Here's a look at the top 10 most read articles published at New Jersey Stage during the week of January 9-15, 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 10 includes articles involving 5 counties in New Jersey (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Monmouth, Ocean). NJ Stage considers itself the arts newswire for the state and this week's top 10 reflects that with important news for theatre, dance, facilities, and a major foundation. In addition to the news, our original columns and features made the list this week as well.
1) Newark Issues Reminder That Proof Of Vaccination Is Required To Enter Establishments Amid Spike In Covid-19 Cases - NEWARK, NJ) -- Mayor Ras J. Baraka reminded residents, visitors, and businesses that beginning on January 10, 2022, proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is required for customers five years of age and older to enter certain establishments and facilities. The City will continue to monitor the impact that the rise in the positivity rate is having on its residents, and will consider the impact and effectiveness of this Order on February 1.
2) Life, Liberty, and the Kool Kids: An Interview with Robert “Kool” Bell, founding member of Kool & the Gang, and Hakim Bell - In 1964, a group of Jersey City school kids started a band – never imagining that they would go on to influence the music of three generations with their own trademark blend of soul, funk, jazz, rock and pop.
3) "A Case Of Blue" - A Very NJ/NY Film Is Available Now - A Case of Blue, a feature film starring Stephen Schnetzer (Another World, Homeland, ATWT, Days, OLTL ) and Annapurna Sriram (Billions, Feral) was released for renting and purchasing on most streaming platforms on October 19, 2021. The film which asks "is it possible to relive a long-lost romance?" has a heavy New Jersey / New York presence and was filmed mostly in Ridgewood using many local actors.
4) Kevin R. Free named new Artistic Director at Mile Square Theatre - (HOBOKEN, NJ) -- After a nationwide search, Mile Square Theatre has named Kevin R. Free its new Artistic Director, taking over for Founder and current Artistic Director Chris O’Connor.
5) Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company Announces New Artistic Team In Response to the Passing of Nai-Ni Chen - (FORT LEE, NJ) -- Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, a rare Asian American women-led dance company, has been mourning the loss of its artistic leader Nai-Ni Chen for the past week. Ms. Chen is an embodiment of immigrant Chinese American dance artists who came to America to contribute to the world of dance and has since created a company with deep roots in many aspects of community life. Her sudden passing also leaves a legacy of 30 years of work to create cross-cultural dances that empower the next generation of immigrant artists and honors diverse influences in mainstream American culture.
6) Newark Symphony Hall Hires Mack Graham as Director of Development - (NEWARK, NJ) -- Newark Symphony Hall (NSH), New Jersey’s largest Black-led arts and entertainment venue, has hired Director of Development Mack Graham to lead its new fundraising department. In his new role, funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Graham will create and steward relationships and partnerships for NSH to sustain and increase funding streams.
7) Grunin Foundation Announces Six New Board Members - (TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The Grunin Foundation has announced the addition of six new board members. Each of these new appointees brings extensive knowledge, experience and a diverse perspective to help govern and provide strategic direction to the organization as it continues to works to improve the quality of life of the community by using philanthropy to drive economic excellence at the Central Jersey Shore and beyond.
8) Ali Wong to film Netflix comedy special at Count Basie Center On November 21st - (RED BANK, NJ) -- Comedian Ali Wong's Milk & Money Tour stops at the Count Basie Center’s Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre on Sunday, November 21 at 5:00pm and 8:00pm. The shows will be filmed for an upcoming Netflix comedy special. Tickets, priced from $49.50 are on sale through theBASIE.org, the Basie Center box office and Ticketmaster.
9) Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites...1/13/22 - “You know right where you are when you get here, the big black ominous awning outside, the sign is a sharp centerpiece for the room right when you walk in; it has character which I think is very important for a shop like this. I’ve worked in other shops over the years where it needed something like that; it’s a music shop, it’s about the arts and It needs something like this,” stated Charles Laurita confidently as he discussed his soon to be open Mischief Studios in Pennington, NJ. “This definitely is the widening of The Mischief brand in an interesting way.”
10) An Interview With Gerry Rosenthal - Gerry Rosenthal is an example of a hard working musician. The singer-songwriter / guitarist from Highland Park plays in multiple bands (an original rock band, Beatles tribute, wedding band, and his own Gerry Rosenthal Trio) and guests with other artists. He released a new EP on January 1, 2022. In addition to music, he's had an acting career that includes roles in Finding Forrester, "Law & Order", and was the star of a video game called "Bully", which still has a huge fanbase 15 years after its release.
Event previews are always one of the most popular areas of the website. Event previews get noticed when we first publish them and then get noticed again when they are brought back to the main area of the site the week the event takes place - sometimes even several months later. Make sure your events get previewed by sending press releases to us at [email protected] - for even more promotion, check out our ad rates which run $50-$100 for an entire month of advertising. It's the best deal around!
