Published by New Jersey Stage
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
George Street Playhouse to Host One Night Performance of "My First Ex-Husband" Written and Starring Joy Behar 
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- George Street Playhouse will host a one-night-only performance of My First Ex-Husband, written and performed by Joy Behar. Directed by Randal Myler, it will be presented on Thursday, August 28, 2025 at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. Showtime is 7:30pm.
North Star Theater Company presents "Something Rotten!" 
(SPARTA, NJ) -- North Star Theater Company presents the smash Broadway hit Something Rotten! from July 31 through August 3, 2025 at the Sussex County Technical School's McNeice Auditorium. This is a fast-paced musical comedy filled with hilarious showbiz nods and toe-tapping numbers.
'The Mallard' – Winner of 2024 Premiere Play Festival – is Fantastic! 
As a part of their mission, Premiere Stages at Kean is committed to supporting emerging and regional playwrights by developing and producing new plays. One of the ways they do this is through their Premiere Play Festival. The Festival offers playwrights the opportunity to develop their work in an encouraging, focused environment through discussions, rehearsals, readings, workshops, and Equity productions. After reviewing several hundred submissions, this year's selection is The Mallard by Vincent Delaney.
music
Love, Lyrics, and Lincoln Park: Raheem DeVaughn Headlined a Sultry R&B Night in Newark 
(NEWARK, NJ) -- As rain clouds lifted and skies cleared, the 20th Annual Lincoln Park Music Festival's R&B Night (July 25, 2025) unfolded under a perfect Newark evening sky. A crowd of thousands was treated to a soulful journey that began with a powerful, poetic performance by Grammy artist Malik Yusef. The energy intensified as Monifah took the stage and Tia Holt followed, leading up to a show-stopping set by headliner Raheem DeVaughn.
New Jersey Youth Symphony releases "Microvids" on PARMA Recordings 
(NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ) -- The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS), a program of Wharton Arts, proudly announces the commercial release of Microvids, an evocative new album now streaming worldwide via PARMA Recordings. Featuring 19 miniature movements for piano and orchestra, Microvids is a pandemic-inspired work by acclaimed composer Stefania de Kenessey, performed with expressive nuance by pianist Donna Weng Friedman and the NJYS Youth Symphony under the baton of Helen H. Cha-Pyo.
Christian McBride releases "Old Folks" featuring Samara Joy 
On July 30, 2025, nine-time GRAMMY® Award winning bassist / composer Christian McBride released a stunning rendition of the beloved jazz standard "Old Folks" featuring five-time GRAMMY® Award winner Samara Joy. It's the second single from McBride's upcoming release Without Further Ado, Vol 1, a new album featuring his acclaimed big band and an all star cast of special guests.
bergenPAC presents The Encore Series: Kansas with NJ Symphony 
(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) is excited to unveil The Encore Series, a three-part celebration of music, culture, and community. These exclusive soirées bring together unforgettable performances, elevated experiences, and a shared passion for the arts. This first show will kick off the nonprofit organization's fundraising efforts for the season.
WXPN Welcomes Joey Sweeney as New Saturday Host of "Sleepy Hollow" 
(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- WXPN, the non-commercial, member-supported radio station of the University of Pennsylvania, is pleased to announce that acclaimed Philadelphia writer, musician, and creative director Joey Sweeney will become the new Saturday morning host of Sleepy Hollow, beginning Saturday, August 9, 2025.
Aztec Two-Step 2.0 presents The Simon & Garfunkel Songbook at Bell Theater 
(HOLMDEL, NJ) -- The iconic career of the enduring folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel will be chronicled in an entertaining music and multimedia stage show presented by Aztec Two-Step 2.0 at the Bell Theater on Saturday, August 16, 2025. Showtime is 8:00pm.
art
Kamonchanok Phon-ngam: "Threads of Inner Harmony" 
A fact that children know but grownups often forget: if you've got a pair of buttons and a length of string, you have all it takes to make a face. A sweet face, too, friendly and approachable, since string is soft and pliable, and everybody likes to fasten and unfasten buttons. Stitched smiles and shiny plastic peepers win us over quick, and even dolls assembled for mean scraps of fabric and loose twine speak straight to our deepest pleasures and protective impulses. Textiles, it turns out, are tethered to the heart. They remind us of our first tactile experiences, and the small, sheltered, hopeful world we inhabit before we've even got words to attach to what we're seeing.
community
Middletown Arts Center to host Summer Antique, Vintage, and Collectibles Marketplace 
(MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- The Middletown Arts Center presents the Antique, Vintage, & Collectibles Marketplace on Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 9:00am to 3:00pm. The inaugural event will feature over four dozen vendors offering a huge selection of unique and one-of-a-kind antiques including vinyl records, costume jewelry, vintage clothing, collectibles, postcards, toys, dolls, Military and so much more. Admission is $5.
Mid Atlantic Arts Announces New Board Member and Election of Officers 
(BALTIMORE, MD) -- At its June 2025 annual board meeting, Mid Atlantic Arts welcomed a new board member (Geoffrey Kershner ) and elected its 2025-2026 officers. Two of the officers: Donna Walker-Kuhne (Chair) and John McEwen (Secretary) have connections to the New Jersey arts world.
books
"How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos" - Ocean County Library Virtual Author Talk with Dr. Tasha Eurich 
(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Learn how to master the daily grind and become shatterproof in a tumultuous world with key insights by Dr. Tasha Eurich as she talks about her newest book, Shatterproof: How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos (And why resilience alone isn’t enough). This free, virtual talk will take place on Thursday, August 28, 2025. The event begins at 2:00pm.
