Articles By Carolyn M. Brown

Oscar Wilde's Witty Comedy "The Importance of Being Earnest" Comes to The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

Characterized as a trivial comedy for serious people, "The Importance of Being Earnest" kicks off the 2025 season of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey at The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre on the campus of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. The production runs from May 14 through June 1, 2025.

published on 05/15/2025

Celebrate the Arts and Artists of South Jersey at the Appel Farm Arts & Music Center's Annual Festival

The South Jersey Arts Fest is an annual celebration of the arts and local artists of South Jersey, featuring live music, craft vendors, food trucks, artmaking, culinary artists, and beer, wine, and spirits by local producers. People of all ages are welcome to attend this free event hosted by the Appel Farm Arts & Music Center on Saturday, April 26, from 11 AM to 3 PM, in Elmer, New Jersey. Appel Farm teaching artists will lead artmaking workshops, and local young artists who participated in the Scholastic Art Awards will display their artwork in a pop-up art gallery.

published on 04/10/2025

Stockton University Takes Audiences on a Heartfelt Journey of the Wizarding World in 'Puffs'

The playful world of wizardry and witchcraft takes to the stage at Stockton University with a presentation of the play "Puffs, Or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years At A Certain School of Magic and Magic." Performances run April 3–5, 2025, at 7:30 PM and April 5–6 at 2 PM in the Experimental Theater below the Performing Arts Center. Written by Matt Cox, who was inspired by books about pubescent youth finding their way at wizarding school, "Puffs" is a humorous and heartwarming story told from the perspective of the often-overlooked members of Puff House at a magical school.

published on 03/27/2025

Atlantic City Ballet Brings Carl Orff's Masterpiece 'Carmina Burana' to New Jersey

A performance of Carl Orff's masterful piece "Carmina Burana" will feature a collaboration between the Atlantic City Ballet, the Ocean City POPS, and The Greater South Jersey Chorus, showcasing a blend of dance and music. This performance is part of the ballet's 42nd season and will take place in two New Jersey locations, the Pfleeger Concert Hall at Rowan University in Glassboro on Friday, March 28, 2025, 7:30 p.m., and the mainstage at Stockton University’s Performing Arts Center in Galloway on Saturday, March 29, 2025, 7:30 p.m. Atlantic City Ballet's staging of "Carmina Burana" at multiple places highlights the company's commitment to bringing ballet to diverse audiences in the Garden State.

published on 03/20/2025

Passage Theatre Company presents Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize-Winning Play "Topdog/Underdog"

Topdog/Underdog by Pulitzer prize-winning Black playwright Suzan-Lori Parks is receiving its Trenton, New Jersey premiere at Passage Theatre Company, as part of its landmark 40th anniversary season. The play opens February 21, 2025, and runs until March 9, 2025, at the Mill Hill Playhouse. A darkly comic fable of brotherly love and family identity, Topdog/Underdog tells the story of Lincoln and Booth, two brothers whose names were given to them as a joke by their father, foreshadowing a lifetime of sibling rivalry and resentment.

published on 02/13/2025

Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company Welcomes the Lunar New Year of the Snake at NJPAC

Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company returns to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) to celebrate the 2025 Lunar New Year of the Snake on Saturday and Sunday, February 1- 2, 2025, at 2 p.m. This annual family-friendly celebration is a highlight of NJPAC's winter season. It weaves together graceful movements and vibrant costumes to bring ancient traditions to life. Audiences will experience spellbinding performances featuring majestic dragons, dancing lions, elegant peacocks, stunning acrobats, twirling ribbons, and much more.

published on 01/23/2025

The Roxey Ballet Returns with 'The Nutcracker' Holiday Classic and a Sensory-Friendly Performance

The Roxey Ballet is thrilled to bring back its holiday classic, "The Nutcracker." This acclaimed annual favorite has become a tradition of area residents and holiday visitors alike. The magical Christmas ballet set to the music of Tchaikovsky returns to the Villa Victoria Theater in Ewing, New Jersey, for its 29th season from November 30th to December 8th, 2024. The Roxey Ballet is also proud to present a sensory-friendly performance on December 14th, providing a welcoming and supportive environment for children, adults, and families with special needs. Virtual performances are also available.

published on 12/05/2024

The Headless Horseman Rides Again in the Legend of Sleepy Hollow at Mile Square Theatre

The beloved tale of Ichabod Crane, the Headless Horseman, and the town of Sleepy Hollow is woven into the fabric of American folklore. A witty adaptation of Washington Irving's timeless ghost story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," comes to life on stage, October 3-20, 2024, at the Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken, New Jersey. The 80-minute show is full of twists, turns, and tee-hees, all told by one man, Shawn K. Jain, performing courtesy of the Actors' Equity Association. Jain embodies a variety of characters using vocal and physical changes to transform seamlessly from one person to the next.

