STATE THEATRE ANNOUNCES 2014-15 CLASSICAL SERIES

(New Brunswick, NJ) -- Four of the world's most celebrated orchestras will perform at the State Theatre during its 2014-2015 classical season, opening on Sunday, November 2, 2014 with The English Chamber Orchestra with Branford Marsalis. The theater, known for its superb acoustics and intimate atmosphere, is currently celebrating its 25th year as central New Jersey's premier nonprofit venue for performing arts and entertainment.

The 2014-15 classical season includes The English Chamber Orchestra with Branford Marsalis (11/2/14); the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra with violin soloist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg (11/16/14); Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México (2/15/15); and the BBC Concert Orchestra under the baton of Keith Lockhart (4/26/15).

"We have seen tremendous growth in our audience in the last three years for our classical music offerings which is attributed to the excellence of the artists and strong, innovative marketing," said Mark W. Jones, State Theatre's President & CEO.

All performances are preceded by complimentary Pre-performance Insights featuring guest experts providing fascinating perspectives on the performances. Tickets for all four orchestra performances go on sale on Friday, March 14 at 10am. Tickets for all the orchestra performances range from $35-70.


Marsalis "Well-Tempered"
featuring The English Chamber Orchestra with Branford Marsalis
Sunday, November 2, 2014 at 3pm
Renowned Grammy® Award–winning saxophonist and Tony®-nominated composer Branford Marsalis joins the highly celebrated English Chamber Orchestra in Marsalis "Well-Tempered," a performance of Baroque masterpieces by Albinoni, Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, and others.

The English Chamber Orchestra is one of the world's leading chamber orchestras, having performed in more countries than any other orchestra, recorded over 1,500 works, and played with the world's greatest musicians. 

In addition to The English Chamber Orchestra performance, there will be a pre-performance cocktail reception and post-performance dinner and silent auction, both held at the Heldrich Hotel as part of the Annual Classical Season Celebration. Tickets for the celebration cost $250 and include the pre-performance cocktail reception, a premium orchestra seat for the performance, and the post-performance dinner and silent auction. Sponsorship opportunities and upgrades from concert-only tickets to Celebration tickets are available. For more information about the Classical Season Celebration and how you can support this event, please contact Alisson Canavera at 732-247-7200, ext. 543 or acanavera@StateTheatreNJ.org.


Moscow State Symphony Orchestra
Pavel Kogan, conductor
Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin
Sunday, November 16, 2014 at 3pm
Program: Dvořák, Overture "Carnival"; Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35; and Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47

Founded in 1943 by Lev Steinberg, the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra has established a reputation as one of the premier interpreters of the Russian classic composers. Today, the MSSO is led by Pavel Kogan who assumed the positions of Music Director and Chief Conductor in 1989. Since then, the MSSO has steadily expanded its repertoire beyond the classics of Russian and Western symphonic literature to include contemporary compositions from both Russia and abroad.

Electrifying performances, fearless interpretations and musical depth have established violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg as one of the leading violinists of our time. She is also currently the Music Director of the New Century Chamber Orchestra.


Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Méxio
Enrique Bátiz, music director and chief conductor
Irina Chistiakova, piano
Sunday, February 15, 2015 at 3pm
Program: Brahms, Variations on a Theme by Haydn; Ponce, Piano Concerto "Romantic"; Brahms, Symphony No. 1

The world-famous Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Méxio returns to the State Theatre. This is the orchestra's first visit to the United States since 2008. Joining the orchestra for this performance is rising star piano soloist, Irina Chistiakova.

Founded in 1971 by Maestro Enrique Batiz and the State Government of Mexico, the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México aims to promote music as a means of union and identification among Mexicans. A cultural gem of Mexico, the orchestra has recorded a wide range of traditional Mexican and Spanish songs as well as classics by Verdi and Beethoven.


BBC Concert Orchestra
Keith Lockhart, conductor
Charlie Albright, piano
Sunday, April 26, 2015 at 3pm
Program: Ravel, Le Tombeau de Couperin; Ravel, Piano Concerto in G; Walton, March Crown Imperial; Vaughn Williams, Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1, E minor; Britten, Vars and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell (Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, no narrator)

Led by Principal Conductor Keith Lockhart, the BBC Concert Orchestra is one of the UK's most versatile ensembles. It has a wide and flexible repertoire, ranging from classical works and musical theatre to light music and film scores, and appears with a huge range of artists every year. Since 1952 it has been the house orchestra for BBC Radio 2's Friday Night Is Music Night.

In addition to conducting the BBC, Lockhart is the conductor of the Boston Pops, one of the world's most distinguished collections of musicians. Lockhart became the 20th conductor of the Boston Pops in 1995, adding his artistic vision to the Pops tradition established by his predecessors John Williams and Arthur Fiedler.

The State Theatre symphony series is sponsored by The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation.



ALSO COMING SOON...

Salute to Vienna
Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 6pm
Featuring: The Strauss Symphony of America
András Deák, conductor (Budapest)
Sera Gösch, soprano (Vienna)
Alexandru Badea, tenor (Vienna)
and dancers from Kiev-Aniko Ballet of Ukraine featuring International Champion Ballroom Dancers

Celebrating its 9th year at the State Theatre, Salute to Vienna is a festive New Year's concert, featuring a brilliant cast of over 75 musicians, stellar European singers and dancers in beautiful costumes. The NYE program features a light-hearted blend of popular Strauss waltzes, polkas, and famous operetta excerpts from Die Fledermaus, The Merry Widow, and more.

For tickets or more information, call the State Theatre ticket office at 732-246-SHOW (7469), or visit us online at www.StateTheatreNJ.org. The State Theatre ticket office, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10am to 6pm; Wednesday 11am to 7pm; Saturday, 1pm to 5pm; and at least three hours prior to curtain on performance dates, unless otherwise specified. For information on group outings and discounts, call 732-247-7200, ext. 517. Some additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.

State Theatre, a premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment. The theater exists to enrich people's lives, contribute to a vital urban environment, and build future audiences by presenting the finest performing artists and entertainers and fostering lifetime appreciation for the performing arts through education. The State Theatre's programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. The Heldrich is the official hotel of the State Theatre. Magic 98.3 is the official radio station of the State Theatre. The Star-Ledger is the official newspaper of the State Theatre. United is the official airline of the State Theatre.

"TWO SIDES OF LOVE" TO WORLD PREMIERE AT GARDEN STATE FILM FESTIVAL

(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- The World Premiere of Tom Baldinger's Romantic Comedy short film, "Two Sides of Love", will take place during the Garden State Film Festival. The premiere will be held on April 5, 2014 at 5:30pm at the Resorts Casino in Atlantic City, NJ in the Superstar Theatre #4. Tickets are on sale now for $12.00. Just go to www.gsff.org to purchase tickets.


Two Sides of Love was originally a romantic comedy play that premiered at the Roy Aries off-Broadway play in 2011. After its opening the show toured in multiple community theaters in NJ earning three NJACT Perry Award nominations including Best Original Play in 2012. In 2013, Tom Baldinger and his own company, 624 Productions, decided to make the leap into film. The story is about a heartbroken guy who meets a heartbroken girl on a New York City Subway. The question begs, what happened in their own separate lives that brought them to this point and to potentially fall in love?'

The short film stars Ronnie Marmo (General Hospital, West of Brooklyn), Kevin C. Carr (Polar Express) Emily West (NJACT Perry Award Nominee for Best Actress), Debbie Glick and Jen Jacob. 

Tom Baldinger formed 624 Productions LLC to allow gifted writers, actors and producers who are driven to create for both the screen and the stage to work in a collaborative environment. Baldinger is a graduate of Wagner College where he studied Theatre Arts. He has written multiple plays that have premiered off-Brodway New York City such as Last Call 1, Last Call 2 and Triple Play. He is currently working on bringing Triple Play back to the stage where eventually it will make its way to film. He is also directing a comedic web series called The Mid-Lifers which will be released in the Fall of 2014 and is in pre-production on a sitcom called Boys on Tap which he also wrote.

For more information on 624 Productions, visit www.624-productions.com

TWO RIVER THEATRE PRESENTS "PINKOLANDIA"

(RED BANK, NJ) -- Two River Theater Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, continues its 2013/2014 Season with Pinkolandia, a new play written by Andrea Thome and directed by Jose Zayas. Performances will begin in Two River's Marion Huber Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, on Saturday, February 22 and continue through Sunday, March 23. The opening night performance is Friday, February 28 at 8pm. Tickets are available from 732.345.1400 or tworivertheater.org . 


Pinkolandia was introduced to Red Bank audiences as a reading in Two River's 2012 Crossing Borders festival of new Latino plays, and is produced as part of Lark Play Development Center's "Launching New Plays into the Repertoire Initiative" supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The initiative partners also include 16th Street Theater in Chicago, INTAR Theatre in New York, and Salvage Vanguard Theater in Austin. Andrea Thome and Jose Zayas have further developed the play since its first production (at INTAR); Two River's production will run as a 90-minute play without an intermission.

Inspired by playwright Andrea Thome's own family history, Pinkolandia tells the story of two young sisters and their parents (exiled from Chile in the aftermath of the 1973 coup) who have settled in the strange new land of Reagan-era Wisconsin. There, the girls create imaginary worlds to make sense of their family's past, as their parents try to find their own place in the American Dreamknowing that sometimes, when you lose your country, you have to make your own.

"Through the story of these young girls, Beny and Gaby," says Artistic Director John Dias, "audiences are able to experience something that all of usor perhaps our families, or our forefathershave had to do: reconcile our lives in a new land with a sense of home' as a very different place in the past. This is part of the history of who we are as Americans. Andrea Thome has written a very personal, specific play about the story of one Latino family in America, but one that also captures the universal experience of growing up and staking claim to a new story." 

The cast of Pinkolandia includes Varn Ayala (Dad/Kid 3), David Crommett (Tio Ignacio/Polar Bear/Mr. Pittman/Old Man), Maria Helan (Beny), Annie Henk (Mom/Kid 2), Andrea Morales (Gaby), and Gabriel Sloyer (Pepe/Kid 1/Nazi). 

The creative team includes scenic designer Raul Abrego; costume designer sta Bennie Hostetter; lighting designer Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew; sound designer Jane Shaw; and projection designers Alex Koch, Kate Freer & Dave Tennent. The casting is by Zoe E. Rotter and the stage manager is Alison Hassman.

Ticket Information
Ticket prices range from $45 to $65, with discounts available for groups, seniors, and U.S. military personnel, their families, and veterans. Tickets for patrons under 30 are $24 and include the best available seats at every performance. Tickets are available from tworivertheater.org or 732.345.1400.

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Inside Two River -- Inside Two River is a series of events specially curated for each Two River Theater production. For more information or to reserve seats, patrons should visit tworivertheater.org or call 732.345.1400.

Chilean Wine and Tapas Tasting, Sunday, February 23 at 4:45pm in the Victoria J. Mastrobuono Library (following the 3pm performance)
Wines from Chile will be selected and served by The Wine Cellar of Red Bank alongside paired tapas from The Cheese Cave in this celebration of Chilean culture, food, and music. Tickets are $25 per person (only 30 tickets are available for this special event).

Panel Discussion: Launching a New Play into the Repertoire of Great American Theater, Sunday, March 2 at 4:45pm in the Victoria J. Mastrobuono Library (following the 3pm performance)

Pinkolandia's development and how it has resonated in different communities across the countrywill be discussed by playwright Andrea Thome; John Eisner and Lisa Rothe from the Lark Play Development Center; Two River's John Dias; and Artistic Directors Ann Filmer of Chicago's 16th Street Theater, Jenny Larson of Austin's Salvage Vanguard, and Lou Moreno of New York's INTAR Theatre.

Pinkolandia Poetry Slam, Monday, March 3 at 7:00pm in the Victoria J. Mastrobuono Library
Two River Theater is hosting Loser Slam open-mic nights throughout the season. In connection with Pinkolandia, the public is invited to attend to perform their own poems in English or Spanish, or listen to poems performed by others.

Book Club: Maya's Notebook by Isabelle Allende, Sunday, March 9 at 5:00pm in the Victoria Mastrobuono Library (following the 3pm performance)

Literary Manager Anika Chapin will lead a discussion of Maya's Notebook a coming-of-age story by Chilean author Isabel Allende. This suspenseful novel (recommended for our Book Club by playwright Andrea Thome) tells the story of Maya, a troubled 19-year old whose grandmother helps her escape to a remote Chilean island. There, she learns about all aspects of her historypersonal, familial, and culturalusing art and imagination as an outlet for her complex feelings.

Guest Speakers
Throughout the run of Pinkolandia, Two River's Artistic staff will be joined by Guest Speakers from our community, who will share their own insights into the play and take questions from the audience. Visit www.tworivertheater.org for speakers and dates.

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Audience Extras
Before Play and Lobby Display
Audiences will learn about the political history of Chile in the 1970s and '80s in Two River's Before Play lecture series, which takes place in the lobby 45 minutes prior to every performance. A series of lobby display panels will also provide additional background and context.

