Celebrate 2019 Festival Season on Cinco de Mayo in Red Bank

8^th Annual International Beer, Wine & Food Festival

WHEN: Sunday, May 5, from noon to 6 p.m.
WHERE: Red Bank’s White Street parking lot, between Maple Ave & Broad St)
GPS Address: 62 White St, Red Bank, NJ
ADMISSION: $5 per person; Children 10 and under are admitted free. Parking will be free throughout Red Bank on the day of the festival.
Red Bank RiverCenter, in conjunction with RUE Events, manages the award-winning event.
For more information, visit www.RedBank.org or follow these hashtags on social media #redbanknj or #internationalfestival #IBWFF #redbank5demayo

“The 2019 International Festival falls on Cinco De Mayo and promises to provide flavorful beverages and taste sensations from near and far,” said James Scavone, Executive Director of Red Bank RiverCenter and organizer of the event. “The fiesta atmosphere is complete with a non-stop line-up of acclaimed local and nationally known music on two stages. More than a dozen vendors, a petting zoo, children’s rides and  games will round out the activities.”

An impressive showcase of bands will be presented on the festival’s East and West stages including: The Weeklings (Beatles & English Classics); The Nerds (All American Rock & Pop); Decade (Neil Young Tribute, Canadian); Matt O'Ree Band (All-American Rock); Melissa Otero (Latin Pop); Verdict (Reggae, Calypso & Caribbean); Edelweiss Oompah Band (German, Polish & Slovenian); Mexican Street Band (Mexican); Atlantic Watch Pipes & Drums (Scottish Classics). The event’s full music schedule begins at noon and can be viewed here.

A dozen of Red Bank’s notable eateries will be serving up the town’s best eclectic and global fare: authentic Mexican tacos, sriracha fried clams strips, bang bang shrimp, gyros, chicken tikka masala, vegetable samosas, mac n’cheese balls, fried calamari, short rib grilled cheese, lobster rolls, and tempura pork belly sliders with spicy papaya slaw. International dessert favorites include cannolis, zeppoles, eclairs,  Dutch funnel cakes, and American apple pie fries.

“The International Festival gives attendees the ability to sample and experience Red Bank’s eclectic business community all in one place,” said Scavone. “Families, residents, and people new to the area can truly experience the best of what Red Bank has to offer all for a good cause.”

Proceeds from the $5 entrance fee (children under 10 yrs. will be admitted for free) will be split between three Red Bank-based benefactors: the Cancer Center at Riverview Medical Center (provides exceptional treatment and healing services in a tranquil healing environment), LunchBreak (provides food, clothing, life skills and fellowship to those in need), and Red Bank RiverCenter (the non-profit organization that has managed Red Bank’s Special Improvement District since 1991).

We love your pets, but municipal ordinance does not permit them in the festival.

Celebrate France in the MO Season Finale!

WHEN: doors 6:15; concert 7 PM
WHERE: St Luke's Episcopal Church, 73 S. Fullerton Ave., Montclair
Buy Tickets Now
10% of ticket proceeds from 'French Connection' will be donated to the French Heritage Society Notre Dame Restoration Fund. Vive La France.

In the final concert of the season, we travel to France, long recognized as one of the world's true cultural and artistic capitals. From French composers to French-inspired works, we bring you the essence of the joie de vivre!

The evening will open with Haydn's Symphony No. 60 'Il Distratto', derived from incidental music composed for a play by the 18th century comedic French poet Regnard. Next, we are excited to welcome Yunpeng Wang, baritone, who has performed previously with world class ensembles including The Metropolitan Opera, Shanghai Symphony and Budapest Symphony Orchestra, and will join the orchestra for Berlioz' Les nuits d'ete. The season will close out with Bizet's enchanting Symphony in C.

• Symphony No. 60 "Il Distratto" Joseph Haydn
• Les nuits d'ete Hector Berlioz
• Yunpeng Wang, baritone
• Symphony in C Georges Bizet

DREW UNIVERSITY PRESENTS 2019-2020 SEASON OF THE CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER: BUY TICKETS NOW

CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER TO PERFORM SATURDAY @ DREW UNIVERSITY

FROM MENDELSSOHN

WHEN: Saturday, April 27, 2019, 8PM; Pre-concert conversation with CMS artists at 7:15 PM 
WHERE: Drew University, 36 Madison Ave., Madison (For directions and/or a campus map, see www.drew.edu/MapsAndDirections/driving-directions-to-drew)
TICKETS: Single-event tickets - $60; Educational discount - $15 with current ID
Call 973-408-3176 for tickets or visit drew.edu/boxoffice to purchase online

Mendelssohn’s combined mastery of melody, form, counterpoint, and the chamber idiom was admired and imitated by composers for generations to come. In a program bookended by two works of Mendelssohn from 1845, one brief, the other epic, we hear Mendelssohn’s close friend Robert Schumann’s response to Mendelssohn’s piano trios; how, near the end of his life, Brahms recalled Mendelssohn’s lyricism through the viola’s dark voice; and finally how Mendelssohn’s great admirer Tchaikovsky combined the German’s signature scherzo idiom with Russian melancholy and splendor in three selections from The Seasons for solo piano.

