Schedule of Events
November 20 to December 29
Paper Mill Playhouse
(Check web site for show dates and times.)
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella
The Tony-nominate Broadway musical features some of the songwriting duo’s most memorable tunes, including “Impossible” and “In My Own Little Corner.”
Tuesday • December 3 • 8:00 pm
Wednesday • December 4 • 8:00 pm
State Theatre
Jersey Boys
The Broadway megahit traces the ascent of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. But you know that already. The show has a Tony and a Grammy to its credit, and spun off a movie, to boot!
December 4 to December 29
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey
(Check web site for show dates and times.)
Charles Dickens’
A Christmas Carol
Brian Crowe directs this production of the beloved holiday classic, adapted for the stage by Neil Bartlett.
NJPAC
Wednesday • December 4 8:00 pm
NJPAC
Taylor Mac
Holiday Sauce
The Tony-nominated force of nature Taylor Mac makes his NJPAC debut with an utterly outrageous holiday extravaganza. Not even remotely your father’s Christmas show.
NJPAC
Sunday • December 8 7:00 pm
NJPAC
Trilogy Opera Company
Sassy
The Victoria Theater hosts the return of Trilogy for a performance celebrating the life and work of Newark legend Sarah Vaughn, composed by Dorothy Rudd Moore.
State Theatre
Friday • December 20 • 8:00 pm
Saturday • December 21 2:00 & 8:00 pm
Sunday • December 22 • 2:00 pm
State Theatre
Fiddler On the Roof
Director Bartlett Sher brings a fresh look to this classic musical, with choreography by Hofesh Shechter
NJPAC
Saturday • January 25 • 2:00 pm
Sunday • January 26 • 2:00 pm
NJPAC
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company
Year of the Golden Rat
NJPAC’s annual Chinese New Year celebration features choreographer Na-Ni Chen’s dance troupe on stage in the Victoria Theater.
State Theatre
Thursday • January 30 • 8:00 pm
Friday • January 31 • 8:00 pm
Saturday • February 1 • 2:00 & 8:00 pm
State Theatre
The Color Purple
The State plays host to four performances of the Tony- and Grammy-winning musical featuring a mix of ragtime, jazz, gospel and blues.
January 30 to March 1
Paper Mill Playhouse
(Check web site for show dates and times.)
Unmasked: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber
The world premiere of a musical celebrating the life and work of one of history’s most prolific musical theater’s composers. The show includes highlights from Phantom of the Opera, Evita, Cats, Sunset Boulevard and Jesus Christ Superstar.
NJPAC
Saturday • February 8 • 2:00 & 7:30 pm
NJPAC
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi In Concert
The NJSO performs John Williams’ score of the classic sci-fi film, presented simultaneously on the big screen in Prudential Hall.
FUNNY YOU SHOULD MENTION IT
NJPAC
Friday • November 29 8:00 pm
NJPAC
DeRay David and Friends
Thanksgiving Comedy Fest
DeRay Davis headlines a comedy lineup that includes Tony Rock and Jessica Moore. Davis soared to stardom after his Netflix special How to Act Black and developed a new following as hit-man Jermel on the FOX series Empire.
UPAC
Saturday • November 30 • 8:00 pm
UCPAC
Kreeps with Kids
Comedy Tour
Robert Kelly, Ron Bennington, Rich Voss and Jim Florentine team up for a truly unforgettable evening of adult childishness.
UCPAC
Saturday • December 14 • 8:00 pm
UCPAC
Sinbad Live On Stage
The popular stand-up returns to
Rahway, where he sold out his 2016 show.
NJPAC
Sunday • December 29 • 7:00 pm
NJPAC
Michael Carbonaro Live On Stage
The star of TV’s beloved The Carbonaro Effect comes to NJPAC with his blend of crazy antics and mind-bending magic.
NJPAC
Saturday • February 8 • 3:00 & 7:30 pm
NJPAC
Drum Tao Live On Stage
A pulse-pounding, family-friendly performance of this off-Broadway hit.
INNER CHILD
Friday • November 29 • 8:00 pm
Saturday • November 30 • 2:00 & 8:00 pm
Sunday • December 1 • 2:00 pm
State Theatre
The SpongeBob Musical
The 2018 Drama Desk pick for Best Musical crosses the Hudson for four performances on the State Theatre stage.
NJPAC
Saturday • November 30 • 10:00 am, 2:00 & 6:00 pm
Sunday • December 1 • 10:00 am & 2:00 pm
NJPAC
Paw Patrol Live The Great Pirate Adventure
Nick Jr.’s animated series comes to life on the Prudential Hall stage as Ryder and his fellow rescue dogs follow the clues on a secret treasure map.
STAGE CRAFT
NJPAC
Saturday • November 23 3:00 & 7:00 pm
NJPAC
Maurice Hines
Tappin’ Thru Life
The legendary tap master is joined by the Diva Jazz Orchestra and the Manzai Brothers for two performances from his off-Broadway show.
NJPAC
Saturday • December 28 3:00 & 7:00 pm
NJPAC
Holiday Dreams
Billed as a spectacular holiday cirque, this performance features acrobats, aerialists, music and a jaw-dropping laser-light show.
