×
Articles By Gina Marie Rodriguez
Pulitzer Prize Finalist Play "Bulrusher" Hits the Stage at McCarter Theatre
Music, humor and clairvoyance are soon to thrill audiences at McCarter Theatre Center in the form of Eisa Davis' Pulitzer Prize finalist play, "Bulrusher." A period piece set in 1950s California, "Bulrusher" is the coming-of-age tale of a multiracial young woman bestowed with the gift of clairvoyance as she navigates life in her mostly white town. More than a fish out of water story, Bulrusher highlights the beauty, complexity and compassion that make life the nuanced ride that it is.
Premiere Stages Launches "Satellites"
"Satellites" will make its world premiere this July at the aptly named Premiere Stages at Kean University. Having previously won the 2022 Premiere Play Festival, the show penned by Erin Breznitsky will celebrate its first full stage production under the direction of Premiere Stages' Artistic Director, John J. Wooten.
The Boxmasters Rock New Jersey
You may know Billy Bob Thornton as an Oscar-winning writer, Oscar-nominated actor, and award-winning director, or maybe you simply know him as "Bad Santa,” but did you know he is also an accomplished singer and songwriter?
Mile Square Theatre Hits It Out of the Park With "7th Inning Stretch"
As the birthplace of baseball, Hoboken is the perfect New Jersey city to celebrate our national pastime; and Mile Square Theatre, the perfect venue.
"101 Humiliating Stories" Made Vivid
Laura Ekstrand is the Producing Artistic Director of Vivid Stage in Summit, New Jersey, as well as its next leading lady. Starring in 101 Humiliating Stories by Lisa Kron, she will headline the first performance of Vivid Stage's Solo Series from April 13-16.
A Lightning Thief On The Growing Stage
"When teenager Percy Jackson discovers he's a demigod, he and his friends embark on an epic journey to find Zeus's missing lightning bolt and prevent a war among the gods." That is the synopsis for "The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical," produced by The Growing Stage, The Children's Theatre of New Jersey, in Netcong March 10-26, 2023.
"Clean Slate" Marks a Fresh Start With World Premiere in Trenton, NJ
A rehabilitation camp for disaffected teens, a haunted wood plagued by lost souls, and a path to redemption for all — this is but a taste of the upcoming musical "Clean Slate."
Axelrod Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Tony Award-winning Musical "Raisin"
What happens to a dream deferred?
Carmen Matarazzo Talks "Sweeney Todd" and Crafting the Role of Tobias
Carmen Matarazzo, a graduate of Pinelands High School in New Jersey, is an actor/drummer who has been seen in multiple productions at his high school and several theaters across the state including Mary Poppins (Robertson Ay), Clue: On Stage (Professor Plum), Spring Awakening (Ernst), The Addams Family (Lucas), The Sound of Music (Captain Von Trapp).
"The Night Falls" -- A New Dance-driven Production at PEAK Performances
PEAK Performances, together with Ballet Collective Inc., will present the world premiere of The Night Falls, a dance-driven music theater production, in the Alexander Kasser Theater at Montclair State University Feb. 9-12.
NJ Ballet's "New Direction" Marks First Residency at Mayo Performing Arts Center
Under the direction of new Artistic Director Maria Kowroski, the New Jersey Ballet will present their latest production, "New Direction," at the Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on Nov. 19. The 2022-2023 season is the NJ Ballet's first as the resident ballet company of the MPAC.
Shakespeare Theatre of NJ Highlights Two Plays by African-American Playwright Alice Childress
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents two one-act plays, “Florence” and “Mojo: A Black Love Story,” by Alice Childress Oct. 26 to Nov. 13 at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre in Madison, New Jersey.
A Chat With Evelyn Colbert About Montclair Film, Its Festival and Tribute to Daniel Craig
Evelyn "Evie" McGee Colbert is an arts advocate, a film producer, and one of the founding board members of Montclair Film, a nonprofit that produces a festival that “connects global filmmakers with audiences in a diverse, culturally vibrant community” and more, “presenting … year-round programs that engage, entertain and educate through the power of visual storytelling.”
Kinetic Light's "Descent" Inspires Education at Rutgers University
The world-renowned disability arts ensemble Kinetic Light will perform “Descent” at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center Sept. 30, sponsored by the Dance Department at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts.
Meet the Decima: David Broza & Trio Havana Share the Art of Cuban Music
Israeli superstar David Broza together with Cuban dynamo Trio Havana finally returned to the South Orange Performing Art Center on Sept. 17.
The future may be closer than you think in "The Hummingbirds," a comic-drama of menace
The future may be closer than you think in “The Hummingbirds,” a comic-drama of menace.
VIDEO: Benjamin Britten’s Comic Opera “Albert Herring” a Coming-Of-Age Story at the Princeton Festival
A reluctant May King, a meddling mother, refreshing libations, and liberation combine for a hilarious coming-of-age story.
VIDEO: Bravely Broaching Machismo and Bravado, "The Hombres" Makes its World Premiere at Two River Theater
"The Hombres" is a brand new play by Tony Meneses. Originally set to have its world premiere in March of 2020, the play was postponed and, in that time, given new life. Join Gina Marie as she chats with director Annie Tippe and playwright Tony Meneses about the journey to their world premiere at Two River Theater.
VIDEO: 40 Years of Memories - "CATS" at State Theatre
Andrew Lloyd Webber's timeless classic "CATS" is coming to State Theatre New Jersey March 18-20 for four performances of its 40th Anniversary Tour. This beautiful revival show is sure to create magical memories for new and old audiences alike. Gina Marie chats with cast members about the return to live theatre, why more people should be fans of "CATS," and the incredible power and importance of swings and understudies.
Celebrated Jazz Artist Cécile McLorin Salvant Comes to McCarter Theatre
A three-time Grammy winner, Cécile McLorin Salvant won the coveted Thelonious Monk Int’l Jazz Competition in 2010 and has since received the 2020 MacArthur Fellowship and the Doris Duke Award. She has made quite the mark on the jazz world, but is also a talented visual artist, with her work being featured in the upcoming animated and fully orchestrated feature film "The Ogresse." Here, correspondent Gina Marie Rodriguez chats with McCarter Theatre's long-time Director of Special Programming, Bill Lockwood Jr., about Cécile, jazz, and the return to live at McCarter.The Great Return - Fall Dance Plus at NBPAC
These are exciting times in the world of performance. The jubilation is palpable as stages return to live shows. This weekend, seven choreographers and their student dance companies present their work at the stunning New Brunswick Performing Arts Center.One of the Great Ones -- "A Bronx Tale" at Axelrod PAC
"A Bronx Tale, The Musical" was written by Chazz Palminteri with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater. The show initially premiered in 2016 at the Paper Mill Playhouse in — you guessed it — New Jersey, followed by a two-year run on Broadway. Here, our correspondent Gina Marie chats with the cast of "A Bronx Tale, The Musical," now running through November 14 at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal.