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
Bordentown Thespians present "The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical" 
(BORDENTOWN, NJ) -- The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, with music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki and book by Joe Tracz, will be presented on Saturday, April 25th at 2:00pm & 6:30pm at the Bordentown Performing Arts Center. As the half-blood son of a Greek god, Percy Jackson has newly discovered powers he can't control, a destiny he doesn't want, and a mythology textbook's worth of monsters on his trail.
Lewis Center for the Arts' Program in Theater & Music Theater presents "The Comeuppance" by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins 
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Lewis Center for the Arts' Program in Theater and Music Theater at Princeton University presents The Comeuppance by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright and Princeton alumnus Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Class of 2006. Performances take place April 3-4 and April 10 at 8:00pm and April 11 at 2:00pm & 8:00pm at the Berlind Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center.
Centenary Stage Company accepting applications for 2026 Young Performers Workshop's Summer Musical Theatre Intensive 
(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company's critically acclaimed Young Performers Workshop is now accepting new and returning applicants for the 2026 YPW Summer Musical Theatre Intensive. Designed to meet the needs of beginning, intermediate, and advanced performers ages 8 – 18, this 5-week musical theatre training intensive runs from July 6 through August 9 and culminates in the YPW Summer Festival of Shows. The deadline to register is July 1, 2026.
music
Kean Stage presents An Evening with Isaac Mizrahi on March 29th 
(HILLSIDE, NJ) -- Kean Stage presents An Evening with Isaac Mizrahi on Sunday, March 29, 2026 at Enlow Recital Hall (215 North Avenue) in Hillside. His one-of-a-kind show brings together comedy, commentary, and an array of classic and soon-to-be classic songs from Stephen Sondheim to Blondie, from Comden & Green to Madonna. Accompanied by his six-piece jazz band. Showtime is 7:00pm.
MPAC presents Patti LaBelle on April 17th 
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Legendary vocalist Patti LaBelle comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on Friday, April 17, 2026 at 8:00pm. Beautiful, simply does not describe the incomparable force known to the world as Patti LaBelle. Through the years, the songbird's name has become synonymous with grace, style, and class.
Lalah Hathaway LIVE! at UCPAC 
Spotlight Central and Love Imagery have photos and a recap of Lalah Hathaway at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) on March 6, 2026.
film
Lighthouse International Film Society to Screen "We Met at Grossinger's" 
(LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ) -- A new feature-length documentary, We Met at Grossinger's, brings to life the world-famous hospitality phenomenon that flourished mid-century in the Catskill Mountains of New York State, Grossinger's Resort Hotel. Lighthouse International Film Society screens the film on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at the Long Beach Island Foundation of Arts & Science. Showtime is 7:30pm.
2026 Garden State Film Festival to Open with a Powerful Kickoff Matinee Featuring Revolutionary War Documentary 
(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- The Garden State Film Festival, New Jersey's Premier Independent Film Festival® launches its 24th year with a compelling Kickoff Matinee at Asbury Lanes on Thursday, March 26, 2026 from 1:30pm to 3:15pm. The block blends local history, global storytelling, and forward-thinking voices into one unforgettable opening experience. This curated film block sets the tone for a festival that spans 205 films from around the world—starting right here in New Jersey.
dance
Roxey Ballet's Latin Creations Celebrates 30 Years of Artistic Excellence with a Powerful Showcase of Culture, Legacy, and World-Class Dance 
(NEW HOPE, PA) -- On Friday, May 1, 2026, Roxey Ballet presents Latin Creations—an electrifying evening of dance that honors the company's rich history while showcasing the extraordinary talent of its acclaimed artists. This dynamic program brings together powerful storytelling, cultural depth, and bold contemporary vision, reaffirming Roxey Ballet's role as a leading force in regional and national dance. Showtime is 7:00pm.
art
"The 16th" & "Handle With Care" 
No nation has seen an uglier side of the Atomic Age than Japan. Hiroshima and Nagasaki remain the only cities devastated by nuclear bombs. After surrendering to the splitters of the nucleus, the Japanese promised never to rearm until the bombers (us) gave the okay. Fidelity to that pledge didn't save them from another atomic megadisaster: the core meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor in 2011. Fifteen years later the contamination — and humiliation — remains. If a Japanese person should decline to hear a lecture about the miracle of the split atom, it's not hard to understand why.
books
Writing Action-Packed and Suspenseful Spycraft Fiction with Bestselling Author Brad Taylor 
(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Join author Brad Taylor on his latest work Shadow Strike, book #20 of the bestselling Pike Logan series, for a virtual discussion on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 7:00pm. The event is presented by the Ocean County Library.
kids
Two River Theater presents "+Erba: A Forest in the City" 
(RED BANK, NJ) -- The award-winning Two River Theater has announced performances of +Erba: A Forest in the City, developed by Compagnia TPO and Artistic Directors Francesco Gandi and Davide Venturini, will begin public performances this week in the Marion Huber Theater from March 21-28, 2026.