Accessibility
Working with Google, Two River has created and launched a virtual tour of its facility, which lives on Google Maps and tworivertheater.org . This virtual tour provides an additional level of support and benefit for patrons who use wheelchairs or require other assistance by allowing them to virtually come through the theater's front doors and view the space in detail in advance of their visit.

An audio-described performance is scheduled for Wednesday, March 19 at 1pm; tickets to this performance are offered at the discounted rate of $25 for patrons needing audio description. An open-captioned performance is scheduled for Saturday, March 22 at 3pm. Tickets to this performance are offered at the discounted rate of $25 for patrons needing open captions. To reserve wheelchair-accessible seating or tickets for a performance listed above, patrons should call 732.345.1400.

GEORGE STREET PRESENTS "I LOVED, I LOST, I MADE SPAGHETTI"

(New Brunswick, NJ) -- George Street Playhouse is always on the lookout for new plays that engage the mind and touch the heart. The next play up on the New Brunswick theatre's schedule will also engage the sense of taste as well, as I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti plays at George Street beginning March 11. Adapted by Jacques LeMarre from Giulia Melucci's memoir of the same name, the play stars Antoinette LaVecchia recounting stories of life and love - all the while preparing a three-course Italian meal, which is served to a few lucky audience members seated on stage.


I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti begins cooking on the New Brunswick stage, March 11 and runs through April 6. Opening night is set for Friday, March 14. Tickets, beginning at $20, are now available through the George Street Playhouse Box Office 732-246-7717 or online at www.GSPonline.org . A limited number of onstage seats are also available on a first-come-first-served basis from $74-$102 (price varies based on performance); on-stage seating includes being served the three-course meal (antipasto, pasta and dessert) with wine. George Street Playhouse is located at 9 Livingston Avenue in the center of New Brunswick's vibrant downtown, steps away from myriad restaurants for every palate and pocketbook. Visit the Playhouse website, www.GSPonline.org to help plan your visit.
The world (or rather, the kitchen) of the play is being created by scenic designer John Coyne; costume designer Alejo Vietti; lighting designer John Lasiter and sound design by Jacques Lemarre.

I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti follows the romantic misadventures and culinary triumphs of Giulia Melucci. In this one-woman show, audiences are treated to tales of good food and bad boyfriends. Giulia is a single New Yorker who really knows how to deliver in the one room where it counts - the kitchen. Publishing pro by day and domestic diva by night, she knows how to whip up mouth-watering Italian cuisine. Unfortunately, her prowess with pasta is not matched by her taste in men. Featuring a complete meal prepared onstage and served to a few lucky ticket-holders, this heartwarming hilarious cook-in answers the question, "Is the cure for a broken heart...pasta?"


ANTOINETTE LaVECCHIA Broadway: A View From The Bridge (Cort). Off Broadway: A World Apart (The Flea); How To Be A Good Italian Daughter (in spite of myself) (Cherry Lane); The Bottle House (The Public Theater); Puccini: A Composer's Journey (Carnegie Hall); String of Pearls (Primary Stages); Magic Hands Freddy (Soho Playhouse); Kimberly Akimbo (Manhattan Theater Club); The Sweepers (Urban Stages); The Tempest (Lincoln Center Institute). Regional: Kimberly Akimbo, Laramie Project(Hartford TheaterWorks - CT Critics Circle Award)You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up! (National Tour); Superior Donuts (Pittsburgh Public Theater); Heartbreak House (Two River); Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare on the Sound); The Little Dog Laughed (Portland Center Stage); Tough Titty (Williamstown); On The Razzle (Wilma). Film / TV: Lily of the Feast (short), The Face (short), The David Dance, Delirious, Jesus' Son, The Sopranos, Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU, Guiding Light, One Life To Live. Education: MFA, NYU; Moscow Art Theater. Awards: Fox Fellowship, Anna Sosenko Assist Trust Grant and Drama League Directing Fellowship. Teaching: NYU Graduate Acting, The Actor's Center. Antoinette is currently preparing her second original piece, Village Stories, about the small Italian village in which she was born.

JACQUES LAMARRE (Playwright) Writing: Jacques Lamarre Has Gone Too Far (Hole in the Wall Theatre), Gray Matters (Emerson Theatre Collaborative, Midtown International Theatre Festival), Stool (New Works New Britain, New York 15-minute Play Festival finalist), The Family Plan (libretto for short opera by Phillip Martin, Hartford Opera Theatre), Rapunzel and The Pied Piper of Hamelin (American Stage Festival). Co-writer for international drag diva Varla Jean Merman's touring comedy shows including Girl with a Pearl Necklace, I'm Not Paying for This, Anatomically Incorrect, Victory Lapdance, VJM Loves a Foreign Tongue, Varla Jean & The Mushroomheads, The Loose Chanteuse, The Book of Merman, and their 2012 collaboration, Topping Myself. Film / TV: co-writer for feature film Varla Jean & The Mushroomheads (Provincetown, New York, Seattle, Atlanta, Connecticut and San Francisco Frameline Festival selection); Fleet Enemas - two online commercials (Seriously. They are on YouTube). Theatre Administration: Sales, marketing and communications work for American Stage Festival, Hartford Stage, Yale Repertory Theatre/Yale School of Drama, and TheaterWorks. Jacques is currently the Director of Communications and Special Projects for The Mark Twain House & Museum and a theatre critic for the Manchester Journal-Inquirer and BroadwayWorld.com .

ROB RUGGIERO (Director) Is currently Producing Artistic Director at Hartford TheaterWorks, where he has directed more than forty productions including HIGH, Take Me Out, Lobby Hero, Rabbit Hole, and The Little Dog Laughed; he also conceived, developed and directed Ella (starring Tina Fabrique) playing regional theaters nationwide since 2005. Broadway: Looped (starring Valerie Harper in a Tony Award nominated performance); HIGH (starring Kathleen Turner). Off-Broadway: All Under Heaven (also starring Valerie Harper), as well as conceiving and directing the original musical revue Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn (Drama Desk / Outer Critics Circle Nominations). Regional: Rob has been recognized nationally for directing both plays and musicals. His work has been seen at major regional theatres around the country, including: Arena Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Guthrie Theater, The Pittsburgh Public Theater, and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. For Goodspeed Musicals, Rob directed 1776, Big River, Camelot, Annie Get Your Gun, Show Boat and Carousel.

