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Billy Gardell

Friday, November 20, 2026 @ 8:00pm



Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ 07065

Tickets run from $51 - $97

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You’ve seen him in your favorite TV shows and movies, now see comedian Billy Gardell live at UCPAC’s historic Main Stage!

Gardell currently stars in the CBS series “Bob Hearts Abishola” from award-winning creator, executive producer and writer Chuck Lorre.

“Bob Hearts Abishola” is a love story about a middle-aged compression sock businessman from Detroit who unexpectedly falls for his cardiac nurse, a Nigerian immigrant, while recovering from a heart attack and sets his sights on winning her over. Undaunted by Abishola’s lack of initial interest or the vast differences in their backgrounds, Bob is determined to win Abishola’s heart, in this comedic examination of immigrant life in America.

Prior to “Bob Hearts Abishola,” Gardell starred in the CBS hit television series, “Mike & Molly” as Officer Mike Biggs from 2010-2016; the show remains popular in syndication to this day.

In addition, Gardell starred as Col. Tom Parker in the CMT series “Sun Records” and has had a recurring role on another CBS hit series, “Young Sheldon.”

Before “Mike & Molly,” Gardell co-starred in the critically acclaimed television series “Lucky.” His other television credits include “Yes Dear” and “Judging Amy,” “My Name is Earl,” “The Practice,” “Monk,” and “Gary the Rat.”

In 2016 he received a daytime Emmy nomination as best gameshow host for “Monopoly Millionaires Club.”

Gardell made his major motion picture debut alongside Anthony Quinn and Sylvester Stallone in “Avenging Angelo,” and had a memorable scene with Billy Bob Thornton in the Cohen Brother’s film “Bad Santa.” He also appeared in “You, Me & Dupree.”

His comedy special, “Billy Gardell: Halftime,” premiered on Comedy Central; “Billy Gardell Presents Road Dogs” premiered on Showtime.

Gardell’s stand-up show is a powerhouse! His down-to-earth stories about his rough childhood, wild adolescence, and new family life are executed with the skill of a master craftsman and are sure to strike a chord and bring the laughs. Don’t miss hilarious comedian Billy Gardell!




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UPCOMING EVENTS





 

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EVENT PREVIEWS

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Mayo Performing Arts Center's Arts in the Community free summer concert schedule for 2026 has been announced. MPAC will present six free concerts between June and August. The lineup includes the return of three of their most popular events – Bollywood Dance Party, Country Line Dancing and Salsa at Sunset, as well as singer-songwriters, and more.



Classic

Classic American Tales' presents Tales at the Dormer House every Thursday

(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- From June 4 through October 15, 2026 (except for July 2), Classic American Tales (CAT) once more presents Tales at the Dormer House in which guests are treated to lemonade and tasty treats while listening to stories written by noteworthy authors, read by a variety of performers. The schedule is 4:00pm every Thursday at the historic Dormer House Bed and Breakfast (800 Columbia Avenue) in Cape May, NJ. Performances are on the front porch, weather permitting.



Princeton

Princeton Summer Theater presents "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Princeton Summer Theater's 2026 Children's Show is You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, which runs weekends from June 20 to August 1, 2026. A beloved musical since its premiere in 1967, Clark Gesner brings Charles M. Schulz's "PEANUTS" characters to the stage. The musical ventures through the highs and lows of young life, from baseball and homework to young love and friendship. With an empathetic and whimsical eye, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown reminds us of the importance of connection and joy.



2026-27

2026-27 Season Preview: Split Level Concerts at Jersey Shore Arts Center

(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- Split Level Concerts at the Jersey Shore Arts Center (JSAC) in Ocean Grove has announced the full concert lineup for its third season. All shows will take place beginning at 8:00pm in JSAC's Palaia Theater. The season lineup includes Willie Nile, John Gorka, Dan Bern, Catie Curtis and Band, Stephen Kellogg, Abbie Gardner, Heather Maloney and Band, and Kim Richey. As they have done in prior years, artists from the Asbury Park music scene will open many of the shows.



MPAC's

MPAC's Summer 2026 Preview

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- From the versatility of Tony winner Darren Criss, the comedy of Abbott Elementary's Janelle James and the nostalgic hits of the Grateful Dead, ABBA and more, Mayo Performing Arts Center's summer lineup features a diverse set of performances and events.












LATEST COLUMNS


Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 07/23/2026

"Correct! I actually performed on The Totally Tubular Festival two years ago. I was playing solo that night and they asked me to come back, so I thought I'd do something a bit different and so I decided to reform my backing band from 1988, The Lost Toy People. The last show we played together was with Depeche Mode and OMD at the Rose Bowl for the legendary 101 Concert and the other night in Phoenix was our first show in 38 years; how about that?"




Wesley Pierre: "Catharsis"

Even those who don't know very much about visual art are familiar with the Cubist approach to the human body. Pablo Picasso liked to present a person from many angles at once, and compress three-dimensional form into a two-dimensional frame. No matter what step she's on, that nude descending a staircase comes at us all at once. We know we're looking at an individual person, even if it's never clear which of those fields of color represent the present moment and which are afterimages, projections, and vapor trails. Representing human beings like this guarantees that there’ll be distortions: facial features in strange places, unexpected angles, duplicates and odd subtractions, clashes between heads, necks, and torsos, the shuffling of expressions, and the surprise and disquiet that comes when an obviously human figure doesn't look much like a human at all.




Makin Waves Song of the Week: "A Light To Come Home To" by Lisa Bouchelle

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "A Light To Come Home To" by Jersey roots rocker Lisa Bouchelle featuring Americana legends Amanda Shires and Larry Campbell.




This Week in Music

Here is a look at shows taking place this week 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