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
Premiere Stages at Kean University Announces Semi-Finalists for 2026 Play Festival 
(UNION, NJ) -- Premiere Stages, the professional theatre company in residence at Kean University, has announced the 2026 Premiere Play Festival Semi-Finalists. The Play Festival panel and literary staff reviewed 894 submissions, an increase of 89 submissions from the previous year, before choosing the 65 Semi-Finalists. An eclectic mix of plays, the Semi-Finalists explore a wide range of topics in a variety of genres.
PHOTOS from "Nate The Great" at Growing Stage 
(NETCONG, NJ) -- The Growing Stage: The Children's Theatre of New Jersey is presenting Nate The Great weekends through May 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! Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.
music
Riverview Jazz Awarded Grant by Chamber Music America to Host Tim Berne Performances in Jersey City 
(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- A $15,000 grant has been awarded to Riverview Jazz by Chamber Music America to be used to present two Jersey City performances by the esteemed avant-garde jazz musician Tim Berne at Pet Shop on Tuesday, May 26 and on the RWJBarnabas Plaza Stage at the Jersey City Jazz Festival on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Vernon Reid and Corey Glover on Sunday 
(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Vernon Reid and Corey Glover on Sunday, May 17, 2026. Doors are at 7:00pm, showtime is 7:30pm. Prepare for an extraordinary evening as two of the most influential figures in modern rock history take the stage at Lizzie Rose.
WP Presents Brings Unforgettable Fire to Shea Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday 
(WAYNE, NJ) -- WP Presents the U2 tribute band Unforgettable Fire on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 8:00pm in the Shea Center for Performing Arts. Unforgettable Fire, or ‘UF’, was born on New Year's Day in 1995 as one of the very first U2 Tribute Bands to ever perform in America.
The Vogel presents Pete Yorn Solo Acoustic: 25th Anniversary of "musicforthemorningafter" 
(RED BANK, NJ) -- The Vogel presents Pete Yorn Solo Acoustic: 25th Anniversary of musicforthemorningafter on Friday, June 5, 2026 at 8:00pm. The New Jersey native celebrates the release of his debut album, which put him in the national spotlight.
South Jersey Jazz Society's Concert on the Beach with the PJ Keiter Octet Set for June 5th 
(SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- For the fifth year, the South Jersey Jazz Society (SJJS) will "unofficially" kick off the summer beach concerts on the William Morrow Beach in Somers Point with music by the PJ Keiter Octet on Friday, June 5, 2026.
The Morris Choral Society to Conclude Season with Brahms Requiem on May 16th 
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- The Morris Choral Society will perform their Spring Concert on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at St. Mary's Abby Church on the campus of Delbarton School. The soloists for this concert will be Soprano Cassandra Douglas and Baritone Charles Gray. The chorus will be accompanied by a full orchestra. Showtime is 7:30pm.
Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra presents "Music in Bloom" on June 7th 
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra (GPYO) will present its Spring Concert, Music in Bloom, on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at Richardson Auditorium on the Princeton University campus. The performance will feature GPYO's top ensembles in a dynamic program of orchestral works by Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and John Philip Sousa. Showtime is 3:00pm.
comedy
bergenPAC presents Tracy Morgan on June 19th 
(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) presents comedian Tracy Morgan on Friday, June 19, 2026 at 8:00pm. Tracy is one of the most well-respected comedians and actors in his field. He currently stars in the tv show CRUTCH.
art
SOPAC's Herb + Milly Iris Gallery presents "INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition" 
(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) presents INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition on view in the Herb + Milly Iris Gallery from May 14 through August 16, 2026.
community
New Jersey Sanctions Girls Flag Football as Varsity Sport 
(FLORHAM PARK, NJ) /PRNewswire/ -- In a landmark decision, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) recently voted to officially sanction girls' flag football as a varsity high school sport statewide, beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.
Top 15 Most Read Stories At New Jersey Stage from May 3-9, 2026 
Here's a look at the top 15 most read articles published on New Jersey Stage from April 26 to May 2, 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 9 counties in New Jersey (Camden, Cumberland, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Somerset) including six features or columns.
