Enjoy the current issue of New Jersey Countryside Magazine, available now at bookstores, on newsstands and by subscription.
Arts & Entertainment
ArtPride New Jersey (Burlington)
bergenPAC (Englewood)
Bickford Theatre (Morristown)
The Community Theatre (Morristown)
Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank)
George Street Playhouse (New Brunswick)
The Kelsey Theatre (West Windsor)
Monmouth University (West Long Branch)
New Jersey Ballet Company (Livingston)
NJN Public Television & Radio (online)
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (Newark)
Paper Mill Playhouse (Millburn)
Peters Valley Craft Center Store & Gallery (Layton)
Philomusica Choir (East Brunswick)
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (Madison)
Two River Theater Company (Red Bank)
Union County Performing Arts Center (Rahway)
Visual Art Center of New Jersey (Summit)
ArtPride New Jersey
Discover Jersey Arts
432 High Street
Burlington
(800) THE-ARTS; www.JerseyArts.com
ArtPride New Jersey works to increase awareness at local, state and national levels for funding, support and recognition of the arts as vital to New Jersey's quality of life, education and economic vitality. Through its Discover Jersey Arts program, coordinated in partnership with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, ArtPride makes opportunities available for the public to get more involved in our state’s arts scene. Learn about upcoming performances and exhibitions, browse our statewide arts directory, hear behind the scenes interviews, get exclusive discounts, and more — all at www.JerseyArts.com.
bergenPAC
30 North Van Brunt Street
Englewood
(201) 227-1030; www.bergenPAC.org
Known as The John Harms Center for 27 years, this cultural hub in Englewood, has been reborn as Bergen Performing Arts Center, bringing world class entertainment to Northern New Jersey. This 1367-seat theater is a landmark, and in its third season as bergenPAC, it remains one of the finest acoustic halls in the United States. The legendary Tony Bennett and Canadian crooner K.D. Lang recorded their 2003 Grammy award-winning CD live on bergenPAC’s own stage through a broadband fiber-optic connection with Bennett Studios. bergenPAC is the home of a media production system that is unparalleled, upholding its reputation as a venue for outstanding music, dance and theater. As a non-profit corporation, bergenPAC has thrived thanks to the aid and generosity of sponsors, donors and patrons.
Bickford Theatre
6 Normandy Heights Road
Morristown
(973) 971-3706; www.BickfordTheatre.org
Bickford Theatre is an intimate 312-seat theater, located within the Morris Museum. The theater produces a five-play season of professional theater, featuring classic and contemporary comedies, mysteries and musicals. It also presents year-round children’s theater, jazz concerts, dance companies and the Brightest Star School for the Performing Arts, a year-round educational program for ages 3 to adult. Bickford Theatre is a senior member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance and the Theatre Communications Group.
The Community Theatre
at the Mayo Center for the Performing Arts
100 South Street
Morristown
(973) 539-8008; www.mayoarts.org
The Community Theatre is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit performing arts center located in historic Morristown. The 1,300-seat facility is home to more than 200 performances annually, ranging from pop to classical, jazz to dance. The Theatre has a Performing Arts School for children ages 5 -18 and an art gallery featuring rotating exhibits during the season. For more information visit www.mayoarts.org.
Count Basie Theatre
99 Monmouth Street
Red Bank
(732) 842-9000; www.countbasietheatre.org
The newly renovated 1,550-seat historic Count Basie Theatre serves the Tri-State area by presenting world-class music, comedy, dance, Broadway musicals, films and family entertainment. The Count Basie Theatre’s Cool School operates year-round, offering classes and workshops with seasoned professionals for aspiring actors, musicians and dancers of all ages.
George Street Playhouse
9 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick
(732) 246-7717; www.GSPonline.org
New Brunswick’s George Street Playhouse is a nationally-recognized professional regional theater that produces new work for the stage, as well as new looks at contemporary classics in an intimate 379-seat space. For tickets and information contact the Box Office (732) 246-7717 or visit www.GSPonline.org.
The Kelsey Theatre
1200 Old Trenton Road
West Windsor
(609) 570-3333; www.kelseytheatre.net
Known as the Premiere Family Theatre in Central New Jersey, The Kelsey Theatre offers a full season of live cultural events: family theater, children's theater and adult events (professional, community theater and student productions). The Kelsey Theatre is an intimate, handicapped accessible theater facility conveniently located on the campus of Mercer County Community College, with safe, secure parking right next door.
