Here is the morning update from New Jersey's arts newswire. We regularly publish between 8-15 new articles and news reports each day. Nobody covers the Arts throughout the Garden State like New Jersey Stage!
If your arts organization sends out press releases, make sure you have info@newjerseystage.com on your media list for coverage.
(HACKENSACK, NJ) -- Hackensack Performing Arts Center (HACPAC) presents The Christmas Caper from December 1-3 and December 8-9, 2023. Written and composed by MaryAnn DiMaria and Nick Picciallo, The Christmas Caper is a two-act ninety-minute seasonal fantasy saga of Santa's stolen sleigh.
(MANASQUAN, NJ) -- Algonquin Arts Theatre (Pamela Ward-Executive Director), a cultural gem nestled in the heart of Manasquan, has emerged triumphant as the recipient of the prestigious Asbury Park Press 2023 Best of the Best Award for Live Theater in Monmouth County. This accolade serves as a testament to the theatre's unwavering commitment to excellence in the performing arts and its dedication to enriching the cultural fabric of the community.
(MADISON, NJ) -- The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) will conclude their 61st season with a slightly altered version of Shakespeare's most popular comedy A Midwinter Night's Dream. "Re-seasoned" by Bonnie J. Monte and Joseph Discher, with direction by Brian B. Crowe, this production is rife with magical winter wonderment and fun for the whole family. This holiday season do not miss being transported into the dazzling and frosty world of Shakespeare's hilarious romantic comedy that is sure to warm the coldest hearts. This production will run December 6-31, 2023.
(CRANFORD, NJ) -- We're off to see the Wizard! This December, the beloved tale of a Kansas farm girl who travels over the rainbow to discover the magical power of home, comes to CDC Theatre to enchant families during the holidays. CDC Theatre presents The Wizard of Oz across two weekends (December 8-10 and December 15-17, 2023).
(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- To kick off their third Mainstage season in Montclair, Vanguard Theater Company (VTC) presents the Tony Award-winning musical play, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill. Vanguard Theater will be transformed into Emerson's, a seedy bar in South Philadelphia. Guests will be up close and personal, seated just a few short steps from the music and the history, to take in every word and note of this intimate portrait of the celebrated Lady Day. The production runs Thursdays through Sundays from November 30 through December 17, 2023.
Pioneering Boston rockers Nervous Eaters -- contemporaries of bands like the Ramones, The Police, Iggy Pop, and The Pretenders-- have released a new single "Talkk" which comes on the heels of the band's critically-lauded 2022 return full-length, Monsters + Angels, on Stevie Van Zandt's Wicked Cool Records.
The indie surf-rock artist, Modern Love Child (MLC), has left the West Coast for a new home in Miami. After the success of his debut album, MLC, he juggled time between LA, London, Austin, and Costa Rica. Now, with his feet firmly planted in the tropical Floridian sands, he's ready to take on the world with his unique indie vibes.
On the heels of their recently released new album Night Owls, The Dollyrots, Kelly Ogden (bass and vocals), Luis Cabezas (guitar and vocals), and Simon Hancock as their current touring drummer are ready to kick 2024 into high gear with a January tour run with Bowling For Soup and Lit.
(RED BANK, NJ) -- Now in its sparkling 75th Anniversary Season, the award-winning Monmouth Civic Chorus presents Rejoice Greatly: A Celebratory Messiah and More on Sunday, December 17, 2023 at the Count Basie Center for the Arts. This year’s program will feature more of your favorite selections from Handel's Messiah, masterfully intertwined with Artistic Director Dr. Ryan James Brandau's stirring original settings of holiday classics like O Holy Night, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, and Auld Lang Syne. Showtime is 4:00pm.
Emerging from the heart of the South Bay's vibrant and storied punk rock scene, the latest release by One Square Mile, Source of Suffering serves as a captivating successor to their 2018 debut LP, The System. The new EP marks a bold sonic departure, while simultaneously remaining true to the region's rich punk rock heritage. The album was produced by Cameron Webb.
(WARETOWN, NJ) -- The Ocean County Library Waretown Branch will present popular Jersey Shore pianist and storyteller Fred Miller's "Lectures in Song: An American Christmas" on Saturday, December 23, 2023. Fred's program projects the spirit of all faiths through the mystery and beauty of ancient carols as well as the sprightly songs of the past century, along with poems, anecdotes, and observations that inspire the anticipation, magic, and reverence of the season. The program begins at noon.
