Grunin Center 2018 - 2019 Season Brochure by Ocean County College

2018-2019 SEASON

A MESSAGE from the Director of Cultural Affairs

Welcome to the Jay and Linda Grunin Center

for the Arts at Ocean County College. Season after season, we strive to offer world-class performances and cultural engagements to our community in Ocean County and beyond. This is one of our best seasons yet, and we’re excited to have you join us! From critically acclaimed vocalists, musicians, lecturers and more, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

All of this would not be possible without the generosity of The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation. Their generous endowment has transformed the future of arts engagement here in Ocean County, and we look forward to inviting you back each year for new experiences and cherished traditions. Your patronage helps sustain our goal to keep the arts alive in Ocean County. Too often, the magic and wonder of the arts are not enjoyed for lack of opportunity. We can change that, one incredible performance at a time. I look forward to welcoming you to many of our 2018 – 2019 shows! – Mark Fitzgerald Wilson Director of Cultural Affairs, The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts

Staff ________________________________________________________ Mark Fitzgerald Wilson.................. Director of Cultural Affairs Jessica Zawerczuk. . ....................... Manager, Marketing & Sales Victoria Buczynski......................... Ticket Services Representative Elizabeth Muller............................ Marketing Assistant Michelle Youngs.. ........................... Manager, Operations & Production Stephan Caldwell.......................... Technical Production Coordinator Jaclyn Wood................................. Community Engagement Coordinator

Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • 2018-2019

A MESSAGE from the Grunins

Linda and I

have always had philanthropy in our hearts. We built our reputation as lawyers who worked hard, related to our clients’ needs and always sought to act with the highest integrity. In 2013, we established the Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation, to give back to the community that afforded us so many incredible opportunities. It is my expectation that our Foundation’s continuing philanthropic endeavors will allow Linda’s legacy to live on for years to come. Part of our Foundation’s mission is to engage the Central Jersey Shore with all forms of the arts, covering a wide range of visual and performing endeavors. The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts is aligned with that mission. From global artists to local arts students, including the New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival, the Center has elevated our community and brought people together from across the nation to celebrate performing and visual arts. We are also thrilled to be partnering with the County of Ocean, Ocean County College and the State of New Jersey to finance the construction of a new High School for the Performing Arts which will be located on the OCC campus adjacent to the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts. Linda always loved the arts, and our Foundation is proud to partner with OCC in connection with the Grunin Center to bring the arts and culture to the Jersey Shore. Linda was dedicated to her community and we will carry on with her hard work, determination, and passion for helping others. – Jay Grunin

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

2018-2019 SEASON July 2018 13–22   18  24  27  28  29

Man of La Mancha (p. 40) Schoolhouse Rock (p. 32) Fun with Energy (p. 32) Tim Kubart (p. 33) The Great Rock N Roll Time Machine (p. 7) David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band (JOSA) (p. 34)

August 2018

 

2 Goowins Balloowins (p. 33) 25 Basie Summer Opera Camp: The White Bird of Poston (p. 38)

September 2018

    

8 Bernie Williams and His All-Star Band (p. 6) 15 Gabrielle Stravelli (p. 7) 22 Assisted Living: The Musical (p. 8) 29 The Young Dubliners (p. 9) 30 Cynthia Sayer and Her Joyride Quartet: The Hot Banjo Show (p. 34)

October 2018 5  6   12  13  18–28  26  27  28

National Geographic LIVE: Nizar Ibrahim (p. 29 and 37) Farewell Angelina (p. 9) Yesterday: The Beatles Tribute Live From Las Vegas (p. 10) The Rainbow Fish (p. 24) OCC Repertory Theatre Co. presents: Almost, Maine (p. 41) Broadway’s Next H!t Musical (p. 12) Basement Musicians: Men in Black (p. 10) Don Braden: Earth Wind and Wonder (JOSA) (p. 35)

November 2018

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2 Mandy Gonzalez (p. 11) 4 San Jose Taiko (p. 12) 8–18 OCC Repertory Theatre Co. presents: Driving Miss Daisy (p. 41) 9 Stray Cat, Lee Rocker (p. 13)   18 Max Weinberg’s Jukebox (p. 14)  30 Westminster Concert Bell Choir (p. 15)

Photo: Fun With Energy (p.32) 4

Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • 2018-2019

December 2018

 1 A Christmas Carol (p. 25)  1 OCC Concert Band: The Sounds of the Season (p. 43)  2 Christmas with the Celts (p. 15)  6-16 OCC Repertory Theatre Co.: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (p. 41)  6 National Geographic LIVE: Kara Cooney (p. 30)  8 The Nutcracker (p. 25)  13 Rockapella (p. 16)  14 Canadian Brass: Christmas Time is Here (p. 17)  15 Ana Gasteyer: Holiday Tipple (p. 18)  21 The Glenn Miller Orchestra (p. 18)  23 A Very Electric Christmas (p. 26) February 2019



16 Acoustically Speaking: Adam Pascal & Anthony Rapp (p. 19)

March 2019

 8 -17 OCC Repertory Theatre Co. presents: 5, 6, 7, 8! A Love Letter to     

Broadway (p. 42) 16 An Afternoon of Magic & Illusion: A Sensory Friendly Performance (p. 39) 22 Sing-A-Long Hairspray starring Jeremy Grunin (p. 20) 23 Rhythm in the Night: The Irish Dance Spectacular (p. 20) 30 OCC Foundation presents: Rob Eric’s Tribute to Billy Joel (p. 27) 31 Introducing Alexis Morrast (JOSA) (p. 35)

April 2019

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6 Temple Grandin (p. 28) 7 Bollywood Boulevard: A Journey Through Hindi Cinema Live (p. 21) 13 The Tamburitzans (p. 21)   26 John Pizzarelli - A Centennial Celebration of Nat King Cole (p. 22) 25–28 OCC Repertory Theatre Co. presents: The Crucible (p. 42) 

May 2019

 3–5  4  4  5  19

OCC Repertory Theatre Co. presents: The Crucible (p. 42) Alice in Wonderland (p. 26) OCC Concert Band: An American Salute (p. 43) Midiri Brothers Salute to Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw (p. 35) The Bronx Wanderers (p. 23)

June 2019

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3 The Magic School Bus (pg. 36) 6 National Geographic LIVE: Brian Skerry (p. 31 and 37) 23 Mike Kaplan Nonet: Duke Meets Monk (JOSA) (p. 35) grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

Bernie Williams and His All-Star Band Saturday, September 8, 2018 LATIN JAZZ

Join four-time World Series Champion and Latin Grammy Nominated guitarist and composer Bernie Williams and his All-Star Band for an evening of music featuring fusions of jazz, rock, and the tropical rhythms of Williams’ Latin heritage. Growing up in Puerto Rico, Bernie Williams discovered his love for baseball and music at roughly the same time, when at the age of eight he fell in love with the sounds of a flamenco guitar his merchant-marine father brought home from Spain, and also felt the same exhilaration when he first picked up a baseball bat. In his 16-year career patrolling centerfield for the New York Yankees, his passion for music never waned, and the sound of his guitar would often be heard emanating from the clubhouse or during team flights. Whether acoustic or electric, a guitar was a constant presence in the star’s locker or equipment bag, and it was no surprise when he demonstrated how serious his musical pursuit was with the release of his first album, The Journey Within in 2003. Bernie Williams raised his musical game even further with the release of his second album Moving Forward in 2009 which produced two Billboard Number 1 singles, and a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Album. On May 13, 2016, Williams graduated from the Manhattan School of Music, a prestigious music conservatory in New York, NY, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance. 8:00pm  Main Stage  $59 - $45  Meet & Greet and Pre-Show Dinner also available. See grunincenter.org for details.

