SPRING 2022 SEASON
A Message from Executive and Artistic Director Shannon R. Mayers
Dear friends, Over the past few months, it has been a pleasure to begin to immerse myself in the Ocean County community. I look forward to continuing to meet the patrons, artists, businesses, students, and educators who help make Ocean County a community that supports the arts. The Grunin Center remains steadfast in our commitment to providing quality, transformative arts experiences to the Ocean County community. The arts will always serve as a conduit to hope, healing, and revitalization. We thank you for your continued support as we welcome you back to the theater. This spring, we look forward to welcoming fan favorites such as The Bronx Wanderers and The Amazing Max back to our stage. We also are excited to bring world-renowned artists to our stage for the first time, including Louis Prima, Jr. and Shawn Colvin! We hope you enjoy this great lineup of entertainment and are as excited to attend as we are to present these great shows to you!
My late wife Linda and I have always had philanthropy in our hearts. In 2013, we established the Grunin Foundation, with our son Jeremy, to give back to the community that afforded us so many incredible opportunities.
A Message from Jay Grunin
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Our Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for all members of our community by using philanthropy to drive economic excellence at the Central Jersey Shore. We envision a thriving community where everyone has equitable access to an abundance of exemplary arts, culture, education, healthcare and economic opportunities. As we work towards recovering from the global health crisis, we must continue to show our support now more than ever. Our community will be there, united by the arts, with our spirits more grateful, our applause louder and our hearts fuller.
Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • Spring 2022
3.............The Real Irish Comedy Tour 4.............Croce Plays Croce 8.............Velocity 11.............Artrageous 18............Alexander Lo 19............Louis Prima, Jr. and the Witnesses 20........... OCC Repertory Theatre Company presents You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown 26...........The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare: The Next Gen
SCHEDULE
March 2022
27...........Aaron Weinstein and Jon Weber
April 2022 1..............The TEN Tenors 6............. Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra: Masters of Silent Comedy 8............. THE HIT MEN: Legendary Rock SuperGroup & Musicians Hall of Fame Honorees 9.............The Amazing Max 13............Vox Sambou 15............Maria Yefimova 21............Miwa Matreyek 22-30..... OCC Repertory Theatre Company presents The Crucible 24...........Mariel Bildsten Septet 30...........Shawn Colvin
May 2022 1.............. OCC Repertory Theatre Company presents The Crucible 7............. Ocean County College Concert Band presents The Great American Songbook 14............The Doo-Wah Riders 22...........The Charlie Apicella Trio featuring Don Braden
June 2022 3.............NYC3 12............David Ostwald 26...........The Bronx Wanderers
grunincenter.org • 732-255-0500
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REAL IRISH. REAL FUNNY. ACCENTS INCLUDED. The Real Irish Comedy Tour THURSDAY P MARCH 3 7:30pm Main Stage $35-$25 Come get a blast of blarney and Irish laughter just in time for the big day. The Real Irish Comedy Tour showcases the best blend of Irish comedic talent (accents included) and are coming to the Grunin Center for one night only!
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Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • Spring 2022
Croce plays Croce FRIDAY P MARCH 4 8:00pm Main Stage $48-$39 A.J. Croce performs Croce Plays Croce, a special night of music featuring a complete set of classics by his late father Jim Croce, some of his own tunes, and songs that influenced both him and his father. This special event features such timeless songs as Operator, You Don’t Mess Around with Jim, Time in a Bottle, (a song written for A.J.), Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy), and Lovers Cross, to name a few. Classic covers may include songs by Lieber and Stoller, Bessie Smith and other folk and roots artists.
grunincenter.org • 732-255-0500
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Velocity TUESDAY P MARCH 8 7:00pm Main Stage $45-$25 Velocity is the next generation in Irish tap; breaking away from the idea of what an Irish dance show is to one that is expressive, free, fast-paced and edgy! Led by Guinness World Record holder for The Fastest Feet in the World, James Devine, and five-time World Champion Irish dancer, David Geaney. Joined on stage by a motley crew of mind-blowing musicians and an old school scratch DJ, it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before!
