Jersey Arts Podcast

Jorma Kaukonen and Hot Tuna Bring New Tour to New Jersey

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:00:00 -0400

Today’s guest is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® Inductee, GRAMMY® Award-winning musician, and one of the most influential guitarists of all-time.

Jorma Kaukonen was named among Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists.” He pioneered a signature fusion of folk, blues, and rock and, ultimately, inspired generations of players to follow in his footsteps. The world first heard Jorma as an original member of Jefferson Airplane, playing lead guitar on a string of classic albums. He went on to co-found iconic blues duo Hot Tuna with Jack Casady, building up another parallel legacy thereafter. Renowned for his unprecedented fingerpicking and eloquent six-string phrasing, his catalog expanded with over 20 solo albums. He was notably inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame® as a member of Jefferson Airplane in 1996, while he and his bandmates garnered the prestigious GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

On this episode, Jorma and Gina have a very pleasant chat about his international upbringing, longstanding friendship with musical partner Jack Casady, and the unique names by which his music has been identified. Stay tuned to learn more.

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Princeton Summer Theater Tackles Sam Shepard's 'True West'

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:00:00 -0400

If you’re familiar with the notion of sibling rivalry, today’s episode may be the one for you. Today, Gina is speaking with the cast and director of Princeton Summer Theater’s production of True West.

Written by Sam Shepard, the play first debuted Off-Broadway in 1980 with Peter Boyle and Tommy Lee Jones in the leading roles. It was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1983 and went on to receive four Tony Award nominations, two Drama Desk nominations, and won an Outer Critics Circle Award for its Broadway debut in 2000.

Directed by Wasif Sami and starring Joe McLean and Jordan Rashdan, Princeton Summer Theater’s production will tackle the dark comedy this July. Stay tuned to learn more about the show and the work that goes into building a gritty, grounded examination of masculinity and sibling rivalry.

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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Jovin Webb Debuts New Single in Advance of Sophomore Album

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

*There is currently no live performance in NJ attached to this episode.*

In today's episode, Gina speaks with the talented blues artist, Jovin Webb. Perhaps you’ve seen him on American Idol, maybe you’ve been following him since his early days or perhaps this is your first introduction to his soulful music but no matter the journey, he is an artist to follow moving forward.

His raw and emotive debut album, “Drifter,” out on the iconic blues label, Blind Pig, released in 2024. The 12-song collection is a vibrant mix of growling low-down blues, Jovin’s wailing harmonica, heartfelt soul ballads, and rowdy, Little Richards-style rock 'n' roll.

His newest album, “Son of a Sinner” on the same label has recently been announced and will drop September 18th. The first single off that record, “Pray for Me” is included at the end of this episode.

Jovin and Gina take a moment to chat about his music and share a little love for his home of Louisiana. Stick around to meet Mr. Jovin Webb.

Thanks for listening!

Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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Bring on the Bacon! The Princeton Festival Features The Bacon Brothers

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Today, Gina is speaking with the Bacon Brothers. Yes, that is Hollywood A-lister Kevin Bacon and Emmy Award-winning composer, Michael Bacon. The siblings have spent the better part of three decades creating their own mix of folk, rock, soul, and country music. They call that diverse sound "forosoco," and it's taken them around the world, from headlining gigs in Japan to American performances at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry and Gruene Hall.

Their last album, entitled Ballad of the Brothers, highlights the differences between the siblings and their latest release, a single called People in the World is an anthem highlighting the good in the world. (If you stay tuned through the end of the episode, you’ll get to hear that song in full).

Their summer tour is bringing them to the Morven Museum & Garden with the Princeton Festival this June.

Stick around to learn more about the band and music in film as Gina chats with Kevin Bacon, and Michael who joins a little bit later in the conversation.

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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Assimilation, Immigration, and the Dance-Nation within West Side Story

Thu, 21 May 2026 13:00:00 -0400

“West Side Story” is making its way to the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn this May and we could not be more excited. If you’re unfamiliar with the classic tale, we suggest you buckle up and get ready for an evening of music you’ll be singing all the way home, and likely for the foreseeable future.

Chances are you’ve already heard the most famous songs whether you’ve seen the musical or not. “I Feel Pretty,” “Somewhere,” and “America” have solidified their status in the pop culture zeitgeist.

With music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents, this unforgettable classic captures the thrilling passion of first love and the heartbreak of a world divided. Set in 1950s New York, the musical is a reimagining of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It would seem that these themes still resonate with audiences over 400 years later.

Today, Jersey Arts speaks with actors Antony Sanchez, who plays Bernardo, and Kyra Sorce who plays Consuelo in the upcoming Paper Mill production. Stay tuned for an exhilarating chat about the behind-the-scenes of building West Side Story.

Thanks for listening!

Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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Pearls of Wisdom with Violin Virtuoso Itzhak Perlman

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Today, we are speaking with the legendary violin virtuoso, Itzhak Perlman.

Winner of four Emmy Awards, sixteen Grammys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, a Kennedy Center Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Perlman is a superstar! A status, rarely afforded to classical musicians. He is beloved the world over for his talent, charm, and humanitarian efforts.

He will be inspiring audiences at the State Theatre New Jersey this April as he celebrates his 80th year and performs with his longtime recital partner, Rohan DeSilva. The program will include Mozart’s Sonata for Violin and Piano, No. 3 in B-flat Major; Franck’s Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major; Dvořák’s Sonatina in G Major; and others to be announced from the stage.

Stay tuned to learn more about Perlman’s outlook on music, education, and life.

Thanks for listening!

Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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The Gateway Playhouse Offers a Full Slate of Musicals and More

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:00:00 -0400

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.

In years past, the Gateway has split its season among straight plays and comedies with musicals. This year marks the first time that Gateway Playhouse has presented a full season made up entirely of musicals. Next on the marquee will be “Jesus Christ Super Star” followed by “Guys and Dolls” and then “9 to 5: The Musical.”

They are offering a lot more than just their main stage musicals but we’ll let today’s guests introduce themselves and then we can jump into everything the Gateway’s got to offer.

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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'Queen of Kids' Music' Laurie Berkner is Back on Home Turf for McCarter Concert

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0400

Laurie Berkner has been dubbed “The Queen of Kids’ Music” by People Magazine, and it’s not hard to see why. Berkner’s songs have been streamed 1.7 billion times. She’s sold 1.5 million albums and appeared at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Carnegie Hall, and the White House. She was even seen her in the recent HBO documentary, Happy and You Know It, which features some of the biggest names of the genre.

A graduate of Rutgers and raised in Princeton, New Jersey, Laurie Berkner will be back on home turf when her tour stops at McCarter Theatre for two performances on Sunday, March 22nd. She discusses her upcoming concert, the creative process, how she got started, and her 18th album coming out in June— Walking with the Penguins.

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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'Dog Man: The Musical' Unleashes the Pilkey-verse Onstage

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0400

From the mind of Captain Underpants creator Dav Pilkey, Dog Man is half dog, half policeman, and the beloved subject of 14 graphic novels, a major motion picture, and a theatrical production—Dog Man: The Musical. Director/choreographer Jen Wineman, book writer/lyricist Kevin Del Aguila, and composer Brad Alexander discuss bringing this beloved character and his strange, silly world to the stage.

The Dog Man: The Musical tour will perform at Bergen PAC on Saturday, March 21st and State Theatre New Jersey on Sunday, March 22nd.

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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ELO Lives On with The Orchestra's Blue Skies Forever Tour

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:00:00 -0500

Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Eric Troyer and Dave Scott-Morgan of The Orchestra.

This may be one of my favorite chats because I felt like a fly on the wall watching two very talented friends catch up. A somewhat talkative fly, but a fly nonetheless.

If you’re unfamiliar, “The Orchestra Starring ELO and ELO Part II Former Members” is a successor band to Electric Light Orchestra, formed by former members of ELO and ELO Part II. At its inception as ELO Part II, the group featured five ELO members and has since evolved into a true rock supergroup, continuing today as The Orchestra, carrying forward the music, legacy, and spirit of ELO for audiences around the world.

They can explain their history better than I can so I hope you’ll stick around and join me as we listen to two old friends banter, reminisce, and entertain the nosy fly on the wall.

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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Theresa Rebeck, Marisa Smith, and NJ Rep's Theatrical Sandbox by the Jersey Shore

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Theater aficionado’s will likely be familiar with the plays of Theresa Rebeck—the most Broadway-produced female playwright of our time and creator of the hit TV show, Smash. For the upcoming show, Samantha Inside Out at New Jersey Repertory Company, though, Rebeck is not the writer, but the director— a role she has increasingly enjoyed over the last several years.

Samantha Inside Out is a one-woman show by playwright Marisa Smith, a multi-hyphenate in her own right, who co-founded the publishing company, Smith and Kraus, which specializes in monologues. The two women are longtime friends and collaborators who chat with Jersey Arts about their upcoming show and the ins and outs of the theater business.

Thanks for listening!

Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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George Lopez on Comedy, Culture, and Representation

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:00:00 -0500

Today we’re speaking with comedian George Lopez about the ins and outs of fame, the current sociopolitical climate, and how these things inform his life and his comedy.

You may know Lopez from his standup specials like 2025’s “Muy Catolico,” “We’ll Do it For Half,” and “The Wall: Live from DC.” Maybe from his 2002 sitcom “The George Lopez Show” or the more recent “Lopez vs. Lopez” in which he starred with his daughter Mayan. Perhaps his talk show “Lopez Tonight,” which made him the first Mexican-American to host a late-night talk show on English-language television, or one of his many feature film appearances.

Heck, maybe you know him as an author. He has had his hand in so many different artistic avenues that it is hard not to be impressed. As a Chicano performer in an industry that still underutilizes Latino talent, he has become somewhat of an icon, with a career to aspire to.

Stay tuned to get to know a side of George Lopez you may not have seen yet. Then make sure to grab your tickets for his appearance at NJPAC this February!

Thanks for listening!

Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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Pioneer Productions Company Presents 'What the Constitution Means to Me'

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:00:00 -0500

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?

Well, if you’re not sure what’s in it but you’re intrigued and would like to learn through a fun and engaging night at the theater, Pioneer Productions Company invites you to their production of “What the Constitution Means to Me.”

And if you do know what’s in it and enjoy lively debate, you’re still going to want to see this show! But what is it really about?

The autobiographical two-time Tony-nominated play and Pulitzer finalist was written and first performed by Heidi Schreck. The synopsis reads: Fifteen-year-old Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions across the United States. In this hilarious, hopeful, and achingly human play, she resurrects her teenage self in order to trace the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that shaped their lives.

Miriam Salerno will tackle the role of Heidi alongside Benjamin Weisman as the Legionnaire under the direction of Pioneer Artistic Director Daniel Vissers. Ashlee Vissers will appear as the Debater.

Not only is this an engaging play, but this production is bookended by excitement, beginning with a pre-show USO performance by Jade Delos Santos and ending with a live debate where it is up to the audience to proclaim the winner!

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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Roomful of Blues Welcomes First Female Vocalist in Over Fifty Years

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:00:00 -0500

Today, we are highlighting the five-time Grammy Award-nominated band, Roomful of Blues. First formed in 1967, the group touts an impressive tenure approaching almost sixty years in the industry. While some new faces have come and gone in that tenure, the eight-piece blues band is still going strong- most recently welcoming their first female singer, D.D. Bastos, to the octet.

Together, the group has released their latest album “Steppin’ Out” featuring the group’s signature blues, jump, swing and soul sound including timeless gems first cut by Etta James, Big Mama Thornton, Jimmy McCracklin, Tiny Bradshaw and more.

Today I was honored to speak with lead guitarist and Roomful producer, Chris Vachon, and lead vocalist, D.D. Bastos, about their latest album, their journey into the band, and their love of the blues. Stay tuned to hear a special musical sneak peek as well.

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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'Christmas Carolmania' Ends Their World Premiere Tour at the Count Basie Center this Christmas

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 13:00:00 -0500

Today we are talking about a new musical concert experience celebrating the holiday spirit like never before! This holiday season, Koolist Entertainment is proud to launch a world premiere tour from the creators of Koolulam – The Mass Global Singing Sensation that swept the hearts of millions to sing together worldwide.

Producers Kathi and Alan Glist of Glist Entertainment are on the podcast today to explain what makes this show so unique and moving.

Married for 53 years, the duo make ideal partners both in entertainment and in life. They began their theatrical producing career with “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Oliver,” “The King & I” and “The Rothschilds” following that with their Off-Broadway sensation “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.”

The multiple Tony Award winners are also responsible for having discovered the off-Broadway sensation, "Menopause the Musical," which has since run for over nineteen years in Las Vegas and is now the longest running musical in Vegas history!

Their company, Glist Entertainment, has donated over one million dollars to Women’s Charities and most recently have raised and donated $75,000 to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Stay tuned to learn more about the new sensation that is "Christmas Carolmania!"

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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Spreading Joy (For All to Hear) with Surflight's Production of 'Elf, the Musical'

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0500

“It’s just nice to meet another human who shares my affinity for elf culture.”

While that may be a quote from the movie, "Elf", it’s also the truth. Gina is a huge fan of the movie and elf culture! While she's yet to see its musical counterpart, she was thrilled to have the chance to speak with Buddy himself, actor Dustin Ceithamer who is portraying the lead in the "Elf, the Musical" at Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven this December.

Directed and choreographed by Paula Hammons Sloan, the show is a fun holiday romp for the whole family and an exciting adaptation of a holiday classic. Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin are responsible for the musical score and the book was adapted by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan.

On today’s episode, Gina and Dustin chat about all things Elf, of course, and his experiences in both theater and film, including his tenure as a member of the Star Wars empire.

What it’s like to be one of the coolest people in the galaxy?

Thanks for listening!

Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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'Ben Schwartz and Friends' Tour Stops at NJPAC for First Ever Performance in New Jersey!

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 13:00:00 -0500

Today's episode is all about Ben Schwartz, improv, and his first ever performance in New Jersey.

You may know him as Jean Ralphio in “Parks and Rec,” Yasper in “The After Party,” Josh Bath in “The Earliest Show,” (which is coming back soon!) Clyde in “House of Lies” or maybe as the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog. That barely grazes the surface. His portfolio is long and varied. With roots in improv, he is an alumnus of the Upright Citizens Brigade, and known for his quick wit and high energy.

For the first time ever, he is bringing his improvisational show “Ben Schwartz & Friends” to the NJPAC this November.

Stay tuned to hear our host Gina's "super chill" chat with Ben Schwartz.

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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Theater Meets Mixed Martial Arts for Hamilton's Okieriete Onaodowan in World Premiere Play

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0500

If you’re a fan of Hamilton, he needs no introduction. Okieriete Onaodowan – also known as Oak to friends and fans – originated the roles of Hercules Mulligan and James Madison in the mega-hit musical. He also played Dean Miller on the TV show Station 19 and leads the new series Demascus–now streaming on Tubi–which the LA Times called a “must-watch”.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Oak is back in the Garden State at Two River Theater in Red Bank working on a play called The Monsters–a world premiere and co-production with Manhattan Theatre Club.

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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Shakespeare Theatre’s Frankenstein Reveals the Story Behind the Story

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0400

The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Frankenweenie, Poor Things… the story of Frankenstein has been adapted many times over and continues to find new relevance with each interpretation. Playwright David Catlin’s version, called Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, does double duty by presenting a story within a story. The show depicts both the tale of Frankenstein as well as the famous spooky storytelling competition that inspired it–giving audiences a look into the making of Victor Frankenstein's creature and the making of the novel itself.

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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Staying 'Jersey Fresh' with John Pizzarelli

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 13:00:00 -0400

John Pizzarelli is a guitarist and singer who has been hailed by the Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.” He’s been established as one of the prime contemporary interpreters of the Great American Songbook and has even expanded that repertoire by including the music of Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Antônio Carlos Jobim and the Beatles.

In addition to being a bandleader and solo performer, Pizzarelli has been a special guest on recordings for major pop names such as Natalie Cole, Kristin Chenoweth, Tom Wopat, Rickie Lee Jones and Dave Van Ronk, as well as leading jazz artists such as Rosemary Clooney, Ruby Braff, Johnny Frigo, Buddy DeFranco, Harry Allen and, of course, his father Bucky Pizzarelli. He won a Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category as co-producer of James Taylor’s American Standard in 2021.

He has performed on America’s most popular national television shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Conan, and Great Performances, as well as the talk shows of Jay Leno, David Letterman, Regis Philbin and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. And my favorite fun fact, the wonder of it all, is that he was the singer in the popular Foxwoods Casino commercials for just under a decade.

This October, he will be one of the featured headliners at the Jazz at the Point Festival hosted by the South Jersey Jazz Society.

Stay tuned to drop in on one of our most relaxed conversations with the delightful John Pizzarelli.

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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Movies and Mirth with Montclair Film

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 17:00:00 -0400

Let’s talk movies.

Here's another episode where Gina geeks out about movies with people who do just that, for a living! This time with the folks behind Montclair Film.

Joining me today are Tom Hall, Artistic Director of Montclair Film, and their new Executive Director, Tricia Haggerty Wenz.

We’re talking about the Montclair Film Festival, running October 17-26th, and all things Montclair Film.

Whether you’re a filmmaker, a movie lover, or just curious about film festivals - Montclair Film is the place to be.

Stay tuned to learn more about this year’s festival lineup, what goes into programming a festival, and if you’re into this sort of thing, the parties where you can hobnob with actors, filmmakers, and like-minded cinephiles.

Thanks for listening!

Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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Legendary Arturo Sandoval Brings His Talent to Rutgers University to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 13:00:00 -0400

Today we're speaking with trumpeter, Arturo Sandoval. He is a 10-time Grammy Award winner, an Emmy Award recipient, and a six-time Billboard Award winner. He also holds a Hispanic Heritage Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama, a Doctorate in Fine Arts from the prestigious Notre-Dame University, and was recently honored with a Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 and most recently, in 2024 he was one of the honorees of the Kennedy Center.

His career is a testament to his versatility and virtuosity. Born in Artemisa, Cuba, he was a protégé of the legendary Dizzy Gillespie and has evolved into one of the most dynamic live performers of our time.

With a background so interesting that HBO turned it into the award-winning film starring Andy Garcia, "For Love or Country - The Arturo Sandoval Story," he is a treat to listen to whether he’s blowing the horn or telling you his life story.

Stay tuned to learn more about one of the world’s most respected and admired musicians.

Sandoval will be bringing his talent and charm to Rutgers University in Camden on September 27th at 7pm.

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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Experience the Essence of Jazz with Grammy-Winner, Evan Sherman

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0400

Evan Sherman oozes the soothing essence of jazz, that quiet confidence that lulls you into a sense of calm.

Today, we're talking to the Grammy-winning drummer about his career trajectory. Hailing from the great Garden State, Sherman has been a professional musician since his teenage years, having played alongside greats like Ron Carter, Cyrus Chestnut, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, John Lee, and Branford and Wynton Marsalis.

In 2021, he released his debut quintet album, "Sidewalkin',' and he can be heard on Samara Joy's Grammy-winning 2023 recording of "Tight," and the 2024 release of "Portrait," as drummer and arranger.

Hang tight to hear from Evan Sherman and experience that soothing essence for yourself.

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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Movie Magic in the Garden State: Jon Crowley Talks Filmmaking in NJ

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0400

Join host Gina Marie Rodriguez as she speaks with Mr. Jon Crowley, the recently appointed Executive Director of the New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission, under the purview of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

Prior to joining the NJEDA, Crowley worked within the television industry for over two decades, producing and directing several well-known television series, including "Impractical Jokers," "House Hunters International," "Big Brother," "Trading Spouses," and many more. He also happens to be a two-time Emmy Award winner and CableACE Writing Nominee.

He now serves as the senior leader of all of New Jersey’s film initiatives, leading both the NJEDA’s film sector development work, as well as the management of the NJMPTVC.

If you’re a filmmaker or considering joining the industry, this is one episode you won’t want to miss. And if you simply love movies and the behind-the-scenes that make them possible, this one’s for you, too.

Stay tuned to meet Jon Crowley and learn just how impressive Jersey is when it comes to making movie magic.

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'Every Brilliant Thing' is the Perfect Show for East Lynne Theater Company's New Stage

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Today’s episode takes us to London, England. Well, sort of. East Lynne Theater Company’s production of “Every Brilliant Thing” is currently rehearsing across the pond and I was able to steal a few moments with actor Rohan Tickell and director Deirdre McLaughlin. Joining us from East Lynne’s headquarters in Cape May is Executive Director Mark David Boberick.

But what is “Every Brilliant Thing” about? Its synopsis reads - “A son creates a list of things worth living for – all in an attempt to raise the spirits of his chronically depressed mother. He leaves the list on her pillow. He knows she’s read it because she’s corrected his spelling. “Every Brilliant Thing” is a hope-infused exploration of all the joys that can be found in life and a reminder that eventually, every storm runs out of rain.

The Telegraph called it “funny, clever, and surprisingly uplifting.” Slant Magazine said it’s “one of those incredible, transformative phenomena of collective imagination.”

Host, Gina Marie, calls it a comedy with heart. But we’ll let you listen to these talented folks explain what it is they love about the show and let you decide. Check out today’s episode to learn more about “Every Brilliant Thing.”

Thanks for listening!

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Celebrating 20 Seasons of Premiere Stages with Original Play 'The Mallard'

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:00:00 -0400

Today we are highlighting Premiere Stages' twentieth season as they introduce their most recent production, “The Mallard,” written by Vincent Delaney and directed by John Wooten.

--Freya and Gillian are teachers who have offended their school board and lost their jobs. Davis and Reagan are yard sale fanatics in search of a priceless antique duck decoy, the Horace Crandall Mallard. What follows is a fierce, funny and escalating battle over a symbol that has wildly different meanings – intersecting the couples in a journey that far surpasses the quest for treasure.--

With a synopsis like that, humor and intrigue are sure to follow.

