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New Jersey Stage:
Daily Edition 03-02-23
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!
If your arts organization sends out press releases, make sure you have [email protected] on your media list for coverage.
theatre
The MAC PLAYERS presents "Seussical" (MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- The MAC PLAYERS, Middletown Arts Center’s community theater group, kicks off its 2023 season with Seussical, a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Fun for the whole family, Seussical creates the witty, wild and whimsical world of Dr. Seuss as it has never been seen before. When chaos erupts in the Jungle of Nool, it will take The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz and a gaggle of characters to bring harmony back to their world. The production runs over two weekends at the Middletown Arts Center, March 3-5 and March 10-12, and offers new reserved seating.
PHOTOS from Disney's Hercules at Paper Mill Playhouse (MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse is presenting Disney's Hercules through March 19. It's a terrific twist of fates! The inspired Disney animated film is now a mythical new musical adventure. Hercules is the divinely funny story of an honest-to-Zeus hero on a quest to discover who he is and where he belongs. Is love a possibility too? Oh, Hades, yes! The roof-raising score features all the hits you love from the film, including the Oscar-nominated song "Go the Distance," as well as "Zero to Hero" and "I Won’t Say (I’m in Love)," along with new songs written for the stage.
"Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events" Author to Workshop New Play At The Black Box (ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Limited tickets for $30 are now on sale for a staged-reading workshop presentation of Imaginary Comforts, Or The Story of The Ghost Of The Dead Rabbit, the remarkable new play by Daniel Handler, creator of Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events! Imaginary Comforts... will be performed on Monday March 13, Tuesday March 14, and Wednesday March 15th at 8:00pm each evening!
Dragonfly Multicultural Arts presents "Certifiably Yours" (PLAINFIELD, NJ) -- Dragonfly Multicultural Arts presents Certifiably Yours, an award-winning play by Metuchen resident Lawrence Paone. Certifiably Yours is a hilarious farce that won the Theatre Victoria Playwriting Contest in Texas and was a semifinalist at the O'Neill Playwriting Conference. The production runs run March 31-April 2 at duCret Center of Art in Plainfield.
Craig Fols Named Artistic Director of East Lynne Theater Company (CAPE MAY, NJ) -- After a nationwide search conducted by its Board of Trustees, East Lynne Theater Company (ELTC) of Cape May has announced that Craig Fols, an actor, director and playwright, has been named the company's new artistic director.
Vanguard Theater Awarded a 2023 Community Grant Through Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand's Black Community Commitment (MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- To mark the 60th birthday of NBA legend Michael Jordan on February 17, NJ nonprofit Vanguard Theater was awarded a community grant by Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand. Vanguard was the only NJ based organization to receive such news, and one of only two theater companies. Co-Founded in 2015 by NJ based theater-maker Janeece Freeman Clark, Vanguard challenges social and cultural narratives through professional theater dedicated to DREAM: Diversity, Reciprocity, Education, Activism, and Mentorship.
Artist Collective Troupe presents a Teen-Led Production of "Godspell Jr." (POINT PLEASANT, NJ) -- The Artist Collective Troupe will present their first ever teen-led production, "Godspell Jr.," at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Point Pleasant on March 10 and 11.
music
Multi-talented Cr0wcallz Writes, Records, Produces, Performs, Mixes & Masters Debut Single, "haunted heart" New Hope-based, Jersey Shore-raised independent singer-songwriter Eli Sannelli, who goes by the stage name cr0wcallz, will release his debut single, "haunted heart," on March 13 via his own The Nest record label.
McCarter presents 2023 JAZZ IN JUNE (PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre has announced the 2023 JAZZ IN JUNE line up – six premiere events over three weekends, starting with the 2023 Grammy Award Winner for Best New Artist, Samara Joy on Friday, June 2. Jazz in June 2023 is sponsored by WRTI. The full roster includes legends Chucho Valdés and Paquito D'Rivera, on Friday, June 9, nineteen-year-old piano virtuoso Joey Alexander on Saturday, June 10, Blue Note tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana on Friday, June 16, and ending the three-weekend celebration when visionary composer Maria Schneider brings her 18-member ensemble to perform the most daring work of her career on Saturday, June 17. Concerts begin at 8:00pm.
The Center for the Arts @ NJCU presents SciFi Ensemble (JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- The Center for the Arts at New Jersey City University presents SciFi Ensemble on Thursday, May 4th at 7:30pm. SciFi Ensemble is a string quartet with percussion specialized in movie and video game music. It combines music and body make-up in the same show, creating a fresh, genuine, and fun experience for all audiences. An original show with exclusive arrangements and a multidisciplinary artistic team form the basis of this unique project.
Review of Weyes Blood's Homecoming Show at Union Transfer in Philadelphia I finally got to see Weyes Blood play at a sold-out Union Transfer show in Philadelphia last night after three cancellations due to COVID. It was well worth the wait. Weyes Blood (whose name was derived from Flannery O’Conner’s astonishing and haunting novel Wise Blood) is Natalie Mering’s alter-ego where she channels her impressions of a world in crisis due to love lost, climate change and the pandemic.
