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
Algonquin Arts Theatre presents the Timeless Musical, "The Wizard of Oz" 
(MANASQUAN, NJ) -- Algonquin Arts Theatre is thrilled to announce the cast and creative team for its upcoming production of The Wizard of Oz, running from July 12-27, 2025. Step into the magical world of Oz featuring all the beloved moments and iconic songs of the classic MGM film.
STNJ Opens New Season with 'The Importance of Being Earnest' 
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) begins their 63rd Season with a rousing production of Oscar Wilde's most celebrated play The Importance of Being Earnest. Wilde described the play as "a trivial comedy for serious people." Notes in the STNJ program for this play indicate that it pokes fun "at Victorian society's obsession with appearances, respectability, and rigid social codes." These issues are examined in the behaviors of the characters, each with a specific task in mind.
music
Rockin' Rich Lynch Releases "TENN Songs" - A Debut Album Ten Years in the Making in Nashville 
Nashville-based independent recording artist Rockin' Rich Lynch always knew the day would come when he would release a full-length album under his own name. It only took ten years and since all ten of the tracks on the record were recorded in Nashville, Tennessee - there couldn't be a more perfect name for the project than TENN Songs which dropped on May 21, 2025. Coincidentally, that date corresponds to the actual 10-year anniversary of Lynch's first stepping foot in Music City in 2015.
New Jersey Youth Chorus Announces the Launch of Cor Amici, a New Ensemble 
(NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ) -- The New Jersey Youth Chorus (NJYC), a program of Wharton Arts, is excited to announce the launch of Cor Amici, a dynamic new ensemble for middle school boys beginning in fall 2025.
Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Green Light" by Alexander Simone & Whodat? Live Crew 
American Songwriter magazine says, "Asbury Park, New Jersey-born artist Alexander Simone is part of an essential musical family legacy. Namely, Alexander is the grandson of legendary songwriter and performer Nina Simone."
comedy
Kasaun Wilson Returns Home to Jersey City to Headline Comedy Festival 
(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Stand-Up Comedian & Writer Kasaun Wilson from the Emmy-Nominated, "The Problem with Jon Stewart", returns to his hometown to headline the Jersey City Comedy Festival on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Kasaun continues his "Hello, My Name is Kasaun" stand-up comedy tour at the ArtHouse Productions in Jersey City. He brings an hour of his unforgettable storytelling, hilarious commentary, & quick wit back to where it all began! Showtime is 8:00pm.
film
New Release Review - "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" 
Anyone who has binged classic TV shows from the 1960s to the '80s will be familiar with the concept of recapping the first part of a two-parter at the beginning of part two. Such recaps often ran for as long as 10 minutes, eating into the running time and thus keeping the budget down. Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning has no such budgetary concerns, and yet it spends an inordinate amount of time recapping not only its immediate predecessor, Dead Reckoning: Part One, but previous entries, as far back as the first movie from 1996. There are so many "Previously on Mission: Impossible" flashbacks that at times it resembles one of those dreaded "clips" episodes we used to get in TV shows, where a main character would fall into a coma and think about all the fun adventures they had over the course of the show's run.
Lighthouse International Film Festival to Screen "Americana" as Opening Night Film 
(LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ) -- Lighthouse International Film Festival (LIFF) will screen Lionsgate's Americana as their opening night film on Thursday, June 5, 2025 with writer-director Tony Tost in attendance. The film stars Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser and Halsey and tells the story of a gallery of dynamic characters clashing over the possession of a rare Native American artifact set in a modern-day western. This marks the festival's 17th year running from June 4-8, 2025 on Long Beach Island.
2025 New Jersey International Film Festival Video Overview 
The New Jersey International Film Festival returns to Rutgers University May 30 - June 13, 2025, and Al Nigrin, Executive Director and Curator, provides an overview of the films being showcased.
art
"Artfully Earnest: Theatrical Outings with Tug Rice" at Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 
(MADISON, NJ) -- Patrons of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey are in for a special treat when they attend the Theatre's production of The Importance of Being Earnest. Colorfully lining the walls of the acclaimed theatre's James R. Gillen Petite Promenade is a brand-new art exhibition titled "Artfully Earnest: Theatrical Outings with Tug Rice".
Ocean County Library Lacey Branch to Feature Carol Nace Group Art Exhibit in June 
(LACEY TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- Step into a world of color throughout the month of June at the Ocean County Library Lacey Branch. See a captivating display of watercolors created by local artist Carol Nace and a select group of five artists studying under her direction.
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