The NJ Stage Awards were create to promote places to experience the arts throughout the state. Initial voting takes place October 1-14 when the public gets the chance to vote on the full list of nominees. From there we tally the votes and create 10 finalists per category, based on a mix of the public vote and NJ Stage staff picks.  The public then votes on the finalists for the final 2 weeks of October. 

Here are the 2017 winners:

Best Town For An Arts Night Out 

GOLD Morristown 

SILVER Asbury Park 

BRONZE Princeton

Best Place For Live Comedy 

GOLD Mayo Performing Arts Center 

SILVER Stress Factory Comedy Club 

BRONZE Catch A Rising Star

Best Place To View Art 

GOLD The Art School at Old Church 

SILVER Grounds For Sculpture

BRONZE Montclair Art Museum 

Best Place To See Live Dance Performances 

GOLD Jersey Tap Fest 

SILVER Mayo Performing Arts Center 

BRONZE The Princeton Festival 

Best Film Festival 

GOLD Monmouth Film Festival 

SILVER Rahway International Film Festival 

BRONZE Teaneck International Film Festival

THEATRE

Best Place To See A World / NJ Premiere 

GOLD Crossroads Theatre 

SILVER Paper Mill Playhouse 

BRONZE (tie) George Street Playhouse / McCarter Theatre

Best Place To See A Touring Production 

GOLD State Theatre 

SILVER Mayo Performing Arts Center 

BRONZE Count Basie Theatre 

Best Place To See Non-Equity Theatre 

GOLD The Player’s Guild of Leonia 

SILVER Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center 

BRONZE Chester Theatre Group

Best Place To See Children’s Theatre 

GOLD The Growing Stage 

SILVER State Theatre 

BRONZE Hoboken Children’s Theatre

MUSIC

Best Place To See A National Act 

GOLD Mayo Performing Arts Center 

SILVER PNC Bank Arts Center 

BRONZE Scottish Rite Auditorium

Best Place To See Emerging Artists 

GOLD The Stone Pony 

SILVER Maxwell’s Tavern 

BRONZE Crossroads

Best Coffeehouse or Non-Traditional Venue: 

GOLD D’s Soul Full Cafe 

SILVER Outpost In The Burbs 

BRONZE Old Franklin Schoolhouse

Best Place For Classical Music 

GOLD  NJPAC 

SILVER Mayo Performing Arts Center 

BRONZE Princeton Festival 

Best Annual Festival 

GOLD Elephant Talk Indie Music Festival 

SILVER Hoboken Arts and Music Festival 

BRONZE Groove In The Grove

"The beauty of these awards is that they are simply based on getting the word out via social media, email lists, or phone calls," explained Gary Wien, publisher of New Jersey Stage.  "Even the smallest organization can win.  So set your calendar for September and make sure your organization is on our radar and be sure to get out the vote in October!"

Thank you to everyone who voted.  Please check out these winners and explore new places to experience art in the Garden State.  The winners for 2016 and 2015 are online at New Jersey Stage's website.