Jersey Arts speaks with both author Vincent Delaney, and cast members Susan Ferrara and Woodrow Proctor about what this show means to them and what audiences can look forward to.

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'Rent' Moves into the Pioneer Productions Stage in Morristown

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Today, we’re talking all things "Rent." Pioneer Productions Company of Morristown will be bringing the larger-than-life rock opera to a more intimate setting.

With music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical is quickly approaching its 30-year anniversary. The show first premiered on Broadway 29 years ago in 1996.

Set in New York City’s East Village amid the AIDS crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s, RENT tells the unforgettable story of a group of struggling artists navigating love, loss, identity, and the cost of living. With a raw, electrifying score and timeless message, RENT celebrates the power of community, chosen family, and living without regret.
Today, Gina is chatting with Director Shanna Levine-Phelps and actors Jade Delos Santos and Connor McDowell about the behind-the-scenes efforts it takes to bring such an iconic show to life.

Thanks for listening!

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John Gorka Visits the Lizzie Rose Music Room

Thu, 29 May 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Rolling Stone has called him "the leading singer-songwriter of the New Folk Movement." New Jersey’s own John Gorka is a world-renowned singer-songwriter who is most comfortable with a guitar in hand.

You may hear him strum the guitar occasionally throughout the piece and not just during his live performances! That's right, this episode includes three live serenades, including "I'm From New Jersey" and "Oh Abraham."

This is an episode you won't want to miss.

Thanks for listening!

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'The Shark is Broken' Brings Hollywood Foibles to the Stage at George Street Playhouse

Thu, 08 May 2025 11:00:00 -0400

"Jaws." It was an iconic moment in cinema history. The three-time Academy Award-winning film is credited as the first true “summer blockbuster,” having toppled box office records to become the top-grossing film of 1975. And as we approach its 50th anniversary, George Street Playhouse is bringing the behind-the-scenes story of the film’s making to the stage.

FADE IN: The open ocean, 1974. Filming is delayed…again. The lead actors—theatre veteran Robert Shaw and young Hollywood hotshots Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider—are crammed into a too-small boat, entirely at the mercy of foul weather and a faulty mechanical co-star. Alcohol flows, egos collide, and tempers flare on a chaotic voyage that just might lead to cinematic magic…if it doesn’t sink them all.

That’s the official description of the play, “The Shark is Broken,” written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon. Shaw is the son of the late actor Robert Shaw who played the memorable Captain Quint. He brings to life the moments of Jaws that had, prior to this show, lived only in the tall tales of Hollywood memory.

Check out today's episode to meet the talented cast of "The Shark is Broken," directed by Peter Flynn.

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Melissa Etheridge Prepares for Upcoming NJPAC Performance

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:00:00 -0400

Grammy Award-winning Melissa Etheridge has been a household name for the last thirty years, but most recently she has released a new album entitled “I’m Not Broken” and executive produced a docuseries of the same name. The album and the series were recorded live at the Topeka Correctional Facility in Kansas as an ode to the strength and perseverance of women.

Etheridge isn’t the first singer-songwriter to perform at a prison but this album is in good company with the likes of B.B. King’s “Live in Cook County Jail” and "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison.” As a matter of fact, it was another Johnny Cash performance in her hometown, at the Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary, when Etheridge was just nine-years-old that would one day become the seed of inspiration.

In advance of Etheridge’s 2025 tour and upcoming performance at NJPAC, Gina was able to steal a few moments of the icon’s time to talk to her about her new favorite song off her latest album, “A Burning Woman,” the progress of the LGBTQ community, the resilience of women, and the message behind her music.

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Bewitched by Botti: A Chat with the Grammy Winning Trumpeter

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 13:00:00 -0400

Jazz fans, rejoice! Grammy winning trumpeter, Chris Botti, will be gracing the stage of the Mayo Performing Arts Center this April.

For nearly three decades now, Botti has been one of the most popular instrumentalists in the world, boasting collaborations with stars like Sting, Paul Simon, Barbara Streisand, Lady Gaga, Frank Sinatra, Andrea Bocelli and many more.

His most recent album, produced by David Foster and entitled "Vol. 1," marks his debut album with Blue Note Records and features such classics as "My Funny Valentine," "Danny Boy, and "Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered." Some of which you might expect to hear at his upcoming performance. While his concerts tend to surprise audiences, you can certainly expect to be entertained.

Today’s episode finds Chris and Gina discussing his journey to becoming a musician, tales from the stage, advice for future performers and everything in between. Take a listen.

Thanks for listening!

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Broadway's Back at the State Theatre: 'Dear Evan Hansen' Takes the Stage

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0400

The six-time Tony Award winning show “Dear Evan Hansen” is bringing its North American Tour to the State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ. The show boasts music and lyrics by EGOT winners - that’s an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and a Tony - Benjamin Pasek and Justin Paul. “Dear Evan Hansen” offers a score that will have you whistling the tunes on your way out of the theater.

The show tackles some sensitive topics in a way that audiences have been connecting with deeply since its Broadway premiere in 2016. The musical focuses on lonely high school student, Evan Hansen, who always feels like he’s on the outside looking in. Evan finally gets what so many of us are searching for—the chance to fit in. What follows is a poignant, funny, and powerful musical about how even though it can be hard, we can find each other—and ourselves—along the way.

Gina Rodriguez and cast members Bre Cade and Caitlin Sams engage in an introspective discussion about what has been a groundbreaking and deeply touching musical.

Please note a Trigger Warning for today’s chat. Both this episode and the show itself will touch on child loss and death by suicide. Please listen with care.

Thanks for listening!

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Jonatha Brooke and Joyous Grief

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0400

Jonatha Brooke has a voice to soothe your soul, and the lyrics to nurture it. First introduced to audiences as a part of the duo, “The Story,” Brooke eventually turned to an illustrious solo career and has been gifting us with her own unique storytelling ever since.

Jonatha has quite the discography to boast with 14 albums over the past three decades, most of which were produced under her own independent label - Bad Dog Records. She has co-written songs with Katy Perry and The Courtyard Hounds. She's written and performed for Disney films, numerous television shows, and she composed and performed the theme song for Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse." She also wrote the one-woman musical show, “My Mother Has Four Noses” in honor of her own mom, and now finds herself writing for the stage once again with three new productions underway.

Check out today’s episode to learn more about the very talented Jonatha Brooke who will grace the stage of The Lizzie Rose Music Room this March 30th.

Thanks for listening!

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Grab Your Crowns and Ring in St. Paddy's with Pinky Patel at NJPAC

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 15:00:00 -0500

Pinky Patel is the crown adorned TikTok comedian you’ve come to know and love for her no holds barred, quick and quippy style. She speaks directly to audiences from her glam cave though sometimes she calls it - something else.

She claimed TikTok stardom while still working her corporate 9 to 5 job and playing PTA mom on the daily. It was the Covid pandemic and a close friend who gave her the push she needed to change her life. And now she’s telling it like it is, making folks laugh, and living life on her terms.

Her #ISaidWhatISaid tour visits Newark just in time for Women’s History Month. Check out today’s episode where Gina and Pinky chat feminist comedy, lifestyle tips, and women empowerment.

Thanks for listening!

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Baseball History Inspires Young Audiences in 'Catching the Moon'

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:00:00 -0500

Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl’s Baseball Dream is a musical based on the children’s book of the same title written by Crystal Hubbard. It tells the story of Marcenia Lyle, a young, Black girl growing up in the 1930s who went on to become Toni Stone, the first female to play as a regular for an all-male professional baseball team.

The Growing Stage in Netcong is only the second theater company to perform this inspirational show, so Jersey Arts spoke with actor Nyah Anderson, who plays Marcenia Lyle, and Steve Fredericks, Growing Stage Founder/Executive Director and the show’s director, to hear more about their production.

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New Jersey Symphony Puts the 'Tunes' in 'Looney Tunes'

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 13:00:00 -0500

35 years ago–well before orchestras performing film scores became popular–George Daugherty and his husband and producing partner David Wong developed Bugs Bunny at the Symphony. The concept was new at the time: a world-class orchestra would play full cartoon scores live alongside the films. It was an instant hit.

Of course, what makes Looney Tunes music different from many of the film scores played live is that it's based on some of the most famous classical repertoire in history. In fact, pieces by composers like Wagner and Rossini were not only the basis for Looney Tunes scores, but also provided plotlines for Bugs, Elmer, Daffy and the gang.

New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will perform Bugs Bunny at the Symphony February 14th, 15th, and 16th, so Jersey Arts spoke with creator George Daughtery (who tours with the program, conducting symphonies all over the world), and NJSO’s Vice President of Artistic Planning, Erin Norton, about their upcoming concerts.

Musical clips from "Warner Bros. Discovery Presents Bugs Bunny at the Symphony" used in this episode were performed by Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House, conducted by George Daugherty. LOONEY TUNES and all related characters and elements are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

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Dancing through the Air: 'Noli Timere' Marks World Premiere at McCarter Theater

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0500

“Noli Timere” is Latin for “be not afraid,” and the name of the world premiere presentation from Director and Choreographer, Rebecca Lazier and Sculptor, Janet Echelman. The collaboration features eight multidisciplinary performers dancing up to 25 feet in the air within a voluminous, custom-designed Echelman net sculpture.

Choreographed to an original score by JORANE, this fusion of contemporary dance, avant-garde circus, and sculpture explores the delicate interconnectedness and fragility of our world, offering a profound commentary on navigating our unstable ecosystem through art and advanced engineering.

One peak at Echelman’s net sculptures and you can immediately understand the breadth of talent on display. Known to sculpt at the scale of buildings and city blocks, this will be the first time that Echelman has designed a figure to allow for humans in her net.

Those humans are led by Princeton University Professor and choreographer, Rebecca Lazier who has choreographed more than 80 works presented in six countries. She is recognized as an audacious experimenter creating dances of explosive physical vitality inspired by the thinking and problem-solving that is possible through collaboration.

Take a listen to learn more about this impressive new spectacle, premiering worldwide at Mccarter Theater this February.

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Ferrell Studios Premieres Their First Full Length Play: 'The Shape of Things'

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0500

Founded by Luke Ferrell in 2022, Ferrell Studios offers exceptional and affordable performing arts education and theatrical productions. They offer a variety of classes and programs, including acting, musical theatre, playwriting, film and television acting, public speaking, and theory and criticism as well as private lessons for those who want to focus on a specific area of study.

At Ferrell Studios, they believe that the arts have the power to inspire, uplift, and transform. They strive to create a positive, supportive environment where students can feel confident and comfortable expressing themselves.

With a mission statement like that, there is a lot to expect from Ferrell Studios so it’s no surprise that their first full length play is something as thought-provoking as “The Shape of Things.”

Starring Catherine Hunt, Max Miiller, Breanna Schad, and Steven Franklin, the four-character play explores how far someone is willing to go and how much they change for who (or what) they love.

Here you can listen to our interview with director Uchenna Agbu and stars, Catherine Hunt and Max Miller. There’s a lot to break down.

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A Rockin' Christmas with Twelve Twenty-Four at the Levoy Theatre

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 13:00:00 -0500

Known for their electrifying renditions of classic holiday music, Twelve Twenty-Four combines the festive spirit with high-energy rock performances that will leave audiences of all ages wanting more.

They are the longest running Trans Siberian Orchestra Tribute band having begun in 2002, over twenty years ago! They will soon be thrilling audiences in Millville, NJ at the beautiful Levoy Theater on December 15th.

Jersey Arts chats with drummer and vocalist Van White, and vocalist Ekat Pereyra of Twelve Twenty-Four. Listen to hear them gush about Christmas, rock music, and more.

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Get to Know East Lynne Theater's Watson and Holmes

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 11:00:00 -0500

"How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?" A quote from the one and only Sherlock Holmes, by way of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in "The Sign of the Four."

Now, as improbable as it may seem, the truth is - the ever popular Sherlock Holmes died. And then, ten years later he came back to life. Imagine just how frustrated his devoted fans were at the time! In honor of this shocking story, East Lynn Theater in Cape May, will be reviving the two stories that tell the tale of Holmes’ demise and subsequent revival.

Written and directed by Mark Lang, this new adaptation, of Doyle’s “The Final Problem” and “The Adventure of the Empty House, the books in which we learn of the aforementioned death and resurrection of a beloved detective, will be presented radio-style on East Lynne’s stage, at the historic Cape May Presbyterian Church.

Jersey Arts speaks with Watson and Holmes themselves, Mark Lang and Joseph Travers respectively. Listen to learn more about the new show, “The Death of Sherlock Holmes”, Cape May, and some fun Sherlock Holmes trivia.

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Oscar Nominee José Rivera Explores AI and Aging through Theater

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0400

Award-winning playwright José Rivera brings both his writing and directing talents to New Jersey Repertory Company’s production, Your Name Means Dream. Rivera’s play explores the imagined highs and lows of artificial intelligence through the lens of healthcare–telling the story of Aislin, an aging woman who is being taken care of by Stacy, an A.I. entity.

Rivera may be most widely-known for his work in film. He earned an Oscar nomination for his screenplay of 2004’s The Motorcycle Diaries, and he was recently tapped to write the upcoming remake of the 1987 film, La Bamba. He sat down with the Jersey Arts Podcast to discuss his play, writing for stage and screen, and roller coaster that is show business.

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American Theater Group Celebrates Family and Heritage with 'My Italy Story'

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0400

"My Italy Story," written by Joseph Gallo, directed by Charlotte Cohn, and starring Michael Notardonato, is a nostalgic exploration of family, heritage and the ties that bind us. Spurred by pleas to help reunite his fractured family, a young man quits his job as a New York account executive and travels to Vallata — the tiny Italian town of his ancestors. Not until he returns home, however, does he discover a secret that unlocks his past.

Loosely inspired by his own experiences, Gallo wrote and originated the one-man show as an homage to family. He is now passing the reigns to Michael Notardonato who most recently appeared in the off-Broadway musical hit, Romeo and Bernadette. And you may remember distinguished director, Charlotte Cohn, from one of our previous podcasts covering the play, "Canned Goods."

Jersey Arts speaks to the trio about family, the immigrant experience, and the importance of storytelling. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be Italian to appreciate this play or this podcast.

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Let's 'FOCUS' on Jersey City

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 17:00:00 -0400

Art House Productions is collaborating with Kenia Rosete Dance to bring a new modern dance series to Jersey City.

The show, titled “FOCUS,” will feature two to four artists per night, who will present their own original choreography. Each artists' piece is a bite-size performance that showcases the dancers’ creative, unique, and innovative voices.

Audiences can expect an easy, fun and inspiring evening. Easy in the sense that you can step into the space without having any prior knowledge of dance. Fun because of the variety of choreographic work you’ll get to experience. And inspiring as you can watch each artist create a world of their own before your very eyes

Jersey Arts speaks with Art House Productions’ Executive Director, Meredith Burns, and choreographer and producer, Kenia Rosete of Kenia Rosete Dance.

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Norm Lewis: Actor, Activist & Broadway Icon

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 11:00:00 -0400

Theater icon Norm Lewis is known for a lot of things: breaking barriers as Broadway's first African-American Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera; lending his stunning baritone to the roles of Sweeney Todd, Porgy, and Jarvert; playing Senator Edison Davis on the hit TV show Scandal—the list goes on and on. But what you may not know that the Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and SAG Award nominee works just as hard behind the scenes as an activist and founding member of Black Theatre United.

On September 20th, Norm Lewis will sing at Mayo Performing Arts Center to kick off Mayo PAC’s 30th season, so he joined the Jersey Arts Podcast to chat about his upcoming concert, career highlights, Black Theater United, and one of his first-ever professional gigs at Jersey’s own Harrah’s Atlantic City.

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Surflight Sings in Hoagy Carmichael's Stardust Road

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 14:00:00 -0400

Even those who don’t know the name Hoagy Carmichael certainly know his songs. The composer behind “Heart and Soul,” “Georgia on my Mind,” “The Nearness of you,” and “Stardust” is celebrated through the musical "Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust Road." With only one previous professional production, the musical will find new audiences this September as part of Surflight Theatre’s 75th Anniversary Season. Producing Artistic Director Steve Steiner and the show’s musical director, Nick Kaminski, talk about Surflight, Long Beach Island, and their upcoming production of "Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust Road."

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Richie Furay Celebrates 80 Years with a Belated Birthday Bash at SOPAC

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 13:00:00 -0400

Jersey Arts talks to music icon - singer, songwriter, and guitarist Richie Furay, who boasts a 60 year musical career, having played with acclaimed groups such as Buffalo Springfield, Poco, the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band and of course, his own solo ventures.

He is an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. But perhaps most importantly, he’s a family man. The balance between home and career has defined much of his life and artistic pursuits. This is a topic touched upon in the upcoming documentary detailing his journey from musician to rock & roll pastor.

And if that’s piqued your interest, you can see a sneak peak of the film as he celebrates his 80th birthday bash with a Farewell Concert at SOPAC in South Orange this August.

Thanks for listening!

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He's Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band): John Lodge Returns to New Jersey

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 14:00:00 -0400

“I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band).” “Ride My See-Saw.” “Isn’t Life Strange?” These are just a few of the mega hit titles by The Moody Blues, and John Lodge is their bass guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He has been performing and recording with The Moody Blues for more than 50 years while also pursuing a successful solo career. He’s even been voted one of the “10 most influential bass players on the planet.”

A native of Birmingham, England, Lodge has been playing the guitar since he was just 13 years old. He now considers the guitar to be his best friend. And why wouldn’t he? They’ve done quite well together.

Lodge is now on tour with his album “Days of Future Passed - My Sojourn.” The tour was set to begin last year but unfortunately he experienced what was described to the public as “a serious medical issue” and was forced to postpone. Thankfully, he is doing well and back to what he does best - performing. And lucky for us, his tour will stop at the State Theatre New Jersey this July 13th.

Jersey Arts speaks to Mr. Lodge about his return to the tour, his creative process, and how he might advise future musicians to pursue their passion.

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Two River Theater's 'Pride on the Plaza' Welcomes All

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 20:00:00 -0400

This episode honors Pride Month, most specifically a particular celebration in Red Bank, NJ called “Pride on the Plaza” hosted by Two River Theater.

Pride Month has a storied history, much of it more distressing than celebratory, but that is exactly why Pride Month is so important. Centuries of degradation and segregation led to protests that grew to a cultural revolution designed to protect, and eventually celebrate, those in the LGBTQIA community. The first Pride March took place on June 28th, 1970 to honor the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, which many consider the birth of the gay liberation movement.

Exactly 54 years later, to-the-day, “Pride on the Plaza” will celebrate the joy and love alive in the vibrant LGBTQIA community. Organizers Hannah Walker, the Associate Director of Marketing at Two River Theater, and Lady Celestina, Two River’s Resident Drag Queen, speak about Pride Month and the event they’ve created, “Pride on the Plaza” now celebrating its 5th year.

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The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Welcomes New Artistic Director

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 11:00:00 -0400

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is New Jersey's largest professional theatre company dedicated solely to Shakespeare's canon and other classic masterworks. Previously under the leadership of artistic director Bonnie J. Monte since 1990, the theater has since welcomed Brian Crowe as the new Artistic Director as of January of 2024.

Brian has been with the organization for 29 years, formerly serving as the Director of Education and a Resident Director. He holds BFAs in Directing and Acting from Wright State University and was a Fellow at the 2000 International Salzburg Shakespeare Seminar. Also having served on the Executive Committee of the Shakespeare Theatre Association. Crowe may have big shoes to fill but he’s ready for the task.

During his tenure with STNJ, he has directed 27 plays in Shakespeare’s canon in over 60 productions, as well as numerous other plays. The Star-Ledger has even called Mr. Crowe “one of the state’s most ingenious directors.”

Jersey Arts speaks with Brian about his vision for the theater as he takes on this new role and the exciting lineup they have scheduled for this season.

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Peter Filichia: Theater Appraiser

Thu, 23 May 2024 12:00:00 -0400

You may know Peter Filichia from his 19 years as The Star Ledger’s theater critic or as a columnist for Masterworks Broadway, author of several books, Broadway Radio personality, or playwright. Filichia has worked in and around the theater for decades, he’s seen shows in 47 states and 20 foreign countries (he keeps a list), and after nearly 30 years of hosting the Theatre World Awards, he will be honored with their 2024 TWA Special Award.

Peter spoke with The Jersey Arts Podcast about theater criticism, how he fell in love with the art form, some of his favorite New Jersey theater experiences, and why he views himself as a "theatrical matchmaker" for audiences.

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Jazz's James Austin, Jr. Celebrates Stevie Wonder

Thu, 09 May 2024 11:00:00 -0400

If you’re a Stevie Wonder fan, you have to give jazz pianist and bandleader James Austin, Jr’s music a listen. His 2018 debut album, Songs in the Key of Wonder, reinterprets Stevie Wonder’s beloved catalog with a Jazz spin, creating beautiful new tracks.

Originally from Chicago and based in New Jersey, James began playing piano at age 3, went on to study under acclaimed jazz teacher Barry Harris, and was a semi-finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano competition. In addition to performing and carrying on his mentor’s work in Jazz education, Austin is also the curator of NJPAC’s monthly Jazz Jam Sessions.

Austin will perform at the Grunin Center for the Arts on Sunday, May 19th, and he spoke with us about his love of Stevie Wonder, arts education, and his upcoming concert.

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American Theater Group Presents the World Premiere of 'Canned Goods'

Thu, 02 May 2024 15:00:00 -0400

First time playwright Erik Kahn has managed to showcase the beauty of overcoming one’s circumstances. Set on August 31st of 1939, his play “Canned Goods” details the little known false flag operation that preceded the start of the Second World War. Three men were code named “Canned Goods” by Himmler and were used by the SS to justify Hitler’s invasion of Poland.

