COREY KELLY
Randy Bachman, left, and Burton Cummings are touring together as The Guess Who this summer.
Here is a roundup of major arts events taking place around New Jersey, through July 9.
MUSIC
• Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman are touring together as The Guess Who for the first time in 23 years this summer, with stops including The PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, July 5 at 7:30 p.m.; and The Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, July 11 at 8 p.m. Former Eagles guitarist Don Felder will open both shows.
The Guess Who’s many ’60s and ’70s hits included “American Woman,” “These Eyes,” “Laughing,” “Undun,” “No Sugar Tonight” and “No Time.”
In addition to performing Guess Who songs, the band is playing Cummings solo material and songs by Bachman’s group Bachman-Turning Overdrive (including huge hits “Takin’ Care of Business” and “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet”).
TY Zhang, left, and Strauss Shi of ArcoStrum.
• Strauss Shi and TY Zhang will bring their duo ArcoStrum to The Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, July 9 at 7:30 p.m.; and the Back Deck series at The Morris Museum in Morris Township, July 11 at 7:30 p.m. Zhang plays both acoustic and electric guitar, and Shi plays violin as well as traditional Chinese instruments (the violin-like erhu and the flute-like dizi). The duo plays music by Western classical composers, Chinese composers, and their own arrangements of contemporary music. Check out their version of John Williams’ “Theme From Schindler’s List,” below.
• The Commodores — featuring original member William “WAK” King, brothers Cody and Colin Orange (sons of longtime member Walter Orange) and others — will perform ’70s and ’80s hits such as “Brick House,” “Nightshift,” “Easy” and “Three Times a Lady” at the free Freedom Festival, taking place at Wiggins Park in Camden, July 4. They will perform at 8 p.m., with fireworks following.
• Veteran actresses Meredith Beck and Sarah J. Gafgen will portray Mary Martin and Ethel Merman, with Michael Medvidik on piano, in a tribute show, “Together Off-Broadway: Merman & Martin in Concert,” that will be presented by Cape May Stage, July 5-10 at 8 p.m.
Describing the show, Beck and Gafgen write: “Though not an exact recreation, our show is deeply inspired by a particular evening in the theater vaults that is known as a ‘lost concert.’ May 15th, 1977 — Ethel and Mary took the stage for a one-night only concert fundraiser filled with their greatest songs, loads of storytelling, and an epic duet from the very first time they worked together as the headliners of Ford Motor Company’s 50th Anniversary Television Special. …
“We hope our show will bring back joyful memories — Maybe the first time you saw Mary Martin fly as Peter Pan or heard that famous Ethel Merman belt, but we also hope you experience the delight of learning something new about these very real women as we share stories of who they were ‘off’ the stage.”
JOSHUA KISSI
ADEKUNLE GOLD
• Nigerian singer-songwriter Adekunle Gold is bringing his Live with Orchestra Tour to North America for the first time this month, and one of the shows will be at Prudential Hall at NJPAC in Newark, July 3 at 8 p.m. The show will feature orchestral arrangements of songs from throughout his 10-year career as a recording artist.
“These orchestra performances are about expanding how African music is experienced,” he has said. “I want audiences to hear the stories differently, with more depth, more emotion, and more intention.”
• The free Rev, White & Blue concert taking place at SHI Stadium at Rutgers University in Piscataway, July 2 at 7 p.m., will feature Nick Jonas of The Jonas Brothers; Naughty by Nature members Vin Rock and Kay Gee; and Tony-winning singer-actress Ali Stroker. According to the concert’s website, the event will feature “educational programming, historical tributes, family-friendly activities” and fireworks, in addition to the music.
It is one of many events commemorating the nation’s 250th birthday that is being organized by RevolutionNJ, in partnership with Choose New Jersey. RevolutionNJ describes itself as “a partnership between the New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC), a division of the New Jersey Department of State, and the nonprofit Crossroads of the American Revolution Association to plan the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in New Jersey.”
• The dynamic, Adam Weiner-fronted band Low Cut Connie had been scheduled to perform at the Stevie Van Zandt-headlined concert at ParkStage in Freehold on July 3. But since that show was postponed to July 17 due to the forecast of extreme heat, and the band is unable to perform on the new date due to a scheduling conflict, a Low Cut Connie concert has been scheduled for 7:30 p.m. July 3 at The Vogel at The Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank. (That is an indoor venue, of course, so heat is not an issue.)
• A tribute to the R&B group Mtume — organized by music director Ray Chew and featuring the group’s singer, Tawatha Agee, as well as singers Kenny Lattimore and Lisa Fischer — will be presented on Chambers Plaza, in front of the NJPAC building in Newark, June 9, as part of this year’s edition of NJPAC’s free, annual, Horizon Sounds of the City concert series. Singer Tia Holt will present an opening set at 5 p.m.