Monmouth University
400 Cedar Avenue
West Long Branch
(732) 263-6889; www.monmouth.edu/arts
Monmouth University’s Center of Distinction for the Arts provides a rich array of performances by nationally and internationally recognized artists in many disciplines including children’s musicals, family entertainment, concerts, dance recitals, cultural events, festivals, and special attractions in addition to presenting live broadcasts from the Metropolitan Opera and the National Theatre of London. They also produce professional summer theater, feature a visiting writers series, film festivals, continuous art exhibitions, student performances, and much more. Many are complemented by workshops, special outreach programs, and arts education opportunities facilitated by distinguished guest artists. The pristine campus is just minutes from the Jersey shore and several area restaurants. Please call (732) 263-6889 or visit www.monmouth.edu/arts.
New Jersey Ballet Company
15 Microlab Road
Livingston
(973) 597-9600; www.njballet.org
New Jersey Ballet, the state’s leading classical ballet company, celebrates its 50th Anniversary Season. The company brings the magic of dance theatre to thousands every year from Englewood to Cape May, and its education outreach programs have introduced thousands of young people to ballet and inspired in many a lifelong love of the arts. For more information and a complete schedule of performances, call (973) 597-9600 or log on to www.njballet.org.
NJN Public Television & Radio
(609) 777-0031; www.njn.net
NJN is New Jersey’s public television and radio station, broadcasting the events of the day and offering award-winning programs on the arts, culture, history, health, education, the environment, and news and public affairs. For more than 30 years, NJN has captured the essence of this highly diverse and complicated state with an amazing range of programs. Where else can you find programs like this? Visit www.njn.net for more details on programs and services.
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
60 Park Place, 9th Floor
Newark
(800) ALLEGRO (255-3476); www.njsymphony.org
Performing in Newark, Millburn, Englewood, New Brunswick, Morristown, Princeton, Red Bank and Trenton
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra is comprised of some of the country’s finest musicians. Artistic excellence, innovative programming and community engagement are hallmarks of the NJSO’s mission. To best serve the people of New Jersey, the Orchestra brings its programs to seven different venues throughout the state. Education and outreach programs enrich the listening experience for children and adults alike. The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Broadcast Series, presented in part by the Merck Company Foundation, airs regionally and on the Internet by 96.3FM WQXR (New York) and is a syndicated program carried throughout North America.
Paper Mill Playhouse
22 Brookside Drive
Millburn
(973) 376-4343; www.papermill.org
Paper Mill Playhouse preserves and nurtures the American musical theatre, and aspires to be a vital artistic and education center recognized throughout the region and the nation for its high-quality, innovative theatre and training programs. The theatre is committed to rediscovering and reimagining classic musicals and plays, developing new musicals, training young and emerging artists, and ensuring that the theatre is accessible to all.
Peters Valley Craft Center Store & Gallery
19 Kuhn Road
Layton
(973) 948-5202; www.petersvalley.org
Nestled in the New Jersey Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, just minutes from Pennsylvania and New York, you can find amazing items by more than 350 American artists at the Peters Valley Store & Gallery. Free gift wrapping and seasonal, self-guided art studio tours on Saturdays and Sundays make for a great day trip! Rotating themed exhibitions are held in the second floor gallery. Check the Web site for a complete listing of current exhibitions and other exciting events. Open Thursday through Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (with seasonal variations).
Philomusica Choir
P.O. Box 6032
East Brunswick
(888) 744-5668; www.philomusica.org
Philomusica, an auditioned community choir, has been part of the cultural life of Central New Jersey since 1969. Under the direction of Dennis Boyle since 1982, the choir presents choral works ranging from early sacred music to the great classical period to works by living composers in two series of annual concerts in the Middlesex County area. It also performs in special events, benefits, commemorations and tours. Performance venues have included St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Canterbury Cathedral, the New Jersey Governor’s Mansion and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center.
Roxey Ballet
243 North Union Street
Lambertville
(609) 397-7616; www.roxeyballet.org
Roxey Ballet is a contemporary ballet company performing a local season of five productions from the dark and harrowing Dracula in October, the beloved Nutcracker in late November, a collection of repertory favorites in February and the light-hearted Children's Classic Stories in May. For more information about Roxey Ballet's season, visit the Web site.
