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.