Saturday • January 11 • 8:00 pm
UCPAC
Jeremy Jordan Live On Stage
Broadway star Jeremy Jordan returns to Rahway for an unforgettable one-man show.
CRACKIN’ GOOD
State Theatre
Friday • December 13 • 8:00 pm
Saturday • December 14 • 2:00 & 7:00 pm
State Theatre
American Repertory Ballet
The Nutcracker
ARB comes to The State with a cast of 100-plus performers under the artistic direction of Douglas Martin.
NJPAC
Saturday • December 14 • 2:00 & 7:00 pm
NJPAC
National Ballet Theatre of Odessa
The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky’s beloved score sets the stage for Marius Petipa’s original choreography and sumptuous sets and costumes.
NJPAC
Friday • December 20 • 7:00 pm
Saturday • December 21 • 2:00 pm
NJPAC
Kurtis Blow
The Hip-Hop Nutcracker
Fast becoming a Brick City tradition, this telling of the classic holiday tale features rap legend Kurtis Blow as MC and a cast of edgy, high-energy performers.
OH, CLASSIC
NJPAC
Sunday • November 24 • 8:00 pm
NJPAC
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine
In Concert
The Kiev-based NSOU makes its NJPAC debut featuring pianist Olga Kern and conducted by Volodymyr Sirenko in a program of cherished Russian works.
NJPAC
Thursday • December 5 • 1:30 pm
Friday • December 6 • 8:00 pm
Sunday • December 8 • 3:00 pm
NJPAC
Saturday • December 7 • 8:00 pm
State Theatre
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Piano Concerto
Pianist George Li is featured in the NJSO’s performance of three unforgettable works.
State Theatre
Tuesday • December 31 5:00 pm
State Theatre
Kiev-Aniko Ballet of Ukraine
Salute to Vienna
The Kiev-Aniko Ballet teams with champion ballroom dancers for a New Year’s Eve concert that evokes the golden age of Vienna.
Friday • January 3 • 8:00 pm
NJPAC
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Winter Festival: Romeo and Juliet
The NJSO performs works by Prokofiev and Clara Schumann behind pianist Inon Barnatan and conductor Xian Zhang.
NJPAC
Saturday • January 11 • 8:00 pm
NJPAC
Sunday • January 12 • 3:00 pm
State Theatre
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Winter Festival: Don Giovanni
Comedy, tragedy, the supernatural—Mozart’s opera has it all, with the added bonus of Eric Wyrick on violin.
Saturday • January 18 • 8:00 pm
State Theatre
Sunday • January 19 • 3:00 pm
NJPAC
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Winter Festival: The Ring Without Words
Pianist Simon Trpčeski is featured in a program highlighting the towering works of Wagner and Lizst.
NOTEWORTHY
Prudential Center
Saturday • November 16 • 7:30 pm
Prudential Center
TOOL In Concert
Three-time Grammy winners come to Newark in support of their new album, Fear Inoculum. The “thinking man’s metal band” has built a unique artsy following over the past two decades, and was one of the last U.S. bands to release its music digitally.
Prudential Center
Friday • November 22 7:30 pm
Prudential Center
Jonas Brothers
Happiness Begins Tour
The multiplatinum brother act returns to The Rock on their biggest tour ever. They’ll be joined on stage by special guests Bebe Rexha and Jordan McGraw.
Saturday • November 23 • 8:00 pm
State Theatre
The Fab Faux
Beatles Movie Music
The legendary Beatles tribute band performs selections from A Hard Day’s Night, Help, Magical Mystery Tour and Yellow Submarine.
Sunday • November 24 • 11:00 am & 1:00 pm
NJPAC
Houston Person
Saxophone virtuoso Houston Person headlines two brunch-time performances at NJPAC’s Nico Kitchen+Bar in the latest edition of the Dorthaan’s Place series.
UCPAC
Sunday • December 15 • 8:00 pm
UCPAC
Martina McBride
The Joy of Christmas Tour
Country superstar Martina McBride performs selections from It’s the Holiday Season, along with a few of her six #1 hits.
Sunday • December 15 • 4:00 pm
NJPAC
Boston Pops In Concert
This is the holiday show that has entertained generations, conducted by Keith Lockhart.
State Theatre
Friday • December 26 • 8:00 pm
State Theatre
Béla Fleck & The Flecktones In Concert
The group’s original lineup is together in support of their latest album, Rocket Science.
NJPAC
Saturday • January 18 • 8:00 pm
NJPAC
Stephanie Mills In Concert
The legendary Stephanie Mills takes the Prudential Hall stage with R&B super group The Whispers as part of NJPAC’s annual MLK celebration.
NJPAC
Sunday • January 26 • 3:00 pm
NJPAC
Classical Mystery Tour
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles tribute band teams up with members of NJSO for a concert featuring their most iconic album… and more.
UCPAC
Saturday • February 15 • 8:00 pm
UCPAC
Ice-T In Concert
NJ-born actor, rapper, producer, entrepreneur Ice-T takes the Main Stage for a raucous live performance.
Prudential Center
Saturday • March 7 • 7:30 pm
Sunday • March 8 • 7:30 pm
Prudential Center
Celine Dion
Courage World Tour
The record-shattering powerhouse performer appears on back-to-back nights in the 2020 leg of her Courage tour.
Editor’s Note: For more info on these listings log onto the following web sites:
