The short film Passaic is a flashback to gritty times in northern New Jersey. It’s centerpiece, two murders that resulted in what would be the longest murder trial in state history at the time. There's still unanswered questions. The case remains unsolved. “To this day people that are involved in the case know that the truth never came out,” said Michael Klausner, writer and producer of the film Passaic. The movies characters have different names, but the real-life story remains the same. Its

Theater critic Michael Bourne reviews the revival of Edward Albee's Three Tall Women on Broadway.

Near the Great Falls in the Historic District of Paterson, New Jersey sits the Essex and Phoenix Mills. An industrial center of buildings that were once meant to harness the cascading water power, now transformed into an area where artists can live and create their work. “It’s a community of interactive people reinforcing each other’s thoughts, visions, and sometime’s frustrations,” said Professor Vince Parrillo, director and narrator of Silk City Artists and Musicians, his forth documentary on

It’s taken decades for Jason Moran to understand the artistry of Cecil Taylor, the brilliant American pianist who left us last Thursday , on April 5. A few years ago, The Checkout visited Moran’s New York studio to celebrate the visionary iconoclastic artist, just before paying homage at Harlem Stage. On this very special Checkout podcast, Moran reflects on his hero in conversation, then honors him in performance.

There's a new museum in Brooklyn that looks at the Holocaust through the eyes of Orthodox Jews. The Amud Aish Memorial Museum is staffed mostly by the children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. Click above to hear Jon Kalish's report.

Theater Critic Michael Bourne is thrilled about the latest revival of Angels in America . Click above to hear his review.

The city of Newark celebrated the opening of its new 6 th precinct boosting its police presence in the city’s West Ward. The building that will now house the precinct was previously used for special operations. Mayor Ras Baraka says it will now act as a fully functioning precinct, something residents had been asking for, for decades. “In essence what we’re doing is right-sizing what we believe the police representation should be in this area of the city. And the city is very, very, very big, and

In the early 1920’s, Sara Spencer Washington was travelling door to door selling her homemade Apex beauty products. “Hair pomades, perfumes, pressing oils which led to hot combs and other devices for making yourself look beautiful.” Apex became more than a line of hair and skin products, explains Royston Scott, who remembers hearing those around him always talking about “The Madame.” “Apex was not only a beauty school, it was a publishing company. She did the Apex Hair and News Magazine. The

More young people in New Jersey might be able to vote in primary elections if a bill advancing in the legislature becomes law. What’s called the ‘New Voter Empowerment Act’ would allow 17-year-olds to vote in a primary election if they’d turn 18 by the general election. Varun Seetamraju is a high school student in Basking Ridge. He says that change would allow thousands of first-time voters to have a say in the outcome of primary election races. “Nowadays a lot of primaries are hotly contested

Ang Santos: For Devin first, this is based on a true story. How did you get your hands on it? Devin Hume: I moved to Colorado when I was nineteen. The first job I had in Colorado was painting a mortuary for two morticians. I got to know those guys. Soon after that I went to film school and studies cinematography. Anytime it was time to make a film I would go back to that town. AS: These people you worked for were the people in this film? DH: Yes. They ended up being accused of murdering another