GIULIA MELUCCI (Author) was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York where she still lives, but in a more fashionable neighborhood. She is the deputy director of public relations at Vanity Fair and has previously worked at Harper's Magazine, Spy Magazine, domino, Atlantic Monthly Press, Viking, Dutton and Scribner. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1988. I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti, her first book, has been published in Australia, Holland, Germany, Poland, Brazil, and Turkey, as well as in The United States.


Under the leadership of Artistic Director David Saint, George Street Playhouse has become a nationally recognized theatre, presenting an acclaimed mainstage season while providing an artistic home for established and emerging theatre artists. Founded in 1974, the Playhouse has been well represented by numerous productions both on and off-Broadway - recent productions include the Outer Critics' Circle Best Musical Award-winner The Toxic Avenger, the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Drama League nominated production of The Spitfire Grill and the recent Broadway hit and Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning play Proof by David Auburn, which was developed at GSP during the 1999 Next Stage Series of new plays. In addition to its mainstage season, GSP's Touring Theatre features four issue-oriented productions that are seen by more than 40,000 students annually. George Street Playhouse programming is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti is made possible in part through the generous support of The Karma Foundation.

FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS HEADLINE STATE THEATRE 25TH ANNIVERSARY BENEFIT GALA

(New Brunswick, NJ) -- State Theatre presents Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons for the State Theatre's 25th Anniversary Benefit Gala on Saturday, May 17, 2014. Concert tickets range from $55-$250. Benefit Gala tickets are $650. For Benefit Gala tickets please call 732-247-7200, ext. 543.


"We are thrilled to have New Jersey's own, Frankie Valli, one of America's treasured artists, return to the State Theatre for this very special Anniversary Benefit Gala," said Mark W. Jones, State Theatre President & CEO. 

The Gala festivities begin at 5pm at The Heldrich Hotel and the performance will begin at 6pm. In addition to the concert, Gala guests will enjoy a reception, dinner with reserved seating, open bar, dancing, and live entertainment. The Benefit Gala, the State Theatre's biggest annual event, underwrites the State Theatre's artistically acclaimed programming and nationally recognized education programs. A portion of each ticket price represents a tax-deductible contribution to the State Theatre.

The State Theatre Benefit Gala Corporate Honoree is Boraie Development. Boraie Development is a family owned business located in New Brunswick that focuses on urban real estate development, property management and real estate marketing statewide. Both the business and the individual family members have been contributors to the State Theatre for many years. In 2005, Boraie Development donated the funds to create a Donor Lounge that the theater uses to host high-level donors and corporate guests.

This year's Leadership in the Arts awards will be presented to The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation and the J. Seward Johnson, Sr. 1963 Charitable Trust. The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation supports a variety of projects, largely based in the area of classical programming. The Foundation is the single greatest contributor to the State Theatre's Symphony Series, which has flourished because of the Foundation's support.

The J. Seward Johnson, Sr. 1963 Charitable Trust is a foundation that has supported many special initiatives at the State Theatre. Much of their funding has helped keep the theater up-to-date with the ever changing technologies of our world.

In addition, a special award for this anniversary year, the Silver Anniversary Honoree, will be presented to Johnson & Johnson for their unwavering support of the arts community and New Brunswick. Johnson & Johnson played a major role in the theater's re-opening as a performing arts center in 1988, and has remained a loyal supporter each and every year.
The 25th Anniversary Gala Co-Chairs are Doug and Diane Garback of PrudentialThe Garback Agency with support from Vice-Chairs Scott Fergang of RBC Wealth Management and Richard T. McDonald of Johnson & Johnson.

About the Gala Artist
A true American legend, Frankie Valli's incredible career with The Four Seasons, as well as his solo success, has spawned countless hit singles including "Sherry," "Walk Like A Man," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Rag Doll," "December 63 Oh What A Night," and "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You." Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons have sold over 100 million records worldwide.

Valli's long-lasting career has led to the overwhelming success of the Broadway musical JERSEY BOYS, which chronicles Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons incredible career and features all of their greatest hits. The JERSEY BOYS juggernaut has now been seen by over 18 million people worldwide and has won four Tony Awards including Best Musical (2006).

In 2014, Frankie Valli's life story will once again be featured. This time in the film adaptation of JERSEY BOYS, directed by Academy Award-winning director Clint Eastwood.
For tickets or more information, call the State Theatre ticket office at 732-246-SHOW (7469), or visit us online at www.StateTheatreNJ.org . The State Theatre ticket office, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10am to 6pm; Wednesday 11am to 7pm; Saturday, 1pm to 5pm; and at least three hours prior to curtain on performance dates, unless otherwise specified. For information on group outings and discounts, call 732-247-7200, ext. 517. Some additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.

State Theatre, a premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment. The theater exists to enrich people's lives, contribute to a vital urban environment, and build future audiences by presenting the finest performing artists and entertainers and fostering lifetime appreciation for the performing arts through education. The State Theatre's programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. The Heldrich is the official hotel of the State Theatre. Magic 98.3 is the official radio station of the State Theatre. The Star-Ledger is the official newspaper of the State Theatre. United is the official airline of the State Theatre.

AN UNPREDICTABLE EVENING WITH TODD RUNDGREN

(Newton, NJ) -- Todd Rundgren, who performed to a sold out house at the grand opening of the newly renovated Newton Theatre in September 2011, will make a triumphant return on Saturday, March 22nd at 8:00 pm. 


Todd Rundgren is a prolific songwriter, instrumentalist and rock n' roll maverick. He is a pioneer in electronic music, prog rock and music video. His 1972 album Something/Anything was certified gold. His best known songs are classic rock and pop gems including I Saw the Light, Hello It's Me, Can We Still Be Friends, and the novelty Bang on the Drum All Day.
He has released many albums as a solo artist and with his band Utopia. During the 1970s and 80s Rundgren produced or engineered acclaimed albums for other acts as diverse as Badfinger, The Band, Grand Funk Railroad, Meat Loaf, the New York Dolls and XTC. 

Given such an extensive catalog, it's not surprising that there's a vast variety of styles within Rundgren's music. Therefore, more often than not, the singles from each record do not offer an accurate indication of what the remainder of the album sounds like. Such an approach has great appeal for his ferociously dedicated fans.

Tickets for an Unpredictable Evening with Todd Rundgren are $64.00 for Premium seating, $54.00 for the Orchestra and $44.00 for the Balcony. Purchase tickets by visiting www.thenewtontheatre.com or contact the Box Office at 973-383-3700. 

