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  • The Les Paul Experience

    A musical tribute celebrating the life & career of the legendary jazz musician, inventor; musical pioneer known as the “father of the electric guitar,” Les Paul. This exclusive one-night only concert of Jersey Jams will feature an All-Star Band led by Musical Director and Performer, BOBBY BANDIERA with Layonne Holmes, Tony Perruso, John Pittas, Kevin Bregande, Muddy Shews, Tommy Labella and Jillian Rhys McCoy.

    The evening will feature some of New Jersey’s greatest performers including:

    SONNY KENN     (Red Bank, NJ)
    ANTHONY KRIZAN of the Spin Doctors (Raritan, NJ)
    REAGAN RICHARDS     of Williams Honor (Long Branch, NJ)
    BILLY HECTOR     (Orange, NJ)
    LENNY KAYE of the Patti Smith Band (North Brunswick, NJ)
    JIM BABJAK of the Smithereens (Carteret, NJ)

    The evening will conclude with an informal Q&A with friends and colleagues of Les Paul.  This special musical tribute concert is presented in conjunction with the photography exhibition “Les Paul: Thru the Lens” running in the Pollak Gallery from March 20 – May 31.

    GOLD CIRCLE VIP Tickets include: (limited quantity)

    • A pre-show reception (from 6-7:30 pm) with music by Monmouth Students Jenae & Max
    • Private viewing of Les Paul Thru the Lens exhibition in the Pollak Gallery
    • Premium Seating

    Presented in Association with The Les Paul Foundation

    **Exclusive Offer**: Les Paul in His Own Words

    Les Paul in his own words - book cover

    By Les Paul and Michael Cochran
    Forward by Paul McCartney
    Hard cover 368 pages, 9 1/2” x 12” x 1 1/2”
    Special Offer – $50 + tax (Retails for $75)
    Purchase Now

    The charm of this book is “listening” to Les Paul tell his story. Michael Cochran captures Les’ way of telling stories and Les had plenty to tell. This large, beautiful book encompasses the fascinating life of the musician and inventor who seemed to live forever. Les takes the reader from his childhood in Waukesha, Wisconsin through his adventures in St. Louis, Chicago, LA, New Jersey and New York. Les explains how he developed the solid-body guitar and endless recording techniques that changed the world of music. The high quality color prints and photos include many of Les Paul, his extensive guitar collection, musician friends, his inventions and his home recording studios in LA and New Jersey.

    Pre-order and pick up the night of show or anytime Monday-Friday 9am – 5 pm at the Pollak Box Office.

     

  • The American Soldier

    MATINEE SHOW ADDED! Douglas Taurel (“Nurse Jackie,” “Blue Bloods”) is the creator and star of the Off-Broadway Award-nominated solo play, “The American Soldier,” based on true events and documentary letters written by veterans and their family members from the American Revolution through current-day Afghanistan. It honors the experiences of veterans and their families and explores the internal struggles they face when returning home from combat. “The American Soldier” has been nominated for the Amnesty International Award for theatre excellence , received 4 stars internationally, and has been featured in The Huffington Post, The Washington Post and Time Out.
    There will also be a FREE evening performance of this show at 8PM. Click here for more information.

    This program was made possible thanks to The Board of County Commissioners and Monmouth County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) COVID-19 Community Recovery Grant Program.

  • The American Soldier

    Douglas Taurel (“Nurse Jackie,” “Blue Bloods”) is the creator and star of the Off-Broadway Award-nominated solo play, “The American Soldier,” based on true events and documentary letters written by veterans and their family members from the American Revolution through current-day Afghanistan. It honors the experiences of veterans and their families and explores the internal struggles they face when returning home from combat. “The American Soldier” has been nominated for the Amnesty International Award for theatre excellence , received 4 stars internationally, and has been featured in The Huffington Post, The Washington Post and Time Out.

    There will also be a FREE matinee performance of this show at 3 PM. Click here for more information.

    This program was made possible thanks to The Board of County Commissioners and Monmouth County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) COVID-19 Community Recovery Grant Program.

  • Les Paul Thru the Lens

    “Les Paul: Thru the Lens” explores the life of pioneering musician and innovator Les Paul. Through a series of 24 photographs, visitors will see a chronicle of Paul’s life, career, and achievements: his early performances as Red Hot Red, his marriage to and work with Mary Ford, his explorations in the recording studio and with the electric guitar, and of course his long and influential performing career.

    Collectively, the images provide an intimate view into the life of an icon of the music and sound products industry and remind us that, through it all, music—and the industry—are inseparable from the people who make it.

    This traveling exhibition is courtesy of The Les Paul Foundation.

    There will be a special musical tribute concert, “The Les Paul Experience” presented in conjunction with the exhibition on May 12 at 8PM in Pollak Theatre.

