LeLand Gantt Shares His Journey to Understand Racism in "Rhapsody in Black" at Ocean County College

(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Actor LeLand Gantt will perform his one-man show, Rhapsody in Black, on the Main Stage at the Grunin Center on February 9, 2022, part of Ocean County College’s Social Justice Series.The show, written and performed by Gantt and developed at NYC’s Actors Studio by Estelle Parsons, explores LeLand’s personal journey to understand and eventually transcend racism in America.

We follow his life story from an underprivileged childhood in the ghettos of McKeesport, Pennsylvania to teenage experiments with crime and drugs to an acting career that lands adult LeLand in situations where he is virtually the only African-American in the room.

His efforts to cope with the psychological effects of consistently being marked “The Other” are recounted in remarkable and exquisitely moving detail, guaranteed to leave lasting impressions. Multiple elements combine to give Rhapsody its super-powered emotional punch, many of them concentrated in the incredible persona of its star.

Charming, self-deprecatingly funny and linguistically awesome, LeLand Gantt imbues every word that falls from his mouth with all the passion and poignancy of a preacher speaking the Gospel. This is partly because he’s confronting heavy subjects, but mostly because he believes so firmly in his message that it’s impossible for it to emerge any other way. In his own words, “Objective truth strikes a chord.”

Tickets for the 7:30pm show are being sold in socially distanced pods and are on sale now for $10 and are available for purchase online. Please note that this show explores the topic of racism, and includes sensitive and difficult situations and language.

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Ocvts Gpaa Spring 2026 Showcases
Friday, May 01, 2026 @ 6:30pm
Grunin Center - Main Stage
Toms River, NJ

 

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Occ Concert Band: Salute To Service
Saturday, May 02, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Grunin Center - Main Stage
Toms River, NJ

 

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Ocvts Gpaa Spring Showcases
Friday, May 08, 2026 @ 5:00pm
Grunin Center - Main Stage
Toms River, NJ

 

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Ocvts Gpaa Spring Showcases
Friday, May 08, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Main Stage
Toms River, NJ

 

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Three American Troubadours Tribute
Saturday, May 09, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Main Stage
Toms River, NJ

 

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EVENT PREVIEWS

Berrie Center presents "The Lillias White Effect" featuring Broadway's Lillias White

(MAHWAH, NJ) -- Berrie Center for Performing and Visual Arts presents "The Lillias White Effect" featuring Broadway's Lillias White on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 8:00pm. In this show, Lillias pulls back the show curtain to tell humorous, poignant and inspiring stories from both her personal and show business life that she has never shared before, onstage or off.

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North Star Theater Company presents Fast-Paced Comedy Thriller, "The 39 Steps"

(OGDENSBURG, NJ) -- North Star Theater Company presents The 39 Steps from April 30 to May 3, 2026 at the NSTC Studio Theater. This is a wildly inventive comedy thriller adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan and the classic Alfred Hitchcock film. Directed by Bert Piper, this high-energy production features a talented cast bringing dozens of characters to life in a whirlwind of quick changes, physical comedy, and theatrical ingenuity.

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Aspire Performing Arts Company presents "Matilda, the Musical"

(FAIR LAWN, NJ) -- Aspire Performing Arts Company presents Matilda the Musical from May 1-3, 2026 at the Fair Lawn Community Center. Based on Roald Dahl's classic children's book, Matilda the Musical follows Matilda Wormwood, a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and psychokinetic powers.

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Phoenix Productions presents "Beautiful, The Carole King Musical"

(RED BANK, NJ) -- Phoenix Productions presents Beautiful, The Carole King Musical from May 1-3, 2026 at Count Basie Center for the Arts. This is the inspiring true story of Carole King's journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

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Seton Hall Theatre presents "Company" by Sondheim and Furth

(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- Sondheim and Furth's beloved dark comedy Company takes the stage at South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) in a vibrant new student production from Seton Hall Theatre. Performances run from April 30 to May 3, 2026.

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George Street Playhouse's 2026 Gala Benefit will honor Emily Mann with the Arthur Laurents Award for Distinguished Artistic Achievement

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- George Street Playhouse's 2026 Gala Benefit on Wednesday, May 6th will honor Emily Mann, playwright and former Artistic Director of McCarter Theatre Center, with the Arthur Laurents Award for Distinguished Artistic Achievement. This distinguished honor has only been awarded twice before in George Street Playhouse's over 50-year history.

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South Street Players presents Ken Ludwig's "A Comedy of Tenors"

(SPRING LAKE, NJ) -- South Street Players presents Ken Ludwig's A Comedy of Tenors across two weekends from May 1-9, 2026. "Laugh after laugh greets one improbable scene after another. Ludwig knows no ridiculous limits." - BroadwayWorld.com

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Vanguard Theater presents Illuminating New Voices

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Vanguard Theater presents Illuminating New Voices across two weekends from May 2-9, 2026. This is a curated weekend of new work presentations. The selected pieces give artists the opportunity to hear their work aloud and engage in a supportive development-focused environment.

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State Theatre New Jersey presents Meredith Willson's The Music Man

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents Meredith Willson's The Music Man for four performances from May 8-10, 2026. There's trouble in River City when a fast-talking salesman gets his heart stolen by the town librarian.

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Class Act Performing Arts Studio presents "Wizard of Oz" at SOPAC

(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- Class Act Performing Arts Studio presents Wizard of Oz at South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) from May 8-10, 2026. We're off to see the wizard! Follow the yellow brick road to the SOPAC stage for a delightful adaptation of L. Frank Baum's beloved tale, featuring the iconic musical score from the classic MGM film.

MORE EVENTS

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George Street Playhouse presents "My Lord, What A Night"

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 @ 7:30pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
New Brunswick, NJ

 

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George Street Playhouse presents "My Lord, What A Night"

Thursday, April 30, 2026 @ 7:30pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
New Brunswick, NJ

 

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Menopause The Musical 2 - Cruising Through ‘The Change’®

Thursday, April 30, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
Morristown, NJ

 

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George Street Playhouse presents "My Lord, What A Night"

Friday, May 01, 2026 @ 7:30pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
New Brunswick, NJ

 

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CDC Theatre presents "Fiddler On The Roof"

Friday, May 01, 2026 @ 8:00pm
CDC Theatre
Cranford, NJ

 

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