Grammy Award winning Opera Singer Angel Blue to be Honored with 2023 Wharton Arts Lifetime Achievement Award (BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ) -- On Thursday, March 9, 2023, Wharton Arts will honor Grammy Award winning opera singer Angel Blue with its Lifetime Achievement Award at its Annual Gala. Angel Blue has taken the opera world by storm with historic performances as Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata and, despite being told it would never happen, Ms. Blue was the first black woman to ever sing the fully staged role in Italy at Teatro alla Scala.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Legends KISS Announce Final Shows Ever (NEW YORK, NY) -- Rock n roll legends KISS have announced the absolute final shows of their final tour, The End of The Road Tour. Produced by Live Nation, these final show dates will kick off this October and culminate in a massive show in the city where it all began for KISS. New York City has been a part of the band’s ethos and storyline for more than four decades, so they felt it fitting to culminate an iconic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame worthy career on stage at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden with shows December 1st and 2nd.
RVCC to Present Concert Featuring Music by Catalan Composers (BRANCHBURG, NJ) -- Raritan Valley Community College's Arts & Design department will present “Catalans in United States: Joan Manén, Lluis Benejam, Marc Migó,”a a concert featuring the musical trio of Bethany Bobbs (cello), Kalina Macuta (violin), and Daniel Blanch (piano) on March 19 at 6:00pm. The event, part of the MOZAIKA Concert Series' 2022-2023 season, will be held in the Welpe Theatre at the College's Branchburg campus.
Jazz at the Vogel: Stanley Clarke Transformed the Electric Bass into a Solo Instrument Stanley Clarke transformed the electric bass from its accompanying role and showed the world its possibilities as a solo instrument. He is also a virtuosic double bass player and an accomplished film composer. Clarke is a five-time Grammy winner, with 15 nominations. Three of his Grammys were for his solo efforts, one for the Stanley Clarke Band, and one with the groundbreaking, Return to Forever band, for which he was a founding member. In April of last year, he was named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master (Jersey Jazz, March 2022)
MPAC presents Kenny Wayne Shepherd (MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Kenny Wayne Shepherd has established himself as an immensely popular recording artist, a consistently in-demand live act and an influential force in a worldwide resurgence of the blues. Shepherd will perform his album Trouble Is as well as other fan favorites when he comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on Thursday, March 30 at 8:00pm. Tickets range from $49-$99.
Reock & Roll to Play Two Shows at Kelsey Theatre this Weekend (WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- “Songwriters” is the theme for the upcoming rock show that will take place March 4-5 at Mercer County Community College’s (MCCC’s) Kelsey Theatre at 1200 Old Trenton Road in West Windsor. Performed by the band Reock & Roll, “Songwriters” will feature all-original tunes from six of the band’s performing members.
comedy
Vivid Stage presents Improv with The Flip Side on March 18th (SUMMIT, NJ) -- Vivid Stage, in residence at Oakes Center at 120 Morris Avenue in Summit, will present its house improv team, The Flip Side, on Saturday, March 18 at 8:00pm.
dance
State Theatre Presents Dublin Irish Dance: WINGS: A Celtic Dance Celebration (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The fully renovated State Theatre New Jersey presents Dublin Irish Dance in WINGS: A Celtic Dance Celebration on Tuesday, March 7 at 7:30pm. WINGS is a brand-new Irish dance production created in Ireland by a critically acclaimed artistic team. WINGS features exquisite Irish and World champion dancers together with Ireland’s finest musical and vocal virtuosos. Tickets range from $29-$59.
art
Akwaaba Gallery to Present Armisey Smith's "Golden" (NEWARK, NJ) -- Akwaaba Gallery will present Armisey Smith's "Golden" from March 18 through April 15. The exhibition showcases intimate portraits of Black women capturing their subjects' emotional life during and after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also includes abstract pieces that underscore the displacement of black people via the slave trade and systemic oppression.
food
Eric LeGrand & Brian Axelrod Launch Bourbon Line with Portion of Sales benefitting The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation (JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Eric LeGrand, former college football defensive tackle, now turned businessman and inspiration to all, is launching his first-ever whiskey brand, Eric LeGrand Kentucky Straight Bourbon. In 2010, Eric LeGrand’s life changed when he became paralyzed after a tackle while playing football for Rutgers University. Through his ongoing rehabilitation journey, Eric has been inspired to appreciate the finer things in life which led him to team up with spirits entrepreneur, Brian Axelrod to create a whiskey that can be enjoyed by all. The dynamic duo is also committed to supporting those living with and impacted by paralysis by finding the cure for spinal cord injuries. This motivated them to make the promise to donate $5.20 of every case sold of Eric LeGrand Bourbon to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
Celebrate Jersey Mike's 13th Annual Month of Giving in March (MANASQUAN, NJ) -- /PRNewswire/ -- Hoping to raise a record-breaking amount for charity this March, Jersey Mike's Subs, known for its authentic fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs, asks customers to eat a sub and help a local cause.
community
State Theatre New Jersey Presents Champions of Magic on Saturday (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The fully renovated State Theatre New Jersey presents Champions of Magic on Saturday, March 4 at 8:00pm. The Champions of Magic cast present incredible interactive magic, a daring escape from Houdini’s water torture cell, a mind-blowing prediction that must be seen to be believed, levitation high above the stage, and a finale beyond explanation. Tickets range from $29-$99.
Events at Lewis Center for the Arts from March 1-10 (PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Lewis Center for the Arts presents theatre, dance, art exhibition, and multimedia works during the first part of March. There are more than 100 public performances, exhibitions, readings, screenings, concerts, lectures, and special events presented by the Lewis Center each year, most of them have free admission.
FEATURED EVENTS
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