    **Exclusive Offer**: Les Paul in His Own Words

    Les Paul in his own words - book cover
    By Les Paul and Michael Cochran
    Forward by Paul McCartney
    Hard cover 368 pages, 9 1/2” x 12” x 1 1/2”
    Special Offer – $50 + tax (Retails for $75)
    Purchase Now

    The charm of this book is “listening” to Les Paul tell his story. Michael Cochran captures Les’ way of telling stories and Les had plenty to tell. This large, beautiful book encompasses the fascinating life of the musician and inventor who seemed to live forever. Les takes the reader from his childhood in Waukesha, Wisconsin through his adventures in St. Louis, Chicago, LA, New Jersey and New York. Les explains how he developed the solid-body guitar and endless recording techniques that changed the world of music.

    The high quality color prints and photos include many of Les Paul, his extensive guitar collection, musician friends, his inventions and his home recording studios in LA and New Jersey.

    Pre-order and pick up the night of show or anytime Monday-Friday 9am – 5 pm at the Pollak Box Office.

  • 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 guests Willie Nile and Emily Grove as well as an opening set with  Monmouth students Max & Jenaé and Madeline Knight along with George Wurzbach. A pre-show reception will be held at 7 pm for all ticket holders.

    About Songwriters by the Sea:

    Songwriters by the Sea began as intimate, casual coffeehouse jam sessions around Asbury Park, and has since evolved into a national show attracting some of the most revered singers and songwriters of today’s scene— from David Johansen and Garland Jeffreys to Glen Burtnik, Rhett Miller, Marshall Crenshaw and Alison Moorer. Along the way, D’Urso (front man of Stone Caravan and board member of WHY Hunger and Light Of Day) and Rapolla (a veteran music industry executive, solo performer, and front man of the band Perfect Square) have fine-tuned their circle of artists, trading favorite songs and illuminating backstories behind their most personal works, into a vehicle that brings out the best in the assembled talent. Whether the venue is a club, a historic theater or a campus performing arts center, Songwriters by the Sea has been known to turn any space into an intimate house party atmosphere; a gathering of friends and a place where something akin to magic often takes hold.

    All net proceeds will support Monmouth University’s Endowed Music Industry Scholarships.
    Photo by John Posada

  • Hip Hop in the Round

    This year being the 50th anniversary of the emergence of hip hop, the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music in association with Blue Hawk Records presents “Hip Hop in the Round,” an evening of conversation and music featuring hip hop artists from Monmouth University and Asbury Park.

    Hosted by Bob Santelli, Executive Director of the Archives, artists will share insight into their creative process, their roots and influences, and their forms of inspiration as well as perform selective tracks from their body of work.

    Student artists include senior music industry major, Gabe “Double G” Garza, and juniors, Justin Ume and Asad “Kid Ace” Whitehead. Also on the panel will be a special Asbury Park-based guest artist.

    Reservations are encouraged and admission will be on a first-come-first-served basis.

     

  • Selections from the Monmouth University Permanent Art Collection

    Selections from the Monmouth University permanent collection featuring works by various artists, including: by Eduardo Arranz-Bravo, Hannah Barrett, Salvador Dali, Bruce Dorfman, Peter Milton, Joan Miro, and Russell Tyler, and more.

  • An Evening with Cowboy Junkies

    Sometimes revolutions begin quietly.

    In 1988, Cowboy Junkies proved that there was an audience waiting for something quiet, beautiful and reflective. The Trinity Session was like a whisper that cut through the noise — and it was compelling. It stood out in the midst of the flash and bombast that came to define the late 80’s. The now classic recording combined folk, blues and rock in a way that had never been heard before and went on to sell more than a million copies.

    Formed in Toronto in 1985 with siblings Michael Timmins on guitar, Margo Timmins on vocals, Peter Timmins on drums, and Michael’s lifelong friend Alan Anton on bass, the band has sparkled over the course of 26 albums. “I’ve known Alan longer than I’ve known Pete,” says Michael. “We were friends before Pete was born.”

    Unlike most long-lasting groups, Cowboy Junkies have never had a break up or taken a sanity-saving hiatus. There’s an appreciation of each other that keeps them constantly working. “It’s that intimacy and understanding of what each one of us brings to the table,” says Michael.

  • A Doll’s House

    Monmouth University brings Henrik Ibsen’s scandalous 19th century masterpiece into the modern era. A Doll’s House follows a vibrant but sheltered housewife as she navigates a world in which women have no autonomy. As events spiral beyond her control, Nora’s journey of self awareness builds toward one of the most controversial endings in theatrical history. Directed by Sheri Anderson.

     

  • A Doll’s House

    Monmouth University brings Henrik Ibsen’s scandalous 19th century masterpiece into the modern era. A Doll’s House follows a vibrant but sheltered housewife as she navigates a world in which women have no autonomy. As events spiral beyond her control, Nora’s journey of self awareness builds toward one of the most controversial endings in theatrical history. Directed by Sheri Anderson.