INON BARNATAN, Piano
CHO-LIANG LIN, Violin
PAUL NEUBAUER, Viola
JAKOB KORANYI, Cello
ROMIE DE GUISE-LANGLOIS, Clarinet

Mendelssohn Lied ohne Worte in D major for Cello and Piano, Op. 109 (1845)
Schumann Märchenerzählungen (Fairy Tales) for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano, Op. 132 (1853)
Brahms Sonata in E-flat major for Viola and Piano, Op. 120, No. 2 (1894)
Tchaikovsky Selections from Les saisons for Piano, Op. 37b (1875-76)
Mendelssohn Trio No. 2 in C minor for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Op. 66 (1845)

RARITAN RIVER MUSIC FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY, MAY 4 - 25

RARITAN RIVER MUSIC FESTIVAL

WHEN: Saturdays, May 4-25, 7:30pm
WHERE: various venues
ADMISSION: Advance tickets for each concert are $21 for adults, students up to age 26 are free.  Prices at the door $25 for adults, students up to age 26 are free.
Discount subscriptions for the entire festival cost $75 for adults; seniors $50; students are free.  
For more information and reservations: Call 908-213-1100, e-mail info@RaritanRiverMusic.org, www.Raritan RiverMusic.org.

Guitarists Laura Oltman and Michael Newman founded the Raritan River Music Festival with the promise of bringing live chamber music to historic venues in idyllic Hunterdon County.  Marking its 30th season, a highlight of this year’s festival is the world premier performance by the Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo (left) of renowned Cuban composer Leo Brouwer’s The Book of Imaginary Beings commissioned by Raritan River Music.

WHEN: Saturday, May 25^th at 7:30pm
WHERE: Stanton Reformed Church, Stanton, New Jersey.

The popular four-week festival runs on Saturdays, May 4-25 and will include

• A return engagement by the Horzowski Trio on May 4 7:30pm.
  WHERE: Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church, Stewartsville, NJ (right)
• Grammy Award winning violinist Eileen Ivers (below) will perform Beyond the Bog Road: A Celebration of Americana Music and its Celtic Roots featuring the Universal Roots Band on May 11 7:30pm.
  WHERE: Clinton Presbyterian Church, Clinton, NJ
• The Grand Canyon Ensemble featuring Robert Bonfiglio on harmonica and flutist Clare Hoffman performing music of young Navaho composers, blues harmonica and jazz on May 18 at 7:30pm
  WHERE: Prallsville Mills, Stockton, NJ
• May 25 7:30pm the Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo will perform the final concert of the series featuring Brouwer’s composition. The program, New Music of the Americas features Brazilian guest artists, Clarice Assad, piano and vocals, and guitarist João Luiz. 
  WHERE: Stanton Reformed Church, Stanton Mountain Road (at Rte 629) Stanton, NJ

Under Laura and Michael’s stewardship, Raritan River Music (RRM) has evolved into more than the annual festival concerts in May by delivering programs year-round for young children, seniors, and patients at healthcare facilities around the region.  RRM also creates a legacy of new works and recordings commissioned by RRM’s patrons, as well as presenting new music at each concert by local school-age composers. Each concert begins with music composed by elementary and high school winners of the 2019 Hunterdon County Young Composer contest. 

For more details about the festival, as well as Raritan River Music’s nationally recognized educational enrichment programs, Music from Raritan River recording, and videos and links to the performers’ web sites, please visit www.RaritanRiverMuisc.org.

May Events at the West Orange Arts Center

May Events at the West Orange Arts Center

WHERE: 551 Valley Road, West Orange, NJ 07052
www.woarts.org

Mother's Day Gift Boutique

WHEN: Saturday, May 4 , Noon to 4 p.m.

Unique hand crafted gifts made by local artists for that special someone in your life. Enjoy a treat while shopping in a creative environment.

POP GEOMETRIC by Carlos Mateu

WHEN: May 4-June 1; Artists Reception: Saturday, May 11, 6 to 9 p.m.

Fusing elements of cubism with realism, surrealism and mysticism to reflect the Afro Cuban life and religions, memories of Cuba, and life in the U.S. (above)

WOAC Creative Connection Collage Making Workshop

WHEN: Saturday, May 18,  Noon to 3 p.m.
ADMISSION: Free for WOAC members (donations welcomed),  $10 for non-members 

September Collage Exhibition Call for Artists coming soon!

Life Drawing Brunch Club

WHEN: Sunday, May 19 , 2 to 5 p.m.
FEE: $20 (includes model fee, refreshments and some supplies)

Live model figure drawing open studio (no instruction)

www.WOArts.org
Please contact info@woarts.org for more information

LOTS OF ACTIVITIES ROUND OUT THE MONTH @ MAM

A Different American Dream

WHEN: April 23, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Montclair Art Museum, 3 S. Mountain Ave., Montclair
This event is FREE but online registration is encouraged.
Rand Forum members will enjoy reserved seats for this free screening and discussion.

Join MAM for a FREE film screening of A Different American Dream, the award-winning documentary that follows the story of the Fort Berthold Indian reservation and the remarkable attempts of some tribal leaders to save their land and the future of their society.

Q&A with Filmmaker, Jane Wells, following the film screening.

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Need plans while school is out?

Spring break camp at MAM is open! 

Spend Spring Break painting, drawing, sculpting and printing! Campers will explore a variety of materials and techniques to create their own original works or art inspired by those on view in the galleries.

WHEN: April 22–26, 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Available for single day registration or for all 5 days. Before and After Care offered from 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
WHERE: Montclair Art Museum, 3 S. Mountain Ave., Montclair

Add some ART to your spring break!

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Meet the Museum at CREATEabilities 

Children of all abilities can explore artistic materials, make friends, and enjoy being creative together in this inclusive program.

WHEN: May 8, 9:30–11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Montclair Art Museum, 3 S. Mountain Ave., Montclair

REGISTER today

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MAM Contemporaries Exclusive Event!

Meet the Collector: Patricia Bell 

MAM Contemporaries will enjoy an exclusive tour of Patricia Bell’s private collection. Patricia purchased her first piece of art in 1989 and has been zealously collecting contemporary art since.

