2023 New Jersey International Film Festival Video Filmmaker Q+A and Interview with Bibi Director Christopher Beatty and Bibi Lead Actors

Al Nigrin, Executive Director and Curator of the 2023 New Jersey International Film Festival, talks with Christopher Beatty, Director of Bibi, along with two of the stars of the film, Judith Ann DiMinni and Rick Zahn, in a filmmaker interview:

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State Theatre presents A Live Conversation with John Cusack following Special Screening of "High Fidelity"

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- On Thursday, October 12, 2023, State Theatre New Jersey presents a screening of High Fidelity followed by a live conversation with John Cusack regarding his career and the making of his films. With four decades' worth of roles in over 70 films, the Hollywood icon has enjoyed a varied and diverse career. Fans will get the opportunity to experience a moderated discussion, with Cusack answering audience questions as well. The event begins at 7:30pm.

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Ocean Casino Resort presents Danzig

(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Danzig, the American heavy metal band led by former Samhain and Misfits singer Glenn Danzig, takes the stage at Ocean Casino Resort's Ovation Hall on Saturday, September 9, 2023. Showtime is 8:00pm.

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RVCC Robeson Institute to Present Exhibition of Quilts Created by Incarcerated, Free Quilters

(BRANCHBURG, NJ) -- The Paul Robeson Institute for Ethics, Leadership, and Social Justice at Raritan Valley Community College will present "Stitching Time: The Social Justice Collaboration Quilts Project" from June 12 to July 23. The exhibition, which is open to the public, will be on view in the Art Gallery at RVCC's Branchburg campus.

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The GIG USA Hosts Kickoff Party For Asbury Park North To Shore Festival

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- "There are two words that best describe what is going to occur on Wednesday, June 14th at the Asbury Lanes," states Creator and Executive Producer of The GIG USA Nicholas Koontz, "and they are 'Event' and 'Party.' We are opening the Asbury Park leg of the North To Shore Festival and this event is not to be missed because start to finish, it will be one big, all night party!" Nick asserts.

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NJPAC presents Gladys Knight on November 12th

(NEWARK, NJ) -- The Empress of Soul-seven-Time Grammy Award winner, Gladys Knight will perform live at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 7:00pm. Gladys Knight never disappoints by putting on a high-energy show performing all of her hits that stand the test of time and the songs that everyone knows and loves like "Midnight Train to Georgia," "Heard it Through The Grapevine," "That’s What Friends Are For," and so much more.

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Light Opera of New Jersey presents "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder"

(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- Light Opera of New Jersey continues its 27th Season of operetta and musical theatre with a production of 2014 Tony award-winning A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder at South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC). The play is based on the 1907 novel Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal by Roy Horniman. Performances take place July 15-16 and July 22-23.

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Count Basie Center launches inaugural Charlie Puth Performance Scholarships

(RED BANK, NJ) -- As part of its FOREVER FOR EVERYONE endowment campaign, the Count Basie Center has announced the availability of the Charlie Puth Performance Scholarship, named for GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer and former student at the Count Basie Center Academy of the Arts.

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The Theater Project's Summer Season Kicks Off With "Sunset Park" by Joseph Vitale

(MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- The Theater Project, a leading incubator for rising talent and a showcase for New Jersey artists, is returning to Maplewood's Burgdorff Cultural Center, 10 Durand Road, for the second straight summer season. Award-winning writer Joseph Vitale's Sunset Park — three intertwining stories that prove no matter how old you get, love, longing, jealousy, and hope remain constant—kicks off the Summer Season July 6-16. The play was also a finalist in the 2022 NY Theater Fall Festival.

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East Lynne Theater Company presents "A Tale of Two Cities, Cobbled Together by the Brothers Lovejoy"

(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- East Lynne Theater Company's new Artistic Director Craig Fols will open his inaugural mainstage season with his own original adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" titled "A Tale of Two Cities, Cobbled Together by the Brothers Lovejoy". Fols' stage version of this world-renowned classic will make its world premiere on June 14 and will run Wednesdays to Saturdays through July 15.

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League of Women Voters Provides Arts Community With Nonpartisan Voting Plan for June Primary Election

(BERGEN COUNTY, NJ) -- The League of Women Voters of Northern Valley (LWVNV) wants the arts community to be prepared with nonpartisan information to participate in New Jersey's Primary Election on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. To prepare voters in Bergen County for what they need to do for the Primary Election, the League developed a voting plan.

2023 New Jersey International Film Festival Video Filmmaker Q+A and Interview with Bibi Director Christopher Beatty and Bibi Lead Actors

Al Nigrin, Executive Director and Curator of the 2023 New Jersey International Film Festival, talks with Christopher Beatty, Director of Bibi, along with two of the stars of the film, Judith Ann DiMinni and Rick Zahn, in a filmmaker interview:

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"Tremendous!" Richie Furay LIVE! at SOPAC

Excitement is in the air this Saturday, May 20, 2023 as music lovers stream into SOPAC in South Orange, NJ for an evening of music presented by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Richie Furay. Known by many as the voice of country rock, in addition to his work as a solo artist, Furay is a founding member of three noteworthy music groups: Buffalo Springfield, Poco, and The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band.

