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
Music Mountain Theatre presents "Disaster!" :format(webp)/media/images/events/music-mountain-theatre/img-banner/dfc6c5d1-083.png)
(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre presents Disaster! weekends from May 15 through June 7, 2026. Earthquakes, tidal waves, infernos and the unforgettable songs of the '70s take center stage in Broadway’s side-splitting homage to classic disaster films.
Mainstage Center for the Arts presents "Game of Tiaras" 
(BLACKWOOD, NJ) -- Mainstage Center for the Arts presents Game of Tiaras on May 29-30, 2026 at Harmony Hall at Gloucester Township. Showtime is 7:00pm each night. Prepare for a hilarious royal showdown in Game of Tiaras!
The Broadway Theatre of Pitman presents "A Century on Stage: 100 Years in the Making" 
(PITMAN, NJ) -- The Broadway Theatre of Pitman presents A Century on Stage: 100 Years in the Making from June 5-7, 2026. Join them for a once-in-a-century theatrical event as they celebrate 100 years of music, memories, and moments that have shaped The Broadway Theatre of Pitman, Broadway in New York City, and American culture itself.
Studio Players presents "She Kills Monsters" 
(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Studio Players presents She Kills Monsters across three weekends from June 5-20, 2026. A comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games! In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres and 90s pop culture, acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.
Stage Players presents "Alice By Heart" 
(HADDONFIELD, NJ) -- Stage Players (ages 13-17) at Haddonfield Plays and Players presents Alice By Heart from May 14-16, 2026 at Haddonfield Methodist Church. From the Tony® and Grammy® award-winning creators of Spring Awakening, Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, and co-written by Jessie Nelson (Waitress), Alice by Heart is a touching musical inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Gateway Playhouse presents "Guys And Dolls" 
(SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- Broadway's classic musical Guys and Dolls is primed to be a sure bet at Gateway Playhouse from May 28 to June 7, 2026. Filled with colorful characters, phenomenal dance numbers and cherished songs by Frank Loesser, the high-energy show follows the paths of smooth-talking gamblers, sassy showgirls and a very determined missionary as love and luck collide in the streets of New York City.
music
Cumberland Players Concert Series presents Steven Lemon and Friends on Saturday 
(VINELAND, NJ) -- Cumberland Players Concert Series presents Steven Lemon and Friends on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 7:00pm. He will be joined by Della Valla Trio, Lizz Sooy, and Eric Shorter.
Middlesex County's FolkLIVE Event Series Returns for Summer 2026 
(MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ) -- Middlesex County's FolkLIVE event series, led by the Arts Institute of Middlesex County, returns this summer for a third year, inviting residents and visitors to celebrate the arts, cultural traditions, and local talent. Running from June through September, the series features an exciting lineup of four outdoor events highlighting diverse cultures through artistic expression including music, dance, and storytelling.
Westminster Conservatory celebrates AAPI Heritage Month with a recital on May 9th 
(LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ) -- On Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 7:00pm, Westminster Conservatory of Music of Rider University will present a faculty recital in celebration of National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month. The concert will take place in the Gill Chapel and is open to the public free of charge.
BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 5/4/26 
Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by Teen Idle, Rich Lancia, Somebody Club, Suede Aces, and Exit Eleven. Plus a look back at "Songs for the Moon" by The Porchistas.
art
The Skylands Museum of Art presents "FINI...pas fini!" 
(LAFAYETTE, NJ) -- The Skylands Museum of Art (Skylands Museum) presents Fini...pas fini! (from the French: Fini is not finished!), a temporary fine art exhibition from the permanent collection of over 30 works by internationally recognized artist Leonor Fini from May 16 to September 26, 2026. Skylands Museum will exhibit original drawings, etchings, silkscreens and lithographs of portraits, sphinxes, female figures, cats and fantastical beings imagined by the fascinating artist.
Montclair Art Museum Announces Retirement of Longtime Chief Curator Dr. Gail Stavitsky 
(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- The Montclair Art Museum (MAM) has announced that Dr. Gail Stavitsky, the Museum's Chief Curator, will retire on July 1, 2026, after an extraordinary tenure spanning more than 30 years.
community
New Jersey State Button Society Spring 2026 Button Show: Artisan Buttons of the Garden State 
(TITUSVILLE, NJ) -- On Saturday, May 9th the New Jersey State Button Society (NJSBS) will host its Spring 2026 Button Show and Competition, "Artisan Buttons of the Garden State." The event takes place at the Union Fire Company Hall (1396 River Road) in Titusville from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Admission is free and open to the public.
Hopewell Theater to Reopen in New Location 
(HOPEWELL, NJ) -- Hopewell Theater is taking steps to reopen on 7 West Broad Street in Hopewell. The theater closed in 2024 due to rising costs and the inability to obtain a liquor license – a key income source for live venues. Hopewell Theater now has an opportunity to apply for a liquor license given the State of New Jersey's 2025 passing of a law allowing theaters to obtain a liquor license, and Hopewell Borough's subsequent passing of an ordinance allowing Borough theaters to apply for this new theater license.
Artyard presents Aqualumina Festival on May 9th 
(FRENCHTOWN, NJ) -- A free nighttime festival featuring music, art, performance, and a sea of illuminated aquatic creatures, ArtYard's Aqualumina returns to Frenchtown for the third time at dusk on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