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey
36 Madison Avenue
Madison
(973) 408-5600; www.shakespearenj.org
The acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is one of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation. Serving 100,000 adults and children annually, it is the longest running Shakespeare Theatre on the East Coast and is New Jersey’s only professional theatre company dedicated solely to Shakespeare’s canon and other world classics. Through its distinguished productions and education programs, the company strives to illuminate the universal and lasting relevance of the classics for contemporary audiences. In addition to being a celebrated producer of classic plays, the Shakespeare Theatre also produces Shakespeare Live!, one of the largest educational Shakespeare touring programs in the tri-state region. The Theatre is also deeply committed to nurturing new talent for the American stage. By providing an outstanding training ground for students of the theatre and cultivating audiences of the future by providing extensive outreach opportunities for students across New jersey and beyond, The Shakespeare Theatre is one of the leaders in arts education.
SOPAC
One SOPAC Way
South Orange
(973) 313-ARTS; www.SOPACNOW.org
SOPAC (South Orange Performing Arts Center) is pleased to announce its third season of exciting and unforgettable performances. The 2008/2009 schedule features many award-winning and internationally acclaimed artists, including special family performances. From music and dance, to theater and comedy, there is something for everyone to enjoy! Call (973) 313-ARTS (2787) for details or log onto www.sopacnow.org.
State Theatre
15 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick
(732) 246-SHOW (7469); www.statetheatrenj.org
The State Theatre, a premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment. Located in the heart of New Brunswick, this magnificently restored 1,850-seat vaudeville theater draws more than 300,000 annually, providing the region with top-tier entertainment including international orchestras; a family series; Broadway; classical, pop, jazz and world music; dance; opera; and more. Minutes away from the NJ Turnpike and Routes 1, 287, 27 and 18. Great selection of restaurants and nightspots within walking distance. The main floor is wheelchair accessible.
Two River Theater Company
21 Bridge Avenue
Red Bank
(732) 345-1400
boxoffice@trtc.org; www.trtc.org
Two River Theater Company (TRTC) is a professional not-for-profit regional theater company with a burgeoning national reputation for artistic excellence and innovation plus extensive educational and community programs that serve audiences of central New Jersey and beyond. TRTC was founded in 1994 by Robert and Joan Rechnitz and over the past 14 seasons has grown into one of the most vital and dynamic arts organizations in the region. Since opening its new, state-of-the-art, two-theater home in Red Bank in May of 2005, TRTC has hosted a number of luminaries and award winners, including Bruce Springsteen, Olympia Dukakis, Jackson Browne, Jon Bon Jovi, Edward Albee, Sheldon Harnick and the African Children’s Choir. The company received “Theatre of the Year” awards from the New Jersey Theatre Alliance in 2006, and from The Star-Ledger in both 2006 and 2008. TRTC is supported in part by grants from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and contributions from hundreds of local and national corporations, foundations, businesses and individuals. Two River Theater Company is a member of Theatre Communications Group and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.
Union County Performing Arts Center
1601 Irving Street
Rahway
(732) 499-8226; www.UCPAC.org
The Union County Performing Arts Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation operating in the historic Rahway Theatre. Presenting a wide variety of music, theatre, dance and film each season, the UCPAC is dedicated to making this landmark theatre the choice for the performing arts. Part of the magic of the UCPAC is experiencing live performances in the beautifully restored vintage 1928 vaudeville and silent movie palace of just over 1300 seats. The Arts Center provides barrier-free access and seating for patrons upon request. The theatre is located within walking distance of the Rahway NJ Transit train station and can be reached by taking exit 135 from the Garden State Parkway or exit 12 from the Turnpike. Parking is available downtown at the Rahway Parking Garage. A free shuttle is often available to and from the theatre. For a Calendar of Events visit www.UCPAC.org or call the box office at (732) 499-8226.
Visual Art Center of New Jersey
68 Elm Street
Summit
(908) 273-9121; www.artcenternj.org
The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey was founded as the Summit Art Association in 1933 by seven local artists who hoped to foster the appreciation, enjoyment and practice of art. Today, after a $6 million renovation and expansion, the Art Center is recognized statewide for its high quality arts education and exhibition programs. The Art Center is the largest of the state’s regional art centers devoted exclusively to contemporary art through studio classes, workshops, special programs and exhibitions.
