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Jersey Arts Podcast: Kathryn Grody's Unexpected 3rd Act

It's in the third act of a three-act story structure when everything comes to a head. The plot builds to its peak, the characters demonstrate development, and the audience/reader/listener experiences the story's climax—and maybe even a moral.



Lewis Center for the Arts' Program in Theater & Music Theater presents "Quite Contrary"

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Lewis Center for the Arts' Program in Theater and Music Theater at Princeton University presents Quite Contrary, a gothic fantasy re-imagining of the life of Mary Shelley and the ghosts that haunted the creation of her legendary novel, Frankenstein. The new play is written by senior Marlie Kass and is directed by sophomore Nora Glass. Performances are October 9-10 at 8:00pm and October 11, 2026 at 2:00pm in the Wallace Theater at the Lewis Arts complex on the Princeton campus.



HYCIDE Founder Akintola Hanif to Host Retrospective of His Work at XPANSE Arts Space

(NEWARK, NJ) -- Photographer and filmmaker Akintola Hanif will exhibit a retrospective of his work spanning more than 20 years of photos – from street photography and documentary portraiture to erotica and studio images–on October 9, 2026 at HYCIDE XPANSE [arts axis] in Newark, NJ from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.



2026 Teaneck International Film Festival announces Lineup

(TEANECK, NJ) -- The Teaneck International Film Festival, a project of The Puffin Foundation, Ltd., will celebrate its 21st anniversary November 5–12, 2026 with a lineup of documentaries, narrative features and shorts focused on the festival's enduring theme, "Activism: Making Change." The eight-day festival will bring filmmakers, actors, activists, producers and community leaders to venues throughout Teaneck and Fort Lee for screenings, filmmaker conversations and special events.



Makin Waves Song of the Week: "The Only Man to Make It Through the Dance" by Jake Thistle

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "The Only Man to Make It Through the Dance" from "A Stranger By Design," the latest album by Jake Thistle.










FEATURED EVENTS


W.A.S.P. 1984 to HEADLESS

Saturday, October 03, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center
Carteret, NJ

With Special Guest KK’s Priest



 

The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Barry Bostwick (The Original Brad Majors)

Saturday, October 03, 2026 @ 8:00pm
State Theatre New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ

Join the original "Brad Majors"—BARRY BOSTWICK—for a screening of the movie in a new 4k restoration with a live shadow cast and audience participation! Plus a memorabilia display with artifacts and an actual costume from the movie, a costume contest, an after party immersive experience, and more!

 

Stop the Funeral – The Remix Featuring Kierra Sheard

Saturday, October 03, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
Rahway, NJ

Stop The Funeral – The Remix is an electrifying multimedia stage production that fuses live theater, cinematic sequences, and interactive social media engagement into a fully immersive experience.

 

Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s Got the Moves

Saturday, October 03, 2026 @ 2:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
Morristown, NJ

Make unforgettable memories with your little ones at Elmo’s Got the Moves—the all-new Sesame Street Live show coming to your neighborhood!

 

Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s Got the Moves

Saturday, October 03, 2026 @ 6:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
Morristown, NJ

Make unforgettable memories with your little ones at Elmo’s Got the Moves—the all-new Sesame Street Live show coming to your neighborhood!

 

Popa Chubby

Saturday, December 27, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton, NJ

Popa Chubby has been hard rocking the blues in his fierce and soulful way for more than 30 years. Over the course of a career that dates back to 1994, he has been a force  to be reckoned with on the guitar, and his tempestuous, soulful playing has never been more powerful. An imposing figure with a shaved head, tattooed arms, a goatee and a performance style he describes as “the Stooges meets Buddy Guy, Motörhead meets Muddy Waters, and Jimi Hendrix meets Robert Johnson," Popa Chubby is an endearing character who is one of the genre’s most popular figures.​

 

Best of the 2026 New Jersey International Film Festival Part 1

Saturday, October 03, 2026 @ 12:00am
NJ Film Festival
New Brunswick, NJ

The 45th Bi-Annual New Jersey Film Festival will be taking place between September 4-October 4, 2026. The Festival will be a hybrid as we will be presenting it online as well as doing select in-person screenings at Rutgers University. Almost all the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VOD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person shows when both are offered. This program is only available Online for 24 hours on this show date!




 

Popa Chubby

Saturday, October 03, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton, NJ

Popa Chubby has been hard rocking the blues in his fierce and soulful way for more than 30 years. Over the course of a career that dates back to 1994, he has been a force  to be reckoned with on the guitar, and his tempestuous, soulful playing has never been more powerful.