Heartening in its own right, the play is a commentary on the resilience of man. Humor is often vital to survival. This play allows those moments to shine through. As in life, there is darkness; but there is humor, and there is strength. Despite its title, this play is about human beings and the duality and nuance that come with existence.

Director Charlotte Cohn and Erik Kahn join The Jersey Arts Podcast to discuss the complexities of this world premiere show, the process of bringing it to life, and the importance of theater as a mirror.

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NJ Youth Symphony Celebrates 45 Years of Music Education

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:00:00 -0400

Involvement in New Jersey Youth Symphony, a program of Wharton Arts in Union County, is not just about honing musical technique, it’s also about developing life skills. On Sunday, May 5th, the organization will celebrate its success with students and alumni at the NJ Youth Symphony 45th Anniversary Concert. As a special treat, founding Music Director/Conductor (and current Founder/Artistic Director of the Discovery Orchestra) George Marriner Maull will be back for the first time to guest conduct part of the concert.

We spoke with Maull and Wharton Arts Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Helen Cha-Pyo about the New Jersey Youth Symphony’s history, arts education philosophy, and upcoming anniversary concert.

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Jonathan Larson's 'Tick Tick... BOOM!' Rocks George Street Playhouse

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 12:00:00 -0400

Musical theater nerds can rejoice, George Street Playhouse is bringing back “Tick Tick… BOOM!,” the posthumously produced musical by Jonathan Larson, best known for having written the widely known rock opera, “Rent.”

George Street Playhouse Artistic Director, David Saint, was a close friend of Jonathan Larson. And to honor his friend, almost 30 years since his passing, Saint is directing a new production of “Tick Tick… BOOM!”

If you loved the film but have never seen the show on stage, now's your chance! And if you've been a fan for years, you can celebrate another opportunity to enjoy the life and music of Jonathan Larson in person.

Jersey Arts speaks with Director David Saint and star of the show, Daniel Marconi (Jonathan) to learn about the history, joy, and tragedy that led to the “Tick Tick… Boom!” we know today.

Rutgers students are eligible for a special ticket discount which can be retrieved by calling the George Street Playhouse box office at 732-246-7717.

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At 'Matilda' in Concert, Composer David Newman, Danny DeVito and NJ Symphony Orchestra will Share the Stage

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0400

Composer David Newman is part of the most Oscar-nominated extended family of all time. He has scored more than 100 films including the 1997 animated classic "Anastasia," for which he received his Academy Award nomination (not to mention "The Brave Little Toaster," "The Sandlot," "Never Been Kissed," "Ice Age"...)

The 1996 film adaptation of Roald Dahl's "Matilda" is one of several collaborations between Newman and New Jersey's own Danny DeVito, and on March 22nd, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will present "Matilda" live in concert conducted by Newman with live narration by DeVito.

David Newman talked with the Jersey Arts Podcast about scoring films like "Matilda," his legendary family, and preserving film music for future generations.

For more information on "Matilda" in concert, please visit STNJ.org.

This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

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Violinist Claire Chan Chats Strings and 'Music at Bunker Hill'

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0500

“I know that the most joy in my life has come to me from my violin” - Albert Einstein

As their website reads, “The Harlem Chamber Players is an ethnically diverse collective of professional classical musicians dedicated to bringing high-caliber, affordable, accessible live music to people in the Harlem community and beyond. The Harlem Chamber Players help build diverse audiences for live classical music through community and educational outreach and collaborations with other arts organizations, schools and cultural institutions. The Harlem Chamber Players also promote community wide access to the arts and arts inclusion.”

And in honor of Women’s History Month, their program “100 Years of Women Composers” will grace the stage of "Music at Bunker Hill" in Sewell on March 17th.

In advance of this performance, Jersey Arts spoke with violinist Claire Chan, a member of their String Quartet.

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Flower & Flame: A New Documentary Highlighting Glasswork Artist, Paul J. Stankard

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 15:00:00 -0500

Paul J. Stankard is an internationally acclaimed artist and pioneer in the studio glass movement. His lifelike, nature-based glassworks have changed the paperweight world over his forty-year artistic career. Having begun his career working in scientific glassblowing, it was through this industry that he found creativity and learned that he was indeed an artist.

He is now the subject of a new documentary by Director Dan Collins, “Paul J. Stankard: Flower & Flame” set to screen at the Perkins Center for the Arts in Collingswood on February 24, 2024.

Jersey Arts speaks to Paul J. Stankard and Dan Collins about their new film and the work it takes to create both glass and film.

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East Meets West with CelloGayageum

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 13:00:00 -0500

Over a decade ago, a Korean musical genre known as KPop rose in popularity amongst US audiences. We can probably thank Psy and his song "Gangnam Style" for that. But there is so much more to Korean music than KPop! And U.S. audiences are in for a treat when they discover CelloGayageum.

The group, founded by Austrian cellist, Sol Daniel Kim, and gayageum player, Dayoung Yoon will be introducing U.S. audiences to their unique sound with their first North American tour. In celebration of the lunar new year, Cellogayageum will pursue their mission to create a harmony of East and West. For music enthusiasts, this is where classical music meets Korean tradition.

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Getting 'Fun & Slutty' with Jonathan van Ness

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 11:00:00 -0500

A nonbinary hero himself, Jonathan van Ness rose to fame as the hairstylist to heroes, the name Netflix’s “Queer Eye” reboot gives to its episodic guests. But Jonathan’s been an artist long before “Queer Eye.” Beyond the artistry required in his work as a stylist, Jonathan has been on stage as a comedian for years. His web series “Gay of Thrones,” a weekly comedic recap of HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” where he starred as none other than an opinionated hairstylist, was a hit for Funny or Die. He is also the host of his very own podcast, “Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness.” And in addition to all of that, he is also a New York Times Best Selling author.

Jersey Arts and JVN talk hair, gender identity and more in advance of his upcoming standup comedy special, “Fun & Slutty” at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

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Ring in the New Year with The Jersey Tenors at Surflight Theater

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0500

As his bio reads, Brian Noonan “has starred on Broadway and National Touring Companies as The Phantom in Phantom of the Opera, Enjolras in Les Miserables, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in Jekyll & Hyde, Cable in South Pacific with the legendary Robert Goulet, Gus/Growltiger in

Cats, and Jesus Christ Superstar. As an international concert soloist, Mr. Noonan

has performed for a myriad of Presidents and world dignitaries.”

He is now the founder and managing director of the The Jersey Tenors, the newest Opera/Rock Mash-up sensation. The Tenors create an explosive blend of iconic Opera classics alongside Rock n’ Roll greats like Queen, Elton John, and Bon Jovi- to name a few. But they never forget their Jersey roots, highlighting Jersey legends like Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons of course, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen and even Ms. Whitney Houston herself.

Jersey Arts speaks with Brian Noonan about what it takes to be a Jersey Tenor ahead of their Bubbly Bash at the Surflight Theater on New Year’s Eve.

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Ana Gasteyer: Comedy's Queen of Christmas

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:00 -0500

Ana Gasteyer is headed to Kean Stage on December 17th with a concert tour in support of her 2019 holiday album, Sugar and Booze. The Saturday Night Live alum and classically-trained singer has numerous Broadway shows, films, and TV credits under her belt–most recently starring in NBC’s American Auto. Gasteyer chats about her upcoming concert, Broadway, SNL, her high school musical, and what’s still ahead on her "to-do" list.

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Nancy Reed Dishes on Duke Ellington's 'Nutcracker' and Morris Museum's new 'Grinch Suite'

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0500

Duke Ellington was a jazz composer and bandleader in the early 1900s. He is quite possibly one of the greatest jazz composers of all time. Written alongside collaborator, Billy Strayhorn, "The Nutcracker Suite" is a jazz reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s" Nutcracker Suite."

The Water Gap Jazz Orchestra will be performing Ellington’s rendition alongside the new "Grinch Suite," written by WGJO director, Dr. Matt Vashlishan.

Featuring Ellington’s own grandson, Mr. Edward Ellington II, as narrator and Mrs. Nancy Reed as vocalist, the performance stands to be an excellent way to ring in the holiday season.

Jersey Arts speaks to Nancy Reed about her experience working with the orchestra as well as her own history with jazz.

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Christmas Fiddle and Fun: A Conversation with Eileen Ivers

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 13:00:00 -0500

Eileen Ivers has been called “the Jimi Hendrix of the violin,” as reported by the New York Times. A master of the violin, which is also known to be a fiddle, dependent on the way in which it is played, Ivers is known to be the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today.

Grammy-awarded and Emmy-nominated, Ivers has guest starred with over 50 orchestras, toured with the likes of Sting, Hall and Oates, and The Chieftains, founded her own group called Cherish the Ladies, composed for movie soundtracks like “Gangs of New York,” and performed for Presidents and Royalty worldwide.

Today, Jersey Arts speaks with Eileen Ivers in advance of her upcoming Christmas show, "A Joyful Christmas" at the Raritan Valley Community College on December 15, 2023.

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Get Ready for Christmas with "A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live On Stage"

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0500

Charlie Brown, created by Charles M. Schulz first appeared in 1950 in the St Paul Pioneer Press. Over 70 years later, Charlie Brown and his friends are still entertaining audiences.

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" was the first television program based on Schulz’ comic strip and it aired in 1965. Since then, the beloved Christmas classic has been adapted for the stage with much acclaim. "A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage" has been delighting Peanuts fans since 2013.

The touring production will soon be stopping at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, NJ for a one day, two performance run.

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"Lost in Yonkers" Finds Its Way to Morristown

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 12:00:00 -0400

Pioneer Productions Company is dedicated to sharing the collective human story through live theatrical performance by producing shows that are relevant to our time and inspiring audiences to attend live theatre.

And it serves their mission well that their upcoming show is Neil Simon’s “Lost in Yonkers.” Though set in 1942, the play echoes the troubles of our modern world and speaks to audiences through the eyes of a dysfunctional albeit entertaining New York family.

The play boasts the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama along with four Drama Desk Awards and another four Tonys including Best Play. Focusing on two young boys, after the death of their mother, who are abruptly left with their forbidding grandmother and their young aunt with an intellectual disability, the play shows audiences a glimpse of one family’s difficult life in NY during the WWII era. Bringing both humor and heart to a troublesome time.

Jersey Arts speaks with Pioneer Productions Company Founder and “Lost in Yonkers” Director, Dan Vissers and his cast, Heidi Molnar and Noah Shidlovsky about their upcoming production.

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Patricia Quinn Celebrates 48 Years of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and Magenta

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:00:00 -0400

It’s officially Spooky Season and quite possibly, the best season for a night of debauchery with "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" 48th Anniversary Spectacular Tour. On October 25th at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, NJ, Rocky Horror fans will be treated to a screening of the original unedited film alongside a live shadowcast. Audience participation is encouraged and expected.

Patricia Quinn, the film’s very own Magenta, will be in attendance as well with special VIP Meet & Greets available.

Jersey Arts speaks with Patricia about Rocky Horror and their journey from stage to screen as we celebrate 48 years of this cult classic film.

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2X Grammy Award Winner Gloria Gaynor Still Loves a Challenge

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 11:00:00 -0400

Gloria Gaynor is best known as the queen of disco with her mega-hit dance anthem, “I Will Survive,” but this Jersey girl has never stopped taking risks and building on her success.

JerseyArts chats with the music legend about growing up in New Jersey, how she got her big break, the legacy of disco, her new “Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive” documentary, and her Sept. 16 concert at bergenPAC.

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Premiere Stages Launches “Satellites”

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 11:00:00 -0400

"Satellites" will make its world premiere this July at the aptly named Premiere Stages at Kean University. Having previously won the 2022 Premiere Play Festival, the show penned by Erin Breznitsky will celebrate its first full stage production under the direction of Premiere Stages' Artistic Director, John J. Wooten.

"Satellites" orbits around married couple Katherine & Mike who are each on a mission to save the world. She's a scientist studying climate change; he's an astronaut exploring the unknown. When Mike's shuttle vanishes in outer space, Katherine forges ahead alone, raising their children and continuing her life's work until Mike suddenly reappears without explanation. As the couple struggles to adjust to his strange return, they're forced to reexamine their entire relationship—while also facing an uncertain future.

Jersey Arts speaks with playwright Erin Breznitsky and director John J. Wooten on their first day of rehearsal.

LINKS
Premiere Stages at Kean
Erin Breznitsky

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"Shipwrecked!" an Epic Outdoor Journey

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 15:00:00 -0400

On The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Outdoor Stage arrives an epic play with an equally epic title: "Shipwrecked! An Entertainment—The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as Told by Himself)."

Louis de Rougemont was the pen name for real-life raconteur Henri Louis Grin, who sold serialized stories of his imagined adventures to the British World Wide Magazine in the late 1800s. After he was exposed as a fraud, The World Wide Magazine went on to publish the quote: “Truth is stranger than fiction, but De Rougemont is stranger than both."

In 2009, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Marguiles took the tales and re-imagined the 19th Century language and cultural awareness for a modern audience. His version of Louis de Rougemont is therefore a fictionalization of a fictionalization – an excited adventurer who recounts his fantastical journeys of sword fights, flying wombats, and a giant octopus for audiences eager to go along for the ride.

Jersey Arts speaks with actor Bruce Cromer, who plays the title character, and Doug West, director/co-scenic designer.

LINKS
Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

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The Boxmasters Rock New Jersey

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 12:00:00 -0400

You may know Billy Bob Thornton as an Oscar-winning writer, Oscar-nominated actor, and award-winning director, or maybe you simply know him as "Bad Santa,” but did you know he is also an accomplished singer and songwriter?

Along with his friend J.D Andrew, Billy founded the rock and roll group, The Boxmasters. The Boxmasters have recorded an impressive and diverse catalog of music that touches on their love of a wide array of influences, but most importantly, the rock and roll of the 1960s. Their tour will soon bring them to New Jersey where audiences can enjoy the up-tempo tunes reminiscent of The Beatles, Byrds, and Beach Boys.

Having opened for the likes of ZZ Top, Steve Miller, George Thorogood and Kid Rock, The Boxmasters have proven to win over large audiences.

Jersey Arts is joined by Billy Bob Thornton and J.D. Andrew, who are currently on a cross-country tour of the US promoting their latest album, '69.

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Mile Square Theatre Hits It Out of the Park With 7th Inning Stretch

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:00:00 -0400

As the birthplace of baseball, Hoboken is the perfect New Jersey city to celebrate our national pastime; and Mile Square Theatre, the perfect venue.

Annually, the Hoboken theater commissions seven playwrights to each write a 10-minute play involving the American game. This 19th year of “7th Inning Stretch” runs June 16th and 17th. The sentiment of the plays rounds the bases from heartwarming to hysterical; realistic to absurd.

Jersey Arts speaks to Mile Square Theatre’s Artistic Director, Kevin R. Free, and two of this year’s “7th Inning Stretch” playwrights, Michelle Tyrene Johnson and Tim J. Lord.

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Luna Stage Explores NJ’s Black History Through the Lens of Howe House

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -0400

The historic James Howe House was home to a formerly enslaved man, abolitionist and Montclair's first African American homeowner. Thanks to a large-scale collaboration between historians, preservationists, artists, and the teams at Luna Stage and Crossroads Theatre Company, the story of Howe House over the last nearly 200 years will be told through the upcoming play "The Ground on Which We Stand."

Luna Stage artistic director Ari Laura Kreith and award-winning playwright and screenwriter Richard Wesley join JerseyArts to discuss this period of Black history in New Jersey as told through the lens of the historic Howe House.

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101 Humiliating Stories Made Vivid

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 12:00:00 -0400

Laura Ekstrand is the Producing Artistic Director of Vivid Stage in Summit, New Jersey, as well as its next leading lady. Starring in 101 Humiliating Stories by Lisa Kron, she will headline the first performance of Vivid Stage's Solo Series from April 13 to 16.

"In this one-woman show, the actor shares a series of humiliations past, present and future, including exquisitely detailed anecdotes like "Geeky Celebrity Encounters" and "How I Spent All the Petty Cash From My Office on Makeup." An invitation to perform at her high school reunion in Lansing, Michigan, triggers another series of anxiety-filled fantasies. How will she, a lesbian East Village performance artist, cope with her Midwestern classmates? 101 Humiliating Stories is evocative, moving and overall hilarious."

Jersey Arts speaks with Ekstrand about the relatable humor of 101 Humiliating Stories and learns more about what programming and opportunities Vivid Stage has to offer.

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“The Shot” Reveals Historic Washington Post CEO Katherine Graham’s Harrowing History

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0400

During her tenure as President of The Washington Post, Katharine Graham published the Pentagon Papers, ran the Watergate story and served as the first female CEO of a Fortune 500 company, but her journey to career success was a traumatic one.

Robin Gerber’s play The Shot, coming to New Jersey Repertory Company April 6-23, reveals the harrowing events that led to Graham taking the helm, including a history of domestic abuse and her husband’s suicide.

Host Maddie Orton speaks with playwright Robin Gerber, director/dramaturg Michelle Joyner, and star Sharon Lawrence (Joe Pickett, On Becoming a God in Central Florida, NYPD Blue, Grey’s Anatomy) about creating The Shot.

Please note, this conversation includes a discussion of partner abuse and suicide, so listen with care.

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The 21st Garden State Film Festival

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 23:00:00 -0500

This year’s Garden State Film Festival kicks off Thursday, March 23, and will be serving up a four-day weekend of more independent films and one-of-a-kind events than even the most die-hard moviegoer could take in.

Since the first festival in 2003, GSFF has provided opportunities for aspiring filmmakers and actors to network with industry pros and have their work showcased in one of the country’s most iconic cities – New Jersey’s Asbury Park.

Five venues there, the Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove and the Cranford Theater will host a weekend of films.

Jersey Arts recently spoke with Garden State Film Festival’s Executive Director Lauren Concar, festival founder Diane Raver, Associate Director of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission David Schoner, Director of Communications for New Jersey Public Broadcasting Service Debra Falk, feature screenplay winner Kelly Byrne, and festival host Sophia Lucia about what to expect this year.

LINKS
Garden State Film Festival

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A Lightning Thief on the Growing Stage

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0500

“When teenager Percy Jackson discovers he’s a demigod, he and his friends embark on an epic journey to find Zeus’s missing lightning bolt and prevent a war among the gods.”

That is the synopsis for “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical,” produced by The Growing Stage, The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey, in Netcong March 10-26, 2023.

The Growing Stage’s mission is to nurture the development of the performing arts through education, and to create, produce and perform works that engage the entire family.

Based on the novel by Rick Riordan, with a book by Joe Tracz and music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki, this rock musical is theater for the whole family to enjoy.

Jersey Arts speaks with “The Lightning Thief” vocal coach Melinda Bass O’Neill and actress Jeorgi Smith as they prepare to launch this production by The Growing Stage.

LINKS
The Growing Stage

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Bradley Gibson Is Ready to “Go the Distance” as Hercules

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 14:00:00 -0500

Bradley Gibson (“A Bronx Tale,” “The Lion King,” “The Partner Track”) has big sandals to fill as the titular role in “Disney’s Hercules,” but if anyone’s ready to play the lovable demigod, it’s him. As a child, Bradley was a huge fan of the 1997 animated Disney movie, and taking on the character has helped him find new meaning in, and love for, the story. Gibson leads a star-studded cast at Paper Mill Playhouse from Feb. 16 -March 19. He chats with Jersey Arts about his love for the 1997 film, developing a well-known animated character for the stage, and what it feels like to star in a Disney production.

LINKS
Paper Mill Playhouse

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Carmen Matarazzo Talks” Sweeney Todd” and Crafting the Role of Tobias

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0500

Carmen Matarazzo, a graduate of Pinelands High School in New Jersey, is an actor/drummer who has been seen in multiple productions at his high school and several theaters across the state including Mary Poppins (Robertson Ay), Clue: On Stage (Professor Plum), Spring Awakening (Ernst), The Addams Family (Lucas), The Sound of Music (Captain Von Trapp).

Carmen will star as Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at the Levoy Theatre in Millville, New Jersey Feb. 10 - 19. His older brother, Gaten, who plays Dustin on Stranger Things, will be tackling the same role on Broadway within a span of two weeks.

Jersey Arts chats with Carmen about Sondheim, Sweeney Todd and how Carmen and his siblings came to love the business of show.

LINKS
Levoy Theatre

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Eagle Theatre Is Having a “Wild Party”

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 18:00:00 -0500

It’s a night of music, dancing, drugs, and deception—and that’s only act one! Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party takes the stage at Hammonton’s Eagle Theatre from February 9-26, bringing Joseph Moncure March’s 1928 narrative poem of the same title to life. The musical tells the story of a romance between Vaudeville performers gone awry, and is set against a backdrop of eccentric characters, catchy tunes, and a soirée that won’t soon be forgotten.

Jesey Arts talks with Producing Artistic Director and show Director Angela Longo about The Wild Party’s cult following, history, and upcoming Eagle Theatre production.

CONTENT WARNING: this episode mentions substance abuse and domestic violence, as they relate to the plot.

LINKS
Eagle Theatre

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Caroline Rhea on the Art of Stand-up Comedy

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Comedian Caroline Rhea is back on tour for the first time in years, and she's got plenty of material! Most recognized for her work as Hilda Spellman on the hit TV series Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Rhea is also known and loved for The Caroline Rhea Show, as a voice on Disney Channel's Phineas and Ferb, her recurring spots on Hollywood Squares and The Match Game, A Very Sordid Wedding, A Mrs. Miracle Christmas, and her many stand-up specials.

Rhea talks with Jersey Arts Podcast about the art of stand-up comedy, tour life, Sabrina and parenthood. There are two performances of New Year's Eve with Caroline Rhea Dec. 31 at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center.