WHEN: May 9, 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Montclair Art Museum, 3 S. Mountain Ave., Montclair

LEARN more about this exclusive event

LEARN more about MAM Contemporaries

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SAVE THE DATE: Adult Workshop! Imagery Through Collage  WHEN: April 27, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. → MORE 2-day Workshop! Protest Art Thru Silkscreen WHEN: April 27 & 28, 1–4 p.m. → MORE Adult Workshop! Stitching Prints  WHEN: April 28, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. → MORE Teen Workshop! Mandala Pillows WHEN: April 28, 12–3 p.m. → MORE Drop-In Studio WHEN: April 28, 1–4 p.m. → MORE Support MAM! Please give $3 to our Annual Fund and help keep #ArtsForEveryone

COMING UP @ WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY IN WAYNE

BEST OF THE EAGLES

WHEN: April 26, 8:00PM
WHERE: Shea Center, William Paterson University, 300 Pompton Rd., Wayne
TICKETS: $40 Orchestra; $35 Loge

Best of the Eagles is the most exact interpretation of the Eagles in America, performed by musicians with auspicious pedigrees and a passionate love of the Eagles music. Each member mirrors his counterpart in the Eagles instrumentally and vocally. They expertly and authentically re-create the songs, the music, the vocals and the magical aura of one of America's greatest rock bands.

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Virginia Repertory Theatre presents

The Jungle Book
Based on the classic tale by Rudyard Kipling

WHEN: April 27, 2:00PM
WHERE: Shea Center, William Paterson University, 300 Pompton Rd., Wayne
TICKETS: $10

Mowgli, a boy raised by a pack of wolves, has a life full of adventure and conflict in the jungles of southern India. Joined by his best friends Baloo and Bagheera, Mowgli must confront the notorious tiger, Shere Khan. Kipling's fantastic story teaches respect for life, both animal and human, and the idea of harmony amongst all living things.

Recommended for grades K to 5.

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The WP Music Department presents

Carl Orff's Carmina Burana
featuring the WP Choirs & Percussion Ensemble with the  Rosa L. Parks Arts High School Vocal & Dance Ensembles

WHEN: May 3, 7:30PM
WHERE: Shea Center, William Paterson University, 300 Pompton Rd., Wayne
TICKETS: $5  Free admission for all students.
Buy Tickets Now

Conducted by WP professor Lauren Fowler-Calisto and choreographed by Erin Pride, this presentation of Carmina Burana includes a dance component rarely performed with live orchestra and singers. The concert features WP and Rosa L. Parks music faculty as guest artists: Carl Patrick Bolleia and Bernie Visto, piano; Christopher Dylan Herbert, baritone; David Guzman, tenor; and  Chloe Holgate, soprano.

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James D'Amico Productions presents

The Lettermen
with special guest, Let's Hang On! Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons Tribute

WHEN: May 11, 8:00PM
WHERE: Shea Center, William Paterson University, 300 Pompton Rd., Wayne
TICKETS: $55 Orchestra; $45 Loge
Buy Tickets Now

Since 1958, The Lettermen have been entertaining audiences with their exquisite harmonies and soulful ballads. Go back in time with hits like When I Fall in Love, Put Your Head On My Shoulder, Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You, Hurt So Bad and so many more. For one night only, this special concert delivers songs by two of the most romantic singing group of the sixties. Fall in love with the music all over again.

Terrific Table Talk at Morris Arts’ unique “Great Conversations” Event

WHEN: 6-9:30pm on May 1, 2019. Attendees can talk with all the “hosts” at the 6:00pm reception leading to the 7:15pm dinner where guests can converse in more depth with a specific host selected in advance.  
WHERE: Birchwood Manor, 111 N Jefferson Rd., Whippany
This very popular event fills up quickly so be sure to buy your tickets early, available online at www.morrisarts.org.
Visit www.morrisarts.org to find out more about the host conversationalists and to purchase tickets for this special event.

Join Morris Arts for the 11^th Anniversary of its fabulous Great Conversations gala,  co-chaired by Morris Arts’ board members Frank Vitolo and Stephen Aluotto.

Discover the many pleasures of live conversation at GREAT CONVERSATIONS, a unique evening of dinner and engaging dialogue with celebrated hosts from the arts, media, tech, sciences, healthcare, public service, sports, industry and more.

Mingle with host Conversationalists during the cocktail hour and then dine with such luminaries as a concert promoter for the likes of Lady Gaga and Paul McCartney, a celebrated novelist, an acclaimed visual artist, a visionary architect, the prop designer for Broadway shows and Shakespeare in the Park, an expert in climate adaptation/economic geography, a basketball commentator (and former pro player), or other similarly fascinating and accomplished individuals.

Each dinner table will feature a host Conversationalist whose unique experiences, life story and achievements will catalyze intriguing conversations.

Learn about their work, their thoughts on the world, their insights into their fields, and the experiences that shaped their lives. How did they get to where they are now? What lessons can they impart? This is an evening to exchange ideas and savor the pleasures of live encounters.  You may be surprised by what you discover.

Proceeds from Great Conversations help to support the many programs and services provided by Morris Arts.  Often accomplished “behind the scenes,” Morris Arts’ work serves hundreds of thousands of people each year – with arts in education programs, arts programming in the community, grants, scholarships, advocacy, innovative community-building/creative placemaking events and support for artists and arts organizations. These efforts are critical to enriching and improving the quality of life in the broader community.  Come and savor the art of live conversation, meet some extraordinary individuals and help a truly worthy organization give back to its community.

Morris Arts gratefully acknowledges the generosity of our sponsors: Encore: Allergan; Bayer; Crum & Forster; Hackensack Meridian Health; MCM Wealth Management at Morgan Stanley; NJ Advance Media providing services for NJ.com & The Star-Ledger; NJTV; PwC; ROI-NJ;  Green Room: Delta Dental of New Jersey;  Ovation: BASF; Finn Partners; Mondelēz International; Pfizer; Quest Diagnostics; Applause: The Avis Budget Charitable Foundation; Delta Dental of New Jersey; JWeber Creative; MetLife; Morristown Medical Center; Star: JLL; Kings Food Markets; NK Architects; Normandy Real Estate Partners;  Riker Danzig;  Sherman Wells Sylvester & Stamelman.

