On Saturday, June 15, Tony Nominee Constantine Maroulis gave two concerts at Avenel Performing Arts Center. The APAC advertised the show as part of “Broadway Comes to Avenel” and his setlist reflected that theme. The singer/actor is well known for his strong tenor voice. The songs he sings and the personal touches he gives to his shows add much to the audience’s enjoyment. The show I attended at 8:00 was filled with people who remember Constantine Maroulis from Broadway as well as Season 4 of American Idol. From their reactions and post show comments, I would say they really enjoyed the show.
Mr. Maroulis used his storytelling skills to weave the program together. He opened the show by singing “There’s a Place for Us” and “Maria” from West Side Story. Between those two songs, he spoke of watching the movie on television a few times a year with his family. As a very young boy, he was impressed with what he saw. He later appeared as an ensemble member of the Jets in a local production of West Side Story. This gave him some very valuable experience and a strong interest in musical theater.
He kept that interest going after high school when he enrolled in the Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music to study musical theater and voice. It was in Boston that he developed a career plan which included auditioning and then being in the very popular show, Rent. To honor his time playing Roger in the touring company of Rent he sang “One Song Glory.” He also told how he practiced doing shows on his own such as Chess. He then sang a very dynamic rendition of a song from that show, “Pity the Child.”
Mr. Maroulis has a longtime working relationship with music writer Frank Wildhorn. He sang “Sarah” from Wildhorn’s show The Civil War and a song from Death Note. Next, he sang a beautiful love song from a new show, Excalibur. Finally, he concluded this segment of the show with a powerful rendition of “This is the Moment” from Jekyll and Hyde where he played the lead role of the revival of the show both on tour and on Broadway.
Another show that is a special favorite of the singer is Jesus Christ Superstar. He sang “Gethsemane” which was very moving and filled with passion. His voice was absolutely superb bringing the audience to their feet with applause.
On a lighter note, Mr. Maroulis talked about working with Post Modern Jukebox the last few years. He sang Aerosmith’s powerful hit song “Dream On” in a styling used by Post Modern Jukebox at their shows. The versatility he has is evident by doing songs like “Dream On” and then paying tribute to his time on American Idol by singing Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
His final selection of the night was “Don’t Stop Believin.” This song by the band Journey was a part of the Broadway show Rock of Ages in which he starred and earned one of his two Tony Nominations. It was evident from the audience’s very happy response that they enjoyed hearing the way he combines his love of Broadway songs with rock. He also sang some of his new music, “All About You,” which is slated to be on his upcoming record/album.
Joshua Stephen Kartes accompanied Mr. Maroulis on the piano. Mr. Kartes is an accomplished musician who provides outstanding music. His own devotion to music is evident as he gives strong emphasis to the melodies to bring out the words Mr. Maroulis sings. The rapport between the two works well.
All in all, it was a most enjoyable evening of music at the new Avenel Performing Arts Center. This was my first event at the venue so I have to give high marks to the designers of the concert hall for the acoustics. In speaking with several people, good comments were made about the seating and I can attest to the good leg room!
To read our interview with Constantine Maroulis, click on this link.
To find out more about the very talented performer, visit his website at constantinemaroulis.com.
Photos from Avenel PAC show by K. Dickinson
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].