LINKS
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center

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A Homecoming at Crossroads Theatre Company

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0500

Crossroads Theatre Company's upcoming production of Chicken & Biscuits Dec. 21-31 at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center as is about coming home. The play itself is a comedy about a family reuniting and will run over the holidays as many people head home to celebrate and hopefully catch some theater with family and friends. It is also a homecoming of sorts to returning Artistic Director Ricardo Khan, who co-founded Crossroads Theatre Company in 1978, returned in 2020, and is working with director Lynda Gravátt, one of his early collaborators. Jersey Arts Podcast chats with Ricardo Khan about his upcoming show, co-founding Crossroads, and what the spring season has in store.

LINKS

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Sons of Serendip Bring “Christmas: Beyond the Lights” to South Orange Performing Arts Center

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 15:00:00 -0500

Classical crossover ensemble Sons of Serendip broke onto the scene in 2014 after competing on America’s Got Talent, and they’ve been going strong ever since. They’re currently touring the country spreading their signature style of holiday cheer and will perform at South Orange Performing Arts Center Dec. 7.

Jersey Arts Podcast speaks with lead vocalist Micah Christian and pianist Cordaro Rodriguez about how their call to make music brought Sons of Serendip together, and how their second album, Christmas: Beyond the Lights, has become a holiday tradition.

LINKS

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“Jersey City Nutcracker” Brings Holiday Tradition Home

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 13:00:00 -0500

For more than a decade, Jersey City has had its own special holiday tradition: Nimbus Dance’s Jersey City Nutcracker. The city-centric show runs from Dec. 9 through 23 at the new Nimbus Arts Center.

Host Maddie Orton talks with Nimbus Dance Founding Artistic Director Sam Pott, who choreographed and co-wrote the piece, School Director Harumi Elders, and student dancer Izzy Baculod about being a part of this celebrated annual show.

LINKS
Nimbus

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A Chat With Evelyn Colbert About Montclair Film, Its Festival and Tribute to Daniel Craig

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Evelyn "Evie" McGee Colbert is an arts advocate, a film producer, and one of the founding board members of Montclair Film, a nonprofit that produces a festival that “connects global filmmakers with audiences in a diverse, culturally vibrant community” and more, “presenting … year-round programs that engage, entertain and educate through the power of visual storytelling.”

The 2022 festival is in its 11th season and it opens Friday, Oct. 21 at the Wellmont Theater with a special screening of “The Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” starring Daniel Craig. Friday, Oct. 28 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, Montclair Film will present its 2022 Tribute to the “James Bond” star who will then discuss his life and career with “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert.

In this discussion with host Gina Marie Rodriguez, Evelyn shares what audiences can expect from Montclair Film, the 2022 festival and the “Evening with Daniel Craig + Stephen Colbert.”

LINKS
Montclair Film

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Renée Elise Goldsberry Talks About “Hamilton,” “Girls5eva,” and Her Ever-Evolving Concert

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 13:00:00 -0400

Renée Elise Goldsberry is the Grammy Award- and Tony Award-winning talent behind Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton and currently appears on She-Hulk and Girls5eva.

Goldsberry is headed to Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown on September 30th for her concert called Opening Night: An Evening with Renée Elise Goldsberry.

She chatted with host Maddie Orton about creating a show of songs she loves.

LINKS
Mayo Performing Arts Center

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Zimmerli Art Museum Offers First Look at Newly-Acquired Jersey City Museum Collection

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0400

The Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University in New Brunswick is showcasing its newly-acquired American art collection from the former Jersey City Museum for the first time. "American Stories: Gifts from the Jersey City Museum Collection” shares Jersey City history through work from artists like Chakaia Booker, May Stevens, Shelia Pepe, Melvin Edwards, and Jaune Quick-to-See Smith.

Host Maddie Orton spoke with Zimmerli Chief Curator Donna Gustafson Chief Curator about what we can look forward to seeing.

Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022 from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., the museum will host “SparkNight,” an opening celebration and dance party for the exhibit.

LINKS

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Meet the Décima: David Broza & Trio Havana Share the Art of Cuban Music

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 14:00:00 -0400

Israeli superstar David Broza together with Cuban dynamo Trio Havana will finally return to the South Orange Performing Art Center on Sept. 17.

David Broza has been enlivening audiences with his flamenco-infused stylings of a diverse body of work — from rock to jazz to Spanish classical and more — for nearly 45 years.

For promoting tolerance with his music, Broza was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and awarded a Spanish royal medal of honor.

Trio Havana is comprised of bassist and musical director Jorge Bringas; singer-songwriter and master percussionist Manuel Alejandro Carro; and singer-songwriter and master tres player Yuniel Jimenez.

Some members of the Trio had first accompanied Broza for what was to have been a one-time gig but turned out to be what Broza called ‘brilliant.’ “The strongest formula for presenting a song…to hear the details and feel the passion of the storyteller and the instruments accompanying it, trio is it,” he said. “It's become to me the ultimate presentation of my music.”

After having been postponed three times due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and the aftermath of Hurricane Ida and its damage to SOPAC in 2021, the musicians are eager to perform for their dedicated ticket holders and new faces alike.

LINKS

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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

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 13:00:00 -0400

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.

Roumain has worked with Lady Gaga, Philip Glass, Savion Glover, Bill T. Jones, and many more. He won an Emmy for composing music for ESPN, and he scored the film Ailey, a documentary about legendary choreographer Alvin Ailey, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival last year.

In this episode, we speak with Roumain about his unique role at NJ Symphony, Black classical music and hip-hop’s global influence.

The Newark Museum of Art’s summer concert series continues Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. with Simply Simone: The Music of Nina Simone.

Aug. 11 — A Night of Jazz and Soul with Patience Higgins and the Sugar Hill Quartet

Aug. 17 — Bass & Flute Extravaganza

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The Haunting of Night Vale ... And NJPAC

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 21:00:00 -0400

Next Friday, June 24, the team behind the hit podcast series Welcome to Night Vale brings its live show, “The Haunting of Night Vale,” to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey.

***EDITOR’S NOTE: The performance at NJPAC has been rescheduled to Fri, 04/21/23 at 7:00 p.m. ***

According to The New York Times, “the news out of Night Vale sounds like what might occur if Stephen King or David Lynch was a guest producer at your local Public Radio Station.” The arts and culture magazine Vulture called it “the foundational institution of the fiction-podcast genre.”

The show at NJPAC is the last performance of a monthslong US tour, and it’s happening just a week after Welcome to Night Vale’s tenth anniversary.

We recently spoke with co-creator and writer Jeffrey Cranor and cast member and live show emcee Kate Jones about hitting that ten year milestone, life on the road and in the recording studio, and what it’s like when your quirky, spooky, funny podcast suddenly gets millions of new listeners.

LINKS

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A Special Reading of “Whittier,” New Docudrama by Tylie Shider, Inaugural Playwright in ArtYard Artist Residency Program

Mon, 16 May 2022 14:00:00 -0400

This Saturday, May 21, theatergoers are invited to join ArtYard in Frenchtown for a reading of Whittier, a new docudrama by TyLie Shider. Whittier is a neighborhood in Minneapolis close to where the murder of George Floyd took place. Shider’s new play follows residents of Whittier grappling with that tragedy, as well as the stresses of life during the lockdown of 2020. A playwright, poet, and journalist, TyLie Shider is also the inaugural playwright in ArtYard’s artist residency program, curated by Deonté Griffin-Quick. Discover Jersey Arts recently spoke with Shider, Quick, and director Andrew Binger about bringing Whittier to the stage.

LINKS

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How Basement Productions Prepared Sarah Rasmussen for McCarter

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 18:00:00 -0400

You could say that Sarah Rasmussen, McCarter Theatre's new Artistic Director has been training for this role since the 7th grade. From auditioning kids in the backyard of her South Dakota home to presenting her artistry on major stages across the country, Sarah has maintained her sense of playfulness with the art form. Now her McCarter directorial debut, "Ride the Cyclone", combines that whimsy with music, stunning design, and a perfect story for this moment in time. The show begins preview performances on April 30th.
[Sequence of interview has been edited]

LINKS
"Ride the Cyclone" at McCarter Theatre Center

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Roxey Ballet and Artist Malcolm Mobutu Smith Join Creative Forces at the Hunterdon Art Museum

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 22:00:00 -0400

This Saturday at the Hunterdon Art Museum, visitors are invited to a unique experience that brings together the visual and performing arts. Roxey Ballet Company has teamed up with artist Malcolm Mobutu Smith – whose exhibition Evermore Nevermore closes this weekend – and have created an exclusive 45-minute showcase that will be presented outdoors on the Toshiko Takaezu Terrace, overlooking the museum’s iconic view of the Raritan River. (This event is free, but please register to attend.)

We recently spoke with the Hunterdon Art Museum’s Executive Director Marjorie Frankel Nathanson, Roxey Ballet’s Executive Director Mark Roxey, artist Malcolm Mobutu Smith, and Roxey Ballet’s Director of Education and Outreach Lees Hummel about this special collaboration.

LINKS

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On His Way Around the World, One of Vox Sambou’s First Stops Is New Jersey

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 12:00:00 -0400

On Wednesday, April 13, Vox Sambou and his band will take the stage at the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts. He writes and performs in Haitian, French, English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and his music focuses on the traditional rhythms of Haiti mixed with elements of Afrobeat, Jazz, Reggae, and Hip hop. Vox Sambou is currently - and it seems usually - touring the world. We spoke with him shortly after he arrived in the US after a visit with family in Haiti.

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Ms. Lisa Fischer Wants You To Be Her Valentine

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 15:00:00 -0500

On Thursday, February 10, powerhouse vocalist Ms. Lisa Fischer will perform An Evening of Love Songs at South Orange Performing Arts Center. The legendary singer has performed with the Rolling Stones, Luther Vandross, Tina Turner, YoYo Ma, Bruce Springsteen, and many others, and is a Grammy-winning solo artist. We recently spoke with Fischer about her special Valentine’s Day concert, what it’s like to be one the most in-demand singers in the world, and how she creates “music that heals, but still rocks the house.”

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Jersey’s Own Javon King Talks "Rent" Farewell Tour

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 14:00:00 -0500

The musical RENT changed theatre — taking home four Tony Awards and creating generations of super-fans. Believe it or not, it’s been 25 years since the show hit Broadway, and New Jersey's own Javon King plays Angel in RENT’s 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour. A Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award-winner and Rider University alum, King is happy to be back in the Garden State performing at Mayo Performing Arts Center January 21-23.

LINKS:

RENT at Mayo Performing Arts Center
Stay connected to your local arts and entertainment scene at JerseyArts.com

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Rebuilding Roxey Ballet Company

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 14:00:00 -0500

This past September, Roxey Ballet Company’s studios, offices, and theatre in the river town of Lambertville were totally destroyed by Hurricane Ida. This coming Sunday, December 19, they’re throwing a big fundraiser - Rise Up and Rebuild the Ballet - at their temporary home, the New Hope Eagle Fire Hall, right across the river from their New Jersey facilities. There will be food, drink, and a lot of dancing. We recently got the opportunity to sit down with company founder Mark Roxey to talk about rebuilding after Ida, and about how the community has rallied together to save Roxey Ballet Company. For more information, including tickets to Rise Up and Rebuild the Ballet event or how to donate, visit www.roxeyballet.org.

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Sesame Street’s Sonia Manzano Reads Tales After Dark at Kean University

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 14:00:00 -0400

This Saturday, October 30, 2021, the hit public radio and podcast series Selected Shorts returns to Enlow Recital Hall at Kean University for an evening of beguiling tales for the Halloween season. One of the three readers is actor, writer, and creator of the new PBS Kids show “Alma’s Way,” Sonia Manzano, who is famous for her iconic, long-time role as Maria on “Sesame Street.” We recently got the chance to speak with Sonia Manzano about her time with “Sesame Street,” creating her own children’s show, and the joy of telling stories on stage.

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Gyllenhaal, Warwick & Colbert Headline 10th Annual Montclair Film Festival

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 12:00:00 -0400

Maggie Gyllenal, Dionne Warwick, and Stephen Colbert are among the many artists and filmmakers participating in this year's Montclair Film Festival, which opened October 21 and runs through October 30. Festival founder and Board Chair Bob Feinberg, Board of Trustees President Evie McGee Colbert, and New Jersey-based filmmaker Scott Morris share what they are most looking forward to as the festival kicks off its 10th anniversary season.

Feinberg, Colbert, and Morris chat with host Maddie Orton about:

00:45: Montclair Film Festival 10 years ago and today
5:36: Highlights of the 10th Anniversary Season
7:23: NJ filmmaker Scott Morris' documentary, American River
15:28: Montclair Film Festival's role in the Garden State
19:50: Reopening historic Clairidge Cinemas

LINKS:

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Growing Stage Young Playwrights Competition 2021

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 11:00:00 -0400

On Saturday, September 18, four young playwrights will present their new plays at The Growing Stage — The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey. Ranging in age from 12 to 18, they are the finalists in The Growing Stage’s inaugural Playwriting Festival for Young Writers. Listen in as we speak to the blossoming writers and the creative team behind the festival.

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RENT’S Adam Pascal Takes the Show on the Road

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 15:00:00 -0400

Adam Pascal was a rock ‘n’ roll musician who had no theatrical credits when he landed the role of Roger in RENT—a show that would garner him a Tony nomination and forever change the sound of Broadway. Now, Pascal shares his journey through the shows he’s performed along the way—Aida, Cabaret, Memphis, Chicago, and more. His solo acoustic concert, “So Far,” is coming to the Arthur Pryor Bandshell in Asbury Park on July 28th and BellWorks in Holmdel on July 29th as part of Axelrod Performing Arts Center’s Vogel Summer Concert Series.

Adam chats with host Maddie Orton about:

2:13: Creating “So Far”
6:38: How Adam Pascal landed the role of Roger in RENT
7:46: How Roger got bleached hair and a leather jacket
13:09: Taking over some of Broadway’s biggest roles
17:45: Adam’s dream roles (and our dream roles for him)
25:37: The legacy of rent 25 years later

LINKS:

“So Far” presented by Axelrod Performing Arts Center

Adam Pascal sings “Phantom of the Opera” with Seth Rudetsky

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And the Beat Goes On: Celebrating Arts Ed at the 2021 NJ Governor’s Awards

Fri, 21 May 2021 17:00:00 -0400

The 2021 NJ Governor's Awards in Arts Education kicks off on Saturday, May 22. In this episode, we speak to two past winners, two of this year's awardees, and more about the impact of these annual awards.

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From Play to Podcast: How Mile Square Created Theatre in Quarantine

Thu, 13 May 2021 16:00:00 -0400

LINKS:

"The Playbill Gallery (a love story)" at Mile Square Theatre
New Jersey Theatre Alliance's Stages Festival

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Multiple GRAMMY Nominations for Westminster Choir College Alums

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 12:00:00 -0500

The 2021 GRAMMY Awards are this weekend, and, for the first time, a Westminster grad participated in each of the five recordings nominated in the Best Choral Performance category. We recently spoke with five of the artists in that category about the nominated recordings.

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Broadway’s Andréa Burns Teams up with Family for "Bad Dates"

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 14:00:00 -0500

We recently spoke with the family behind George Street Playhouse’s latest offering – "Bad Dates" – a one-woman show starring Broadway’s Andréa Burns, directed by her husband Peter Flynn, with cinematography by their son Hudson Flynn. The comedy, written by Theresa Rebeck, follows a single mom on the hunt for cute shoes, the perfect dress, and a romantic table for two at a great restaurant.

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From Soweto to Princeton—the Buskaid String Ensemble

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 15:00:00 -0500

The Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble was planning an in-person visit to the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) when the pandemic hit. Their visit is temporarily on hold, but Buskaid - A Musical Miracle: Brilliant Baroque to Cool Kwela! is a series of five on-demand concerts providing a wonderful introduction to this inspiring musical group. Jersey Arts producer Susan Wallner talks to Marc Uys, the executive director of the PSO (and a South African native), and to Julian Grant, a composer and Princeton resident, about a transformative visit they made to the Buskaid School in South Africa in 2019. The upcoming concerts feature Buskaid-trained soloists performing classical, pop, and uniquely South African music. Beginning January 29-31, the Buskaid concerts will be released every month through May 2021.

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From Soweto to Princeton—the Buskaid String Ensemble

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 15:00:00 -0500

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An Art School Quaranteam Keeps the Caroling Going at Kirkpatrick Chapel

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 16:00:00 -0500

Since 1958, "Christmas in Carol and Song" has been an annual tradition at Rutgers University’s historic Kirkpatrick Chapel in New Brunswick. Patrick Gardner, distinguished professor of music and director of choral activities at the Mason Gross School of the Arts, has led the Rutgers Kirkpatrick Choir and the Rutgers University Glee Club for more than 25 years. With the help of both choirs recording from home throughout the country, visual artists Camilla Tassi and Stephanie Tubiolo, and a Mason Gross student quarantine pod known as the Handy Street 8, Gardner has produced a dynamic virtual concert experience debuts Saturday, December 12 at 7:30 PM. We recently spoke to Patrick Gardner and three of his students about reimagining and reinventing this holiday tradition for 2020.

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Border Photographer Ada Trillo in Noyes Museum Exhibition

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 10:00:00 -0500

Ada Trillo is a bilingual documentary photographer who grew up–literally–crossing the border. Born in El Paso, her family moved to Juárez when she was young, but she attended school in Texas, which meant an hours-long commute over the border every day. Trillo went on to become a painter, but Donald Trump’s hateful comments about Mexicans caused her to make a radical shift. The Noyes Museum’s Kramer Gallery in Hammonton, NJ, is now showing a selection of Trillo’s portraits in the exhibition “If Walls Could Speak: Asylum Seekers,” open both in person and online.

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From Fort Lee to D.C. to Bloomywood with Actor and Writer David Meyers

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 17:00:00 -0400

We recently spoke with Fort Lee, New Jersey native David Meyers, who left the world of Washington, DC politics behind to pursue a career as an actor, playwright, and screenwriter. In between projects for the stage and screen, he co-created the comedic web series Bloomywood, in which he stars as Hollywood hopeful Michael Bloomstein.

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Given Circumstance: New Plays at Mile Square Theatre

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 15:00:00 -0400

Given Circumstance: New Plays in the Virtual World is an ambitious project from Mile Square Theatre: seven new plays written specifically for the Zoom format. The first, “Sitting and Talking” by Lia Romeo, stars Wendie Malick (“Just Shoot Me!”) and Dan Lauria (“The Wonder Years”).

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Hudson Theatre Works' Virtual Festival

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 11:00:00 -0400

The Hudson Theatre Works Virtual Festival kicked off earlier this month, and, so far, there’s no end in sight. The Festival is currently presenting readings of new short plays by contemporary playwrights, giving them and the actors involved an opportunity to share their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“The Show Must Go On!” at the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 12:00:00 -0400

“The show must go on!” is part of Bonnie Monte’s DNA. As the artistic director of the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey for 30 years this season, shutting down was hard for her to do. But Monte found a way out, working with a group of eight actors originally employed as part of the theatre’s “Shakespeare Live!” company. The actors formed a new troupe (the Shrewd Mechanicals, in a nod to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”), and will present two evenings of classic comedies: “Verily, Madly Thine,” and a double bill featuring Molière’s farce “The Love Doctor” and Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “Aria Da Capo.” Performances will take place outside on the theatre’s great lawn in Florham Park, NJ, and tickets are selling fast. In this conversation with producer Susan Wallner, Monte describes how they’re pulling off live theatre in New Jersey during the pandemic. She also reflects on her new appreciation for Shakespeare, whose own life was repeatedly shadowed by outbursts of the plague.

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Celebrating 40 Years of the New Jersey Governor's Awards in Arts Education

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 18:00:00 -0400

Last month, the New Jersey Governor’s Awards in Arts Education celebrated its 40th year. Established in 1980, the program was created to promote awareness and appreciation for the arts by honoring individual students, and to honor education leaders who have demonstrated excellence in, and dedication to, arts education. Usually held in May at the historic Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton, this year’s awards ceremony, like so many other arts events, moved online – and took place in late June.

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Art House Productions Goes Virtual

Thu, 21 May 2020 14:00:00 -0400

Art House Productions was founded after 9/11 to bring Jersey City’s community together through the arts. They’ve thrived over the years, with live theatre, dance, and comedy events, and more. The coronavirus has made them return to their roots of providing connection for the community, this time through live virtual events. Executive director Meredith Burns talks to producer Susan Wallner about Virtual Drag Bingo, Virtual Story Slam, Saturday Night Online Comedy, and more.

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Missing Live Music? New Jersey Has You Covered

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 12:00:00 -0400

While we’re all staying at home to do our part to stop the coronavirus, everyone’s developing different media diets, and that includes the art we’re choosing to enrich our days in isolation. For this podcast, we’re focusing on some of the new music that’s being made available online. We got on the phone with the folks behind the online content programming for four New Jersey arts organizations – New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Dave Rodriguez, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s Patrick Chamberlain, The Folk Project’s Mark Schaffer, and Rowan University’s Debbie Shapiro, who is currently running the Live to your Couch series, which features Rowan’s College of Performing Arts faculty.

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Songwriters by the Sea

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 16:00:00 -0400

Songwriters by the Sea started in Asbury Park at a coffee shop in 2008, with a tip jar passed around. Since then it’s grown to a ticketed event, but with an informal vibe. Top name performers play alongside local favorites. It was founded by singer/songwriters Joe D’Urso and Joe Rapolla. Rapolla is also a former music industry executive, and the chair of Monmouth University’s Music & Theatre Arts Department. Producer Susan Wallner spoke to Joe Rapolla about the history of this ongoing series after the March 2020 Songwriters by the Sea concert was canceled.