The historic Newton Theatre, located at 234 Spring Street in Newton, NJ, was founded in 1924. Revitalized and fully renovated, Sussex County's premier entertainment venue reopened in 2011 as a 605 seat capacity live performing arts center. With it's rich history and diverse programming The Newton Theatre is essential to the buoyancy of New Jersey's Skylands region. More information about The Newton Theatre may be found by calling 973-383-3700 or by visiting its website at www.TheNewtonTheatre.com .

NORTHFIELD BANK FOUNDATION TO FUND TWO PLAYWRITING RESIDENCIES IN RAHWAY

(UNION, NJ) -- Premiere Stages, the professional theatre company in residence at Kean University, is excited to announce two new playwriting residencies in Rahway. Funding from the Northfield Bank Foundation has enabled Premiere Stages to return to Rahway 7th and 8th Grade Academy for an eight week in-school playwriting residency in 2014. The foundation will also fund a second residency with 6th grade students at Rahway's Roosevelt Elementary School.


Premiere Stages residencies are specifically designed to support classroom learning objectives and are designed to support the Common Core Curriculum, reinforcing literacy skills, encouraging creativity and collaboration, and bolstering student self-esteem. Professional teaching artists work closely with classroom teachers to specifically tailor each residency to the needs of the students. The upcoming 7th grade residency will align with the Literary Arts class studying Agatha Christie's masterful whodunit, And Then There Were None, while the 6th grade program at Roosevelt will center on the social studies unit studying Ancient Egypt. Over the course of seven weeks, students will learn the basics of playwriting and collaborate to write original short works for the stage. Both residencies will culminate in late March with an in-school presentation of student-written work by a cast of professional actors. 

"We are thrilled that the Northfield Bank Foundation is sponsoring our return to Rahway," said Premiere Stages Producing Associate Clare Drobot. "Increased funding will afford Premiere the opportunity to place teaching artists in multiple schools, expanding the pool of students served through the project."

The residencies are just one facet of Premieres larger educational initiative, known as the Play Factory. Play Factory programming also includes the New Jersey Young Playwrights Festival, a statewide contest in partnership with Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey that showcases the work of New Jersey students ages 8 and up, and the Play Factory Performance Series, an annual summer performance series featuring dynamic, professional theatre presentations designed specifically for young audiences.

Premiere Stages is made possible in part through funding from The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, The Shubert Foundation, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The Northfield Bank Foundation, The New Jersey Historical Commission, The Provident Bank Foundation, The Hudson City Savings Bank Foundation, Union County HEART Grants, The Hyde and Watson Foundation, The Union Foundation, E.J. Grassmann Trust, The New Jersey Theatre Alliance and through the generous support of individual patrons. Discover Jersey Arts is our marketing partner. Visit www.JerseyArts.com for more information about other arts programming happening around the Garden State.


Premiere Stages offers affordable prices, air-conditioned facilities and free parking close to the theatre. Premiere Stages also provides free or discounted tickets to patrons with disabilities. All Premiere Stages facilities are fully accessible spaces, and companion seating is available for patrons with disabilities. Assistive listening devices and large print programs are available at all times; publications in alternate formats are available with advanced notice. Please call (908) 737-4092 for a list of sign-interpreted, audio-described or open-captioned performances. For more information, visit Premiere Stages online at www.kean.edu/premierestages.

EDDIE IZZARD COMES TO NJPAC

(NEWARK, NJ) -- Eddie Izzard will bring his massive Force Majeure world tour to the U.S., visiting 32 cities through the spring, including a stop at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on May 7. 


Launched in March of 2013, the Force Majeure tour will take Izzard to 25 countries on five continents. From Cardiff to Kathmandu and Moscow to Mumbai, Force Majeure will play throughout Europe, Africa, Russia, the U.K., Canada, the U.S., India, Nepal, The Far East and Australia. Izzard recently completed runs in France performing entirely in French and in Berlin performing entirely in German.

One of the most acclaimed comedians of his generation, Izzard's unique, tangential, absurd, and surreal comic narratives are lauded for their creativity and wit, earning him a New York Drama Desk Award and two Emmys for Dress to Kill, two British Comedy Awards for Top Stand-Up Comedian, and an Olivier Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement.

In the U.S., Izzard is the first solo stand-up comedian to perform at the Hollywood Bowl; has sold-out three consecutive nights at Radio City Music Hall and toured arenas throughout the U.S. including a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden.

On TV, Izzard most recently guest starred in the series, Hannibal, on NBC. He starred in and served as a producer on the critically acclaimed FX Network Show, The Riches, opposite Minnie Driver, guest starred in the final season of Showtime's United States of Tara, and his 2010 documentary, Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story, received an Emmy nomination.

His long list of film and stage credits includes Valkyrie opposite Tom Cruise, Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Twelve and Ocean's Thirteen opposite George Clooney and Brad Pitt, David Mamet's Race and The Cryptogram, the title role in Marlowe's Edward II, and A Day in the Death of Joe Egg in London and on Broadway which won him a handful of awards, including a Tony nomination for Best Actor. 

"Sheer Comic Genius. He is the most brilliant stand-up comedian of his generation." - The New York Times

"The funniest man in, well, pretty much all of the known universe"- The Los Angeles Times

"The greatest British standup comedian of his generation" The London Sunday Times

"A national treasure" - The Guardian

80'S ROCKERS THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS COMING TO THE NEWTON THEATRE

(Newton, NJ) -- 80's New Wave Rockers The Psychedelic Furs will perform at the Newton Theatre on Thursday, April 10th, 2014. The Psychedelic Furs, led by vocalist and songwriter Richard Butler, and his bass-wielding brother Tim, won over fans and critics alike by combining poetic lyrics, innovative rhythms and melodies driven by an aggressive, punk desperation. The band scored major hits with Love My Way, Pretty In Pink, Heaven, The Ghost In You, and Heartbreak Beat and released seven studio albums, spawning several compilations, a boxed set, and a live concert DVD.


The Furs debut, a self-titled album from 1980, quickly established the band at radio in Europe and was a top 20 hit in the UK. The album also found success in Germany, Italy, France, Spain, New Zealand and Australia.

The Furs found success in the US with their next release, 1981's Talk Talk Talk, which saw the band making its debut on the US album charts. In the UK, the album charted the original version of Pretty in Pink, which served as inspiration for the 1986 John Hughes film of the same name, and was re-recorded for the film's platinum-selling soundtrack.

In 1982, the Furs recorded Forever Now, with producer Todd Rundgren in Woodstock, New York. This album included hit Love My Way. The Furs' 1984 release Mirror Moves featured the songs Heaven and smash hit The Ghost in You. 

