Here is the morning update from New Jersey's arts newswire. We regularly publish between 8-15 new articles and news reports each day. Nobody covers the Arts throughout the Garden State like New Jersey Stage!
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theatre
Center Players presents Neil Simon's "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" (FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Center Players presents Neil Simon’s classic comedy The Prisoner of Second Avenue as its first production of 2023. Directed by award-winning filmmaker and playwright Anthony Marinelli of Manalapan, the production will run from February 10-26, 2023 at Center Playhouse. The play centers around Mel Edison, an advertising executive who is at war: with New York City, with his neighbors, and most of all with himself.
Pebble Players presents "Shrek Jr, The Musical" (SUMMIT, NJ) -- Pebble Players presents Shrek Jr, The Musical with performances January 20-22 and January 27-29. It's everyone's favorite ogre! Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek Jr., The Musical is a Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure that brings all of the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage as it proves there's more to the story than meets the ears.
Lantern Theater Company presents "The Lifespan of a Fact" (PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Lantern Theater Company continues its 2022/23 season with the Philadelphia premiere of The Lifespan of a Fact by writers Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell, and Gordon Farrell. Award-winning director and actor Matt Pfeiffer returns to the Lantern, directing a cast that includes Ian Merrill Peakes, Trevor William Fayle, and Joanna Liao. The Lifespan of a Fact runs Thursday, February 2 through Sunday, March 5, 2023, at St. Stephen’s Theater, the Lantern’s resident venue.
music
The Happy Together Tour 2023 Comes to Ocean Casino Resort on July 28th (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- C'mon and Get Happy! Join the fun when The Happy Together Tour 2023 comes to Ocean Casino Resort's Ovation Hall on Friday, July 28 with The Turtles, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Association, The Buckinghams, The Vogues and The Cowsills. The event begins at 9:00pm.
McDonald's Gospelfest returns to Prudential Center on May 13th (NEWARK, NJ) -- The Annual McDonald's Gospelfest returns to Prudential Center on Mother's Day Weekend Saturday, May 13, 2023, for the biggest and best gospel event of the year. This year's event will celebrate the 40th Year Anniversary of McDonald's Gospelfest. Live performances to help celebrate the anniversary are Hezekiah Walker and Love Fellowship Choir, the Legendary Clark Sisters and so many more!
BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 1/16/23 Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at releases by rory alene, Meadow Wood Lane, woodthrush, Graduation Speech, Loose Panic, Michael Brett, and The Rubber Thongs.
Makin Waves Album of the Month: "Live in Asbury Park" by Sean Tobin Asbury Park-based singer-songwriter Sean Tobin is the 2022 Makin Waves Male Artist of the Year and one of my Dirty Jersey Dozen independent acts who made the most waves, whose preceding LP, “Ghost of the Arcade,” was a Top 3 album that spawned two Top 10 songs on my year-end lists. And that’s just a small portion of the success he had in 2022, so what he does next has a lot to live up to. But the three-song EP “Live in Asbury Park” due on Jan. 20 is more like a souvenir from an 11-state tour that proved Sean and his band, the Boardwalk Fire, have the goods to be Asbury’s next national act.
PHOTOS from Umphrey's Mcgee at The Fillmore in Philly (PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Umphrey's McGee, the eclectic improv-rock band, came to The Fillmore in Philadelphia on January 14, 2023 and photographer Chris Paul was on hand to take photos. The band consists of Brendan Bayliss (Guitar, Vocals); Jake Cinninger (Guitar, Vocals); Joel Cummins (Keyboard, Piano, Vocals); Andy Farag (Percussion); Kris Myers (Drums, Vocals); and Ryan Stasik (Bass, No Vocals).
film
The Excellent Documentary The Language I Speak opens the 2023 New Jersey Film Festival on Friday, January 27! The Language I Speak is an excellent and very informative documentary on regional varieties of spoken English in America will be playing online for 24 hours and in-person at Rutgers University at 7PM on the Festival opening day-Friday, January 27, 2023.
