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Starland Ballroom presents Cheap Trick on March 20th

(SAYREVILLE, NJ) -- Starland Ballroom presents Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Cheap Trick on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 8:00pm. Currently gearing up for their 50th anniversary year, Cheap Trick remain an indisputable, indispensable rock 'n' roll institution, beloved everywhere for their instantly identifiable, hugely influential union of mischievous wit and maximum melodies, powerhouse pop hooks and razor-sharp riffs. James Hatem will open the night.



Vanguard Theater Accepting Submissions For Illuminating New Voices 2026

​​​​​​​(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Vanguard Theater, a professional producing theater in Montclair, is accepting submissions for Illuminating New Voices - a curated weekend of new work presentations.  The festival will take place May 1-3, 2026. The deadline for submissions is February 15, 2026 at midnight.



The Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey presents "Shostakovich 5" on February 22nd

(VOORHEES, NJ) -- The Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey presents "Shostakovich 5" on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at Eastern Regional High School. Dive deep into a realm where every musical note tells a story with "Shostakovich 5," a symphonic celebration that intertwines the bold with the ethereal. Showtime is 3:00pm.



Louder Than You Think: A Lo-Fi History of Gary Young & Pavement Soundtrack Released

(LOS ANGELES, CA) -- Independent Project Records announced that Louder Than You Think: A Lo-Fi History of Gary Young & Pavement, the original motion picture soundtrack to the 2023 SXSW-winning documentary film, was released on January 30, 2026 on LP (black and pink vinyl), Special Edition CD, and all digital outlets.



Stangl Stage presents BStreetBand on Valentine's Day

(FLEMINGTON, NJ) -- BStreetBand returns to Stangl Stage in the Historic Stangl Factory on Valentine's Day (Saturday, February 14, 2026). If you've never been to a show at the historic Stangl Pottery Factory, this is a perfect one to start with. It's the kind of night that has people on their feet, singing along, and yes, dancing in the dark.










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Broadway Bound Kids to Hold 4th Annual Benefit Concert: Empower State of Mind at City Winery

(NEW YORK, NY) -- Broadway Bound Kids (BBK) will hold its Fourth Annual Benefit Concert, Empower State of Mind on Monday, February 2, 2026 in the mainstage at City Winery. The evening will celebrate the empowering impact of arts education in young lives as well as their community. The dazzling night is in exaltation of the influence of the "city that never sleeps" and New York City's greatest contribution to theater – Broadway. Showtime is 7:30pm.


The Broadway Theatre of Pitman presents "Merrily We Roll Along"

(PITMAN, NJ) -- The Broadway Theatre of Pitman presents Merrily We Roll Along weekends from January 16 through February 8, 2026. Sondheim's semi-autobiographical musical turns back the clock on friendship and the high price of success. It is a spirited and moving cautionary tale for anyone who has ever pursued a dream.


Black History Month events at MPAC

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Legendary Motown singers...West African acrobatics...a joyful youth chorus. From the Temptations and The Four Tops to Mayo Performing Arts Center's visual art exhibit by Art in the Atrium, MPAC has a variety of events celebrating excellence in black artistic achievement during Black History Month.


Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company Celebrates Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse

The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company celebrates Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse with a lineup of performances in NYC, New Jersey, and beyond! In honor of the Year of the Horse, the Company, with artistic director Greta Campo at the helm, will present two world premieres by choreographers Lawrence Jin and Zhongmei Li.


The Road Company presents "Groundhog Day: The Musical"

(WILLIAMSTOWN, NJ) -- The Road Company presents Groundhog Day: The Musical weekends from January 22 to February 7, 2026. Critically acclaimed on both the West End and Broadway, Groundhog Day revels in one man's journey of self-discovery, day after day.


NJPAC presents a Spring Season of Jazz

(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents a Spring Season of Jazz with free monthly jazz jams at Clement's Place and two special concert events inside the Victoria Theater. This series, running from September through June, is co-presented by NJPAC's Jazz Advisory Committee and Rutgers University–Newark's Institute of Jazz Studies (IJS). Immerse yourself in the relaxing sounds of jazz music that stimulate the players’ and listeners' minds.







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(RAHWAY, NJ) -- On Valentine's Day, while couples scramble for dinner reservations and last-minute roses, Will Downing has a better plan. He'll be taking the stage at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway, NJ, offering an evening of songs built on romance, memories, and that unmistakable sultry baritone that has soundtracked jazz-infused R&B songs about relationships for more than three decades. For the men unsure how to impress on February 14, he keeps it simple. "You don't gotta say nothing," he laughed. "Just sit there, nod your head, act like you like the guy on stage. Your lady will be happy." It's classic Will Downing - charming, self-aware, and conversational.


Here is the New Jersey Film Festival Spring 2026 Video Animation Panel with Ball Lightning Director Catriona Trina Baker, Come Home Director Katelyn Park and Festival Director Al Nigrin.



Over the past decade, producer/director Timur Bekmambetov's name has become synonymous with the "screenlife" sub-genre. For those who are unaware, screenlife movies play out their narratives on the screens of laptops, tablets, phones and similar devices. Watching someone's desktop for 90 minutes may not sound too exciting but the format has proved surprisingly successful in thrillers like Unfriended, Searching and Profile. Much like the American horror movies of the 1970s took the genre out of its traditional Gothic setting of European castles and transferred it to the US suburbs, screenlife thrillers have a relatable immediacy, their thrills playing out on the sort of screens we stare at every day.



Al Nigrin, Executive Director and Curator of the New Jersey Film Festival, sits down with Samuel Freeman, director and writer of the Don't Look in the Dark, for a filmmaker interview. Don't Look in the Dark will be screened on January 31, 2026.



Spotlight Central and Love Imagery have photos and a recap of The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, featuring trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, at the State Theatre on January 22, 2026. Entitled "Duke in Africa", the concert featured the music of Duke Ellington.



(PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre Center presents acclaimed jazz singer José James in a special 50th anniversary tribute to Marvin Gaye's iconic album I Want You on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 7:30pm. This is one of only two exclusive performances nationwide.



If you're an avid news viewer, you've probably heard discussions of the U.S. Constitution bandied about as of late. Is it being violated? Are we upholding it? Does anyone really know what's in it?



It's ironic that a terminal diagnosis can often result in the recipient getting a new lease of life. Knowing exactly how limited your time is can make you determined to embrace life and go out smiling. Conversely, the loved ones of such people often sink into depression, unable to adopt the positive outlook of the friend, lover or family member they're set to lose, forced to put on a brave face while dying a little themselves.










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