By the mid-80s, the band had become a staple on both U.S. college and modern rock radio stations. Simultaneously, they were experiencing consistent mainstream success, placing several singles in the pop charts on both sides of the Atlantic.

Their album Midnight to Midnight, featured the single Heartbreak Beat, which became the Psychedelic Furs biggest Top 40 hit. The album also featured drummer Paul Garisto and sax player Mars Williams, both of whom continue to tour with the band.

The band went on extended hiatus in the early 1990s. After spending most of the decade apart, the Butlers reignited The Psychedelic Furs in 2000, and released a live album Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live. Since then, lead singer Richard Butler has released an eponymous solo album produced by Jon Carin, and has hinted at the possibility of a new Psychedelic Furs album.

Currently, the band continues to tour around the world. The Psychedelic Furs touring lineup remains Richard Butler (vocals), Tim Butler (bass), Rich Good (guitar), Mars Williams (saxophone), Amanda Kramer (keyboards), and Paul Garisto (drums).

Tickets for the Psychedelic Furs are $44.00 for Premium seating, $39.00 for the Orchestra and $34.00 for the Balcony. Purchase tickets by visiting www.thenewtontheatre.com or contact the Box Office at 973-383-3700. 


The historic Newton Theatre, located at 234 Spring Street in Newton, NJ, was founded in 1924. Revitalized and fully renovated, Sussex County's premier entertainment venue reopened in 2011 as a 605 seat capacity live performing arts center. With it's rich history and diverse programming The Newton Theatre is essential to the buoyancy of New Jersey's Skylands region. More information about The Newton Theatre may be found by calling 973-383-3700 or by visiting its website at www.TheNewtonTheatre.com .

SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY AND THE ASBURY JUKES MAKE STATE THEATRE DEBUT!

(New Brunswick, NJ) -- State Theatre presents Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 8pm in their State Theatre debut! Loaded with the driving sound of the legendary Jukes horn section, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes expound their signature Jersey Shore sound with their high-energy shows and no-holds-barred songs including I Dont Wanna Go Home," "Havin' a Party," Talk to Me," and This Time Its For Real." Tickets range from $35-65.


Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes first achieved prominence in the mid-1970s, emerging from the same New Jersey Shore music scene as his now legendary contemporary and friend Bruce Springsteen. Southsides first three albums, I Dont Want To Go Home, This Time Its for Real, and Hearts of Stone, were produced by band co-founder Steven Van Zandt (E Street Band, The Sopranos), and largely featured songs written by Van Zandt and/or Springsteen. The Van Zandt-written I Dont Want To Go Home" became Southsides signature song, an evocative mixture of horn-based melodic riffs and sentimental lyrics.

For tickets or more information, call the State Theatre ticket office at 732-246-SHOW (7469), or visit us online at www.StateTheatreNJ.org . The State Theatre ticket office, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10am to 6pm; Wednesday 11am to 7pm; Saturday 1pm to 5pm; and at least three hours prior to curtain on performance dates unless otherwise specified. For information on group outings and discounts, call 732-247-7200, ext. 517. Some additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.


State Theatre, a premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment. The theater exists to enrich peoples lives, contribute to a vital urban environment, and build future audiences by presenting the finest performing artists and entertainers and fostering lifetime appreciation for the performing arts through education. The State Theatres programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. The Heldrich is the official hotel of the State Theatre. Magic 98.3 is the official radio station of the State Theatre. The Star-Ledger is the official newspaper of the State Theatre. United is the official airline of the State Theatre.

THE WORLD'S GREATEST EAGLES TRIBUTE BAND EAGLEMANIA COMES TO NEWTON

(Newton, NJ) -- In a tribute to the legendary Eagles, EagleMania will perform at the Newton Theatre on Saturday, April 5th, 2014. The music of the Eagles, with the combination of heartfelt ballads, rock anthems and the unmistakable sound of vocal harmonies as only the Eagles can do, has propelled the band for the past four decades, positioning them as one of the most successful and popular bands in music history. And now EagleMania performs all of their hits replicating the Eagles' sound leaving fans with an experience that they do not soon forget.


Their set list consists of the best of the Eagles catalog including such monster hits as The Long Run, Witchy Woman, Take it Easy, Best of My Love, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Tequila Sunrise, Already Gone, Take It To The Limit, One of These Nights, Life in The Fast Lane, Boys of Summer, I Can't Tell You Why, In the City, Heartache Tonight, Dirty Laundry, Desperado, Hotel California, Victim of Love, Lying Eyes, Life's Been Good and many more much-loved songs from one of the greatest rock bands of all time!

Formed in 2010, EagleMania has emerged as a major act throughout the East Coast, performing to sold out audiences everywhere they go. In addition to Eagles hits, they also perform the great songs of Don Henley, Glen Frey, and Joe Walsh. The band consists of an ensemble of veteran musicians whose goal is to faithfully reproduce the Eagle's repertoire, music they love to sing and play, always committed to giving their audience aperfectshow every time they take the stage. People often remark that if they closed their eyes they would think they were listening to the actual Eagles live in concert.

Tickets for Eaglemania are $29.00 for the Orchestra and $24.00 for the Balcony. Tickets for this performance will go on sale on Friday, November 22nd at 11:00 am. Purchase tickets by visiting www.thenewtontheatre.com or contact the Box Office at 973-383-3700. 


The historic Newton Theatre, located at 234 Spring Street in Newton, NJ, was founded in 1924. Revitalized and fully renovated, Sussex County's premier entertainment venue reopened in 2011 as a 605 seat capacity live performing arts center. With it's rich history and diverse programming The Newton Theatre is essential to the buoyancy of New Jersey's Skylands region. More information about The Newton Theatre may be found by calling 973-383-3700 or by visiting its website at www.TheNewtonTheatre.com .

NJPAC AND TWO RIVER THEATER PARTNER TO PRESENT "THE MUSIC MAN"

(NEWARK AND RED BANK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (President and CEO, John Schreiber) and Two River Theater (Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst) announced today a new collaboration that will bring a concert version of Meredith Willson's The Music Man, performed by an African-American cast, to audiences in both Newark and Red Bank, New Jersey.


The Music Man will be directed by NAACP and Obie Award-winning director Robert O'Hara (Danai Guiria and Nikkole Salter's In the Continuum and Danai Guiria's Eclipsed; Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brother/Sister Plays (Part 2) at McCarter Theatre and The Public Theater) with music direction by Kenny Seymour (Broadway's Tony Award-winning Best Musical Memphis).