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Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • Spring 2022
Louis Prima Jr. and The Witnesses are a boisterous, horn-driven, 10-piece New Orleans-style band known for their energetic performances. Their eclectic and rowdy style crosses several genres, from big band and swing to rock and blues, combining original music with favorites from the five-decade career of Louis Prima Sr. With the band’s collective talents and diverse musical tastes, their shows have a sound that is unique while staying true to the vintage Prima style.
Louis Prima, Jr. and the Witnesses SATURDAY P MARCH 19 7:00pm Main Stage $45-$35
grunincenter.org • 732-255-0500
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THE HIT MEN: Legendary Rock SuperGroup & Musicians Hall of Fame Honorees
FRIDAY P APRIL 8 8:00pm Main Stage $55-$35
Relive rock’s greatest hits with The Hit Men -- the real guys who performed with legendary artists including members of Foreigner, Journey, Styx, Steely Dan, Cheap Trick, The Rascals, Alan Parsons, 3 Dog Night, Cream, Grand Funk, and The Who. In their exciting multi-media concert, The Hit Men celebrate their associations with these mega-stars, share their first-hand experiences, and perform classic hits you know and love like Layla, Don’t Stop Believin’, I Want to Know What Love Is, Feels Like the First Time, Eye in the Sky and many more!
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Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • Spring 2022
Vox Sambou WEDNESDAY P APRIL 13 7:00pm Main Stage $10 Adult 11:00am School-time show also available Vox Sambou comes from Limbé, Haiti. He writes and performs in Haitian-Creole, French, English, Spanish and Portugues. His music is a fusion of traditional rhythms of Haiti and Afro-Latin elements on afrobeat, reggae and hip-hop. This engagement of Vox Sambou is funded through Performing Arts Global Exchange a program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.
grunincenter.org • 732-255-0500
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Shawn Colvin: Steady On 30th 32nd Anniversary Tour SATURDAY P APRIL 30 8:00pm Main Stage $55-$35 VIP Meet and Greet Seats $135 Three-time GRAMMY winner Shawn Colvin’s debut album, Steady On, was released in October 1989, a stunning introduction to an artist who quickly established herself as a mainstay in the singer-songwriter genre. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of this landmark album, Colvin has released a newly-recorded solo-acoustic version. Colvin brings a 30-year lens to her treasured songs, casting new light on the stories she first told as a young artist. Colvin has long been hailed as an exemplary solo acoustic performer and these new recordings are a brilliant showcase for her enduring artistry.
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The Doo-Wah Riders SATURDAY P MAY 14 8:00pm Main Stage $35-$25 The Doo-Wah Riders are unique, plain and simple. For over 40 years they have been riding their own patch of the musical range throughout The West and beyond. Possessing the rare combination of many years of experience and youthful energy, and fired by a love for what they do, The Doo-Wahs are real country, with a unique, original sound. They define their sound as “high energy country with a Cajun twist”. Their tight musicianship and powerful arrangements of classic, contemporary and original songs have made them favorites everywhere they go.
grunincenter.org • 732-255-0500
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NYC3 FRIDAY P JUNE 3 8:00pm Main Stage $32-$27 The baby boomers had the Beatles, groups like ABBA took the 70s by storm, but now it’s time for TODAY’S music to take center stage with NYC3! Starring three of New York City’s hottest male vocalists, this high-energy concert event delivers phenomenal performances of today’s top hits like Justin Timberlake’s Can’t Stop the Feeling and Walk the Moon’s Shut Up and Dance. When the men of NYC3 blend their voices on soaring hits like Sia’s Chandelier and a modern arrangement of Leonard Cohen’s anthem Hallelujah, you’ll be awestruck by their incredible vocals.
