The State Theatre will present its annual “Salute to Vienna” on New Year’s Eve.
Here is a roundup of major arts events taking place around New Jersey, through Jan. 1.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
• The State Theatre in New Brunswick will offer its annual “Salute to Vienna” at 5 p.m. New Year’s Eve, with The Strauss Symphony of America, led by Viennese conductor Nir Kabaretti, performing the music of Johann Strauss II — born 200 years ago, in October 2025 — and other Austrian composers. Performers will include soprano Rebecca Nelsen and baritone Thomas Weinhappel (both are from Vienna as well), dancers from the Austria-based Europaballet St. Pölten, and international champion ballroom dancers.
The Strauss Symphony of America has been been presenting these shows for the 30 years, and has been doing so in New Brunswick for 20 years.
• New Jersey Festival Orchestra, conducted by David Wroe, will present a show titled “Broadway Through the Ages” at Westfield High School, Dec. 31 at 5 p.m.; and The Sieminski Theater in Basking Ridge, Jan. 1 at 2:30 p.m. (The Jan. 1 show is sold out.) The shows will include hit Broadway songs sung by veteran actors Tess Marshall, Lisa Marie Rogali and Peter Kendall Clark, accompanied by dancers from The Dance Theater of Harlem.
Robby Takac, left, and John Rzeznik of The Goo Goo Dolls.
• Other concerts scheduled for New Year’s Eve include The Goo Goo Dolls at The Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena at The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City at 10 p.m.; The Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey at Patriots Theater at The War Memorial in Trenton at 8 p.m.; Remember Jones at The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park at 9 p.m.; Blues People at Shanghai Jazz in Madison at 7 and 9:30 p.m.; FJ, (a tribute to Foreigner and Journey featuring Constantine Maroulis) at Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan at 6 and 9 p.m.; Des and the Swagmatics at Palmetto in Asbury Park at 9 p.m.; and Tim McLoone & the Shirleys at Tim McLoone’s Supper Club in Asbury Park at 9 p.m.
• Meanwhile, comedy shows scheduled for New Year’s Eve include Chris Distefano at The Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank at 7 and 9:30 p.m.; Maureen Langan, Brian Balthazar, Mario Bosco, Jerrold Benford at Catch a Rising Star in Princeton (Grand Ballroom) at 6 p.m.; Jerrold Benford, Vishnu Vaka, Jay Joshi at Catch a Rising Star in Princeton (club shows) at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m.; Dov Davidoff at Stress Factory in New Brunswick at 7 and 10 p.m.; Eric McMahon at Uncle Vinnie’s Comedy Club in Point Pleasant Beach at 8:30 p.m.; Rich Vos at The American Hotel in Freehold at 8 p.m.; Josh Firestine at Bananas in Rutherford at 7 and 9:30 p.m.; and Sam Tripoli at The Dojo of Comedy in Morris Plains at 7 and 9:30 p.m.
• The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park will present a “Rock for Hunger” benefit for Fulfill (formerly known as The FoodBank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties), Dec. 26 at 7 p.m., with The Billy Walton Band, Sharon Lasher & the Flashers (with JT Bowen), Anthony Krizan, Eric Mason Band, Johnny Kasun, and Mother Hubbard. Canned and non-perishable food can be dropped off at the show, for donation.
FRANK VIGNOLA
• As usual, this year’s biggest First Night event in New Jersey will be First Night Morris in Morristown, with more than 80 offerings scheduled for various venues, beginning at 4:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve and continuing until a midnight countdown with fireworks. Venues will include The Mayo Performing Arts Center, which will present jazz guitarist Frank Vignola with pianist Rio Clemente at 6:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.; The Mayo Performing Arts Company’s “An Evening of Song, Including Broadway and More!” at 9 p.m.; and Mark Milovats, singing standards and holiday classics at 10 and 11 p.m.
Other performers will include The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey at Morristown High School’s Auditorium; Harmonium Choral Society at St. Peter’s Church; opera singer Theresa Carlomagno at St. Peter’s Church; comedian Matt Jenkins at the Hyatt Regency Terrace; comedian Myq Kaplan at the Hyatt Regency Terrace; drummer Maurício de Souza’s Bossa Brasil group at the Hyatt Regency’s Morris Room; Random Test Reggae Band at the Hyatt Regency’s Morris Room; and Latin dance by Christina Piedra at Morristown High School’s Auxiliary Gym. Also, there will be film, children’s activities, art exhibits, guided tours of historical sites, and more.
Some of the performances will be streamed online, as will all of the films. Shuttle buses will begin transporting patrons between venues, at no extra charge, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
• Another big First Night will be First Night Ocean City, with attractions at various venues, starting at 4 p.m., including Dueling Pianos, Sensational Soul Cruisers, Pennsport String Band, Cape Shore Chorale, tribute bands honoring Motown (Motor City), Journey (Frontiers), Elton John (Yellow Brick Road) and Billy Joel (Streetlife Serenade), magician Chad Juros, illusionist Salazar, mentalist Dustin Dean, the Harlem Wizards basketball show, ice skating, line dancing, karaoke and more.
• First Night Ocean County takes a different approach, with free, family oriented activities and events — including Rizzo’s Wildlife Show, a bubble show by OMG Bubbles, and shows by magician Eric Wilzic — at Casino Pier in Seaside Heights from 1 to 5 p.m.
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” can be seen in New Brunswick, Dec. 27-28.
THEATER
• Middlesex County’s Plays-in-the-Park, which produces shows every summer outdoors at the Stephen J. Capestro Theatre at Roosevelt Park in Edison, will present its annual production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at The State Theatre in New Brunswick, Dec. 27-28 at 2 and 7 p.m. The first version of the musical, which is about the Biblical character Joseph (from Genesis), was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice before the pair achieved renown with “Jesus Christ Superstar,” but it wasn’t produced in its full form until after “Jesus Christ Superstar” became a hit
FILM
• There are several opportunities to see films directed by the late Rob Reiner in New Jersey theaters this week, with The Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee presenting “The Princess Bride,” Dec. 27 at 1 p.m., and “When Harry Met Sally,” Dec. 31 at 7 p.m.; and The Acme Screening Room in Lambertville showing “When Harry Met Sally,” Dec. 27 at 8 p.m.
FAMILY
• “Jurassic Quest,” a touring exhibition featuring life-sized, animatronic dinosaurs as well as interactive, dinosaur-related activities, comes to the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center in Edison, Dec. 27-30. A new Ice Age feature includes woolly mammoths, saber-toothed tigers and more creatures from that era.
• The Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank will present Langston Hughes’ 1961 “Black Nativity,” a “song play” retelling the Nativity story via music, dance and poetry, Dec. 28 at 4 p.m.
REVIEWS
“Tom Nussbaum: But Wait, There’s More!” at Montclair Art Museum. (Through Jan. 4)
“Disney’s Frozen” at Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn. (Through Jan. 11)
“Jake Troyli: Fine Line” at Project for Empty Space, Newark. (Through Jan. 18)
“Morven Revealed: Untold Stories From New Jersey’s Most Historic Home” at Morven Museum & Garden, Princeton. (Through March 1)
“Salvador Jiménez-Flores: Raíces & Resistencias” at Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton. (Through Aug. 1, 2027)
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