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
McCarter Theatre and Woo Ri Mart Partner to Foster Community Engagement Around "Kim's Convenience" - the Play That Inspired the Hit Netflix Series 
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre is partnering with Woo Ri Mart, a beloved family-owned grocery store based in West Windsor, to deepen community engagement and celebrate Korean culture in conjunction with the production of Kim's Convenience, running January 23 through February 15, 2026 at McCarter’s Berlind Theatre.
Howell Middle School South Players presents Disney's "The Lion King JR." 
(HOWELL, NJ) -- Howell Middle School South Players presents Disney's The Lion King JR. from March 20-21, 2026 at the high school. Based on the landmark Broadway musical directed by Julie Taymor and Disney's beloved animated classic, this abridged version captures the heart, spirit, and spectacle of the world’s most successful stage show.
Theater To Go presents the Psychological Thriller "Gaslight" at Kelsey Theatre 
(WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- Theater To Go presents Gaslight, Patrick Hamilton's gripping Victorian psychological thriller, at the Kelsey Theatre on the West Windsor campus of Mercer County Community College. Performances run weekends from January 30 through February 8, 2026.
Jesse Eisenberg, José Rivera, Christopher Goutman, Lyle Kessler to perform at 2026 Chain Winter One-Act Festival 
(NEW YORK, NY) -- The 2026 edition of the Chain Winter One-Act Festival takes place from February 5 through March 1, 2026, at Chain Theatre (312 West 36th Street, 3rd and 4th Floors, New York, NY). The festival has become one of the city's largest and most dynamic showcases for new work.
The Summit Playhouse presents "No Exit" by Jean-Paul Sartre 
(SUMMIT, NJ) -- The Summit Playhouse presents No Exit weekends from February 21 to March 8, 2026. This is a one-act play written by the French philosopher and playwright Jean-Paul Sartre. The narrative unfolds in a single, claustrophobic room in Hell, where three characters—Joseph Garcin, Inez Serrano, and Estelle Rigault—find themselves after their deaths.
music
Helen O'Shea Shares Rendition of "Lost" by The Cranberries, Honouring Dolores O'Riordan 
Limerick-born, New-Jersey based roots artist Helen O'Shea released her latest single "Lost" to honor Dolores O'Riordan (The Cranberries) on the 8th anniversary of her passing on January 15th.
The Leonia Chamber Musicians Society, Inc. presents "Romance in the Air" 
(LEONIA, NJ) -- The Leonia Chamber Musicians Society, Inc. presents "Romance in the Air" on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at the Presbyterian Church in Leonia. The concert will reflect a Valentine's Day theme of delight and passion. This is the second concert of the Leonia Chamber Musicians' three concert series. Showtime is 3:00pm.
film
The Eye-opening Documentary B.F. Skinner Plays Himself Opens the 2026 New Jersey Film Festival on Friday, January 23! 
What led you to this article? A love for film? B.F. Skinner believed this wasn’t a choice but the result of psychologically programmed behavior. Skinner stands alongside Ivan Pavlov as a father of modern behaviorism. Yet, Skinner was interested in topics far beyond science. He wrote on the philosophical impacts of his discoveries, questioned free will, and became one of the most enigmatic academics of the 20th century.
New Release Review - "Hamnet" 
Remember that time when Batman and Superman stopped fighting because they realised they had both been raised by women named Martha? Chloé Zhao's Hamnet, adapted from the 2020 novel by Maggie O'Farrell, is centred on an equally silly contrivance. Just as Zack Snyder noted the aforementioned tenuous link between Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent, O'Farrell twigged that William Shakespeare had a short-lived son named Hamnet and also wrote a play titled 'Hamlet'. Could the two be linked? Err, no. 'Hamlet' was based on the Danish legend of Amleth and doesn't feature so much as a single dead son. But in O'Farrell's eyes Willy the Shake wrote the tragedy as a coping mechanism for the grief he felt over the loss of his boy, which is odd given how the bard penned a couple of comedies in the immediate aftermath of his kid's death.
art
Tanya Weddemire Gallery presents "MAKING SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING" 
(BROOKYLN, NY) -- Tanya Weddemire Gallery presents "MAKING SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING", a Black History Month group exhibition curated by Tatianna Mack, from February 1 to March 28, 2026. The exhibition brings together the work of Kaima Marie Akarue, Tyreek Morrison, Nia Winslow, and Candace Caston, whose practices coalesce through collaging worlds shaped by lived experience, memory, and visual expression.
community
Ocean Casino Resort Celebrated Grand Opening of Ocean's 18 Mini Golf & Bar with "Shooter McGavin" actor 
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Ocean's 18 Mini Golf & Bar officially opened its doors at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City on January 17, 2026 following a grand opening celebration with a special appearance by actor Christopher McDonald, aka "Shooter McGavin" in Happy Gilmore, and also known for his role on HBO Max's Hacks.
Top 15 Most Read Stories At New Jersey Stage from January 11-17, 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).
