A QUESTION FOR MY READERS:

I have been looking over the blog design and notice that the LABELS take up an awfully large amount of space.

Do you use the labels to search for events? Say, if you want to listen to JAZZ, do you click on the JAZZ label at the bottom of the page, or do you just scroll through?

If most people don't use the labels, I am tempted to remove them.

If you do use the labels to search for events, let me know at njartsmaven@gmail.com.

Thanks,

Ruth Ross
NJ Arts Maven

SUMMER CAMP SALE $300 FOR THE WEEK. ONE WEEK ONLY

SUMMER CAMP SALE JULY 26TH-30TH ONLY $300 FOR THE WEEK drop off is between 9am and 9:30am and pick up is between 3:30pm and 4pm

 

Our camp is perfect for ages 4 through 10 years old!  Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, Art and Music are incorporated in every day!  We put on a mini show and email you videos of our final performance every week. It's so much fun.  Drop in days are also available for $100 for the day.  Take advantage of the biggest discount and get a full week of camp for only $300 for this week only!  email dance@gardenstreetmusic.com to register

CROSSROADS THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES 2021-2022 SEASON WITH FALL DEBUT OF CROSSROADS FESTIVAL THEATRE, SEPTEMBER THRU OCTOBER 

A bold new vision for Crossroads Theatre Company titled Crossroads Festival Theatre opens the 2021–2022 season of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), Crossroads announced today.  

Crossroads Festival Theatre consists of two installments: Fall Festival and Spring Festival, running September 22 – October 10, and June 7 to June 26, 2022, respectively. 

Crossroads will partner with theatre companies including Harlem’s New Heritage Theatre and The Market Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Crossroads is also introducing the new Free Family Saturdays series of family friendly arts going experiences, from music to storytelling, with free arts making activities. 

The ever-popular Genesis Festival of New Works and New Voices returns April 4-April 17, 2022      

"Crossroads Festival Theatre elevates our company’s commitment to creativity in the development of new plays and new writers, deepening community engagement and the involvement of the theatre in the pressing conversations of our day, and establishing a sense of vibrancy in the celebration of what theatre is and can mean to its community,” said Ricardo Khan, Crossroads’ Co-Founder and Artistic Director. 

For more info, please visit www.crossroadstheatrecompany.org 

 In 1999 under the direction of Khan, Crossroads Theatre Company made theatre history by becoming the recipient of the Tony Award® for Outstanding Regional Theatre in America, a first for a Black organization in this country.

Crossroads Theatre Company’s 2021-2022 season follows:

The Fall Festival: September 23, 2021 - October 10, 2022

• WHEN DAY COMES: A world premiere theatrical production with music, created in collaboration with and starring members of the legendary Grammy-nominated Sweet Honey in the Rock®. Created and developed by Ricardo Khan and Sweet Honey in the Rock®. This production spotlights civil rights and social justice issues and the effects of COVID on Black communities. “When day comes” are the first words of the poem “The Hill We Climb,” that was written and recited by Amanda Gorman, America’s youth poet laureate at the 2021 presidential inauguration. 

• EMERGENCY!:  The Obie and AUDELCO Award winning play written and performed by Daniel KOA Beaty. A production of the Crossroads Theatre Company and the New Heritage Theatre in Harlem.

Emergency!’s precipitating event is the emergence of a slave ship from the depths of the Hudson River. The play, through its more than forty characters, all performed by Beaty, explores the depth and breadth of differing meanings of freedom across Black America.  Produced by the Crossroads Theatre Company and Voza Rivers' New Heritage Theatre Group of Harlem, these two major Black theatres are partnering again to co-produce. Emergency! was originally produced in 2006 at the off-Broadway Public Theatre in New York City. 

• FREE FAMILY SATURDAYS SERIES:

One-hour musical performances by family music’s leading artists.

The series kicks off with a launch party in honor of “Ready Set Go,” musician bass player and singer Divinity Roxx’s (former musical director for Beyonce) first album for young audiences.  She is a protégé of world-renowned bassist Victor Wooten.

Fyütch is a music and social justice artist who combines Hip-Hop and visual storytelling, and whose song “Women in History" went to #1 on Sirius XM Kids Place Live. 

Other artists to be announced.

• NIGHTLY COMMUNITY READING SERIES: Crossroads Theatre will be partnering with community organizations to present readings of new work, to inspire people to give voice to their artistry and promote the work of local artists.  

April 4 - 17, 2022

• GENESIS FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS AND NEW VOICES: Richard Wesley, Nikkole Salter, Abena P.A. Busia plus four young writers to be determined. The Arthur Laurents Theatre. 

