Events

The Pretenders, Pretenders
2022-08-09 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
It’s just like book club but with albums! With new advances in technology, the way we consume music through our devices, apps and on demand streaming services like Pandora, Spotify and iTunes is making the idea of the “album” as an art form extinct. Get together with other music enthusiasts on Tuesday nights to discuss some of the greatest records of all-time! Listen to the album beforehand and then come prepared to discuss. This event will feature The Pretenders, Pretenders.
When you register you will be provided the ZOOM meeting link to join the conversation. Click here for more information on how to use zoom
Free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita
2022-07-19 19:30 - 21:30 | Virtual
Join us for Tuesday Night Book Club! Hosted by Monmouth University’s Ken Womack, each month we’ll explore a different novel. All you have to do is Zoom in and join the discussion!
This month’s novel is Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita.
Awe and exhilaration–along with heartbreak and mordant wit–abound in Lolita, Nabokov’s most famous and controversial novel, which tells the story of the aging Humbert Humbert’s obsessive, devouring, and doomed passion for the nymphet Dolores Haze. Lolita is also the story of a hypercivilized European colliding with the cheerful barbarism of postwar America. Most of all, it is a meditation on love–love as outrage and hallucination, madness and transformation.
“The only convincing love story of our century.” —Vanity Fair
When you register you will be provided the meeting link to join the conversation.

Botticelli: Florence and the Medici
2022-07-15 19:30 - 21:30 | Pollak Theatre
Purchasing tickets in advance is STRONGLY encouraged. Due to distanced seating in the theatre, capacity is limited and walk-ups might not be able to be accommodated.
Florence in the era of the powerhouse Italian statesman, politician and patron Lorenzo de’ Medici, was the heart of Renaissance art and culture. One artist, above all others, was able to evoke the lights and shadows of this unforgettable era: Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510). Through Botticelli: Florence and the Medici, we re-live Florence and all its art workshops through Botticelli’s life, his collaborations, his challenges and successes. From the outset of Botticelli’s career under the wing of the Medici family, he established himself as the inventor of an ideal beauty, seen in works such as The Allegory of Spring and the Birth of Venus. The death of Lorenzo de Medici marked the downward spiral of the Florentine master, who was destined to be forgotten for over three centuries, but the rediscovery of Botticelli by the Pre-Raphaelites reignited a genuine fascination with the artist and sparked a Botticelli-mania which continues to this day.
Runtime: 90 mins approx.

The Go-Go’s, Beauty and the Beat
2022-07-12 19:30 - 21:30 | Virtual
It’s just like book club but with albums! With new advances in technology, the way we consume music through our devices, apps and on demand streaming services like Pandora, Spotify and iTunes is making the idea of the “album” as an art form extinct. Get together with other music enthusiasts on Tuesday nights to discuss some of the greatest records of all-time! Listen to the album beforehand and then come prepared to discuss. This event will feature The Go-Go’s, Beauty and the Beat
When you register you will be provided the ZOOM meeting link to join the conversation. Click here for more information on how to use zoom
Free and open to the public, but registration is required.

An Evening of Poetry, Jazz and “Harp”Beats with Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise, Robert Pinsky, Digba Ogunbiyi Quartet and Gregory Schwartz
2022-07-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Pollak Theatre
Join us for an evening of an evening of Poetry, Jazz and “Harp”Beats featuring – Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise’s hip-hop poetry with bluesy beats supported by the harp, New Jersey native and former Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky’s “PoemJazz” with a reading and performance of poems in concert with a variety of jazz improvisations. Also featured on the evening’s bill are the Digba Ogunbiyi Quartet playing original compositions that are deeply rooted in Ogunbiyi’s Nigeria roots, yet highly informed by his years of studying Jazz; and an opening set by Gregory Schwartz, former recipient of the Poet Laureate of Asbury Park award.
This event is part of the Monmouth University Summer Music and Arts Festival 2022.

Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise
Since the 2018 release of “Higher Grounds,” their first album, Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise have brought their unique blend of hip-hop, soul and classical traditions to various communities. Releasing their highly anticipated second album “Ké m yōōnədé” (2021), Kuf and Christine’s music explores themes of unity, spirituality and the infinite possibility of creating a better world. They fuse hip-hop poetry with bluesy beats supported by the harp. And, you can dance to it. They recently have been featured on NPR Music and WHYY. Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise offer motivational creative arts workshops and performances at various settings such as hospitals, schools and community centers. Their mission is to use the power of music, personal experience and empathetic relation to help individuals grow to meet their fullest potential.
Robert Pinsky
New Jersey native Robert Pinsky (United States Poet Laureate 1997-2000) has devised a collaborative program which showcases his two great passions: poetry and jazz. Pinsky presents the human voice — the reading and performance of poems – in concert with a variety of jazz improvisations. In PoemJazz, Pinsky’s rich and textured voice takes on a role like that of a horn or wind instrument in conversation with melody and rhythm, creating an exchange between the sounds of poetry and of music. “In jazz, as in poetry,” says Robert Pinsky, “there is always that play between what’s regular and what’s wild. That has always appealed to me.” Robert Pinsky has performed with Grammy-winning pianist Laurance Hobgood and other celebrated jazz musicians, including Vijay Iyer, Ben Allison, Bobby Bradford, and Stan Strickland.
Digba Ogunbiyi Quartet
The Digba Ogunbiyi quartet is a musical group that consists of Drummer Chris Paredes, Bassist Bill Moring, Alto saxophonist Jalin Shiver and pianist Digba Ogunbiyi. The quartet which is led by Digba Ogunbiyi started while he was a student at the New Jersey City University. As a pianist from Nigeria, he is obsessed with exploring sounds that are informed by his childhood experiences in Lagos. This is evident in his 2020 debut album “Ade’digba” which has been described as a “sound of hope for the African jazz community. ”With his quartet, Digba stretches the boundaries of genre often playing original compositions that are deeply rooted in his roots yet highly informed by his years of studying Jazz.
Gregory Schwartz
Gregory Schwartz, a former recipient of the Poet Laureate of Asbury Park award (2007), has been a resident poet at the MC Skate & Surf Break contest and the 2010 Bamboozle Festival. He has also been featured on the front page of the Asbury Park Press (2002, 2009, 2012), appeared in Steve Forbert’s music video “Sandy” and is a writer for Asbury Park Vibes.

Blue Hawk House Band
2022-07-09 16:00 - 17:00 | Lauren K. Woods Theatre
Monmouth University’s very own Blue Hawk House Band, who has been entertaining folks virtually throughout the pandemic monthly during Tuesday Night Record Club, will make their live debut. These talented students put their very own spin on rock and pop classics.

This event is part of the Monmouth University Summer Music and Arts Festival 2022.

Peter and the Wolf by the Garden State Philharmonic
2022-07-09 15:00 - 16:00 | Lauren K. Woods Theatre
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO LOW TICKET SALES.
Join us for a family-friendly performance of Serge Prokofiev’s famous story Peter and the Wolf by the Garden State Philharmonic. In this production, children are invited to participate by filling in coloring books on stage for story time with the Garden State Philharmonic.
This event is part of the Monmouth University Summer Music and Arts Festival 2022.

Monmouth University Music & Arts Festival 2022
2022-07-09 | Various Campus Locations
Monmouth University’s Summer Music and Arts festival is now in its third season—and its first as an in-person event – is taking place on Saturday, July 9th in the theatres and galleries across campus. With family-friendly programming, student performances, a visual arts exhibit and an eclectic evening concert – there truly is something for everyone to enjoy.
Festival Schedule:

Blue Hawk House Band
Woods Theatre | 4:00 PM
Tickets: $20, Children are FREE (must be accompanied by paying adult)

Following the Garden State Philharmonic, Monmouth University’s very own Blue Hawk House Band, who has been entertaining folks virtually throughout the pandemic monthly during Tuesday Night Record Club, will make their live debut. These talented students put their very own spin on rock and pop classics.

