A message from NJFO Board President Keith S. Hertell

MESSAGE FROM NJFO BOARD PRESIDENT KEITH S. HERTELL

Dear Valued NJFO Patrons,

We hope that everyone is well and staying safe during this challenging time in our lives.

For over 35 years New Jersey Festival Orchestra has sought to serve you by bringing magnificent live orchestral music to our communities and beyond. Today, we are facing the gravest crisis in our history, but our Board, Music Director David Wroe, and staff are working diligently to ensure the survival of this beloved institution. We are focusing on the future and hope to be ready to once again present our world-class performances when these troubled times are behind us.

Cancellation of NJFO concerts and events through August 31

In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Orders, guidelines from the CDC, New Jersey Department of Health, Madison Health Department, Westfield Board of Health and our venue partners, we have canceled all of our concerts in March and May. We have also canceled our major fundraising events – The Tour of Notable Homes and the NJFO Gala. These have been painful decisions, but it is critical that we at NJFO consider what is best for our community and do our part to help contain the virus.

What this means for you          

For NJFO subscribers and all other ticket holders we offer the following options:

• Please consider donating your tickets back to us and receive a tax deduction for the total ticket value. This option will help the Orchestra the most as we strive to fortify finances during this uncertain period.
• Exchange your tickets for an NJFO concert of your choice in the 20-21 season. All exchange fees will be waived.

Please consider making a general donation if you can. This will help support the orchestra during this challenging and painful time as we navigate the significant, ongoing impact of the COVID-19 situation and grapple with how to stay afloat financially. At this extraordinary moment in history, the continued commitment and support of all of you — subscribers, single ticket buyers, and donors — has never been more important.

Looking to the future

We at NJFO remain committed to providing world-class live musical experiences to audiences and opportunities for musicians to play. The good news is that many of our distinguished guest singers and soloists who were scheduled to appear in March and May have committed to partnering with us once again in the 20-21 season. We look forward to seeing our talented musicians perform with these guests, and at all other NJFO concerts next season. We will shortly be announcing a wonderful new season program, scheduled to begin, as usual, in October. Please stay tuned for details.

Thank you for your patience, consideration and understanding during these extraordinary and unprecedented circumstances. Above all, thank you for your dedication as a member of the NJFO family. You are the reason we are here - this season and in future seasons. Let us all stand together to rebound and keep our music thriving!

Yours truly,

Keith S. Hertell, NJFO Board President

CENTRAL JERSEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CANCELS REMAINDER OF 2019-2020 SEASON

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Jersey Symphony Orchestra regrets to announce the cancellation of the remainder of its 2019-2020 season.

The orchestra was to have concluded its season on Sunday, June 6, in Morristown with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, in collaboration with Somerset Hills Chorus and in celebration of the upcoming 250th anniversary (Dec. 16) of the composer’s birth.

“We deeply regret having to cancel the final concert of our 50th anniversary season,” said music director Michael Avagliano. “However, the health and safety of our audience, musicians, and all who work to make our concerts possible is of paramount importance at this difficult time. Plans are already underway for our 51st season, and we look forward to performing, as always, for new and returning audience members alike.”

For more information about the Central Jersey Symphony Orchestra, including the announcement of its 2020-2021 season, please visit www.cjso.org.

About the Central Jersey Symphony Orchestra

Founded in 1970 as the Somerset County College Orchestra, the orchestra changed its name to the Central Jersey Symphony Orchestra in 1985. For 16 seasons, the orchestra presented six to eight concerts, performing the standard orchestral repertoire. At its Gala 10th anniversary concert under the new name, the orchestra completed a cycle of the Beethoven symphonies with a sold-out performance of the Ninth. In the following year, it presented an acclaimed concert of “Music of the Holocaust at Terezin.” In 1998, the orchestra began a cultural exchange with Lithuania, presenting Lithuanian guest artists making their U.S. debuts. Committed to presenting the works of New Jersey composers, the orchestra has presented world premieres by Mario Lombardo, John Sichel, David Rimelis, and David Sampson.

Theatre at RVCC Cancels Rescheduled Performances

RVCCArts has made the decision to cancel the performances previously postponed.

While this decision was not difficult, it was painful. Our purpose as an organization and as individuals is to bring you and artists together for the transforming experience of live performance. We look forward to the time when we can return to that mission and the uplift it brings.

The Theatre box office will be issuing refunds over the next few days. For additional information, contact boxoffice@raritanval.edu

Jewish Heritage Museum: May and June Programming Postponed or Cancelled

The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County will remain closed to the public due to the coronavirus outbreak. Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of our visitors, staff, and volunteers during this time. All programs through May and June will be postponed or cancelled.

The Yom HaShoah Program: Anne Frank, The Anne Frank House, and Anti-Semitism, originally scheduled for Sunday, May 17, at 2 PM, will be cancelled.

Programs that will be rescheduled for a later date include: A Journey from the Rabbinate to Cabaret Singer, performed by Deborah Zecher, originally scheduled for Sunday, May 31 at 2 PM; and From Gershwin to Glass, a concert by the Bravura Orchestra Chamber Ensemble, originally scheduled for Sunday, June 14 at 4:30 PM.

Anyone who holds prepaid reservations for these programs is entitled to a refund.

The Museum is eager to present these programs to the community later this year and is working to set a new schedule of events for the summer and fall.

For more information on the reopening of the Museum and rescheduling of events, please call the Museum at 732-252-6990, or visit the website at www.jhmomc.org. The JHMOMC is a

tax-exempt organization under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Museum is handicapped and assisted-listening accessible.

NBJP Video Jazz Weekly 10th Annual March Women in Jazz Canceled

We've cancelled all live performances until it is deemed safe for us to resume them.

We miss you!

We miss the musicians and all the great music they share with us every week!

We miss the staff and management at our venues!

If you are able...

Purchase a gift card (or two) from one of the NBJP venues
or order take-out.

...or...

Purchase a CD, (or two) from any of our featured musicians--
directly from them if possible.

...or...

Make a donation to NBJP...

Every little bit helps!

In the meantime...

STAY SAFE

and...

Here are audio or video performances from the musicians who were scheduled to perform for us through the end of March!

UPDATE: McCARTER TO CANCEL ALL PERFORMANCES THROUGH JUNE 30

McCARTER THEATRE CENTER

In response to the continuing situation regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus), McCarter Theatre Center has announced the cancelation of all performances and events through June 30, effective immediately. The full production run of Nathan Alan Davis’ The Refuge Plays, all scheduled Presented Series events for the rest of the season including the Jazz in June Festival, and 2020 Gala featuring Michael Feinstein are affected. McCarter administrative offices and production shops will remain closed for the time being and the remaining staff will continue to work remotely.
Regarding this expansion of cancelations, McCarter Managing Director Michael S. Rosenberg said “We do not take this decision lightly and think it is in the best interest of the many different communities and constituencies that we serve. We ask that you consider making a donation to McCarter to help ensure that we are ready to re-open our doors when the time comes and welcome everyone back for the magic and fellowship of live performance. In the coming days, we hope that you will join us online as we celebrate art and artists, keep an open dialogue with our community, and inspire you to embark on your own creative projects as we weather this storm together. What you can expect from us: important updates to keep you in the know, a deeper look at the artists we have for the fall, fun at-home activities, a look back on our favorite productions, and more. Our goal is to be a source of light and human connection during these times.”

For our patrons’ convenience and in order to manage call volume, we’ll be reaching out directly to ticket holders for these events to facilitate donation and other options. We hope everyone will consider donating the cost of their tickets as a tax-deductible gift to McCarter. Your support helps ensure the vitality of the arts now and into the future.  If a child is enrolled in an After School class, a member of our Education team will reach out to discuss your options as well.

The following scheduled programs are now canceled:

• The Refuge Plays (May 8 – June 7)
• A Bowie Celebration (April 2)
• The Hit Men (April 3)
• Cirque Éloize (April 4 – 5)
• David Sedaris (April 7)
• Dorrance Dance (April 9)
• Zakir Hussain Trio (April 11)
• Max Raabe and Palast Orchester (April 13)
• Arturo O’Farril and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, with Stefon Harris + Blackout (April 17)
• Rosanne Cash (April 18)
• Pilobolus (April 22)
• McCarter’s 2020 Gala Concert featuring Michael Feinstein (April 25)
• Handel’s Rodelinda with the English Concert (May 5)
• Princeton Pops: The Art of the Movie Score (May 9)
• Underwater Bubble Show (May 10)
• Igor Levit, piano (May 13)
• Audra McDonald (May 16)
• Dark Star Orchestra (May 18)
• National Geographic Live (May 19)
• Chris Thile (May 21)
• Keb’ Mo’ (June 4)
• Air Play (June 6)
• Monica Bill Barnes and Company (June 11 – 13)
• Terence Blanchard featuring The E-Collective (June 12)
• Christian Sands Quartet (June 13)
• Jazzmeia Horn (June 19)
• Kurt Elling and Danilo Pérez (June 26)
• The Messenger Legacy (June 27)

More information can be found at mccarter.org/update.

MARCH, APRIL PROGRAMS @ JEWISH HERITAGE MUSEUM CANCELED

Programs that will be rescheduled at a later date include:  Molly Picon: A Yiddish Gem presented by Dr. Diane Cypkin, originally planned for Sunday, March 22; a talk by Rabbi Michael Klein on The Jews of the Wild West, planned for Sunday, March 29; a workshop entitled Spring into the Marriage and Relationships of Your Dreams, with psychotherapist Dr. Jay Levin scheduled for Thursday, April 2, at 7PM; the documentary film Shalom Bollywood, scheduled for Sunday, April 5 at 2PM; a talk by local resident William Agress on Growing Up Jewish in Rural New Jersey, scheduled for Sunday, April 19; and a talk by Monmouth County artist Leora Asa, A Living Artist and Her Work, planned for Sunday, April 26. THESE EVENTS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED.

Anyone who holds prepaid reservations for these programs is entitled to a refund.

The Museum is eager to present these programs to the community later this year, and is working to set a new schedule of events for the summer and fall.

For more information on the reopening of the Museum and rescheduling of events can call the Museum at 732-252-6990, or visit the website at www.jhmomc.org. The JHMOMC is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Museum is handicapped and assisted-listening accessible.

MARCH EVENTS CANCELED @ RUTHERFURD HALL

ALL EVENTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH

RESCHEDULED DATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED AS SOON AS THEY ARE MADE!

Rutherfurd Hall cares about the health and well being of our friends, neighbors and customers. As we follow the impact of COVID-19, we want you to know that your safety is our top priority.

Rutherfurd Hall will be closed through April 1st. All activities, programs and museum hours will be POSTPONED. New dates for all concerts, lectures, Murder Mystery Dinner and Paint Night will be determined and announced as soon as possible. We will update the website and contact all current ticket holders for each event as new dates are determined.

Be well, be healthy, and Rutherfurd Hall will be ready when the public health concerns allow.

If you have any questions, you can reply to this email, call (908) 852-1894 ext 338 or visit: www.rutherfurdhall.org

BONJ GALA CANCELED; CONCERT POSTPONED

After careful thought and consideration, we have made the difficult decision not to hold our 25th Anniversary Gala on April 3rd.

The health of our patrons and artists is our primary concern.

As the BONJ considers future options for commemorating our 25th anniversary, it will continue to be mindful of the health and well being of our patrons, artists and other supporters at a public gathering.

Concert scheduled for Sunday, April 19, 2020, 3:00 PM, has been postponed.

CANCELLED: 10th Annual March Women in Jazz - Week 3 & 4

In full consideration of Governor Murphy's recommendation to limit public gatherings, New Brunswick Jazz Project is

cancelling ALL PERFORMANCES UNTIL APRIL 1

This is a heartbreaking decision, and one we do not make lightly, but we make it to protect the health and well-being of our audiences and performers, the safety of all of whom are most important.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT Tavern on George, George Street Ale House and our LOCAL BUSINESSES IN TOWN AS THEY REMAIN OPEN.

We will update you with any further changes

next week.

THANK YOU!

NJ BALLET PRESENTS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CLASSICAL REPERTOIRE @ FELLOWSHIP VILLAGE–CANCELLED

NJ BALLET PRESENTS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CLASSICAL REPERTOIRE

This production has been cancelled.