You can find Bernie on Twitter at @bw51official, and on Facebook and Instagram at @berniewilliamsofficial

Become a Grunin Presents Subscriber and save! Eligible shows denoted with a "Saver" icon: See page 47 for details.

Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • 2018-2019

The Great Rock N Roll Time Machine Saturday, July 28, 2018 ROCK

The Great Rock N Roll Time Machine is an all-out overload of sight and sound that brings the audience back to the glory days of 70s and 80s arena rock. Featuring all your favorite artists, including hits from: Boston to Bon Jovi, Frampton to Poison, and McCartney to Motley Crue! Take a ride in The Great Rock N Roll Time Machine: where you will enjoy the biggest hits in stadium rock! 8:00pm  Main Stage $25 - $20

Gabrielle Stravelli

Saturday, September 15, 2018 JAZZ Award-winning jazz vocalist and songwriter Gabrielle Stravelli has garnered critical acclaim and a loyal following through her rich sound, original compositions, and unique take on an array of material from the Great American Songbook as well as by contemporary artists. A trained actor, Gabrielle has a soulful sensitivity for the story in the lyric, and was called “a powerhouse of individual expression” by The Village Voice. For the Grunin Center, Gabrielle is delighted to present “I Walk With Music,” a show dedicated to the classic music of Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael. The set presents some of Mercer and Carmichael’s best-loved songs like “Skylark,” “Stardust,” and “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening.” Join Gabrielle along with pianist Art Hirahara, bassist Pat O’Leary, and drummer Eric Halvorson for an evening honoring two of America’s greatest writers. 8:00pm  Main Stage $25 - $20* (*limited time pricing)

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

Assisted Living: The Musical®

Saturday, September 22, 2018 MUSICAL THEATER Forget everything your granny told you about Assisted Living! Assisted Living: The Musical® is a 75-minute, one-act vaudevillian revue filled with original songs. It delivers laughs from the opening scene, when the show’s host couple enters heaven, suspecting their son pulled the plug to get his hands on Dad’s vintage Corvette. They don’t seem to mind. Instead, the couple fondly remembers Pelican Roost, an active, full-service retirement community, where 70-something is the new 20-something, and they party like it’s 1969! Two actors play eighteen different characters who sing and dance, revel and kvetch, celebrate and bloviate their way through later life. You’ll laugh out loud to songs like “Help! I’ve Fallen (For You) And I Can’t Get Up” and “Golf Cart Seduction.” Assisted Living: The Musical® is for everyone who is aging or hopes to age. You’ll see your parents, your friends, and maybe some of yourself. Don’t miss the show where the Associated Press says, “Audiences are laughing so hard, they cry!” 2:00pm & 7:30pm  Main Stage $27 - $22

Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • 2018-2019

The Young Dubliners

Saturday, September 29, 2018 ROCK The Young Dubliners are quite possibly Celtic rock’s hardest working band, playing hundreds of shows to thousands of fans across the US and Europe every year. In recent years they have appeared on Good Morning America and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, had songs featured in TV shows (Sons Of Anarchy, Human Target) and toured extensively as a headliner and as the opener for a diverse list of artists, such as Collective Soul, Jethro Tull, Johnny Lang, Los Lobos, and many more. Although the Young Dubliners sound is most commonly called ‘Celtic Rock,’ that label, as labels often are, is misleading. The Irish influence is there, certainly, but it’s not the only influence that rears its head on their albums or in live shows. After all, several of the band members have no Irish roots of any kind. 8:00pm  Main Stage $25 - $20* (*limited time pricing)

Farewell Angelina

Saturday, October 6, 2018 COUNTRY Farewell Angelina is an all-female country group with powerhouse vocalists, blazing fiddles and guitars, and award-winning songwriters. Their stellar blend of heartstopping harmonies has earned them soaring praise across the board. Roughstock calls them a “Superstar Act…with Killer Songs.” Rolling Stone says, “Wickedly smart songwriting delivered with a healthy dash of sass…deft playing…into one sonic knockout punch.” Farewell Angelina’s chemistry lives in watching each other shine, and most of all, creating moments every night with the Country Music fans they love so much. The relationship they share with their fans won them the fan-voted “Hot Seat” in the Taste of Country 2017 “RISERS” Program by over 20,000 votes. They’ve also been named among Rolling Stone’s “New Artists You Need To Know,” and Roughstock’s “Ones to Watch” with a tour schedule to prove it. The girls have been all across the country opening shows for the likes of Kenny Chesney, Maroon 5, Jake Owen, and more. 8:00pm  Main Stage $25 - $20* (*limited time pricing)

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

Yesterday: A Tribute to the Beatles

TRIBUTE

Friday, October 12, 2018 The British are ready to invade the Grunin Center! “Yesterday - The Las Vegas Beatles Show” brings to life the music of the bestselling band of all time with a live performance by “Yesterday,” the premier Beatles tribute band. These talented musicians have played sold-out shows from Las Vegas to Atlantic City and around the world. Once you hear “Revolution” and “Twist and Shout,” you can’t “Help” but “Imagine” that you have relived the real legends on stage! 8:00pm  Main Stage $35 - $28

Basement Musicians: Men in Black Saturday, October 27, 2018 TRIBUTE The Basement Musicians play the music they love and they do it well! This group of central and southern NJ family men perform the best of ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s classic rock, country, and folk music. Their “Men in Black” show pays homage to such great artists as Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Elvis, and more. They have performed all over the tristate area and have been fixtures of the Albert Music Hall in Waretown for over fifteen years. Don’t miss their timeless renditions of such great hits as I Walk The Line, Pretty Woman, Don’t Be Cruel, and many more! 8:00pm  Main Stage $27 - $20* (*limited time pricing) 10 Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • 2018-2019

Mandy Gonzalez: Fearless!

Friday, November 2, 2018 MUSICAL THEATER The sensational Mandy Gonzalez (Hamilton, Wicked, In the Heights, Madam Secretary) brings her sultry sophistication to The Grunin Center in Mandy Gonzalez: Fearless!, an unforgettable evening of elegance, romance, and celebration. The unmatched power and grace of Mandy’s signature style turns new songs into instant classics and makes classics new again. Join Mandy for a unique concert featuring songs from her brilliant debut album; songs to make you laugh, cry, and fall in love again. It’s an evening you won’t want to end and don’t want to miss. 8:00pm  Main Stage $57 - $42 Pre-Show Dinner also available. See grunincenter.org for details.

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

Broadway’s Next H!T Musical Friday, October 26, 2018 The New York Times calls Broadway’s Next H!T Musical “Hilarious!”... Time Out NY says “At last! A musical of, for, and by the people.” The hilarious Broadway’s Next H!T Musical is the only unscripted theatrical awards show. Master improvisers gather made up, hit song suggestions from the audience and create a spontaneous evening of music, humor, and laughter. The audience votes for its favorite song and watches as the cast turns it into a

San Jose Taiko

MUSICAL THEATER

full-blown improvised musical - complete with memorable characters, witty dialogue, and plot twists galore. Broadway’s Next H!t Musical has been seen recently at The Triad, Tribeca Film Festival, and at the New York Musical Theater Festival, among many others. Under the direction of improv veterans Rob Schiffman and Deb Rabbai, TheaterWeek hailed the show as “brilliant” and The New York Post called Broadway’s Next H!T Musical “remarkable.” 8:00pm  Main Stage $39 - $35

WORLD MUSIC & DANCE

Sunday, November 4, 2018 San Jose Taiko (SJT) has been mesmerizing audiences since 1973 with the powerful, spellbinding, and propulsive sounds of the taiko. Inspired by traditional Japanese drumming, SJT performers express the beauty and harmony of the human spirit through the voice of the taiko as they create new dimensions in Asian American movement and music. All compositions performed by SJT are written or arranged by members of the group. Composing, choreographing, designing and producing costumes, and handcrafting of the drums are part of the holistic process in which all members participate. Through this singleness of mind and spirit, harmony is achieved and the music rings with unity and clarity. 7:00pm  Main Stage $29 - $25 This engagement of San Jose Taiko is made possible through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

12 Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • 2018-2019

The Stray Cat Lee Rocker

Friday, November 9, 2018 ROCKABILLY Lee Rocker made his mark singing, playing, standing on, spinning, and rocking his giant upright bass as a founding member (along with Brian Setzer and Slim Jim Phantom), of the Grammy nominated music group The Stray Cats, who sold over 10 million albums and garnered 23 gold and platinum certified records worldwide. Come hear Lee and his band perform Stray Catsʼ hits like “Sexy and Seventeen," “Stray Cat Strut,” and “Rock This Town," plus lots of other rockin’ songs Lee performed post-Stray Cats, with music legends from Ringo Starr, George Harrison, John Fogerty, and The Rolling Stones. 8:00pm  Main Stage $39 - $35

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

Max Weinberg’s Jukebox

Sunday, November 18, 2018 ROCK Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Drummer Max Weinberg announces a new touring concept for the intimate venue—“Max Weinberg’s Jukebox.” A truly interactive experience, Weinberg invites the audience to create in real time the set list he and his crack four piece group will play that night. Performing songs from the glory days of rock and roll, you get to choose from a video menu of over 200 songs—everything from the Beatles to the Stones to Bruce and The E Street Band’s biggest hits—and hear the group play ‘em the way you want to hear them played! That’s right—the crowd gets to yell out their choices and Max plays them! This unique approach is fun and satisfying. How many times have you attended a show where you yearned to hear your favorite performer play your favorite song? With Max Weinberg’s Jukebox your dream will be realized. 7:00pm  Main Stage $55 - $42 Post-Show Meet & Greet available for $115. See grunincenter.org for details.

14 Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • 2018-2019

Westminster Concert Bell Choir Friday, November 30, 2018 HOLIDAY

A new Grunin Center tradition, the Westminster Concert Bell Choir returns to the Grunin Center stage! The group is composed of undergraduate and graduate students of Westminster Choir College, conducted by Kathleen Ebling Shaw. Celebrating the 40th year of the hand bell curriculum, Westminster Choir College was the first institution in the world to develop such a program. 7:30pm  Main Stage $20

Christmas with the Celts

Sunday, December 2, 2018 HOLIDAY Christmas with the Celts is an uplifting and spirited holiday musical celebration starring international music group The Celts and a cast of fantastic dancers. Launched as a live concert attraction after several successful seasons as a PBS-TV Special, this show has been delighting audiences since its live launch in 2012. Christmas with the Celts combines fiery arrangements of modern seasonal classics with traditional carols, from “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” to John Lennon’s “Happy Christmas” and many more. The foot stomping step dancers, pipes, whistles, fiddles, and a selection of both modern and indigenous instruments will bring you to your feet and send you home with a smile! 7:00pm  Main Stage $39 - $35

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

Rockapella

Thursday, December 13, 2018 A CAPPELLA They’ve become one of the world’s most sophisticated, lasting, and imitated vocal groups around today. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more influential group out there in this new era of movies like Pitch Perfect, network television a cappella shows, and innumerable college vocal groups that own the corner of cool on campuses everywhere. As one of the progenitors of the astonishing full band sound of “contemporary” a cappella, Rockapella has shown every audience the raw power of pure vocal talent and originality. No instruments, no tracks, no mirrors…but never lame. Since the early ’90’s when they first achieved national television fame on PBS’s Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?, they’ve toured the globe and provided a funky powerful soundtrack to several generations of vocal music fans, while keeping it all fresh along the way. With buckets of catchy original pop songs, and complete contemporary revisions of sparkling Motown, pop, and soul classics, this group has always been the one to watch. ”Often imitated – never duplicated” applies here. Now they’re better than ever! 7:30pm  Main Stage $39 - $35

16 Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • 2018-2019

Canadian Brass – Christmas Time is Here Friday, December 14, 2018 HOLIDAY

With an international reputation as one of the most popular brass ensembles today, Canadian Brass has truly earned the distinction of “the world’s most famous brass group.” Masters of concert presentations, Canadian Brass has developed a uniquely engaging stage presence and rapport with audiences. Their concerts display the full range from trademark Baroque and Dixieland tunes to new compositions and arrangements created especially for them – from formal classical presentation to music served up with lively dialogue and theatrical effects. Whatever the style, the music is central and performed with utmost dedication, skill, and excellence. They have toured all over the world, and were the first brass group to take the main stage at the venerable Carnegie Hall. 8:00pm  Main Stage $49 - $40 Pre-Show Dinner also available. See grunincenter.org for details.

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

Ana Gasteyer: Holiday Tipple

HOLIDAY

Saturday, December 15, 2018

With her joyful sass and pizzazz, singer, actress, and comedienne Ana Gasteyer hosts a good old-fashioned holiday party, as a follow up to her hugely popular cabaret show “I’m Hip!” Best known for her incomparable work on “Saturday Night Live,” Gasteyer can currently be seen starring in Netflix’s critically-acclaimed comedy series, “Lady Dynamite,” the TBS show “People of Earth,” as well as the ABC hit series “The Goldbergs.” On Broadway, she starred in the hit show Wicked as “Elphaba,” as well as the acclaimed Encores! Off-Center productions of A New Brain, Three Penny Opera, and Rocky Horror Picture Show. Her jazzy ensemble will fete the season with swingin’ holiday favorites, belty baubles, and novelty Yuletide tunes of yore. Join Ms. Gasteyer for an evening of mulled-spice melodies and toe-tappin’ holiday tipples! 8:00pm  Main Stage $35

The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra Friday, December 21, 2018 BIG BAND The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra is the most popular and sought after big band in the world today for both concert and swing dance engagements. With its unique jazz sound, the Glenn Miller Orchestra is considered to be one of the greatest bands of all time. The present Glenn Miller Orchestra was formed in 1956 and has been touring consistently since, playing an average of 300 live dates a year all around the world. Nick Hilscher is the orchestra’s present music director. 8:00pm  Main Stage $39 - $30 18 Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • 2018-2019

Acoustically Speaking - A 20 Year Friendship Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp Saturday, February 16, 2019 MUSICAL THEATER

Acoustically Speaking – A 20 Year Friendship is a brand new show featuring two Broadway giants, coming together to celebrate music, stories, and their friendship. An intimate show, Adam & Anthony will deliver solo sets featuring both original tunes and songs that have influenced their lives, capped off by performing a few of the iconic hits from where it all began- meeting at RENT. RENT has gone on to become an international phenomenon from their Off-Broadway beginnings. Fans everywhere relate to the theme and stories of RENT and certainly have connected with the characters and the actors who portrayed them. From the original cast…Adam & Anthony have remained close friends while each have gone off to do additional great work in film and on Broadway. Anthony continued on the IF/THEN National tour, repeating the role he originated on Broadway. Adam returned to Broadway’s Nederlander Theater to star in “Disaster!” – which received critical and audience acclaim. Both artists have continued to do their own solo concerts throughout the country. 8:00pm  Main Stage $39 - $35

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

Hairspray Sing-Along with host Jeremy Grunin! Friday, March 22, 2019 FILM

Join host Jeremy Grunin… aka Edna Turnblad… for Hairspray Sing-Along! Get your hair done and your vocal chords warmed up and join us for a hilarious, upbeat, fun-loving, can’t stop the beat Sing-Along. Don’t know all the words? No problem! We’ll have them onscreen to make sure you keep up! You can’t help but feel good watching this film’s star-studded cast including Zac Efron, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, and John Travolta. In 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, plump teenager Tracy Turnblad’s dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight, meets a colorful array of characters, and launches a campaign to integrate the show. 8:00pm  Main Stage $10

Rhythm in the Night: The Irish Dance Spectacular Saturday, March 23, 2019 WORLD MUSIC & DANCE Experience the new Irish dance phenomenon that is sweeping the country, Rhythm in the Night, The Irish Dance Spectacular! It’s what critics are calling “A New Kind of Irish” and the Slate Online describes as “Mesmerizing!” Led by former Michael Flatley’s “Lord of the Dance” lead dancer, Justin Boros, the accomplished cast featuring 20 of the world’s most skilled Irish dancers and musicians brings the inspiring story of love and salvation to life against a backdrop of ancient ruins that transports the audience to another time and place where the imagination unfolds. Strength, agility, and precision formulate the fast-paced and breath-taking experience on stage as the cast performs to the heart-pounding and fluid symphonic music that has enthralled audiences all across North America! 8:00pm  Main Stage $45 - $35  Pre-Show Dinner also available. See grunincenter.org for details. 20 Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • 2018-2019

Bollywood Boulevard: A Journey Through Hindi Cinema Live WORLD MUSIC & DANCE Sunday, April 7, 2019

Lights. Camera. Action. Lose yourself in the world of Bollywood through live music, dance, and multimedia with Bollywood Boulevard. Witness the spirit, artistry, and history of India’s famous film industry from the classics of the black and white era and the timeless songs of Bollywood’s Golden Era, to the foottapping blockbusters of today. Inspired by the music of R.D. Burman, Lata Mangeshkar, and A.R.Rahman, the dance moves of superstars like Amitabh Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra, and romance as captured by Raj Kapoor and Yash Raj Chopra, experience Bollywood as never before. Bollywood Boulevard will have you falling in love with the vibrance, emotions, and heart-pounding beat that inspires the world’s largest entertainment industry. 3:00pm  Main Stage $35 - $27

The Tamburitzans

Saturday, April 13, 2019, 8:00pm WORLD MUSIC & DANCE Based on the exciting music, songs, and dances of international cultures, The Tamburitzans, a performing ensemble of talented college students, combine music, song, and dance to celebrate the cultural heritages and shared values of the world’s people. The Tamburitzans are the longest running live stage show in the United States. The company’s repertoire reflects the traditions and influences of more than 100 nationalities. Additionally, the members of the ensemble come from all corners of the United States, Canada, and Europe – bringing a variety of performing experience to the stage. 8:00 pm  Main Stage $35

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

John Pizzarelli - A Centennial Celebration of Nat King Cole Friday, April 26, 2019 JAZZ World-renowned guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli has been hailed by the Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.” The Toronto Star pegged him as “the genial genius of the guitar,” and the Seattle Times saluted him as “a rare entertainer of the old school.” He has established himself with a repertoire that includes Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Tom Waits, and the Beatles. Now he honors the music of the Nat King Cole Trio with a selection of their classics. 8:00pm  Main Stage $49 - $45

22 Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • 2018-2019

The Bronx Wanderers Sunday, May 19, 2019 TRIBUTE Buckle your seat belts because The Bronx Wanderers deliver a “Back to the Future” type of rocket fuel in this high-octane 50s, 60s and 70s rock n’ roll experience! Weave that nostalgic adrenaline into a soundtrack of the greatest hits of rock n’ roll replicated in a way that only a master record producer can achieve. Add in some genuine pros from the era and then unleash a youthful show-stopping charisma of a sons’ modern day indie band musicians. Finish off this heart-pumping mix with the lovingly engaging dose of pure Italian “famiglia” and you might come close to capturing the seemingly “magical” appeal of The Bronx Wanderers! 5:00pm & 8:00pm  Main Stage $49 - $40 Pre-Show Dinner also available. See grunincenter.org for details.

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

FAMILY SERIES

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia presents:

The Rainbow Fish

Saturday, October 13, 2018 FAMILY The Rainbow Fish will enchant even the youngest child with his silver scales and heart of gold in a new adaptation of Marcus Pfizer’s award-winning books about the beautiful fish who learned to share his most prized possession. Mermaid’s striking puppetry production includes two delightful companion stories, Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea and Opposites. “The sparkling story that became an international publishing phenomenon!” Winner of The Christopher Award, the Bologna Book Fair Critici in Erba Prize, American Booksellers Association ABBY Winner, and an IRA-CBC Children’s Choice title–the sweet message of The Rainbow Fish series has resonated with children, parents, teachers, librarians, and booksellers around the world. 3:00pm & 6:00pm  Main Stage $17 Adult, $10 child

24 Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • 2018-2019

Families Appreciating Stage and Theater

FAMILY SERIES

Yates Musical Theatre presents:

A Christmas Carol

Saturday, December 1, 2018 HOLIDAY

An Ocean County College tradition, this musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol is the timeless tale of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge who hates Christmas. Shocked into action by visits from three ghosts that take him on a journey to the past, present, and the future, Scrooge discovers the true meaning of Christmas. The music and dancing of A Christmas Carol will help put everyone in the holiday spirit! 1:00pm  Main Stage $12 Adult, $10 Child

Families Appreciating Stage and Theater

Ballet for Young Audiences presents:

The Nutcracker

HOLIDAY

Saturday, December 8, 2018 This delightful ballet is a dream story brought to life through music and dance. The Nutcracker tells the story of Clara, a young girl whose magical journey begins with a Nutcracker doll and ends with the Land of Sweets. Along the way, you’ll meet the Mouse King, Flowers, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and a cast of enchanting characters. This ballet is narrated for your added enjoyment. 1:00pm  Main Stage $12 Adult, $10 Child

Families Appreciating Stage and Theater

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

FAMILY SERIES

A Very Electric Christmas Sunday, December 23, 2018 HOLIDAY Lightwire Theater, known for their signature brand of dazzling visuals, poignant storytelling, and music designed to evoke imagery, debuted their first holiday show “A Very Electric Christmas” in their hometown of New Orleans in December of 2013. This captivating and magical tale of adventure, friendship, and love, centers on a young bird named Max, a familiar character to Lightwire Theater audiences, and brings a whole new meaning to coming “home for the holidays.” 3:00pm & 6:00pm  Main Stage $17 Adult, $10 Child Families Appreciating Stage and Theater

Yates Musical Theatre presents: Alice in Wonderland Saturday, May 4, 2019 FAMILY

Based on Lewis Carroll’s classic take, join us for a rollicking journey through the mixed-up world just the other side of the Looking Glass. Hilarious hijinks and glorious fun – complete with the Cheshire Cat, White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, and (of course) Alice. This madcap adventure delivers toe-tapping tunes and delightful twists while underscoring the value of reading, the necessity for a fair-minded rule of law, and the importance of due process. 11:00am  Main Stage $12 Adult, $10 Child Families Appreciating Stage and Theater

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OCC FOUNDATION BENEFIT

Robert Eric’s Piano Man A Tribute to Billy Joel

Saturday, March 30, 2019 TRIBUTE Known as “Philly’s Piano Man,” Robert Eric began his career with the group “Big Shot,” Billy Joel’s back-up band. He has also toured with “Rocksplosion” as Billy Joel and has opened for the man himself twice at the Wachovia Center, with Billy asking for and receiving a big round of applause from the crowd in honor of the warm-up tribute act. This guy looks, sounds, talks, acts, and plays just like him! 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 contain costs and maintain an affordable education, many students still have a tremendous need for financial assistance. Scholarships make the 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. 6:30pm  Black Box  VIP Reception & Concert $100 (Includes wine, beer, and light fare) 8:00pm  Main Stage  Orchestra & Mezzanine $45 (Concert only)

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

BLAUVELT LECTURE SERIES

Temple Grandin: Developing Individuals Who Have Different Kinds of Minds Saturday, April 6, 2019 LECTURE Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is the most accomplished and well-known adult with autism in the world. Her fascinating life, with all its challenges and successes, was recently brought to the screen with the HBO full-length film Temple Grandin, starring Claire Danes. Dr. Grandin is a speaker who inspires and motivates others through her story. She didn’t talk until she was three-and-a-half years old. In 1950, she was diagnosed with autism and her parents were told she should be institutionalized. Instead, Dr. Grandin developed her talents into a successful career as one of few livestockhandling equipment designers in the world. She has published multiple books on her field as well as autism. Her presentation, “Developing Individuals Who Have Different Kinds of Minds,” is sure to touch audiences with her rich experience. 7:00pm  Main Stage $35 Sponsored by the Matus Law Firm Funded in part by a grant from the Ocean County Board of Freeholders 28 Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • 2018-2019

Nizar Ibrahim Paleontologist

Spinosaurus: Lost Giant of the Cretaceous Friday, October 5, 2018 LECTURE

Meet Spinosaurus, the largest predatory dinosaur yet discovered—larger than T. rex— and hear the incredible story of how this prehistoric giant was almost lost to science, before being brought back to light with the help of a remarkable young paleontologist. Discovered more than half a century ago in Morocco by the great German paleontologist Ernst Stromer, Spinosaurus’ fossil remains were lost in the Allied bombing of Germany during World War II. With the help of recent fossil discoveries in the desert, and Stromer’s own data and drawings, contemporary scientists including German/Moroccan paleontologist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer Nizar Ibrahim have reconstructed a full skeletal model of Spinosaurus, which has been featured on the National Geographic Channel and presented in the National Geographic Museum. With amazing video recreating the lost world of the Cretaceous-era Sahara, Ibrahim will tell the story of Spinosaurus’ discovery, loss, and rediscovery, and explain what— other than its size— makes this ancient monster unique. 7:00pm  Main Stage  $35 National Geographic Live Experience Package available  See page 47 for details

BLAUVELT LECTURE SERIES grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

Dr. Kara Cooney Professor of Egyptology

When Women Ruled The World Thursday, December 6, 2018 LECTURE

When it comes to women in power, we’ve come a long way…right? Join Dr. Kara Cooney, professor of Egyptology, for a look at a time in ancient history when women ruled the world. Often neglected in the history books, these women were considered exceptions to the rule, political pawns in a patriarchal society. But their power and influence is undeniable. Cleopatra used her sexuality – and her money – to build alliances with warlords of the Roman Empire. Neferusobek was the first woman to definitively take the title of King. Nefertiti is known more for her beauty than for bringing a fractured Egypt together. What can we learn from how these women ruled? Dr. Cooney shares some illuminating answers. 7:00pm  Main Stage  $35 National Geographic Live Experience Package available  See page 47 for details

BLAUVELT LECTURE SERIES 30 Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • 2018-2019

Brian Skerry Photographer

Ocean Soul

Thursday, June 6, 2019 LECTURE Voyage across the oceans with one of National Geographic’s most seasoned photographers and discover a vast, hidden world beneath the waves. Using his camera to communicate, Brian Skerry has spent more than 10,000 hours underwater telling the oceans’ stories. His images celebrate the mystery of the depths and offer portraits of creatures so intimate they sometimes appear to have been shot in a studio. Skerry dives eight months of the year, often in extreme conditions beneath Arctic ice or in predator-infested waters, and has even lived at the bottom of the sea to get close to his subjects. This past fall, National Geographic Books published Ocean Soul, a landmark retrospective of Skerry’s photographs. In the book and this presentation, Skerry takes us from the glacial waters of the North Atlantic, where harp seals face off with commercial hunters, to the balmy central Pacific, where he photographed damaged coral ecosystems rebuilding themselves. On stage, Skerry is a passionate spokesman for the oceans he loves to photograph. His riveting presentations to audiences at TED, Harvard, and London’s Royal Geographic Society inspire reverence for the marine realm and offer hope for protecting the vitality of the world’s oceans. 7:00pm  Main Stage  $35 National Geographic Live Experience Package available  See page 47 for details

BLAUVELT LECTURE SERIES grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

C.A.M.P. COMMUNITY ARTS & MUSIC PROGRAMMING

A Free Summer Series sponsored by the Wintrode Family Foundation Limited tickets will be made available to the public. FAST Pack Subscription holders can reserve tickets on Monday, July 9th at 10am by contacting Jaclyn Wood at the Grunin Center for the Arts: 732-255-0400 ext. 2487 or jwood@ocean.edu. All other reservations will take place 2 business days prior to the events.

Schoolhouse Rock Live! JR. Wednesday, July 18, 2018 MUSIC A pop culture phenomenon comes to the musical stage in Schoolhouse Rock Live! JR. The Emmy Award-winning 1970s Saturday morning cartoon series that taught history, grammar, math, and more through clever, tuneful songs follows Tom, a nerve-wracked school teacher who is nervous about his first day of teaching. He tries to relax by watching TV, when various characters representing facets of his personality emerge from the set and show him how to win his students over with imagination and music, through such songs as “Just a Bill,” “Lolly, Lolly, Lolly” and “Conjunction Junction.” 10:00am & 12:00pm  Main Stage  FREE

Fun with Energy

Tuesday, July 24, 2018 SCIENCE Jeff Boyer shows kids that energy is what makes our world work, through carefully laid out activities illustrating the laws and forces which govern the world around us. Jeff takes audiences on an exciting energy filled ride they’ll always remember. He brings kids right up on stage for interactive demonstrations that entertain and amaze! 10:00am & 12:00pm  Main Stage  FREE

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Tim Kubart and the Space Cadets Friday, July 27, 2018 MUSIC

Tim Kubart’s concerts are an indie pop dance party for all ages. Joined on stage by his band, the Space Cadets (and a tap-dancing sidekick!), Kubart performs songs celebrating real life kid and family moments and milestones. Tim Kubart & the Space Cadets is a highly interactive, musically rich show, and always speaks to kids at the top of their intelligence. 10:00am & 12:00pm  Main Stage  FREE

Goowins Balloowins

Thursday, August 2, 2018 ART Enjoy a truly unique performance by madcap balloon artist Allyn Gooen, who will fill the stage with extraordinary balloon creations as he tells the story of Snow White and the Eight Dwarfs, The Wizard of Oz, The Story of Purim, (or any of a large variety of stories) in which children from the audience will star. 10:00am & 12:00pm  Main Stage  FREE

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

JAZZ ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON

New!

ALL SHOWS: MAIN STAGE Adult $24, Senior $20

David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band Sunday, July 29, 2018 Since 2000, David Ostwald has hosted a weekly tribute to jazz legend Louis Armstrong at the famed New York City jazz club Birdland. On July 29, Ostwald makes his third appearance at the Grunin Center with his Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, made up of the cream of New York’s traditional jazz crop, to perform the songs of the great Satchmo!  3:00pm  Main Stage

Cynthia Sayer & Her Joyride Quartet: The Hot Banjo Show Sunday, September 30, 2018 Award-winning instrumentalist/vocalist/bandleader Cynthia Sayer is acclaimed by musicians, critics, and fans alike as one of the top 4-string jazz banjoists in the world today. Her eclectic, swing-based shows embody the rarely heard range and versatility of the 4-string banjo in the hands of a master, celebrating historic jazz banjo stars, Vaudeville, American Songbook favorites, virtuoso classics, fun anecdotes, and more. Featuring Cynthia Sayer’s Joyride Quartet: Jim Fryer (trombone), Mike Weatherly (string bass & vocals), & Arthur Vint (drums).  3:00pm  Main Stage

Become a Jazz Club Subscriber and save! Eligible shows denoted with this icon. See page 47 for details.

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Don Braden: Earth Wind and Wonder Sunday, October 28, 2018

Join saxophonist and flutist Don Braden when he takes the Grunin Center Stage in support of his new album, Earth Wind and Wonder, an exciting new project in which he explores the wide-ranging catalogue of Earth Wind and Fire and Stevie Wonder. Don Braden is an imaginative, technically excellent, soulful player, and his harmonic and rhythmic sophistication give him a unique approach to improvising as well as composing and arranging. Most important of all: he has a beautiful sound, and he swings!  3:00pm  Main Stage

Introducing Alexis Morrast Sunday, March 31, 2019

Alexis Jessica Morrast began singing at the age of three. The youngest of six, this singer/songwriter is a 16-year-old phenom and native of Newark, now residing in Plainfield, New Jersey. She is not only a two-time Amateur Night Winner at The Apollo but also won “Showtime at the Apollo,” which aired on Fox TV and was hosted by Steve Harvey! Not to be complacent, she continued studying and working hard to become the recipient of the 2017 Hot House Magazine “Best Up and Coming Young Artist Award.”  3:00pm  Main Stage

The Midiri Brothers Salute Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw Sunday, May 5, 2019

The Midiri Brothers have long been a popular attraction at the Grunin Center, known for their musical fireworks and light-hearted banter. For this concert, they will be performing a tribute to the two most popular clarinetists of the Swing Era, Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw, both of whom had May birthdays. The Midiris will perform timeless classics associated with each artist, illustrating with finality that Swing will always be King!  3:00pm  Main Stage

Mike Kaplan Nonet: Duke Meets Monk Sunday, June 23, 2019

The Mike Kaplan Nonet combines the strength, cohesion, and varied tonal colors of a big band, with the spontaneity and flexibility of a small group. The Nonet features 6 horns out front, an intuitive rhythm section, and plays original arrangements in a variety of styles and genres all filtered through the 21st century jazz sensibilities of the leader and band members.  3:00pm  Main Stage

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

SCHOOL PROGRAMMING

Educational Programming, Workshops, and Master Classes

These performances support classroom curriculum and the invaluable skills that arts education gives children. Through the performances here at the Grunin Center and the related teacher curriculum for you to use in your classroom, we aim to encourage students to read, develop critical and creative thinking, and be curious about the world around them.

For more information and to book your group, contact Jaclyn Wood at the Grunin Center for the Arts: 732-255-0400 ext. 2487 or jwood@ocean.edu. For additional school performances, please request our Schools N' Stage brochure!

The Magic School Bus Monday, June 3, 2019 SCIENCE When the class gets lost on the way to the planetarium, Ms. Frizzle saves the day by blasting into outer space for an epic interplanetary field trip! But when rivalries both old and new threaten to tear the students apart, our young heroes must learn to pull together or risk getting forever lost in the solar system. Hop on the Magic School Bus for a ride in this new musical adaptation based on the original book series published by Scholastic. 9:00am, 10:45am, & 1:30pm  For Grades K-5 Main Stage  $10

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National Geographic Live Nizar Ibrahim: Spinosaurus

Friday, October 5, 2018 SCIENCE

Visit present-day Morocco and travel back through time with paleontologist Nizar © National Ibrahim to hear how he and his team Geographic discovered a prehistoric monster bigger than T. Rex. The largest known predatory dinosaur, Spinosaurus had spike-shaped teeth, a body more than 15 meters long (50 feet), and unique adaptations to help it survive. Explore the dangerous Cretaceous Era habitat that Spinosaurus called home. Students will be captivated by the amazing story of how this dinosaur was found, lost, and found again. 11:00am  For Grades 2-5  Main Stage  $7

National Geographic Live Brian Skerry: Ocean Soul

Thursday, June 6, 2019 SCIENCE

Immerse yourself in the latest amazing stories from beneath the waves as a master underwater photographer reports on his most recent National Geographic assignments. Brian Skerry’s surprisingly © Brian Skerry intimate portraits of marine life have captured the imagination of a generation. From a fascinating look at dolphins’ intelligence to a profile of the enigmatic bluefin tuna, Skerry’s camera illuminates long-held mysteries of the deep. 11:00am  For Grades 5-8  Main Stage  $7

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

SPECIAL COLLABORATION

The White Bird of Poston In Association with the Count Basie Theater Saturday, August 25, 2018 OPERA

Under direction of the Los Angeles Opera’s Eli Villanueva and musical director Jason Tramm, The White Bird of Poston is set during World War II at a Japanese internment camp, recalling the story of a Japanese teenage girl who forms a bond with a Native American boy. Through their friendship, they help each other rediscover their cultural traditions and history. 2:00pm & 6:00pm  Main Stage Visit grunincenter.org for more details

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relaxed performance

An Afternoon of Magic & Illusion: A Sensory Friendly Performance Saturday, March 16, 2019 FAMILY

An Afternoon of Magic & Illusion features Kevin Spencer, an extraordinary magician, in a fun-filled show that combines storytelling, stage magic, and audience participation. This sensory-friendly, relaxed performance is designed to create an experience that is welcoming to all families with children with autism or with other developmental or intellectual disabilities that create sensory sensitivities. The performance was specifically designed to be baffling and entertaining for all members of the audience! Part of the Beyond the Classroom Series. For more details, please visit www.grunincenter.org/beyond-the-classroom 1:00pm  Main Stage $12 Adult, $10 Child

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

OCC PERFORMING ARTS

What a Piece of Work is Man cast photo, April 2018

MUSICAL THEATER OCC Repertory Theatre Company presents:

Man of La Mancha

July 13-15 and 19-22

Man of La Mancha is one of the world’s most popular musicals. Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’ seventeenth-century masterwork Don Quixote and set during the Spanish Inquisition, the original 1965 production won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Cervantes is in prison awaiting trial. He and his fellow prisoners perform a playwithin-a-play, telling the story of the elderly Alonso Quijana, who renames himself Don Quixote and goes on a quest to right all wrongs in the world. Featuring classic numbers including “The Impossible Dream,” “I, Don Quixote,” “Dulcinea,” “I Really Like Him,” and “Little Bird,” the story transforms the prisoners and touches the audience. Written by Dale Wasserman. Music by Mitch Leigh. Lyrics by Joe Darion. Directed by Paul Chalakani. Fri.  July 13, 2018 Sat.  July 14, 2018 Sun.  July 15, 2018 Thu.  July 19, 2018 Fri.  July 20, 2018 Sat.  July 21, 2018 Sun.  July 22, 2018

 7:30pm  8:00pm  2:00pm  7:30pm  7:30pm  8:00pm  2:00pm

Main Stage  Adult $26, Senior $17. Contact Ticket Office for Group and Student Rates.

Man of La Mancha 40 Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts • 2018-2019

MUSICAL THEATER OCC Rep Theatre Company presents:

Almost, Maine

Oct. 18-21 and 26-28

Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States. It’s almost in Canada. And it’s not quite a town, because its residents never got around to getting organized. So it almost doesn’t exist. One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend— almost – in this delightful midwinter night’s dream. Written by John Cariani. Directed by Paul Chalakani. Thu.  Oct. 18, 2018  7:30pm Fri.  Oct. 19 & 26, 2018  7:30pm Sat  Oct. 20 & 27, 2018  8:00pm Sun  Oct. 21 & 28, 2018  2:00pm Black Box Theatre  Adult $15, Senior $12*

THEATER OCC Repertory Theatre Company presents:

Driving Miss Daisy

Nov. 8-11 and 16-18

Winner of the 1988 Pulitzer Prize and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Play, Driving Miss Daisy is a warm-hearted, humorous and affecting study of the unlikely relationship between an aging, crotchety white Southern lady and a proud, soft-spoken black man. “The play is sweet without being mawkish, ameliorative, without being sanctimonious.” — NY Times. “…a perfectly poised and shaped miniature on the odd-couple theme.” — NY Post. Written by Alfred Uhry. Thu.  Nov. 8, 2018  7:30pm Sponsored by Fri.  Nov. 9 & 16, 2018  7:30pm Sat.  Nov. 10 & 17, 2018  8:00pm Sun.  Nov. 11 & 18, 2018  2:00pm Black Box Theatre  Adult $15, Senior $12*

THEATER OCC Repertory Theatre Company presents:

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Dec. 6-9, and Dec. 13-16

A unique and entertaining spin on an age-old tale. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever has an edge—but presented from a child’s point of view, the edge is funny, irreverent, and irresistible; everyone will appreciate the universal humor and underlying meaning. Author Barbara Robinson’s prose is fast, clever, and very funny. Though it’s all in fun, it offers a subtle but important lesson: Just because you’re bad doesn’t mean you’re hopeless. Written by Barbara Robinson. Directed by Will Salmons. Thu.  Dec. 6 & 13, 2018  7:30pm Fri.  Dec. 7 & 14, 2018  7:30pm Sat.  Dec. 8 & 15, 2018  2:00pm & 8:00pm Sun.  Dec. 9 & 16, 2018  2:00pm Black Box Theatre  Adult $15, Senior $12* *Contact Ticket Office for Group and Student Rates.

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

OCC PERFORMING ARTS MUSICAL THEATER OCC Repertory Theatre Company presents:

5, 6, 7, 8! A Love Letter to Broadway March 8-10 and 14-17

5, 6,

7, 8!

A Love Letter to Broadway

A collection of musical favorites spanning decades and styles... hits and some misses, the up-tempo, the ballad, and the rock’n’roll jukebox. Thu.  March 14, 2019  7:30pm Fri.  March 8 & 15, 2019  7:30pm Sat.  March 9 & 16, 2019  8:00pm Sun.  March 10 & 17, 2019  2:00pm Black Box Theatre  Adult $15, Senior $12 Contact Ticket Office for Group and Student Rates.

THEATER OCC Repertory Theatre Company presents:

The Crucible

April 25-28 and May 3-5

the

Crucible

The story focuses upon a young farmer, his wife, and a young servant-girl who maliciously causes the wife’s arrest for witchcraft. The farmer brings the girl to court to admit the lie—and it is here that the monstrous course of bigotry and deceit is terrifyingly depicted. The farmer, instead of saving his wife, finds himself also accused of witchcraft and ultimately condemned with a host of others. Winner of the 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. “A powerful drama.” —NY Times Written by Arthur Miller. Directed by Paul Chalakani. Thu.  April 25, 2019  7:30pm Fri.  April 26 & May 3, 2019  7:30pm Sat.  April 27 & May 4, 2019  8:00pm Sun.  April 28 & May 5, 2019  2:00pm Black Box Theatre  Adult $15, Senior $12 Contact Ticket Office for Group and Student Rates.

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OCC PERFORMING ARTS CLASSICAL OCC Concert Band presents:

The Sounds of the Season Saturday, December 1, 2018

Sleigh Bells, ho-ho-ho’s, the clip clop of horses, the excitement and warmth of brass, winds, and percussion; these are the “Sounds of the Season,” and that is exactly what you will get at the Ocean County College Concert Band’s Holiday Performance! Join us as we get you, your family, and friends in the spirit of the season. Conducted by Anthony Tafrow. Main Stage  7:00pm Adult $20, Senior $18 Contact Ticket Office for Group and Student Rates.

CLASSICAL OCC Concert Band presents:

An American Salute Saturday, May 4, 2019

Throughout our history, one thing has remained constant: brave men and women have fought and died for our freedom. The Ocean County College Band salutes our retired and active members of the military with a musical tribute, featuring selections so full of pride and emotion there won’t be a dry eye in the audience. Please join us as we honor our veterans with “An American Salute.” Conducted by Anthony Tafrow. Main Stage  7:00pm Adult $20, Senior $18  Special Rate for Active Military and Retired Veterans $10 Contact Ticket Office for Group and Student Rates.

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

PERFORMING PARTNERS Allison C. Walter Managing Director The Orchestra-in-Residence Anthony LaGruth

at Ocean County College

________________ Artistic Director & Conductor 63rd SEASON ________________

Programs & Events

Music lives on the Jersey Shore, where the Garden State Philharmonic opens its arms to existing and future generations of music lovers, forging a classical path between the metropolises of Philadelphia and New York City.

_______________ SUBSCRIPTION SERIES _______________ JAY & LINDA GRUNIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Scheherazade

The Four Seasons

The colorfully exotic world of One Thousand and One Nights comes to life in the music of Rimsky-Korsakov—one of the greatest orchestrators in music history. The Garden State Philharmonic will open its 63rd Season with RimskyKorsakov’s Scheherazade. 3:00 pm  Main Stage

An evening of strings awaits you as the Garden State Philharmonic brings Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to life. Each evoking a different season of the year, this series of four concerto’s for strings and solo violin will capture the hearts of first time concert goers and veterans of the symphony as well. Other works featured on this concert include Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings and Dvorak’s Serenade for Strings. 7:00 pm  Main Stage

Sun., Sep. 16, 2018

Sat., Apr. 27, 2019

Discovering Debussy Sat., Oct. 20, 2018

Discovering the music of Debussy and those he inspired, the Garden State Philharmonic will honor the centennial year of Claude Debussy through his sublime symphonic poem Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune as well as what has been touted the “most beautiful piece ever written,” Clair de lune. 7:00 pm  Main Stage

Eroica

Sat., May 18, 2019 A symphony fit for a true hero, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, Eroica, revolutionized the very nature of music. This majestic work celebrates the true heroes of humanity and is considered one of the “greatest symphonies of all time”. 7:00 pm  Main Stage

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______________ GENERAL INFORMATION ______________ Garden State Philharmonic Office  1 College Drive, PO Box 2001 Toms River, NJ 08754  732.255.0460

Visit gardenstatephilharmonic. org for program information, or to make donations to the nonprofit. Tickets may be purchased online, by calling the GSP Office or through the Grunin Center Box Office by telephone or in person

www.gardenstatephilharmonic.org @gardenstatephilharmonic @thegardenstatephilharmonic @gsp_music

_____________________ TICKETS _____________________

 Orchestra Section:  Adults $50  Seniors (60+) $44  Students (w/ID) $20  Balcony Section:  Adults $44  Seniors (60+) $40  Students (w/ID) $14

A per order service and handling fee will be applied at the time of purchase. Groups of 10 or more receive special discounts. Save 10-15% off single tickets when you purchase a subscription package.

________ SPECIAL NON-SERIES PERFORMANCES ________

Messiah & More! Sun., Dec. 16, 2018

Celebrate the season with one of the best-known choral works in Western music, Handel’s Messiah, as well as added seasonal selections performed by the Garden State Philharmonic and the GSP Chorus under the direction of Steven Russell.  4:00 pm  Christ Episcopal Church, Toms River

The American Composer

Sun., Mar. 24, 2019 From Randall Thompson’s Frostiana to Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring, the Garden State Philharmonic, featuring the GSP Chorus, will celebrate the works of American composers. Featured works include: Frostiana (Thompson), Appalachian Spring (Copland), and Made in America (Tower).  3:00 pm  Main Stage  Jay & Linda Grunin Center for the Arts

**Program dates and information subject to change.

grunincenter.org • grunincenter@ocean.edu • 732.255.0500

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