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The Bronx Wanderers SUNDAY P JUNE 26 5:00pm & 8:00pm Main Stage $49-$40 What comes to mind when a father, his two sons, and their three high school classmates get together and create a show? For starters, you can say a diverse recipe of hilarious personal stories, a vast repertoire of songs through multiple decades and genres, and one family’s journey together through life and music. Hear songs by Dion and The Belmonts, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Billy Joel, The Animals, Queen, and even an artist or two from today’s generation!
grunincenter.org • 732-255-0500
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Daytime Fun
Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra: Masters of Silent Comedy WEDNESDAY P APRIL 6 2:00pm Main Stage $18 Join the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra for a musical time machine back to the fun and excitement of the early 20th century. Watch classic silent films underscored by a live twelve-person orchestra with live music and sound effects! It’s a program sure to make both young and old smile from ear to ear. Grab your bowler hat and suspenders, park your Model T down the street, and enjoy a trip back in time with Peacherine!
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Miwa Matreyek:
Infinitely Yours and This World Made Itself THURSDAY P APRIL 21 11:00am Main Stage FREE Miwa Matreyek combines animation and live shadow to create a magical spectacle uniquely her own. Miwa’s work is fantastical yet emotionally impactful, often weaving in narratives of creation and destruction, man vs nature. Infinitely Yours explores global warming, the anthropocene, and the vastly changing earth. This World Made Itself is a visually rich journey through the history of the earth, from the universe’s epic beginnings to the complex world of humanity. This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.
grunincenter.org • 732-255-0500
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FAMILY SERIES
Artrageous FRIDAY P MARCH 11 7:00pm Main Stage $28 Adult • $23 Child 11:00am School-time show also available
IMAGINE an artist creating a masterpiece before your eyes in mere moments. The Artrageous troupe of artists, musicians, singers and dancers pay tribute to a variety of art forms, pop icons and musical genres culminating in a gallery of fabulous finished paintings live on stage. The result? A one-of-a-kind crossover experience!
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FAMILY SERIES
The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare: The Next Gen SATURDAY P MARCH 26 1:00pm & 4:00pm Main Stage $18 Adult • $13 Child Lightwire Theater combines theater and technology to bring stories to life in complete darkness and are internationally recognized for their signature brand of electroluminescent artistry. We begin with Aesop’s classic fable of The Tortoise and the Hare but continue the story which finds them 10 years down the road, now with children of their own and exploring modern-day distractions. The Next Gen features Tortoise Junior and Lil’ Hare in a whole new kind of race, where their adventures lead them into unexpected territory.
grunincenter.org • 732-255-0500
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FAMILY SERIES
The Amazing Max SATURDAY P APRIL 9 1:00pm Main Stage $18 Adult • $13 Child Max Darwin earned the moniker “The Amazing Max“ for his extraordinary skills as a magician and also for his ability to entertain adult audiences while keeping the little ones spellbound. He combines magic and comedy, making objects appear and disappear and generally defying the laws of physics inches from theatergoers’ faces. This high-energy, interactive and all-around silly show is appropriate for audiences of all ages (recommended 3 and up). A perfect way to spend time with the entire family!
CAMPS ON CAMPUS
Youth Day & Specialty Summer Camps Coming soon!
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The TEN Tenors - Love is in the Air FRIDAY P APRIL 1
8:00pm Main Stage $55-$35 VIP Pre-Show Reception Add-On for $75 The TEN Tenors will be singing some of your favorite romantic tunes, from pop songs to classic love songs, and even a few of the most famous love arias. The Ocean County College Foundation and The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts are partnering to host a benefit concert to support the students of OCC. For one night only, enjoy an evening of incredible music and food as you support the mission of the OCC Foundation. Despite the College’s best efforts to maintain an affordable education, many students still have a tremendous need for financial assistance. Scholarships make a difference. Your support of this event can turn the dream of a college education into a reality for many Ocean County students!
For more information on scholarships, please visit go.ocean.edu/scholarships.
grunincenter.org • 732-255-0500
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Aaron Weinstein and Jon Weber SUNDAY P MARCH 27 3:00pm Gia Maione Prima Studio Theater $24 Adult • $20 Senior Called “the Groucho of the violin” by Tony Bennett and “a perfect musician” by jazz guitar legend, Bucky Pizzarelli, Aaron Weinstein “is rapidly establishing himself as one of his instrument’s rare jazz masters.” (Don Heckman, International Review of Music).