published on 10/03/2024

West Side Story Comes to the Ritz Theatre

A local production of "West Side Story" is coming to the Ritz Theatre in Haddon Township, New Jersey, running from July 12 through July 28, 2024. Director Edwin Rico Santiago pays homage to the iconic dance-driven musical which first leaped onto the stage in 1957 when it premiered on Broadway, followed by a popular film version released in 1961 and Steven Spielberg's Hollywood remake in 2021. Choreographer Jen Gordon also steps into the illustrious shoes of Jerome Robbins who choreographed and directed the original stage production and film adaptation of this musical theater classic.

published on 07/12/2024

Red Bank Parks and Recreation Hosts Fourth Annual Pride In The Park Celebration

The month of June is a time to showcase pride and recognize the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community worldwide. Across the state of New Jersey, there will be a series of Pride events from festivals to outdoor concerts and other events, reflecting the diversity of LGBTQ+ people. Red Bank Parks and Recreation is hosting its annual Pride In The Park celebration on Saturday, June 8th from 12 PM to 3 PM, at Riverside Gardens Parks.

published on 06/06/2024

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Extends Its Run At The Paper Mill Playhouse

Carole King is by far one of the most prolific female musicians of the latter half of the 20th century. Since writing her first number-one hit song at the tender age of 17, King has become a highly celebrated singer-songwriter, with over 100 hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and over 400 compositions recorded by 1000-plus artists.

published on 05/23/2024

Moore's Lounge Players Lead Spirited Jazz Jam Concert at SOPAC's Jammin' in the Loft

The Moore's Lounge Players, one of New Jersey's longest-running jazz jam bands, will head up an unforgettable jazz performance and the ultimate jam session as part of the "Jammin' in the Loft" series at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) on Wednesday, April 24, at 7 PM. Curated by Gregory Burrus Productions, "Jammin' in the Loft" is a series that takes the local music scene by force with an energetic experience of seeing talented local musicians perform up close and personal, surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd of friends, fans, and fellow musicians.

published on 04/11/2024

Danú Ensemble to Take New Jersey Audiences on a Musical Journey to Their Native Ireland

Hailing from the counties Waterford, Cork, Dublin, and Donegal in Ireland, Danú is one of today's leading traditional Irish music bands to traverse the global stage, playing standing room only concerts. For nearly 30 years, the ensemble has hosted high-energy performances around the world and has recorded ten critically acclaimed albums. Danú will take audiences on a memorable and moving musical journey to their native Ireland, performing a glorious mix of ancient Irish music and their biggest hits at Stockton University's Performing Arts Center main stage in Galloway, NJ, on Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 2:00pm.

published on 03/07/2024

"Black Girl Magic" Celebrates the History and Accomplishments of Black Women Through Story and Song

Guided by the Ancestors, African Warrior Queens, a woman named Sister struggles to find a place of self-reconciliation and acceptance in the world as she is given a glimpse into the lives and legacy of Black women—past and present, young and old. This is the story behind "Black Girl Magic," a powerful show coming to West Windsor Township, NJ, hailing from the Underground Performing Arts Collective in Suffolk, Virginia. "Black Girl Magic" premieres at the Kelsey Theatre at Mercer Community College on Friday, March 1, 8 PM EST.

published on 02/22/2024

The Caribbean Musical Retelling of The Little Mermaid, "Once On This Island," Is Coming To South Jersey

A restaging of the Caribbean-infused musical "Once On This Island" is coming to the Levoy Theatre in Millville, New Jersey, running for four performances from February 9th through February 11th. Filled with immersive storytelling, the show is directed by Domonic Barnes and choreographed by Olivia Cruz. Conducting a live band is music director Bryan Broughton.

published on 02/08/2024

The New Jersey Festival Orchestra Usher in the New Year With 'The Great American Songbook' and 'Broadway Classics'

The New Jersey Festival Orchestra is ringing in the New Year with a superb revue from Golden Age classics to Broadway's greatest hits in glorious symphonic splendor. Joining in the festivities are soloists direct from the Broadway stage and dancers from the Dance Theatre of Harlem along with Maestro David Wroe and the orchestra as they swing to favorites from America's Great Songbook. There are two celebratory performances, one on New Year's Eve (Dec 31, 7 p.m.) at Westfield High School and the other on New Year's Day (Jan 1, 2:30 p.m.) at the Sieminski Theatre in Basking Ridge.

published on 12/22/2023

NJPAC To Host Forces of Nature Dance Theatre in Celebration of Kwanzaa

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) is celebrating the Kwanzaa holiday this year with an African dance performance starring the acclaimed New York-based troupe Forces of Nature Dance Theatre on Saturday, Dec 23 at 3 p.m. in the Victoria Theater on the Lizzie & Jonathan Tisch Stage.

