New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



OCVTS GPAA Winter 2023 Showcases

Wednesday, November 29, 2023 @ 7:00pm



Grunin Center
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754

Acting Showcase – November 29, 2023

Junior Acting Showcase (Act One): “A Spooky Storytime: The Nightmare Before Christmas” by Tim Burton. Come out and see the Grunin Performing Arts Academy Junior Actors as they reenact the famous story “The Nightmare Before Christmas” by Tim Burton. Our narrators will guide you through Halloweentown as they follow Jack’s journey to becoming Sandy Claws. You will experience an interactive, musical adventure as our narrators showcase the many familiar characters of the story.

Senior Acting Showcase (Act Two): “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is based on a

children’s novel written by Barbara Robinson. This is a story of six misfit children who volunteer to star in their town’s Sunday school Christmas pageant, and a Mom who has never directed a production before. In this heartwarming tale full of shenanigans, you will see how a town learns the true meaning of Christmas. Join us for this family-friendly show that will prove to be incredibly entertaining!

Vocal Showcase – December 13, 2023

The Junior and Senior Vocalists will be presenting their Winter Vocal Showcase “An Evening of Operetta… and then some!” The performance will include selections from Gilbert & Sullivan’s operetta, “The Pirates of Penzance,” as well as some holiday pop favorites. The Grunin Performing Arts Academy Chorale and Vocal Ensemble will open the show with a holiday prelude at 6:30pm.

Dance Showcase – December 18, 2023

The OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts Academy’s Dance Department presents “The Winter

Dance Concert: A Reconstruction of The Nutcracker.”

The Nutcracker, first premiering a week before Christmas by Moscow’s Imperial Theatre in

1892, is a classic Christmas Story, a fairy tale ballet is danced in two acts, centered on the

magical story of Clara and her Nutcracker. The ballet was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with the musical score by Pyotr llyich Tchaikovsky, which was adapted from the passage of “The Nutcracker & The Mouse King” written by E.T.A. Hoffman.

Since then, ballet companies all around the world have performed this holiday tradition and from the moment the lights dim, audiences are transported to a wondrous world of magic and wonder. A rousing snowstorm sends a blizzard of ballerinas across the stage, sweeping you to exotic locales in the enchanting Land of Sweets. Please enjoy our reconstructed rendition of The Nutcracker and other holiday selections presented by the Grunin Performing Arts Academy Dance Department’s Dance Ensemble.




For information on how your event can be listed, click here



 

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

UPCOMING EVENTS








 

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


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

(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.



(ORADELL, NJ) -- Fresh off being named the top live music or theater venue by 201 Magazine's "Best of Bergen" readers, Bergen County Players (BCP) invites audiences to brace themselves for a whirlwind of espionage and outrageous comedy with the Tony Award-winning The 39 Steps, which runs weekends from May 2-31, 2026. Directed by BCP life member Steve Bell, this breakneck adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 film classic blends film noir suspense with Monty Python-style absurdity.



(PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre Center presents Mrs. Christie, a witty new comedy-mystery by Heidi Armbruster, from May 6–31, 2026. The production is directed by BOLD Associate Artistic Director Donya K. Washington in her McCarter directorial debut.



The

The Barn Theatre presents Monty Python's "Spamalot"

(MONTVILLE, NJ) -- The Barn Theatre presents Monty Python's Spamalot weekends from May 15 through June 6, 2026. King Arthur's legendary quest for the Holy Grail gets a hilarious twist in this uproarious musical, lovingly ripped from the 1975 classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail.



Music

Music Mountain Theatre presents "Disaster!"

(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre presents Disaster! weekends from May 15 through June 7, 2026. Earthquakes, tidal waves, infernos and the unforgettable songs of the '70s take center stage in Broadway’s side-splitting homage to classic disaster films.












LATEST COLUMNS


Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Bike in the Ocean" by Kevin Hill & Secret Sound

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Bike in the Ocean,"a single from "Day/Night," the new album by Kevin Hill & Secret Sound.




Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 05/28/2026

It has been said before that time travel was a pipe dream, impossible, a crazy Einstein theory but today, thanks to the wonder of the internet, there is a growing consensus that it may be very possible but what if this space can prove it's not only possible but for a few hours now and it's quite probable?




Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Shine" by Helen O'Shea feat. Michelle Moore

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Shine" by Princeton singer-songwriter Helen O'Shea. The song from Helen's latest album, "Songs in the Key O," features E Street Band backing vocalist Michelle Moore.




This Week in Music

Here is a look at shows taking place this week along with our featured listings and a look at some upcoming shows. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas