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Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 09/17/2026

by Danny Coleman

"Yes, I'm in Montclair," said the incredible Lily Vakili as she talked about her two recent releases,her music and upcoming tour which kicks off on September 26 in Blairstown, NJ to support both. "Actually, "Oceans of Kansas" came out already; I'm still very much supporting and promoting that and it came out last year, that was a full LP and then this year, I released a live in studio EP called "Live Wire."



 

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McCarter Theatre Center Announces Cast of "A Christmas Carol"

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Be transported to 19th-century London for McCarter Theatre Center's annual production of Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol. Led by veteran stage actor Cameron Knight as Ebenezer Scrooge, the production runs December 8–27, 2026.



Jersey Arts Podcast: Reminiscing on "Rocky Horror" with Film's Star, Barry Bostwick

We are fast approaching Spooky Season, and with that comes the inimitable Rocky Horror Picture Show season. The cult classic has become synonymous with October and Halloween, likely due to the fabulous costume opportunities afforded by its cast of characters.



Mountain Creek Resort hosts 42nd Annual Oktoberfest this weekend

(VERNON, NJ) -- Mountain Creek Resort, the New York Metro Area's premier destination for four-season mountain adventure, is welcoming the arrival of fall with a lineup of signature celebrations that bring together live entertainment, seasonal flavors and activities for the whole family. The festivities begin September 19-20, 2026 with the resort's 42nd Annual Oktoberfest, a long-standing tradition featuring an expanded selection of German beers, authentic cuisine and live entertainment at the base of the mountain.



Carteret PAC presents a solo performance by Laurie Berkner on Sunday

(CARTERET, NJ) -- Legendary children's musician Laurie Berkner will return to Central New Jersey with a "Greatest Hits" solo show on Sunday, September 20, 2026 at the Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center. Showtime is 3:00pm.



Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie presents Joe Zook and Blues Deluxe on October 2nd

(TRENTON, NJ) -- Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie invites area music lovers to rock out to the sounds of Joe Zook and Blues Deluxe when the popular band takes the stage Saturday, October 2, 2026. Doors will open at 6:00pm for the 6:30pm to 9:00pm show. Transformed into a blues club with cafe seating, Trenton City Museum will set the stage for not only great music, but great food and beverages, too, which are included with reservations.



Brick Library to present "Garden State Homegrown: A Tribute to New Jersey Musicians" on October 3rd

(BRICK, NJ) -- New Jersey has been the home to many musicians who made it big. Join Gerard and Diane Barros for "Garden State Homegrown: A Tribute to New Jersey Musicians" on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at the Brick Branch of the Ocean County Library. The event begins at 2:00pm.



Teaneck International Film Festival names first recipient of Sandi Klein Creative Woman in Film Award

(TEANECK, NJ) -- The Teaneck International Film Festival (TIFF) has named filmmaker Luchina Fisher the first recipient of the Sandi Klein Creative Woman in Film Award, a new annual honor celebrating an exceptional woman whose work reflects the creativity, curiosity, integrity and commitment to social impact that defined Klein's life and her nearly two decades with the festival. The award includes a $1,000 grant. Fisher will receive the inaugural award at the TIFF screening of her film, The Dads, on Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 2:30 pm at Teaneck Cinemas (503 Cedar Lane).



Kean Stage presents an Evening of Music and Conversation with Legendary Grammy Winner Paquito D'Rivera

(HILLSIDE, NJ) -- Kean Stage invites audiences to experience an extraordinary evening with internationally renowned saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, and multiple Grammy Award winner Paquito D'Rivera on Friday, September 18, 2026 at Enlow Recital Hall (215 North Avenue) in Hillside. Showtime is 7:30pm.



The Newton Theatre presents Clay Aiken on February 28th

(NEWTON, NJ) -- Clay Aiken will perform at The Newton Theatre on Sunday, February 28, 2027 at 7:00pm. America first fell in love with Clay's extraordinary voice and undeniable charisma on the second season of American Idol. His journey on the show became a cultural phenomenon, drawing nearly 40 million viewers to the finale—one of the highest-rated live television broadcasts of the 21st century—and launching one of the most successful recording careers to emerge from the series.



PHOTOS from Joey Bada$$ at Blue Note New York

(NEW YORK, NY) -- Hip-hop artist Joey Bada$$ performed at Blue Note New York on September 5, 2026 and photographer Mat Katz was on hand to take photos. Few rap artists have been as instrumental in keeping hip-hop alive as Joey Bada$$.



