On Stage: No Matter Your Taste, There's a Show for You

Comedy, drama, even opera and a mentalist will be performing in North Jersey in coming weeks.

Whatever kind of theater you like, there's bound to be something playing on a stage in North Jersey that appeals to you. Whether it's Papermill Playhouse or PNC Bank Arts Center, there's lots of great performances this summer. If you like musicals, then head to Pleasant Valley Park in Bernards for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" or the Growing Stage children's theater in Netcong for "The Wiz." If you like classical theater, the Shakespeare Theatre is offering two comedies: the Bard's "The Comedy of Errors" on its outdoor stage at the College of St. Elizabeth and "The Liar" on the main stage at Drew University. Kids are sure to get a kick out of "Alice in Wonderland" at Brundage Park Playhouse, "Sleeping Beauty," at Pax …

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Still Cool at 100-Degrees - Maplewoodstock Schedule

The full band lineup, hours and location.

Being cool has never been a problem for the many musicians who have played Maplewoodstock. Staying cool, however, might be the biggest challenge of all during this weekend’s festivities at Memorial Park. With temperatures expected to be as high as 104-degrees on Saturday, Maplewoodstock staff are urging people to bring plenty of water and sunscreen, and seek shade when they need it. Festival organizer Gary Shippy said the staff will be prepared for the intense heat. Plus, that this year the public will have more options for refreshment than ever before. “People will find the shaded areas, the sangria and the beer garden,” he said. Furthermore, they are drawing walkways to improve crowd control to make for a more orderly, comfortable …

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American Idol Live! Tix on Sale Friday

2012 summer tour will stop at Prudential Center in Newark.

American Idol Live! will once again come to the Prudential Center in Newark this summer—and tickets go on sale Friday, May 11, at 10 a.m.  The concert is scheduled for Tuesday, August 28, at 7 p.m., and will feature the Top 10 contestants from the 2012 American Idol season: Colton Dixon, DeAndre Brackensick, Elise Testone, Erika Van Pelt, Heejun Han, Hollie Cavanagh, Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet, Phillip Phillips and Skylar Laine. So whether your favorite contestant on the FOX signing competition has been voted off or is making his/her way toward the final three, the summer tour is your chance to catch them all.  The season finale is just two weeks away on Wednesday, May 23. For more information, visit the Pru Center website. 

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Montclair Film Festival Opens: "The Latest Extravaganza In This Overachieving Town!"

Actor Oliver Platt asks ... "Tribeca what?"

Film festivals conjure up images of glitz, celebrities, red carpets, and amazing organization. The Venice and Tribeca film festivals come to mind. Although Montclair is not Cannes, the Montclair Film Festival got off to a glamorous and extremely successful start on Tuesday night at Montclair State University's Alexander Kasser Theater. Robert Feinberg, the film festival's founder and chairman, said he hesitated to make The Oranges the opening film of the festival as it's mostly about, well, adultery. But, in the end, he said he couldn't resist. "It's hard to find such a great film set in suburban New Jersey with such an incredible ensemble cast," he said. And he couldn't have picked a better film to launch a festival that's been two years …

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Patch Poll: Cast Your Vote for Best Picture in Sunday's Oscar Race

The Academy Awards are Sunday. What movie do you think should take home the big prize?

  Brad, Angelina and George (as in Clooney) are some of the big-name stars set to walk the red carpet Sunday for the 84th annual Academy Awards. Although we won’t be there in person (maybe our Patch ticket got last in the mail?), we’ll be watching the actors—and silently judging their fashion choices—from the comfort of our own homes. Just because our readers aren’t the Hollywood insiders in charge of choosing this year’s winners (at least, we don’t think), that doesn’t mean your opinions don’t count. Of the films up for Best Picture, we want to know which ones you enjoyed the most. The nominated films are: The Artist, The Descendants, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Help, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, The Tree of Life and War…

