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New Release Review - "Obsession"

After gathering a sizeable following on YouTube with a series of short comedy skits, Curry Barker used that platform to self-release his feature film debut, 2024's found footage thriller Milk & Serial. Available to watch for free, that movie has racked up over two million views. It's no surprise then that Hollywood knocked on Barker's door, but what is perhaps surprising is how much the Blumhouse-backed Obsession feels like an indie movie rather than a Hollywood production. With an intimate cast and just a handful of locations, you suspect Barker would have made Obsession himself if the House of Blum hadn't thrown money in his direction. Unlike so many other filmmakers who have been rendered soulless by the studio system, Barker has maintained his vision here, and he even casts Milk & Serial's Cooper Tomlinson in a major supporting role.



Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Shine" by Helen O'Shea feat. Michelle Moore

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Shine" by Princeton singer-songwriter Helen O'Shea. The song from Helen's latest album, "“Songs in the Key O," features E Street Band backing vocalist Michelle Moore.



New Jersey Stage: Daily Edition 05-22-26

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!



Lemar Kim presents First U.S. Solo Exhibition "HELLO WORLD" at ACC Gallery

(TENAFLY, NJ) -- Visual artist Lemar Kim will present her first U.S. solo exhibition, HELLO WORLD, at ACC Gallery from May 26 through June 6, 2026. This exhibition brings together her signature character works and paintings, featuring a diverse range of artworks including paintings, digital print editions, and installation elements that showcase the breadth of her artistic expression.










EVENT PREVIEWS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY | KIDS

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or region of New Jersey click here.
(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company in partnership with the Hackettstown Rotary Club presents Double Vision: The Foreigner Experience on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 8:00pm. The performance will take place in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center with proceeds in part to benefit the many initiatives of the Hackettstown Rotary Club.

(FORT LEE, NJ) -- The Barrymore Film Center presents "A Heavenly Evening" featuring Gary Lucas and Feifei Yang in a double bill of Chinese music culture on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 7:00pm.

(WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- Bear Tavern Project and the 2026 Tomato Patch Jr Students present Cosmic Campfire Chronicles across two weekends from May 23-31, 2026 at the Kelsey Theatre. It takes place one quiet night deep in the forest, a group of children gathers around a flickering campfire, swapping ghost stories under a sky ablaze with stars. Suddenly, the stars begin to move.

(BEACH HAVEN, NJ) -- Surflight Theatre presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's A Grand Night for Singing weekends from May 23 through June 7, 2026. Taste and imagination, the two key ingredients for a first-rate revue, abound in this fresh take on the Rodgers & Hammerstein canon, conceived by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie.

(HOPE TWP, NJ) -- There are many traditions come Memorial Day Weekend including parades, tributes to our service men and women, past and present, and family gatherings. For many families there is another annual tradition - a trip to the Land of Make Believe, a close by destination with affordable, bargain pricing.







LATEST FEATURES

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY | KIDS

Jersey Arts Podcast: Assimilation, Immigration, and the Dance-Nation within West Side Story




Rick Michel LIVE! at PNC Bank Arts Center

Spotlight Central and Love Imagery have photos and a recap of Las Vegas headliner Rick Michel performing at the PNC Bank Arts Center on May 12, 2026.




2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Interview with Middle Life Director Pavan Moondi

Here is Festival Director Al Nigrin’s interview with Pavan Moondi. Pavan is the director and writer of the terrific Canadian feature film Middle Life. Middle Life screens with two shorts at the New Jersey International Film Festival on Saturday, May 30, 2026.




Behind the Scenes as Misfits Theatre Co. prepares for their Inaugural Book Musical Production: "She Loves Me"

(MATAWAN, NJ) — Misfits Theatre Co. is currently rehearsing for their inaugural book musical production, She Loves Me, which will be presented July 10-12, 2026 at Matawan Regional High School. Photographer John Posada was at a rehearsal to take photos.




2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Interview with Sundays Director Ashley Gerst

Al Nigrin, Executive Director and Curator of the New Jersey International Film Festival, sits down at EBTV with Ashley Gerst -- Director and Animator of the film Sundays for a filmmaker interview. Sundays will be screened on Saturday May 30, 2026.




MPAC presents comedian Janelle James

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Janelle James, who stars in the scene-stealing role of "Ava Coleman" in the Emmy-nominated ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary, performs an evening of stand-up comedy at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 8:00pm.




The Vogel presents BobFest on May 28th

(RED BANK, NJ) -- The Vogel presents BobFest on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 7:30pm. This is the music of Bob Dylan presented in the round Nashville style by John Cruz, Steve Delopoulos, Pat Guadagno, Renee Maskin, Rob Paparozzi, and Anne Hills.




Brian Erickson Offers New Cover Album - "Others' Songs"

On June 5, 2026, Brian Erickson will issue Others' Songs, the follow up to 2025's dual releases Everyday Sketches and its AP Music Awards Album of the Year-nominated companion, Everyday Forever (Brian's Version). How does one follow a windfall of such critical riches? If you're Brian Erickson, the answer is simple: with a sharp, unexpected turn! 










UPCOMING EVENTS


Alexis P Suter

Saturday, May 23, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton, NJ
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




LATEST COLUMNS

"I'm enjoying the beautiful weather here in Florida, I live in Orlando. I used to live in Nashville for about six years but I'm originally from Transylvania, Romania," said an excited Alex Kilroy as he happily discussed the release of his album "Break My Chains," his classical training, Vince Gill and more.



This Week in Comedy: May 19-25, 2026

Here's a look at comedy shows taking place across the state from May 19 to May 25, 2026. New Jersey Stage compiles this list from comedy clubs, casinos, and performing arts centers



Makin Waves Song of the Week: "ICE SS" by Sally Draper

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "ICE SS" by the Central Jersey punk act Sally Draper.



* Events This Week in New Jersey

* This Week in Music

* This Week in Theatre

* Top 15 Most Read Stories
from the Past Week




DAILY EDITION


Daily Edition 05-22-26

Here is a look at the articles published on Thursday. The Daily Edition will be back on Monday with a recap of the articles published over the weekend.