published on 12/23/2023

Newark Arts Festival 2023 To Celebrate 50 Years Of Hip Hop And Cross Cultural Perspectives

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop, with celebrations planned nationwide. Keeping the momentum going this fall is New Jersey's largest city, as the Newark Arts Festival (NAF) 2023 will feature arts and culture events spanning all five wards of Newark from Wednesday, September 27 through Sunday, October 1. The free four-day festival is produced by Newark Arts in association with The Newark Museum of Art and is expected to attract thousands of artists, collectors, aficionados, and creatives.

published on 09/14/2023

CavanKerry Press Broadens the Reach of Poetry and the Experiences of a Diverse Group of Authors

Making sensitive or inconvertable topics more palatable to the general public is a big part of the mission of Fort Lee, New Jersey-based CavanKerry Press. As a not-for-profit literary press serving art and the community, CavanKerry is committed to expanding the reach of poetry by publishing works that explore the emotional and psychological landscapes of everyday life and bringing that art to underserved populations. With its LaurelBooks imprint, CavanKerry is especially engaged with work from people living with physical and/or mental illness and disability.

published on 08/24/2023

Out of the Park Exhibit Showcases Asbury Park Artists and Gallery Owners at the Monmouth Museum

Asbury Park is known for its art scene. Not readily known are the founders, directors, and curators behind the galleries responsible for managing exhibitions of the works of local artists. Many of these gallery owners are exhibited artists themselves. In celebration of the artistry and entrepreneurship of Asbury Park, the Monmouth Museum in Lincroft, New Jersey, is hosting "Out of the Park," an exhibition highlighting a group of multidisciplinary artists and gallery owners who helped define the cultural Renaissance of Asbury Park.

published on 07/20/2023

"Spring Awakening" Coming of Age Musical at Vanguard

Vanguard Theater will present the coming-of-age musical "Spring Awakening" from June 22 through July 16. A celebration of youth and rebellion, censorship and its consequences, "Spring Awakening" fuses issues of morality and sexuality with alternative rock music into an emotionally charged story.

published on 06/22/2023

The 43rd Annual New Jersey Governor's Awards in Arts Education To Honor Over 100 NJ Students and Educators

Over 100 students and arts educators will receive the state’s most prestigious award in arts education at the 43rd Annual New Jersey Governor's Awards in Arts Education celebration during Arts Ed NJ Day. The event will take place June 2 at 5 p.m. at the College of New Jersey and will honor those who have demonstrated excellence in and dedication to arts education. Over the past four decades, the Governor's Awards has highlighted New Jersey's most talented youth. Students of artistic disciplines as varied as dance, music, poetry, visual arts, speech, debate and theater have walked across the awards stage to receive their medal.

published on 05/18/2023

Two Planet- and Family-Friendly Performances at Rowan College in Honor of Earth Day

Rowan University's College of Performing Arts, home of the Marie Rader Presenting Series, will present two planet- and family-friendly performances April 23, the solar-powered mobile stage show "The Puppet Cycle: Small World Stories," followed by bestselling author and composer Dan Brown's "Wild Symphony," a presentation of nearly two dozen musical portraits drawn from the animal kingdom for young audiences.

published on 04/14/2023

Newark Artists and Prominent Actors to Celebrate Literary Legacy of Philip Roth During Weekend-Long Festival

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center in collaboration with the Newark Public Library will present Philip Roth Unbound, a weekend-long festival that celebrates the life, legacy and work of novelist and Newark native. Over the course of three days, beginning Friday, March 17 and concluding Sunday, March 19, 2023, NJPAC will host a series of events, featuring more than 40 prominent writers, actors, artists, journalists and intellectuals in the nation. Designed to appeal to audiences of all backgrounds, the festival will feature star-studded stage readings, panel discussions and a comedy showcase. The program is designed to explore the significance and impact of Roth's unique literary legacy, using his writings as a springboard to explore broader questions about life in America today.

published on 03/09/2023

Black Women's Mural Raises Awareness About Black Suffragists, Celebrates Black Voices, and Sparks Community Pride

Ida B. Wells-Barnett was a prominent journalist and activist who fought tirelessly for women’s right to vote even though she is often left out of historical conversations about the women’s suffrage movement. Today her image graces a mural located in the heart of downtown Englewood, New Jersey, on the east-facing wall of the Women's Rights Information Center building at 108 W. Palisades Avenue. The painting was inspired by the 100th year anniversary of the 19th Amendment. “The Black Women’s Mural: Celebrating Black Suffragists and Black Women in Englewood” is meant to celebrate the achievements of Black women who paved the way for civil and women’s rights as well as serve as a beacon of pride and hope for young girls, Black women and the community-at-large in Englewood.