Morris Arts, located in Morristown, NJ, is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1973 dedicated to building community through the arts. Using the arts to inspire, connect and engage, Morris Arts serves as a resource for Morris County with a special focus on arts programming in the schools and in the community, arts advocacy, creative placemaking and support of the Morris Area community of artists and arts organizations.

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts has awarded the Morris Arts a “Citation of Excellence” and designated it as a “Major Service Organization” in recognition of its “solid history of service excellence, substantial activity and broad public service.”

CENTENARY STAGE COMPANY AND CENTENARY UNIVERSITY’S NEXTSTAGE REPERTORY PRESENTS “AVENUE Q”

Centenary Stage Company and Centenary University’s all student NEXTstage Repertory presents

AVENUE Q

WHEN: April 25 through May 5. Thursday April 25 at 7:30pm; Friday, April 26 at 8:00pm; Saturday, April 27 at 8:00pm; Sunday, April 28 at 2:00pm; Thursday, May 2 at 7:30pm; Friday, May 3 at 8:00pm; Saturday, May 4 at 8:00pm and Sunday, May 5 at 2:00pm.
WHERE: Sitnik Theatre of The Lackland Performing Arts Center, 715 Grand Ave., Hackettstown
TICKETS: $10.00 - $22.00 and are available online at centenarystageco.org or by phone at (908) 979 – 0900
For more information or to purchase tickets visit centenarystageco.orgor call the Centenary Stage Company box office at (908) 979 – 0900. The box office is located in the Lackland Performing Arts Center on the campus of Centenary University at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 1 – 5pm and two hours prior to every performance. Centenary Stage Company can also be found across social media platforms; Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Like and follow to receive the latest in Centenary Stage Company news and special offers.

Winner of the Tony "Triple Crown" for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Avenue Q is part flesh, part felt and packed with heart. Based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx the production features music and lyrics by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez and a book by Jeff Whitty. The laugh-out-loud musical tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton, who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that, although the residents seem nice, it's clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates and their ever-elusive purpose in life.

Filled with gut-busting humor and a delightfully catchy score, not to mention puppets, Avenue Q is a truly unique show that has quickly become a favorite for audiences everywhere. Although the show addresses humorous adult issues, it is similar to a beloved children's show; a place where puppets are friends, Monsters are good and life lessons are learned.

The production is directed by Carl Wallnau and Lea Antolini–Lid. Wallnau serves as the Artistic Director of the Centenary Stage Company, a not-for-profit professional theatre company in residency at Centenary University, as well as, the department chair for Centenary University’s Fine Arts Department. Antolini–Lid serves as the program director for Centenary Stage Company’s Young Audience Series as well as Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts for Centenary University. The production features students of the Centenary University Theatre Department.

The 2018-2019 season of performing arts events at the Centenary Stage Company is made possible through the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the NJ State Council on the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, the Sandra Kupperman Foundation, and CSC corporate sponsors, including Premier Season Sponsor Heath Village Retirement Community, The House of the Good Shepherd, Silver Sponsors Hackettstown Medical Center, Home Instead Senior Care (Washington), Fulton Bank of New Jersey, and Centenary Stage Company members and supporters.

5th Annual Telling Untold Histories Unconference to Be Held @ Rutgers-Newark on April 26

5th Annual Telling Untold Histories Unconference

WHEN: April 26, 2019, 9:00 AM  WHERE: Paul Robeson’s Campus Center at Rutgers-University Newark, 350 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Newark  View Map FEE: $20. Registration fee includes light breakfast, coffee, tea, and lunch! If you need to register via a purchase order, please contact Mary Rizzo at mr1133@newark.rutgers.edu. If you have dietary restrictions, please note them on the registration form and we will attempt to accommodate them. We all tell stories. But how we tell those stories changes depending on who and where we are and on the conditions of our lives and institutions. People of color, women, LGBTQ and gender nonconforming people, and people with differing abilities have used various strategies—from whisper networks and kitchen conversations to protests and public demonstrations—to speak truth when society prefers they remain silent. Either way can make change, but as Maya Angelou wrote, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” Telling Untold Histories—New Jersey’s annual unconference on public history, museums, cultural heritage and education—is a forum for exploring how we can channel our passion for more inclusive histories into innovative public work in our state and region. We consider this task in its widest vision and in its everyday institutional realities: how do we, in other words, perform this crucial, ethical work within the constraints of time, funding, and personnel? As a New Jersey based and internationally recognized artist who works in performance, video and installation, keynote speaker Marisa Williamson will provide insight into how to tell untold stories. Who should attend? Curators and educators, archivists and archaeologists, oral historians and librarians, historic preservationists and community activists, grantmakers and funders, as well as students and all history lovers! Because we value the knowledge you bring, this unconference puts you at the center. Unlike traditional history conferences, the specific content of our discussion sessions comes from the participants themselves, rather than formal papers. Sessions are chosen the day of the unconference, so you will decide what topics we discuss! Here are some ideas to get you thinking: Using material culture to reveal hidden histories Lessons from (successful and not-so-successful) collaborations with communities How public history can address contemporary social issues like mass incarceration, immigration, and police brutality Showing that parks and other natural places have histories New Jersey is one of the most racially and ethnically diverse states in the country. Who is telling the histories of Latino/as, Native Americans, Asian Americans, African Americans, and others? The role of archives in defining what counts as history Our six skills-based workshops are planned beforehand, are skilled-based and interactive; they occur simultaneously so you choose which one to attend when you arrive. The skills you learn and share will allow you to improve how untold histories are told.