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The New Brunswick Jazz Project Turns 10

Thu, 20 Feb 2020 14:00:00 -0500

Did you know that New Brunswick, N.J. is the only place in the country where you can see live, world-class jazz every week for free? You can thank the New Brunswick Jazz Project. We recently sat down with the NBJP team at Tavern on George, where most of their events take place.

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Sara Holdren’s "Twelfth Night" at Two River Theater

Thu, 16 Jan 2020 16:00:00 -0500

It’s been called the perfect romantic comedy. Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night" begins with sister-brother twins losing each other in a shipwreck, leading to a high-spirited tale of gender-bending and mixed-up love affairs. Director Sara Holdren recalls falling in love with Shakespeare at a very early age, and the creative fun of interpreting his plays. Hint: Sara’s making the most of the music in the production, collaborating with the band and theater collective, The Lobbyists. “Twelfth Night” is on stage at Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ through February 2, 2020.

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New Jersey Youth Symphony Presents "Two Nutcrackers" at UCPAC

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 12:00:00 -0500

This Sunday, the New Jersey Youth Symphony will perform two "Nutcrackers" side by side – bouncing Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s 1960s arrangements off of Tchaikovsky’s original compositions. Listen in as we talk to the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of NJYS and Director of the NJYS’s Jazz Orchestra about putting this ambitious project together to challenge their students and celebrate the season.

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A Play for Our Times at Luna Stage

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 14:00:00 -0500

Hannah Arendt is a philosopher for our times, and the unlikely title character in a new play “Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library.” Jenny Lyn Bader's gripping play is inspired by the true story of how Arendt, a 26 year-old married Jewish woman at the beginning of her career as a philosopher, was arrested with her mother in Nazi Germany in 1933. Arendt, who’s married name is Stern, is best known for her writings on fascism, totalitarianism, and the nature of power and evil.

"Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library" is now at Luna Stage in West Orange, New Jersey, where the run has been extended through November 17. Bader, who is on the advisory board of the Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and the Humanities, talks to producer Susan Wallner about both her play and Arendt's legacy.

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Mystery Science Theater 3000’s “Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour” Comes to New Jersey

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 11:00:00 -0400

The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour is coming to town. It’s the latest live tour from "Mystery Science Theater 3000," the classic television show in which a spaceship janitor and his homemade robot friends are subjected to a cruel experiment by mad scientists - meaning they are forced to watch the worst movies ever made until they go insane. Creator and original host Joel Hodgson (and company) will be doing two shows at the State Theatre in New Brunswick October 26. He spoke with us earlier this week from the tour bus about the history of the Peabody Award-winning Mystery Science Theater 3000, and about how the unique comedic art form he created continues to connect with audiences more than 30 years after the show premiered on a local TV station in Minneapolis.

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"Gloria: A Life" Headlines Emily Mann’s Last Season at the McCarter

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 15:00:00 -0400

Emily Mann is a triple threat: an award-winning playwright known for her “theater of testimony,” a sought-after director, and the artistic director of one of America’s preeminent regional theaters, the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, New Jersey. She is stepping down as artistic director after the 2019-2020 season, her 30th at the McCarter. In this special edition of the Jersey Arts Podcast, producer Susan Wallner talks with Mann about her career, her future projects, and her final season, which begins with her play Gloria: A Life starring Mary McDonnell ("Dances with Wolves," "Battlestar Galactica").

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Molly Hatch at the Newark Museum

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 17:00:00 -0400

We recently spoke with artist and designer Molly Hatch, whose signature style is currently on display in a large-scale ceramics installation at the Newark Museum called Repertoire.

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Dion Hitchings at the Monmouth Museum

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 12:14:48 -0400

Artist Dion Hitchings just opened a new solo exhibit at the Monmouth Museum in Lincroft. The show, "Dion Hitchings, Portraits on Recycled Consumer Boxes," be on view until September 18. Christopher Benincasa recently sat down with Hitchings to talk about the exhibit, outsider art, and migrating from St. Louis to New York City to rural Milford.

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Graham Lustig's "A Jazzy Nutcracker"

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 12:03:13 -0400

"A Jazzy Nutcracker" is Lustig Dance Theatre's new take on the beloved classic, performed with a six-piece jazz band and guest appearances from high school marching bands. Choreographer Graham Lustig talks with producer Susan Wallner about growing up in London in the 1960s and how it inspired his production, with the Nutcracker re-imagined as the Boy Next Door. LDT performs December 6 at SOPAC and December 12 & 13 at Monroe Performing Arts Center.

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Suzzy Roche & Lucy Wainwright Roche at The Minstrel

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 20:00:00 -0400

Suzzy Roche is the youngest of the influential trio The Roches, alongside sisters Maggie and Terre. In addition, she has a solo career, is an author, and does the occasional bit of acting. On August 15, she'll be appearing at The Minstrel at the Folk Project in Morristown with her daughter, Lucy Wainwright Roche, singing songs off their recent album "Fairytale and Myth." Lucy's father is Loudon Wainwright III, and her half-siblings are Martha and Rufus Wainwright, all well-known singer/songwriters. Producer Susan Wallner caught up with Suzzy Roche by phone in between recording sessions to talk about going on the road with her daughter and more.

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The Fertile Crescent: Women Artists From The Middle East

Mon, 05 Aug 2019 13:21:08 -0400

In Princeton and New Brunswick, art by women from the Middle East is opening eyes and challenging stereotypes. Susan Wallner talks with Iranian Parastou Forouhar and Nigerian Fatimah Tuggar, two of the many artists involved. Both women grew up in political families and openly address political and social themes in their work. Exhibitions and events that are part of The Fertile Crescent: Gender, Art, and Society continue through January 2013.

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Emily Mann, Artistic Director

Thu, 25 Jul 2019 13:55:25 -0400

Susan Wallner talks to playwright, director, and artistic director Emily Mann. Mann is celebrating her 20th anniversary season at the Tony Award-winning McCarter Theatre with a restaging of "Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years." Times have changed since its first production -- as Mann says, "People came with different expectations in 1995 to this play about these two extraordinary black women."

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Tina Sloan at Cape May Stage

Thu, 25 Jul 2019 13:44:48 -0400

Tina Sloan is best known for her 26 years as Nurse Lillian on “Guiding Light.” CBS just canceled the show, but, as producer Susan Wallner finds out, Tina already has a new gig: starring in a play based on her life as a soap star, mother, daughter, wife, former mountain climber and, as she puts it, “lady who lunches.” “Changing Shoes” is at Cape May Stage August 17, 2009.

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Matthew Arkin, Sight Unseen

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 15:42:15 -0400

State of the Arts producer Christopher Benincasa meets up with actor Matthew Arkin at New Brunswick’s George Street Playhouse to talk about his role in the Obie Award-winning play Sight Unseen. He plays Jonathan Waxman, an art-world super-star wrestling with an unexpected identity crisis. The play runs through February 15th.

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Scott Altman, Opera New Jersey

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 15:31:07 -0400

Seven years ago, opera singer Scott Altman and his wife Lisa decided to settle in Princeton with their young kids, and start a brand new opera company. Today, Opera New Jersey is getting consistently rave reviews. In Feb 2009 they perform Johann Strauss' Die Fledermaus featuring opera superstar Ruth Ann Swenson. Producer Eric Schultz chats with Opera New Jersey co-founder and artistic director Scott Altman.

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Philip Pearlstein, Realist Painter

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 15:17:47 -0400

Philip Pearlstein’s current exhibition at the Montclair Art Museum has been designated an “American Masterpiece” by the National Endowment for the Arts. Pearlstein is known for his precise, larger-than-life nudes. Producer Susan Wallner talks to the artist about his extraordinary career and to curator Patterson Sims who says that Pearlstein, now in his 80s, is making “the best paintings of his life.”

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Simone Dinnerstein, Pianist

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 15:01:39 -0400

Simone Dinnerstein’s self-produced CD of Bach’s Goldberg Variations topped the classical music charts and propelled her into a career as a top international soloist. The Brooklyn native will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in a series of upcoming concerts with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Producer Eric Schultz meets Dinnerstein, who describes how the Goldberg Variations changed her life.

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NJ Everywhere?

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 11:50:05 -0400

“Is it possible to make a photograph of New Jersey regardless of where you are in the world?” This is the premise of an exhibit featuring over 1,000 images by more than 180 artists from 18 countries at The Pierro Gallery of South Orange through May 25th. NJN producer Susan Wallner spoke to guest curator Laurel Ptak about where she got the idea for the show and why it’s proven to be so popular.

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Songwriter Rose Marie McCoy Featured in “40s to 60s, A Musical Journey” at Puffin Cultural Forum

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 12:00:00 -0400

During the era of Jim Crow, black singers were played on black radio stations, and white singers on white ones. Famously, Elvis Presley adopted the bluesy style and songs of black performers, shocking white audiences. Rose Marie McCoy wanted to be a singer, but became one of the best songwriters of the time, working on both sides of the color barrier with hits by Ike and Tina Turner, Elvis Presley, James Taylor, and Sarah Vaughn among others. At the Puffin Cultural Forum in Teaneck on July 26, "40s to 60s, A Musical Journey" will chart the journey from the blues to rock and roll, including songs by McCoy and others. Singer Audrey Martells will perform and McCoy’s biographer, Arlene Corsano, will share anecdotes and provide historical context. In this Jersey Arts Podcast, Corsano talks to producer Susan Wallner about Rose Marie McCoy, a black woman whose talent and spunk helped her make it in the music industry during the 1940s, '50s and '60s.

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"Summerland" in Cape May

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 11:00:00 -0400

On stage through July 20, "Summerland" is a work of historical fiction based on a real case that involved William H. Mumler – a man who claimed to be able to photograph spirits, and whose clients included First Lady of the United States Mary Todd Lincoln.

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"The Shared Meal" at Artworks

Thu, 16 May 2019 11:00:00 -0400

In the age of Instagram, food is a visual obsession. “The Shared Meal,” an exhibition at Artworks in Trenton, dives deeper, exploring the meaning of food through the work of nine visual artists.

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Simone Dinnerstein Plays Mozart With the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 10:00:00 -0400

From April 25-28, NJSO presents Xian Conducts Mozart, with classical music super-star Simone Dinnerstein performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23. Hear from Dinnerstein on her take on the timeless genius of Mozart’s music.

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"Band on the Run" at Matheny

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 13:00:00 -0400

Video games, music, and pizza form the cultural undercurrent of "Band on the Run," a new play by Chris Saglimbene featured in this year’s Stages Festival. A playwright, actor, vlogger, gamer, artist, and all-around talented guy, Saglimbene has cerebral palsy but, as he says, “it doesn’t have him.” Actors from Premiere Stages at Kean University join Saglimbene in a staged reading on March 23 at the Schonhorn Arts Center at Matheny Medical and Education Center in Peapack. Producer Susan Wallner talks to Chris Saglimbene and Heather Williams, performing arts coordinator of the Arts Access Program at Matheny.

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Alan Parsons Live Project at bergenPAC

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 13:00:00 -0500

The Alan Parsons Live Project plays Bergen Performing Arts Center on Friday, February 22. Rock icon Alan Parsons took a moment during his non-stop touring schedule to chat with us about getting his start working with The Beatles and Pink Floyd at Abbey Road Studios, the analog approach he took in producing his new album “The Secret,” and finally winning a Grammy Award a few weeks ago after being nominated 13 times over four decades. The first one was for his engineering work on Pink Floyd’s classic album “Dark Side of the Moon.”

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Sound Garden Installations by John Morton and Jacqueline Shatz at the Morris Museum

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 15:00:00 -0500

Composer John Morton has created interactive installations using sound in Central Park, Governors Island and now the Morris Museum, where two of his pieces can be “played” through February 24. “Fever Songs” uses audio gathered from different religious traditions, and “The Voyage Out” is a collaboration with figurative artist Jacqueline Shatz. Producer Susan Wallner talks to both of the artists about the latter work — a ship with three keys that initiate both movement and sound – which was inspired by Charles Darwin’s journey of exploration aboard the HMS Beagle. Morton and Shatz also discuss the tradition of music boxes and automata, both of which can be seen in the Morris Museum’s world-renowned Guinness Collection of Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata.

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Garland Jeffreys at SOPAC

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 15:00:00 -0500

At the age of 75, singer-songwriter Garland Jeffreys continues to rock. The Brooklyn native got his start in New York City’s club scene in the mid-60s, and had a breakout hit in the 70s with the single “Wild in the Streets.” He met his best friend Lou Reed while studying art history at Syracuse University, and he recorded with The Velvet Underground’s co-founder John Cale before striking out on his own. In 1977, the year his album “Ghost Writer” was released, Rolling Stone pronounced him Best New Artist. In the decades since, Jeffreys has recorded 12 more albums, including last year’s “14 Steps To Harlem.” We spoke recently over the phone to talk about protest music, his upcoming show at SOPAC and the song that started it all.

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Grammy Winner Terri Lyne Carrington at Moody Jazz Festival

Thu, 08 Nov 2018 15:00:00 -0500

Drummer, leader, and composer Terri Lyne Carrington made history as the first woman to win a Grammy for Best Instrumental Jazz for her album “Money Jungle: Provocative in Blue.” Now, she brings her interpretation of Duke Ellington’s “Money Jungle” to the TD James Moody Jazz Festival at NJPAC on November 11, 2018, as part of a program called “Jazz Vinyl Revisited.” Producer Susan Wallner talks to Carrington about her connections to the jazz greats Clark Terry and Max Roach; her newest project, the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice; and why she thinks drummers make natural leaders.

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An Artist Asks the 20 Most Important Scientific Questions of the 21st Century

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 13:00:00 -0400

Tonight, Tuesday, October 30, at Douglass Library at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, a mother and her daughter – one an artist, the other a scientist – will have a public conversation about where, why and how their fields intersect.

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Maria Mazziotti Gillan at the Dodge Poetry Festival

Thu, 20 Sep 2018 13:00:00 -0400

The Dodge Poetry Festival is the largest poetry event in North America. Paterson-based poet Maria Mazziotti Gillan will be reading on Thursday and Friday of the four-day festival taking place October 18-21 in Newark. Maria is the force behind the Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College, and the author of more than 20 books of and about poetry. Her poems are about her life, including her strong memories of childhood in Paterson’s Italian immigrant community. She likes to talk about the “cave,” that place of memories and feelings inside us all that the best poetry takes us back to. Producer Susan Wallner spoke to Maria Mazziotti Gillan at her home in Hawthorne, a suburb of Paterson

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"Bright Star" at Surflight Theatre

Tue, 04 Sep 2018 11:00:00 -0400

Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s Broadway musical "Bright Star" has come to Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven. The comedian and the songwriter created the show after collaborating on a Grammy-winning bluegrass album called "Love Has Come For You." "Bright Star" is set in the American South in the 1920s and '40s, and it’s on a similar musical wavelength. We recently spoke with Surflight’s Artistic Director Steve Steiner, actor Adrianne Hick and director Elizabeth Lucas about bringing "Bright Star" to Long Beach Island.

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"Uncommon Women and Others" at Princeton Summer Theater

Thu, 19 Jul 2018 16:00:00 -0400

Wendy Wasserstein’s best known play, "The Heidi Chronicles," won both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play in 1989. Many of the themes of this feminist classic were already evident in "Uncommon Women and Others," a play written by Wasserstein a decade earlier. "Uncommon Women" is on stage at the Princeton Summer Theater through July 22nd. For this podcast, producer Susan Wallner spoke to the Dean of the College at Princeton University and author of a book about Wendy Wasserstein, Jill Dolan. Dolan points out that the hopes and fears of young women about to make critical life choices after college continue to resonate today.

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"48 Blocks Atlantic City" Arts Celebration

Thu, 21 Jun 2018 12:00:00 -0400

Looking for a way to celebrate the start of the summer season? Beginning Friday, June 22, all 48 blocks of Atlantic City will be buzzing with hands-on art projects, live performances, unique dining experiences and a lot more. We recently spoke with Joyce Hagen, Executive Director of the Atlantic City Arts Foundation, to learn more about A.C.’s arts scene, and to find out what the 48 Blocks Atlantic City arts celebration is all about. For a handy guide to all of the locations and events, check out 48blocksAC.com.

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“Caged” at Passage Theatre

Thu, 03 May 2018 16:00:00 -0400

“Caged” is a play based on the experiences of incarcerated men in New Jersey. It’s written by the New Jersey Prison Cooperative, a group of men who met in a drama class in prison taught by Chris Hedges, an author and Princeton University professor. Hedges had heard a story about a man being jailed that had affected him, and he offered it to the class as a starting point. From that beginning, the men created “Caged,” a transformative play based on their own, similar experiences of incarceration. Producer Susan Wallner spoke to Boris Franklin, the only one of the playwrights out of prison yet. Franklin is now a full-time student majoring in psychology, and an actor in the premiere production of “Caged” at Passage Theatre, May 3-20, 2018.

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"The Sting" at Paper Mill Playhouse

Thu, 26 Apr 2018 12:00:00 -0400

The new musical "The Sting," now entering its last weekend at Paper Mill Playhouse, was pretty much totally sold out before it even opened. A musical adaptation of the classic, Oscar-winning film of the same name starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, this new version stars Harry Connick, Jr., J. Harrison Ghee and Kate Shindle – to name a few. Theater-goers know Ghee from his inimitable performance as the drag queen hero Lola of the Tony Award-winning "Kinky Boots," and they know Shindle from Broadway productions of "Jekyll & Hyde," "Cabaret," "Wonderland" and the national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical "Fun Home." We spoke with both of them earlier this week as they were preparing for their final performances of this smash-hit run at Paper Mill.

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Kevin Maynor on Bringing Wagner's Masterpiece to New Jersey

Thu, 15 Mar 2018 12:00:00 -0400

Even if you don't know anything about opera, you've heard “Ride of the Valkyries" – it’s been bouncing around pop culture for generations, appearing in everything from Bugs Bunny cartoons to "Apocalypse Now." This Sunday, March 18, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Trilogy: An Opera Company will present Richard Wagner’s "The Valkyrie" – the second of four works that form Richard Wagner's musical drama "Ring Cycle" – which features the famous “Ride of the Valkyries” segment at the beginning of Act Three. We recently spoke with Trilogy’s Artistic Director Kevin Maynor about this opera and the meaning behind it. Maynor will also be performing the role of Hunding on Sunday – something he’s done many times in opera houses around the world throughout his remarkable career as an opera singer.

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Luis Salgado Directs "Ragtime" at Axelrod PAC

Thu, 01 Mar 2018 12:00:00 -0500

The next show at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center, opening March 3, is the popular musical “Ragtime.” Set in the early 20th century, it features African Americans, Jewish immigrants, upper-class suburbanites, as well as historical luminaries such as Harry Houdini, Henry Ford and Emma Goldman. Luis Salgado is the director of this new production, returning to Axelrod PAC after his popular 2017 production of “In the Heights.” Luis was an original cast member and assistant choreographer for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” on Broadway. Producer Susan Wallner spoke to Salgado about his journey from performer to director, his mission as an artist and about being back at the Axelrod PAC. “Ragtime” runs March 3-25 at Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal Park, NJ.

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Caleb Hudson at Symphony in C

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 13:00:00 -0500

Caleb Hudson is the newest member of the Canadian Brass, the popular quintet that revolutionized the place of brass in classical music. A former principal trumpet of Collingswood’s Symphony in C, Hudson returns as a featured artist on their “Italian Festival” concert on January 27 at the Rutgers Camden Center for the Arts. He spoke to producer Susan Wallner about how he first came to play the trumpet, what it's like to be part of the Canadian Brass and the two solos he’ll be performing with the Symphony in C.

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"All Is Calm" at Kean Stage

Thu, 07 Dec 2017 16:00:00 -0500

This year commemorates the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War I. Though often referred to as The Forgotten War, most of us know that it was one of the largest and most brutal wars in history. But there is one short chapter that is still unknown to many—during the Christmas of 1914, peace broke out. Allied and German soldiers on the front lines reached out to each other from their trenches, initially through Christmas caroling, and met in the No Man’s Land between them to exchange holiday greetings, trade food, play soccer, swap prisoners and hold burial ceremonies for their dead. Then, the truce ended, and the war continued. One of the most unlikely moments in modern history, and left out of most textbooks, the Christmas Truce of 1914 really did happen. This Sunday at Kean University, the story will come to life on stage in “All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914.” Christopher Benincasa recently spoke with writer and director Peter Rothstein and Kean Stage Manager Steve Cochran about “All Is Calm,” and the amazing history behind it.

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Express Newark

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 15:00:00 -0500

The elegant old Hahne and Co. Department Store in Newark, shuttered for 30 years, is now home to a new experiment in the arts. Along with the first Whole Foods in the city, apartments and a new restaurant, it’s home to Express Newark - an “arts incubator” conceived by Rutgers University-Newark in collaboration with community arts leaders. Popular programs include the weekly open studio at the Newark Print Shop, the free facilities at Shine Portrait Studio and the changing exhibitions at the Paul Robeson Gallery. Producer Susan Wallner spoke to the co-directors of Express Newark, Anne Schaper Englot and Victor Davson. They call it a “third space” - where public scholarship and community engagement are opening up an exciting new chapter in Newark’s cultural history.

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"The Honeymooners" at Paper Mill Playhouse

Thu, 12 Oct 2017 14:00:00 -0400

We recently spoke with Tony Award-winning director John Rando about the new musical comedy “The Honeymooners” – based on the classic television series – which recently had its world premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse. The common ancestor of many, if not most, television sit-coms, “The Honeymooners” told the stories of married, working-class Brooklynites Ralph and Alice Kramden, their best friends Ed and Trixie Norton and people from the neighborhood around their apartment building. The influence of “The Honeymooners” can’t really be overstated, and can be seen in shows like “The Flintstones,” “All In The Family,” “The Simpsons,” “Roseanne" and “The Big Bang Theory” – and, just last year, CBS announced that it was rebooting “The Honeymooners” series for a new generation. Seven years in the making, “The Honeymooners” musical is kicking off Paper Mill's new season and generating a lot of buzz.