The Spring Festival: June 7, 2022 - June 26, 2022

•  FREEDOM RIDER: The world premiere of a new play conceived by Ricardo Khan and co-written by Murray Horwitz, Nathan Louis Jackson, Ricardo Khan, Kathleen McGee Anderson, and Nikkole Salter. Freedom Rider tells the story of young volunteers who train in non-violence in order to desegregate the interstate bus system in 1961. 
•  TEXT ME WHEN YOU ARRIVE: In the tradition of Woza Albert, three women present a satirical look at gender-based violence. Poignant and sharply funny. Produced by The Market Theatre Laboratory, the educational arm of world-famous The Market Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa and in collaboration with Crossroads Theatre Company. This production marks the North American premiere of this play.
• FREE FAMILY SATURDAYS SERIES: One-hour musical performances by family music’s leading artists. The series kicks off with Falu’s Bazaar, whose beautiful traditional and contemporary melodies and rhythms introduce young audiences to the beauty of India. Grammy nominated for best Children’s Album.

Other artists to be announced.

• NIGHTLY COMMUNITY READING SERIES: Crossroads Theatre Company works with the community to inspire people to give voice to their artistry and promote the work of local artists.

ABOUT CROSSROADS THEATRE COMPANY: In 1978, Ricardo Khan and the late Lee Richardson founded the Crossroads Theatre Company in New Brunswick, NJ as a place of creative expression, discovery and cultural pride, where trained black and brown artists could engage in substantive, non-stereotypical roles in the theatre, and where artists and craftspeople of all colors could work together for the good of art and community. Since then and with an enduring devotion to that foundational vision, Crossroads built a national reputation as an artistic home for some of the most important, transformative voices in the American Theatre, honoring Black culture, spirit and history, and giving voice to that experience in order that people of all backgrounds can meet, appreciate, discover and celebrate in a place of healing and joy- the Crossroads.

www.crossroadstheatrecompany.org

Notes from Greenwood Garden in Short Hills

In the Garden: Greenwood’s Rookwood Legacy     When real estate magnate Joseph P. Day (1874 – 1944) commissioned his Short Hills, New Jersey, neighbor, William Whetten Renwick (1864–1933), to design a garden estate in 1912 on the property that would become Greenwood Gardens, he was enlisting the creative vision of a multi-talented architect, painter, sculptor, and landscape designer. In addition to being a member of the American Institute of Architects, Renwick was a longtime member of the Architectural League of New York and exhibited his sculptural decorations in the League’s annual exhibitions. He was also a member of the National Sculpture Society, and the Salmagundi Club, one of the country’s oldest arts organizations. Greenwood’s founder, Peter P. Blanchard III, writes in his book, Greenwood: A Garden Path to Nature and the Past, “Day and William Renwick proved to be an innovative and synergistic pair. [The project] provided ample opportunity for Renwick to display his talents in architectural design and decoration,” including, landscape historian Judith B. Tankard suggests, the designs for the brightly colored Rookwood ceramics he used to decorate the historic buildings and garden walls. One of Greenwood Gardens’ most striking and unique features, the brightly colored Arts and Crafts era ceramics were created by artisans at the Rookwood Pottery Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. Given Renwick’s love of painting and sculpture, it is easy to imagine how he would enjoy collaborating with the most highly esteemed art ceramics establishment of the time. Founded in 1880 by pioneering artist Maria Longworth-Nichols, the Rookwood Pottery Co. was the first female-owned manufacturing company in the country and launched the art pottery movement in America. Employing the talents of renowned artists, Rookwood soon garnered international acclaim for its beautifully glazed vases, bowls, and plaques, rivaling centuries old European and Asian ceramic arts companies. In 1893, Rookwood won the grand prize in ceramics at the Chicago World's Fair and seven years later received the Grand Prix for ceramics at the 1900 Paris Expo, establishing it as the finest art pottery studio in the world. Two years later, the company introduced a line of architectural ceramics for custom installations in grand homes, hotels, and train stations, and orders poured in. Architects worked with Rookwood artists to create entire rooms such as the historic Rathskeller Room in Louisville, Kentucky’s Seelbach Hotel, the vaulted ceiling of the Della Robbia Room and Bar in New York's Vanderbilt Hotel, and several of New York City’s subway stations. After suffering a reversal of fortunes due to the stock market crash of 1929, Joseph P. Day was forced to sell his estate and it slowly fell into decline. As a result, many Rookwood ornaments were removed, with some saved by Day family members or sold. Even so, with over 750 individual pieces, Greenwood Gardens is home to one of the largest outdoor collections of Rookwood ceramics, most of which are on public view. These colorful, individual works of art featuring fantasy figures, faces, shells and animals continue to radiate a playful charm nearly a century later. From time to time, we issue challenges to visitors to locate a particular piece on the property and win a prize!   Click on any photo to view it larger: A plaque featuring a 1920s roadster on the Carriage Garage wall.   Bacchus, the Roman god of agriculture and wine. Arts & Crafts era designers and artists embraced nature's exquisite elements in their work.   A beautifully serene face, ivy leaves and seashell decorate the wall above the Cottage Garage doors. Hours & Admission   Greenwood Gardens is open to the public Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through November 7, 2021 between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Entry is by vehicle and advance timed ticket registration only. Tours are self-guided. Visit greenwoodgardens.org for COVID guidelines and to purchase tickets. Tickets: Members and children under 3: free Adults (13 to 64): $15 Seniors (65+) and students with ID: $10 Children (3 to 12): $5       Greenwood Gardens 274 Old Short Hills Rd Short Hills, NJ 07078 973-258-4026   greenwoodgardens.org  Copyright © 2021 Greenwood Gardens, All rights reserved.

