Enjoy the current issue of New Jersey Countryside Magazine, available now at bookstores, on newsstands and by subscription.
Entertainment & Coming Events
New Jersey Countryside Magazine provides a comprehensive listing of New Jersey’s performing arts, museum and gallery exhibits, and special events. For a complete list of upcoming events, pick up a copy of our latest issue.
Harry Connick, Jr. Harry Connick Jr. is among today's most successful and multi-talented artists, who has garnered acclaim in both the music and acting arenas. While he first reached a mass audience as a pianist, singer and bandleader, his subsequent success in theatre, film, and television have secured his place as a renaissance man and a versatile entertainer, earning him both Grammy and Emmy awards as well as Tony nominations. On June 29 and 30 at The Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, 100 South Street, Morristown, (973) 539-8008, www.mayoarts.org.
Mayo Performing Arts Center (Morristown)
J.M. Stringer Gallery of Fine Art (Bernardsville)
Monmouth University Performing Arts Center (West Long Branch)
Montclair Art Museum
New Jersey Ballet (Livingston)
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (Newark)
Paper Mill Playhouse (Millburn)
South Orange Performing Arts Center (South Orange)
The Kelsey Theatre at MCCC (West Windsor)
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (Madison)
Two River Theater Company (Red Bank)
Union County Performing Arts Center (Rahway)
Westfield Symphony Orchestra (Westfield)
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Mayo Performing Arts Center
100 South Street
Morristown
(973) 539-8008
www.mayoarts.org
5/11. Joy Behar. From people in the news to politicians making news, Joy Behar, one of the co-hosts of ABC’s The View, has something to say — and it’s always hilarious. It’s an evening of topical comedy from the opinionated, insightful and very funny Daytime Emmy-winner. Mature content, language.
5/12. Scotty McCreery. America fell in love with Scotty McCreery from the moment he stepped on stage on American Idol to when he was crowned the 2011 champion. Scotty performs music from his debut album Clear as Day, which showcases his deep and undeniably country voice, his natural warmth and his charm that won him the votes of millions of fans across the country.
5/17. Manhattan Transfer. For 40 years, Manhattan Transfer’s exquisite four-part harmonies have created some of the most beautiful vocal arrangements in music. These multiple Grammy-winners perform the hits (“Boy from New York City,” “Birdland”) that have earned them audience and critical acclaim in the worlds of jazz and pop music.
5/18. New Jersey Ballet: Don Quixote. This colorful remounting of Don Quixote, based on the 1900 version staged for the Bolshoi by Alexander Gorsky, is rich in Spanish color, flavor, and the humor of Cervantes’ masterpiece about an old knight, his squire, and their fanciful foray into the age of chivalry.
5/19. New Jersey Ballet: Beauty and the Beast/Peter and the Wolf. The power of courage and kindness are at the heart of this delightful double feature. Clever Peter and his friends dance to Prokofiev’s famous score. Beauty’s gentle ways turn the Beast into a handsome Prince. Featuring original “storyteller” narration. Ages four to 12.
5/20. If You Give A Mouse Cookie and Other Storybooks. When a boy shares his snack with a hungry, demanding mouse, he learns a hilarious lesson about cause-and-effect. This fun musical revue features several popular children’s stories including “Math Curse,” “Owen,” “Amazing Grace” and more. Ages four to 8.
5/31-6/2. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. MPAC’s first original production features a cast of more than 70 local youth performers in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s uplifting musical.
6/5-6. Gfour 4 Productions Presents: Menopause The Musical®. Four women at a lingerie sale with nothing in common but a black lace bra AND memory loss, hot flashes, night sweats, not enough sex, too much sex and more! This hilarious musical parody set to classic tunes from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles!
6/7. The Midtown Men. Four stars from the original cast of Jersey Boys — Tony-Award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony-Award nominee J. Robert Spencer — star in this one-of-a-kind concert experience celebrating the music that defined the 1960s, from The Beatles to the Beach Boys to the Four Seasons and more!
6/8. NJ Symphony Orchestra: The Rite of Spring. Music that changed the course of history: Wagner’s “Prelude” and “Liebestod” (“Love-death”) opened new horizons with its yearning melody and unquenchable quicksand harmonies. Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” sparked a riot at its premiere with its pulse-pounding rhythms, while Debussy’s delicate colorations inspired a more subtle musical revolution.
6/14. The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Grammy-winning trumpeter Wynton Marsalis leads the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, comprised of 15 of today’s finest jazz soloists and ensemble players, who perform the music of the great jazz composers as well as original works that foster an appreciation for this American music genre.
6/21. Foreigner. With ten multi-platinum albums and sixteen Top 30 hits, Foreigner ranks as one of the most popular acts rock history.
6/22. Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers Featuring Edie Brickell. In a genre that prizes musicianship above all else, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers have risen to national prominence with their dynamic stage show. This concert will showcase new material performed by Martin and Edie Brickell (“What I Am”), along with the unique hybrid of bluegrass and comedy that Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers have been delighting audiences with.
6/27. America. Enjoy 40 years of classics such as “Horse with No Name,” “Sister Golden Hair,” “Tin Man,” “Lonely People” and “Ventura Highway.”
6/29-30. Harry Connick, Jr. Harry Connick Jr. is among today’s most successful and multi-talented artists, who has garnered acclaim in both the music and acting arenas. While he first reached a mass audience as a pianist, singer and bandleader, his subsequent success in theatre, film, and television have secured his place as a renaissance man and a versatile entertainer, earning him both Grammy and Emmy awards as well as Tony nominations.