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ArtYard - A New Contemporary Art Center in Frenchtown

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 12:00:00 -0400

ArtYard began in Frenchtown, NJ with a “hatch.” From a huge egg, people emerged in chicken costumes to the music of a jazz saxophonist, leading a parade from ArtYard’s future headquarters in an old egg hatchery to its current space at 62A Trenton Road. It’s the kind of unexpected, collaborative event that ArtYard has become known for, and that you can expect more of in the future. Producer Susan Wallner visited ArtYard Founder and Executive Director Jill Kearney at the new, expansive center for the contemporary arts, which opened in 2016. A major exhibition, "(in)animate" opens September 30 and will be up through December 31, 2017. Curated by ArtYard’s Artistic Director, Elsa Mora, "(in)animate" features both local and national artists.

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2017 New Jersey Uke Fest

Wed, 23 Aug 2017 13:00:00 -0400

This Friday, the fifth annual New Jersey Uke Fest – that’s Uke as in Ukulele – begins at the Ukrainian American Cultural Center in Whippany. This weekend of concerts and workshops ends on Sunday with a big outdoor “Uke Jam” on the Morristown Green in Morristown, New Jersey. Chris Benincasa recently spoke with one of the festival’s organizers, Fil Wisneski, about what happens when hundreds of ukulele players congregate, and the distinct musical styles of featured artists Kimo Hussey, Rachel Manke and Danielle Ate The Sandwich.

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Fairies Transform Trash in "A Midsummer Night’s Dream"

Thu, 06 Jul 2017 13:00:00 -0400

When the days are longest, the world can magically transform. In a new production of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," the fairies Moth, Cobweb, Mustardseed, Peaseblossom, Puck, Oberon and Titania transform items most of us casually throw away. Old keys, straws, plastic membership and transit cards, wine corks and CDs, all combine in costumes and sets that evoke a magical world. Director and designer Bonnie Monte - a self-proclaimed collector and recycler - describes her vision of "Midsummer" to producer Susan Wallner. The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey performs "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" at their outdoor stage at the College of St. Elizabeth in Morris Township through July 30th.

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"The Ballad of Little Jo" at Two River Theater

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 15:00:00 -0400

It’s a musical about a woman on her own in the Old American West – disguised as a man named Jo. "The Ballad of Little Jo" opened Friday, June 9th at Two River Theater in Red Bank, and runs through June 25th.Based on the 1993 film of the same name, the show is directed by Maggie Greenwald, who based her story on the real life experiences of a woman named Josephine Monaghan. In the story, Josephine becomes Jo to survive in a time and place in which women are openly preyed upon, and lynch mobs are a cold fact of life. Shunned by her East Coast family when she refuses to deny that she has given birth to an illegitimate child, Josephine heads for the edge of civilization – the Wild West – in late 1800s Idaho to re-invent herself, make her way in the world, and be re-united with the son she had to leave behind.We recently spoke to the musical’s co-writer and lyricist Sarah Schlesinger about creating this production with composer Mike Reid in 2000 at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, and collaborating with Two River Theater's Artistic Director John Dias to bring it to a 2017 audience.

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Joan Osborne Sings the Songs of Bob Dylan

Wed, 17 May 2017 11:00:00 -0400

Joan Osborne is a multi-platinum selling recording artist and seven-time Grammy Award nominee. She shot to fame with her 1995 album "Relish," featuring the hits songs “One of Us” and “St. Teresa.” Since then, she’s appeared with the Grateful Dead and Mavis Staples, fronted her own bands and is now embarked on a Songbook Series featuring the work of writers she admires - starting with Bob Dylan. Her tour includes a performance at SOPAC on May 19. Producer Susan Wallner spoke to Joan Osborne about Bob Dylan, fame and the power of a great song.

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American Repertory Ballet's "Pride & Prejudice"

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 14:00:00 -0400

We recently visited the rehearsal studios of American Repertory Ballet, where Artistic Director Douglas Martin was doing a complete run-through of his new ballet. Based on Jane Austen’s classic 1813 novel “Pride & Prejudice,” this full-length production will be performed at McCarter Theatre in Princeton and will feature live orchestral accompaniment by the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. A complex love story set in the world of the landed gentry of the British Regency, “Pride & Prejudice” has been widely popular for centuries. There have been many adaptions on stage and in film, but no one has ever told the story through dance—until now. With the opening night of this highly anticipated world premiere approaching, Martin broke away from rehearsal to talk about his interpretation of the book, and taking creative risks.

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"Quixote" at Peak Performances

Thu, 16 Mar 2017 17:00:00 -0400

The New York Times has called Amy Beth Kirsten "wondrously eclectic." The New Haven-based composer and librettist has a new work, "Quixote," created with director Mark DeChiazza and the ensemble Howl. The performance theater piece is based on the classic novel by Cervantes. It was developed at Montclair State University through a new, long-term residency program as part of their Peak Performances series. Producer Susan Wallner stopped by for a rehearsal and spoke to collaborators Amy and Mark. The world premiere of "Quixote" is Thursday, March 23rd at Montclair State University’s Kasser Theater, continuing through March 26th. Tickets are only $20.

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"For Sale!" at Camden Repertory Theater

Sun, 05 Feb 2017 19:00:00 -0500

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Camden Repertory Theater, and to celebrate, founder Desi P. Shelton has brought one of her signature plays back to the stage – or, in this case, a house. "For Sale!" is the name of the play, and it’s a site-specific theatrical experience happening at 445 Mechanic Street in Camden, New Jersey. Christopher Benincasa met up with Shelton earlier this week to talk about the play, Camden Rep’s mission to represent the “urban female voice," and 10 years of creating innovative theater in Camden. "For Sale!" runs through February 26th.

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A Tribute to Louis Armstrong at January Thaw Music Fest

Tue, 10 Jan 2017 19:00:00 -0500

Hot music for a cold month - that's the idea behind Centenary Stage's January Thaw Music Fest in Hackettstown, NJ. Producer Susan Wallner talks with Eddie Allen, leader of 3hree for Louis, a six-piece ensemble playing the music of the great Louis Armstrong. "Louis had a way of putting his signature stamp on every tune he played. There’s no way to improve on what he did with his music," says Allen. "So, this three trumpet ensemble has taken some of the music Louis performed and rearranged them with “Louis-isms” throughout the music." 3hree for Louis performs Sunday, January 22. The January Thaw Music Fest begins this Saturday, January 14, with the Hoo Doo Loungers, called "the East Coast's New Orleans Party Band." The festival concludes on January 28 with Sweet Plaintain, a quartet fusing Western classical traditions with hip-hop, jazz, and Latin rhythms.

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"The Bodyguard" at Paper Mill Playhouse

Tue, 20 Dec 2016 19:00:00 -0500

Whitney Houston’s smash hit single "I Will Always Love You" was everywhere in the nineties. It was the musical centerpiece of the 1992 Oscar-nominated romantic thriller "The Bodyguard," starring Houston and Kevin Costner. In a way, the Grammy Award-winning soundtrack was as big as the movie. Now, a musical version of "The Bodyguard" has been created for the stage, and the songs are front and center. It recently opened at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey – not far from Whitney Houston’s hometown, Newark. Christopher Benincasa spoke with Paper Mill’s Producing Artistic Director Mark Hoebee about what it takes to pull off a musical based on a blockbuster and some of the most iconic pop songs of an era. "The Bodyguard" runs through January 1 at Paper Mill Playhouse.

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A New Irsh Opera "Hunger"

Mon, 14 Nov 2016 19:00:00 -0500

"Hunger" is a new work based on old Irish songs and first-hand accounts of Ireland’s Great Famine of 1845-1852. It's an opera in the sense that it tells a big story through music. The composer, Donnacha Dennehy, and the lead singer, Iarla Ó Lionáird, join producer Susan Wallner to discuss singing in Irish and the connection between the dark times of the Great Famine and today’s world. The Princeton University Fund for Irish Studies presents excerpts from "Hunger" and a discussion with Donnacha and Iarla on Friday, November 18 at 4:30 pm at the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University.

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"Election 2016" at The Printmaking Center of New Jersey

Tue, 25 Oct 2016 20:00:00 -0400

In an election season as outlandish as this one, it’s probably healthy to take a breather from the news – or get some perspective by seeing what a group of visual artists have to say about it. At The Printmaking Center of New Jersey in Branchburg, a new exhibit titled Election 2016 is on view through October 29. Christopher Benincasa recently spoke with artist Ken Schnall, who was the sole juror of Election 2016, in the Printmaking Center’s main gallery, surrounded by art that was equal parts political, editorial, and beautiful.

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Peter And The Starcatcher at The Growing Stage

Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:00:00 -0400

On October 7th, The Growing Stage - The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey kicks off its 35th season with the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit "Peter and the Starcatcher." It tells the story of how a wayward orphan became Peter Pan – the famous, flying boy from Neverland who wouldn’t grow up. Cutthroat pirates, unlikely heroes, a treacherous jungle island, a giant crocodile, mermaids and a treasure chest full of mysterious starstuff make "Peter and the Starcatcher" a family-friendly adventure worthy of J. M. Barrie’s classic "Peter Pan" (which premiered as a play in 1904, then appeared in the form of a novel in 1911). Christopher Benincasa recently spoke with director Stephen L. Fredericks about bringing this beloved and critically acclaimed work of theatre to The Growing Stage.

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Billy Hector at the XPoNential Music Festival

Tue, 19 Jul 2016 20:00:00 -0400

This Friday, the XPoNential Music Festival kicks off a weekend of music on the Camden Waterfront - three days, three stages, and more than 30 performances. At the River Stage at Wiggins Park on Friday, New Jersey guitar legend Billy Hector will ring in the festival with his signature style, a combination of Rock & Roll and Jersey Shore Blues. He’s played with artists like Bonnie Raitt and B.B. King, and made 14 albums - all while performing regularly on the small club circuit for more than 35 years. This podcast features an interview with Billy Hector, and two in-studio performances: "People of the World" and "Rita."

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Grounds For Sculpture Art Salon Features Artist Elizabeth Strong-Cuevas

Sat, 11 Jun 2016 20:00:00 -0400

Christopher Benincasa recently sat down with artist Elizabeth Strong-Cuevas at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, New Jersey. This Thursday, you can too – at the Art Salon at Rat’s Restaurant at Grounds For Sculpture. The Art Salon is an opportunity to enjoy fine food, wine, a relaxed atmosphere, and thought provoking conversation. Strong-Cuevas has three pieces in the 42 acre sculpture park - 'Two Face Telescope', 'Arch II', and 'Arch II, Set II' - large, aluminum, abstract work that brings to mind Modernism, but also the traditional visual art of Native Americans, the ancient Mayans, even Cave Art. That fusion of global visual language with Modern aesthetics shines through in all of her sculptures, which are, most often, boldly rendered meditations on the human face.

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2016 New Jersey Arts Annual at Arts Garage

Tue, 24 May 2016 20:00:00 -0400

Producer Christopher Benincasa recently spoke with Saskia Schmidt, Director of Education at The Noyes Museum of Stockton University, as well as a couple of artists featured in this year’s New Jersey Arts Annual. The exhibit is on display at Atlantic City’s Noyes Arts Garage – a gallery and community space cleverly housed within a parking deck in the historic Duck Town neighborhood – and showcases a cross section of contemporary visual art currently being produced in the state. The 2016 New Jersey Arts Annual, sponsored by The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, runs through July 8. For more information visit artsgarageac.com.

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Princeton Symphony Orchestra Premieres New Work by Hometown Composer

Tue, 19 Apr 2016 20:00:00 -0400

Sarah Kirkland Snider didn't start out to be a contemporary classical composer, although music was what she loved as long as she could remember. In this podcast, the Princeton composer tells producer Susan Wallner how she was drawn to composing, the role of popular music in her work, and what it's like to be premiering her newest piece, "Hiraeth," in her hometown. The half-hour piece is dedicated to her father, and is accompanied by a film shot on location in his North Carolina hometown. "Hiraeth" was co-commissioned by the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, which will perform it on May 15, 2016. It's part of the PSO's year-long celebration of women composers. Sarah's song-cycle "Penelope" - called one of the top 5 genre-defying albums of 2010 by NPR - will be performed on May 17 by members of the PSO.

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Healing Voices OnStage: Caregivers Stories

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 20:00:00 -0400

"Healing Voices OnStage: Caregivers Stories" is a theatrical project weaving together stories about the experience of being a caregiver – whether it’s taking care of a loved one who is seriously ill, working professionally with patients at a healthcare facility, or going through the transition of becoming the caretaker of a parent. Unlike most plays, this script is based on the writing of people who have lived these experiences. The New Jersey Theatre Alliance has partnered with Atlantic Health System to produce the event, working with Premiere Stages and the Writers Theatre of New Jersey to gather the raw material – real stories about caregiving from real people, collected through an open submission process. On March 31st, at the Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum in Morristown, professional actors will take the stage to tell those stories. Part of the Theatre Alliance's Stages Festival, this event is free, but registration is requested. To RSVP, go to atlantichealth.org/healingarts or call 1-800-247-9580.Christopher Benincasa recently spoke with John Wooten, Producing Artistic Director at Premiere Stages at Kean University, about this unique production.

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Walking the "Ropes" at Two River Theater

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 19:00:00 -0500

Paul, Prince and Presley’s dad is the greatest tightrope walker of all time. But with a father's fame comes pressure on his sons, who must learn to walk the ropes of life. Mexico City playwright Bárbara Colio's "Ropes" is at Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ through March 20, including a special performance on March 5 of the play in Spanish, its original language. Producer Susan Wallner talks to actor Gabriel Gutiérrez (Prince), who was born and raised in Mexico City. The play, translated by Maria Alexandria Beech and directed by Lisa Rothe ,also stars Varín Ayala and Luis Moreno.

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Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company’s Celebration of the Lunar New Year of the Monkey

Tue, 26 Jan 2016 19:00:00 -0500

February 8th marks the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year, and the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company is coming to help us all celebrate. The festivities begin on February 6th at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. 2016 is the Year of the Monkey, and it should be a good one. And if you’re hungry for really good Chinese food after the show, there will be a “Feast of the Monkey King” banquet across the street at the Robert Treat Crystal Ballroom. Christopher Benincasa recently spoke with Executive Director – and husband of dancer and choreographer Nai-Ni Chen – Andy Chiang.

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A Cape May Christmas

Mon, 14 Dec 2015 19:00:00 -0500

There are many great reasons to visit the seaside resort town of Cape May--named one of America's best small towns for Christmas by Town and Leisure Magazine--at this time of year, including taking in a show at Cape May Stage. Marlena Lustik talks to producer Susan Wallner about her new play "A Cape May Christmas," which brings together both the season and the history of the town in a production suited for all ages. It's on stage through January 2, 2016. Additionally, Producing Artistic Director Roy Steinberg joins the conversation to give a preview of Cape May Stage's 2016 season.

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"Made to Capture" at the Hunterdon Art Museum

Tue, 17 Nov 2015 19:00:00 -0500

Made to Capture is the title of a new photography exhibit at the Hunterdon Art Museum in Clinton – it features forward-thinking photography from the last few decades, created in many different and surprising ways. Christopher Benincasa recently spoke about the history and the future of photography with Kristen Accola, who curated the show, which is on view through January 3rd, 2016. For a private tour of Made to Capture, join us on Saturday, December 5th for our after-hours Jersey Arts museum member party!

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A New Production of Ubu Roi at Rider University

Wed, 28 Oct 2015 20:00:00 -0400

In 1896, Albert Jarry shocked Paris with “Ubu Roi,” his absurdist play about a greedy, power-hungry king and his unpleasant wife. More than a hundred years later, “Ubu Roi” continues to startle and entertain. Director Carter Gill calls Rider University’s new production an “assault on the senses” - see for yourself this weekend (Oct. 29-Nov. 1) at the Bart Luedeke Center Theater on Rider’s campus in Lawrenceville. The actors are advanced theater students at Rider’s Westminster College of the Arts. Produced by Susan Wallner.

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Music & Wine Festival at Appel Farm

Mon, 28 Sep 2015 20:00:00 -0400

Appel Farm Arts & Music Center presents its first Music & Wine Festival on Saturday, October 3. The focus is regional, with a variety of music, wine, and artisans from South Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware. Fifteen of the area's preeminent wineries will be there, and for those choosing the overnight option, a special dessert wine tasting will be held around the campfire! Music acts include the Philadelphia trio No Good Sister; South Jersey's swing cabaret band Swing the Cat; Delaware singer/songwriter Nancy Micciulla; and Steppin' Razor, a roots-rock-reggae band. Appel Farm's Tracy Powers talks to Susan Wallner about the evolution of the festival, and what to expect if you go.

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Pine Barons Take On the XPoNential Music Festival

Tue, 21 Jul 2015 20:00:00 -0400

This weekend, Pine Barons – the band, not the ecosystem in southern New Jersey – are playing the XPoNential Music Festival on the Camden Waterfront. It’s a three-day, three-stage event featuring 31 performers, including The Indigo Girls, My Morning Jacket and St. Vincent. Christopher Benincasa recently spoke with Pine Barons singer and guitarist Keith Abrams about making music, touring with the band and what artists he’s excited to see at the festival this weekend.

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The Princeton Festival 2015

Sat, 02 May 2015 20:00:00 -0400

The month of June means The Princeton Festival, with an eclectic range of performances ranging from a cappella jazz ensembles (West Side 5 and The Tribunes) to opera ("The Marriage of Figaro") to musical theater ("The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"). Producer Susan Wallner talks to artistic director Richard Tang Yuk about the growth of The Princeton Festival, now in its 11th season. The Festival opens June 6 with a weekend of performances as well as free workshops and lectures.

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The 2015 Monclair Film Festival

Tue, 28 Apr 2015 20:00:00 -0400

The 2015 Montclair Film Festival starts tomorrow! It runs from May 1st to May 10th. Contributing producer Christopher Benincasa recently spoke with the festival’s executive director Tom Hall about this year’s line-up. And there was a lot to cover: the last Robin Williams film (Boulevard), big summer movies (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl), independent films (Hello, My Name is Doris), a unique conversation series featuring lots of great actors and filmmakers, and something called a “live documentary” that involves a special performance from the legendary New Jersey rock band Yo La Tengo.

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Emanation: Art + Process at Wheaton Arts

Wed, 01 Apr 2015 15:00:00 -0400

The creative process itself is the focus of a sprawling contemporary art exhibition opening May 1 at Wheaton Arts. Mark Dion, Judy Pfaff, Donald Lipski and Paula Hayes are among the 11 art world stars who have been working for months with Wheaton and the Creative Glass Center of America to create new works inspired by South Jersey, the glass industry, and the history of Wheaton Arts itself. “Emanation: Art +Process” is part of an ambitious year of programming that includes Glass Weekend, a biennial event bringing together artists, curators and galleries (June 13 & 14, 2015). Producer Susan Wallner finds out more from Kristin Qualls, director of exhibitions at Wheaton Arts.

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"And Then Came Tango" at The Growing Stage

Tue, 03 Mar 2015 19:00:00 -0500

The Growing Stage, The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey, will present the world premiere of "And Then Came Tango" on Friday, March 6th. Inspired by a true story, the play revolves around the case of two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo who established a bond to hatch an orphaned egg. Written by Emily Freeman, and featuring choreography by Jillian Petrie and original music by Paul Marbach, "And Then Came Tango" is a celebration of tolerance and the eternal instinct that guides one generation to care for the next. Producer Christopher Benincasa recently spoke with the show’s director Stephen L. Fredericks about this world premiere.

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NJSO Winter Festival: Sounds of Shakespeare

Mon, 29 Dec 2014 19:00:00 -0500

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s annual Winter Festival kicks off on January 9th and runs through the 25th. This year, the festival is celebrating the genius of Shakespeare by presenting music inspired by his greatest plays. Christopher Benincasa recently spoke with NJSO Music Director Jacques Lacombe about creating the “Sounds of Shakespeare” program, which will feature Sarah Chang, one of the world’s leading violinists.

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Seuls en Scène – Princeton French Theater Festival

Sun, 28 Sep 2014 20:00:00 -0400

Princeton University’s third French Theater Festival is well underway, and runs through October 11 at venues across the campus. All performances are in French – with English subtitles – and are free and open to the public. Christopher Benincasa recently spoke with Festival Director Florent Masse about bringing some of France’s most celebrated theater artists to New Jersey.

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American Boychoir School Featured in New Dustin Hoffman Movie

Wed, 03 Sep 2014 20:00:00 -0400

Dante Soriano is a fourth year student at the American Boychoir School. He once wanted to be an accountant, but now thinks maybe he'll switch to acting. Dante was cast as the lead character's best friend in the new film by Francois Girard, "Boychoir." It premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival this weekend. Producer Susan Wallner spoke to Dante and the American Boychoir School's Litton-Lodal Music Director, Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, who also appears in the film. It was the second day of school, but no fear - the Boychoir School accepts new students throughout the year - as long as they love to sing.

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Homeward Bound: South Jerseyan Ginger Coyle Comes Home for XPoNential Music Festival

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 20:00:00 -0400

Ginger Coyle and her band will be performing Sunday, July 27 on the JerseyArts.com Marina Stage at the XPoNential Music Festival on the Camden Waterfront. A professional musician since the age of 13, she knew she wanted to be a performer since the age of three. After many twists and turns through the music industry, in 2011 she decided to go totally independent and fan-fund her album "Homeward Bound." She’s currently at work on a new full-length record – the first single “The Big Picture” is out this week. Christopher Benincasa spoke with Ginger Coyle earlier this week about her life as a touring musician, recording artist, and mom.

