Here's a look at the top 15 most read articles published on New Jersey Stage from July 19-25, 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 8 counties in New Jersey (Atlantic, Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, and Union).
The vast majority of articles at New Jersey Stage are written in-house, but we also accept press releases sent to [email protected]. These event preview articles get noticed when we first publish them and get brought back into focus on the website the week the event takes place. Our articles and event web pages are picked up by search engines and resources like Google News and NewsBreak and help feed information to A.I. We also offer banner ad advertising prices for the arts starting at just $50. In short, we get your shows noticed! For information on advertising at NewJerseyStage.com, click here.
1) American Dream's 60,000 Square Foot Event Center Opens - (EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ) -- As the World Cup and 39-day Dream Fan Fest come to a close, American Dream continues to expand its world-class entertainment offerings with the debut of two state-of-the-art venues: the Event Center and the Dream Live Performing Arts Center.
2) New Jersey Stage: Daily Edition 07-25-26 - 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!
3) Events This Week in New Jersey from July 21-27, 2026 - Here is a look at upcoming events taking place from July 21-27, 2026 along with our featured listings. New Jersey Stage offers previews of events throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.
4) Essex County Summer Players Orchestra present "Made in America" on August 2nd - (LIVINGSTON, NJ) -- As local residents and friends stroll, bike or jog around the Livingston Oval on Tuesday evenings this July, musicians from several community orchestras are gathering in the township's high school band room to celebrate works "Made in America."
5) The Montclair Theater Festival takes place on Saturday - (MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- The Montclair Theater Festival takes place Saturday, July 25, 2026 from 2:00pm to 8:00pm in Brookdale Park. Step into a day of theater magic, live performances, and community fun! Presented by Vanguard Theater, this vibrant one-day event features family-friendly shows like Suessical: The Musical and Shakespeare’s The Tempest, alongside performances from local artists, food trucks, and hands-on activities for all ages.
6) Create Spectacular Giant Puppets and More for the Illumination 250 Parade, the Largest Public Art Experience in Bergen County - (HACKENSACK, NJ) -- The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation invites the public to participate in the special 'Giant Puppets Workshop Series' led by artists from the internationally acclaimed Processional Arts. The puppets created in the workshop series from August 14 through August 19, 2026 will be featured in a giant puppet parade marching down Main Street in Hackensack during Illumination 250, an all-day arts festival taking place on October 3rd to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.
7) Film Review - "The Odyssey" - After the Trojan War, Odysseus embarks on a dangerous journey to reunite with his wife.
8) The Grunin Center for the Arts Announces Fall 2026 Lineup - (TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts at Ocean County College has unveiled its 2026 fall season, with more than two dozen performances spanning music, comedy, theater, and dance, with something for nearly every taste. The season runs from August to December at the Grunin Center, located in Building #11 on the OCC main campus on College Drive in Toms River.
9) Light Opera of New Jersey to Hold Auditions for "Amahl and The Night Visitors" - (BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- Light Opera of New Jersey will hold auditions for Amahl and the Night Visitors, a heartwarming holiday opera, on August 27th and September 3rd from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Callbacks will be on September 5th from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Auditions will be in Basking Ridge. Registrants will be advised of exact location after registering. All roles are opened and paid.
10) Trilogy Repertory presents "Shrek, The Musical" in Basking Ridge - (BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- Bernards Township Parks & Recreation and Trilogy Repertory presents Shrek, The Musical across two weekends from July 16-25, 2026 at Pleasant Valley Park Amphitheater in Basking Ridge. Everyone's favorite ogre is back in the hilarious stage spectacle based on the Oscar-winning, smash hit film. Admission is free; bring your own lawnchairs and enjoy the show! Showtime is 8:00pm.
11) This Week in Music: Previews for Concerts from July 21-27, 2026 - Here is a look at shows taking place from July 21-27, 2026 along with our featured listings and a look at some upcoming shows. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.
12) Shemekia Copeland LIVE! on the Atlantic City Boardwalk - It’s a gorgeous Wednesday, August 16, 2023 evening at Kennedy Plaza on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City as music lovers ready themselves for a summery 2023 Mardi Gras AC night of blues performed by singer Shemekia Copeland.
13) New Jersey State Council on the Arts Celebrates Six Decades of Service to the Garden State - (TRENTON, NJ) -- On July 22nd, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts celebrated six decades of service to artists, arts organizations, and communities across the state at its Annual Meeting, held at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton. The event featured special performances by Deborah Mitchell and Omar Edwards, 2026 Arts Council Heritage Fellows.
14) Monmouth Arts to Honor George Clinton, Dorothea Bongiovi, Harlan Coben, Nicole Atkins and PNC Bank Arts Center at Annual Gala - (ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Monmouth Arts presents BRING ON THE FUNK: Where the Arts Get Down, an unforgettable celebration of music, creativity, culture, and community taking place on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the iconic The Asbury Hotel and Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park. The evening will honor an extraordinary lineup of trailblazers and cultural leaders whose work has made a lasting impact across music, literature, community service, and the arts.
15) Librarians to Address Censorship after "Alabama Story" matinees at The Theater Project - (UNION, NJ) -- Librarians and library directors of five New Jersey public libraries will take part in panel discussions on censorship following the 10:00am matinee performances of Kenneth Jones's Alabama Story by The Theater Project on Friday, August 7, and Thursday, August 13, 2026 at DMK Black Box Theater (1980 Morris Avenue) in Union.
