Close Close

  • An Evening of Poetry, Jazz and “Harp”Beats with Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise, Robert Pinsky, Digba Ogunbiyi Quartet and Gregory Schwartz

    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.

  • Virtual Living Room Concert Series – Alumni Edition

    Monmouth University’s Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving and the Center for the Arts are proud to present the premiere of a special ALUMNI EDITION of our Virtual Living Room Concert Series – Stay Safe, Stay at Home featuring select Monmouth University Alumni! The concert will premiere on the Center for the Arts YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/dcuYvbxZA0o on October 23, 2020 at 8 PM with a live chat with some of the artists and will be available to stream on the channel anytime afterward.

    This living room concert features the following Monmouth University Alumni: Taylor Hope ’16, Carlos Morales ’10, Gianna Cusanelli ’17, Zach Gindi ’19, Sharon Lasher ’81, Kellie Shane ’09, Zack Sandler ’20 and Natalie Imani ‘04

  • Monmouth University Music and Arts Festival 2020

    The Monmouth University Music and Arts Festival will 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. Every year, we welcome thousands of tourists and other visitors to the area, and we’re delighted to afford families with cultural opportunities to supplement their days at our lovely beaches. This year, of course, we are presenting the Music and Arts Festival virtually. With the help of cutting-edge contemporary technology, our performers are delighted to afford our community with a great boon during these challenging times.

    Our university is the year-round home for working musicians and artists, not to mention scores of students honing their talents as instrumental and theatrical performers, visual artists, and arts administrators. With the Music and Arts Festival, we will attract nationally and internationally acclaimed musicians and other fine artists to our campus. Not only will they supplement our students’ arts education, they will be on site each summer to provide visitors with opportunities to experience premiere concerts and exhibitions right here on the Shore.


    EVENT SPONSOR:

      
    With additional support from The Grove/West at Shrewsbury and Cammack Retirement
         
    PROGRAM:

    Blue Hawk House Band, “What’s Going On,” Marvin Gaye (1939-1984)

    Bill Timoney, American actor, “William Lloyd Garrison, The Liberator”

    Lakehouse Music Academy, “Go,” Amy Ray (1964-)

    Colm Tóibín, Irish author, “Elizabeth Bishop”

    Katie Coffman, soprano, “Will There Really Be Morning,” Richard Hundley (1931-2018)

    Joseph Marano, tenor, “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960)

    The Sea Sharps, Monmouth University a cappella choir, “Just Got Paid,” Johnny Kemp (1959-2015)

    Julie Dzikiewicz (1962-), American artist, She Persisted (including “Suffrage Cat,” “Ida B. Wells,” “The Story of the Ham”)

    Garden State Philharmonic, Diane Wittry, conductor and music director

    Selections from West Side Story (“America,” “Prologue,” “Somewhere,” “Mambo”), Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)

    “Starburst,” Jessie Montgomery (1981-)

    “Portraits of Langston: Harlem’s Summer Night,” Valerie Coleman (1970-)

    “Perhaps,” Reena Esmail (1983-)

    “Tango from Two Latin Dances,” Lauren Bernofsky (1967-)

    “Stars and Stripes,” John Philip Sousa (1854-1932)

    PERFORMANCE GROUPS:

    Blue Hawk House Band:

    George Wurzbach (Director, conga, production), Sara Wojciehowski (bass, production), Jason Caprioni (engineer), Bruce Davis (vocals 1), Jenae Louis-Jacques (vocals 2), Shadiyah Jai (vocals 3). Dillon Schindler (piano, arrangements), Max Adolf (guitar), Zach Sandler (saxophone), Danielle DiMeola (drums), Mark Rodriguez (synth).