published on 02/03/2023

Singer-songwriter and Guitarist Danielia Cotton Returns to the Hopewell Theater With Her “Home For The Holidays” Show Dec. 17

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Danielia Cotton is returning to her hometown of Hopewell, New Jersey for the holiday season with a concert at the Hopewell Theater Saturday, Dec. 17, at 8 p.m. With her big and bold vocals, Cotton has been compared to such iconic artists as Lenny Kravitz, Janis Joplin and Tina Turner. She has carved out a niche in the music industry with her own unique soulful-rock sound and uncompromising artistry, having shared the stage with the likes of Robert Cray, Bon Jovi and Gregg Allman.

published on 12/09/2022

The Hip Hop Nutcracker Celebrates Its 10th Season at NJPAC Featuring Spectacular Hip-hop Dancers and The Rap King of Christmas Kurtis Blow

The Hip Hop Nutcracker is celebrating its 10th season at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), with two stunning performances taking place Saturday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tchaikovsky’s 130-year-old ballet reimagined and remixed as a holiday dance spectacle features hip-hop pioneer Kurtis Blow, who performs as the master of ceremonies at the show’s opening, pumping up the crowd and motivating them with an audience calland-response. Highly regarded as one of hip-hop’s founding fathers, Blow is the first commercially successful rapper and the first to sign with a major record label in 1979. A cast of a dozen all-star dancers will display supercharged hip-hop choreography alongside an onstage DJ and an electric violinist who turns the beloved classical Nutcracker score on its head, according to the show’s organizers.

published on 12/01/2022

Hip Hop Icons Chuck D, Rakim and Speech to Perform With Jazz Great Christian McBride at the 11th Annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) welcomes the 11th Annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival Nov. 8 – 20, 2022. This year’s program offers events combining jazz luminaries with artists known for R&B, poetry, hip hop, tap, and so much more.

published on 11/03/2022

The Montclair Art Museum Holds an Indigenous Peoples Weekend

The Montclair Art Museum (MAM) will honor the artistry and contributions of Indigenous peoples with a series of workshops, performances and art-making activities with an Indigenous Peoples Weekend Oct. 7 – 10. The Lenape are the Indigenous people of New Jersey and MAM is inviting adults, children and families across the state to join them in recognizing Native American history and heritage here in Lenapehoking (homelands of the Lenape).

published on 09/22/2022

Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District Celebrates 15th Anniversary of Its Annual Lincoln Park Music Festival and Return to Newark With The Soul of Lincoln Park

The Lincoln Park Music Festival is one of the largest annual music festivals in the tri-state region. Nearly 60,000 people from around the globe come together over two weekends to experience multiple genres of music, including gospel, R&B, house, hip-hop, soulful alternative/mash-up, reggae, dancehall, soca and music of the Latinx/Hispanic Caribbean diaspora.

published on 08/24/2022

“For the Culture, By the Culture” Exhibit Spotlights 19 Local and National Black Artists of Influence

In celebration of Art in the Atrium’s 30th anniversary, the Morris Museum and Art in the Atrium (ATA) present the exhibition, For the Culture, By the Culture: 30 Years of Black Art, Activism, and Achievement. This exhibition brings together prior ATA-featured artists in a group retrospective that spans 30 years and spotlights local and national Black artists who are masters of their craft and who have contributed to Black culture by creating impactful works.

published on 05/26/2022

“Dreaming Zenzile,” Based On the Life of Legendary South African Singer Miriam Makeba, Premiers at McCarter

The McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton is presenting the world premiere musical Dreaming Zenzile, based on the life of legendary South African singer Zenzile Miriam Makeba. Running now until February 13, 2022, Dreaming Zenzile is a unique musical and electrifying portrait of the revolutionary artist nicknamed “Mama Africa,” who managed to marry her art with her activism. Makeba was banned from her own country for more than 30 years under apartheid.

published on 01/21/2022

August Wilson’s "Radio Golf" Returns to Two River Theater, Continuing the American Century Cycle Legacy of Plays

The critically acclaimed production of August Wilson’s play Radio Golf is back at Two River Theater after being forced to shut down early in its March 2020 run. Radio Golf is the 10th and final play of August Wilson’s American Century Cycle, a series of plays documenting the African American experience throughout the 20th century. The production marks Two River’s sixth play from the Cycle and will run until November 21, 2021, in Two River’s Rechnitz Theater.

published on 11/18/2021

South Camden Theatre Company Presents "Daphne's Dive" by Quiara Alegria Hudes

After one of the longest shutdowns of the American stage, the South Camden Theatre Company and Waterfront South Theatre in Camden, NJ, reopened with the staging of the regional premiere of “Daphne’s Dive.”

published on 09/24/2021

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Images used on this site have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and PR firms. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, please contact us and we will look into the matter.

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