Santa's heading to town with presents, and so is acclaimed Shore vocalist Chris Pinnella.
Pinnella, a Manasquan High School graduate, is bringing hisholiday concert back home for one night onlyto benefit the school's chorus and drama clubs.
"I am extremely proud to be supporting a program that enriched my teenage years and enabled me to make a career out of being involved in the arts and music," Pinnella (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) said in a news release.
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The evening will feature classic Christmas songs and holiday hits, backed by an eight-piece band and a choir of MHS students.
The concert will include new arrangements of songs by Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Leonard Cohen, Bing Crosby, Bruce Springsteenand more, as well as classics like "O Holy Night," "White Christmas," "Please Come Home For Christmas" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town."
The night is sponsored by Manasquan Bank for the second year in a row. Last year's concert raised $2,800 for the drama and choir programs, as well as provided a new upright piano to the students with the help of Manasquan Presbyterian Church.
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The concert is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15, at Manasquan High School, 167 Broad St., in Manasquan. For tickets, $10, or more information, visiteventbrite.com/e/chris-pinnella-christmas-in-manasquan-tickets-51042198590or call732-948-3421.
2019 musicals at Axelrod
Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal has announced its 2019 slate of musicals, and it's a doozy.
The lineup of main-stage musicals includes “Mamma Mia!,” Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Guys and Dolls.”
Axelrod is offering a subscription program for the first time that will allow patrons to attend all four musicals for the price of three.
“Our patrons typically come to see every show,” CEO Jess Levy said in a news release. “This subscription program will allow them to enjoy all four shows while simultaneously rewarding them for their loyalty.”
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“Mamma Mia!” will kick off the 2019 season, running March 8 to 24 in a new production created by director Barry Ivan. The show, with music and lyrics by ABBA'sBjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, follows the story of a young woman searching for her birth father.
Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida” will run May 31 through June 16, and will mark the third production by Broadway’s Luis Salgado.“Aida” tells of the love triangle between an Egyptian prince, princess and a slave, and won four 2000 Tony Awards.
Rice's“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, hits Axelrod from July 11 to 28. It will be directed by choreographer Matthew Steffens and tells the tale of the biblical story of Joseph.
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Broadway associate director Richard J. Hinds (“Come from Away”) will make his debut at Axelrod with Frank Loesser's classic “Guys and Dolls,” which will run from Nov. 1 to 17. The show features music and lyrics by Loesser and a book by Abe Burrows and Joe Swerling.
To subscribe to the musical series or to order individual tickets, visit axelrodartscenter.com or call the box office at 732-531-9106, ext. 14.Group, senior and student discounts are available. Axelrod is located at 100 Grant Ave. in Deal.
'A Doll's House, Part 2' at George Street
Direct from Broadway comes Lucas Hnath's "A Doll's House, Part 2" at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick.
Nominated for eight 2017 Tony Awards, the plays offers a "contemporary take on an imagined sequel.Nora (Kellie Overbeyof Broadway's "The Coast of Utopia")returns to the door she famously slammed 15 years earlier with unfinished business on her mind."
The production isdirected by Betsy Aidem and also featuresAndrew Garman, Ann McDonough and Lily Santiago.
The show officially opened Nov. 30 and runs through Dec. 23.
For tickets or more information,call732-246-7717or visitgeorgestreetplayhouse.org. George Street Playhouse is in its temporary home at103 College Farm Road in New Brunswick, ahead of a move to the under-construction New Brunswick Performing Arts Center.
Strand Center holiday party
The Strand Center for the Arts is celebrating the holiday season in its 96th year with a party hosted by Lakewood Mayor Ray Coles on Dec. 12.
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The party, which starts at 7 p.m. at The Strand Gallery, 400 Clifton Ave., in Lakewood, will feature light fare, an open bar and entertainment, including Acoustic NRG.
The evening benefits The Strand.
Tickets are $100, and journal ads and sponsorships also are available.RSVP by emailing Heidi@strand.org. Checks payable to Strand Ventures, Inc. should be mailed toThe Strand Center for the Arts, 400 Clifton Ave., Lakewood, NJ 08701 Attn: Heidi DeFabritus. You also can buy tickets at clients.ticketbiscuit.com/Strand/EventPage.aspx?EID=357208.
