THEATRE FEATURES

A New Look at an Asian-American Past

by Bruce Chadwick
published 2022-05-25
Emmy Award winning actress Jodi Long is the daughter of two prominent Asian-Americans who starred in Vaudeville for years and introduced Jodi to show business. Her parents, tap dancer Larry Leung and mom Kimye “Trudy” Tsunemitsu, a dancer, worked in show business from the 1950s. Jodi has starred in some of the best dramas and musicals about Asian-Americans, such as Flower Drum Song, among numerous other plays. Her parents toured the country for years.

"Fiddler on the Roof" comes to MPAC

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) presents the Morristown engagement of the Tony Award®-nominated Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof at Friday-Saturday, June 17-18. Tickets range from $59-$109. This is the heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and life, love and laughter.   This classic musical is rich with Broadway hits, including “To Life (L’Chaim!),” “If I Were A Rich Man,” "Sunrise Sunset,” "Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” and “Tradition.”

Vivid Stage Presents New Play Reading Collaborations in June

(SUMMIT, NJ) -- Vivid Stage, formerly Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre, in residence at Oakes Center at 120 Morris Avenue in Summit, will present new play readings on June 1 and 7 in collaboration with other New Jersey arts organizations. 

American Theater Group To Honor Broadway Legend Christine Ebersole at June Gala

(BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- The American Theater Group (ATG), Somerset County’s professional, regional theater company celebrating its tenth season, will honor two-time Tony Award-winning actress Christine Ebersole at its annual Gala on Sunday, June 26th, at the Fellowship Cultural Arts Center in Basking Ridge, NJ. 

A Special Reading of "Whittier," New Docudrama by TyLie Shider, Inaugural Playwright in ArtYard Artist Residency Program

by Christopher Benincasa, JerseyArts.com
published 2022-05-16
This Saturday, May 21, theatergoers are invited to join ArtYard in Frenchtown for a reading of Whittier, a new docudrama by TyLie Shider. Whittier is a neighborhood in Minneapolis, close to where the murder of George Floyd took place. Shider’s new play follows residents of Whittier grappling with that tragedy, as well as the stresses of life during the lockdown of 2020. A playwright, poet, and journalist, TyLie Shider is also the inaugural playwright in ArtYard’s artist residency program, curated by Deonté Griffin-Quick. We spoke with Shider, Quick, and director Andrew Binger about bringing Whittier to the stage.