YOM HASHOAH COMMEMORATION @ KEAN UNIVERSITY

Michael Nicholas Paras to Discuss His First Hoops Series at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey

FIRST HOOPS—PHOTOGRAPHY BY Michael Nicholas Paras

WHEN: Wednesday, April 24, from 7–8:30 PM
WHERE: Visual Art Center’s Marité & Joe Robinson Strolling Gallery I, 68 Elm Street in Summit
ADMISSION: free and open to the public. Tickets can be reserved through the Art Center’s website, artcenternj.org.

Artist Michael Nicholas Paras will visit the Art Center to discuss his photography series First Hoops, parts of which are included in Shooting Hoops, the exhibition currently on view.

Paras, an avid basketball fan and amateur player, has been photographing basketball hoops since 1986. In that time he has shot countless hoops, in varying degrees of disrepair, in such locations as urban playgrounds, rural barn facades and suburban driveways. His First Hoops series documents the basketball hoops Hall of Famers used when they first played the game. In addition to basketball celebrities such as Chris Mullin, Nancy Lieberman, Kareem Adul Jabbar and Moses Malone, Paras has also spoken to everyday fans about the significance of their own “first hoops.”

Paras’s current exhibition, Shooting Hoops, will be on display at the Art Center through June 16.

About the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey

For 85 years, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey has been exclusively dedicated to viewing, making, and learning about contemporary art. Recognized as a leading non-profit arts organization, the Art Center’s renowned Studio School, acclaimed exhibitions, and educational outreach initiatives serve thousands of youth, families, seniors, and people with special needs every year.

Adult and children’s group tours are available throughout the year. Gallery hours: Monday–Wednesday and Friday, 10 AM–5 PM; Thursday, 10 AM–8 PM; and Saturday & Sunday, 11 AM–4 PM. Please call 908.273.9121 to confirm holiday hours. Visit artcenternj.orgfor more information.

Support

Major support for the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is provided in part by the Peter R. & Cynthia K. Kellogg Foundation; the Wilf Family Foundations; and Art Center members and donors.

JAZZ THIS WEEK IN NEW BRUNSWICK

APRIL IS  JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH

The 2019 Jazz Appreciation Month 2019, featured artist is NAT KING COLE.

Nat King Cole (1919-1965) was one of the most influential jazz artists of his time. He faced a lot of racial prejudice, but pushed those boundaries to become one of the most successful artists of his time. He was one of the first African Americans to host his own radio show. His 1946 broadcast King Cole Trio Time was the first radio program to be sponsored by a black musician. Cole also went on to host the Nat King Cole Show, being the first African American to host a television series.

Jazz Appreciation Month (fondly known as "JAM") was created at the Smithsonian in 2001 to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz for the entire month of April.

Part of NBJP's mission is to showcase the next generation of jazz musicians ... the future "greats!" This is a chance to see them NOW!

COME EARLY, TAVERN ON GEORGE  FILLS QUICKLY!

RESERVATIONS STRONGLY SUGGESTED 
732-545-6205, INFO@TAVERNONGEORGE.COM

Throughout 2019

NBJP celebrates the 125th Birthday of New Brunswick's own

James P. Johnson

February 1, 1894 - November  17, 1955

Rabbi Elliott Tepperman, Author Marc Aronson and Islamic Networks Group at Luna Stage’s HEARTLAND

Heartland
by Gabriel Jason Dean
Directed by Ari Laura Kreith

WHEN: Now Running | Closes: Sunday, May 5, Thursday at 7:30 pm, Friday & Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 3pm
WHERE: Luna Stage, 555 Valley Road, West Orange, NJ
TICKETS: $16-39
LunaStage.org/Heartland
973 395 5551
Running time: 1 hour 45 minutes, no intermission
www.LunaStage.org | www.Facebook.com/LunaStage
The full schedule, including the schedule of talk-backs and events, is available at LunaStage.org/Heartland

Rabbi Elliott Tepperman of B’nai Keshet, the Islamic Networks Group’s Seham Abdala and Zainab Alam, and Maplewood author Marc Aronson will lead pre- and post-show conversations at Luna Stage’s Heartland this weekend. Now extended through May 5, Luna’s production has received audience and critical acclaim. Broadway World called it a “heartfelt masterpiece rife with comedic brilliance and the triumph of the human spirit.”

Set in Omaha and Afghanistan, Heartland weaves back and forth through time, unraveling a mystery that illuminates the cost of defending an American Empire. NJ Arts Maven described Heartland as “about compassion, responsibility, regret, redemption, forgiveness and, above all, love… [an] examination of the human heart…one you will talk about for days afterward.”

Upcoming special events include:

4/25 at 6:45pm | Pre-show LunaLit discussion of Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West with Rabbi Elliott Tepperman

4/26 | Post-show conversation with Seham Abdala and Zainab Alam of NJ Islamic Networks Group

4/28 at 2pm | LunaLit: Marc Aronson on his new Young Adult book Rising Water about the Thai cave rescue

The Star-Ledger, affiliated with NJ.com, praised Heartland as “a play that folds complex matters of international diplomacy and Western imperialism delicately into a tender, fraught father-daughter story.” The play is appropriate for family audiences. 12-year-old Maplewood Middle School World reviewer Jarrett Jackson wrote: “Heartland is filled with twists and turns that toy with your emotions, and has a powerful message about love, betrayal, and forgiveness.”

Rabbi Elliott Tepperman (top left) has been the spiritual leader of Bnai Keshet, in Montclair, NJ since 2002. His rabbinate embraces spiritually courageous Judaism and loving pursuit of shalom (peace) and justice for all people. He believes that Jewish practice is most transformational when deep internal work becomes a springboard for building community and engaging with the world.

