AHArts announces two new exhibitions

(ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ) -- The Atlantic Highlands Arts Council (AHArts) will present “Real Abstract” in their main gallery from August 27 through September 17, 2022.  They will also present “Sandy Taylor and Carol Magnatta: A Juxtaposition” in their street level window galleries from August 21 through October 1, 2022. 

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The Lost Princess of Oz World Premiere Combines Ballet, Song and Bluegrass

The creative passion that abounds in “The Lost Princess of Oz,” the upcoming extravaganza of movement and music presented by the Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theatre Company (AXCBT) in partnership with the Center for the Arts at Monmouth University, will fill you with positivity and immerse the renovated Pollak Theater at the University where it runs Aug. 20 through Aug. 28.

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Crossroads Theatre Company presents a 2022-23 Season Preview

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Crossroads Theatre Company will present a 2022-23 season preview on Saturday, September 10 at 5:00pm in the Arthur Laurents Theater. This festive free event will include conversations with Crossroads artistic team, as well as actors working on the upcoming season, and a special performance by the incredibly talented jazz vocalist, April May and her band, Sounds of A&R in a captivating tribute to Sarah Vaughan.

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18th Annual India Day Parade takes place Sunday

(WOODBRIDGE, NJ) -- The Indian Business Association presents the 18th Annual India Day Parade on Sunday August 14th at 1:00pm. The parade starts at the intersection of Cinder Rd & Oak Tree Road in Edison and marches eastbound to the intersection of Middlesex Ave & Oak Tree Rd in the Iselin section of Woodbridge.

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Brook Arts Center presents comedian Bobby Collins

(BOUND BROOK, NJ) -- Comedian Bobby Collins entertains audiences across the country with his comedic characterizations that expose the humor of day-to-day situations as well as serve up resplendent rants on world events. This native New Yorker, a comedy legend and Grammy Award winner will be appearing at the Brook Arts Center in Bound Brook on October 8 at 8:00pm, with his latest show, We Have A Lot To Talk About.

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PHOTOS from "Tommy" at Algonquin Arts Theatre

(MANASQUAN, NJ) --  Algonquin Arts Theatre is presenting The Who’s Tommy from Friday, August 12 through Sunday, August 21. A smash-hit on both sides of the Atlantic, this is a powerful tale of a deaf, mute and blind pinball player who becomes an international sensation bursts on the stage in this multi-award winning adaptation of the original chart-topping rock album. Hit songs include "Pinball Wizard," "See Me, Touch Me." This show contains adult content.

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Jersey City Theater Center Kicks Off 16th Anniversary Season

(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) has announced that tickets for its Fall 2022 performance season are now on sale at the JCTC website. This season, JCTC will showcase productions from international sensations such as the National Theatre of Ukraine, famed musical quartet DakhaBrakha, Heart of Afghanistan, Barcelona-based theatre company Los Escultores del Aire and Kofago Dance Ensemble, one of the nation’s most talented African dance companies.  As always, JCTC will also highlight local New Jersey talents like actor/director Kent Jackman.

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Spring Lake Theatre Company presents "Gypsy"

(SPRING LAKE, NJ) -- Curtains up, light the lights! Gypsy is coming to the Spring Lake Theatre for the last two weekends in August. Gypsy tells the story of the dreams and efforts of one hungry powerhouse of a woman, to get her two daughters into show business. It is loosely based on the 1957 memoir of famous striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee. 

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Seton Hall University to Present Robin Roberts With Lifetime Professional Achievement Award

(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- Robin Roberts, who has connected with athletes, entertainers, fans, and viewers for decades – first at ESPN and for the last 20 years on “Good Morning America” – will be honored with a Lifetime Professional Achievement Award by the new Seton Hall University Center for Sports Media at a special gala on September 15 at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York City.

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Visual Arts Center of New Jersey presents Fall Exhibition: "Ripple Effect"

(SUMMIT, NJ) -- On Friday, September 16, 2022, the Visual Art Center of New Jersey (VACNJ) will begin a year-long celebration of its 90th Anniversary by opening its fall exhibition, Ripple Effect. The show will feature artwork by 37 of the Art Center’s teaching artists who have transformed and enriched lives through the shared experience of art and will run through Sunday, January 8, 2023. 

American Idol’s Constantine Maroulis Stars in "Broadway Meets the Beach"

Despite a threatening weather forecast, fans of Broadway musicals are waiting on the Boardwalk in Seaside Heights, NJ this drizzly Friday, August 5, 2022 evening for a live performance of Broadway Meets the Beach.