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NJ350: David Bianculli on Film and Television History in New Jersey

Wed, 25 Jun 2014 20:00:00 -0400

This week marked the 350th birthday of the state of New Jersey. The website officialnj350.com is filled with fun things to do throughout the state to celebrate, as well as fascinating articles about New Jersey’s history and culture. One of those articles was written by critic and founder of the popular online magazine "TV Worth Watching" David Bianculli. He’s been a TV critic since 1975, and is a regular contributor to NPR’s "Fresh Air with Terry Gross." A resident of New Jersey, he’s also an associate professor of television and film history at Rowan University. Producer Christopher Benincasa met with Bianculli to talk about the birth of the film industry in the Garden State, and how New Jersey has persisted in media and the public imagination ever since.

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NJSO Thrills with Acrobats, Free Concerts, Singalongs, and More

Mon, 02 Jun 2014 20:00:00 -0400

The new President and CEO of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra chats with producer Eric Schultz about upcoming concerts and some of the innovative ways the orchestra is reinventing itself for the 21st century. Highlights include the orchestra's appearance with Cirque de la Symphony on June 7 & 8, and a whole series of free summer concerts throughout the state.

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Raritan River Music Festival -- Past & Present

Tue, 13 May 2014 20:00:00 -0400

Guitar duo Michael Newman and Laura Oltman founded Raritan River Music Festival 25 years ago. Since then, every May brings an eclectic mix of classical music to Hunterdon County. This year, to mark the Festival's anniversary and the 300th anniversary of Hunterdon County, the Festival is presenting a series of concerts featuring music from 1714, 1814, 1914, and 2014. The Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo will perform new 21st century compositions for the last concert on May 24. Chatham Baroque played the first concert in the historic Prallsville Mills in Stockton, NJ. Producer Susan Wallner was there, and brings you some music popular during the time of the colonies in this special podcast.

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Our Town Now at George Street Playhouse

Tue, 22 Apr 2014 20:00:00 -0400

Thornton Wilder's play "Our Town" is 100 years old. As with any classic, every generation interprets it anew. The George Street Playhouse has involved the entire city of New Brunswick in its new production, running through May 25. Director of Education Jim Jack has spearheaded the effort, dubbed "Hub City Our Town: A Celebration of the Arts & Community in New Brunswick." Dance, murals, a photo project, a film series, and a new interview-based play written by Jack, "Our Town Now," bring Wilder's play and its universal concerns straight into the 21st century.

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The Garden State Film Festival Comes To A.C.

Tue, 01 Apr 2014 20:00:00 -0400

Tonight, the Garden State Film Festival celebrates its 12th year by moving the party from Asbury Park to Atlantic City. For four days, film lovers can take in as many fresh, independent films as they can handle – and maybe balance it all out with panel discussions, Q and A sessions with filmmakers, an awards ceremony, and, of course, parties. Christopher Benincasa recently spoke with Diane Raver, Executive Director and Founder of the Garden State Film Festival, about what to expect this weekend. The festival runs through Sunday, April 6th.

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Norman Rockwell at the Newark Museum

Sun, 09 Mar 2014 20:00:00 -0400

The exhibit American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell, created by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, has arrived at the Newark Museum. Rockwell was one of the most famous and beloved American artists of the 20th Century. His illustrations of American life – from idyllic small town scenes to heartbreaking depictions of racism and violence – are nothing short of iconic. Christopher Benincasa recently sat down with Ulysses Dietz, Chief Curator at the Newark Museum, to talk about the exhibit, and what Norman Rockwell means to us today.

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As You Like It

Sun, 02 Feb 2014 19:00:00 -0500

Everyone knows, or has at least heard, this famous line: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” It’s from Shakespeare’s romantic comedy "As You Like It," which is running through February 16th at Two River Theater in Red Bank. Christopher Benincasa recently sat down with director Michael Sexton to talk about his fresh, modern take on the play, and what it has to say to us in 2014 – more than four centuries after it was written.

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Montclair Art Musem at 100

Sun, 05 Jan 2014 19:00:00 -0500

On January 15, the Cake Boss will unveil a new creation in honor of the 100th birthday of the Montclair Art Museum. The Wednesday evening event--free and open to the public--will also include music, dancing, and the unveiling--or “lighting”--of a new installation changing the exterior look of the museum. Director Lora Urbanelli talks with producer Susan Wallner about the year-long celebration, the museum’s evolution, and its importance in the community and beyond.

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DanceVision’s "The Snow Queen"

Tue, 10 Dec 2013 19:00:00 -0500

This weekend, December 14-15, DanceVision brings its adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s "The Snow Queen" to the Kendall Main Stage Theater at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. The full-length ballet tells the tale of two children – Kai and Gerda – who are caught up in a magical tug of war between good and evil. We met up with DanceVision’s founder and artistic director Risa Kaplowitz at the Princeton Dance and Theater Studio to talk about what goes into transforming a classic story into a ballet.

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White Christmas At Surflight

Tue, 19 Nov 2013 19:00:00 -0500

Superstorm Sandy struck last year, and “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” at Surflight Theatre was postponed. This year, the show goes on. It opens November 30 for a four week run, making it the ideal holiday event at the shore. Director/choreographer Norb Joerder describes what makes the production so appealing, from the innocence of the familiar songs to the classic tap dancing numbers.

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Full Circle 2013: Reflections

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 20:00:00 -0400

This Saturday, November 2, the Matheny Medical and Educational Center in Peapack, a special hospital for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities, opens its doors to the public for Full Circle 2013: Reflections – a multi-media fine arts showcase featuring original work by the Arts Access artists. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Arts Access program was designed to enable clients who, in many cases, are unable to walk, speak, or move without assistance, to transcend their disabilities and create art by working with professional artist facilitators. We spoke with Performing Arts Coordinator Burt Brooks about Full Circle, and what it means to Matheny’s clients

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Something Wicked This Way Comes

Tue, 08 Oct 2013 20:00:00 -0400

"Something Wicked This Way Comes" is one night only at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey on October 28. The evening of chilling and spooky tales by a company of actors is accompanied by theremin music, sound effects, and staging, making it a Halloween season favorite with audiences. This year, actor Ames Adamson gives the Jersey Arts Podcast a special preview with a full performance of Edgar Allan Poe’s very brief, very creepy classic, “The Tell-Tale Heart.” Producer Susan Wallner starts by asking director Brian Crowe to describe what makes the evening so special.

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Paper Mill Give Us a Glimpse of New Musical "Honeymoon In Vegas"

Tue, 17 Sep 2013 20:00:00 -0400

This week, we take you to the press preview of Paper Mill Playhouse’s world-premiere production of “Honeymoon in Vegas” – a new musical based on the movie of the same title, which starred Nicolas Cage, Sarah Jessica Parker, and James Caan. The cast of the musical – featuring Tony Danza, Rob McClure, and Brynn O’Malley – performed a few numbers for members of the press. It was the first public unveiling of any material from this production. “Honeymoon in Vegas” will play the Paper Mill Playhouse from September 26 through October 27.

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"Proof" Open New Season at the McCarter

Fri, 30 Aug 2013 20:00:00 -0400

"Proof" is a father/daughter drama, a love story, and a mystery. Who wrote the groundbreaking mathematical proof discovered after an eccentric professor's death? Winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play, "Proof" opens the 2013/14 season at the McCarter Theatre in a new production directed by Emily Mann. Mann describes her fascination with the play, and reveals some hidden connections - for instance, she herself is the daughter of a professor at the University of Chicago, the same campus where "Proof" takes place. "Proof" opens in previews on September 6 and runs through October 6.

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Broadwalk Empire

Tue, 06 Aug 2013 20:00:00 -0400

Producer Eric Schultz talks with "Boardwalk Empire" author, historian and attorney Nelson Johnson. The Hammonton, NJ native published his history of Atlantic City and crime boss "Nucky" Johnson in 2002. It became a New York Times Best Seller when HBO launched the hit television series based on Johnson's book.

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Aaron & The Spell

Tue, 16 Jul 2013 20:00:00 -0400

Aaron & The Spell are the opening act at this year’s XPoNential Music Festival – kicking things off at Wiggins Park along the Camden Waterfront next Friday, July 26. There are lots of big bands playing this three-day summer festival – Bob Dylan, Wilco, My Morning Jacket, The Lumineers, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, and many, many more. But it all starts with Aaron Brown and his band. Christopher Benincasa met up with him in his hometown, Philadelphia, to talk about his music, and to listen to some songs from his new album - "Sing."

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An Evening With Groucho

Tue, 25 Jun 2013 20:00:00 -0400

The New York Times calls Frank Ferrante “the greatest living interpreter of Groucho Marx’s material.” From 1986-87, Ferrante starred in the off-Broadway hit, "Groucho: A Life in Revue," written by Groucho's son, Arthur Marx. Ferrante’s own one-man show, “An Evening with Groucho” includes improvisation and audience interaction as he brings Groucho’s subversive, outrageous humor to life. Susan Wallner talks to Frank Ferrante about his early and on-going fascination with the legendary comedian. In July, “An Evening with Groucho” comes to the Algonquin Theatre in Manasquan (July 12) and Centenary Stage in Hackettstown (July 13).

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GlassWeekend 2013

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 20:00:00 -0400

This weekend is GlassWeekend at WheatonArts & Cultural Center in Millville. The Creative Glass Center of America at WheatonArts is opening its doors to the public for a weekend full of exhibits, hands-on glassmaking, demonstrations by artists from around the world, and much more. Christopher Benincasa talks with Pamela Weichmann of WheatonArts about this international celebration of contemporary glass art.

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Colin Hay at Appel Farm Arts And Music Festival

Tue, 14 May 2013 20:00:00 -0400

He first grabbed the world's attention as the lead vocalist for "Men at Work," the Australian band that was a worldwide hit in the early 1980s. The band broke up quickly, and Colin Hay has been a solo act ever since. In fact, a new generation knows him more because of the "Garden State" soundtrack than from "Men at Work!" Hay talks to producer Susan Wallner about his love of music and his current world tour, playing music from three decades to a fan base that continues to grow. On June 1, he'll be at the Appel Farm Arts & Music Festival in Elmer, NJ.

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"Venus In Fur" Heats Up George Street Playhouse

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:00:00 -0400

"Venus In Fur" - a play about a play that’s based on an 1870 classic erotic novel by Austrian author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch - opens this week at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick. Christopher Benincasa met up with director Kip Fagan to talk about the play, and its complicated relationship with the cultural legacy of the novel.

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Christine Ebersole, Actress/Singer and Maplewood Mom

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 20:00:00 -0400

Two-time Tony winner Christine Ebersole (Grey Gardens, 42nd Street) “is in a class by herself,” says The New York Times. Her career spans from Broadway to Hollywood where she's currently in production with the second season of “Sullivan & Son,” a TBS sit-com, and starring in two movies out later this year. She also sings cabaret, and on May 11th, Christine Ebersole returns to NJPAC with her new show of standards and Broadway favorites. Susan Wallner talks to the Maplewood, NJ resident about her many creative projects and what keeps her so fresh.

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New Jersey Film Festival 2013

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:00:00 -0500

Continuing to spotlight home-grown filmmakers with "Jersey Fresh" programFor over three decades, the New Jersey Film Festival has been a film laboratory of sorts, presenting work by independent and experimental filmmakers from around the world – and keeping a spotlight on home-grown filmmakers from the Garden State with their Jersey Fresh program. Festival Director and Rutgers University Professor Albert G. Nigrin talks about the current season, which features the documentary Set For Life, a romantic comedy called Starting From Scratch (image left), and more unusual selections like the animated shorts Retrocognition and Animation Hotline (images below).

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American Repertory Ballet to perform Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring"

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:00:00 -0500

Podcast producer Eric Schultz talks with American Repertory Ballet's artistic director Douglas Martin. Martin has choreographed a new, soon-to-debut version of Stravinsky's ballet "The Rite of Spring." A hundred years ago, the first performances of the ballet caused a riot in Paris! Martin has a special connection to the music and ballet. He danced in the Joffrey Ballet's famous 1987 recreation of Nijinsky's original choreography. American Repertory Ballet's "The Rite of Spring" will be performed March 23rd at Raritan Valley Community College and on April 5th at South Orange Performing Arts Center.

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Chuck Cooper Stars in "Two Trains Running" at Two River Theater

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 19:00:00 -0500

August Wilson wrote a ten-play cycle set in a black Pittsburgh neighborhood, one for each decade of the 20th century. Last year, Two River Theater in Red Bank mounted an acclaimed production of "Jitney," the 1970s play, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson and starring Chuck Cooper. The two are both back this season for "Two Trains Running," set in the 1960s. Tony Award-winning actor Chuck Cooper talks to Susan Wallner about working with Ruben, the musicality of August Wilson's plays, and about meeting the famed playwright before his death in 2005. "Two Trains Running" runs February 2nd to March 3rd at Two River Theater Company.

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"Weiwei-Isms," A new Book Of Sayings From The Chinese Artist

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 19:00:00 -0500

Ai Weiwei disappeared for 81 days in April 2011 while trying to board a plane from Beijing to Hong Kong, and has not been able to leave China since. Yet his voice grows ever stronger around the world. He communicates through his art, through video, and, ever since his blog was shut down by Chinese censors, through Twitter. A new book by Princeton University Press collects some of his most evocative sayings. Susan Wallner talks to the editor of “Weiwei-isms,” Larry Warsh. He’s a longtime friend and collector of the artist.

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The Masterwork Chorus Performs Handel’s Messiah

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 12:00:00 -0500

This holiday season, Andrew Megill, one of the leading choral conductors of his generation, will conduct the 100-voice Masterwork Chorus, with orchestra and soloists, in their signature interpretation of Handel’s Messiah. The Masterwork Chorus has been performing Messiah in New York and New Jersey since 1957, and this year marks their 250th full performance. On Saturday, December 22nd, Messiah will be performed by the Masterwork Chorus for the 249th time at the Dorothy Young Theater at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.

On Sunday, December 23rd, they will give their 250th performance at Carnegie Hall.

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A Wind in the Willows Christmas

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:00:00 -0500

Two River Theater presents an original production for the holidays – A Wind in the Willows Christmas. This new musical follows the adventures of the story’s beloved characters – Mole, the Water Rat, Dr. Badger, and Mr. Toad – as they discover that home is where your friends are. We spoke with Grammy Award-winning composer – and ex-NFL player – Mike Reid about writing new music for a beloved children’s classic, as well as writing songs for artists like Kenny Chesney, Bonnie Raitt, Prince, and Willie Nelson.

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Poe Times Two At Cape May Stage

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 20:00:00 -0400

The Black Cat and The Cask of Amontillado , for a double bill of short one-man plays. Poe, Times Two runs through November 16th. Bodine received a 2012 NYIT Award nomination for his chilling performance.

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A Conversation with Poet Emari DiGiorgio

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 20:00:00 -0400

Emari DiGiorgio’s poems range from the political to the personal. She’s a featured poet at this year’s Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival in Newark (Oct. 11-14), and she teaches poetry at the Richard Stockton College of NJ. Christopher Benincasa talks to DiGiorgio about poetry and split-boarding the Tasman Glacier while on her recent honeymoon.

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Vanya And Sonia And Masha And Spike

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 20:00:00 -0400

The McCarter Theatre has a hit on its hands with, of all things, a comic take on the melancholy Russian plays of Chekhov. "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" stars Sigourney Weaver, Kristine Nielsen, and David Hyde Pierce as siblings whose literary parents named them after Chekhov characters. Masha (played by Sigourney Weaver) is a glamorous actress who descends upon her stay-at-home brother and sister with Spike, her new boy toy (played by Billy Magnussen). Susan Wallner talks with playwright Christopher Durang about comedy and Chekhov, and with actor David Hyde Pierce (Vanya) about being funny while playing it straight. PHOTO CREDIT: Billy Magnussen, Sigourney Weaver and David Hyde Pierce in Christopher Durang’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike presented by McCarter Theatre Center in association with Lincoln Center Theater. Photo: T. Charles Erickson

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Seward Johnson, Sculptor & Founder of Grounds For Sculpture

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 20:00:00 -0400

Seward Johnson is an artist known for his whimsy, and his popular appeal – and for founding Grounds for Sculpture 20 years ago. The park is now 42 acres of art in beautifully landscaped settings. With galleries, restaurants and performance areas, this Hamilton, New Jersey sculpture park has become one of America’s unique destinations. Susan Wallner talks to Seward Johnson about the beginnings of the park, his 3-dimensional renderings of Impressionist masterpieces, and one of his most renowned sculptures, “Double Check,” the sole piece of art remaining outside the World Trade Center after 9/11. Johnson describes a new piece he hopes to create for Grounds for Sculpture based on a photograph taken of this sculpture in the immediate aftermath of the attack.

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Bill Scheible, Ocean City Pops

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 20:00:00 -0400

Ocean City Pops concerts at the historic Ocean City Music Pier, built in 1929, are a much loved summer tradition at the the Jersey Shore. Producer Eric Schultz talks with the Pops veteran conductor William Scheible, now in his 26th season as Artistic Director. The orchestra performs 3 evenings a week all summer long, with music as varied as Mozart, Sinatra, Broadway tunes, and much more.

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John Wesley Harding's The Cabinet Of Wonders

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 20:00:00 -0400

The musician John Wesley Harding is also the novelist Wesley Stace. As host of the new NPR variety show "The Cabinet of Wonders," he calls on his friends from both worlds to perform. Rosanne Cash, Josh Ritter, and the Decemberists have all been on the show, as well as Audrey Niffenegger, author of "The Time Traveler's Wife," and Pulitzer Prize winning writer Paul Harding. Producer Susan Wallner talked to John Wesley Harding about his many interests, and the evolution of his new show in advance of a special on-the-road edition of "The Cabinet of Wonders" to be taped live at the Xponential Festival on July 22nd.

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Father Michael Doyle On Haiku Poet Nick Virgilio

Sun, 13 May 2012 20:00:00 -0400

Christopher Benincasa talks to Father Michael Doyle, of Camden's Sacred Heart Church, about the up-and-coming Waterfront South neighborhood - and the legacy of American Haiku poet, and Camden native, Nick Virgilio. Father Doyle and the church have been instrumental in helping to establish the South Camden Theatre Company - the first theatre to be built in Camden in 100 years - a thriving community garden and greenhouse, and the Nick Virgilio Haiku Society.

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American Boy Choir

Sat, 12 May 2012 20:00:00 -0400

The American Boy Choir, celebrating its 75th anniversary, has performed at the Oscars, with pop diva Beyoncé and with major orchestras around the world. Producer Eric Schultz recently visited the bucolic campus of the American Boy Choir School in Princeton, NJ to chat with President and CEO Dean Orton and Assistant Music Director Kerry Heimann about the choir's extraordinary history.

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John Guare, Playwright

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:00:00 -0400

Susan Wallner talks to one of the luminaries of the English speaking theater world, playwright John Guare. He’s won Tonys, Obies, and NY Drama Critics Circle Awards, as well as an Oscar nomination for the screenplay of Louis Malle’s “Atlantic City.” Guare’s newest play, “Are You There, McPhee?” has its world premiere at the McCarter Theatre in May. It’s his fourth play to be set on the island of Nantucket, a place Guare acknowledges as key to his own identity as a playwright and person.

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Eran Egozy & Gary Marcus

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:00:00 -0400

Christopher Benincasa speaks with Eran Egozy and Gary Marcus at The Music, Mind & Invention Workshop at The College of New Jersey. Egozy is co-founder of Harmonix Music Systems, and one of the creators of the phenomenally popular games Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Gary Marcus is Professor of Psychology and Director of the NYU Center for Language & Music, and he recently wrote the book Guitar Zero: The New Musician and The Science of Learning.

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Winnie Holzman

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:00:00 -0500

Chris interviews veteran television writer Winnie Holzman - creator of the series My So-called Life, and librettist for the hit Broadway musical Wicked. Holzman recently kicked off a series of talks at the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University. The series concludes with a Musical Theatre Symposium, "Making Broadway Musicals: Artists and Scholars in Conversation".

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Fluxus At Rutgers

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:00:00 -0500

Christopher Benincasa talks with curator Donna Gustafson about fifty years of Fluxus at Rutgers University. Fluxus was a radical and experimental art movement that started in the sixties and involved a group of Rutgers faculty members. The exhibit "art/around/beyond: Fluxus at Rutgers" is on view at the Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunswick through April 1.

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Podcast Interview: "The Convert" at McCarter Theatre Center

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:00:00 -0500

Young playwright Danai Gurira first made waves with “Eclipsed,” her play about 5 young Liberian women during that country’s civil war. She is now writing a cycle of plays about Zimbabwe and Zimbabwean identity. Part one, “The Convert,” premieres at the McCarter Theatre January 13th to February 12th. It starts at the beginning, during the first black/white conflict in 1895, with the story of Jekesai (aka Ester), a young village girl who escapes a forced marriage by embracing Christianity. Susan Wallner talks to Gurira about the play and about her own experience as a “ZimAmerican.”

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Dave Devries, Comic Artist and Monster Engine Creator

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 19:00:00 -0500

Producer Eric Schultz visits comic artist, painter, illustrator and author Daves Devries at his Budd Lake, NJ home. In 1998, Devries asked the question, what would a child's drawing look like if it were painted realistically? The answer is The Monster Engine, and a book, gallery exhibitions, lectures and a website that went viral in its first month with over 17 million hits followed. For more on Dave Devries, check out his website.

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Bakersfield Mist

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:00:00 -0500

Inspired by a true story, an unemployed bartender living in a trailer park buys a painting at a thrift store for three dollars – and then comes to believe that it might be a long-lost Jackson Pollock worth millions. However, as she learns, words like “authenticity” can become slippery when the art world is forced to clash with the rest of the world. That’s the premise of Bakersfield Mist, which will have its Garden State premiere this week at the New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch. It runs from December 1 – January 22, 2012. Christopher Benincasa speaks with Executive Producer Gabor Barabas.

