Top 15 Most Read Stories at New Jersey Stage from November 20-26, 2022

Here's a look at the top 15 most read articles published at New Jersey Stage from November 20-26, 2022. Each week we publish about 70 articles, including several original columns and features, along with news releases for events happening throughout the state and nearby areas like Philadelphia and New York City. This week's top 15 includes articles from 7 counties in New Jersey (Atlantic, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Ocean, Somerset, and Union).

(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre is presenting A Christmas Carol with performances weekends through December 11th. In this classic story, Ebenezer Scrooge is a prosperous curmudgeon who believes that personal wealth is far more valuable than happiness. But, on Christmas Eve, he's forced to face his selfish ways when three ghosts lead him through his past, present and future. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.

I interviewed Debbie Taylor, one of the stars of Top of the World: A Carpenters’ Tribute Christmas Show, a show about the music and story of the brother/sister Carpenters that sold 100 million records that is coming to The Levoy Theatre in Millville on December 1st and the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown on December 4th, and asked for her opinion on people’s reaction to the show, that has been touring the nation for six years now.

Music lovers inside Avenel, NJ’s Avenel Performing Arts Center this Saturday, November 12, 2022 evening eagerly await a concert by singer/songwriter Karla Bonoff.

After years of releasing nationally acclaimed EPs and singles, Asbury Park indie darlings Yawn Mower are ending a fall tour in support of their Mint 400 Records full-length debut album, “To Each Their Own Coat,” on Nov. 26 at hometown venue House of Independents with homies Echo Plum, Dentist, and Surf Haven sharing the loaded local bill. The LP includes the college radio hit “Elevation,” the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

“I have to tell you," began founding member of The Hollywood Allstars, keyboardist Steve Gaspar. "Years ago, it was a passion project of mine and when I say years, I mean probably about four or five years ago. I've been in the music business my whole life and I had this idea that I wanted to put together a quote unquote; super group. A dream team of people that I respect and people who I enjoy the way they play and that I enjoy hanging out with and I never would have imagined five years later that I'd be on the phone with you telling you about it. I have the horn section that did The Rolling Stones Steel Wheels tour, the bass player from the Johnny and Edgar Winter groups, the lead singer from Tower of Power, a guitar player that has worked with Blood, Sweat & Tears and Talking Heads; I mean, it really is literally like a dream come true. I mean, not to sound like a corny cliche but I'm really, really fortunate to be able to say I'm surrounded with these people let alone have gotten them all to be in a band and to get a record deal, which in itself is cuckoo these days; you know?” 

For more than a decade, Jersey City has had its own special holiday tradition: Nimbus Dance’s Jersey City Nutcracker. The city-centric show runs from Dec. 9 through 23 at the new Nimbus Arts Center. Host Maddie Orton talks with Nimbus Dance Founding Artistic Director Sam Pott, who choreographed and co-wrote the piece, School Director Harumi Elders, and student dancer Izzy Baculod about being a part of this celebrated annual show.

(HOPEWELL, NJ) -- For-profit indie venue Hopewell Theater is raising funds for local arts and youth art programs this holiday season with a Holiday Donation Drive for Artworks Trenton, a nonprofit community arts organization. 

An orchestra’s search for a music director is a challenging undertaking.  For Symphony in C, the Mid-Atlantic region’s nationally recognized Young Professionals Orchestra, the process was complicated by having to shift gears when the pandemic put on pause a series of performances showcasing five guest conductors, each a candidate for the position of Music Director, that was originally scheduled for the 2020-21 season. 

(WESTFIELD, NJ) -- Imperial Brass presents "Christmas Rejoicing" in Westfield and Morristown this December. Each performance includes holiday favorites such as Farandole, Sleigh Ride, Trepak and White Christmas, brass band arrangements of Christmas selections – and a sing-along.