By Abby Whelan ’14, Staff Writer
As school begins to wind down, we are all looking forward to this summer. In the upcoming months, whether you are interested in music, visual arts, or the theater, there are tons of great events in the NJ/NY metropolitan area. Here are some you may want to check out!
Close to home in Holmdel, NJ, the PNC Arts Center has a packed summer concert schedule. Artists such as Drake and J. Cole (June 12), Demi Lovato and Hot Chelle Rae (June 22), James Taylor (June 23), Stevie Nicks (June 30), Big Time Rush (August 18), Kelly Clarkson and The Fray (August 26), and Jason Mraz and Christina Perri (August 31) are all slated to perform. No matter what genre you prefer, The Arts Center has something for you.
If you are looking to add a little drama to your summer, The Shakespeare Theater at Drew University in Madison has a lot to offer. Plays such as Henry the IV Part 1 (May 30-June 24), The Liar by David Ives (July 4-29), and Measure for Measure (August 8-26) will be playing and have received positive reviews.
Also this summer in New Jersey, visual arts classes are being offered at the Montclair Art Museum. Their Yard School of Art offers comprehensive adult and teen classes along with some great summer exhibitions. The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in Summit offers classes and workshops in a multitude of areas–for example, ceramics, printmaking, photography and digital media–as well.
Another interesting NJ entertainment development is happening this summer at NJPAC in Newark. The reality show “America’s Got Talent,” which airs on NBC, is moving its filming location from California to Newark this summer for the final 10 episodes of the season. Ticket information for live shows is available at nbc.com/agt.
If you have a chance the head across the river to NYC, there are a bunch of Broadway summer hits including an extended run of the award-winning musical Newsies (through August 19). Also an award-winning play, the revival of Evita opened April 5th and will run throughout the summer. Evita, with Ricky Martin, documents the life of Eva Perone, charismatic first lady of Argentina in the 1940s. Don’t miss your chance to see these stellar productions
Another arts hot spot in NYC this summer is Lincoln Center. The acclaimed World War I epic story, Warhorse, best known for its breathtaking life-sized puppetry, is scheduled to close in October. From personal experience, it is most definitely worth the trip.
On a quieter note, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC has many great exhibits, however, the newly renovated (January 2012) and expanded American Wing definitely steals the show! It houses one of the most comprehensive collections of American art from the 18th century through the 20th century. Additionally, MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) is offering, among other exhibits, a James Rosenquest exhibit. It features an 86 ft long painting, offering the artist’s perspective of turbulent American 1960’s society. The reviews of the exhibit are impressive, so be sure to check it out!
To sum it up, the arts and entertainment offerings throughout NY and NJ this summer are truly diverse. No matter your interest: intellectual stimulation, inspiration, or pure entertainment, there will be something for everyone in this plethora of events!
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