    The Sea Sharps:

    Katie Coffman (arranger/president), David Wilderotter (soloist), Antonio Gonzalez (vocal percussionist/music director), Kaylee Figalora-Torres (music director), Arina Martin (music director), Mitchell Hendricks, Jamie Burch, Jason Castillo, Kyle Anderson, Anastasia Francisquini, Gabriella Estrada, Jordan Dilone, Delaney Rivera, Ruby Branyan, Nate Wilkie 

    The Garden State Philharmonic:

    Diane Wittry (Director/Conductor), Ruotao Mao (violin), Uli Speth (violin), Nick Pappone (violin), Krisztina Kiss (viola), Jameson Platte (cello), Nathan White (bass), Allison Kiger  (flute/piccolo), Emily Tsai (oboe/production), Chris Nichols (clarinet), Melissa Kritzer (bassoon), Karl Krammer-Johansen (horn), Tom Cook (trumpet), Roger Verdi (trombone), Jay Krush (tuba), Gregory Landes (timpani/percussion); guest pianists (Garah Landes, Candace Chien, Craig Ketter, Martha Locker)

    Jamie Bernstein Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4C4qI7faNw&feature=youtu.be

    STEERING COMMITTEE:

    Eileen Chapman, Chris Hellstrom, Darika S. Lara-Rodriguez, Nancy Mezey, Lynda Rabens, Joe Rapolla, Michael Thomas, David Tripold, Hettie Williams, Diane Wittry, Sara K. Wojciehowski, Kelly Barratt, Kenneth Womack (coordinator) 

  • Banished

    Banished: A family on the sex offender registry follows the story of one family as they take us through the criminal proceedings and the changes they must go through when preparing for the registry. Banished is an oral history and storytelling project documenting the harms of the sex offender registry, told in three parts. The contained works are co-written by Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg, a staff writer for The Appeal, and coLAB Arts producing director, Dan Swern. It was developed with support from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities. The project’s scholar-in-residence is Laura Cohen, Distinguished Clinical Professor of Law, Justice Virginia Long Scholar, and Director, Criminal and Youth Justice Clinic at Rutgers Law School.

    The play also features interviews with Elizabeth Letourneau, Director of the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse at Johns Hopkins University, and Patty Wetterling, national children’s safety advocate whose son’s disappearance led to the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act.

    Banished is Co-Sponsored by: New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, NeighborCorps Re-Entry Services, National Religious Campaign Against Torture in New Jersey, Town Clock Community Development Corporation, Brady Project of Middlesex County, Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey

    Featuring:
    Nancy Boykin*, Robert Carr*, Helen Farmer*, Meridith C Grundei*, Aaliyah Habeeb*, Dave Seamon

    *Appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association

    A facilitated discussion on restorative justice & the impact of the sex offender registry will follow the performance at 7:30.

    Panelists Include:
    Fletcher Duddy, Deputy Public Defender and Director of the Special Hearings Unit for the NJ Office of the Public Defender
    Michael C. Woyce, Assistant Deputy Public Defender, Special Hearings Unit-Asbury Park, NJ Office of the Public Defender
    Deanna Shoemaker (moderator), Associate Professor, Communication & Performance Studies, Graduate Director, MA in Communication, and Advisor, CommWorks: Students Committed to Performance at Monmouth University

    This performance is approved for 1 General Social Work CE Credit*.

    More information at: http://www.colab-arts.org/

    Co-sponsored by the Monmouth University Center for the Arts, CommWorks, the Department of Criminal Justice, the Department of Political Science and Sociology, the Department of Communication, the Helen McMurray Bennett Endowment for Social Ethics, the MU Honors School, the School of Social Work, and the NJ Alternatives to Violence Project.

  • CANCELLED – #Anne Frank Parallel Stories

    #AnneFrank Parallel Stories is a powerful documentary retelling of Anne Frank’s life through the pages of her extraordinary diary guided by the Academy-Award winning actress Helen Mirren, and through the lives of five women who, as young girls, were also deported to concentration camps but survived the Holocaust.

    As a dedication to what would have been her 90th anniversary –and in cooperation with the Anne Frank Foundation — the documentary takes audiences into Anne’s room within the secret annex of her family’s hiding place before being deported, and through read excerpts of her diary intertwined with the experiences of the survivors who lived to tell their own parallel stories.

  • BEYOND GROUND ZERO: 9/11 AND THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE – Photographs by Jonathan C. Hyman

    On the afternoon of September 11, 2001, Jonathan C. Hyman, an artist and photographer based in upstate New York, embarked on a journey to document responses to the 9/11 terrorist attacks appearing in the landscape around him.