J.M. Stringer Gallery of Fine Art
21-25 Claremont Road
Bernardsville
(908) 766-6400
www.jmstringergallery.com
5/4-6/22. From Dawn to Dusk. This exhibit will feature the recent paintings of Leonard Mizerek. An opening reception celebrating the artist will be held Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m to 6 p.m., and Sunday, May 5 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Known for his colorful, luminous seascapes and expressive brushwork, Mizerek paints on site, deriving inspiration from locations across the globe. Referring to the critical use of light in his oeuvre, Mizerek says it “sets a mood and evokes emotion, which I strive to portray in my work … I paint outdoors to capture the light first hand and bring out all its color and luminosity.” He is internationally recognized and has held exhibitions in galleries and museums across the country.
Monmouth University Center for Performing Arts
400 Cedar Avenue
West Long Branch
732-571-3400
www.monmouth.edu/arts
5/11. Met Opera: Giulio Cesare. The opera that conquered London in Handel’s time comes to the Met in David McVicar’s inventive production — which triumphed at its Glyndebourne premiere in 2005.
5/14. Soundgarden.
5/22. Ramona Quimby. Ramona’s life is a mess! Her older sister Beezus is a pain, her Aunt Bea may marry a dork, and her Dad just lost his job. She even thinks that her teacher hates her. Life is no picnic, and growing up isn’t easy. But with the help of her loving and patient family and friends, Ramona faces these challenges — as audiences laugh and cheer her on. Appropriate for Grades one through five.
5/22. National Theatre of London: This House. Helen Mirren reprises her Academy Award winning role as Queen Elizabeth II in the sell-out West End production of The Audience, broadcast as part of National Theatre Live.
6/20. Darius Rucker - True Believers Tour 2013.
6/27-7/21. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. A hilarious tale of overachievers’ angst.
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Montclair Art Museum
3 South Mountain Avenue
Montclair
(973) 746-5555
www.montclairartmuseum.org
Through 5/19. Patterns, Systems, Structures Abstraction in American Art. This exhibition explores the rich variety of approaches to abstraction in American art.
Through 6/16. Oscar Bluemner’s America: Picturing Paterson, New Jersey. This exhibition focuses on Oscar Bluemner’s representations of Paterson, New Jersey, a once-thriving manufacturing center that became a center of social, political, and economic upheaval in the early 20th century.
Through 6/16. The New Spirit: American Art in the Armory Show, 1913. This exhibit celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the famous and controversial 1913 Armory Show. It is the first exhibition to primarily focus on the American artists represented in that show.
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
60 Park Place, 9th Floor
Newark
(973) 624-3713
www.njsymphony.org
5/16-19. Tchaikovsky 5. A brilliant new concerto from American composer Steven Mackey is the centerpiece between two symphonic giants. “The Prelude” from Die Meistersinger presents Wagner at his most regal and grand. Tchaikovsky’s “Fifth” traces a winding path from tragedy to triumph. See website for venue locations.
6/1. Dancing Around the World. Take a trip around the world — no luggage required! Express yourself with Scottish, Spanish, Arabian, Chinese, Czech and American dances, including selections from The Nutcracker, West Side Story and Morton Gould’s Tap Dance Concerto. This concert also features the winning pieces from the first NJSO Young Composers Project.
6/1-2. Patti LuPone with NJSO. Patti LuPone, two-time Tony Award-winner and star of Gypsy, has been called “the American musical theatre’s greatest living star.” Don’t miss hearing songs from the legendary diva’s latest album, “Far Away Places,” backed for the very first time by full orchestra.
6/7-9. The Rite of Spring. Music that changed the course of history: Wagner’s “Prelude” and “Liebestod” (“Love-death”) opened new horizons with its yearning melody and unquenchable quicksand harmonies. Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” sparked a riot at its premiere with its pulse-pounding rhythms, while Debussy’s delicate colorations inspired a more subtle musical revolution. See website for venue locations.
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Paper Mill Playhouse
Brookside Drive
Millburn
(973) 379-4343
www.papermill.org
5/29-6/30. Disney’s The Little Mermaid. In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on one of Hans Christian Anderson’s most beloved stories, with music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, it’s a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. Come fall in love with the magic for the first time — or all over again!
6/8. Suessical. “Oh, the thinks you can think” when Dr. Seuss’ best-loved characters and stories hit the stage in this unforgettable musical adventure by Broadway veterans Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens. The noble Horton the Elephant, the one-feathered bird Gertrude McFuzz, and the antics of the Cat in the Hat steal the spotlight in one of Theatreworks’ largest-scale productions to date!
One SOPAC Way
South Orange
(973) 313-ARTS
www.SOPACNOW.org
The Kelsey Theatre at MCCC
1200 Old Trenton Road
West Windsor
(609) 570-3333
www.kelseyatmccc.org
Through 5/12. The Sound of Music. Rodgers & Hammerstein classic.
21 Bridge Avenue
Red Bank
(732) 345.1400
www.trtc.org
Through 5/12. 2.5 Minute Ride. A poignant, funny, complex and uplifting meditation on tragedy, grief and family.
Rahway
5/9-11. God of Carnage. A play by Yasmina Reza. It is about two pairs of parents, one of whose child has hurt the other at a public park, who meet to discuss the matter in a civilized manner. However, as the evening goes on, the parents become increasingly childish, resulting in the evening devolving into chaos. The play was a success in its original language, French, and has been equally acclaimed in its other English-translated productions in both London and New York.