Willson's The Music Man won the 1957 Tony Award for Best Musical and the first Grammy Award for Best Original Cast Album. It tells the story of con man Harold Hill, who falls for piano teacher Marian Paroo ("Marian the Librarian") while introducing the conservative townsfolk of the community of River City, Iowa, to passion and music during the summer of 1912.

In O'Hara's staging, River City will be an African-American town, based on historical accounts of black communities established by former slaves across the United States, including in Iowa, after the Civil War. There will be six performances at Two River Theater in Red Bank from March 13-16 and four performances at NJPAC in Newark from March 21-23.
The musical will be performed by an ensemble of 12 actors. Seymour will lead a six-piece on-stage band. Casting will be announced at a later date.

"NJPAC is thrilled to launch a collaboration with Two River Theater with one of the most beloved musicals of all time, especially through this fresh new take by Robert O'Hara," says John Schreiber, President and CEO of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, who initiated the partnership between the two organizations. "Both NJPAC and Two River are dedicated to engaging our respective communities through diverse programming, and I can't wait to hear Meredith Willson's great score performed by a fantastic cast of African-American theater talents."

John Dias, Artistic Director of Two River Theater, says "As a playwrightand go-to director of others' original workRobert O'Hara brings to life the too-often-untold stories of African Americans in ways that are dynamic and highly theatrical. He's also got a great love of American theater traditionsparticularly musicalsthat he approaches with an equal measure of reverence and sassiness. We are excited to see this great American classic through his inimitable lens."

"The New Jersey Theatre Alliance is thrilled to see this wonderful collaboration between our member theatre, Two River Theater, and NJPAC," says Executive Director John McEwen. "This event is just one more example of Two River's commitment to finding new and innovative approaches to theater, and we are proud of our partnership with these two organizations, and delighted that The Music Man will be a part of our annual Stages Festival." 

The Stages Festivalthe New Jersey Theater Alliance's largest public programtakes place every March and includes discounted and/or free tickets to performances, workshops and events all over New Jersey, with a wide variety of programming for all ages. 

Performance Schedule and Ticket Information
Meredith Willson's The Music Man
Book, Music and Lyrics by Meredith Willson
Story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey
Concert Adaptation by Evans Haile
Performances in NJPAC's Victoria Theater take place Friday, March 21 at 8pm; Saturday, March 22 at 3pm and 8pm; Sunday, March 23 at 8pm. Tickets, on sale now, are $59.50 and $69.50 and can be purchased at www.njpac.org , by calling 1-888-GO-NJPAC or by visiting the box office at One Center Street in Downtown Newark. These performances have been made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and by Discover Jersey Arts.

Performances in Two River's Rechnitz Theater are Thursday, March 13 at 8pm; Friday, March 14 at 8pm; Saturday, March 15 at 3pm and 8pm; and Sunday, March 16 at 3pm and 7pm. Tickets starting at $20 are available from 732.345.1400 or www.tworivertheater.org . $20 tickets may be partial view. 

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States. It is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jerseywhere great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. As New Jersey's Town Square, NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the State's and the world's best artists, while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted over seven million visitors (including more than one million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. Visit www.njpac.org or call 1-888-GO-NJPAC for more information.


Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, is celebrating its 20th Anniversary of creating great American theater by developing and producing new works and world masterpieces. We cultivate an audience that cherishes the intimate joy of theater, enriched when shared by a community of others. Two River Theater supports adventurous theater artists and the development of new work making a sustained investment in the creative process, and cultivates a new generation of theatergoers through arts education programs. Two River Theater is a member of the League of Resident Theaters (LORT), Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, and ArtPride New Jersey, and has been designated a "Major Arts Institution" by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. For more information, visit tworivertheater.org or call 732.345.1400.

BEARDS: THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT AT THE MORRIS MUSEUM

(Morristown, NJ) This November, an exhibition that is sure to "grow" your appreciation of facial hair opens at the Morris Museum. Beards: The Long and Short of It will be on view from November 23, 2013 through March 30, 2014.


Featuring more than 100 objects, Beards: The Long and Short of It will explore men's facial hair trends throughout history. Through artwork and artifacts, this engaging exhibition will take visitors back in time to investigate the tools of the trade and consider the cultural meanings associated with different facial hair trends.

Originated by the Morris Museum, the exhibition will include photographs by contemporary artists Matt Rainwaters and Greg Anderson. Rainwaters, an artist based in Austin, Texas, created portraits of hirsute men during the 2009 World Beard and Moustache Championship. He says of his experience, "there was an odd mixture of competition and camaraderie: these men had grown and cultivated their facial hair to excess for most of their lives and they were fiercely committed to the art of grooming."

Working in a similar fashion, Greg Anderson, a commercial artist based in Las Vegas, captured the portraits of competitors in this year's championship competition. Using a medium-format camera, a few lights and a simple backdrop, he depicted the personalities of these dedicated beard-wearers in technically pristine photos.

Special Program
In association with the exhibition, the Morris Museum is offering special programming for visitors. For more information, please email programs@morrismuseum.org or call 973.371.3706.

Night of Bourbon and Beards
Thursday, February 27 at 6:30pm
$35 in advance / $40 at the door

About the Morris Museum
Celebrating 100 years, the Morris Museum is an award-winning, community-based arts and cultural institution which serves the public through high caliber exhibitions in the arts, sciences and humanities. The Museum also offers educational programs, family events, and is home to the Bickford Theatre and its wide range of performing arts offerings. Continuously serving the public since 1913, the Morris Museum has been designated a Major Arts Institution and has received the New Jersey State Council on the Arts' Citation of Excellence, among other awards. The first museum in New Jersey to be accredited, the Morris Museum was re-accredited in 2013 by the American Alliance of Museums.
The Morris Museum is a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active duty military personnel and their families, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The Museum is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road (at the corner of Columbia Turnpike) in Morristown, NJ, and is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday, 12:00 to 5:00pm. In addition, the Museum is open evenings from 5:00 to 8:00pm on the second and third Thursday of the month. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults and $7 for children, students and senior citizens. Admission is always free for Museum members. Every second and third Thursday of the month between 4:00 and 8:00pm, the Museum offers visitors the opportunity to Pay What You Wish. For more information, call (973) 971-3700, or visit www.morrismuseum.org .

AN EVENING OF SPIRIT WITH JAMES VAN PRAAGH

(Newton, NJ) -- James Van Praagh, New York TImes Best-Selling Author, Talk Show Host, Television Producer, and World Renowned Spiritual Medium, will appear at the Newton Theatre on Friday, April 11th, 2014. 