dance
The Nimbus Rose Gala to Take Place February 11th (JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- The Nimbus Rose Gala: A Fundraiser for Nimbus' Artistic & Educational Programs will take place on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 7:00pm. The evening will honor the contributions of Sam Pesin (Friends of Liberty State Park), Annette Chaparro (NJ State Assembly and Arts Advocate) & Cristina Marte (Arts Educator and Advocate).
art
First Exhibition for Art at Whitechapel Projects Opens Feb. 5th (LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- "Finely Bursting Through" - Inaugural exhibition for Art at Whitechapel Projects will open on February 5, 2023 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. The exhibition features work by Elaine Su-Hui, Amanda Morales, Scott Szegeski, and Ori Carino. It was organized by Aimée McElroy & Summer Deaver.
The Hoboken Historical Museum presents two Exhibits by Christopher López (HOBOKEN, NJ) -- The Hoboken Historical Museum presents two exhibits by photo-based artist and arts educator, Christopher López. "The Fires: Hoboken 1978-1982" shines a light on horrific events from Hoboken's early period of gentrification. This visual and oral history project will be on display in their Main Gallery. A companion installation "(UN)ERASED" will be on display in their Upper Gallery. Both exhibits open on Sunday, Sunday January 22 and an opening reception will take place that day at 2:00pm.
And We’re Off! - Pro Arts Jersey City and SHIM Art Network presented by Clifton Arts Center (CLIFTON, NJ) -- And We’re Off! - Pro Arts Jersey City and SHIM Art Network presented by Clifton Arts Center, on display from January 21 to February 25, 2023. This is their first exhibition of 2023. The leadership team of Pro Arts knows that once the new year begins, they are in a race to carry-out the busy exhibition & event calendar they promise members every year.
Public Art Initiative "Windows of Understanding" Returns with a Focus on Community Wellness (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The New Brunswick Community Arts Council, Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, Highland Park Arts Commission, and the Metuchen Arts Council announce the sixth annual “Windows of Understanding” season, running January 16 through April 1, 2023, in various communities throughout Middlesex County. The urgency of Community Wellness is the center of this year’s initiative that unites local artists, organizations, and businesses to promote awareness and engagement around social justice issues impacting local communities. All events are free and open to the public.
community
Just Add Sound Presents National Day of Racial Healing (JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Just ADD Sound presents 2023 National Day of Racial Healing on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 7:00pm on ZOOM and Facebook LIVE. Through interviews, performances and a Q & A, Just ADD Sound explores “Redefining and Rebuilding Community” related to race and racism. This event is Free and Open to the Public but audiences must register in advance.
kids
Dan and Claudia Zanes to perform a family-friendly concert at Nassau Presbyterian Church (PRINCETON, NJ) -- Discover “the gold standard in kids’ music” (NPR) when Grammy Award-winning children’s performer Dan Zanes and Haitian-American jazz vocalist Claudia Zanes present a fun-filled afternoon at Nassau Presbyterian Church on Saturday, January 21 at 5:00pm. The duo will perform Dan’s greatest hits as well as folk and blues classics from their popular new songbook, ‘Dan Zanes House Party! A Family Roots Music Treasury.”
FEATURED EVENTS
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EVENT PREVIEWS
The Chatham Community Players presents Reading of "In The Next Room or The Vibrator Play" by Sarah Ruhl
November 16, 2025
The Glorious Sounds of Brass to Take Place in Trenton
November 16, 2025
Vivid Stage Brings Pop-Up Theatre: Fiona's Café to Serra Doce in Summit
November 18, 2025
The Newton Theatre presents Colt Ford
November 20, 2025
Jersey City Theater Center to Open 20th Anniversary Season with Brent Birckhead Jazz at White Eagle Hall
November 20, 2025
StocktonPAC presents Swift Nation - Taylor Swift Tribute
November 20, 2025
Chartertech High School for the Performing Arts Hosting Open House on November 20th
November 20, 2025
NJPAC presents Carlos Varela with special guest Diana Fuentes
November 21, 2025
Jonas Brothers, David Bryan, and The Isley Brothers among New Jersey Hall of Fame Class of 2025
November 21, 2025
The Newton Theatre presents Yesterday, A Tribute to The Beatles
November 21, 2025
