Top 15 Most Read Stories At New Jersey Stage from May 10-16, 2026

Here’s a look at the top 15 most read articles published on New Jersey Stage from May 10-16, 2026. Each week we publish at least 70 articles, including original columns and features, promoting events and covering arts news taking place throughout the state and nearby areas like Philadelphia and New York City. This week’s top 15 includes articles from 8 counties in New Jersey (Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, and Union).

The vast majority of articles at New Jersey Stage are written in-house, but we also accept press releases sent to [email protected]. These event preview articles get noticed when we first publish them and get brought back into focus on the website the week the event takes place. Our articles and event calendar web pages are picked up by search engines and resources like Google News and NewsBreak. We also offer banner ad advertising prices for the arts starting at just $50. For information on advertising at NewJerseyStage.com, click here.

1) Makin Waves with The Feelies: Jersey Strong! – If ever an act should be in the New Jersey Hall of Fame, it’s The Feelies, whose influence on the Hoboken music scene throughout the 1980s is seminal, as well as on such bands as R.E.M., Horse Girl and fellow North Jersey alt-rockers Real Estate.

2) Jersey City Founder Launches ode, a New App for Theatre Audiences and Theatre-Makers – (JERSEY CITY, NJ) — ode, a new iOS platform for theatre discovery, logging, ratings, and audience reviews, is now available on the App Store.

3) Circus Vazquez Brings National Tour to Quaker Bridge Mall – (LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ) — Circus Vazquez, which has presented quality family entertainment for more than 50 years, is returning to New Jersey with its 2026 national tour when it visits Quaker Bridge Mall from May 15-25. Tickets for the Quaker Bridge Mall shows are on sale now.

4) Roger McGuinn LIVE! at the Pollak Theatre – Fans of classic ’60s music turn, turn, turn to Monmouth University’s Pollak Theatre this Friday, May 1, 2026 for an intimate evening of Songs and Stories by singer/songwriter, Roger McGuinn, a founding member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted band, The Byrds.

5) Jazz Royalty Comes to the Hamilton Stage on June 6th – (RAHWAY, NJ) — Saturday, June 6, 2026 marks the date when Jazz Royalty comes to Hamilton Stage with Dizzy Gillespie alumni and Grammy winning bassist John Lee in collaboration with 16-time Grammy winner Paquito D’ Rivera.

6) Paper Mill Playhouse Announces 2026 Rising Star Awards Nominees – (MILLBURN, NJ) — Paper Mill Playhouse has announced the nominations for adjudicated production categories of the 31st Annual Rising Star Awards for Excellence in New Jersey High School Musical Theater. Often referred to as New Jersey’s version of the Tony Awards for high school musical theater, the Rising Star Awards recognize outstanding achievement in performance, direction, design, choreography, music direction, and overall production.

7) PHOTOS from “Pippin” at Algonquin Arts Theatre – (MANASQUAN, NJ) — Algonquin Arts Theatre is presenting Pippin from May 8–17, 2026. There’s magic to do when a prince learns the true meaning of glory, love and war in Stephen Schwartz’s iconic and unforgettable musical masterpiece. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.

8) Events This Week in New Jersey from May 12-18, 2026 – Here is a look at upcoming events taking place from May 12-18, 2026 along with our featured listings. New Jersey Stage offers previews of events throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.

9) Garden State Wine Growers Association Cancels “Sips, Stars & Stripes: A NJ Wine Revolution” Amid Historic Vineyard Freeze Damage – (TRENTON, NJ) — The Garden State Wine Growers Association (GSWGA) has announced the cancellation of Sips, Stars & Stripes: A NJ Wine Revolution, originally scheduled for May 30, 2026 at the historic War Memorial in Trenton.

10) 53rd Annual St. George Greek Festival to Take Place May 14-17 – (PISCATAWAY, NJ) — The 53rd Annual St. George Greek Festival returns May 14-17, 2026. This Central Jersey tradition kicks-off New Jersey’s “Greek Festival Season” lasting from May until October at Greek churches throughout the State. St. George-Piscataway Greek Festival is synonymous with “philotimo” the Greek ideal of welcoming EVERYONE to explore Greek culture through homemade food, good music, traditional dancing and cultural tours.

11) Ocean County Artists’ Guild presents “Proof I Was Here” by Conni Freestone – (ISLAND HEIGHTS, NJ) — Conni Freestone’s “Proof I Was Here” opens June 1st and runs throughout June 2026 at Ocean County Artists’ Guild in Island Heights. Structured across three interconnected spaces, the exhibition is an exploration of the fleeting evidence of existence, and will be Freestone’s first major solo exhibition.

12) Riverview Jazz Awarded Grant by Chamber Music America to Host Tim Berne Performances in Jersey City – (JERSEY CITY, NJ) — A $15,000 grant has been awarded to Riverview Jazz by Chamber Music America to be used to present two Jersey City performances by the esteemed avant-garde jazz musician Tim Berne at Pet Shop on Tuesday, May 26 and on the RWJBarnabas Plaza Stage at the Jersey City Jazz Festival on Saturday, May 30, 2026.

13) PHOTOS from “Nate The Great” at Growing Stage – (NETCONG, NJ) — The Growing Stage: The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey is presenting Nate The Great weekends through May 17, 2026. In this musical, the world’s greatest boy detective awakes, hoping that this day will bring a new case. He gets a call from his good friend Annie alerting him that her new painting of her dog Fang is missing! Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.

14) A Chat with Veronika and Madelene of Arrival From Sweden Who Perform at UCPAC on May 16 – Arrival from Sweden is coming to Rahway, NJ’s Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 8:00pm. Founded in 1995 in Gothenburg, Sweden, Arrival from Sweden is one of the world’s most popular ABBA tribute bands and the only group that has ever been given a previously unreleased song directly from ABBA to record.

15) Albert Music Hall presents Rock Around the Pines: A Celebration of Early Rock ‘n’ Roll on Saturday – (WARETOWN, NJ) — Albert Music Hall presents “Rock Around the Pines” on Saturday, May 16, 2026, an evening dedicated to the sounds of 1950s and early 1960s rock ‘n’ roll. The themed program brings classic jukebox favorites, rockabilly rhythms, and vintage dance hall energy to the Pinelands stage, with five local acts performing throughout the evening.

EVENT PREVIEWS

Garden State Wine Growers Association presents SIPS, STARS & STRIPES: A NJ Wine Revolution on May 30th

The Garden State Wine Growers Association (GSWGA) has announced the cancellation of Sips, Stars & Stripes: A NJ Wine Revolution, originally scheduled for May 30, 2026. The decision comes in response to the unprecedented freeze events that impacted vineyards across New Jersey during April 2026. According to vineyard managers and growers throughout the state, prolonged overnight temperatures below freezing caused extensive and widespread damage to grapevines in nearly every wine-producing region of New Jersey.

---

Land of Make Believe slates Grand Opening for Memorial Day Weekend

(HOPE TWP, NJ) — There are many traditions come Memorial Day Weekend including parades, tributes to our service men and women, past and present, and family gatherings. For many families there is another annual tradition – a trip to the Land of Make Believe, a close by destination with affordable, bargain pricing.

---

State Theatre New Jersey’s A Night in Lights Annual Benefit Gala to Take Place May 30th

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) — State Theatre New Jersey (STNJ) invites the community to its signature fundraising event, A Night in Lights Annual Benefit Gala, on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Christopher’s Restaurant & Bar located inside The Heldrich Hotel. This highly anticipated evening directly supports STNJ’s arts education and community engagement programs, which serve more than 30,000 children and families each year.

---

North Jersey Artists, Leaders and Businesses Invited to Shape Region’s Cultural and Economic Future at Community Gathering on National Heritage Area Designation

(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) — The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) invites artists, community leaders, business owners, cultural organizations, and residents to participate in Community Conversation: National Heritage Area in New Jersey on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 from 6:15pm to 7:45pm at the South Orange Performing Arts Center.

---

Visual Arts Center of New Jersey to Celebrate Spring Exhibitions with a Community Day on June 6th

(SUMMIT, NJ) — On Saturday, June 6, 2026, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey will celebrate its spring exhibitions with a Community Day event. The day, which will feature artist-led walks around Summit, a live podcast recording, and drop-in workshops, will run from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

---

“The Global Game: The Future of Soccer, Tech & Media Summit” returns on June 9th

(NEWARK, NJ) — GK Digital Ventures, in partnership with Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), has announced the return of “The Global Game: The Future of Soccer, Tech & Media Summit,” set to take place on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Following its acclaimed inaugural edition, the second annual summit arrives at the most significant moment in U.S. soccer history: New Jersey is hosting eight matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup — including the Final — placing the Garden State at the center of a global spotlight.

---

UBS Arena To Host International Soccer Watch Party on June 19th

(BELMONT PARK, NY) — UBS Arena will host an International Soccer Watch Party, a public screening of two of the FIFA World Cup 26 (TM) matches on Friday, June 19 featuring USA v. Australia and Haiti v. Brazil. The fan-focused events will highlight all the excitement the tournament is bringing to the New York Metro area this summer and provide local residents with a unique way to experience these soccer matches together as a community.

---

2026 Princeton Festival to Take Place June 5-21 at Morven Museum & Garden

(PRINCETON, NJ) — The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is pleased to announce that world-renowned bel canto soprano Sondra Radvanovsky and The Bacon Brothers, Michael and Kevin, are scheduled to perform at the 2026 Princeton Festival. At the core of the Festival, there is live opera with Festival veteran and current Met Opera star Toni Marie Palmertree returning to sing the title role in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. These major stars typify the quality of musical offerings to be found at this year’s Festival which runs from June 5-21 on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden.

---

Bergen County presents 3rd Annual Star-Spangled Spectacular

(RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ) — County Executive Jim Tedesco, the County Board of Commissioners, and the Bergen 250 Initiative are excited to announce that Bergen County’s 3rd Annual Star-Spangled Spectacular will return July 4, 2026 at Overpeck County Park. All are invited to attend this patriotic afternoon of family fun which will include live music, children’s activities, over 20 food trucks, a beer and wine garden, carnival attractions, and stunning fireworks to conclude the evening over Overpeck Creek.

---

Centenary Stage Company Announces Lineup for SUMMERFEST 2026

(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) — Centenary Stage Company’s SUMMERFEST 2026 is set to take center stage in the Lackland Performing Arts Center with four productions running through the summer months. SUMMERFEST will feature, A Taste of Ireland presented by Pace Live, The Wedding Singer, Four Sticks: The Music of Led Zeppelin, and Maltby & Shire’s Closer Than Ever.

 

MORE EVENTS

Click on the listing to bring up its webpage

George Street Playhouse presents “My Lord, What A Night”
Sunday, May 17, 2026 @ 2:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
New Brunswick, NJ

 

---

 

---

 

---

 

---

 

---

New Jersey Symphony: Joshua Bell Leads Mendelssohn’s “Italian”
Sunday, May 17, 2026 @ 2:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
Morristown, NJ

 

---

 

---

 

---

 

---