Internationally renowned #1 New York Times Best Selling Author of Talking to Heaven, Reaching to Heaven, Healing Grief, Heaven and Earth, and others; James is considered a pioneer in the mediumship movement throughout the world, and has been recognized as one of the most accurate spiritual mediums working today. His messages have brought solace, peace and spiritual insights, changing millions view of both life and death. He has received many awards for dedicating himself to changing the consciousness of the planet. A guest on mostly every national radio and television show including Oprah, Larry King Live, Dr. Phil, A & E's Biography, Nightline, Unsolved Mysteries, The View, The Today Show, and many more. 

He has also been a very successful producer including the most viewed mini-series in network history, Living with the Dead, starring Ted Danson portraying James in a biography of his life. He also produced The Dead Will Tell, starring Eva Longoria. Most recently, he developed, co-created and produced one of the most successful series seen on a Friday night, Ghost Whisperer starring Jennifer Love Hewitt. It is currently seen in over four hundred markets around the world and has launched a worldwide interest in the phenomenon of ghost-hunting. 

During his career, his reputation and profession have seen him work with International Heads of State, religious world leaders and entertainment celebrities such as Cher, Goldie Hawn, Shirley Maclaine, Ellen DeGeneres, Joan Rivers, Katie Couric, Loretta Lynn, Chelsea Handler, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Wesley Snipes, and many more. He is famous for bringing through evidential details from many famous deceased personalities like Marilyn Monroe, Rock Hudson, Frank Sinatra, Roy Orbison, Lucille Ball, Andrew Carnegie, Liberace, Princess Diana, Michael Jackson, Johnny Carson, Ghandi, Edgar Cayce, Benjamin Franklin and even Abraham Lincoln. This proves the standard and the versatility of his abilities.
Van Praagh was born in Bayside, New York. As a child, he remembers having a tremendous fascination with cemeteries and death. Wanting to serve God, entered a pre-seminary at the age of fourteen. One day as he was in prayer, he heard a spirit voice whisper very clearly in his ear: God is much bigger than these four walls; you must leave and find God outside in the world." It was at that moment, that his interest in organized religion ended, and his journey of spirituality began.

Graduating from public high school, he continued to pursue his studies and later graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in Broadcasting and Communications. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles where he became involved in metaphysics and psychic phenomena.

At age 24, Van Praagh was invited to attend a session with a medium. At the time he had no idea of exactly what a medium was; he was understandably dubious when the medium informed him, that he would become the voice of the Spirit World within two years. "My first reaction was, I have enough trouble dealing with the living; why do I want to talk to the dead?" 

After the session with the medium Van Praagh began a regular regiment of daily meditation; the more he meditated the more sensitive he became and eventually was able to "see" colors around people and know instinctively their emotional and physical state of mind. As Van Praagh's sensitivity increased, he began doing psychic readings for friends. During these readings, he began receiving detailed messages from the beyond. Though at first this seemed bizarre, the more he learned, the more he could not deny the fact that the medium's prediction given two years earlier had indeed come true. He now was able to clearly pierce the veil separating the two worlds of life. Today, Van Praagh is recognized as one of the most notable and influential Mediums in the world. 

Van Praagh spends his days traveling the world, teaching mediumship development classes, hosting cruises to spiritual destinations, and conducting sold-out seminars. He takes pride in having built a web site that encourages spiritual learning, grief support and friendships through its many online communities, resources and activities. "The books, live stream events, seminars, classes, web site, social media outlets and television projects are ways to share my abilities and the message that there is no such thing as death, it is merely an illusion, and everyone survives death!

Tickets for James Van Praagh are $69.00 for Premium seating, $59.00 for the Orchestra and $49.00 for the Balcony. Tickets for this performance will go on sale on Friday, November 8th at 11:00 am. Purchase tickets by visiting www.thenewtontheatre.com or contact the Box Office at 973-383-3700. 

The historic Newton Theatre, located at 234 Spring Street in Newton, NJ, was founded in 1924. Revitalized and fully renovated, Sussex County's premier entertainment venue reopened in 2011 as a 605 seat capacity live performing arts center. With it's rich history and diverse programming The Newton Theatre is essential to the buoyancy of New Jersey's Skylands region. More information about The Newton Theatre may be found by calling 973-383-3700 or by visiting its website at www.TheNewtonTheatre.com .

KATHY MATTEA "CALLING ME HOME" AT THE NEWTON THEATRE

(Newton, NJ) -- Grammy award-winner Kathy Mattea will perform at the Newton Theatre on Sunday, March 30th, 2014. 


APPALACHIAN: of a wild and beautiful mountain land, a genre of distinctly American music, and for many, the deep roots of family. For Kathy Mattea, it also represents an essential piece of her musical education and heritage.

Calling Me Home is Kathy's new release on Sugar Hill Records, co-produced with multi-Grammy-winner Gary Paczosa. It's a collection of songs that celebrates the Appalachian culture of her native West Virginia, and expands the vocabulary of acoustic roots music that has always served as her artistic center.

Kathy has gathered songs and stories of bravery, pride and grief that further define and describe the life and times of her home place. 2008's Grammy nominated COAL was her first step to discovering this vast and rich genre of music that producer Marty Stuart allowed was "in her blood," taking her back to the lore of family stories and to her place and her people.

Kathy's concerts present her new and most recent material alongside her Top 20 radio hits, from the signature ballad Where've You Been? to the bluesy 455 Rocket to the iconic Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses. Long known as an impeccable songcatcher, her 17 albums are woven through with bluegrass, gospel, and Celtic influences, and have garnered multiple CMA, ACM, and Grammy Awards.

Increasingly in demand as a public speaker, Kathy regularly presents keynotes and educational programs at colleges and civic venues across the country, both as a stand-alone and in conjunction with concert appearances. Her long history of activism has led Kathy to bring public attention to several current environmental issues, including climate change and some mining practices in her native Appalachia.

Tickets for Kathy Mattea are $44.00 for Premium seating, $39.00 for the Orchestra and $34.00 for the Balcony. Tickets for this performance will go on sale on Friday, November 8th at 11:00 am. Purchase tickets by visiting www.thenewtontheatre.com or contact the Box Office at 973-383-3700. 


The historic Newton Theatre, located at 234 Spring Street in Newton, NJ, was founded in 1924. Revitalized and fully renovated, Sussex County's premier entertainment venue reopened in 2011 as a 605 seat capacity live performing arts center. With it's rich history and diverse programming The Newton Theatre is essential to the buoyancy of New Jersey's Skylands region. More information about The Newton Theatre may be found by calling 973-383-3700 or by visiting its website at www.TheNewtonTheatre.com .