Tepperman will facilitate a conversation about Mohsin Hamid’s novel Exit West. In a country teetering on the brink of civil war, two young people meet—sensual, fiercely independent Nadia and gentle, restrained Saeed. They embark on a furtive love affair, and are soon cloistered in a premature intimacy by the unrest roiling their city. When it explodes, turning familiar streets into a patchwork of checkpoints and bomb blasts, they begin to hear whispers about doors—doors that can whisk people far away, if perilously and for a price. As the violence escalates, Nadia and Saeed decide that they no longer have a choice. Leaving their homeland and their old lives behind, they find a door and step through.

Islamic Networks Group (ING) is a non-profit organization with affiliates and partners around the country that are pursuing peace and countering all forms of bigotry through education and interfaith engagement while working within the framework of the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom and pluralism. Founded in 1993, ING reaches millions of individuals and hundreds of groups a year at the grassroots level by building relationships, understanding, and peaceful communities.

Zainab Alam (top right) is an American Muslim currently pursuing her PhD at Rutgers University in political science. Zainab also holds a Master of Science in Global Affairs from NYU. She is a peacebuilding consultant, a freelance writer and a social science researcher. Zainab lives with her family in Central New Jersey and enjoys painting and traveling in her spare time. She is a certified speaker for NJ-ING.

Seham Abdala (bottom left) is an American Muslim and an engineer by trade. She is married, and has three children who were all born and raised in the USA. She worked at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, a Johnson & Johnson company, for over twenty years. She was one of the leaders who launched the first fully automated blood bank instrument in the world. She visited most European countries and worked with many colleagues from Europe, Asia, and Japan. Seham took early retirement from Johnson & Johnson and is focusing her efforts on NJ Islamic Networks Group. She is a volunteer acting as the executive director, serving on the board, and a certified speaker.

Marc Aronson (bottom right) is the award-winning author of more than 20 non-fiction books for children and teenagers. His works range from introducing readers to the latest discoveries in human evolution to how the story of sugar links together the histories of many peoples to the international effort to save the members of a Thai youth soccer team. Aronson has a doctorate in American History and teaches courses for future youth librarians in the Rutgers Master of Information program.

Aronson will discuss his latest book, Rising Water. On June 23, 2018, twelve members of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach were exploring the Tham Luang cave complex in northern Thailand when disaster struck. A rainy season downpour flooded the tunnels, trapping them as they took shelter on a shelf of the dark cave. Eight days of searching yielded no signs of life, but on July 2 they were discovered by two British divers. The boys and their coach were eventually rescued in an international operation that took three days. What could have been a terrible tragedy became an amazing story of survival.

Islamic Networks Group (ING) is a non-profit organization with affiliates and partners around the country that are pursuing peace and countering all forms of bigotry through education and interfaith engagement while working within the framework of the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom and pluralism. Founded in 1993, ING reaches millions of individuals and hundreds of groups a year at the grassroots level by building relationships, understanding, and peaceful communities.

Rising Water: The incredible true story of the twelve boys trapped with their coach in a flooded cave in Thailand and their inspiring rescue. On June 23, 2018, twelve members of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach were exploring the Tham Luang cave complex in northern Thailand when disaster struck. A rainy season downpour flooded the tunnels, trapping them as they took shelter on a shelf of the dark cave. Eight days of searching yielded no signs of life, but on July 2 they were discovered by two British divers. The boys and their coach were eventually rescued in an international operation that took three days. What could have been a terrible tragedy became an amazing story of survival.

Exit West: In a country teetering on the brink of civil war, two young people meet—sensual, fiercely independent Nadia and gentle, restrained Saeed. They embark on a furtive love affair, and are soon cloistered in a premature intimacy by the unrest roiling their city. When it explodes, turning familiar streets into a patchwork of checkpoints and bomb blasts, they begin to hear whispers about doors—doors that can whisk people far away, if perilously and for a price. As the violence escalates, Nadia and Saeed decide that they no longer have a choice. Leaving their homeland and their old lives behind, they find a door and step through...

HAMILTON Star Live at McCarter Gala!

GALA 2019: Leslie Odom, Jr.

WHEN: SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2019, 7 PM
WHERE: Matthews Theatre, 91 University Pl., Princeton
TICKETS: show plus cocktails for $300; show, cocktails, and dinner; show starting at $75

• BUY SHOW & COCKTAIL TICKETS
• BUY SHOW, COCKTAILS & DINNER TICKETS
• BUY TICKETS TO SHOW

Tony and Grammy Award- winning performer, Leslie Odom Jr., has taken the entertainment world by storm across a variety of media—spanning Broadway, television, film and music.

Best known for his breakout role as ‘Aaron Burr’ in the smash hit Broadway musical, Hamilton, Odom Jr. received a 2015 Drama Desk Award nomination and won the Tony Award for “Best Actor in a Musical” for his performance. He also won a Grammy Award as a principal soloist on the original cast recording.

Celebrate • Enjoy • Make A Difference

Join us for McCarter’s most exciting night of the season! Enjoy an amazing performance by Tony and Grammy Award-winner Leslie Odom, Jr. (Broadway’s Hamilton) as we celebrate McCarter’s work in the community—work that happens thanks to your support!

RUTHERFURD HALL CLOSED APRIL 21-28

PLEASE NOTE:

Rutherfurd Hall will be closed to the public 

APRIL 21 THROUGH APRIL 28, 2019

Museum Hours are cancelled April 24th.

Please join us for Dinner and a Lecture at Panther Valley Golf and Country Club on April 24th at 6:30.

Museum Hours will Resume May 1st.

Drummer Greg Bufford to Lead Trio at NJ Jazz Society April Social in Madison

Greg Bufford Trio 

WHEN: April 28th. Doors open at 3 p.m., and the music is performed from 3:30-5:30 p.m., with one short intermission.
WHERE: Shanghai Jazz, 24 Main St. in Madison
ADMISSION: free for New Jersey Jazz Society members and $10 for non-members. There is also a $10 food/beverage minimum.
For more information, email music@njjs.org, or call 973 372-5409.

