off by Tony Award nominee Jarrod Spector performing with a 10-piece band in the Vogel Auditorium. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos of the performance.

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PHOTOS from Empanada Festival in Clifton

On Saturday, June 25th, the County of Passaic, Friends of Passaic County Parks, Inc, and MegaBite Events hosted another Food Truck Festival – this year’s theme was the Northern New Jersey Empanadas. The event took place at Weasel Brook Park in Clifton, New Jersey.  It featured approximately 20 food trucks and vendors along with offerings of New Jersey craft beer, wine, hard seltzers and soft drinks as well. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.

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Richie Furay’s “In the Country” Album Preview Concert LIVE! at SOPAC

Fans of country-rock are filtering into South Orange’s SOPAC auditorium this Sunday, June 12, 2022 evening for a concert by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Richie Furay. In tonight’s special “Album Preview” performance, music lovers will get to sample several tunes from Furay’s latest effort, his 2022 release, In the Country.

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PHOTOS from "A Monkey and Me: Stories I Never Told My Mother" at AxelrodPAC

(OCEAN TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- Can a twice divorced songwriter find love and happiness? Maybe a performing monkey from his Las Vegas extravaganza can show him the way. Find out when Jonathan Brielle Holtzman’s semi-autobiographical musical comedy, A Monkey and Me: Stories I Never Told My Mother premieres at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center from June 24-26, starring five-time Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh. Photographer John Posada was hand to take photos of a dress rehearsal.

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Imparting the Living Art of Storytelling

Storytelling is one of those words that is not just a descriptive term. It is evocative. It is personal. It is inclusive. It is communal. And it is what Storytelling Arts, Inc. is all about. 

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PHOTOS from "La Cage Aux Folles" at Music Mountain Theatre

(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre is currently presenting La Cage Aux Folles across a three-weekend run. It opened on June 17th and runs through July 3rd. Photographer John Posada was there one night to take photos.  La Cage Aux Folles is based on the hit French farce that also inspired Hollywood’s The Birdcage, the musical features the humor of Harvey Fierstein and a musical score by Jerry Herman. The show was the winner of six Tony Awards in 1984, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, and also a two-time winner for Best Revival of a Musical. Songs include “The Best of Times,” “Song in the Sand” and “I Am What I Am.” 

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Inside McCarter's 2022-23 Season

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- The 2022-23 season at McCarter features a robust lineup of theater, music, dance, comedy, spoken word, and family programming - and a special Toni Morrison project in partnership with Princeton University. The artists and stories shared are joyous, thought-provoking, moving, invigorating, and mostly brand new to McCarter. 

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"Awesome from Start to Finish!" Cousin Brucie Presents Tommy James, Little Anthony, and The 1910 Fruitgum Co. LIVE! at PNC Bank Arts Center

Music lovers by the thousands are currently streaming into the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ this June 9, 2022 evening for a highly-anticipated free concert presented by the Garden State Arts Foundation. Featuring classic hits from Tommy James and the Shondells, Little Anthony, and The 1910 Fruitgum Company, tonight’s show is hosted by 77-WABC radio DJ Bruce ‘Cousin Brucie’ Morrow.

BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music: 6/27/22

Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online 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 the latest Rock Against Hate compilation and releases by Somebody Club, Pat Veil, By Torchlight, GIN WAR, Mike Levine, Amanda Rose Riley, Operants, Debra Devi, Jason Didner, Commons 2, Kimochi Warui, and Mikey Erg.

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Top 15 Most Read Stories at New Jersey Stage For Week of June 19-25, 2022

Here's a look at the top 15 most read articles published at New Jersey Stage during the week of June 19-25, 2022.  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.  The latest Top Ten includes articles covering eight counties in New Jersey (Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Passaic, Union) plus New York City and Philadelphia.

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Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Lucy" by Sonic Blume

Asbury Park faves Sonic Blume are on a tear dropping two videos in as many months and heading out on a summer tour in support of their 2021 full-length debut LP, “We’re Drifting Further Apart, Aren’t We.”

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Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites...6/23/22

"Indeed! I can testify that I have lived and breathed this album for quite a few years trying to get it made and get it out," says a somewhat relieved and very excited Carla Olson about the June 17 release of "Americana Railroad," a collection of songs, simply put; about trains. 

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BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music: 6/20/22

Welcome to the first "BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music." Here I (Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com) will shine a light on some of the many new releases from New Jersey based musicians.