Your health and safety are our most important priority. Since the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19), we have taken precautionary measures outlined by the Centers for Disease Management (CDC) and State and Local health officials in collaboration with our Medical Team and have opted to cancel our upcoming theater events this month and large group gatherings at this time.

Please be assured that Fellowship Senior Living and the Fellowship Cultural Arts Center are taking all the appropriate measures to prevent the spread of this virus. Please check back often for announcements and updates.

Refunds have been issued to all current ticket holders.

Thank you for your continued support and patronage of the Fellowship Cultural Arts Center.

WPU CanceLs events from March 13th through April 14th.

Unfortunately, Events scheduled from Friday, March 13th through Tuesday April 14^th, 2020 have been cancelled due to concerns regarding COVID-19. 

If you are a Ticket Holder; Please contact us prior to Friday, March 20th, 2020 to arrange for a refund.  In order to process your refund we will need verification of your payment method.  If you do not contact us prior to March 20th, 2020 a credit may be issued instead of a refund.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email us back or give us a call at (973) 720-2371. The box office is open Monday - Friday from 10 am until 5 pm.

We will keep you updated if we are able to re-schedule these events.

We apologize for this inconvenience and look forward to seeing you at other WP-Presents events.

Thank you,

Shea Center Box Office
973-720-2371
boxoffice@wpunj.edu
Mon-Fri 10 am - 5 pm

READING CANCELLED; ORIGINAL 2-ACT SCRIPTS WANTED

Our Play Reading for Sunday, March 14, has been CANCELLED.

WANTED: Original One-Act Scripts The Chatham Community Players is seeking original, one-act plays, short musicals and/or original dance pieces, written by New Jersey authors, for Jersey Voices' 26th Annual Production. Deadline March 16 It is once again time to be thinking about submitting one-acts for Jersey Voices 2020. This year’s deadline is March 8th, just a few months away! So please put the finishing touches on those plays sitting on your desk/desktop and send them along. This year, like last year, we are only accepting submissions by e-mail to the address listed below. We're accepting scripts this year by e-mail only to: JerseyVoices@ChathamPlayers.org

A MESSAGE FOM NEW JERSEY REP

Like all of you, NJ Rep has been closely following developments regarding COVID-19. The safety and well-being of our community, audiences, performers, and staff has been and continues to be our top priority. With that in mind, we have made the decision to cancel all remaining performances of The Promotion Saturday, March 14 through Sunday, April 5, as well as, our March readings.

In the coming weeks, we will continue to monitor the status of this outbreak and evaluate our ability to once again welcome you to our theater. We are consistently grateful for the opportunity to create and experience theater together, and, while nothing can fully replace the connections and conversations that are sparked by live theater, we are working to develop digital theatrical content to remain connected with you. Please keep an eye on your emails for further communications from us.

For subscribers and ticket holders, we will be in touch with you directly regarding the exchange of tickets for future performances. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to call us at 732-229-3166.

As a non-profit, we rely on ticket sales and contributions to sustain our organization. We hope you will support us during this difficult time by donating your ticket(s) or by making a tax-deductible gift to New Jersey Repertory Company.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding. We wish you all continued health and safety.

YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS EVENT CANCELLED

Sometimes the show just can't go on.

We will be maiing prizes to our young finalists and prize-winners; we hope to share their work with you at some future date.

Let's all do our best to be safe, healthy, and as helpful as possible.

TheTheaterProject.org

For more information on other STAGES FESTIVAL events, visit https://njtheatrealliance.org/stages-festival

GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE CANCELS ALL UPCOMING PERFORMANCES/PRODUCTIONS

In full consideration of Governor Murphy's recommendation to limit public gatherings, George Street Playhouse is cancelling all performances of Conscience and postponing A Walk on the Moon to next season.