 All About Jazz's David Orthmann calls West Orange-based jazz drummer Greg Bufford, "an exceptional musician with a personal sound, conception and feeling for jazz . . . There are two overlapping sides of Bufford's musical personality, which he projects simultaneously. On the one hand, he provides a firm rhythmic foundation and generously supports every musician on the bandstand. On the other, Bufford draws on a deep reservoir of rhythms—some boldly executed, other that barely register in the listener's consciousness -- and executes them in mesmerizing ways."

Bufford, who studied under master jazz drummer Philly Joe Jones, will lead a trio at the New Jersey Jazz Society's April social at Shanghai Jazz in Madison. Bufford met the legendary drummer in 1975 in Philadelphia when Jones let him sit in with his quartet. In an interview with nj.com several years ago, Bufford recalled the encounter. "After the set, Philly Joe came up to me, put his arm on my shoulder and told me he would teach me. In the lessons, he'd talk about life, music, drums . . . So, what I try to do is get close to the musicality of Philly Joe."

Funding for the New Jersey Jazz Society socials has been made possible in part by Morris Arts through the N.J. State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

2019 Casino Night to Benefit bergen PAC on May 2

2019 Casino Night at bergenPAC WHEN: Thursday, May 2 • 6:30PM - 11:00PM WHERE: Bergen Performing Arts Center • 30 North Van Brunt Street • Englewood TICKETS: Individual Tickets: $125; Individual Tickets with Open Bar: $175 For more details, visit bergenpac.org/casinonight or contact Corinne at calvarado@bergenpac.org or 201.816.8160 x41 Did you know we're a nonprofit with a variety of community outreach programs? You can support our efforts and have yourself a groovy time at our Casino Night on May 2. Funds raised will directly support The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC and its outreach initiatives.

“Home of the Great Pecan” Opens Friday, April 26th at CTG

Home of the Great Pecan

WHEN: Friday, April 26th and extending for eight shows through Sunday, May 12th. Performances are Friday and Saturdays at 8:00 and Sundays at 2:00pm.
WHERE: Black River Playhouse, located on the corner of Grove Street and Maple Avenue in Chester
TICKETS: $20.00 with a discounted price of $18.00 for seniors over 65 and students under 18. Tickets may be purchased online at www.chestertheatregroup.org.
For more information, visit the CTG website at For more information, visit the CTG website.

Home of the Great Pecan is a hilarious, quirky southern comedy—think Greater Tuna meets Plan 9 from Outer Space! Set in a small Texas town in the 1980's, mayhem ensues when Seguin's prized landmark—the Great Pecan—is stolen! A minister on the make, aliens, a prom queen on the verge and a philandering fiancé are just a few of the wild cast of suspects.

The playwright,Stephen Bittrich, has many published plays, and for over 15 years has worked primarily with The Drilling Company, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where Pecan had its first workshop production. There he's had 13 new short plays and 2 full-lengths produced and he's also gone on to develop 4 new full-length plays: The Acquisition, Even, Healer, and Hole. His play Healer has been optioned for a possible independent feature film.

The Chester Theatre cast of Home of the Great Pecan includes Lily Boyle in the roles of Priscilla/Billy/Chucky; Will Palazzolo of Wharton in the roles of Johns/Francio/Les Glenehinkel; Lynn Langone of Cranford in the roles of Tammie Lynn/Mrs. Rottweiler; Steve Nitka of Hackettstown in the roles of Ed/Reverend Pat; Carol Holland of Long Valley in the roles of Sher.Bart/Deke/Mrs.Bart/Kitty; Dale Monroe of Morristown in the roles of Greeley/Deputy Diggity; and Jill Bormann of Morristown in the roles of Rosy/Sonya.

The Chester Theatre Group performs in The Black River Playhouse, an intimate, 100-seat theater in the heart of Chester Borough’s historic district. The venue’s in-the-round format ensures that every seat offers an engaging, memorable experience for each audience member.

Dreamcatcher Rep’s 3rd Main Stage Production, “String Around My Finger” opens April 25

String Around My Finger by Brenda Withers  Directed by Clark Carmichael WHEN: April 25 - May 12, 2019; Fridays & Saturdays 8 PM; Sundays 2 PM WHERE:  Oakes Center, 120 Morris Ave., Summit TICKETS: Adults $35, seniors/students $30; preview April 25, $20 Buy Your Tickets!  Order by phone: 800-838-3006 Use the code WITHERS to receive $3 off any full-price adult ticket. New Jersey Premiere A quiet comedy about a young couple in the aftermath of a miscarriage. While Emma is still in the hospital, she and Kip try, with the help or interference of his sister, a physician assistant and an insightful older patient, to piece together what their relationship has been and what it still might become. SPECIAL DATES April 25: Preview performance, all seats $20 April 26: Opening night, post-show reception April 28: Senior Sunday, all senior tickets $20; Free post-show talkback May 5: Free post-show talkback

Celebrate Spring and Love at BALAM Dance Theatre's Dances of “Love: East and West”

Dances of Love: East and West

WHEN: Sunday, April 28, from 2:00-3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Fort Lee Public Library, 320 Main Street, Fort Lee
TICKETS: free and open to the public
The library is wheelchair accessible. Parking is available on the street and in the lot behind the library building on Hoym Street. For directions and further information, contact the Fort Lee Public Library at 201-592-3615.

BALAM Dance Theatre (BALAM) premieres its new Out & About series program, Dances of Love: East and West, an entertaining, family friendly program.

