Here's a look at the top 15 most read articles published on New Jersey Stage from December 14-20, 2025. Each week we publish at least 70 articles, including original columns and features, promoting events and covering arts news taking place throughout the state and nearby areas like Philadelphia and New York City. This week's top 15 includes articles from 8 counties (Bergen, Camden, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, and Union) and included 7 original articles.
1) Asbury Park Theater Company Announces 2026 Season - (ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Asbury Park Theater Company has announced their full lineup of 7 productions for the 2026 season. Under the Producing Artistic Direction of Anthony D’Amato, the season will be presented at the Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove, with the exception of one show at The Vogel in Red Bank, a co-presentation with Count Basie Center for the Arts.
2) 27th Annual Makin Waves Awards - Makin Waves' annual holiday gift to the New Jersey music scene turns 27 this year with a bevy of goodness, particularly for top winner Ocean Avenue Stompers with three. The awards go to Jersey-based independent bands. And here we go ...
3) Makin Waves Dirty Jersey Dozen 2025 - Each year, Makin Waves picks the 12 independent New Jersey-based music acts who made the most waves. That means residing at least half the year in and paying income tax to New Jersey (and not just from here), extensive touring in support of a new original LP or EP, preferably internationally; professional quality narrative videos; singles that garnered broadcast and online radio play and significant streams; national press, and other awards. Note that the Dirty Jersey Dozen are presented in alphabetical order.
4) The Actors Fund Home Enters Next Era, Strengthened by Newly Formed Board and Honorary Council - (ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- The Actors Fund Home is entering a significant next phase, having recently been classified as a 501(c)(3) and affiliate of the Entertainment Community Fund, supported by a newly formed Board of Trustees. This Board, led by Lee H. Perlman, Executive Vice President of the Greater New York Hospital Association, is committed to continuing the Home's phenomenal services to performing arts and entertainment professionals.
5) Events This Week in New Jersey from December 16-22, 2025 - Here is a look at upcoming events taking place from December 16-22, 2025 along with our featured listings. New Jersey Stage offers previews of events throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.
6) The Doo Wop Project's "Doo Wop Christmas" LIVE! at the Strand - Inside Lakewood, NJ’s Strand Theater this December 6, 2025 evening, in the air there’s a feeling of Christmas. Patrons are serenaded by a choir performing holiday songs in the lobby before they make their way into the venue’s historic auditorium decorated with holiday lights and trees for a Doo Wop Christmas performance starring The Doo Wop Project.
7) Beloved independent theater in Cranford wins national 'giveback' competition - (CRANFORD, NJ) -- An independently owned movie theater in Cranford has been recognized for its outstanding community spirit after winning a national "giveback" competition designed to highlight positive contributions in local communities.
8) Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company to perform "Red Firecrackers" at Jersey City Theater Center at White Eagle Hall on January 18th - (JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, the renowned international touring dance company founded by Chinese American choreographer Nai-Ni Chen, and now led by Artistic Director Greta Campo and Executive Director Andy Chiang, will perform at Jersey City Theater Center at White Eagle Hall on Sunday, January 18, 2026. Showtime is 4:00pm.
9) People Get Ready: A "Blues & Rock 'N' Roll Summit" is coming to Lizzie Rose Music Room featuring Glenn Alexander & Shadowland plus James JB Barnes & The JB Blues Band - (TUCKERTON, NJ) -- People Get Ready: A Blues and Rock 'N' Roll Summit is coming to Lizzie Rose Music Room, featuring a potent double-bill of New Jersey-based talent: rocker Glenn Alexander & Shadowland featuring Oria and the Asbury Jukes Horns; and some tasty original blues by James 'JB' Barnes and the JB Blues Band. The event takes place Friday, January 30, 2025 at 7:30pm.
10) Camden hosts Winter Wonderland Festival at Roosevelt Park on Friday - (CAMDEN, NJ) -- Camden Community Partnership announces the grand debut of a new winter and holiday festival. Winter Wonderland Festival will bring holiday cheer and family fun to Roosevelt Plaza Park (520 Market Street) on Friday, December 19, 2025, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. The free event will include live music performances, Santa meet-and-greets, a Christmas carousel, mini-train rides, food trucks, community tables, face painting, holiday vendors, hot chocolate and cookie station, Christmas characters and more.
11) Anthony D'Amato to Headline Split Level Concerts Show on January 24th - (OCEAN GROVE, NJ) — There are few songwriters who have impressed me over the years as much as Anthony D’Amato and I'm excited to see him be the first headliner for Split Level Concerts in 2026. He will be performing at the Jersey Shore Arts Center on Saturday, January 24th with the electrifying Deseree Spinks opening the night.
12) "A Christmas Gift to Us All!" LeAnn Rimes LIVE! at MPAC - A holiday crowd bustles into Morristown, NJ’s Mayo Performing Arts Center this Thursday, December 4, 2025 evening for a special Greatest Hits Christmas Tour performance by singer/songwriter LeAnn Rimes.
13) "A Winter World of Love" Engelbert Humperdinck LIVE! at STNJ - Spotlight Central and Love Imagery has a recap of A Winter World of Love concert of holiday classics and greatest hits starring singer Engelbert Humperdinck at State Theatre New Jersey on December 9, 2025.
14) Bergen County's Winter Wonderland continues this weekend with Menorah Lighting and more live music - (PARAMUS, NJ) -- Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, the County Board of Commissioners, and the County Parks Department are thrilled to welcome visitors back for Bergen County Winter Wonderland's fourth weekend of the season!
15) Middlesex County's Plays-in-the-Park presents "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at State Theatre - (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Every December, Middlesex County's Plays-in-the-Park moves from its home at the Stephen J. Capestro Theatre in Edison and travels to State Theatre New Jersey, lock, stock, and camel, to do their annual production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. This year there are four performances from December 27-28, 2025.
Following decades of experience in public relations and writing for the arts, New Jersey Stage was created to serve as the state’s arts newswire and provide affordable advertising for the arts (from $50-$100 per month). The site has been redesigned around its Event Calendar and event preview articles. The vast majority of these articles come from a monthly schedule that lets us cover every arts genre and region of the state on a regular basis with original coverage. These event preview articles get noticed when we first publish them and then get noticed again the week the event takes place. Our articles and event calendar pages are picked up by search engines and resources like Google News. We also accept press releases sent to [email protected]
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