 

Milk & Cookies Series: Fiesta with Flor

Saturday, October 03, 2026 @ 10:00am
State Theatre Studio
New Brunswick, NJ

Fiesta with Flor is a vibrant, high-energy celebration of global music, culture, and community! Grammy® and Latin Grammy® nominee Flor Bromley invites audiences of all ages to sing, dance, move, and celebrate together through irresistible rhythms, joyful songs, and interactive storytelling. Inspired by the rich musical traditions of Latin America, the show creates a welcoming, dynamic experience where everyone is part of the fiesta. 

 

Milk & Cookies Series: Fiesta with Flor

Saturday, October 03, 2026 @ 12:00pm
State Theatre Studio
New Brunswick, NJ

Fiesta with Flor is a vibrant, high-energy celebration of global music, culture, and community! Grammy® and Latin Grammy® nominee Flor Bromley invites audiences of all ages to sing, dance, move, and celebrate together through irresistible rhythms, joyful songs, and interactive storytelling. Inspired by the rich musical traditions of Latin America, the show creates a welcoming, dynamic experience where everyone is part of the fiesta. 

 





EVENT PREVIEWS

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

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or region of New Jersey click here.
(NEWARK, NJ) -- Newark Symphony Hall presents Africa on Stage, a month-long celebration of African and diaspora arts, culture, and education throughout October 2026 as a centerpiece of the venue's Centennial programming. Spanning four weeks, the festival transforms the Hall's campus into a gathering place for film, fashion, beauty, live music, and community learning, culminating in FELA! The Concert, a one-night-only performance in the historic Sarah Vaughan Concert Hall on Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 7:00pm.

(ROXBURY TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- As summer winds down and the warm, crisp air of autumn arrives, New Jersey music fans will have one more chance to gather outdoors for a full day of live jam-band music, food, dancing and community. JAMTOBERFEST '26 takes place Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Swim & Sport Club in Flanders, NJ. Gates open at 12:00pm, with music beginning at 1:00pm.

(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Jersey City Theater Center presents Miss Bellas on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at White Eagle Hall. It is a 60–75 minute original music-theater work that explores fame, class division, cultural erasure, and moral responsibility. Showtime is 7:30pm.

(HACKENSACK, NJ) -- The Hackensack Performing Arts Center (HACPAC) announces Illumination 250, a full-day regional cultural arts celebration observing America's Semiquincentennial anniversary, will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026 in Hackensack. Bring the family, friends, and neighbors to the largest free public, interactive festival in North Jersey open to all ages. In the event of severe inclement weather, the festival will take place the following weekend on Saturday, October 10.

(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.







LATEST FEATURES

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



(NEW HOPE, PA) -- This Halloween season, Roxey Ballet Company presents Dracula's Lair: Immortal, an unforgettable immersive experience that blends haunted attraction, live theatrical storytelling, and breathtaking professional dance into one haunting journey. Tours take place October 23, 24, 30 & 31 at 6:30pm, 7:30pm, and 8:30pm from the Mill Ballet School.



(MEDFORD, NJ) -- South Jersey Pops presents Stage Fright - The Soundtrack of the Mysterious on Sunday, October 25, 2026 in the Lenape High School Auditorium. This is a family-friendly celebration of the Spooky & Strange. Showtime is 3:00pm.



(WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- Combine a Jersey diner, four couples, and a live-streaming video series and you have Midnight at the New Dawn, a new comedy making its world premiere at the Kelsey Theatre on Mercer County Community College's West Windsor Campus with performances from October 16-18, 2026.



(NETCONG, NJ) -- The Growing Stage presents Murder at the Palace - a roaring 20's murder mystery - on Saturday, November 14, 2026 from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. All proceeds benefit the artistic and educational programming of The Growing Stage.







LATEST COLUMNS


Makin Waves Song of the Week: "The Only Man to Make It Through the Dance" by Jake Thistle

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "The Only Man to Make It Through the Dance" from "A Stranger By Design," the latest album by Jake Thistle.


Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 10/01/2026

What do you call a rocker by night who pays tribute to multiple classic rock bands and someone who has done children's music during the day? You call him Paulie Z that's what.


Makin Waves Song of the Week: "In Another Life" by Deardarkhead

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "In Another Life" from "The Pendulum Swings," the first album in 26 years from the Atlantic City rockers Deardarkhead.

* 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 10-01-26

Here is a look at the articles published on Thursday. The Daily Edition will be back on Monday with a recap of the articles published over the weekend.