"These magical works, with their sumptuous costuming, reflective of their courtly and culturally celebratory heritages, will enchant audiences of all ages. They will experience a vibrant array of culturally diverse dance gems presented by the romantic eloquence of BALAM Dance Theatre's performers," said Carlos Fittante, Artistic Director, BALAM Dance Theatre. (Top: Carlos Fittante and Nani Devi in Oleg Tambulilingan. Photo Credit: First Night New Jersey.)

BALAM, a New York City-based company, offers a new vision of contemporary dance by combining diverse cultural dance styles from around the world and time periods with Balinese theatre. This latest cross-cultural program features these artists from Indonesia, Japan and the United States: Nani Devi, Toshinori Hamada, Yumiko Niimi, Carlos Fittante, Robin Gilbert and guest cellist Lisa Terry (left), Artistic Director of Parthenia, A Consort of Viols. Performers will dance in beautiful vibrantly colored traditional and fusion costumes.

The program spotlights a range of dance forms and movements from around the world. These include Oleg Tambulilingan (Love Dance of the Bumblebees), a scintillating Balinese courtship dance, and Hagoromo (Angel Dance), a Japanese Noh theatre masked solo dance. The Gran Chacona, a whimsical duet, transports the audience to 19^th century Andalusia in Spain utilizing the Chacona, a wildly popular music and dance from the 18^th century, with original choreography using the Spanish Escuela Bolera technique and castanets. A live music segment offers excerpts from Sebastian Bach’s acclaimed Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major. (Above, right: Carlos Fittante and Robin Gilbert Photo Credit: Eric Bandiero)

BALAM Dance Theatre debuts the newly commissioned salsa duet, Fantasia de Amor, choreographed by master salsero (salsa dance expert) Carlos Konig. This piece is performed with music by Venezuelan salsa singer Eric Franchesky. The audience will also be invited to learn and try some movements. (Left: Toshinori Hamada performs a Noh Theatre solo. Photo Credit: BALAM Dance Theatre)

About BALAM

Founded by choreographer and movement researcher, Islene Pinder, BALAM Dance Theatre offers a new vision of contemporary dance that is rooted in the dazzling opulence and magical aura of Balinese theatre.

The New York City-based dance/theatre company creates a unique entertainment experience that has universal appeal. Audiences of all ages and backgrounds enjoy BALAM’s innovative movement alchemy where dynamic athleticism, detailed skills, and movement techniques from around world are fused and enhanced by eclectic music, striking masks, vibrant costumes and fantasy stories.

The company educates the community about dances and cultures throughout the world. Through its Out & About Series, free and affordable performances, workshops and creative events at the grassroots level are made available for families, children, students and community residents.

BALAM has been featured at numerous festivals and venues including First Night New York; Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors; Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival; Downtown Dance Festival; and has also appeared throughout the United States and internationally. The company has received praise from the New York Times and Village Voice, the Governor and people of Bali and the Indonesian Consulate of New York, as well as others.

For further information, call 646-361-9183 or visit BALAM Dance Theatre on its blog, www.balamdancetheatre.blogspot.com, follow the company on Facebook, www.facebook.com/balamdancetheatre, and check for updates on Twitter @BALAMDance.

The Montclair Orchestra’s “French Connection: A Musical Tour of 18th-19th Century France” featured as season finale

French Connection: A Musical Tour of 18th-19th Century France

WHEN: Sunday, April 28, at 7 p.m.
WHERE: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 73 S. Fullerton Ave. in Montclair
TICKETS: $10-$50 and are available at the orchestra’s web site or by calling 973-435-2906.

For its last concert of the 2018-19 season, the Montclair Orchestra will take its audience on a journey back to the Classical and Romantic Eras in France. The orchestra’s French Connection performance will include works by Haydn, Berlioz and Bizet.

The program includes: Symphony No. 60 ‘Il Distratto’ by Joseph Haydn; Les nuits d’ete by Hector Berlioz; and Symphony in C by Georges Bizet.

Il Distratto (the distracted) was written by the Austrian-born Haydn in 1775. It is based on music he wrote for a five-act play, Le Distrait, by the French poet Jean-Francois Regnard.  Berlioz’ Les nuits d’ete (nights of summer), composed in 1841, was written to accompany six poems by another French poet, Theophile Gautier, who was a friend and neighbor of the composer. The orchestra will be joined for this piece by Yungpeng Wang, a baritone who has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and Pacific Symphony. The final work in the program, Bizet’s Symphony in C, was completed in 1855. The French composer was only 17 when he wrote it, at the time a student at the Paris Conservatoire.

The Montclair Orchestra, now in its second season, is led by David Chan, concertmaster of the MET Orchestra. The up to 75-piece ensemble is made up of professional musicians from world class orchestras playing alongside student fellows from leading conservatories.

The professional musicians performing with the orchestra include: Quan Yuan, violinist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Yevgeny Faniuk, principal flute with the Reading Symphony Orchestra and frequent guest member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; and Harry Searing, bassoonist, who has performed numerous times with the New York Philharmonic and New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.

The Montclair Orchestra is a developmental orchestra with fellowships for students from the top conservatories in the area including The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes School of Music, Montclair State University’s Cali School of Music, and Rutgers’ Mason-Gross School of the Arts.

SCREENING OF OSCAR-WINNING BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM & DISCUSSION @ LIVINGSTON TEMPLE

WHEN: Monday, April 29, 2019 @ 7:00 pm
WHERE: Temple B’nai Abraham, 300 East Northfield Road, Livingston, NJ
ADMISSION: No charge but registration required at www.tbanj.org or by calling 973-994-2290.

Screening to be followed by a brief discussion on menstrual equity and current legislation in New Jersey. Coffee and dessert. Please bring a box of pads or tampons to be donated to The Interfaith Hospitality Network of Essex County.

Co-sponsored by The Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey, The Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Girls Helping Girls. Period. and NCJW/Essex.