This is a heartbreaking decision and one we do not make lightly, but we make it to protect the health and well-being of our audiences, employees, and performers, the safety of all of whom are most important. That said, we continue to adhere to all policies recommended by the CDC and local and state officials. As we look ahead together, we cannot wait to see you here again soon. We are now more committed than ever to bringing new plays and musicals to New Jersey audiences, and we can't wait to welcome you back to our home for the unique magic only live theater can provide. Our Full Ticket Value Guarantee For current ticket holders, we are guaranteeing you the full value of your purchased ticket at this time: as an on-account credit toward a future George Street Playhouse performance as an acknowledged donation you will be able to use for tax reporting purposes. Converting your ticket purchase to a donation supports our nonprofit organization's future in this uncertain time. If you are able, please consider making a donation to George Street Playhouse in support of our mission to bring the highest caliber of work to New Jersey audiences. Suspending performances saddens us and causes severe financial strain to our staff and artists; your contribution means more now than ever. We will be reaching out to subscribers and all current ticket holders beginning the week of Monday, March 16. Ticket holders with immediate performances this weekend will be contacted prior to their performance. Beyond an emergency, please kindly refrain from reaching out directly at this time, as we anticipate a high volume of calls. If you are unable to get in touch with us today, please rest assured that we will get in touch with you. We thank you in advance for your patience with our Patron Services staff, your understanding that we are working as efficiently as possible to get in touch with you about your options amid the possibility of truncated Box Office hours, and your continued support of George Street Playhouse.  We look forward to seeing you soon. Sincerely, Kelly Ryman, Managing Director George Street Playhouse

NJJS JAZZ SOCIAL FOR MARCH 15 CANCELLED

NJJS Jazz Social for March 15 CANCELLED

Given the progression of COVID-19, we have decided to cancel this Sunday's Jazz Social out of concern for the health and safety of our members and guests. We will continue to monitor the situation and hope to be able to safely resume future events as soon as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience.

STATE THEATRE NJ POSTPONES/CANCELS MARCH SHOWS

We have been closely following the developing news on COVID-19 and the current response recommendations from our Federal, State, and Local officials. As you may know, in response to the increased cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey, Governor Murphy has recommended that gatherings of 250 or more people be cancelled or postponed. We are taking his recommendation seriously and out of concern for the health and safety of our guests and staff, we are either postponing or cancelling our March shows. We will take a closer look at shows in April and beyond and will send updates in the coming weeks. What do I do if I have a ticket to a show at State Theatre now through March? State Theatre staff will contact you directly, both by email and phone, to discuss your options. Some shows are being moved to a later date and ticket holders for those performances will be able to keep their tickets for the new show date. These are unprecedented times, and we appreciate your support and patience as we navigate through this together. Thank you for your support and be safe,

Sarah Chaplin President & CEO State Theatre New Jersey

NJFO CANCELS PERFORMANCES IN MADISON & WESTFIELD

Dear Valued NJFO Family,

We at the New Jersey Festival Orchestra consider the health, safety and well-being of our patrons, musicians and staff to be our highest priority. As you know, the local and global COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation has been rapidly evolving. We have been monitoring the recommendations of the CDC, New Jersey Department of Health, Madison Health Department, Westfield Board of Health and our venue partners.

A few days ago, we received notice from Drew University that the President of the University had cancelled all events on campus through at least April 3^rd. We hoped to be able to present the performance in Westfield on Saturday, March 14^th, however, yesterday we received notice from the Town of Westfield that the concert cannot go forward due to health concerns relating to the coronavirus.

For these reasons, we are sorry to inform you that both the Saturday, March 14 (Westfield) and Sunday, March 15 (Drew University, Madison) performances of “Opera’s Ultimate Odd Couple” HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. 

If you have reservations for either of these performances we cordially invite you to exchange your tickets for the NJFO season finale performance “Russian Nights” on May 30 (Westfield) or May 31 (Madison), or for another future NJFO performance of your choice next season. To exchange your tickets for a future NJFO concert, please call the NJFO box office on 908.232.9400 between Monday and Friday, 10AM-3PM.

We look forward to seeing you at a future performance. We will continue to provide updates should the coronavirus outbreak escalate and affect additional NJFO performances.

In the meantime, please take extra good care and stay well.

Yours truly,

Keith Hertell, NJFO Board President

Eva O'Neil, NJFO Executive Director

bergenPAC cancels shows through March 29