The audience inside Englewood, NJ’s BergenPAC is filled with anticipation this Tuesday, April 9, 2019 evening as they ready themselves for an intimate concert experience by the legendary rock band, The Doobie Brothers.... READ ON

One of New Jersey’s newest performing arts centers – the Avenel Performing Arts Center – opened its doors on April 10, and one of the first shows on its schedule is a concert by BariToned (yes, that’s correctly capitalized, Word autocorrect!) on April 24 and 25. This is one of dozens of shows scheduled at the Avenel PAC so far, which include concerts (including one from Constantine Maroulis), dance performances, magic shows, jugglers and tribute concerts. (And for those of you, like me, who feel like you’re always hearing about town names in New Jersey that you swear you’ve never heard before: Avenel is actually part of Woodbridge Township.)... READ ON

Here are the articles published at New Jersey Stage for 04-24-19... READ ON

Here are the articles published at New Jersey Stage for 04-23-19... READ ON

In addition to running about 60 news stories and event previews each week, New Jersey Stage runs several original features and interviews as well. Every Monday we shine a spotlight on the features run for the past week.... READ ON

Robert and Joan Rechnitz founded Two River Theater, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Their vision was “to produce exceptional professional theater, and to inspire young people and life-long learners as a center for education,” according to Managing Director Michael Hurst. The opening night performance of The Belle of Amherst was a fine example of their success. William Luce’s 1976 Two-Act play about beloved American poet Emily Dickinson was a two-hour glimpse of more than just poetry. And under the direction of Robert Rechnitz, actress Maureen Silliman carried this one-woman show with grace and liveliness.... READ ON

Here are the articles published at New Jersey Stage for 04-22-19... READ ON

Historical events always consist of much more than is on the surface. No matter how complex the public image of the event—the civil rights movement of the 1960s, say—the image is incomplete without the stories of countless individuals who contributed to the event and were affected by it. This reality underlies Jiréh Breon Holder’s play “Too Heavy for Your Pocket” which will be presented at the George Street Playhouse April 23 through May 19.... READ ON

I have seen many musicals at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, Northern Jersey’s salute to Broadway theater.  Each one has been on an entertainment arc between spectacle and spectacular.  When a play’s content is average, the music, singing, dancing, sets and choreography push it to spectacle.  When a play’s storyline flows, then all the elements are there and we have spectacular.... READ ON

The stage is set this Friday, April 5, 2019 at Toms River, NJ’s Grunin Center for the Arts with two chairs, a sprinkling of microphones, a small wooden platform, a stool, and six instrument stands filled with a cornucopia of banjos of various sizes — all ready for a live performance by banjo superstar Béla Fleck and his wife, singer and banjo player Abigail Washburn.... READ ON