Here's a look at the top 10 most read articles published at New Jersey Stage during the week of April 10-16, 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 Top Ten includes articles covering six counties in New Jersey (Atlantic, Cape May, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, and Monmouth).  Paper Mill Playhouse had three of the top five stories along with three stories on music festivals throughout the state.

1) Dion, "The Wanderer" and a Memorable Story from Rock and Roll History - The Paper Mill Playhouse is dark and funeral-like quiet. All of a sudden, as loud and thumping as it can be comes the music.

2) Paper Mill Playhouse Announces 2022-2023 Season - (MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse has announced its 2022-2023 season, including a gripping murder mystery, a Disney hero of mythic proportions, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved final musical, the Tony-nominated story of two Latin music icons, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical that defined a generation.

3) Langosta Lounge to Feature Jackson Pines and Cranston Dean Band Every Thursday in May - (ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- This May, Langosta Lounge in Asbury Park will play host to a month long residency featuring New Jersey bands Jackson Pines and the Cranston Dean Band on Thursday nights at 8:00pm. Two of NJ's most critically acclaimed and hard working independent singer-songwriters will be playing different sets each week highlighting music from their former albums as well as new music they're working on and releasing later this year.

4) Frantic City music festival to Debut in Atlantic City in September - (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Frantic City, a new music festival,  will debut on September 24 at the Orange Loop Amphitheater in downtown Atlantic City, steps away from the boardwalk. The festival is presented by OLA, HoldFast Records and Todd Abramson. The line up includes Car Seat Headrest, Yo La Tengo, Snail Mail, Murder City Devils, Shannon and the Clams, Superchunk, The Raveonettes, Rocket from the Crypt, Samiam, Titus Andronicus, Protomartyr and Control Top, with the proceedings hosted by Fred Armisen. 

5) Review of "The Wanderer" at Paper Mill Playhouse - Biographical jukebox musicals follow an established path – heroic artist is especially talented; challenged by demons (bad relationships or addiction); defy barriers and the adoring crowd stands soaking in hit from a bygone time.  Michael Wartella firmly joins the pantheon of supremely talented theatrical performers who embody a real-life rocker and slays with an iconic performance.  At the Paper Mill Playhouse, he owns the theater as doo wop/rocker Dion in a new production “The Wanderer.” 

6) 17th Annual Sourland Mountain Festival To Take Place In July - (RINGOES, NJ) -- The Sourland Mountain Festival, presented by Unionville Vineyards, returns on Saturday, July 23rd with a powerful musical lineup. Enjoy the best local food and beverages and visit  specialized craft and service vendors and local organizations who will show and tell you about the history and wildlife of the mountain. The VIP Experience will be available from The Ryland Inn of Whitehouse Station. New Jersey musical artists featured at this year’s festival include The Outcrops, James Popik and Supernova, and Rainbow Fresh. 

7) Exit Zero Jazz Festival to Take Place May 13-15 - (CAPE MAY, NJ) -- Michael Kline, Producer of the Worldwide Logistics Group Exit Zero Jazz Festival, has announced the complete musical lineup set to perform on the outdoor Main Venue at Exit Zero Ferry Park and the bars/ restaurants of Cape May. After mounting reduced capacity festivals with Covid-19 protocols in place in October of 2020 and April of 2021, Exit Zero Jazz comes roaring back with what Festival Producer Michael Kline described as "our most ambitious Festival to date."  The festival takes place May 13-15, 2022.

8) Production Assistant Bootcamp to Be Held at Mercer County Community College - (WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- The NJ Motion Picture and Television Commission invites New Jersey residents interested in pursuing a career in film and television production to apply for the upcoming Production Assistant Bootcamp scheduled for April 23 and 24. The bootcamp will be held at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor

9) Mayim Bialik's Directorial Debut Shot In North Jersey - North Jersey locations set the scene for the just released comedy-drama As They Made Us, the story of a divorced mom trying to make peace with her dysfunctional family while getting a second chance at love. Now she must attempt to convince her stubborn and humorously unfortunate family members to hold it together while they embrace one final farewell.

10) Philly's Five Hundred Bucks to Release Debut Album "$500" - Philly area punks Five Hundred Bucks will release their debut full-length titled '$500' on April 29 . Featuring members of The Holy Mess, The Bella Vista Social Club and Captain, We're Sinking, Five Hundred Bucks' debut is the follow up to their well-received 2020 singles "Shit Shape Heart" and "Spinal."

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 targeted advertising.