 New Show Added! Tom Segura: I'm Coming Everywhere World Tour

Pre-sale begins Thu, July 22 @ 10AM

WHEN: Fri, April 1 @ 7:30PM WHERE: betty wold johnson stage at prudential hall Pre-Sale Code: TSTOUR If it’s too weird to say out loud… then Tom Segura is probably going to say it. The incredibly candid comedian is back on tour with more uncomfortably honest stories. You already know Tom from his Netflix specials Ball Hog (2020), Disgraceful (2018), Mostly Stories (2016) and Completely Normal (2014), along with his hit podcasts Your Mom’s House with Christina Pazsitzky and 2 Bears 1 Cave with Bert Kreischer. He’s appeared on every podcast from The Joe Rogan Experience to WTF With Marc Maron and TV shows from Conan to Colbert. You’ll love Tom’s “natural and capable storytelling ability, one that lifts his narratives out of average anecdote fare and plants them firmly in hilarious ground” (Paste Magazine). buy tickets

 SATURDAY ON C-SPAN 2!

JULY 24, 2021 VIEW THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE       Explore Our Nation’s Past Discover the people and events that document the American story. Weekends on C-SPAN2: American History TV and Book TV on the same network for the first time. Join us Saturdays at 8 am ET to Explore Our Nation’s Past then tune in for Book TV on Sundays at 8 am ET for Television for Serious Readers. For a weekly Book TV email, sign up here.    The Korean War & Civil-Military Relations  on Lectures in History® Watch it: 8 am, 11 am, 8 pm & 11 pm ET Saturday   Watch a preview.   University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor Joseph Glatthaar teaches a class about the Korean War, Gen. Douglas MacArthur's removal from command by President Harry Truman and civil-military relations.   Share Tweet Forward   LBJ's White House Tapes  on The Presidency Watch it: 2 pm ET Saturday   Watch a preview.   The Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library, together with the University of Virginia's Miller Center, debuted a website giving increased access to LBJ's 650 hours of White House phone calls. This conversation focuses on what the tapes reveal about Mr. Johnson and his presidency. Speakers include University of Virginia scholar Melody Barnes, presidential historian Michael Beschloss and MSNBC News anchor Brian Williams.   📧 Want to be reminded when this program is about to begin? Sign up for an email alert.   “You'll hear a conversation that just knocks you out and shows you what a human being LBJ is and how funny he is and so interesting to be around. And then you realize that if LBJ were around to see this thing published or played in public, he would be horrified or angry, which brings me to the Haggar slacks tape.” MICHAEL BESCHLOSS   Share Tweet Forward     NEW FROM C-SPAN PODCASTS   📚 THIS WEEK ON BOOKNOTES+: The late columnist Robert Novak (1931-2009) was nicknamed "the prince of darkness" by friends and enemies alike in Washington, D.C. He appeared on C-SPAN's Q&A program in 2007 to discuss his memoir, The Prince of Darkness, in which he tells stories about his 50 years as a reporter, television personality, author and conservative commentator. He also talked about many of the sources he had during that time.   Click here to listen or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Click here to listen or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.       Are you loving this newsletter? Share it!   Share Tweet Forward     About American History TV Discover the people and events that document the American story — Saturdays on C-SPAN2. Come along with American History TV to museums and historic sites. Watch archival speeches from former presidents and other national leaders. Visit classrooms, lectures and symposiums featuring professors and historians.  Every Saturday on C-SPAN2 starting at 8 am ET or online anytime at c-span.org/history.                Listen on the go: Download our free app to listen to C-SPAN Radio and C-SPAN podcasts — including American History TV's Lectures in History — anywhere, anytime. C-SPAN SHOP You can support C-SPAN and American History TV through the C-SPAN Shop. Every purchase helps support C-SPAN’s nonprofit operations, including our programming, community outreach efforts and educational programs.