Sondheim’s game-changing musical is a sophisticated and honest look at modern adult relationships. From musical theatre’s most renowned composer, Company is largely regarded as a trailblazer of the dark-comedy, modern-musical genre and the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Lyrics and Best Book.
On the night of his 35th birthday, confirmed bachelor, Robert, contemplates his unmarried state. Over the course of a series of dinners, drinks and even a wedding, his friends – “those good and crazy people [his] married friends” – explain the pros and cons of taking on a spouse. The habitually single Robert is forced to question his adamant retention of bachelorhood during a hilarious array of interactions. (Source mtishows.com)
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COMPANY
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POSTPONED – Songwriters By The Sea
Distinguished NJ Songwriters Joe Rapolla and Joe D’Urso are back this year hosting the celebrated Songwriters by the Sea series at the Lauren K. Woods Theatre. What once started in a small coffee shop as an area for local songwriters has now grown into a series that features some of the top songwriters in the country. This year, the show features special guest artists Tom Chapin and Jen Chapin with an intro set by George Wurzbach. The show will also feature Monmouth University student openers.
In a career that spans six decades, 26 albums and three GRAMMY awards, Hudson Valley Troubadour Tom Chapin has covered an incredible amount of creative ground. In addition to his work as a recording artist and concert performer, Chapin has acted on Broadway, as well as working extensively in television, radio and film. As a music-maker, the multi-talented singer/songwriter/guitarist has maintained two long and productive parallel careers, both as a highly respected contemporary folk artist and as a pioneer in the field of children’s music. Chapin has established a reputation for insightful, heartfelt songcraft and effortlessly charismatic live performances. Chapin’s infectious songs, sterling musicianship and personal warmth consistently shine through, whether he’s performing on record or in a concert hall, an outdoor festival, a school, in front of a symphony orchestra or in an intimate coffeehouse. The New York Times called Chapin “one of the great personalities in contemporary folk music.”
Jen Chapin has been celebrated for writing “brilliant soulfully poetic urban folk music” (NPR) for almost two decades, beginning with her debut, Open Wide, in 2002. Nurtured in and around NYC by a large family of artists, writers, and musicians, Jen’s “observant, lyrically deft, politically aware and emotionally intuitive” (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) songwriting features both her “extraordinary voice” (De krenten uit de pop, The Netherlands) and “astonishing jazz band” (popmatters). As much as an artistic legacy, the roots of Jen’s upbringing have inspired her “potent, jazzy, layered folk” (Newsday) songs and a lifetime of passionate activism, through ongoing work with WhyHunger (founded by her late father Harry Chapin), and teaching high school global history in Brooklyn. She has performed on stage with Bruce Springsteen, on bills with Aimee Mann, Bruce Hornsby, and The Neville Brothers, and her rendition of Van Morrison’s “Into The Mystic” was featured in an episode of the SyFy TV series “Defiance”. Jen Chapin’s 2013 release Reckoning, produced and engineered by five-time GRAMMY© Winner Kevin Killen (U2, Elvis Costello, Kate Bush) was named among the best Americana albums of that year by Examiner.com and awarded First Prize, Lyrics category by the USA Songwriting Competition (for the song “Go Away”). Her new trio album “Desert or Sea” was released in summer 2019.
Sponsored by the Leon Hess Business School
All proceeds benefit the Music Industry Endowed Scholarship -
Winter Dance Concert
Winter brings us the joy and the wonder of the holiday season. Join us to celebrate the power of young artists’ imagination and their faculty’s interpretation of winter rhythms of the magical music of the season. Let the magic of dance be part of your holidays! The concert is created by our talented faculty, staff and students.
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POSTPONED – Second Senior Show: Graphic and Interactive Design
Featuring the work of Monmouth University graduating seniors who will receive their degrees in Graphic and Interactive Design.
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Virtual Exhibition – She Persisted: Julia Dzikiewicz
Please join artist Julia Dzikiewicz for a virtual exhibition of her powerful and engaging artwork. Each week Julia will release a new video of a featured piece in the exhibit. Check back each week for a new piece!