    Armed almost daily with his camera, ladder, and car, Hyman captured evidence of the grassroots expressions of everyday citizens spurred by this national catastrophe. His investigations took him from Maine to Florida and west to Illinois, though the majority of photographs were taken closer to New York City. The result is an expansive archive of more than 20,000 film and digital images. Hyman encountered improvised tributes and memorials on public and private property, in urban and rural areas, and on all manner of surfaces from building walls, handball courts, and vehicles to tree trunks, construction fencing, and human skin. He continued for years to document these unofficial memorials, many of which remained long after the emergence of more formal tributes.

    
Jonathan C. Hyman (American, b. 1960), is a fine artist and freelance photographer, living in Sullivan County, New York. A graduate of Rutgers University and Hunter College of the City University of New York’s MFA program, he documents vernacular art and contemporary American popular culture. Hyman is Associate Director for Conflict and Visual Culture Initiatives at Bryn Mawr College’s Solomon Asch Center for Study of Ethnopolitical Conflict.

    This exhibition is drawn from the collection of the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

    All photographs © Jonathan C. Hyman

  • Kinky Boots – The Musical

    With songs by Grammy® and Tony® winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper, direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde, Hairspray) and book by Broadway legend Harvey Fierstein (La Cage Aux Folles), this ‘dazzling, fabulously sassy and uplifting’ (Time Out) award-winning musical celebrates a joyous story of Brit grit to high-heeled hit, as it takes you from the factory floor of Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan!

    Don’t miss the ‘freshest, most fabulous, feel-good musical of the decade’ (The Hollywood News) as it arrives on cinema screens. It’s the ultimate fun night out, so book now and experience the energy, joy and laughter of this dazzling show.

  • 42nd Street – The Musical

    One of Broadway’s most classic and beloved tales, 42nd Street, comes cinema screens in the largest-ever production of the breathtaking musical.  The musical, set in 1933, tells the story of Peggy Sawyer, a talented young performer with stars in her eyes who gets her big break on Broadway.

    Peggy arrives to New York City from her hometown of Allentown, Pennsylvania and her talent catches the eye of legendary Broadway director Julian Marsh. She gets a spot in the chorus of the musical-within-the-musical, Pretty Lady. Dorothy Brock, the classic Broadway diva and star of the show, takes a dislike to the new girl. When Dorothy is injured, Pretty Lady looks like it will have to close, unless a new girl talented enough to lead the show can be found — someone like Peggy Sawyer!)

    Filmed in 2018 at London’s Theatre Royal the production is directed by the original author of the show, Mark Bramble. This eye-watering extravaganza is full of crowd-pleasing tap dances, popular musical theatre standards (“Lullaby of Broadway”, “We’re in the Money (the gold digger’s song), “42nd Street” and more), and show-stopping ensemble production numbers.

  • MARGARET ATWOOD – Live in theatres

    ON SALE MAY 10

    The Testaments, Margaret Atwood’s highly anticipated sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, is revealed. The momentous literary event will be celebrated with an exclusive live cinema broadcast, as Fane Productions present an evening with the Canadian novelist, poet, literary critic and inventor.

    The publication of Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale in 1985 and the current, Emmy Award-winning television series have created a cultural phenomenon, as handmaids have become a symbol of women’s rights and a protest against misogyny and oppression. Live from the London stage, Atwood will be interviewed by broadcaster and author Samira Ahmed in a conversation spanning the length of Atwood’s remarkable career, her diverse range of works, and why she has returned to her seminal handmaid story, 34 years later.

    ‘Dear Readers: Everything you’ve ever asked me about Gilead and its inner workings is the inspiration for this book. Well, almost everything! The other inspiration is the world we’ve been living in.’

    With exclusive readings from the new book by special guests, this will be an unmissable and intimate event with Atwood, spotlighting her signature insight, humour and intellect.

  • Black Maria Film Festival

    The Black Maria Film Festival was founded in 1981 as a tribute to Thomas Edison’s development of the motion picture at his laboratory, dubbed the “Black Maria” film studio, the first in the world, in West Orange, NJ. Now in its 38th year, the festival attracts and showcases the work of independent filmmakers internationally. The festival is a project of the Thomas A. Edison Media Arts Consortium, an independent non-profit organization in residence at New Jersey City University’s Department of Media Arts. Unlike other major film festivals, the Black Maria Festival is not presented in only one location. Instead, the winning films are presented at universities, museums, libraries and cultural centers across the country all year.

    More information on this year’s festival at: www.blackmariafilmfestival.org/