ON A
Mariel Bildsten Septet
S U N D AY AFTERNOON
SUNDAY P APRIL 24 3:00pm Main Stage $24 Adult • $20 Senior Mariel Bildsten started playing the trombone in fifth grade. After high school, she moved to New York City to pursue her jazz studies at The New School and has been performing in the greater New York-New Jersey area ever since. Bildsten will lead a septet paying tribute to the music of Duke Ellington and Count Basie.
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The Charlie Apicella Trio featuring Don Braden SUNDAY P MAY 22 3:00pm Gia Maione Prima Studio Theater $24 Adult • $20 Senior Classic Guitar is NYC-based guitarist Charlie Apicella’s second ZOHO album, available in CD and 180 gram audiophile vinyl. It celebrates 1950s guitarists Johnny Smith, Freddie Green, and Barney Kessel, in solo guitar, duo and trio settings. On his first record of Great American Songbook standards, Charlie, inspired by his love of collecting jazz LPs, plays Delia, his 1963 Guild Artist Award guitar.
ON A
David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band
S U N D AY AFTERNOON
SUNDAY P JUNE 12 3:00pm Main Stage $24 Adult • $20 Senior Inspired by the noble jazz pioneers Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, and their colleagues, David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band breathes life and passion into America’s own great art form. On June 12, they return to the Grunin Center with the cream of New York’s traditional jazz crop to perform the songs of the great Satchmo!
grunincenter.org • 732-255-0500
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S E R I E S R EC I TA L A F T E R N O O N
Alexander Lo FRIDAY P MARCH 18 2:00pm Main Stage Free Pianist Alexander Lo performs the works of three Romantic composers: Chopin, Scriabin, and Tchaikovsky. Alexander, 26, is currently pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music, where he also completed his previous education (B.M. ‘17, M.M. ‘19).
Maria Yefimova FRIDAY P APRIL 15 2:00pm Main Stage Free Advance registration is required.
Towards the Fire A lecture-recital celebrating the 150th anniversary of Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915) Alexander Scriabin is known for color-music experimentation, innovative harmonic language, an affinity for esoteric mysticism, and much more. He wrote hundreds of works for piano that occupy a large portion of his output and are considered masterpieces of the 20th century pianism. In this lecture-recital we will explore his compositional evolution through piano works from his early to late periods. Highlights of the program include Nocturne for the left hand alone Op.9, No. 2, Sonata No. 4, Op. 30, Vers la Flamme Op. 72.
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Black Box Theater Adult $15 • Senior/Child $12
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
FRIDAY, APRIL 29 SATURDAY, APRIL 30 SUNDAY, MAY 1 Black Box Theater Adult $15 • Senior/Child $12
C O M PA N Y
FRIDAY, APRIL 22 SATURDAY, APRIL 23 SUNDAY, APRIL 24
T H E AT R E
With charm, wit, and heart, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown explores life through the eyes of Charlie Brown and his friends in the Peanuts gang. This revue of songs and vignettes is based on the beloved Charles Schulz comic strip. Musical numbers include My Blanket and Me, The Kite, The Baseball Game, Little Known Facts, Suppertime, and Happiness.
R E P E RTO RY
FRIDAY, MARCH 11 SATURDAY, MARCH 12 SUNDAY, MARCH 13 FRIDAY, MARCH 18 SATURDAY, MARCH 19 SUNDAY, MARCH 20
O C C
You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Winner of the 1953 Tony Award for Best Play. This exciting drama about the Puritan purge of witchcraft in old Salem is both a gripping historical play and a timely parable of our contemporary society.
grunincenter.org • 732-255-0500
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OCC Concert Band presents
The Great American Songbook SATURDAY P MAY 7 7:00pm Main Stage $20 Adult • $18 Senior Join us for an evening celebrating The Great American Songbook, featuring the music of George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Leonard Bernstein, and more! Guest vocalist Joe Minnella recalls the sound of Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, and the like. An evening of unforgettable music! Anthony Tafrow, Musical Conductor
At the Grunin Center, our COVID-19 safety measures include: ■ Masks are required for guests aged 2 and up. ■T he lobby and theater will be open 45 minutes prior to the event start time to allow for relaxed entry. ■ I f you are not feeling well, please, stay home. Please contact the box office to discuss ticket options. ■D istanced, pick-your-own seating will be offered. Please keep some distance between your party and others in lobby spaces. ■ Hand sanitizer will be readily available throughout the venue. ■W e’ve upgraded our HVAC system to include UV-C disinfection. ■T he venue will be professionally cleaned between each performance. Our measures have been implemented with the safety of our patrons, artists, and staff in mind. Guidance is changing rapidly and the safety measures outlined above are subject to change as conditions evolve.
