In town for the holiday season…

 

November 19

Janet Jackson 

State of the World Tour Prudential Center  8:00 pm 

The five-time Grammy winner returns to The Rock with an all-new show after her Unbreakable tour. Jackson has sold over 100 million albums in her career, which began in the 1970s as the youngest member of the Jackson clan. 

 

November 22

Get The Led Out

State Theater   8:00 pm 

The Led Zeppelin tribute band features a sextet of veteran musicians acclaimed for their spot-on performances of the band’s classic tunes. 

 

November 22 to December 31

Annie

Papermill Playhouse 

Little Orphan Annie comes to the Papermill stage for the winter holidays. Check the web site for performances and show times.

 

November 25

Tony Danza:  Standards & Stories

UCPAC  8:00 pm 

Backed by a four-piece band, the beloved actor presents an evening of music, storytelling and schmoozing. Danza performs his favorite American standards along with hits from the Broadway musical Honeymoon in Vegas. 

 

November 26

An American in Paris in Concert with the  New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

State Theater   3:00 pm

Watch Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron fall in love on the silver screen all over again in the classic 1951 film—while the NJSO performs the score live—in an unforgettable experience for movie and music lovers alike. 

 

December 1

The State Ballet Theatre of Russia: Sleeping Beauty

UCPAC  7:30 pm  

The State Ballet Theatre of Russia presents Sleeping Beauty, under the direction of award-winning Nikolay Anokhin. Fifty-five of Russia’s most talented ballet stars bring to life this Brothers Grimm tale on stage. 

 

 

 

December 5

The Colors of Christmas

State Theater 8:00 pm 

A constellation of stars get into the Christmas spirit at the State Theater. Headliners include Peabo Bryson, Marliyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr., Ruben Studdard and Jody Watley. 

 

 

December 7

An Evening with  Savion Glover 

NJPAC  7:00 pm

Tony-winning tap master Savion Glover—coming off last year’s Broadway triumph—fills NJPAC’s stage with a high-energy choreographed production. 

 

December 16

Forces of Nature Dance Company

NJPAC  2:00 pm & 7:30 pm 

Forces of Nature celebrates Kwanzaa with modern dance, West African movement, ballet, hip-hop and martial arts. Featuring special guest poets Ntozake Shange and Sonia Sanchez.

 

December 17

The Jazz Club at UCPAC: Reut Regev & Igal Foni

Hamilton Stage  7:00 pm 

Rahway’s own world-renowned jazz artists headline a full ensemble in this stylized and energetic concert. 

 

December 30

Michael Carbonaro

NJPAC  7:00 pm 

Magician of the Year Michael Carbonaro—star of the truTV series The Carbonaro Effect—blends sharp wit and mind-blowing magic.   

 

 

December 31

Eaglemania 

Hamilton Stage  8:30 pm 

The beloved Eagles tribute band is famous for rocking the group’s five-part harmonies, guitar jams and solo hits of Joe Walsh, Don Henley and Glenn Frey.

 

January 7

Sci-Fi Spectacular:  Music from Star Wars, Star Trek & Beyond

State Theater   3:00 pm 

Bob Berhnhardt conducts the NJSO in an out-of-this-world musical experience, celebrating the scores from history’s most iconic sci-fi film franchises.

 

January 18

Travis Wall’s Shaping Sound: After the Curtain

NJPAC  6:00 pm 

The Emmy-winning choreographer leads his energetic dance company in an uplifting tale of a man searching for his creative voice after the loss of his one true love.  

 

January 24 to February 18

The Outsider

Papermill Playhouse 

The Outsider, a satirical tribute to democracy, makes its East Coast debut at the Papermill Playhouse. Ned Newly learns that, in politics, the less you know the higher you’ll go. 

 

FOR the KIDS 

 

November 24 & 25

Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic

State Theater 

 

November 30

Mooseltoe

UCPAC  7:00 pm

 

December 2 & 3 and 9 & 10

A Charlie Brown Christmas Live!

Hamilton Stage 

 

December 6

Garfield Christmas

UCPAC   2:00 pm 

 

December 9

Paw Patrol Live!

NJPAC  10:00 am, 2:00 & 6:00 pm

 

December 16

The Polar Express

Kean Stage   Noon & 3:00 pm

 

December 18

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical 

State Theater   3:00 & 6:00 pm 

 

THE NUTCRACKER 

November 18

American Repertory Ballet 

UCPAC  2:00 pm

 

December 3

Russian Grand Ballet

Kean Stage   3:00 pm

December 15

The Hip Hop Nutcracker featuring Kurtis Blow 

NJPAC   7:00 pm

 

December 15 to 17

American Repertory Ballet 

State Theater 

 

December 16

The State Ballet of Russia 

NJPAC  3:00 pm 

 

January 24 & 25

The Illusionists

State Theater  8:00 pm 

Five incredible, world-class illusionists will astound and dazzle audiences of all ages with feats of levitation, mind-reading, disappearances and grand illusion. 

 

 

February 1 to 4

Ain’t Misbehavin’

NJPAC  3:00 pm & 8:00 pm 

One of the all-time great Broadway musicals comes to Newark for six perform-ances. A celebration of the Harlem Renaissance of the pre-WWII era, the show features the raucous, groundbreaking swing and boogi-woogie works of Fats Waller. 

 

 

February 3

Frankie Avalon

Kean Stage  3:00 & 7:30 pm

Mr. Teen Angel himself takes a trip down memory lane, performing his iconic hits including #1 singles “Venus” and “Why.”

 

 

 

 

Editor’s Note: This overview of local entertainment, curated by Rachel Stewart, is just a taste of our area’s overall performance picture. For full listings, log onto the following web sites: 

Papermill Playhouse • papermill.org

Kean Stage • keanstage.com

State Theater • stnj.org

NJPAC • njpac.org

Prudential Center • prucenter.com

Union Country Performing Arts Center & Hamilton Stage • ucpac.org