Percy Howard, a NorCal based singer-songwriter and product of the New York no-wave avant-garde, has performed and or toured with members of Living Colour, King Crimson, Swans, Guns N' Roses (Buckethead), Oxbow, Henry Cow, This Heat, and Brand X. Percy has also shared European festival stages with Brazilian music legend Caetano Veloso and ambient pioneer Stephan Micus.
I’ve known for a long time that Renee Maskin is an amazing songwriter and performer, but I had no idea that she could play so many instruments so well. A former member of the Makin Waves Band of the Year Award-winning Lowlight, Renee shines on the brand new self-produced Mint 400 Records LP, "Shimmer," playing much more than her typical guitar accompaniment. She adds lap steel, piano, drums, bass, synthesizer, banjo and more to the mix.
New Jersey singer-songwriter, Jake Thistle, released his debut studio EP, The Half Left Out, via Gold'n Retriever Entertainment, on November 17, 2023. Recorded between New Jersey and Nashville, the EP boasts seven original guitar and piano driven songs from the young songwriter. Like his heroes, Thistle's performances are delivered genuinely with authenticity, sincerity and well honed craft.
Ferocious Designs, the music project of central New Jersey-based songwriter Brian Kelley, has released a "The Greatest Love (Christian Beach Remix)" as a single, packaged with new mixes of the previously available "It's Christmas Time Again" and "Merry War on Christmas." All tracks are available now for streaming and download at FerociousDesigns.com. An accompanying lyric video for the single has also been released.
(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) presents Anthony Rodia: Totally Relatable Tour on Friday, November 24, 2023 at 8:00pm. As a first-generation Italian American born and raised in Westchester, New York, Anthony Rodia came out of the womb making people laugh.
(RED BANK, NJ) -- Count Basie Center for the Arts presents Kathy Griffin on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 7:30pm. Kathy is a two-time Emmy and Grammy award-winning comedian, a towering figure on television, on tour and in publishing. She is known globally with her universally recognized brand of pull-no-punches comedy.
(GALLOWAY, NJ) -- The Fall Choreography Project continues to be an enduring tradition at Stockton University. Watch it unfold on the Stockton Performing Arts Center main stage on Thursday, November 30, Friday, December 1 and Saturday, December 2, 2023. Showtime is 7:30pm each night. The Fall Choreography Project brings a mixed bill of dance works from the most promising choreographers in the Stockton dance community.
(WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- The Olde Stone House, aka the George Jr and Sarah Morgan House, in Washington Township looks strange these days - sporting ugly plywood doors and boarded up windows on the first floor. Soon, however, the iconic symbol of Washington Township on Egg Harbor Road will have windows and doors faithfully restored to their previous look.
Here's a look at the top 15 most read articles published at New Jersey Stage from November 12-18, 2023. Each week we publish about 70 articles, including several original columns and features, along with news releases for events happening throughout the state and nearby areas like Philadelphia and New York City. This week's top 15 includes articles from 7 counties in New Jersey (Atlantic, Bergen, Camden, Essex, Monmouth, Morris, and Somerset).
(UNION, NJ) -- Kean University welcomed cast members of the iconic TV show A Different World to a President's Distinguished Lecture Series event on November 16, 2023 for a discussion of how college life and culture has changed since the sitcom began 35 years ago.
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents The Illusionists – Magic of the Holidays on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 7:30pm. This is an all-new installment of the world-famous, blockbuster touring magic spectacular The Illusionists, from Producers Simon Painter, Cirque du Soleil, and MagicSpace Entertainment.
(HACKENSACK, NJ) -- The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) joined more than 1,000 community foundations nationwide to celebrate National Community Foundation Week from November 12-18, 2023. During the week, the NNJCF, a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey, announced on National Philanthropy Day that $53,803 in grant and scholarship awards were made in 2023. These grants and scholarships were recommended by a Grants Committee and reviewed and approved by the NNJCF’s Board of Trustees.
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- What do George Washington, Grace Kelly, and Buzz Aldrin have in common? They were all guests at Morven Museum & Garden, a home that has played a role in the history of New Jersey and the nation for more than 200 years. Opening on April 26, 2024, Morven Revealed: Untold Stories from New Jersey's Most Historic Home will shed light on lesser known stories of this historic home and its residents. It will be on view through March 2, 2025.
