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  • History of Motown Records

    Class Schedule: November 6, 13, & 20, 2025 | 7:30 – 9:00 PM

    In Detroit in the 1960’s Motown Records produced hits as efficiently as the Ford Motor Company produced automobiles. It was the “Sound of Young America” conceived by Berry Gordy J and sung by performers like The Supremes, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Using audio and visual content, we’ll trace the amazing musical journey from the power soul of “Dancing in The Streets” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” to the psychedelic soul of “What’s Going On” and “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” to the pop soul of The Jackson 5. Timeless music that moved us then and moves us now.

    Zoom Link will be provided upon registration.

  • Creative Writing (Introduction)

    Class Schedule: September 25, 30, and October 7 | 7:30 – 9:00 PM

    Introduction to Creative Writing: Character Development: Whether you are embarking on your memoir or crafting your first work of fiction, the task of the writer is to develop compelling characters that connect with readers. Taking the “me out of memoir” allows you to develop your parents and loved ones as characters. In this three part course, we will utilize description, dialogue, and action to create characters that resonate with readers of any genre. No experience necessary, just a willingness to create characters to jump off the page!

    Zoom Link will be provided upon registration.

  • Disco Inferno!, Part I

    Class Schedule: September 11, 16, & 18, 2025 | 7:30 – 9:00 PM

    Dance music had existed since at least the 1930s, but the beat took on a new meaning in the 1970s. The four-on-the-floor beat, wah-wah guitar, horns, funky bass, and soulful vocals invited people from various backgrounds onto the floor.  The craze may have ended by 1980, but the music never died; instead, the genre transformed into other genres such as House and Electronic Dance Music (EDM).  Disco Inferno, a two-part course, will explore the history of disco, from its origins through its heyday and beyond.

    Part one looks at the roots of disco, from James Brown’s extended breaks to Philadelphia International’s groundbreaking, lush productions.  New York and Africa played key roles in the development of disco, as did a perfect storm of social and political issues: women’s rights, gay rights, civil rights, the aftermath of Vietnam and Watergate, and much more.  Students will learn about the rise of disco, its characteristics, and the key artists of its early years.  No prior knowledge of the Hustle is required!

    Zoom Link will be provided upon registration.

  • The Beatles’ Rubber Soul

    Class Schedule: October 28, 2025 | 7:30 – 9:30 PM

    At the mid-point of the 1960’s and after Beatlemania had hit America and the world, The Beatles released their sixth album. Rubber Soul, often referred to as “the departure record,” proved a crucial artistic leap in the band’s career and sound, forever altering what was possible within pop music and the concept of the album overall. In celebration of the 60th anniversary of this landmark release, this course will explore the personal, cultural, and sonic landscapes that shaped the record, from the new sights and sounds The Beatles were consuming, through the impact upon their writing, their peers, and the music world thereafter.

  • 2025 Future of the Ocean Symposium and Champion of the Ocean Awards: Exploring the Wine-Dark Sea

    he Urban Coast Institute’s (UCI) signature annual event will be return on Thursday, October 9, to Monmouth University’s historic Great Hall. The theme of this year’s Future of the Ocean Symposium will be “Exploring the Wine-Dark Sea – U.S. Ocean Science and Technology: Keys to Prosperity and Security.”

    This year we’ll also be celebrating the UCI’s 20th anniversary. Come and help us set sail to serve the University and our communities for the next two decades!

  • Marc Cohn & Shawn Colvin Together Onstage

    Get ready for a special night of incredible music as Grammy winners Marc Cohn and Shawn Colvin take the stage together at Pollak Theatre.

    Colvin brings her signature blend of sharp wit, emotional depth, and lyrical elegance to songs that unfold with grace, humor, and vulnerability. Her music, filled with clever turns of phrase and slow-burning catharsis, invites listeners into deeply personal yet universal experiences.

    Cohn, known for his timeless hit “Walking in Memphis,” combines the precision of a brilliant tunesmith with the soul of a true troubadour. With a voice rich in feeling and stories drawn from life and love, he captures moments both poignant and joyful, leaving a lasting emotional imprint.

    Experience the songs you love— and the stories behind them— in one extraordinary night of music.

  • The Fifth Step

    The Fifth Step
    by David Ireland | directed by Finn den Hertog

     Olivier Award-winner Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Dunkirk) is joined by Emmy and BAFTA-winner Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, The Responder) in the critically acclaimed and subversively funny new play by David Ireland.

     After years in the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, James becomes a sponsor to newcomer Luka. The pair bond over black coffee, trade stories and build a fragile friendship out of their shared experiences. But as Luka approaches step five – the moment of confession – dangerous truths emerge, threatening the trust on which both of their recoveries depend.

    Finn den Hertog directs the provocative and entertaining production filmed live from @sohoplace on London’s West End.

  • Mrs. Warren’s Profession

    Mrs. Warren’s Profession
    by Bernard Shaw | directed by Dominic Cooke

    Five-time Olivier Award winner Imelda Staunton (The Crown) joins forces with her real-life daughter Bessie Carter (Bridgerton) for the very first time, playing mother and daughter in Bernard Shaw’s incendiary moral classic.

    Vivie Warren is a woman ahead of her time. Her mother, however, is a product of that old patriarchal order. Exploiting it has earned Mrs. Warren a fortune – but at what cost?

    Filmed live from the West End, this new production reunites Staunton with director Dominic Cooke (Follies, Good), exploring the clash between morality and independence, traditions and progress.

  • Classic for a Reason: Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon

    Class Schedule: January 20, 2026 | 7:30 – 9:00 PM

    Join music historians Ken Womack & Kit O’Toole as they revisit classic record albums. With Classic for a Reason, Ken & Kit will take listeners on a guided tour of our history’s most enduring popular musical accomplishments.

  • Classic for a Reason: Radiohead’s OK, Computer

    Class Schedule: April 21st, 2026 | 7:30 – 9:00 PM

    Join music historians Ken Womack & Kit O’Toole as they revisit classic record albums. With Classic for a Reason, Ken & Kit will take listeners on a guided tour of our history’s most enduring popular musical accomplishments.