Poetry, Jazz and “Harp”Beats
Pollak Theatre | 7:00 PM
Tickets: $38-$50
Finally, the festival will conclude with a capstone evening of Poetry, Jazz and “Harp”Beats featuring – Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise’s hip-hop poetry with bluesy beats supported by the harp, New Jersey native and former US Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky’s “PoemJazz” with a reading and performance of poems in concert with a variety of jazz improvisations. Also featured on the evening’s bill are the Digba Ogunbiyi Quartet playing original compositions that are deeply rooted in Ogunbiyi’s Nigeria roots, yet highly informed by his years of studying Jazz; and an opening set by Gregory Schwartz, former recipient of the Poet Laureate of Asbury Park award.

Front Row Center: Icons of Rock, Blues, and Soul
Pollak and DiMattio Galleries
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Free and open to the public

Throughout the day, participants are invited to view the iconic photographs of Larry Hulst in the exhibition Front Row Center: Icons of Rock, Blues, and Soul on display in Pollak and Ice House Galleries. From Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix to David Bowie and Lauryn Hill the exhibit brings together over 70 images of legendary musicians and singers across three genres showcasing a unique visual anthology of rock, blues, and soul music from 1970–1999. The exhibition will run through July 15.

The Monmouth University Music & Arts Festival is designed to provide Monmouth County communities and beyond, along with the students, faculty, and staff at Monmouth University, with the opportunity to enjoy a top-flight music and arts event each summer.

Henry V
2022-06-30 19:30 - 23:00 | Pollak Theatre
Prior to purchasing tickets please review our COVID-19 Safety Measures and Policies.
Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) plays the title role in Shakespeare’s thrilling study of nationalism, war and the psychology of power.
Fresh to the throne, King Henry V launches England into a bloody war with France. When his campaign encounters resistance, this inexperienced new ruler must prove he is fit to guide a country into war.
Captured live from the Donmar Warehouse in London, this exciting modern production directed by Max Webster (Life of Pi) explores what it means to be English and our relationship to Europe, asking: do we ever get the leaders we deserve?
Note: There is a strobe warning for this production. It contains sequences involving extended flashing or flickering light.
This production has received a 15 rating by the BBFC and IFCO. This is equivalent to “R” in the US.

Pompeii: Sin City
2022-06-24 19:30 - 21:30 | Pollak Theatre
Prior to purchasing tickets please review our COVID-19 Safety Measures and Policies.
Purchasing tickets in advance is STRONGLY encouraged. Due to distanced seating in the theatre, capacity is limited and walk-ups might not be able to be accommodated.
An exploration of Pompeii, a city cloaked in mystery and depicted through images and words by the great artists and writers who experienced and imagined it over the course of history: from Pliny the Younger to Picasso, from Emily Dickinson to Jean Cocteau. Famously known for the catastrophic volcanic eruption which buried Pompeii along with its inhabitants over 2000 years ago, Pompeii: Sin City hosted by Isabella Rossellini offers audiences an extraordinary snapshot of Roman life, frozen at the moment of burial, showing how its citizens lived their lives, spent their free time, experienced pleasure, passion, religion and ultimately, their fate.
Runtime: 90 mins approx.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKxNCAYaHKQ

Robert Klein
2022-06-18 20:00 - 22:00 | Pollak Theatre
Robert Klein is a pioneer in modern stand-up comedy who has inspired heavyweights like Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld. For more than forty years, he has entertained audiences, and he continues to have an acclaimed career in comedy, on Broadway, on television, and in film. Born in the Bronx, he was a member of the famed “Second City” theatrical troupe in Chicago. Robert has been nominated twice for Grammy Awards for “Best Comedy Album of the Year” for his albums “Child of the Fifties” and “Mind Over Matter.”
In 1975, Klein was the first comedian to appear in a live concert on Home Box Office. He has gone on to do nine one-man shows for HBO and received his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Music and Lyrics in 2001 for Robert Klein: “Child in His 50’s.”
His most recent special for HBO, “Robert Klein: Unfair and Unbalanced” earned him a second Emmy nomination for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics. Currently, he can be seen on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” where he is a show favorite, and on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
Opening Act: Max Adolf ’22 & Jenaé Louis-Jacques ’23

Ford Madox Ford's The Good Soldier
2022-06-14 19:30 - 21:00 | Virtual
Join us for Tuesday Night Book Club! Hosted by Monmouth University’s Ken Womack, each month we’ll explore a different novel. All you have to do is Zoom in and join the discussion!
This month’s novel is Ford Madox Ford’ The Good Soldier.
One of the most important works of twentieth-century British literature, The Good Soldier addresses the lives and interrelationships between two couples: one American, one British. A tragicomic novel of manners, in which John Dowell narrates the disintegration of both his own and another marriage, the work’s depiction of passion and intrigue offers an ironic reading of Edwardian-era values.
“One of the finest novels of our century.” –Graham Greene
When you register you will be provided the meeting link to join the conversation.

Bruce Springsteen - The Wild, the Innocent, and the E-Street Shuffle
2022-06-07 19:30 - 21:00 | Virtual
It’s just like book club but with albums! With new advances in technology, the way we consume music through our devices, apps and on demand streaming services like Pandora, Spotify and iTunes is making the idea of the “album” as an art form extinct. Get together with other music enthusiasts on Tuesday nights to discuss some of the greatest records of all-time! Listen to the album beforehand and then come prepared to discuss. This event will feature Bruce Springsteen’s The Wild, the Innocent, and the E-Street Shuffle.
When you register you will be provided the ZOOM meeting link to join the conversation. Click here for more information on how to use zoom
Free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Hamlet
2022-06-04 13:00 - 17:00 | Pollak Theatre
Prior to purchasing tickets please review our COVID-19 Safety Measures and Policies.
Purchasing tickets in advance is STRONGLY encouraged. Due to distanced seating in the theatre, capacity is limited and walk-ups might not be able to be accommodated.
When Australian composer Brett Dean’s Hamlet had its world premiere at the Glyndebourne Festival in 2017, The Guardian declared, “New opera doesn’t often get to sound this good … Shakespeare offers a gauntlet to composers that shouldn’t always be picked up, but Dean’s Hamlet rises to the challenge.” On June 4, this riveting contemporary masterpiece appears live in cinemas, with Neil Armfield, who directed the work’s premiere, bringing his acclaimed staging to the Met. Many of the original cast members have followed, including tenor Allan Clayton in the title role. Nicholas Carter makes his Met debut conducting a remarkable ensemble, which also features soprano Brenda Rae as Ophelia, mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly as Gertrude, baritone Rod Gilfry as Claudius, and bass-baritone John Relyea the ghost of Hamlet’s father.

27th Annual Leadership Excellence Award Dinner honoring Peter J. Cocoziello
2022-06-02 17:00 - 22:00 | The Great Hall

Lucia Di Lammermoor
2022-05-21 13:00 - 17:00 | Pollak Theatre
Prior to purchasing tickets please review our COVID-19 Safety Measures and Policies.
Purchasing tickets in advance is STRONGLY encouraged. Due to distanced seating in the theatre, capacity is limited and walk-ups might not be able to be accommodated.
Soprano Nadine Sierra takes on one of the repertory’s most formidable and storied roles, the haunted heroine of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, in an electrifying new staging by Australian theater and film director Simon Stone, conducted by Riccardo Frizza. Tenor Javier Camarena adds to the bel canto fireworks as Lucia’s beloved, Edgardo, with baritone Artur Ruciński as her overbearing brother, Enrico, and bass Matthew Rose as her tutor, Raimondo.

