Almost Queen & ILIZA To Perform Drive-In Shows At Monmouth Park

Published by New Jersey Stage

originally published: 06/29/2020

(OCEANPORT, NJ) -- The nonprofit Count Basie Center for the Arts presents two more drive-in concert events on Wednesday, July 29 with Almost Queen and Thursday, July 30 with comedian Iliza Schlesinger’s ‘The Forever Tour’, live onstage at Monmouth Park, Oceanport.

Tickets for both Almost Queen ($110 per vehicle, $250 / $199 gold circle) and Iliza Schlesinger ($135 per vehicle, $199 / $250 gold circle) go on sale Thursday, July 2 at 10:00am exclusively via Ticketmaster.com. Only touchless, mobile tickets administered through the Ticketmaster app (iOS | Android) will be valid for these performances. A maximum of four (4) occupants will be permitted per vehicle.

Described as “the most authentic QUEEN live show since the days of QUEEN themselves,” Almost Queen is a deliberate, four-piece band that delivers a live performance showcasing four-part harmonies and intricate musical interludes. Donning genuine costumes, Almost Queen recaptures the live energy and precision that is the ultimate Queen experience. Almost Queen regularly sells out area venues, including Starland Ballroom and the Stone Pony Summer Stage.

ILIZA is one of today’s leading comedians with a fan base who show their loyalty by creating their own Iliza inspired swag to wear to her shows. Her 5th Netflix stand up special UnVeiled premiered in November 2019 and delves into her journey of getting married. Her past specials include War Paint, Freezing Hot, and Confirmed Kills. Her previous Netflix special, 2018’s Elder Millennial, is the subject of Iliza Shlesinger: Over & Over, her “fan-u-mentary” which is currently streaming and gives fans an inside look into what goes into the making of one of her specials.

“The New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund hosted by the Princeton Area Community Foundation was established to ensure the survival and strength of the state’s arts and cultural sector during and after the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jeremy Grunin, Fund Coalition Member. “We are grateful to the Count Basie Center for the Arts’ willingness to look beyond their four walls and to be thoughtful of the future of arts and culture throughout the state.”

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Social distancing measures will operate in accordance with New Jersey guidelines:

Vehicles will be spaced approximately 9’ apart. Windows may remain open at this distance.
Cars will park in a staggered fashion to achieve spacing and best visibility.
Patrons must remain inside their vehicle cabins.
Patrons may only leave their vehicles only to use restrooms, and will be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing.
Portable, single-stall restrooms will be cleaned between patrons.

“I commend the Count Basie Center for the Arts for finding a way to bring live entertainment to Monmouth County in a fun and safe way,” said Monmouth County Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone. “This drive-in show is a great way to get out of the house and experience a live show, while still practicing social distancing.”

Additional information for these first-of-a-kind concert experiences:

Passenger vehicles only. No motorcycles, buses, party buses, limousines, bicycles, or foot traffic allowed. ADA accessible vehicles will be permitted.
All tickets are general admission and spots cannot be reserved.
Events are rain or shine.
Concert will take place in the Grandstand General Parking Lot. Cars must enter via Port-au-Peck Avenue. Specific directions below.
Concessions information forthcoming. Alcohol will not be served.
Absolutely no tailgating or out-of-vehicle gatherings.
Attendees will be able to hear the concerts via FM radio. Details day of show.
Cars with more than four occupants will be turned away without refund.
Vehicles are subject to search upon entry.’
No pets allowed.

For day-of:

Once parked, vehicle relocation is not permitted.
Please follow parking attendants directions to your parking spot
Please pull forward into the spot — don’t try to back in
If you wish to park with your friends, we recommend you meet away from the venue and drive in together.

Drive-In Live at Monmouth Park is produced by The Basie Presents and presented by World Subaru and Bank of America, with support from Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Saker ShopRites. Events benefit the Count Basie Center for the Arts, with a portion of proceeds to the New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund. Earlier this month, Drive-In Live concerts with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes and comedian Jim Gaffigan were announced to tremendous fanfare and promptly sold out. State guidance on social distancing, public gatherings and certain procedures and practices is subject to change. The Basie Presents will keep customers informed of changes as they pertain to these events at thebasie.org/drivein and Monmouthpark.com.

DIRECTIONS:

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Take GSP Exit 105 to 36 East. Continue past Monmouth Mall, Best Buy and Bed Bath and Beyond on your right. After the ALDI supermarket, cross the next intersection and take the jughandle for 537 West / Monmouth Park Raceway Grandstand. Cross the highway and take 537 West (Eatontown Boulevard) past Wolf Hill Recreation Area to Port au Peck Avenue. Turn right. The Port Au Peck entrance to Monmouth Park will be on your right.

Joe Russo's Almost Dead
Thursday, November 12, 2026 @ 7:30pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ

Joe Russo's Almost Dead is Marco Benevento, Dave Dreiwitz, Tom Hamilton, Scott Metzger and Joe Russo. We're a Grateful Dead cover band.

Mccarter At The Museum: An Evening With Jason Robert Brown
Thursday, November 12, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Princeton Art Museum
45 Elm Drive, Princeton, NJ

Join us for McCarter at the Museum - renowned performing artists in one-night only events at the Princeton University Art Museum.

Jason Robert Brown is a four-time Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist of The Last Five Years, Parade, Songs for a New World, 13, The Bridges of Madison County, Honeymoon In Vegas and The Connector, has performed as a soloist or with his band in venues around the world, including sold-out shows at the London Palladium and Carnegie Hall. His albums as a singer-songwriter include Wearing Someone Else’s Clothes and How We React and How We Recover on Ghostlight, and Coming From Inside the House and Live In Concert with Stephen Sondheim on Concord.

With Special Guest Tony nominee Betsy Wolfe. Tony Award-nominated actress Betsy Wolfe is currently starring as Audrey in the acclaimed Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors, following her recent Broadway run as Madeline Ashton in the hit musical Death Becomes Her. She previously originated the title role in Joy, the new musical inspired by inventor Joy Mangano, and earned a 2023 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her celebrated performance as Anne Hathaway in & Juliet. Other Broadway credits include starring as Jenna in Waitress, Cordelia in the acclaimed revival of Falsettos, Bullets Over Broadway, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Everyday Rapture, and 110 in the Shade, as well as her critically acclaimed performance as Cathy in the Off-Broadway revival of The Last Five Years. Wolfe made her Metropolitan Opera debut in Die Fledermaus and has appeared as a guest artist with more than 65 symphony, pops, and philharmonic orchestras worldwide, including the New York Philharmonic and BBC Symphony Orchestra, with performances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Her screen credits include First One In, Estella Scrooge, CBS’s Instinct, and the film adaptation of The Last Five Years. Wolfe is also the co-founder of BroadwayEvolved, the acclaimed musical theatre training program she launched in 2018 to train and mentor the next generation of theatre artists.

A limited number of early access tickets for McCarter Director’s Circle members and members of the Museum’s Partner Circle are available, on sale Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM. General public on sale begins Friday, September 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM.

Please be aware there is no public drop-off or parking at the Museum. For visitors with mobility needs, please contact the Museum at least three business days in advance of your visit to request special access to the Museum via Elm Drive. Call 609-258-3788 and select option 1 to speak to a visitor services staff member, or email Louise Barrett at [email protected].