New Jersey Stage: Daily Edition 02-11-19

Here is the morning update for New Jersey Stage for 02-11-19.

New Jersey Stage regularly publishes between 8-10 new articles and news reports each day. To have this newsletter sent to your email each morning, click here

theatre

“Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical” A Superb Production The World Premiere of Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical runs through Feb. 24, 2019 at New Brunswick’s George Street Playhouse. On Opening Night, the sold-out audience showed their appreciation and enthusiasm for the show. And why not? It has everything a show needs to be a big hit: The multi-talented Laiona Michelle playing the title role, an outstanding band performing an eclectic set list, and a true story that needs to be told.

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NJ 11th For Change Executive Director To Speak Following Wednesday's Performance of "Roan @ The Gates" (WEST ORANGE, NJ) -- Luna Stage welcomes Saily M. Avelenda, Esq., Executive Director of local political organization NJ 11th for Change, who will speak at Luna on Friday, February 15. Her conversation will follow the 8:00pm performance of Roan at The Gates, a new play about cybersecurity, loss of privacy, and whistleblowing. Avelenda will discuss her own experiences as a whistleblower, and relate it to the journey of the play’s fictional character, NSA Analyst Roan Wells.

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It’s Time You Knew “Little Girl Blue” Kicking off the month of February, the George Street Playhouse welcomed lovers of theater, musical history, and all things embodying the High Priestess of Soul to enjoy the opening night of Little Girl Blue: The Nina Simone Musical. Serving as both writer and star of this unique slice of iconographic life, Laiona Michelle struts, sings and serves up the complex, yet honest tale of Eunice Kathleen Waymon for all to see in this world premiere performance.

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Lewis Center for the Arts presents a Conversation with Lemn Sissay (PRINCETON, NJ) --  Award-winning poet and playwright Lemn Sissay will discuss his work in theater with Princeton students in a public conversation, hosted by Professors Elena Araoz and Brian Herrera, as part of the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Theater course “Creative Intellect,” on Friday, February 15 at 3:00pm in the Berlind Rehearsal Room at McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place. The event is free and open to the public.

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music

Michael Arnone's Crawfish Fest To Celebrate 30th Anniversary with Aaron Neville & Marcus King Band ​​​​​​​(AUGUSTA, NJ) -- A New Jersey tradition will be marking its milestone 30th anniversary celebrating two of New Orleans' greatest traditions – music and food – with Big Easy backyard authenticity, when the likes of Aaron Neville, the Marcus King Band and over 20 other great Crescent City acts go "head to tail" with 10,000 pounds of specially imported crawfish and more at Michael Arnone's Crawfish Fest, May 31-June 2 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds.

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Shemekia Copeland To Perform In Maplewood For Rent Party (MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- Award-winning blues, R&B and Americana vocalist Shemekia Copeland, touring in support of her latest Alligator Records release, America's Child, will perform as part of the Rent Party Music Series at The Woodland in Maplewood on Friday, March 8 at 8:00pm.  Shark Hat will open the show. Tickets are $25-$35.

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Outpost in the Burbs Presents Joe Pug in "New Voices" Series (MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs presents “New Voices” artist Joe Pug on Saturday, March 2nd at 8:00pm. This show will take place at the First Congregational Church, 40 South Fullerton Avenue. Grammy-nominated songwriter Terry Radigan will open the show.

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NEEDTOBREATHE To Perform At BergenPAC (ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- After multiple sell-outs on their cross-country acoustic run, rock band NEEDTOBREATHE will perform at the Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) on Saturday, May 11 at 7:00 PM. The new tour date, which features Nashville singer-songwriter Trent Dabbs, is in support of the band’s first-ever acoustic live album, Acoustic Live Vol. 1.  Tickets range from $40 to $100.

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Luna Stage and The United Tastes of America Co-Host Fundraising Dinner Featuring Suzzanne Douglas (WEST ORANGE, NJ) -- Luna Stage and The United Tastes of America (formerly Syria Supper Club) have teamed up to co-host a memorable evening includes a full Syrian dinner and live entertainment on Sunday, March 3, from 6:00pm-9:00pm. This first-ever Luna Dinner is one night only, launching an annual fundraiser and community dinner series. Held at Luna Stage in West Orange, the March 3 event featuring jazz headliner Suzzanne Douglas, and supports both newly immigrated local refugee families and cutting-edge local theatre.

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State Theatre New Jersey presents An Acoustic Evening with Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents An Acoustic Evening with Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt on Friday March 1 at 8:00pm. This special event features two of America’s most admired singer-songwriters in an intimate acoustic evening. Tickets range from $39-$89.

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Rowan Percussions Welcome Alumni Guest And Mobius Quartet (GLASSBORO, NJ) -- The Rowan Percussion Ensemble welcomes Rowan graduate and faculty member Mika Godbole’s percussion quartet to its first concert of the new semester on Monday, February 18 at 8:00pm in Pfleeger Concert Hall.

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art

Newark Museum's Revitalized Galleries Spotlight American Modern and Contemporary Artists from Georgia O'Keeffe to Matthew Brandt (NEWARK, NJ) -- The Newark Museum will reopen its re-envisioned permanent galleries of modern and contemporary American art on March 9. The culmination of a two-year project supported by the Henry Luce Foundation, the new installations create open and inviting spaces to showcase the Museum’s world-class collections, and promote a more expansive view of American art.

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books

Leonard Bernstein: Behind The Curtain (WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- The Jewish Community Center of Northern New Jersey hosts Jamie Bernstein, author of Famous Father Girl, at Bacari Grill in Washington Township on Thursday, March 28th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.  It will be an evening of revelations about one of the 20th century’s best known musicians. Guests will enjoy Bernstein vocal selections performed by Kristen Plumley, soprano & Ron Levy, piano, author book signing, wine, beer and hors d'oeuvres – followed by coffee and dessert.

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