Tutankhamun: The Last Exhibition
2022-05-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Pollak Theatre
Due to availability issues, this event has been rescheduled from its original date of April 8. Tickets issued prior to the change will be valid for the new date. There is no need to contact the box office unless you are unable to attend and need a refund.
Prior to purchasing tickets please review our COVID-19 Safety Measures and Policies.
Purchasing tickets in advance is STRONGLY encouraged. Due to distanced seating in the theatre, capacity is limited and walk-ups might not be able to be accommodated.
To mark the centenary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, Tutankhamun: The Last Exhibition offers audiences an extraordinary opportunity to meet the Pharaoh, with exclusive coverage of how 150 of his treasures were moved to become part of the biggest international exhibition ever dedicated to him. Explore a continuous dialogue of cross-references between the ancient past when the Pharaoh was alive, the more recent times which saw the discovery of his Tomb by archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922, and the present day with exhibitions and studies dedicated to Ancient Egypt.
Runtime: 90 mins approx

Turandot
2022-05-07 13:00 - 17:00 | Pollak Theatre
Prior to purchasing tickets please review our COVID-19 Safety Measures and Policies.
Purchasing tickets in advance is STRONGLY encouraged. Due to distanced seating in the theatre, capacity is limited and walk-ups might not be able to be accommodated.
Ukrainian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska stars in the title role of the legendary cold-hearted princess—seen live in cinemas on May 7. Tenor Yonghoon Lee is the bold prince determined to win Turandot’s love, alongside soprano Ermonela Jaho as the devoted servant Liù legendary bass Ferruccio Furlanetto as the blind king Timur. Marco Armiliato conducts Puccini’s stirring score. This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m In Therapy!
2022-05-06 20:00 - 22:00 | Pollak Theatre
Prior to purchasing tickets please review our COVID-19 Safety Measures and Policies.
Starring the author and Broadway star of the show, Steve Solomon. This show has now become one of the longest running one-man comedies in history! The show just celebrated its four thousandth performance.
In My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy! – using dialects, accents and sound effect, Steve brings to the stage dozens of wild characters we all relate to; all brought to life by Steve’s comedy magic. His four shows have had audiences in three countries guffawing since 2003. Almost one million people have seen his shows. The audience follows along on this wonderfully funny journey about growing up, mixed marriages, ex-wives, dogs, cats, dieting, and dozens of other side-splitting situations we can all relate to.
You don’t have to be Italian or Jewish to love Steve Solomon — all you need to know is what it’s like to leave a family dinner with heartburn and a headache. Prepare to laugh until you cry as Steve brings to life over twenty wacky characters in a show that’s one part lasagna, one part kreplach and two parts Prozac.

Minari
2022-04-26 19:30 - 22:00 | Pollak Theatre
Prior to attending in-person events please review our COVID-19 Safety Measures and Policies.Proof of full vaccination (or negative test within 72 hours of the event) will be required for entry.

Join us for a World Cinema Series film screening/discussion illuminating the theme “Living on the Edge: Displacement, Identity, and Resilience” by analyzing the message and impact of the Minari (US-Korea, 2020).
A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.
The discussion of the film will be led by Claude Taylor, professor in the department of Communication.
Rated PG-13; 1 hour 55 minutes
Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Piano Parts Homage to Harold and Collages
2022-04-25 08:00 - 2022-05-13 17:00 | Pollak Gallery
Piano Parts Homage to Harold and Collages is the newest collection of work from Professor Vincent DiMattio. DiMattio has been a professor in the Art & Design department for over 50 years and is retiring this spring. DiMattio received his Master’s in Fine Arts from Southern Illinois University and his Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Massachusetts College of Art. He joined Monmouth’s faculty in 1968, where he served as department chair and as gallery director for more than 20 years. He is credited with starting the gallery program at Monmouth University.
DiMattio has had his work shown internationally in Spain, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, and in the United States. His work has also been show in the Newark and Trenton Museums. In 1999, selections from DiMattio’s 30-year retrospective exhibit at Monmouth University were used for his first retrospective in New York City at the Susan Berke Gallery.
In 2004, he co-authored the book, The Drawings and Watercolors of Lewis Mumford with his colleague Professor Kenneth Stunkel, published by the prestigious Edwin Melon Press. In 2005, he received a grant from the Liquitex Paint Company for the completion of over 60 “tube paintings,” which led to a major exhibition at Brookdale Community College. Besides being named distinguished professor in 2013, he was also honored to have an art scholarship established in his name and having the art gallery in Rechnitz Hall named in his honor.
Artist Reception: May 13 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Click here to register for the reception.
This exhibition was made possible through a Creative Grant from Monmouth University.

