originally published: 03/10/2025
Photo by Vivian Wang
(WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- Monmouth University's Center for the Arts presents An Evening with Rickie Lee Jones on Friday, May 16, 2025 at 8:00pm in the Pollak Theatre. This concert was rescheduled from October 12th and tickets for that date will be valid.
Rickie Lee Jones is an American musician, storyteller and two-time Grammy winner who has been inspiring pop culture for decades, beginning with her star-making self-titled debut, followed by the seminal Pirates. Named the “premiere song-stylist and songwriter of her generation” by The New Yorker, and “The Duchess of Coolsville” by Time magazine, Jones released her Grammy-nominated album Pieces of Treasure in 2023, a reunion with Russ Titelman, who produced her first two records. Jones’ celebrated memoir Last Chance Texaco was named Book of the Year by MOJO and a Best Book of the Year at Pitchfork and NPR.
Tickets start at $40 and are available for purchase online. The Pollak Theatre is located on the campus of Monmouth University at 400 Cedar Avenue in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
The Independent writes, “There has always been something defiant about Rickie Lee Jones . . . a voice from a dream, elusive yet familiar, transcendent, a messenger from another place.”
The Pollak Theatre is a recently renovated 700 seat theatre that presents live music, theatre and dance by national touring artists such as Rosanne Cash, Jason Isbell, L.A. Theatreworks, and Ailey II Dance Company. In addition, the Pollak Theatre also screens HD broadcasts of the MET Opera, National Theatre of London, and The Bolshoi Ballet, along with children’s theater and other programming presented by the Center for the Arts.
The Center for the Arts at Monmouth University is a dynamic cultural hub, dedicated to fostering creativity and enriching our community through the performing, visual, cinematic, and literary arts. With a commitment to engaging both the university and broader audiences from the tri-state area and beyond, the Center offers a vibrant season of diverse programs designed to inspire and entertain.
From the Performing Arts Series, Children’s Theatre, and Visiting Writers Series to exhibitions at the Pollak, DiMattio, and Ice House Galleries, there is something for everyone. The Center also hosts the World Cinema Series, Tuesday Night Record Club, Tuesday Night Book Club, and an enriching Adult Education Series. Additionally, we proudly feature the Metropolitan Opera LIVE from Lincoln Center, alongside HD broadcasts from the National Theatre of London and Great Art on Screen.
Unique initiatives such as ArtNow, which fuses performance art and technology, along with our partnership with the Grammy Museum, offer unparalleled opportunities for research, internships, and exclusive events. The Center also celebrates cultural diversity through special programming for the Jewish Culture Program, Hispanic Heritage Month, Irish Studies, and more. We further support the Department of Music and Theatre Arts, the Department of Art and Design, and the English Department with marketing services to promote their exciting events.
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"We've had a transition of different people, new keyboards; we've got a bunch of new people and now D.D. is singing so we have a female and she's actually the first one to record with Roomful and it's going really well. We've been working with her for about a year now and the record came out a couple of months ago and it's doing pretty well," stated guitarist Chris Vachon of the long running blues band Roomful Of Blues as he previewed their upcoming January 16 show at The Sellersville Theater as well as their January 18 show at Tuckerton's Lizzie Rose Music Room.
