Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Small Town Factory" by Joe Normal

With his brand new album "Public Works," Springsteen-like blue-collar singer-songwriter Joe Normal pays homage to his hometown of Elizabeth, a place known for its importance in Revolutionary American history and industry, as well as its notorious struggles with environmental issues and crime.

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Film Students from Camden's Idea Center for the Arts Nominated for 2023 African American Women in Cinema Festival

(CAMDEN, NJ) -- Several students from the IDEA Center for the Arts Multimedia program in Camden had films selected in this year's African American Women in Cinema (AAWIC) Film Festival (March 23-25, 2023). AAWIC is an organization which drives the recognition of women of color in the film industry and provides arts and cultural educational programs, in addition to providing an amazing annual platform for women around the world to showcase their work. This year, AAWIC President Terra Renee connected with IDEA about a powerful partnership that ultimately led to the "Next Generation Filmmakers" segment of this year's awards.

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Pianists Andreas Kern and Paul Cibis to Battle at MPAC

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Two pianists – two performances – you decide who plays it the best! Welcome to Piano Battle as performers Andreas Kern and Paul Cibis battle for supremacy of the keyboards. Piano Battle comes Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) in Morristown on Saturday, April 22 at 8:00pm.

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"The Shot" Reveals Historic Washington Post CEO Katharine Graham's Harrowing History

During her tenure as President of The Washington Post, Katharine Graham published the Pentagon Papers, ran the Watergate story and served as the first female CEO of a Fortune 500 company, but her journey to career success was a traumatic one.

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The Vogel presents Rhett Miller Acoustic

(RED BANK, NJ) -- The Vogel presents Rhett Miller Acoustic on Sunday, July 23, 2023 at 7:30pm. The Texas native is perhaps best known as the frontman of the Dallas-based alt-country band the Old 97’s, although he has also pursued a critically acclaimed solo career.

"The Shot" Reveals Historic Washington Post CEO Katharine Graham's Harrowing History

During her tenure as President of The Washington Post, Katharine Graham published the Pentagon Papers, ran the Watergate story and served as the first female CEO of a Fortune 500 company, but her journey to career success was a traumatic one.

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'Neither on Our Knees nor Hanging From Trees' - Alison Saar and Toni Morrison Foster the "Cycle of Creativity" of Black Women

Hair. It seems a trivial topic to lead off with when discussing two of the most accomplished, influential women in literature and the arts. And yet you can't ignore the references to the reclamation of Black female identity through hair in the artwork of Alison Saar.

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PHOTOS from A Marvelous Night: The Music of Van Morrison at The Vogel

(RED BANK, NJ) -- On Saturday, March 18, The Vogel hosted A Marvelous Night: The Music of Van Morrison. This is one of Pat Guadagno's signature shows where he pays tribute to a legend with support from the Gypsy Souls, an excellent cast of artists. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.

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REVIEW: "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"

These are the sounds that send a speller home: (Ding!) "That is incorrect!" And those sounds inevitably signal the exit of nine of 10 contestants in the "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," underway at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick through April 9.

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PHOTOS from "Oliver" at Music Mountain Theatre

(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre is presenting Oliver, the award-winning musical adaptation of the classic Dickens novel, weekends through April 9. This musical features some of the most memorable characters and songs ever to grace the stage. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.

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Skyline Theatre Company to Present 2023 Season at the Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center in Partnership with the Township of Bloomfield

(BLOOMFIELD, NJ) -- Skyline Theatre Company, a 20-year-old professional theatre company previously calling Bergen County its home, will present its 2023 season in Bloomfield at the Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center, 240 Belleville Avenue.

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Newark's New Harriet Tubman Monument a Model for Community Engagement in Public Art

The city of Newark, New Jersey unveiled its long-awaited Harriet Tubman monument March 9 with great excitement. Four days of community celebrations and events followed. With visual, audio and tactile components, "Shadow of a Face" is not a statue to view from a distance, but a place to see, hear, touch, spend time and reflect on stories. Designed by Jamaican-born, Montclair-based Nina Cooke John, this unique public art project will be visited, studied, and celebrated for years to come.

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Speaking Out Through Art

In the days leading up to Purim – the holiday during which Jews rejoice, don costumes and perform skits, eat triangular cookies filled with jam, and thank Queen Esther for saving them from persecution – Michigan’s attorney general announced she had been targeted in a threat to kill Jewish members of state government.

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Makin Waves Album of the Month: "Bloom" by Dogs in a Pile

Fans of 311, O.A.R. and Slightly Stoopid will dig the reggae-tinged jam 'n' groove of Dogs in a Pile's sophomore LP, "Bloom."

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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.

Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Small Town Factory" by Joe Normal

With his brand new album "Public Works," Springsteen-like blue-collar singer-songwriter Joe Normal pays homage to his hometown of Elizabeth, a place known for its importance in Revolutionary American history and industry, as well as its notorious struggles with environmental issues and crime.

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Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites...3/23/22

“We shoved off on February 16 and planned to get home on March 16th and then we have the show in the northeast Ohio area and then we're back on the road for a couple of short runs over the next two weekends; we've been busy.”  

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Remember When...The Good Ol’ Days

Yes, I am guilty myself. I admit it. Just thinking about what we refer to as the Good Ol' Days. When we would go out to a club to see a favorite band two, maybe three times a week and stay out till 2am. Then without blinking an eye, get up for work the next day... no problem...right, after the second cup of coffee we’re raring to go to work.

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BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 3/20/23

Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at releases by Quiz Show, The Maravines, The Gumbo Gumbas, Big Rips, and Wet Methods.

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Top 15 Most Read Stories at New Jersey Stage from March 12-18, 2023

Here's a look at the top 15 most read articles published at New Jersey Stage from March 12-18, 2023. Each week we publish about 70 articles, including several original columns and features, along with news releases for events happening throughout the state and nearby areas like Philadelphia and New York City. This week's top 15 includes articles from 7 counties in New Jersey (Atlantic, Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Sussex).