Jacob Landau: The Prophetic Quest
2022-04-25 - 2022-05-02 | Guggenheim Memorial Library, Room #101, 400 Cedar Ave, West Long Branch, NJ, 07764, United States
Jacob Landau: The Prophetic Quest, An Exhibit of Selected Drawings and paintings by renowned American artist, humanist, and teacher Jacob Landau. The selected works on display were completed by the artist in preparation for his stained glass masterpiece, The Prophetic Quest, a series of ten monumental stained glass windows housed in the Keneseth Israel synagogue, just north of Philadelphia. In addition to the artwork, copies of the recently published book; The Prophetic Quest: The Stained Glass Windows of Jacob Landau, will also be on hand for review. Copies of the book are also available for sale at the University Bookstore.
Designed by the renowned American artist Jacob Landau, The Prophetic Quest encompasses ten masterful abstract pieces of stained glass that depict the lives and words of the biblical prophets, each towering nearly twenty-five feet high and spanning five feet across. Featuring essays recounting Landau’s vision, the history of his project, and detailed interpretative commentary on each window, this book presents an immersive experience of Landau’s religious masterwork. Personal reflections written by artists, art historians, poets, clergy, and congregants about their experience of The Prophetic Quest round out the volume with new ways to view and appreciate Landau’s creation.
Born in Philadelphia in 1917, Landau launched his career as an illustrator, winning national prizes at age 16, and a scholarship to the Philadelphia College of Art. He went on to have over sixty one-person shows, featuring a wide range of drawings and paintings. The recipient of numerous awards, including Guggenheim and National Arts Council grants, many of his works are featured in permanent collections, such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. A master teacher, he retired as professor emeritus at New York’s Pratt Institute. In 1996, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts by Monmouth University.
The exhibition features a selection of some ten works. All are from Monmouth University’s extensive collection of Jacob Landau’s work, comprising over 300 prints, drawings and paintings. The collection was gifted to Monmouth University in 2008 by the Jacob Landau Institute of Roosevelt, NJ. This exhibit is co-sponsored by the Jewish Culture Studies Program and the Honors School of Monmouth University.

Spring Festival – Virginia A. Cory Community Garden
2022-04-23 12:00 - 15:00 | Virginia A. Cory Community Garden at Monmouth University, 2 Brookwillow Ave, West Long Branch, NJ, United States
Located on Beechwood Avenue, between Brookwillow and Pinewood Avenues, in West Long Branch, the Garden comprises a group of people working to improve their community. To celebrate Earth Day and the beginning of the 2022 season, we’re hosting a Spring Festival featuring community-based vendors, activities, and live music! Admission for all interested guests is free.

The Urbanization of Barnegat Bay
2022-04-22 18:00 | Pollak Theatre
(Free, Registration Required)
Join us Earth Day, April 22, for a screening of Drift, a documentary exploring 50 years of growing pains on Barnegat Bay, followed by an expert panel discussion looking toward the future for the state’s largest body of water and its surrounding communities. The film was produced by the nonprofit Save Barnegat Bay and directed by Monmouth University Production Services Director Erin Fleming.