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SYMPHONIC ENCOUNTERS SERIES JAY & LINDA GRUNIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Mozart, Beethoven, and More! Sunday, April 10 # 3:00pm # Main Stage
Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Beethoven’s String Quartets are iconic. Hear these favorites performed by the Garden State Philharmonic String Quartet, along with a world premiere piece by Garden State Philharmonic Composer in Residence, Ben Goldberg, a Toms River, NJ native.
From Bach to the Beatles
Sunday, May 15 # 3:00pm # Main Stage Enjoy the intersection of classical and pops melodies from Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Sergei Prokofiev to music by the Beatles. This concert will be performed under the direction of Music Director Diane Wittry.
GENERAL INFORMATION Garden State Philharmonic Office 1 College Drive, PO Box 2001 Toms River, NJ 08754 732-255-0460
Visit us online for program information or to make donations to the nonprofit. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling the Garden State Philharmonic office.
www.gardenstatephilharmonic.org @gardenstatephilharmonic @thegardenstatephilharmonic @gsp_music
TICKETS Premiere Seating Adults $50 Seniors (60+) $45 General Seating Adults $37 Students (w/ID) $15 A per-order service and handling fee will be applied at the time of purchase. Groups of 12 or more receive special discounts. Save 10-15% off single tickets when you purchase a subscription package.
grunincenter.org • 732-255-0500
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Sponsors
The Grunin Center wishes to acknowledge the following organizations for their support.
These programs are funded in part by the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders and a grant from the NJ State Council on the Arts administered by The Ocean County Cultural & Heritage Commission.
Located on the Ocean County College Campus
SPONSORS & DIRECTIONS
West College Drive (to N. Bay Ave)
South College Driv
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11b 12
Main Stage
11b
Black Box
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Parking Lot 2
College Drive
11a
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11a
rt No to Lot 2
H . Ge orge
Gia Maione Prima Studio Theater
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Buckw
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Purchasing Tickets
Tickets are available online at grunincenter.org or by phone from the Grunin Center Ticket Office. Hours: Monday-Friday, Noon to 5:00pm., phone 732-255-0500. All information contained in this publication is accurate at the time of print. Prices, fees, dates, times, capacities, performers and performances are subject to change at any time. Such changes do not dictate a refund or exchange unless authorized by the producer, promoter or Grunin Center for the Arts. Ticket processing fees apply to all orders. Fees are subject to change. Spring 2022 tickets will go on sale Monday, December 13, 2021 at noon.
Accessibility
The Grunin Center for the Arts strives to make every accommodation possible for patrons needing accessible seating. Seating is limited and we encourage guests to make arrangements in advance. Assisted listening devices are available at all performances and are sanitized after each use. For large print or Braille programs please make request four weeks in advance.
Discounts and Subscriptions
OCC faculty, staff, students and alumni: Various discounts available for eligible shows. Limit of two tickets per eligible performance. Call the ticket office for details. Discounts are taken off adult ticket prices unless otherwise noted.
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Address and Contact Info
T I C K E T I N F O R M AT I O N
For a complete listing of Policies, Accessibility Information, and Discounts, please visit grunincenter.org
Grunin Center for the Arts at Ocean County College College Drive Toms River, NJ 08754 Building #11 Free parking
732-255-0500 grunincenter@ocean.edu grunincenter.org
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We’re planning events for Summer 2022!
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SEASON
www.grunincenter.org
The Bronx a W nderers .(p 13)
College Drive, PO Box 2001 Toms River, NJ 08754-2001
TOMS RIVER NJ 08754 PERMIT NO 27
PAID
US POSTAGE
NON PROFIT ORG
