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Daily Edition 04-04-26

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!



 

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Clover Stieve releases "How Big Can I Dream"

(FRENCHTOWN, NJ) -- Singer-songwriter, Clover Stieve (formerly CLOVER), has release the single, "How Big Can I Dream," from her upcoming album, Born to Live. Originally written for WXPN's 24-Hour Songwriting contest, the ethereal song highlights Clover Stieve's honey-drenched alto over shimmering acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies.



Bassist Martin Wind Adds Piano to His Gravity Trio for Area Performances

German-born bassist and composer Martin Wind has built an extensive résumé with more than 20 albums as a leader or co-leader and performance credits with legends such as clarinetist Buddy DeFranco, guitarist Pat Metheny, alto saxophonist Phil Woods, harmonicist Toots Thielemans, and many others. He has regularly performed at some of the top jazz venues in the world. Upcoming performances include release performances for his newest record September (2026, Laika Records) with his Gravity Trio and special guest Glenn Zaleski on piano -- April 9 at Smalls Jazz Club in New York; April 10 at the Puffin Cultural Forum in Teaneck, NJ; and at the Deer Head Inn in Delaware Water Gap, PA, April 11.



Russell Jamie Johnson releases "Who We Used To Be"

(NEW YORK, NY) -- Singer-songwriter, Russell Jamie Johnson has announced his upcoming self-titled album, arriving May 15, 2026 a cinematic indie-folk project that captures the quiet, unresolved space between heartbreak and healing. As his most personal work to date, the 8-tracks reflect a period of emotional reckoning, where love has ended, but its imprint lingers.



PHOTOS from "1776" at Paper Mill Playhouse

(MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse celebrates our nation's 250th anniversary, and history comes to life in 1776, the Tony Award-winning musical that brings the story behind the creation of the Declaration of Independence to the stage with witty satire, compelling drama, and a thrilling score. The production runs now through May 2, 2026. Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade was on hand to take photos.










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Roy's Hall presents James McMurtry

(BLAIRSTOWN, NJ) -- Roy's Hall presents singer-songwriter James McMurtry on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 8:00pm. He's been called "one of this generation's most unflinchingly potent and powerfully erudite recording artists" by American Songwriter.


Cape May MAC to Screen "Once in a Hundred Years: The Life & Legacy of Marian Anderson" on April 4th

(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- The award-winning documentary film, Once in a Hundred Years: The Life & Legacy of Marian Anderson, will be presented Saturday, April 4, 2026 at Cape May Stage Theater in partnership with Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture). Admission is free, but donations will be collected to benefit the Cape May Community Food Closet. The screening begins at 2:00pm and continues the celebration of Black History Month.


SOUP CAN Magazine to Celebrate Five Years With a Monumental Canniversary Event

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- On Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 6:00pm, SOUP CAN Magazine will mark five years of magazine magic byhosting its annual "Canniversary" with a night engineered to feel like a main‑stage, stadium‑level celebration of the community that built it. Wild Air Beerworks will host the event, but the scale of the evening reaches far beyond the venue — this is a full‑force thank‑you to the readers, performers, and neighbors who transformed Soup Can from a DIY idea into one of New Jersey's most vibrant creative movements. In a show of collective power, the Canniversary aims to break their standing record of food donations by gathering over 1,100 pounds in a single night, all to benefit Mercy Center of Asbury Park.


Avenel Performing Arts Center presents singer-songwriter Steve Forbert

(AVENEL, NJ) -- Avenel Performing Arts Center presents singer-songwriter Steve Forbert on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 7:30pm. Limited tickets remain.


The Vogel presents Comedian Joe Matarese on Saturday

(RED BANK, NJ) -- The Vogel presents Comedian Joe Matarese on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 8:00pm. Matarese grew up in the South Jersey/Philadelphia area and his comedy has a very strong connection to where he comes from.







LATEST FEATURES

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PHOTOS from "1776" at Paper Mill Playhouse
(MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse celebrates our nation's 250th anniversary, and history comes to life in 1776, the Tony Award-winning musical that brings the story behind the creation of the Declaration of Independence to the stage with witty satire, compelling drama, and a thrilling score. The production runs now through May 2, 2026. Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade was on hand to take photos.



New Release Review - "Pretty Lethal"

Pitting teenage ballerinas against heavily armed Hungarian mobsters, Pretty Lethal gives new meaning to the term "balletic violence." It's a throwback to all those '70s/'80s exploitation thrillers in which stranded cheerleaders were menaced by mouth-breathing rednecks. Surprisingly for a movie debuting on a mainstream streaming service in 2026, it carries over the extreme violence of those movies, along with the threat of sexualised violence, but its tongue is firmly in its cheek.




Jersey Arts Podcast: The Gateway Playhouse Offers a Full Slate of Musicals and More

It is a big year for the Gateway Playhouse in Somers Point as they near their 10th Anniversary Season, but as they brace for that landmark next summer, they are offering a plethora of opportunities to their community and hopefully to you in the meanwhile.




Five-time GRAMMY Winner Angélique Kidjo Comes to McCarter Theatre Center on April 11th

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Five-time GRAMMY Award winner Angélique Kidjo comes to McCarter Theatre Center on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 7:30pm for an electrifying evening of music spanning her extraordinary career. The performance is part of a limited six-city U.S. tour before Kidjo continues to Europe for a series of international festival appearances.




State Theatre New Jersey presents '60s Rock 'n Roll Revival

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents '60s Rock 'N Roll Revival on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 7:00pm. The evening features performances by Jay and the Americans, The Grass Roots, The Lovin' Spoonful, and The Brooklyn Bridge.




Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents a Reading of "The Agitators" by Mat Smart

(MADISON, NJ) -- The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) has announced the cast for its upcoming presentation of The Agitators by Mat Smart, presented as part of the theatre's Revolutionary Voices play reading series. The performance will take place on Monday, April 27, 2026 at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre on the campus of Drew University. Showtime is 7:30pm.




George Street Playhouse presents "My Lord, What a Night" by Deborah Brevoort

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- George Street Playhouse has announced the cast and creative team for My Lord, What a Night written by Deborah Brevoort (Blue Moon Over Memphis) and directed by Sheldon Epps (Play On!). It's about a remarkable friendship and a night in New Jersey that changed history. Performances run from April 28 through May 17, 2026.




"The Master at Work" Jimmy Webb LIVE! at The Vogel

Spotlight Central and Love Imagery have photos and a recap of Jimmy Webb at The Vogel on March 22, 2026.










UPCOMING EVENTS

George Street Playhouse presents "What Became of Us"

Saturday, April 04, 2026 @ 2:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
New Brunswick, NJ
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




LATEST COLUMNS
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Promises" from Jersey Shore-based roots rocker Dave Vargo's latest album, "Ghost Towns."



Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 04/02/2026

"Yeah, we are looking forward to it," said guitarist Johnny A of The Johnny A Trio just prior to their recent New York City Iridium appearance.



Winifred McNeill: "Between Air and Earth"

Any good cook will tell you that reducing something doesn't always mean diminishing it. Sometimes it's the best way to intensify its personality. Size, we've learned in the era of streaming entertainment on tiny phone screens, does not determine how clearly a thing communicates. If it fills our senses, it can slip right into our bloodstream.


* 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

Daily Edition 04-04-26

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.


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