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
The Growing Stage presents "Nate The Great" 
(NETCONG, NJ) -- The Growing Stage: The Children's Theatre of New Jersey is thrilled to present Nate The Great. Based on the book by Marjorie Sharmat with book & lyrics by John Maclay and music & lyrics by Brett Ryback, this vibrant production runs weekends from May 1-17, 2026. In this musical, the world's greatest boy detective awakes, hoping that this day will bring a new case. He gets a call from his good friend Annie alerting him that her new painting of her dog Fang is missing!
American Theater Group Appoints Charlotte Cohn as new Producing Artistic Director 
(UNION, NJ) -- American Theater Group (ATG) has announced the appointment of Charlotte Cohn as its new Producing Artistic Director, marking an exciting new chapter in the company's artistic and organizational evolution.
music
Scottish Rite Auditorium presents The Robert Cray Band 
(COLLINGSWOOD, NJ) -- Scottish Rite Auditorium presents The Robert Cray Band on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 8:00pm. Blues icon. Soul man. Rock and roller. Robert Cray is all these things – and more.
Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Cold Shot on Saturday 
(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Cold Shot on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 7:30pm. The band is dedicated to capturing the electrifying energy and soulful sound of legendary Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Grunin Center presents Taylor Simon King on May 9th 
(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Grunin Center for the Arts presents Taylor Simon King - Celebrating Three American Troubadours on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 7:30pm. The show features James Gedeon, Lisa Sherman, and Alice Leon paying tribute to James Taylor, Carly Simon, and Carole King. Limited tickets remain.
CarteretPAC presents John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band 
(CARTERET, NJ) -- The Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center presents John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm. The legendary Rhode Island multi-platinum rock band began their career in 1973 and achieved mainstream success in the 1980s with the "Eddie & The Cruisers – Motion Picture Soundtrack".
The New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra to present a program Honoring the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution 
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra will perform at the Zimmerli Art Museum on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 2:00pm. The program will honor the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
Patti LaBelle LIVE! at MPAC 
Spotlight Central and Love Imagery have photos and a recap of Patti LaBelle at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on April 17, 2026.
comedy
The Stress Factory Comedy Club presents Kevin Nealon 
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The Stress Factory Comedy Club presents Kevin Nealon on May 15-16, 2026. Kevin Nealon is a legendary force in comedy whose career spans stand-up, television, film, and digital media. David Letterman once called him "one of the funniest humans on the planet."
Tropicana Showroom at Tropicana Atlantic City presents Larry the Cable Guy on May 15th 
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Tropicana Showroom at Tropicana Atlantic City presents Larry the Cable Guy on Friday, May 15, 2026 at 9:00pm. Larry the Cable Guy is a multiplatinum recording artist, Grammy nominee, Billboard award winner and one of the top comedians in the country.
film
New to VOD - "The Bride" 
Following Hamnet and "Wuthering Heights", Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Bride! is the latest in a line of awful movies inspired by the work of great English writers. It's Mary Shelley here of course, but Gyllenhaal also plucks from James Whale's Bride of Frankenstein. Whale cast Elsa Lanchester in the dual roles of Shelley and the titular monster, and Gyllenhaal pulls the same trick here with Jessie Buckley. That's where the similarities end however, as The Bride! has more in common with '70s exploitation flicks and '90s horror comedies than either Shelley's novel or the Universal monster movies it inspired.
dance
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to NJPAC for Mother's Day Weekend 
(NEWARK, NJ) -- Beloved as one of the world's most popular dance companies, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater completes its 20-city coast-to-coast United States tour at Newark's New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) from Friday-Sunday, May 8-10, 2026. In what has become a Mother's Day weekend tradition for tri-state residents, the AILEY Company returns for the 27th time as NJPAC's Principal Resident Affiliate, performing annually at Prudential Hall since 1997 (except for 2020-21 pandemic shutdown).
