New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


PHOTOS from The Wag's Halloween Spectacular at The Strand


By John Posada

originally published: 10/31/2023

(LAKEWOOD, NJ) -- The Wag presented their Halloween Spectacular shows across the Garden State in October with performances at The Landis Theater in Vineland on October 20th and The Strand Theater in Lakewood on October 28th.  Photographer John Posada was on hand at the latter show to take photos.

The annual show includes Halloween-themed songs plus dance numbers, costume changes, and comedy sketches, along with a few of the band's original songs. Most of all, the show is fun for everyone.

The Wag is a band from the Bayshore area of New Jersey that mixes a love for the British Invasion bands of the sixties with a Jersey Shore vibe. This year marks their 25th as a band, a truly remarkable feat. The band includes Brian Ostering (Bass and vocals), Alicia Van Sant (Keyboards, vocals, percussion, some flute, occasional guitar), Don Lee (Guitar and vocals), and Joshua Van Ness (Drums, percussion, guitar and vocals).

In February, New Jersey Stage spoke with Brian Ostering about the band's 25th anniversary and their latest album, Blue Bottles and Copper Coins. You can read that interview here.

If holiday tunes are more of your thing, The Wag will be back at The Strand with their Christmas Spectacular show on Saturday, December 9th. It's a fun show steeped in the traditions of the holiday tv shows we've  all grown up with.  In addition to having dance numbers, costume changes, and comedy sketches, the show includes a look at holiday songs and sketches from places like Ireland, Germany, Spain, and more. For more info or tickets, click hereThe Christmas Spectacular will also take place at the Middletown Arts Center on Saturday, December 16th as a benefit for the Monmouth County SPCA.  For more info or tickets about that show, click here.




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



You can find The Wag performing at area festivals, in bars, theaters, coffeehouses, and libraries throughout the state. In addition to performing locally, the band has a couple of shows in Maine and Vermont in November and has taken part in regional and international tours, including England, Canada, and Japan. They will be back at the Landis Theater for a show on Saturday, December 23rd.

Here are more photos from the show.

John Posada is a New Jersey based photographer specializing in photographing live theatre and music performances. For more than 15 years, John has photographed live events where he mastered the techniques of timing and capturing fast moving action under challenging lighting conditions. Currently, John has spent the last 3 years concentrating on photographing almost 200 theatre productions for over 70 different theatres. Click here for John's website.




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage


FEATURED EVENTS

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Grown

Grown Groovin’ - FREE JAZZ CONCERT

Thursday, February 13, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Hamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC)
360 Hamilton Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065
category: music


 

Chief

Chief Adjuah (Formerly Christian Scott)

Thursday, February 13, 2025 @ 7:30pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Berlind Theatre)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
category: music


 

Vitamin

Vitamin String Quartet: The Music of Taylor Swift, Bridgerton, and Beyond

Thursday, February 13, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

Katie

Katie Henry

Friday, February 14, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

Are

Are You Ready For It? A Taylor Experience

Friday, February 14, 2025 @ 7:00pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music


 



Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info





 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Rick

Rick Springfield, John Waite, Wang Chung, and Paul Young to bring the "I Want My 80s Tour" to NJPAC

(NEWARK, NJ) -- Get ready to revive the spirit of the 1980s! Iconic rock star and eternal heartthrob Rick Springfield, a true emblem of the '80s music scene, is set to take the stage on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). Showtime is 7:00pm.



Princeton

Princeton Symphony Orchestra To Perform with GRAMMY-Winning Sō Percussion

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Fresh from their 2025 GRAMMY® win for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance, Sō Percussion will appear with Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) at concerts the weekend of March 8-9, 2025. The ensemble will perform Viet Cuong's concerto for percussion quartet, Re(new)al. Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov conducts the program which includes Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastoral" and Carlos Simon's Four Black American Dances. Both performances are at Richardson Auditorium, on the campus of Princeton University.



MPAC

MPAC presents Canadian rock legend Burton Cummings

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Canadian rock legend Burton Cummings brings his 60th Anniversary Hits Tour to Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 7:30pm. The former lead singer of The Guess Who is touring in support of his first new solo album in over a decade, A Few Good Moments.



Grunin

Grunin Center's Afternoon Recital Series Returns with Four World-Class Pperformances

(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The Grunin Center for the Arts has announced details for the upcoming performances in its Afternoon Recital Series, which brings classical music by local, national and international musicians to Ocean County for the community to enjoy. The Spring 2025 series begins on February 21 with the first of four world-class performances, each made possible by the generous support of the Ocean County College Foundation.



Lizzie

Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Katie Henry on Valentine's Day

(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Katie Henry on Friday, February 14, 2025. Doors open at 7:00pm, showtime is 7:30pm. The New Jersey singer-songwriter might have started out banging on doors, braving New York's blues clubs, playing piano until her fingers bled, and winning over the city one show at a time. But lately, the multi-instrumentalist has raced through career milestones at a rocket pace.