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Thrilling short The Chosen One screens at the 2023 New Jersey International Film Festival

Elazar Fine’s The Chosen One is cool, thrilling to watch, and takes a daring stance on religion as it unpacks religious trauma and the guilt one feels when running away from faith. I was captivated from just the first two minutes: through the reflection of his mirror where a Hebrew prayer is engraved, we see a young Orthodox Jewish man, Eli, weeping on the floor behind his bed, electric razor in hand. To fast-paced violin and cello music, Eli, with his back turned to us, shaves his long beard and long curly sideburns (or payot, in Hebrew), strong symbols of Hasidic Jewish faith, while the other members of his Orthodox family calmly read books, pray, and clean in common rooms. At last, a family member enters Eli’s bedroom and lets out a gasp.

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Balaena & The Sprayer screen at the June 2023 New Jersey International Film Festival on Sunday, June 4

Balaena directed by Alessia Cecchet and The Sprayer directed by Farnoosh Abedi are two short films playing at the 2023 New Jersey International Film Festival that address the relationship between people and their impact on the environment, both negative and positive. These films use various art forms to highlight the issue of climate change in a thoughtful and visually stimulating way. 

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Excellent documentary Herd screens at the June 2023 New Jersey International Film Festival on Saturday, June 3!

Herd, a film directed by Michel Negroponte which is playing at the New Jersey International Film Festival, is an insightful and creative film that truly delves into the relationship humans have with animals, on both a physical and spiritual level. We are introduced to a herd of Belted Galloway cattle on a pasture in the Catskills, and we follow their journey from mating, protecting their young, to even simple grazing. We watch the cows graze and follow their cycle of life as we are shown polarizing image after another, asking us to truly question the role other intelligent and sentient life has on our own. The film asks many questions and presents many ideas about the seemingly simple but ultimately complicated relationship between humans and cows. Are they equally sentient? Finally, is the right path towards respect and admiration for these animals, or is it to command them as we see fit?

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BOXED screens at the 2023 New Jersey International Film Festival on June 2!

Alam Virk’s short film BOXED will be shown in person at 7 p.m. at the 2023 New Jersey International Film Festival on June 2, 2023 and online for 24 hours on this date. “BOXED is a journey of a man named Andy Whitman as he descends into madness while attempting to fill his inner void through consumerism only to be consumed by the very void he is trying to fill.” “BOXED is a journey of a man named Andy Whitman as he descends into madness while attempting to fill his inner void through consumerism only to be consumed by the very void he is trying to fill.”

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"Pure Perfection!" The Lettermen LIVE! at PNC Bank Arts Center

It's a gorgeous Wednesday, May 17, 2023 afternoon at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ where an audience of over 6000 New Jerseyans ready themselves for a free Garden State Arts Foundation performance starring The Lettermen and comedian John Pizzi.

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Resettlement - A Chicago Story screens at the 2023 New Jersey International Film Festival on June 2!

Based on true events, Resettlement - A Chicago Story, directed by Reina Higashitani, depicts the hardships of the Yamamotos, one family attempting to rebuild their lives in Chicago after being unjustly incarcerated in concentration camps during the Second World War. It will be screening at 2023 New Jersey International Film Festival on Friday, June 2 as part of Shorts Program #1.

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North2Shore Festival Brings the World to NJ, and NJ Together

Good old New Jersey has often been the brunt of jokes from the other states (and the world). Those of us who are a true "Garden Stater" have all the upsides at our fingertips. We're the most diverse state. We have one of the most vibrant arts scenes. We have the best food (see the diversity thing), beaches, great music, education, tons of history and our hands don't smell of gasoline. If you know, you know.

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Joshua Wann’s quirky film Falls Cry opens the 2023 New Jersey International Film Festival on Friday, June 2

Falls Cry – Joshua Wann (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) A story about one boy, living on one block, in one world. 2023; 6 min. Here is my interview with Falls Cry Director Joshua Wann:

BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 5/29/23

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 Above the Moon, Fake Pockets, Arlan Feiles, and The Anderson Council.

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Top 15 Most Read Stories At New Jersey Stage From May 21-27, 2023

Here's a look at the top 15 most read articles published at New Jersey Stage from May 21-27, 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 9 counties in New Jersey (Bergen, Burlington, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Morris).

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Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Nice to Meat You" by Baron Praxis

Jersey Shore grunge unit Baron Praxis is celebrating their reformation with “Ecocidal,” a re-recording with a new lineup of five of their songs, including the environmental-minded “Nice to Meat You,” the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

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Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites....5/25/23

" I played at the summer concert series that they had there in 2021. They were doing that outdoor thing, I mean it was pretty cool. I thought it was cool for the people that were camping or staying at the site because they just got to see a bunch of shows." 

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This Week In Music: Event Listings And Previews For Shows Taking Place May 23-29, 2023

Here is a look at our concert previews for shows taking place from May 23 to May 29, 2023 along with our featured listings. New Jersey Stage offers previews of events throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas. Click on the title to go to the full preview.