George Salazar, Broadway Television, Jane Bruce, Daniel K. Isaacs, Till Weeks and Eric William Morris will headline a concert in celebration of To River Theater’s outgoing artistic director John Dias and managing director Michael Hurst on Saturday, May 21.
Proceeds from the fundraiser, which will also include a gala dinner, will help create the new Dias/Harst Musical Fund, which Red Bank Theater says will allow it to continue commissioning and developing new musicals.
The concert brings familiar faces back to Two River. Bruce (“Jagged Little Pill”), Isaac (“Billions” for Showtime), Wicks (“The Cher Show”), and Morris (“King Kong”) appeared on 2017’s “The Ballad of Little Jo,” while Salazar starred in In “Be More Chill,” which premiered on Two River in 2015 before Broadway in 2019.
Concert starts at 7 p.m. For concert tickets only ($70) and more information, visit tworivertheater.org. Singles dinner tickets are sold out, but contact Katie Benson at [email protected] or 732-345-1400, ext. 1817 for information on sponsorship packages.
“School of Rock” auditions
Phoenix Productions is ready to rock.
Phoenix, the community theater company of the Count Basie Center for the Arts, is looking for talented children and adults from across the region for its summer production “School of Rock.”
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James Graussam, technical director of Phoenix, said in a press release.
“Crucial is our dedication to making sure the show’s lineup demonstrates our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and the idea that representatives of all races, gender expressions, cultural heritages, and body types are welcome and encouraged to participate in our company,” she said.
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Phoenix Productions and Count Basie Center announced their merger earlier this year, and say they share a vision of bringing together “a diverse mix of talented artists committed to performing their best in an inclusive arena.”
Exams will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 18 and Thursday, May 19 and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 21 at Phoenix’s corporate headquarters at 59 Chestnut Street, Red Bank.
Actors interested in the roles of Zack (guitar), Freddy (drums), Katie (cello and bass), and Lawrence (piano and keyboard) should make a 30- to 60-second video of themselves playing their instrument and submit it to auditions. @phoenixredbank.com before your personal test appointment.
For full details on available roles and to register, visit phoenixredbank.com/auditions.
School of Rock will run from July 22-24. For tickets and more information on this production and other upcoming shows, including “Hair” and “A Christmas Carol” later this year, visit phoenixredbank.com or thebasie.org/phoenix.
Cabaret for Life A tribute to Linda Ronstadt
Cabaret for Life prepares for the summer season with a tribute to rock and roll Hall of Famer Linda Ronstadt.
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The shows, scheduled for June 23 and July 6 at the Tim McClellon Supper Club in Asbury Park, will feature Depp Lyons, Lisa Sherman, Heather Farley and Kristen Winnick. Songs include “That Will Be the Day,” “It’s so Easy,” “Blue Bayou,” “Silver Thread and Golden Needles,” “Don’t Know Much,” “When Will I Fall in Love,” and “Heat Wave.”
The show is directed by Jason Neri and produced by Fred Mayo.
Shows are scheduled for 7 p.m. (doors 6 p.m.) and tickets can be requested, to donate $40 per person, by visiting cabaretforlife.org or by calling 877-CFL-TKTS.
Cabaret for Life was founded in 1995 by residents of Monmouth and Ocean County to make a difference in the lives of those facing AIDS and other debilitating illnesses.
This summer, Felix Truex is coming on July 21 and 27, with his new show “Songster”; and “The Housewives of Monmouth County Return” on August 24 and 31 and September 1.
For more information about Cabaret for Life and its programs, visit cabaretforlife.org.
T-shirt “POTUS” helps women’s organizations
Selena Fellner’s Broadway farce that now plays at the Schubert Theater, “Or Behind Every Great Dumbass Seven Women Trying to Keep It Alive,” revealed an exclusive T-shirt whose proceeds go to women-led advocacy organizations.
The Unisex Pink Crew Neck is available to pre-order for $30.
Proceeds benefit from the POTUS Coalition, seven women-led, non-partisan, nonprofit organizations that “work for the advocacy, agency, and activism of women through all levels of leadership and serving equal rights, representation, and access to voter registration and voting,” Show said.
The POTUS coalition consists of Black Voters Matter, Center for Reproductive Rights, ERA Coalition, IGNITE, She The People, Supermajority Education Fund and Vote Mama
“Through laughter, we come together. The POTUS Alliance is a group of real-world leaders.” Adrian Baker, CEO of Level Forward, said on behalf of the POTUS Producers: “The POTUS exuberance – its joy, its history-making race on Broadway as the first farce led by women and by women intelligent, contemporary storytelling—provides this first-of-its-kind alliance an opportunity to explore the comedy of leadership, and the impact of art.”
“POTUS” tickets starring Lilli Cooper, Lea DeLaria, Rachel Dratch, Julianne Hough, Suzy Nakamura, Julie White and Vanessa Williams are on sale now at Telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200. “POTUS” lottery entries can be made for $39 at potusbway.com/lottery.
Technical Scholarships Available
Monmouth Arts has a variety of grants available to art professionals and organizations.
- The group will give back money from the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund to artists and education for artists of all disciplines who have been financially affected by the pandemic. Submission is now open. The deadline is June 1. Visit monmoutharts.org/artist-grants for more information.
- Fiscal Year 2023 ArtHelps Local Arts Program grants are available to support public operation and private project support, in partnership with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Grants are awarded each year through a competitive application process to nonprofit arts organizations and community groups in Monmouth County. The deadline is June 13th; Visit monmoutharts.org/arthelps for more information.
- Monmouth Arts is offering $30,000 in 2022 renewal grants to support live performances and events “that fuel the reopening and restoration of nonprofit arts organizations in Monmouth County.” Eligible events must be free of charge and presented by small non-profit art organizations or artist partners with non-profit organizations. Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000 and must be used by December 31. The application deadline is May 23. Visit monmoutharts.org/arthelps and go to the 2022 Renewal for more information.
- The South Jersey Cultural Alliance has received a $50,000 grant from the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund to support artists and historical professionals who have been negatively affected by COVID-19. SJCA will provide $1,000 grants to 50 working artists and history professionals from Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem counties. Priority will be given to those from historically excluded and oppressed communities, including those who identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian Pacific Islander, Indigenous, and/or people of color, LGBTQ+, and those with disabilities. Grants are also available from the Atlantic City Foundation for the Arts and the Graduate Institute of the Arts of South Jersey. SJCA applications are open; The deadline is June 26. Visit sjca.net for more information.
Laura Bell Bundy in Holmdel
Laura Bell Bundy, Elle Woods’ original Broadway movie (“Legally Blonde”), is next in the Holmdel Theater Company’s Broadway at the Barn series.
Tony Award-nominated Bundy, who has also been seen on Broadway in “Hairspray” and “Wicked,” is the founder of the Women Of Tomorrow Foundation, and an ambassador for the National Museum of Women’s History. She has recorded multiple albums and toured the world, and has also appeared in TV shows and films including “Anger Management” and “How I Met Your Mother”. She is currently starring in “Fairly Odd Parents: Fairly Odder” on Paramount+, and has recently moved to a farm in Tewksbury.
“Born to Entertain” is set for 8 p.m. June 24 at Holmdel Theater Company, 36 Crawfords Corner Road. For tickets ($49) and more information, visit holmdeltheatrecompany.org/laura-bell-bundy.
Ilana Keeler is an award-winning journalist and lifelong New Jersey resident who loves Broadway and really bad puns. She highlights advocacy and education in the arts, fundraising for theater and more through her “Sightlines” column. Connect with us on Twitter: @ilanakeller; [email protected]