Jersey Arts Podcast

Even those who don’t know the name Hoagy Carmichael certainly know his songs. The composer behind “Heart and Soul,” “Georgia on my Mind,” “The Nearness of you,” and “Stardust” is celebrated through the musical "Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust Road." With only one previous professional production, the musical will find new audiences this September as part of Surflight Theatre’s 75th Anniversary Season. Producing Artistic Director Steve Steiner and the show’s musical director, Nick Kaminski, talk about Surflight, Long Beach Island, and their upcoming production of "Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust Road."

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Jersey Arts talks to music icon - singer, songwriter, and guitarist Richie Furay, who boasts a 60 year musical career, having played with acclaimed groups such as Buffalo Springfield, Poco, the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band and of course, his own solo ventures.

He is an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. But perhaps most importantly, he’s a family man. The balance between home and career has defined much of his life and artistic pursuits. This is a topic touched upon in the upcoming documentary detailing his journey from musician to rock & roll pastor. 

And if that’s piqued your interest, you can see a sneak peak of the film as he celebrates his 80th birthday bash with a Farewell Concert at SOPAC in South Orange this August.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

“I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band).” “Ride My See-Saw.” “Isn’t Life Strange?” These are just a few of the mega hit titles by The Moody Blues, and John Lodge is their bass guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He has been performing and recording with The Moody Blues for more than 50 years while also pursuing a successful solo career. He’s even been voted one of the “10 most influential bass players on the planet.”

A native of Birmingham, England, Lodge has been playing the guitar since he was just 13 years old. He now considers the guitar to be his best friend. And why wouldn’t he? They’ve done quite well together.

Lodge is now on tour with his album “Days of Future Passed - My Sojourn.” The tour was set to begin last year but unfortunately he experienced what was described to the public as “a serious medical issue” and was forced to postpone. Thankfully, he is doing well and back to what he does best - performing. And lucky for us, his tour will stop at the State Theatre New Jersey this July 13th.

Jersey Arts speaks to Mr. Lodge about his return to the tour, his creative process, and how he might advise future musicians to pursue their passion.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

This episode honors Pride Month, most specifically a particular celebration in Red Bank, NJ called “Pride on the Plaza” hosted by Two River Theater.

Pride Month has a storied history, much of it more distressing than celebratory, but that is exactly why Pride Month is so important. Centuries of degradation and segregation led to protests that grew to a cultural revolution designed to protect, and eventually celebrate, those in the LGBTQIA community. The first Pride March took place on June 28th, 1970 to honor the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, which many consider the birth of the gay liberation movement.

Exactly 54 years later, to-the-day, “Pride on the Plaza” will celebrate the joy and love alive in the vibrant LGBTQIA community. Organizers Hannah Walker, the Associate Director of Marketing at Two River Theater, and Lady Celestina, Two River’s Resident Drag Queen, speak about Pride Month and the event they’ve created, “Pride on the Plaza” now celebrating its 5th year.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is New Jersey's largest professional theatre company dedicated solely to Shakespeare's canon and other classic masterworks. Previously under the leadership of artistic director Bonnie J. Monte since 1990, the theater has since welcomed Brian Crowe as the new Artistic Director as of January of 2024.

Brian has been with the organization for 29 years, formerly serving as the Director of Education and a Resident Director. He holds BFAs in Directing and Acting from Wright State University and was a Fellow at the 2000 International Salzburg Shakespeare Seminar. Also having served on the Executive Committee of the Shakespeare Theatre Association. Crowe may have big shoes to fill but he’s ready for the task.

During his tenure with STNJ, he has directed 27 plays in Shakespeare’s canon in over 60 productions, as well as numerous other plays. The Star-Ledger has even called Mr. Crowe “one of the state’s most ingenious directors.”

Jersey Arts speaks with Brian about his vision for the theater as he takes on this new role and the exciting lineup they have scheduled for this season.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

You may know Peter Filichia from his 19 years as The Star Ledger’s theater critic or as a columnist for Masterworks Broadway, author of several books, Broadway Radio personality, or playwright. Filichia has worked in and around the theater for decades, he’s seen shows in 47 states and 20 foreign countries (he keeps a list), and after nearly 30 years of hosting the Theatre World Awards, he will be honored with their 2024 TWA Special Award.

Peter spoke with The Jersey Arts Podcast about theater criticism, how he fell in love with the art form, some of his favorite New Jersey theater experiences, and why he views himself as a "theatrical matchmaker" for audiences.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

If you’re a Stevie Wonder fan, you have to give jazz pianist and bandleader James Austin, Jr’s music a listen. His 2018 debut album, Songs in the Key of Wonder, reinterprets Stevie Wonder’s beloved catalog with a Jazz spin, creating beautiful new tracks.

Originally from Chicago and based in New Jersey, James began playing piano at age 3, went on to study under acclaimed jazz teacher Barry Harris, and was a semi-finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano competition. In addition to performing and carrying on his mentor’s work in Jazz education, Austin is also the curator of NJPAC’s monthly Jazz Jam Sessions.

Austin will perform at the Grunin Center for the Arts on Sunday, May 19th, and he spoke with us about his love of Stevie Wonder, arts education, and his upcoming concert.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

First time playwright Erik Kahn has managed to showcase the beauty of overcoming one’s circumstances. Set on August 31st of 1939, his play “Canned Goods” details the little known false flag operation that preceded the start of the Second World War. Three men were code named “Canned Goods” by Himmler and were used by the SS to justify Hitler’s invasion of Poland.

Heartening in its own right, the play is a commentary on the resilience of man. Humor is often vital to survival. This play allows those moments to shine through. As in life, there is darkness; but there is humor, and there is strength. Despite its title, this play is about human beings and the duality and nuance that come with existence.

Director Charlotte Cohn and Erik Kahn join The Jersey Arts Podcast to discuss the complexities of this world premiere show, the process of bringing it to life, and the importance of theater as a mirror.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

Involvement in New Jersey Youth Symphony, a program of Wharton Arts in Union County, is not just about honing musical technique, it’s also about developing life skills. On Sunday, May 5th, the organization will celebrate its success with students and alumni at the NJ Youth Symphony 45th Anniversary Concert. As a special treat, founding Music Director/Conductor (and current Founder/Artistic Director of the Discovery Orchestra) George Marriner Maull will be back for the first time to guest conduct part of the concert.

We spoke with Maull and Wharton Arts Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Helen Cha-Pyo about the New Jersey Youth Symphony’s history, arts education philosophy, and upcoming anniversary concert.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

Musical theater nerds can rejoice, George Street Playhouse is bringing back “Tick Tick… BOOM!,” the posthumously produced musical by Jonathan Larson, best known for having written the widely known rock opera, “Rent.”

George Street Playhouse Artistic Director, David Saint, was a close friend of Jonathan Larson. And to honor his friend, almost 30 years since his passing, Saint is directing a new production of “Tick Tick… BOOM!”

If you loved the film but have never seen the show on stage, now's your chance! And if you've been a fan for years, you can celebrate another opportunity to enjoy the life and music of Jonathan Larson in person.

Jersey Arts speaks with Director David Saint and star of the show, Daniel Marconi (Jonathan) to learn about the history, joy, and tragedy that led to the “Tick Tick… Boom!” we know today.

Rutgers students are eligible for a special ticket discount which can be retrieved by calling the George Street Playhouse box office at 732-246-7717.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.