Singer, songwriter, keyboardist and percussionist James Mtume, who led the group (known for hits such as “Juicy Fruit,” “You, Me and He” and “Breathless”), died in 2022, at the age of 76.
JON FADDIS
• As part of The Montclair Jazz Festival‘s annual Soundcheck Series, The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, conducted by trumpeter and composer Jon Faddis, will give a free concert from 6 to 10 p.m., July 1, at The Wellmont Arts Plaza in Montclair. The event will start with a swing dance lesson given by instructors from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Ailey Extension program.
• The Hellfest heavy metal festival was originally planned for The Dome at Adventure Crossing in Jackson but then moved to Maggie’s Fairgrounds in Lakewood before moving, again, to The URSB Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center, where it will take place July 3-5, with Hatebreed, Glassjaw, Elysia, Suicide Silence, Bayway, Disembodied, Bleeding Through, VOD and many other bands.
In a social media statement, organizers wrote that “The planning process for this installment of Hellfest has been in effect for upwards of 18 months. Over the last several weeks, it has become increasingly clear that Hellfest would not be able to move forward in either of our previously announced venues. Despite months of working through the necessary planning and permitting processes, we ultimately have reached a point where circumstances outside of our control have made it apparent that operating this festival could not proceed as intended.”
They also wrote that “the new venue offers several significant improvements for everyone including air conditioning, a parking garage across the street, easier access to public transportation, and a more convenient location for those traveling through Newark Airport.”
The Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven will present “Young Frankenstein” this month.
THEATER
• One of the greatest accomplishments of Mel Brooks, who turned 100 this week, was his 1974 spoof “Young Frankenstein,” about the mad scientist’s equally mad grandson, and his monstrous creation. The Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven will present the 2007 musical version of the film from July 7 to July 26.
• Songs written by Jimmy Buffett — including “Margaritaville,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Son of a Son of a Sailor,” “Why Don’t We Get Drunk” and “Come Monday” — can be heard in the jukebox musical “Escape to Margaritaville,” which will be presented by The Broadway Theatre of Pitman from July 3 to July 26.
The musical, which has been presented on Broadway and elsewhere since 2017, is about a fun-loving musician who falls in love. Buffett, who died in 2023, wrote a new song for it, “Three Chords,” in addition to allowing his older songs to be used.
• “1776,” the 1969 musical about the weeks leading up to the signing of The Declaration of Independence, will be presented in the Plays-in-the-Park series at The Stephen J. Capestro Theater at Roosevelt Park in Edision, July 8-11 and 13-18 at 8 p.m.
(A different production of the play was presented by The Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn earlier this year; read my review HERE.)
From left, Howard da Silva, Blythe Danner and William Daniels in the film version of “1776.”
FILM
• Speaking of “1776” … the popular 1972 film version of the musical will be screened at The State Theatre in New Brunswick, July 3 at 7 p.m. Door prizes will include tickets to State Theatre and Stress Factory shows, and a gift card for New Brunswick’s Salt Seafood & Oyster Bar.
• Peter Benchley, who wrote the novel “Jaws” and also co-wrote the movie’s screenplay, lived for much of his life in Princeton before dying there in 2006. In honor of his connections to the town, Princeton Garden Theatre presents a “Jaws Fest” every year, with trivia and prizes, in addition to a screening of the film. This year’s edition will be at 7 p.m July 2, with an additional screening at 1 p.m. July 4.
Other “Jaws” screenings in New Jersey will be at The Bellevue in Montclair, July 4 at 3 p.m.; the Movies on the Beach Series in Seaside Heights, July 5 at dusk; ShowRoom Cinemas in Asbury Park, July 11 at 7:30 p.m.; and the Movies on the Beach series at Convention Hall in Cape May, Aug. 13 at 8:30 p.m. (That’s right, there are multiple opportunities to watch “Jaws” in New Jersey this summer … on the beach.)
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REVIEWS
“Willem de Kooning: The Breakthrough Years, 1945–50” at Princeton University Art Museum. (Through July 26)
“Allan Rohan Crite: Neighborhood” at Zimmerli Art Museum, New Brunswick. (Through July 31)
“Henri Matisse: Beyond Color” at Morris Museum, Morris Township. (Through Aug. 9)
“In Conversation: Will Wilson” at Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Summit. (Through Aug. 23)
“Salvador Jiménez-Flores: Raíces & Resistencias” at Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton. (Through Aug. 1, 2027)
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