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Dear Mr. Morale: A Letter to Kendrick Lamar & the Big Steppers

This is our time.  To build morale… to step up. After missing coveted coverage of Kendrick Lamar this tour, I felt impassioned to write a review in a different direction altogether.  This is the first time I’m not basing it on an actual show, but rather, a think piece which ties into one song off Lamar’s latest album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.  The song is called “Mirror.”  And, it is my hope that, by the end of the article, the reader might feel as charged or impassioned.

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Five for Fighting LIVE! at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

Out on the Atlantic City Boardwalk this Saturday, July 30, 2022 evening it feels like another steamy night at the Jersey Shore, but inside the Soundwaves auditorium at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino music lovers ride a cool wave of excitement as they ready themselves for a live concert by Five for Fighting.

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"Timeless!" Smokey Robinson LIVE! at the Count Basie Center for the Arts

Music lovers inside Red Bank, NJ’s Count Basie Center for the Arts auditorium this Wednesday, July 27, 2022 evening patiently await the start of a performance by the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer, songwriter, producer, and Motown executive, Smokey Robinson.

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A Look at Kids 'N Family Shows at SOPAC

(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) recently announced the lineup for their 2022-23 season. The season includes several shows for Kids 'N Family including BubbleMania!; the Heart & Soul of Magic; Stone Soup and Other Stories; The Great DuBois: Masters of Variety; and The Jungle Book.

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2022 Trenton Film Festival takes place August 26-28

(TRENTON, NJ) -- The 2022 Trenton Film Festival will take place from August 26-28 at the Mill Hill Playhouse.  The festival concludes with an Awards Ceremony & Closing Reception where audience members are encouraged to vote for their favorites, and a prize will be awarded to the audience's favorite film. Additionally, the festival's panel of judges will award best film to one production in each category.

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PHOTOS from Lotus at The Bourbon Room

(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Lotus performed at The Bourbon Room in Atlantic City on August 5, 2022 and photographer Chris Paul was on hand to take photos.The band, which has performed at festivals like Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Ultra, and Rothbury, has steadily built a devote fan base through steady touring.  They've also crafted a unique musical style outside of simple genre limitations. Equal parts instrumental post-rock and electronic dance, the band’s distinguishing feature is the ability to maintain a decidedly unique musical voice and remain current while bucking passing trends. 

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Soul Asylum: A Beautiful Problem

​​​​​​​Soul Asylum were part of an amazing chunk of rock music history on the Minneapolis-based indie label TwinTone Records with The Replacements, Babes in Toyland, The Jayhawks and a bunch of other great acts. Then in Majorlabelland, they went on to accomplish even more, including a Grammy for the 1993 hit “Runaway Train.”

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Daniel Bernard Roumain, Resident Artist Catalyst at the New Jersey Symphony, on Black Classical Music, Hip-Hop, and The Newark Museum of Art’s Summer Concert Series

Earlier this week, composer, performer, educator, activist, and New Jersey Symphony Resident Artistic Catalyst Daniel Bernard Roumain brought jazz and jazz-inspired classical music to the Newark Museum of Art’s Summer Series along with a co-host, Grammy Award-winning clarinetist and saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera, and the New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players.

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Theatre Preview: August 4-7

Here are previews of plays taking place this week. Click on the title to go to the full preview. Be sure to send press releases for your plays to info@tnewjerseystage.com to be included. New Jersey Stage covers Equity, community, college, and high school theatre.

Makin Waves Song of the Week: “It’s So Easy” by Arlan Feiles

The charming Tex Mex-styled single, “It’s So Easy,” from the great Asbury Park singer-songwriter Arlan Feiles’ new LP, “Blame Me,” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week

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Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites...8/11/22

"First of all, I just thought, I want to make a rock 'n' roll record; my kind of rock 'n' roll. I like rock'n'roll, I mean, I like all sorts of stuff but rock 'n' roll is basically what I wanted to do. I wanted to make a rock 'n' roll record like The Rolling Stones or Little Richard so, I just started putting songs together in 2017 and just started writing songs," says guitarist Curtis Salgado ahead of his two area shows and whose new album, "Damage Control" is out courtesy of Alligator Records. 

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BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music: 8/8/22

Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online 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 The Planet You, Jeff DeVito, Amzot, Marco Sepe, Lupe Dragon, By Torchlight, and The Gumbo Gumbas.

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Top 15 Most Read Stories at New Jersey Stage from July 31 to August 6, 2022

Here's a look at the top 15 most read articles published at New Jersey Stage from July 31 to August 6, 2022. 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 10 counties in New Jersey (Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean).