Jersey Shore Magazine

22 CENTER PLAYHOUSE Center Players, 35 South Street Freehold, (732) 462-9093 www.centerplayers.org Email: info@centerplayers.org Center Playhouse is home to Center Players. It is an intimate, 49-seat, dessert theater, located in downtown Freehold Center. Programming includes Signature Series shows (fully staged productions that run for five weekends and include gourmet desserts and coffee), Applause Series events ("black-box" presentations with shorter runs that include original works, theater-for-children, musi- cal events, and guest-theater presentations), and open house Play readings (monthly staged read- ings of new and under-appreciated works under consideration for future seasons). 10-21 – 11-20: The Sunshine Boys by Neil Simon, various days and times 12-9 – 12-18: The Holiday Show, various days and times 2-10 – 3-17: The Dinner Party by Neil Simon, vari- ous days and times CONVENTION HALL AND PARAMOUNT THEATRE Ocean Avenue (between 5th and Sunset Avenues), Asbury Park (732) 897-6500 www.apboardwalk.com One of the most distinctive and majestic land- marks along the New Jersey Shore, Asbury Park's Convention Hall and Paramount Theatre is a multi-purpose venue of two separate buildings joined by a Grand Arcade. Convention Hall, locat- ed on the boardwalk and extending out over the beach, has a capacity of up to 3,600, depending upon the event. It features an impressive stage area and a spacious arena floor. The historic Paramount Theatre, which opened in 1930, is a showcase for music and performing arts and offers a wide variety of entertainment. Call or check the website for current schedule. COUNT BASIE THEATRE 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank (732) 842-9000 www.countbasietheatre.org Founded in 1926, this 1,400-seat theater is known for first class entertainment in an intimate setting. The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra has played a schedule here for many decades. Famous musical artists such as Bon Jovi, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Bruce Springsteen, and the Brian Setzer Orchestra among others frequently perform at the venue in what are usually sold-out performances. In recent years, the theater has shifted to a wider audience. Family shows, musical plays, comedians (such as Jon Stewart and Lewis Black), and famous political commentators have all appeared here. 10:25: The Mavericks, 8:00 PM 10-26: Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman: An Evening of YES Music and More, 8:00 PM 10-27: Rich Russo's Anything Anything 8th Anniversary Show featuring David Cassidy, 8:00 PM 10-28: Tracy Morgan: Picking up the Pieces, 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM 10-29: Dead on Live and Company, 8:00 PM 10-30: Michael Feinstein, 7:00 PM 11-1: Steve Miller Band, 8:00 PM 11-3: An Evening with Savion Glover, 8:00 PM 11-4: Robert Klein and Rita Rudner, 8:00 PM 11-5: Brian Regan, 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM 11-6: Kidz Bop Kids: Life of the Party, 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM 11-11 – 11-20: Phoenix Productions presents A Christmas Story, various dates and times 11-21: The Brian Setzer Orchestra's 13th Annual Christmas Rocks! Tour, 7:30 PM 11-22: Joe Bonamassa, 8:00 PM 11-23: Disney Junior's Octonauts Live! The Deep Sea Volcano Adventure, 4:00 PM 11-25: Jackie Evancho, 7:30 PM 11-26: The Wizards of Winter featuring original members of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, 8:00 PM 11-28: Donny and Marie Osmond, 8:00 PM 11-28 – 11-29: Once, 8:00 PM 12-2: A Christmas Carol, 8:00 PM 12-3: A Holiday Doo Wop, 7:00 PM 12-4: The Sinatra Birthday Bash, 4:00 PM 12-10 – 12-11: Company of Dance Arts presents The Nutcracker, various times 12-12: Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna, 8:00 PM 12-19 – 12-20: Holiday Express Benefit Concert, 7:30 PM 12-21: Kenny Rogers: The Gambler's Last Deal - Christmas and Hits with Special Guest Linda Davis, 7:30 PM 12-31: Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes New Year's Eve Extravaganza, 9:00 PM 1-7: Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, 2:00 PM and 5:30 PM 1-8 Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway, 3:00 PM 1-22: An Evening with Pat Metheny 7:30 PM 1-27: One Man Star Wars Trilogy, 7:30 PM 2-2: Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters, 7:30 PM 2-9: The State Ballet Theatre of Russia: Cinderella, 7:30 PM 2-12: MEGA Bubble Show! 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM 2-26: Late Night Catechism: 'Til Death Do Us Part, 3:00 PM EARTH ROOM CONCERTS Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County 1475 West Front Street, Lincroft (732) 747-0707 www.earthroomconcerts.org and www.uucmc.org This is a new series of folk/acoustic/singer-song- writer concerts sponsored by and held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County. Excellent national performers in the beautiful, intimate Earth Room setting (capacity approx. 200). 11-5: Tracy Grammer, 7:30 PM EXIT 82 THEATRE COMPANY 1171 Fischer Boulevard, Toms River (732) 270-2913 Performances at: The Strand Center For The Arts 400 Clifton Avenue Lakewood email: exit82theatre@gmail.com www.exit82theatre.com Exit 82 Theatre Company was founded as a non-profit theatre group in 2008 to provide quality artistic entertainment that involves and inspires the local community to develop talents in all aspects of the theatre arts. The Exit 82 Theatre Company typically produces three shows a year. 12-1 – 12-4: It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, various days and times. FIRST AVENUE PLAYHOUSE 123 First Avenue, Atlantic Highlands (732) 291-7552 www.firstavenueplayhouse.org This charming, intimate dessert theatre features year-round entertainment for adults and children. Performances include musicals, dramas, and com- edies. Patrons sit at tables and have coffee and dessert and enjoy Broadway shows (Thurs. - Sun.). Call for reservations. October: Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward, various days and times November: Break a Leg on Broadway – A Musical Review, various days and times GARDEN STATE PHILHARMONIC 1 College Drive, Toms River (732) 255-0460 www.gardenstatephilharmonic.org The Garden State Philharmonic (GSP), the orches- tra-in-residence at Ocean County College in Toms River, is dedicated to maintaining and operating a professional level symphony orchestra at the Jersey Shore and to giving concerts of cultural and educational value in and for the communi- ty. Its core values center around performance, education, and accessibility; to preserve classical music through public presentation; to promote arts education by introducing children to the wonders of orchestral and choral music; to make such music accessible to all residents; and to con- tribute vital energy to regional economic devel- opment and cultural tourism. The GSP performs at The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts at Ocean County College, The Strand Center For The Arts in Lakewood, Ocean County Library (at various branches), Stafford Township Arts Center in Manahawkin, and The Casino Ballroom at Georgian Court University in Lakewood. 10-29: Friday Night at the Phil, 7:30 PM 12-11: GSP Chorus' Messiah and More (at Christ Episcopal Church, 415 Washington Street, Toms River), 4:00 PM 1-1: Celebrate New Year's Day with the GSP (at Georgian Court University Ballroom, Lakewood), 11:00 AM 2-12: GSP Youth Orchestra performs Winter/Spring Concert, (at Toms River High School North, 1245 Old Freehold Road, Toms River), 3:00 PM courtesy Count Basie Theatre The Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank. THEATER & CONCERTS continued from page 21

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