New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Grunin Center for the Arts Announces Fall 2025 Season

An all-new lineup is packed with must-see premieres and audience favorites

Published by New Jersey Stage

originally published: 06/30/2025

Calpulli Mexican Dance Company

(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts at Ocean County College proudly announces its Fall 2025 season lineup, featuring award-winning artists, unforgettable performances, and diverse cultural programming designed to entertain audiences of all ages.

The new season brings returning audience favorites including The Bronx Wanderers, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, and Cherish the Ladies, offers up classic tunes in CeCe Teneal's “Divas of Soul” and “So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience” with Robert Neary, and introduces culturally rich performances by Julie Fowlis, Cécilia, and the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company.

More Highlights of the Fall 2025 season:

Family Entertainment: “Magic Rocks!” with Illusionist Leon Etienne (November 6) promises to amaze audiences and provide a rocking good time, and popular holiday traditions return with “A Christmas Carol” (December 6) and “The Nutcracker” (December 13).

OCC Repertory Theatre: The company presents “A Broadway Tour of America,” a dazzling musical revue celebrating Broadway's greatest hits, for two weekends in July, followed by Steven Dietz's adaptation of “Dracula” (October 17-26) and a fresh new take on the annual “Broadway for the Holidays” on December 12.




Promote your shows at New Jersey Stage! Click here for info



Jazz Programming: The popular "Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon" series features Swingadelic's tribute to "The Three Louies" (September 21) and The April May Webb Trio (October 19). Jazz enthusiasts can take advantage of a special fall offer: purchase tickets to both Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon shows and save 15% on tickets for the Glenn Miller Orchestra on November 22.

Classical Music: The "Afternoon Recital" series, curated by OCC music faculty, showcases solo piano performances by Alexa Stier (September 12) and Liana Paniyeva (October 10), plus a violin-piano duo by Radliff-Niessen (November 21).

Distinguished Speakers: The OCC Foundation's Blauvelt Speaker Series returns with Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd (September 16), retired four-star Admiral James Stavridis, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander (October 8), and treecologist Basil Camu, author of "From Wasteland to Wonder: Easy Ways We Can Help Heal Earth in the Sub/Urban Landscape" (October 28).

Special Events: Grammy-nominated children's songwriter DJ Willy Wow performs for summer camp groups in August, while November features a special screening of "Without Arrows" with champion grass dancer Delwin Fiddler Jr. In December, the Ocean County College Foundation presents Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Chris Botti in a benefit concert supporting OCC students, and the OCC Concert Band kicks off the holiday season in style with this year’s holiday concert, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” 

Membership and Ticketing Information: The Grunin Center offers three membership levels for the 2025-2026 season, providing early ticket access, special events, and exclusive discounts. Ticket sales begin for members on July 3 and open to the general public on July 10. 

Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling 732-255-0500. Group rates and discounts for students and military/veterans are available for select shows.

For 60 years, Ocean County College, a public two-year community college sponsored by Ocean County and the State of New Jersey, has provided area residents with the opportunity to benefit from higher education. OCC is an innovative academic leader offering affordable, student-centered, high-quality educational experiences that prepare and empower diverse learners to contribute to and succeed in global societies. OCC invests in and fosters academic, economic, and cultural excellence, and ensures financial strength by generating new revenue streams, engaging in national and international university and corporate partnerships, and cultivating a technologically progressive and entrepreneurial spirit.

FEATURED EVENTS



You can have your events appear here, whenever someone reads an article about Toms River

click here for more information



My Fair Lady
Friday, July 17, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Grunin Center - Main Stage
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ


My Fair Lady
Saturday, July 18, 2026 @ 1:00pm
Grunin Center - Main Stage
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ


My Fair Lady
Saturday, July 18, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Grunin Center - Main Stage
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ





(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stewart Copeland brings his first American spoken-word tour (Have I Said Too Much?) to the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 7:30pm. Copeland is the founding drummer of The Police and one of rock's most inventive forces.
Liberty Harbor

Liberty Harbor's Zeppelin Hall is a Great Place to Watch the World Cup Final

(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- With the FIFA World Cup field narrowed from 48 teams to the final four contenders, Jersey City's Zeppelin Hall is inviting soccer fans to gather for the remaining games of the FIFA World Cup - including the Final on July 19th.
Haddon Township to Host 2026 World Cup Watch Party at Haddon Square

Haddon Township to Host 2026 World Cup Watch Party at Haddon Square

(HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- The Camden County Board of Commissioners, along with Haddon Township, invites residents and visitors to Haddon Square for a two-day 2026 FIFA World Cup(TM) Watch Party on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19. The weekend celebration will feature live screenings of the Third Place Match and World Cup Final, along with food, drinks, entertainment and family-friendly activities.

Hallmark Stars Take the Stage at The Carteret PAC on July 22nd during First-Time Multi-City Tour Experience Hallmark Stars Live

(CARTERET, NJ) -- Hallmark and Gershwin Entertainment are proud to announce Hallmark Stars Live presented by Michaels, a new live tour kicking off at URSB Carteret Performing Arts and Events Center on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 7:30pm where some of the network's most beloved stars step off screen and onto the stage. Hosted by fan-favorite Nikki DeLoach (A Grand Ole Opry Christmas), the tour will feature Hallmark mainstays for a night where the cameras are off – and the stories keep rolling.
Hallmark Stars Live comes to MPAC on July 26th

Hallmark Stars Live comes to MPAC on July 26th

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Hallmark Stars Live presented by Michaels, is a new live tour kicking off this summer where some of the network's most beloved stars step off screen and onto the stage. Hosted by fan-favorite Nikki DeLoach (A Grand Ole Opry Christmas), the tour will feature Hallmark mainstays for a night where the cameras are off – and the stories keep rolling. The tour comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 7:00pm.
Hallmark Stars Live comes to MPAC on July 26th

Hallmark Stars Live comes to MPAC on July 26th

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Hallmark and Gershwin Entertainment are proud to announce Hallmark Stars Live presented by Michaels, a new live tour kicking off this summer where some of the network’s most beloved stars step off screen and onto the stage. Hosted by fan-favorite Nikki DeLoach (A Grand Ole Opry Christmas), the tour will feature Hallmark mainstays for a night where the cameras are off – and the stories keep rolling. The tour will visit Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 7:00pm.
The Freakin Rican Presents "Arte de Nuestra Isla: Series Two"

The Freakin Rican Presents "Arte de Nuestra Isla: Series Two"

(TEANECK, NJ) -- The Freakin Rican presents Arte de Nuestra Isla: Series Two, the second installment of its cultural art exhibition celebrating Puerto Rican artists, storytelling, and community connection. The event takes place on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at The Freakin Rican (468 Cedar Lane) in Teaneck.