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Top 15 Most Read Stories At New Jersey Stage from January 11-17, 2026

Published by New Jersey Stage

originally published: 01/18/2026

Here's a look at the top 15 most read articles published on New Jersey Stage from January 11-17, 2026. 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 11 counties (Atlantic, Bergen, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, and Union). 

1) Atlantic City Wing Fest to Take Place January 31st - (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- WMGM Rocks 103.7 FM and Golden Nugget presents Atlantic City Wing Fest on Saturday, January 31, 2026. The event includes all-you-can-eat wings from 21 South Jersey restaurants, craft beer, cocktails, contests and live music by The Billy Walton Band.  It is sponsored by Paris Produce.

2) Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Preview - (ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- It's time for the annual Light of Day shows! A time when Asbury Park comes alive with music throughout the city -- everything from singer-songwriter to rock & blues to cover bands and tribute acts. It's a great time to check out new artists, see your favorites, and experience new venues. In addition to Asbury Park, there are shows at City Winery in NYC, John & Peter's in New Hope, Outpost in the Burbs, and Bob's Birthday Bash in Red Bank.

3) American Theater Group's Producing Artistic Director Jim Vagias to Retire at the End of the 2025-26 Season - (UNION, NJ) -- Jim Vagias, Producing Artistic Director and Co-Founder of American Theater Group, has announced that he will be stepping down at the end of this season.

4) New Hope and Lambertville Team Up for 2nd Annual Restaurant Week - (LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Two of the most celebrated dining scenes in the greater Philadelphia and South Jersey region are firing up one of the most delicious collaborations of the winter months. The Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Lambertville Chamber of Commerce kick-off 2026 with the year's first official restaurant week. The 2nd Annual New Hope and Lambertville Restaurant Week returns from January 12 through January 25, 2026.




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5) Stunning documentary Portrait of a Monastery screens at the New Jersey Film Festival on January 24, 2026! - A moving meditation, Portrait of a Monastery is a stunning documentary on the Holy Cross Monastery in upstate New York. In it, we are taken through three seasons in the lives of these monks. We enter a space of cultivated peace and reflection—the monastery itself and the natural world surrounding it.  

6) Events This Week in New Jersey from January 13-19, 2026 - Here is a look at upcoming events taking place from January 13-19, 2026 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. 

7) North Jersey Blues Society presents NJBS Showcase Series: Women in Blues on March 8th - (WEST MILFORD, NJ) -- The North Jersey Blues Society (NJBS) presents NJBS Showcase Series: Women in Blues on Sunday, March 8, 2026, coinciding with International Women’s Day, at the West Milford Elks Lodge. Doors open at 1:00pm, with music beginning at 1:30pm.

8) Magnolia Productions presents "Becky's New Car" by Steven Dietz - (ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ) -- Magnolia Productions presents Becky's New Car by Steven Dietz from January 16-18, 23-24, 2026 at the Navesink Library. The play asks the question: have you ever been tempted to flee your own life?

9) Aspire Performing Arts Company presents "Spring Awakening" - (FAIR LAWN, NJ) -- Aspire Performing Arts Company, an award-winning performing arts company based in Wayne, will present the groundbreaking rock musical Spring Awakening from January 23-25, 2026 at the Fair Lawn Community Center.

10) Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 01/15/2026 - "I'm doing fantabulous today. I'm from Berlin, Maryland, it's a very small town, one street light, lots of cops and everyone knows each other," chuckled young singer-songwriter Callum who will be making the trip up from the Terrapin state for two February shows, the first of which is at Flounder Brewing in Hillsborough, NJ and the second on February 22 at John & Peter's in New Hope, PA as part of Mike Montrey's Songwriter Showcase.

11) "Welcome to Hidden Tracks Records" - Boonton, NJ's Main Street has become a vibrant, revitalized historic downtown. Somewhere between the coffee houses, art studios and cozy cafes, you'll find Hidden Tracks Records, a welcoming spot for music discovery and community. Owners Shane and Michele Murphy have been able to manifest their passion for music and create a place where the love of vinyl and live music converge.

12) New Jersey Stage: Daily Edition 01-11-26 - 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!

13) Grunin Center for the Arts presents Cherish the Ladies on February 27th - (TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Grunin Center for the Arts presents Cherish the Ladies on Friday, February 27, 2026 at 7:00pm. Celebrating the incredible milestone of 40 years as one of planet's most heralded Irish music ensembles, Cherish the Ladies have won the hearts of audiences worldwide for their exhilarating blend of traditional Irish music, breathtaking vocals, and propulsive Irish step dancing, they have won the hearts of fans and critics alike.

14) Marie Rader Series Brings World-Class Bharatanatyam with Live Music to Rowan with Ragamala Dance Company: Sacred Earth - (GLASSBORO, NJ) – As its first show of 2026, Marie Rader Series presents Ragamala Dance Company: Sacred Earth, Saturday, January 31 at Pfleeger Concert Hall. Performed with live music, Ragamala's stunning Bharatanatyam dancers create a sacred space to honor the divinity in the natural world. Showtime is 7:30pm.