For more information, visit strand.org or call the box office at 732-367-7789, ext. 216.
Kids Night on Broadway
Kids Night on Broadway, when children 18 and under can attend a show for free with a paying adult, is set for Feb. 26, 2019, organizers announced.
The annual event also includes pre-theater and in-theater activities for kids and adults, restaurant discounts, parking deals and more.
Tickets will go on sale in early December.
Sign up for the Broadway Fan Club atkidsnightonbroadway.comfor updates and more information.
Dramatists Guild Foundation gala
Broadway receiveda first look at new musicals and plays at the Dramatists Guild Foundation's sixth annual DGF Gala on Nov. 12 at Manhattan Center.
The evening celebrated "artists and patrons of the American theater community in gratitude of their continued support of emerging writers and creators" and honoredwriter, lyricist and composer Sheldon Harnick, Estée Lauder Companies’ executive group president John Demsey, and Douglas Elliman’s Retail Group chairman Faith Hope Consolo for their contributions to Broadway.
Guests got an early look at "Be More Chill,""Jagged Little Pill,""HUZZAH," "The Secret Life of Bees"and "The Prom."
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According to organizers, host Kate Baldwingot things started with “Will He Like Me?” from "She Loves Me." Other performances includedEisa Davis and Jai’len Josey with a mashup of “Sign My Name” and “Trouble on the House” from "The Secret Life of Bees." Larry O’Keefe and Nell Benjaminintroduced “Stowaway” performed by Stephanie Styes and Kyle Selig from their newest show, "HUZZAH," andJason "Sweetooth"Williams and George Salazar performed “The Pants Song” from "Be More Chill." Composer and lyricist Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin of the newly opened "The Prom" introduced Josh Lamon’s “Barry’s Going to the Prom,” while Tom Kitt introduced Elizabeth Stanley’s “Smiling” from "Jagged Little Pill."
Andrew Lippa, DGF president and Baldwin shared anecdotes about honoree Harnick and performed his “I Couldn’t Be With Anyone But You” from "It’s a Wonderful Life." A video message from Lin-Manuel Miranda also was shared, in addition to appearances and performances fromAlan Cumming, Stephen Schwartz, Theresa Rebeck, Matthew Saldivar andJason Butler Harner, Anthony Wilkinson, Amanda Green, Duncan Sheik, Jason Butler Harner, Laurence O’Keefe, Peppermint and Luke Caswell.
To learn more about the Dramatists Guild Foundation and its work, visitdgf.org.
Grange presents 'Listen'
Check out something completely new at the Grange Playhouse.
"Listen," a new show bylocal playwrightSami DeSocio, is set for Nov. 30 through Dec. 9 at the Howell theater.
"The show follows the story of Drew McArthur, author of a overnight sensation about his rise back to the top after a drug and alcohol addiction in college. Within the media circuit he does to promote his book, he catches the eye of a no-nonsense reporter, Cary Burton, who takes an uncharacteristic interest in Drew and his story. However, after Mr. Burton’s interview turns out to be an expose, exposing Drew’s real story. Drew has to work his way back up from the bottom," organizers say.
The cast featuresEric Anderson, Jack Murray, Kathleen West and Rob Lasky.
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Performances are set for 8 p.m. Nov. 30; 8 p.m. Dec. 1; 3 p.m. Dec. 2; 8 p.m. Dec, 7; 8 p.m. Dec. 8 and 3 p.m. Dec. 9. Tickets, $18, $15 seniors and students, include coffee dessert, tea and water. For reservations callJade Greene at732-768-2709 and for more information, callDeSocio at732-673-5593.
The Grange Playhouse is located at4860 Route 9 South inHowell. For more information, visitthegrangeplayhouse.com.
Have afundraiser or event coming up that relates to the stage? Tell us about it. Email ikeller@gannettnj.com, call 732-643-4260 or connecton Twitter@ilanakeller