American Theater Group to present "Destroying David" talkback with Newark Museum of Art on October 16th

(UNION, NJ) -- American Theater Group (ATG) will present a talkback session in partnership with The Newark Museum of Art following the Friday, October 16, 2026 at 7:00pm performance of Destroying David at the DMK Theater at the Union Arts Center. The event will be moderated by ATG Producing Artistic Director Charlotte Cohn who will be joined by Museum employees and playwright Jason Odell Williams who is also starring in the production. All are welcome to attend and reservations are not necessary.



Daily Edition 09-17-26

Here is the morning update from New Jersey's arts newswire. We regularly publish between 8-15 new articles and news reports each day. Nobody covers the Arts throughout the Garden State like New Jersey Stage!










FEATURED EVENTS

Will Hoge

Thursday, September 17, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton, NJ

Will Hoge has a career whose milestones include Number One hits, Grammy nods, major-label record deals, and hard-won independence. Years before Americana music received its own category at the Grammy Awards, Hoge was on the frontlines, helping to pilot and popularize the genre's blend of American roots music. In the current digital era dominated by influencers seeking shortcuts to stardom, Will Hoge proudly treads the scenic route, immersing himself in the journey rather than fixating on the destination.



 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 35mm

Thursday, September 17, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
Rahway, NJ

Raised in the sewers of New York, bathed in radioactive ooze, and trained in the art of ninjutsu by their rat sensei Splinter, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael – are heroes in a half shell!



 

The Rascals 60th Anniversary Tour

Thursday, September 17, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
Morristown, NJ

Celebrate 60 years of The Rascals featuring original frontman Felix Cavaliere. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, Grammy Hall of Fame, Vocal Group Hall of Fame and Songwriter Hall of Fame members, The Rascals are widely considered the best “blue-eyed soul” group to come out of the 1960s and their music is the soundtrack of a generation. The Rascals have 17 Top 20 hits, seven Top 10 hits, and three No.1 hits that include “Groovin’,” “People Got To Be Free” and “Good Lovin’.”



 

Flawless

Thursday, September 17, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Premiere Stages - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center
Union, NJ

A writer and an AI software designer battle to create the next great play in this cautionary tale about the impending intersection of technology and creativity.

 

Trace Adkins

Friday, September 18, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center
Carteret, NJ

Over the course of his three-decade reign in Country music, MULTI-PLATINUM hitmaker Trace Adkins has emerged as a full-fledged icon whose reach spans far beyond the genre’s borders.



 

Moana Sing-Along Popcorn & Pajamas Film Series

Friday, September 18, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Hamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC)
Rahway, NJ

Doors: 6 PM – Before the movie, have a seat at our craft table and make something fun to take home!

Film: 7 PM



 

Gary Gulman: Grandiloquent

Friday, September 18, 2026 @ 7:30pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Berlind Theatre)
Princeton, NJ

Grandiloquent is Gary Gulman’s hilarious new show about insecurity, empathy, self-acceptance and how a thoughtful boy learned to use humor, reading and writing to cope with the consequences of his parents’ blunders. Learn why a seemingly confident middle-aged man feels most comfortable in a large room where a thousand strangers are laughing at him. 

 

Ching-Yi Lin, piano

Friday, September 18, 2026 @ 2:00pm
Grunin Center - Bösendorfer Recital Room
Toms River, NJ

International pianist Ching-Yi Lin presents “Heroic Journey,” a program that explores transformation, struggle, and triumph through music. From the dramatic intensity of Bach’s Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue to the brilliance of Chopin’s Heroic Polonaise, the program is anchored by Beethoven’s Eroica Variations and the transcendent final sonata, Op. 111, tracing a powerful emotional arc from conflict to resolution.

 

Shoshana Bean

Friday, September 18, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
Rahway, NJ

Broadway comes to Rahway! Shoshana Bean won the 2026 Best Featured Actress in a Musical Tony Award for her performance in “The Lost Boys” musical, currently at New York City’s Palace Theatre. Prior to that she starred in Alicia Keys’ hit Broadway musical, Hell’s Kitchen. Her portrayal of ‘Jersey’ earned her a Grammy Award, her second Tony Award nomination, a Drama League Award nomination, and a Drama Desk nomination. Her performance in the Public Theater’s Hell’s Kitchen Off-Broadway production earned her a Lucille Lortel Award nomination.

 

Flawless

Friday, September 18, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Premiere Stages - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center
Union, NJ

A writer and an AI software designer battle to create the next great play in this cautionary tale about the impending intersection of technology and creativity.

