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Dystopian Feature Dead Community Guild screens at the New Jersey Film Festival on Saturday, January 25!

by Anran Li
published 2025-01-16

Three minutes into this film, I paused and texted my boyfriend, a huge enthusiast of creative thrillers, stunts, and cool fight scenes: “I think this is totally your thing.” While Texas Chainsaw Massacre is almost THE horror film that would trigger the “You’ve NEVER seen this?” response, following its steps is hardly a child’s play. I will not say Dead Community Guild is a textbook demonstration, yet it is rather straightforward and concise in what it conveys: a dystopia premise with the end-day desperation on the scorching Texas road. The opening scene well establishes how the worldview is built with a crisp and somewhat comedic confrontation. Just as such, we are informed of how, in the film, the human conflict is extremely exacerbated by the scarcity of resources that laws, civilization, and the goodness of human nature all cave in to the minimal animal instinct and the drive to survive. The radio broadcasting of the “welcoming” messages for survivors to join the community, despite the endearing tone, recurs in the film so often that it becomes creepy as a threat that we cannot help but assume the so-called community might be the climate of a bloodbath, just like the dawn of the Hunger Games.



Passage Theatre Company presents Trenton premiere of "Topdog/Underdog"

(TRENTON, NJ) -- In celebration of Black History Month, Passage Theatre—the only professional theater company in New Jersey's state capital—is producing the Trenton premiere of Topdog/Underdog by Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks as part of its landmark 40th anniversary season. This production will be directed by marcus d. harvey and stars Steven St. Pierre and Anthony Vaughn Merchant respectively as brothers Lincoln and Booth. It runs from February 20th to March 9, 2025.



Registration for Gateway to the Arts Children's Summer Theater Program Opens February 1st

(SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- Registration opens Saturday, February 1st for Gateway Playhouse's "Gateway to the Arts," the annual eight-week summer camp program for children ages 7 to 18. The program will take place at the beloved Somers Point theater from June 23 to August 16, 2025.



The Art House Gallery Presents a Solo Show by Kwesi O. Kwarteng

(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Art House Productions with Guest Curator Shantel Asante-Kissi presents Woven World: A Tapestry of Social Interconnectedness by Kwesi O. Kwarteng. The exhibition runs from Sunday, February 2 through Sunday, February 23, 2025. In Kwarteng's works, there is a deep exploration of Ghanaian traditional weaving practices, influenced by El Anatsui's monumental sculptures, the quilting artistry of 20th-century African Americans, and the abstract color field techniques of Sam Gilliam.








Visual Arts Center of New Jersey presents Winter/Spring Exhibitions

(SUMMIT, NJ) -- Opening on February 7 and running through May 18, 2025 the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey will host a series of exhibitions focusing on the theme of place(less(ness)) that will feature various forms of media, including technology, textiles, and printmaking. Each exhibition explores ideas around the spaces we occupy and how we interact with them.



NJPAC presents comedian Aida Rodriguez

(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents comedian Aida Rodriguez on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 8:00pm. Aida is a comedian, writer, actor, and author — a favorite of critics and fans alike.



New Release Review - "Maria"

by Eric Hillis, TheMovieWaffler.com
published 2025-01-15

Artists rarely engage with their own art once the creative process has been completed (save for Quentin Tarantino, who seems all too happy to watch a triple bill of his own movies). A musician won't listen to their records; a filmmaker will refuse to watch their movies; a painter will sell a painting and never set eyes upon it again. The artist will tell you it's because they only see the mistakes in their work, and it's now too late to correct them (George Lucas aside).



The Drew Forum at MPAC presents Al Franken

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Former U.S. Senator Al Franken will be the second speaker in Drew University's 2024-2025 Drew Forum series at Mayo Performing Arts Center. Senator Franken will speak at MPAC on Monday, February 3, 2025 at 7:30pm. Charles Stile, political columnist and former New Jersey statehouse political reporter for The Bergen Record, will serve as moderator.



Peak Performances presents Musical-In-Concert Performances of "Queen of the Mist"

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- PEAK Performances at Montclair State University presents its musical-in-concert performances of Queen of the Mist from February 20–23, 2025 in the Alexander Kasser Theater. This is a bold yet often overlooked musical being presented in a time when its themes are all the more resonant, and its thrilling originality is all the more rare.







 

EVENT PREVIEWS

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.



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.



Princeton

Princeton Summer Theater presents "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Princeton Summer Theater's 2026 Children's Show is You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, which runs weekends from June 20 to August 1, 2026. A beloved musical since its premiere in 1967, Clark Gesner brings Charles M. Schulz's "PEANUTS" characters to the stage. The musical ventures through the highs and lows of young life, from baseball and homework to young love and friendship. With an empathetic and whimsical eye, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown reminds us of the importance of connection and joy.



2026-27

2026-27 Season Preview: Split Level Concerts at Jersey Shore Arts Center

(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- Split Level Concerts at the Jersey Shore Arts Center (JSAC) in Ocean Grove has announced the full concert lineup for its third season. All shows will take place beginning at 8:00pm in JSAC's Palaia Theater. The season lineup includes Willie Nile, John Gorka, Dan Bern, Catie Curtis and Band, Stephen Kellogg, Abbie Gardner, Heather Maloney and Band, and Kim Richey. As they have done in prior years, artists from the Asbury Park music scene will open many of the shows.












LATEST COLUMNS


Makin Waves Song of the Week: "A Light To Come Home To" by Lisa Bouchelle

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "A Light To Come Home To" by Jersey roots rocker Lisa Bouchelle featuring Americana legends Amanda Shires and Larry Campbell.




Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 07/16/2026

Loss, we've all suffered it. Some of us more than others,some less and still yet there are those of us who've not had loss of any significance to this point. Loss, like anything else, is directly related to perspective. What may seem like a huge loss to one, is insignificant to another. People pass away, bad days do the same, they fade into the night or disappear at the bottom of one's favorite drink until they are swept away by the morning's sunrise and things are new. Some loss stays a bit longer, adding scars to our bodies until they become topographical maps of memories; reminders of what not to do or what we didn't do or should've done.




Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Body Cast" by Tiny Cities

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Body Cast," the latest video from the North Jersey dynamic duo Tiny Cities.








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