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Mary Badham, Scout in "To Kill A Mockingbird"

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:00:00 -0500

Harper Lee's 1960 novel To Kill A Mockingbird was an instant classic that was made into a great movie. Mary Badham played the role of "Scout" when she was 10 years old, and it transformed her life. Susan Wallner talks to Badham about her special relationship with Gregory Peck ("Atticus") and the universal appeal of this Southern tale of race, justice, and childhood. The play To Kill A Mockingbird runs at the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ through November 20th.

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Atlantic City Ballets Dracula

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:00:00 -0400

The Atlantic City Ballet is performing Dracula just in time for Halloween. Producer Eric Schultz recently chatted with AC Ballet's founding director Phyllis Papa, who created the work five years ago. She says, "It's more of a dance experience than a ballet -- scary, sexy and dramatic."

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Junot Diaz, Author

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:00:00 -0400

For years, Junot Díaz was known for his explosive collection of short stories, "Drown," set in New Jersey and the Dominican Republic. His readers loyally waited for his next book - a novel that took him 11 years to write. "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao," about a Dominican American nerd from Paterson, New Jersey, won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize. Susan Wallner talks to Díaz about what New Jersey means to him, as a writer and as a one-time resident of the state.

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Alan Menken and Newsies at Paper Mill Playhouse

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:00:00 -0400

The 1992 Disney movie-musical "Newsies" was not a box office smash - the epic, fact-inspired tale of a newsboys' labor strike in 1890s New York was a notorious flop. However, nearly two decades later, the movie's passionate cult following - and Menken and Feldman's enduring pop score - have helped to create enough demand for a new expanded version for the stage. The NEW Newsies musical will premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey on September 15th. Christopher Benincasa met up with Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken at a sneak peek of the show at its rehearsal space at the New 42nd Street Studios in Manhattan.

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Jed Gaylin, Music Director of the Bay Atlantic Symphony

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 20:00:00 -0400

Conductor Jed Gaylin has transformed the Bay Atlantic Symphony during his fourteen years as Music Director. Eric Schultz talks to Gaylin about sold out concert halls, summers performances in Avalon and all the great music the Bay Atlantic Symphony will be performing this year, including a Motown pops concert in Atlantic City.

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Sounds Of The City

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:00:00 -0400

NJPAC’s Sounds of the City is a summer tradition in Newark – a free Thursday night concert series attracting thousands of people held outside in Theater Square. It features the hottest new artists around, playing everything from jazz and pop to hip-hop and world music to the ever popular salsa night. This season ends on September 1st with a tribute to Michael Jackson. Susan Wallner talks to the producer, Verushka Wray-Spirito, about the phenomenon of Sounds of the City.

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The Smithereens' Dennis Diken

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:00:00 -0400

The Smithereens have just released their first album of new material in twelve years - Smithereens 2011 - and now the band of New Jersey natives is back on tour and enjoying a warm welcome from critics and fans alike. They'll be performing at WXPN's XPoNential Music Festival in Camden on Friday, July 22. Christopher Benincasa spoke with Smithereens drummer Dennis Diken about the legacy - and future - of a homegrown rock band that's still going strong in its 31st year.

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Opera New Jersey's 2011 Summer Season

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 20:00:00 -0400

Producer Eric Schultz chats with Richard Russell, General Director of Opera New Jersey, about the company’s 2011 summer season at McCarter Theatre in Princeton. Menotti’s The Consul, Rossini’s Barber of Seville and Pasatieri’s new opera The Family Room are all on the bill.

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Singer-Songwriter Josh Ritter

Wed, 25 May 2011 20:00:00 -0400

Josh Ritter’s career began to take shape in college when he decided that playing music was more important to him than neuroscience – and, after years of bouncing around the music scene, he’s emerged as one the most respected singer/songwriters of his generation. He’s playing the Appel Farm Arts & Music Festival with Ani Difranco on June 4th. Christopher Benincasa speaks with Josh Ritter about not being a neuroscientist, writing songs, greatness and weirdness, and his debut novel Bright’s Passage.

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John Dias, Artistic Director, Two River Theater Company

Mon, 09 May 2011 20:00:00 -0400

The Two River Theater Company in Red Bank is hot. New artistic director John Dias has moved quickly to bring new artists and new plays to the stage. His 2011-2012 season was just announced, including everything from “Much Ado About Nothing” to the new academic sex comedy “Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England” (developed at Two River). Dias talks to Susan Wallner about his almost mystical passion for the theater, and why he thinks New Jersey is on the cutting edge.

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Joan Snyder: Intimate Works

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 20:00:00 -0400

Artist Joan Snyder has been widely celebrated for her vibrant expressionist prints and paintings and her leading role in feminist art. Producer Eric Schultz spoke with the 2007 recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “genius award,” as the Zimmerli Art Museum mounts the first major retrospective of her prints: “Dancing with the Dark: Joan Snyder Prints 1963-2010.”

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Lloyd Kaufman and The 12th Annual TromaDance Film Festival

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 20:00:00 -0400

The TromaDance Film Festival is returning to Asbury Park – April 22nd and 23rd at the Showroom Theater. In this podcast, Christopher Benincasa talks with the man behind the festival, Lloyd Kaufman. Kaufman is perhaps best known for introducing us to The Toxic Avenger – a mutant super-hero character he created that has come to symbolize independent, do-it-yourself filmmaking – just the right mascot for a festival like TromaDance.

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Choreographer Carolyn Dorfman

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:00:00 -0400

Producer Eric Schultz talks with renowned New Jersey-based choreographer Carolyn Dorfman. She founded her modern dance group, the 28 years ago. Dorfman discusses her latest work and collaborative approaches to creating dance. She also talks about growing up with parents who were Holocaust survivors. Her parents, she says, told her everything, and that has profoundly shaped her entire being and artistic life. She talks about how motherhood later transformed her understanding of the horrors she had so often heard about as a child. Carolyn Dorfman has choreographed dozens of high-energy and technically demanding works that use movement as metaphor, often with the ingenious use of props. One reviewer described dances as "intellectual and emotional journeys."

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Posing Beauty at Newark Museum

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 19:00:00 -0500

“Black is Beautiful” - Deborah Willis, artist, historian, and curator, explores the history of this idea, from early slave images to an iconic 1970s photo of model Suzanne Taylor. “Posing Beauty: African American Images from the 1890s to the Present,” will be at the Newark Museum through April 28th. Willis, a MacArthur “Genius,” has a new book out as well: “Michelle Obama: The First Lady in Photographs.”

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O Write My Name

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:00:00 -0500

Christopher Benincasa interviews curator Angela Sergonis about a new show at the -- 50 photos of acclaimed African American artists -- from Lena Horne to Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston to Dizzy Gillespie. In the 1920s, Carl Van Vechten, critic, novelist, and chronicler of the Harlem Renaissance, began photographing black writers, musicians, and artists -- the result is the vivid portrait archive now on display at the museum.

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Poet Rafey Habib

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 19:00:00 -0500

Christopher Benincasa talks with Dr. Rafey Habib, Professor of English at Rutgers University, author of many books on literary criticism – and a poet. His book Shades of Islam: Poems for a New Century has just been published. One of his passions is cultivating mutual understanding between the Islamic world and Western cultures – which includes working with colleagues at Rutgers University to establish a cultural diversity of courses, including Islamic literature in English translation. In this podcast, Habib reads some of his poetry, as well as his own translation from a passage in the Qur’an.

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Black Nativity

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 19:00:00 -0500

"Black Nativity," by the great poet Langston Hughes, premiered in 1961 on Broadway. Since then, the gospel-inspired musical play has become a holiday favorite. This year, see it December 30th at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, in a production directed by Darrell Lawrence Willis of the Dunbar Repertory Company. Willis describes the production to Susan Wallner, and reflects on why it has become such a beloved tradition.

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Amiri Baraka

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 20:00:00 -0400

Christopher Benincasa speaks with poet Amiri Baraka on his birthday. Which also happened to be the kick-off date of this year's Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival. Which just happened to be taking place in his hometown - Newark. At the age of 76, Baraka has a long history of activism and controversy coupled with a vast catalogue of artistic output, and many awards to show for it. Being the first poet to hit the stage at the biggest poetry event in the country, just several blocks from his home, was a pretty nice birthday present.

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[Title of Show] at George Street Playhouse

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 20:00:00 -0400

[Title of Show] is about two guys writing a show – Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen – who really did write and star (as themselves) in the show, which ended up on Broadway with 3 Obies! It’s a show about four friends taking risks, creating art, killing Vampires (the dream-destroying kind, not the Dracula kind) — and how relationships change when life happens. Now, [Title of Show] is at the George Street Playhouse from 11/16-12/12/2010. Susan Wallner talks to director Matt Lenz and to actor Tyler Maynard (Hunter).

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Bob Morrison on Arts Education

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 20:00:00 -0400

n a special back to school edition, producer Susan Wallner talks to Bob Morrison, founder of Music for All, VH1's Save the Music Foundation, and Quadrant Arts Education Research. He's one of the nation's foremost movers and shakers in the field of arts education, and he has the data to show why the arts are so important to students in the 21st century. Morrison also describes the "Glee" effect.

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Joe Paprzycki and the Waterfront South Theatre

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 20:00:00 -0400

Playwright Joe Paprzycki runs a theatre where his grandfather's bar used to be in Camden, New Jersey. In his play Last Rites, he engineered some clever time-traveling by staging the production on the same location the story is set in -- his grandfather's bar, circa 1967. The play harmonized with Paprzycki's mission -- renewing a neighborhood in a struggling city. Next, he's mounting a production of The Old Settler, a drama set in 1940s Harlem, opening October 22nd.

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Dave Isay, Founder, StoryCorps

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:00:00 -0400

MacArthur Genius Dave Isay started StoryCorps in 2003 -- it's an oral history project that has everyday people interview each other about their lives. NPR listeners often say they start crying every time they hear one of the stories drawn from these interviews. NJN is partnering with Storycorps to bring a MobileBooth to Trenton in September, giving New Jerseyans a chance to tell their stories. In anticipation, State of the Arts producer Susan Wallner talks with Dave Isay about the meaning and purpose of StoryCorps.

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Keith Haring at Grounds for Sculpture

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:00:00 -0400

Artist Keith Haring, who died in 1990 at the age of 31, is famous for his iconic, graffiti-inspired art -- starting in the subways of NYC, then taking the international art world by storm. In Keith Haring: A New Dimension, Grounds for Sculpture has presented a selection of Haring's lesser-known sculptural work. State of the Arts producer Christopher Benincasa talks with curator Ellen Landis about the exhibit and the legacy of the one-man phenomenon that was Haring.

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Passage Theatre's Play Lab

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:00:00 -0400

Fortune smiles as the Passage Play Lab returns with another collection of original one-act plays by Trenton area writers (June 25-27). This year, five writers cracked open fortune cookies in search of inspiration. Producer Susan Wallner spoke with playwright and associate artistic director David White about this popular annual production. White also discusses Passage Theatre's increasing use of area talent, and its surprising increase in ticket sales.

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Nicole Atkins and XPN

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 20:00:00 -0400

Singer-songwriter Nicole Atkins is performing at the XPoNential Music Festival on the Camden Waterfront this weekend. State of the Arts producer Christopher Benincasa chats with the Jersey shore native about sharks, couch surfing, touring in mini-vans, and, of course, making music.

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New Jersey Film Festival

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:00:00 -0400

The 2010 New Jersey International Film Festival’s 15th anniversary season takes place on the Rutgers New Brunswick campus June 4-20. Producer Eric Schultz spoke with the creators of three featured films: "The Hand of Fatima," Augusta Palmer's documentary about her father, rock critic Robert Palmer; "Sneakers & Soul," a romantic feature set in NJ, and "Muskrat John: Urban Trapper," a documentary about a Meadow Lands hunter from the '30s.

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Take Flight at the McCarter

Tue, 25 May 2010 20:00:00 -0400

Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, and the Wright Brothers are the characters in a new musical, "Take Flight," opening at the McCarter Theatre on April 30th. Producer Susan Wallner talks to the writers, a musical theatre dream team of Academy & Tony award winners, composer David Shire ("Saturday Night Fever"), lyricist Richard Maltby ("Ain't Misbehavin'"), and librettist John Weidman ("Assassins").

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Marvin Rosen from WPRB

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:00:00 -0400

Volunteer DJ Marvin Rosen, host of two shows on Princeton's university station WPRB, joins interviewer Susan Wallner for a podcast about the reinvention of new, accessible music from classically inspired traditions. His show "Classical Discoveries" aims to show people "the beauty of contemporary music" and to "illustrate that music brings us close." The show runs on Wednesdays.

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Poetry Out Loud

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:00:00 -0500

New Jersey is holding its fifth annual Poetry Out Loud! recitation contest at Drumthwacket, the governor's mansion in Princeton, on Thursday, March 18. The winner of the State Finals goes on to represent the Garden State at the national competition in Washington, DC. Producer Christopher Benincasa speaks with Poetry Out Loud's MC Alysia Souder about the impact this program is having on the lives of high school students -- some of whom are discovering poetry for the first time because of it.

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Rossen Milanov - Princeton Symphony

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:00:00 -0500

Rossen Milanov has been appointed the new Music Director of the Princeton Symphony. Producer Eric Schultz chatted with him at a rehearsal before his debut. Milanov explains how he juggles a whirlwind career as Associate Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Music Director of the Symphony in C, Principal Conductor of the Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra, and as a guest conductor around the world.

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Daniel Beaty - Through The Night

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:00:00 -0500

Sia Nyorkor talks with writer/performer, Daniel Beaty, about his newest production, Through the Night, at Crossroads Theatre Company. The play takes us through the minds of six males as they deal with the different stereotypes of being black in America. Beaty shares his creative process and what brought him to this place.

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A John Waters Christmas

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:00:00 -0500

Susan Wallner talks with filmmaker John Waters ("Pink Flamingos," "Hairspray") about his one-man paean to Christmas. Although some call him anti-Christmas, Waters himself says he loves the holiday, and describes his show as a self-help session for the neurotic during what can be a stressful time of year.

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Springsteen's American Vision

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:00:00 -0500

Christopher Benincasa talks with author Louis P. Masur about his book "Runaway Dream: Born to Run and Bruce Springsteen's American Vision." The book chronicles the creation of the now-classic 1975 album "Born To Run"” – a record that Springsteen himself has called "my shot at the title" A 24 year old kid aimin' at the greatest rock and roll record ever." The rest is rock and roll history.

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Tunes from the Crypt

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 20:00:00 -0400

Producer Eric Schultz talks with organist Joanne K. Owen, the first performer in a new pipe organ series in Salem County New Jersey. Owen plays a Halloween concert of scary music at historic St. John's Episcopal Church in Salem, NJ on October 23rd. The free concert starts at 6:00 PM right before Salem's annual "Ghost Walking Tour of Historic Market Street."

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I Love Jersey City: Everybody Counts

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:00:00 -0400

In this podcast Christopher Benincasa interviews Jersey City Museum’s Rocio Aranda-Alvarado about the museum’s new show I Love Jersey City: Everybody Counts. This exhibition, running through December, includes 4 x 6 inch images sent in by the public of people they know who live, work, or play in Jersey City. I Love Jersey City: Everybody Counts is in honor of the 2010 National Census.

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Opera Director John Hoomes

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:00:00 -0400

John Hoomes travels throughout the world directing opera. He has staged more than 75 productions. Producer Eric Schultz chatted with the veteran director in Princeton after the dress rehearsal of his Opera New Jersey 2009 summer production of "Lucia di Lammermoor." Hoomes worked with an incredible young cast, including Metropolitan Opera star Lisette Oropesa.

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"The Tempest" Outdoors

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:00:00 -0400

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s popular outdoor offering this summer is “The Tempest.” From June 24-August 2, Shakespeare’s magical play is being staged in a stone amphitheater based on the Dionysus Theater in Greece. As artistic director Bonnie Monte tells Susan Wallner, it’s a perfect play and a perfect setting for the whole family – and picnics are encouraged.

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NJ Film Festival

Mon, 25 May 2009 20:00:00 -0400

Christopher Benincasa talks with New Jersey International Film Festival curator Al Nigrin and four of the festival's featured filmmakers - Paul Marcus (Sounds Good To Me), Beth Toni Krunant (Heart of Stone), Neil and Lee Selden (Final Gift) - all from New Jersey. This summer's festival runs from June 5th through the 21st. The full schedule can be foud at njfilmfest.com.

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Paul Muldoon and Susan Wheeler

Sat, 09 May 2009 20:00:00 -0400

Christopher Benincasa talks with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon and poet/author Susan Wheeler about the inaugural Princeton Poetry Festival, which was presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts in April of 2009 at Princeton University. The festival featured world-renowned poets John Ashbery, Seamus Heaney, Galway Kinnell, Gerald Stern, and many others.

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Playwright Tarell McCraney

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:00:00 -0400

Susan Wallner talks to Playwright Tarell McCrane. The 28 year old is playwright in residence at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and he’s opening a trilogy, “The Brother/Sister Plays,” at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton. The plays deal with poverty, jail, sex, and drugs – the same issues Tarell dealt with growing up in Miami. The first of “The Brother/Sister Plays” opens on Apl 24th and runs through June.

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New Jersey Ballet

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:00:00 -0400

The New Jersey Ballet 50th anniversary features a season of works choreographed by some of the greatest names in dance. Producer Eric Schultz speaks with the company’s founding director, Carolyn Clarke, and Paul Hilliard McRae, New Jersey Ballet’s Assistant Artistic Director. There will be an NJ Ballet Gala Performance at NJPAC on April 18th. www.njballet.org

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Michael Rees, Artist

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:00:00 -0500

Michael Rees creates sculptures that are products of the intersection of art and technology. State of the Arts producer Christopher Benincasa meets up with the 2007 NJSCA Fellowship recipient at Matrix Art Collective in Guttenberg, New Jersey where he designs and fabricates his pieces. Rees teaches classes in sculpture and digital media at William Paterson University, and shows his work internationally.

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Tim Vasen on "Troy: After and Before"

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:00:00 -0500

At McCarter’s Berlind Theatre, two ancient Greek plays explore a bloody story tying family values to international politics. In “Iphigenia at Aulis” by Euripides, Iphigenia is sacrificed by her father for the cause of war; in “Agamemnon” by Aeschylus, his life is taken in turn. Susan Wallner talks to Princeton University director Tim Vasen about the production and its relevance to today’s headlines.

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Readings of Poet Joe Weil

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:00:00 -0500

State of the Arts producer Christopher Benincasa follows poet Joe Weil around his home town of Elizabeth, New Jersey, stopping along the way to read work from his two recent collections – What Remains and Painting the Christmas Trees. Weil was born and raised in Elizabeth and has been described by The New York Times as personifying that town.

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Mel Leipzig, Painter

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:00:00 -0400

Celebrated realist painter Mel Leipzig, from Trenton, NJ, is as prolific at 73 as he has ever been. State of the Arts producer Eric Schultz chatted with Leipzig recently as he was working on his new show, a retrospective of paintings from 2006 through 2009, which opens at the Villanova University Art Gallery January 9, 2009.

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Interview with Poet Yusef Komunyakaa

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:00:00 -0400

NJN producer Christopher Benincasa meets up with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa at a Trenton bookstore. Komunyakaa has a new book of poetry coming out this fall called Warhorses, which delves into an age of war and conflict, both global and internal, racial and sexual.

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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A Tapestry of Expression

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:00:00 -0400

The New Jersey State Museum has reopened with an exhibit celebrating New Jersey folk life, “Culture in Context: A Tapestry of Expression” One of the Featured artists is Forked River basketmaker Mary May. Mary May is not only a master basketmaker but an historian of South Jersey baskets. NJN Producer Susan Wallner finds out more about this traditional craft.

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Joan Lippincott

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:00:00 -0400

Organ virtuoso Joan Lippincott recently performed J. S. Bach’s monumental "Art of the Fugue" at the Princeton Theological Seminary as part of the Westminster Choir College 2008 Bach Festival. Lippincott spoke with NJN producer Eric Schultz shortly after the concert and explained some of the intricacies of writing a fugue and why she thinks Bach’s "Art of the Fugue" is such a masterpiece.

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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Cecilias Last Tea Party

Tue, 27 May 2008 20:00:00 -0400

"Cecilia's Last Tea Party" is a new play at Trenton's Mill Hill Playhouse that the New York Times called "a modest but ravishing new piece of theater well served by the Passage Theater Company's production". NJN producer Christopher Benincasa recently spoke with the play's star Nitya Vidyasagar, who plays Cecilia, a young girl whose parents have disappeared in the midst of 1940s political upheaval on an unnamed island in the Pacific Rim.

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Marlo thomas

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:00:00 -0400

NJN producer Amber Edwards talks with actress Marlo Thomas -- who's currently at the George Street Playhouse in a world premiere play by Elaine May titled "Roger is Dead"-- about her theater work and her groundbreaking 1960s TV series "That Girl", which altered the television landscape. "Roger is Dead" runs through May 11th at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick.

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Nell Irvin, Painter

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:00:00 -0400

This time on Jersey Arts: The Podcast, NJN producer Amber Edwards talks with Nell Irvin Painter, the eminent historian and author--recently retired from Princeton--who has gone back to school as an undergraduate at Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts, in order to pursue a career as a professional artist.

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Edward Albee

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:00:00 -0500

Welcome to the very first edition of Jersey Arts: The Podcast. On NJN's recent "Stage & Screen" episode of State of the Arts, Christopher Benincasa produced a story about Edward Albee's new play, "Me, Myself, and "', directed by Emily Mann at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton. In this podcast, you'll hear the extended interview with Albee, much of which didn't make it into the story!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

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