 





EVENT PREVIEWS

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Twenty-fifth Season of Westminster Conservatory Noontime Recitals Opens on September 17th

(LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ) -- On Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 12:15pm, the 25th season of Westminster Conservatory at Nassau will open with a recital of music for solo piano by Korean composers. The performer, Eunju Kim, is a member of the teaching faculty of Westminster Conservatory. The recital will take place in the Niles Chapel of Nassau Presbyterian Church (61 Nassau Street) in Princeton. It is open to the public free of charge.


The Newton Theatre presents Molly Tuttle on September 17th

(NEWTON, NJ) -- The Newton Theatre presents Molly Tuttle on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 8:00pm. Molly is a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and virtuosic guitarist whose innovative blend of bluegrass, Americana, pop, and rock has made her one of the most dynamic artists in modern roots music.


PEAK Performances welcomes A.I.M by Kyle Abraham with White Space on September 17th

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- PEAK Performances at Montclair State University welcomes acclaimed choreographer Kyle Abraham and his celebrated contemporary dance company A.I.M for White Space, a haunting new evening-length work, co-commissioned by PEAK Performances, coming to Montclair State University on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 7:30pm.


Lighthouse International Film Society presents a screening of "Ask E. Jean" on September 17th

(LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ) -- The Lighthouse International Film Society presents a screening of Ask E. Jean on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 7:30pm. This is director Ivy Meeropol's acclaimed new documentary about journalist, author and legendary advice columnist E. Jean Carroll.


The Players Guild of Leonia and Kaleidoscope Ensemble present the World Premiere of "The Old Ladies Bar"

(LEONIA, NJ) -- The World Premiere of The Old Ladies Bar by Natasha Caroline Lowery Rivers is a co-production between The Players Guild of Leonia and Kaleidoscope Ensemble. Directed by TS Murphy, the production takes place weekends from September 18-27, 2026.







LATEST FEATURES

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY | KIDS

(HILLSIDE, NJ) -- Kean Stage invites audiences to experience an extraordinary evening with internationally renowned saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, and multiple Grammy Award winner Paquito D'Rivera on Friday, September 18, 2026 at Enlow Recital Hall (215 North Avenue) in Hillside. Showtime is 7:30pm.


(NEW YORK, NY) -- Hip-hop artist Joey Bada$$ performed at Blue Note New York on September 5, 2026 and photographer Mat Katz was on hand to take photos. Few rap artists have been as instrumental in keeping hip-hop alive as Joey Bada$$.



(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Ailey II, the dynamic second company to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, are on a 27-city tour across the country that comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on Friday, September 25, 2026. The next generation of dance will present a riveting repertory featuring a world premiere by Ailey II's very own Artistic Director Francesca Harper in collaboration with Jermaine Spivey, mesmerizing new productions by Alvin Ailey and Ronald K. Brown, and cherished classics that showcase the company’s virtuosity. Showtime is 8:00pm.



(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- New Jersey Symphony presents the Jersey City Music & Arts Festival from Thursday, September 24 to Saturday, October 3, 2026 in the Powerhouse Arts District (Provost Street between Bay and Morgan Streets). Admission is free and open to the public.



(MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- Middletown Arts Center's Music Café returns on Sunday, September 20, 2026 with a terrific lineup of singer-songwriters: Paul During, Bill T. Midnight, Vito Natale and R.G. Evans. Enjoy an evening of original music, unique sounds and great performances from four talented artists.







LATEST COLUMNS

"Torn"

A crumpled-up piece of paper and a mangled sheet of metal have certain visual similarities. In both cases, rough circumstances have given strange new facets to machine-flattened material. That which was once uniform and controlled has been shot through with irregularity. It feels like a metaphor for life. A curator could put both pieces behind a vitrine and call that an exhibition.


Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Home in Your Heart" by Gary Shaffer

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Home in Your Heart," the latest single from veteran Jersey Shore singer-songwriter Gary Shaffer.


Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 09/10/2026

"I'm very good, how are you doing?" Laughed John Ondrasik also known as Five for Fighting as his Five for Fighting String Quartet Tour readies to come to New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania with multiple shows beginning September 20 in Newton, NJ at the Newton Theatre.

* Events This Week in New Jersey

* This Week in Music

* This Week in Theatre

* Top 15 Most Read Stories from the Past Week

Daily Edition 09-17-26

Here is a look at the articles published yesterday. The Daily Edition comes out Monday through Friday with a recap of articles published Friday through Sunday on Mondays.



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