New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



ARTICLES

Showing results: From 1075 to 1085



 

Makin Waves with Renee Maskin and John Decker: Two Is Better Than One

by Bob Makin
published 2026-03-22

Filmmaker-videographer-photographer John Decker and singer-songwriter Renee Maskin are an Asbury Park entertainment power couple who've collaborated on two award-winning music videos to complement their heralded individual works. The couple recently won an Asbury Park Music Award for their 2023 clip for "Scrimshaw" from Renee's "Shimmer" LP. Both that vid and last year's "Wonderland" clip won the Makin Waves Video of the Year Award. "Wonderland" is a self-released single that followed last year's "Is It Real" album, her fourth since 2022 for her former label, Mint 400 Records.



New Jersey Stage: Daily Edition 03-22-26

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!





Hackensack Performing Arts Center Awarded $500,000 NJEDA Grant for Illumination 250 Celebration

(HACKENSACK, NJ) -- The Hackensack Performing Arts Center (HACPAC) has received a $500,000 grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority's (NJEDA) A.R.T. Phase II program to launch Illumination 250, a regional celebration of America's Semiquincentennial on October 3, 2026. Building around the Main Street Business Alliance's popular HACKENSACKtoberfest, the initiative will introduce a series of new arts, cultural, and community events across downtown Hackensack, creating a full-day regional festival experience.



Arden Children's Theatre presents "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales"

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- This spring, Arden Children's Theatre invites families into a hilariously twisted world where classic fairy tales don't go quite as expected in its next production of the 2025/26 season, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales (The Stinky Cheese Man). Based on the beloved book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, adapted by John Glore, the production brings the book's fractured fairy tales to life for kids and adults alike. Directed by Steve Pacek, the production runs on the Arden’s Arcadia stage with previews starting April 8, opening night on April 18, with performances running through May 31.








Literature to Life Announces Second Series of Books Unite, Free Community Events in Paterson Supported by NJEDA A.R.T. Phase II Grant

(PATERSON, NJ) -- Literature to Life (LTL) has announced their second series of Books Unite: Literature to Life in Paterson, consisting of a book club, two live performances, and an interactive workshop all centered around The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.



New Jersey Play Lab to Present Feature-Length Screenplay Workshop

The New Jersey Play Lab thinks it's time for you to write the movie you've been wanting to see and they believe they can help. They're presenting a hands-on weekly workshop on Zoom to help you generate a structurally sound screenplay targeted for producing and festival success. The workshops take place Sundays from 9:30am to 12:30pm from April 19 through May 17, 2026. The workshop fee is $250.



The ShowRoom presents "GOOD FOR HER" - A viciously Entertaining Celebration of Female Revenge

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Closing out Women's History Month and charging straight into April, The ShowRoom invites audiences to experience GOOD FOR HER — a bold new screening series celebrating female rage in all its vengeance-fueled, blood-soaked, and cathartic glory. Spanning three consecutive Saturdays, the series showcases women pushed beyond their limits, reclaiming power through stories of revenge, resilience, and rebellion — each film offering its own unforgettable brand of righteous payback.



Oyster Point Gallery presents Works by Cynthia Pareja Dubin - 2026 Artist in Residence

(RED BANK, NJ) -- The Oyster Point Hotel is thrilled to welcome Cynthia Pareja Dubin as its 2026 Artist in Residence and congratulate her on being named a 2026 New Jersey State Council of the Arts Painting Finalist. Through the Artist in Residence program, selected artists display their works in guest rooms, reaching thousands of visitors each year. Each artist is celebrated with prominent recognition at the hotel entrance and a solo exhibition in the hotel's public spaces, highlighted by a lively cocktail reception.



Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey to present "The Gifts of the Magi" in December

(MADISON, NJ) -- The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) will present its 2026 holiday production, The Gifts of the Magi from December 5-31 at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre in Madison. A heartwarming musical adaptation of the beloved stories by O. Henry, this enchanting production celebrates the spirit of generosity, devotion, and the true meaning of the season.







 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Arden

Arden Theatre Company presents "Dear Evan Hansen"

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Arden Theatre Company brings the Tony Award-winning musical, Dear Evan Hansen, to the F. Otto Haas Stage this spring. Featuring a book by Steven Levenson and music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the production is directed by Terrence J. Nolen and co-conceived by Jorge Cousineau and Nolen. Performances begin May 21, the show opens May 27, and runs through July 5, 2026.



MPAC

MPAC Announces Free Summer Concert Lineup for 2026

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Mayo Performing Arts Center's Arts in the Community free summer concert schedule for 2026 has been announced. MPAC will present six free concerts between June and August. The lineup includes the return of three of their most popular events – Bollywood Dance Party, Country Line Dancing and Salsa at Sunset, as well as singer-songwriters, and more.



Classic

Classic American Tales' presents Tales at the Dormer House every Thursday

(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- From June 4 through October 15, 2026 (except for July 2), Classic American Tales (CAT) once more presents Tales at the Dormer House in which guests are treated to lemonade and tasty treats while listening to stories written by noteworthy authors, read by a variety of performers. The schedule is 4:00pm every Thursday at the historic Dormer House Bed and Breakfast (800 Columbia Avenue) in Cape May, NJ. Performances are on the front porch, weather permitting.



Music

Music Mountain Theatre presents "My Fair Lady"

(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre presents the classic musical, My Fair Lady, weekends from June 12 to July 5, 2026. The tale of a cockney flower girl transformed into an elegant lady, featuring one of musical theatre's greatest scores.



East

East Lynne Theater Company presents "Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years" by Emily Mann

(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- The reimagined East Lynne Theater Company opens its Season Forty-Six with the extraordinary, real-life story Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years by Emily Mann, running June 18 to July 19, 2026 at the Clemans Theater for the Arts at the Allen AME in Cape May.












LATEST COLUMNS


Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Western Shores" by Renee Maskin

In November, Multiple Makin Waves Award-winning Asbury Park singer-songwriter Renee Maskin will release her latest solo album, "If the World Is Ending." The LP's first single, "Western Shores," is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.




Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 06/25/2026

There are differences and then there is different and as it may have been written before when Dave Vargo records are reviewed; the differences are few but this time around, something is definitely "Different."




Makin Waves Song of the Week: "I Will Walk You Home” by Wiser Time

Wiser Time, aka Central Jersey singer-songwriter-guitarist Carmen Sclafani, just dropped his latest album, "There’s A Change A-Comin'," on his own Wiser Time Music. The closing focus track, "I Will Walk You Home," is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.








FEATURED EVENTS