Suffrage Cat, encaustic mixed media, 60”x 60”, 2020
Border Crisis, encaustic mixed media with lights, 60”x 60”
Sandy Hook,” 60″x60″ ,encaustic mixed media with lights, 2019
Ida B. Wells, 60”x60”, encaustic mixed media, 2016
The Story of the Ham, 60”x60”, encaustic mixed media, 2012
“Old Film, New Film,” 60″x60″, encaustic mixed media, 2016
“Suffragist and Zombies,” encaustic mixed media, 60″ x 60″
“Charlottesville,” encaustic mixed media, 60″x90,” 2019
“Women’s March 2017″, 60″x96,” encaustic with crystals and lights, 2017
“Wendy and Hillary”, 60”x60”, encaustic with crystals
Malala and Maria”, 60″ x 60″ encaustic (with crystals and vintage glass beads)
Election 2016, 60”x60”,Encaustic with Swarovski crystals, encaustic printed paper, and electric lights, 2017
Me Too, 60”x60”, Mixed media encaustic with lights, 2018
Overtly political, deeply emotional, and subtly humorous, Julia Dzikiewicz weaves feminist parables into immense encaustic wax paintings. Monumental like an altarpiece, they inflame the spirit; illuminated like a tapestry, they give shape to immortal stories. Yet, Dzikiewicz’s work refuses a singular order. Using ancient wax techniques to explore present-day topics, Dzikiewicz is unflinching. She strikes hot, skewering the heart of the difficult issues she addresses, including themes of violence, racism, and misogyny. As a resident of the Workhouse Arts Center, the grief and triumph of the once imprisoned Suffragists serve as the inspiration for her contemporary tales of women who fight for change or the issues that inspire modern activists.
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Karen Bright: Throughline
Karen Bright: Throughline is an exhibition spanning 40 years of visual work by Karen Bright, Professor from the Department of Art and Design. Bright’s environmentally focused themes serve as the main thread over the 30 year span with consistent narratives on global warming, and climate change. Additional themes in Bright’s work relate to the MeToo movement, prevalent social and cultural issues, and current politics—all rendered as sculptures and paintings using encaustic-based materials.
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The Smithereens with Guest Vocalist Marshall Crenshaw
“The Smithereens roared into the breach. They are one of those rare bands who produce great-sounding recordings… and sound even greater live.” -Kevin Coughlon
Special guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw will be joining Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken and Mike Mesaros of The Smithereens.
Known for their catchy 1960s-influenced power pop that inspired countless alternative rockers, The Smithereens gained popularity with “11” the album that spawned college campus favorites “A Girl Like You”, “Blood and Roses” & “Blue Period”. In April of 2011 Smithereens released “2011” their first album of new material in 12 years. Produced by Don Dixon (who helmed “Especially For You”, the group’s breakout debut), the seminal New Jersey rockers picked up right where they left off: with irresistibly catchy hooks and rapturously fuzzed-out guitars. Now they’re back on the road with their catalog of classic hits as well as new favorites. Following the sad passing of lead vocalist Pat DiNizio in 2017, original members Jim Babjak (guitar & vocals), Dennis Diken (drums & percussion) and Mike Mesaros on bass guitar carry on the Smithereens legacy.
Over the course of a recording career that’s spanned three decades, 13 albums and hundreds of songs, Marshall Crenshaw’s musical output has maintained a consistently high level of artistry, craftsmanship and passion, endearing him to a broad and loyal fan base. After getting an early break playing John Lennon in a touring company of the Broadway musical Beatlemania, Crenshaw began his recording career with the now-legendary indie single “Something’s Gonna Happen.” The Eighties saw Marshall hit the charts again with “Someday, Someway,” “Cynical Girl,” “Whenever You’re On My Mind,” “Maryanne,” “You’re My Favorite Waste of Time” and more compositions covered by artists including Ronnie Spector, Gin Blossoms and Bette Midler. Crenshaw is recognized as one of the era’s preeminent rock ’ n’ rollers, confirmed by such subsequent albums as Field Day, Downtown, Mary Jean & 9 Others, Good Evening, Life’s Too Short, Miracle of Science, #447, What’s in the Bag? and Jaggedland.
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POSTPONED – My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m In Therapy!
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.
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Collective Unconscious: Artist Talk with Amanda Stojanov
Amanda Stojanov is an artist, educator, and activist. Her work explores storytelling through multi-tech platforms including VR, immersive audio/visual projection, animation, and others. She has worked with design teams in large design studios, independent agencies, and non-profit organizations, and she continues to work as a freelance art director and designer. Stojanov is a member/co-founder at voidLab and co-founder of voidLab’s panel series DECENTRALIZING THE WEB (projects.dma.ucla.edu/voidlab), which cultivates critical evaluations of online presence through an intersectional feminist lens. It aims to untangle the psycho-social implications of identity politics on the global web, examining the embedded biases driving dominant modes of representation in digital spaces.
Stojanov has exhibited her work in California, Budapest, and Linz. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Interactive Digital Media in Monmouth University’s Department of Communication. Previously she worked as an educator at Art Center College of Design, UCLA, and Loyola Marymount University.
Stojanov’s work can be seen at: https://amandastojanov.com/
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CANCELLED – Mr. Ray
Mr. RAY brings flavor and funk in his interactive children’s show for ages 2-6. Children around New Jersey continue to grow up with his original favorites like Ellie the Elephant, ROY G BIV and Boo Boos Go Away as well as rockin’ renditions of primary school and adult favorites. From Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds to Woody Guthrie’s classic This Land is Your Land, expect kids to dance, clap, and wiggle about. mr. RAY’s show engages kids’ minds and bodies leaving them inspired to be kind to everyone, to create and dream, and to stay healthy and active.