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Jerry Ryan

11:56 am on Thursday, March 1, 2012

Hugo should have won. Any anyone that nominated The Tree Of Life should have their head examined. :-)   more ›

Senior Citizens Art Show Cooks Up More Talent Than Ever Before

The 2011 Essex County Senior Citizens Juried Art Show brings out the most senior citizen artists in recent history with winners from the Caldwells

Gray hairs and golden years can sometimes be the perfect recipe to create an artist. Retirees often have the time and fascination to commit to a passion that was lost to their youth. That passion and talent was never more evident than at the 2011 Essex County Senior Citizens Juried Art Show in Cedar Grove, where Essex County Executive, Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., awarded top prizes to 34 out of the 124 entrants. After a warm welcome and thanks, DiVencenzo (who noted, in his speech, that Angelo Casarola’s painting, “The Catch” chronicled last year’s winning Superbowl play,) went on to hand out first place, second place and Honorable Mentions to the contestants. Kate Hartwyk, Director of Programs and Grants for the Division of Cultural and …

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Geralyn's Opens New Location

The art studio celebrates its new spot with its annual student art show.

The 7th annual student art show at Geralyn's Art Studio in Maplewood took place Sunday at Geralyn's new location. “It just amazing what they kids can do,” said Geralyn Robinson, owner of Gerlayn's Art Studio. This is the first show in the new studio space at 103 Baker Street. The show includes about 150 works from about as many students, ranging from ages 3-1/2 to 94. “It's not just for kids. We have many workshops and classes for adults as well,” said Robinson. Many proud parents and grandparents oooh'd and ahhh'd at all the art on the walls. Some took pictures of their little Picasso next to his or her work of art. One set of grandparents came all the way from Sydney, Australia to see the show. (Okay, they didn't come just for the show. …

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Geralyn Robinson

5:57 pm on Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Thank you for a great article about the Student Art Show and the wonderful photography by Joy Yagid. I am so so proud and happy for my students and the wonderful work they all created over the year.   more ›

Changes for the 1978 Gallery

The township's publicly owned gallery aims to offer increased support to artists.

1978 Maplewood Arts Center, the township-owned art gallery and event space owned, has recently announced some new programs.  The Springfield Ave. gallery will continue to offer art classes and host exhibits and musical events. Now, with new groups and programs, they hope to increasingly act as a resource for local artists. “We are becoming a center for artists to interact do work and fine-tune skills” said Denise Hardie, Board treasurer in a press release. One example is the Contemporary Artists Forum critique group lead by 1978 Vice-chairman Mikel Frank. The group meets every other Wednesday and has become popular enough to require a waiting list. “The artists have said that without it they would not be making art as much or as well," …

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Idependent Press: Millburn Artist Has Show in Maplewood

The works of Portrait artist Oscar Peterson will be on display at Express Yourself Studios starting this weekend.

Describing his painting technique to the Independent Press, Oscar Peterson said his goal is to "paint more than a likeness. I try to capture what the person is really about. And sometimes, if I'm lucky, I capture what they're hiding." The 14-year Millburn resident's artistically invasive work will be on display at Express Yourself Studios throughout September. Read the Full Story: Oscar Peterson, Millburn portrait artist has solo show in Maplewood.

Theater Review: 'Menopause The Musical'

Running at SOPAC through Sept. 27, 'Menopause' features broad humor and some crowd-pleasing musical numbers.

If audience reaction is any indication, Menopause The Musical, running at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) through Sept. 27, is a smash hit. Even before the performance begins, members of a packed house on a Wednesday evening seem giddy with anticipation, buying “flash fans” from vendors in the aisles and comparing notes on where and how many times they’ve seen the show before.  Nearly 11 million people in 250 cities around the world have attended performances of Menopause since it opened in a 76-seat former perfume shop in Orlando in 2001, though some of these are clearly double or even triple dippers. For SOPAC, the production's two-month run will be the longest in the venue’s three-year history. Harold Pinter it ain’t. …

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