15) The Growing Stage's Studio Series presents an all youth production of "Charlotte's Web" - (NETCONG, NJ) -- The Growing Stage's Studio Series presents an all youth production of Charlotte's Web from January 23-25, 2026. The Children's Literature Association named this "the best American children’s book of the past two hundred years," and Joseph Robinette, working with the advice of E.B. White, created a play that captures this work in a thrilling theatrical presentation.​​​​​​​



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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EVENT PREVIEWS

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Manayunk Development Corporation is excited to celebrate the 37th Annual Manayunk Arts Festival on Saturday, June 27, 2026 from 11:00am to 7:00pm and Sunday, June 28, 2026 from 11:00am to 5:00pm. The tradition of being the tri-state area's largest outdoor juried art festival - and the largest in Pennsylvania - will continue as Main Street hosts approximately 300 different local and nationally known artists and crafters.
Carteret

Carteret's Independence Day Festival to feature country star Walker Hayes

(CARTERET, NJ) -- One of New Jersey's most popular Independence Day Festivals will take place in Carteret's Civic Center Park (100 Cooke Avenue) from 6:00pm to midnight on Friday, July 3, 2026 in celebration of America's 250th birthday.
Bergen County presents 3rd Annual Star-Spangled Spectacular

Bergen County presents 3rd Annual Star-Spangled Spectacular

(RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ) -- County Executive Jim Tedesco, the County Board of Commissioners, and the Bergen 250 Initiative are excited to announce that Bergen County's 3rd Annual Star-Spangled Spectacular will return July 4, 2026 at Overpeck County Park. All are invited to attend this patriotic afternoon of family fun which will include live music, children's activities, over 20 food trucks, a beer and wine garden, carnival attractions, and stunning fireworks to conclude the evening over Overpeck Creek.
Washington Crossing Historic Park Launches Community-Wide Call to Support Expanded Independence Day Celebration in America

Washington Crossing Historic Park Launches Community-Wide Call to Support Expanded Independence Day Celebration in America's 250th Anniversary Year

(WASHINGTON CROSSING, PA) -- Washington Crossing Historic Park (WCHP) in Pennsylvania plans to host an expanded Independence Day Celebration on Saturday, July 4, 2026 from 4:00pm to 9:30pm featuring immersive living history experiences, family-friendly activities, live music, and the return of fireworks over the Delaware River. Designed as a community-wide celebration of America250, the event is intended to create a meaningful space for residents and visitors to commemorate this historic milestone year. Please note: Admission is required; registration is recommended only for the 4:00pm ‐ 8:00pm Living History Program. The evening concert and fireworks are free and open to the public; no registration is required to attend those portions of the event.
Passage Theatre Company presents 3rd Annual Word on Front festival

Passage Theatre Company presents 3rd Annual Word on Front festival

(TRENTON, NJ) -- Passage Theatre Company's third annual Word on Front event is set to be its biggest yet. In celebration of the United States of America's 250th Anniversary, the company is presenting Word on Front 250, three consecutive weekends of a variety of live arts from June 26 to July 12, 2026. This festival of spoken word, music, and solo performance will celebrate the untold and underrepresented stories of America.
Centenary Stage Company Announces Lineup for SUMMERFEST 2026

Centenary Stage Company Announces Lineup for SUMMERFEST 2026

(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company's SUMMERFEST 2026 is set to take center stage in the Lackland Performing Arts Center with four productions running through the summer months. SUMMERFEST will feature, A Taste of Ireland presented by Pace Live, The Wedding Singer, Four Sticks: The Music of Led Zeppelin, and Maltby & Shire's Closer Than Ever.

Hallmark Stars Take the Stage at The Carteret PAC on July 22nd during First-Time Multi-City Tour Experience Hallmark Stars Live

(CARTERET, NJ) -- Hallmark and Gershwin Entertainment are proud to announce Hallmark Stars Live presented by Michaels, a new live tour kicking off at URSB Carteret Performing Arts and Events Center on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 7:30pm where some of the network's most beloved stars step off screen and onto the stage. Hosted by fan-favorite Nikki DeLoach (A Grand Ole Opry Christmas), the tour will feature Hallmark mainstays for a night where the cameras are off – and the stories keep rolling.
Hallmark Stars Live comes to MPAC on July 26th

Hallmark Stars Live comes to MPAC on July 26th

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Hallmark Stars Live presented by Michaels, is a new live tour kicking off this summer where some of the network's most beloved stars step off screen and onto the stage. Hosted by fan-favorite Nikki DeLoach (A Grand Ole Opry Christmas), the tour will feature Hallmark mainstays for a night where the cameras are off – and the stories keep rolling. The tour comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 7:00pm.

 

FEATURED EVENTS


EagleMania

Saturday, June 20, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Grunin Center - Main Stage
Toms River, NJ


Los Lobos & Los Lonely Boys

Saturday, June 20, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center
Carteret, NJ


Arts & Crafts Festival

Saturday, June 20, 2026 @ 10:00am
Middletown Arts Center
Middletown, NJ


Can You Feel It – Presented by Dance, Dance, Dance Ltd.

Saturday, June 20, 2026 @ 10:00am
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
Rahway, NJ


Punkie Johnson (SNL) to Headline LGBTQ Comedy Show

Saturday, June 20, 2026 @ 9:00pm
Newark Culture Club
Newark, NJ


LIVERPOOL - The Best Early BEATLES TRIBUTE

Saturday, June 20, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton, NJ


Chinese Culture & Arts Association presents Dancing Through Time 2026

Saturday, June 20, 2026 @ 7:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
New Brunswick, NJ


LGBTQ Comedy Show with Paris Sashay & After Party

Saturday, June 20, 2026 @ 9:00pm
Newark Culture Club
Newark, NJ


Soul Xpression Presents Express Yourself: No Limits!

Saturday, June 20, 2026 @ 12:00pm
Hamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC)
Rahway, NJ


Can You Feel It – Presented by Dance, Dance, Dance Ltd.

Saturday, June 20, 2026 @ 3:30pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
Rahway, NJ


Soul Xpression Presents Express Yourself: No Limits!

Saturday, June 20, 2026 @ 4:00pm
Hamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC)
Rahway, NJ



 

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