Grunin Center's "Heidi's Hits" Series Highlights Three Don’t-Miss Performances

Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 09/14/2026

(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Audiences looking to discover something new and exciting this fall can take their pick from three distinctive performances at the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts as part of "Heidi's Hits," a special series curated by Executive and Artistic Director Heidi Sheridan.

Designed to spotlight hidden gems and lesser-known artists whose creativity and cultural significance deserve a wider audience, “Heidi’s Hits” offers Grunin Center patrons an opportunity to explore new ideas and perhaps discover a new favorite performer along the way.

“One of my favorite parts of our live performances is connecting with our patrons,” said Sheridan. “Time and again, they ask what inspired me to select a particular artist or tell me how glad they are that they took a chance on something unfamiliar. Heidi’s Hits grew from my desire to encourage audiences to step beyond the expected and discover extraordinary artists and experiences they might not otherwise encounter.”

The Fall 2026 “Heidi’s Hits” lineup includes:

80s kids - Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 7:00pm | Tickets range from $34-$38. Shannon Curtis and Jamie Hill bring their nationally touring hit show to the Grunin Center for a high-energy celebration of 1980s synthpop. Featuring immersive video art, interactive elements, and plenty of nostalgia, the show invites audiences to sing along and relive a decade of iconic music and underdog heroes. Audience members who arrive dressed in their best ’80s fashion can even stop by the merch table for special freebies.

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Veronica Swift - Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 7:30pm | Tickets range from $49-$59. Jazz vocalist Veronica Swift has been performing since childhood, touring with her jazz-musician parents and recording her first album at age 9. Her career has since included a second-place finish in the Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition, performances with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Chris Botti, collaborations with artists such as Jeff Goldblum, and a French knighthood as Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters. Although firmly rooted in jazz, Swift has never been confined by genre. Her work has expanded into theatrical glam rock and collaborations with artists from the rock world, reflecting an artistic curiosity that has become a defining part of her career.

Mariachi Herencia de México - Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at 7:00pm | Tickets range from $38-$44. Chicago-based Mariachi Herencia de México brings the vibrant tradition of mariachi music together with the energy and perspective of a new generation of musicians. The two-time Latin Grammy-nominated ensemble has released six chart-topping albums and performed throughout North America, helping to introduce mariachi music to new audiences while honoring its rich Mexican heritage. Composed of 15 young musicians representing a new bicultural generation in the United States, Mariachi Herencia de México brings virtuosic musicianship, cultural pride and an electrifying stage presence to a centuries-old musical tradition.

All three performances take place on the Main Stage of the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts, Building 11-A, on the Ocean County College campus in Toms River, New Jersey.

Tickets are available through the Grunin Center Box Office at 732-255-0500 or online at grunincenter.org.

For 60 years, Ocean County College, a public two-year community college sponsored by Ocean County and the State of New Jersey, has provided area residents with the opportunity to benefit from higher education. OCC is an innovative academic leader offering affordable, student-centered, high-quality educational experiences that empower diverse learners to achieve their goals while enriching the communities we serve.