Top 15 Most Read Stories At New Jersey Stage from April 5-11, 2026

Here’s a look at the top 15 most read articles published on New Jersey Stage from April 5-11, 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 7 counties in New Jersey (Bergen, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, and Sussex).

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 then get noticed again the week the event takes place. Our articles and event calendar web pages are picked up by search engines and resources like Google News. We also offer banner ad advertising prices for the arts. For information on advertising at NewJerseyStage.com, click here.

1) Events This Week in New Jersey from April 7-13, 2026 – Here is a look at upcoming events taking place from April 7-13, 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.

2) Emerging Artists Theatre’s Spark Theatre Festival NYC Celebrates 20th Anniversary – (NEW YORK, NY) — Award-winning Emerging Artists Theatre (EAT) returns with their bi-annual Spark Theatre Festival NYC, on Monday, April 6 and runs until April 26, 2026 at The 28th Street Theatre (TADA). The three-week festival will showcase over 60 new works in progress, including musicals, plays, solo performances, storytelling, and dance. Theatre luminaries such as TV comedy icon Joyce Bulifant, Tony Award nominee Christopher Sieber, and Emmy Award winner Dorothy Lyman will take part in the Spring Spark Theatre Festival NYC.

3) New Jersey’s Premier Film Expo Returns to East Rutherford April 30th – (EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ) — On Thursday, April 30, 2026, the Screen Alliance of New Jersey (SANJ) will host its second NJ Film Expo at Meadowlands Arena in Rutherford. Building on the strong success of its inaugural year, the expo returns on an even larger scale with several panels, hundreds of vendors, live music and food trucks to showcase New Jersey’s expanding role in film and television.

4) Algonquin Arts Announces New Concert Series – (MANASQUAN, NJ) — Algonquin Arts Theatre is proud to announce its newly unveiled Concert Series, an exciting lineup of dynamic live performances spanning summer 2026 through spring 2027. Featuring everything from chart-topping tribute acts and nostalgic throwbacks to immersive theatrical concerts and special event programming, this series invites audiences to experience the power of live music, storytelling, and entertainment in an intimate Jersey Shore setting.​​​​​​​

5) The The Band Band presents The Last Walz Celebration 50th Anniversary 2026 Tour at The Newton Theatre – (NEWTON, NJ) — The The Band Band presents The Last Walz Celebration 50th Anniversary 2026 Tour at The Newton Theatre on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Doors are at 7:00pm; showtime is 8:00pm.

6) Loew’s Jersey Theatre Unveils Vision for Revitalized Cultural Landmark, Including Official Renderings and New Venue Logo – (JERSEY CITY, NJ) — The historic Loew’s Jersey Theatre unveiled a first look at its future as a reimagined, multi-purpose cultural destination, releasing new architectural renderings and designs that highlight the venue’s transformation into a year-round hub for entertainment.

7) Hitchcock Meets Hilarious: Bergen County Players presents “The 39 Steps” – (ORADELL, NJ) — Fresh off being named the top live music or theater venue by 201 Magazine’s “Best of Bergen” readers, Bergen County Players (BCP) invites audiences to brace themselves for a whirlwind of espionage and outrageous comedy with the Tony Award-winning The 39 Steps, which runs weekends from May 2-31, 2026. Directed by BCP life member Steve Bell, this breakneck adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film classic blends film noir suspense with Monty Python-style absurdity.

8) Be Amazed by the Golden Age of Radio at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library – (TOMS RIVER, NJ) — Return to the era when families gathered around the wireless set for “theater of the imagination.” The Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library will host a live presentation by WREP: When Radio Entertained People on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. A trivia game will take place before the show at 6:30pm. The performance will begin at 7:00pm. Join them for an evening “broadcast” of skits from the Golden Age of radio, performed live by WREP’s veteran actors.

9) New Jersey Punk Rock Flea Market Spring Fling Returns April 11–12 – (EDISON, NJ) — The New Jersey Punk Rock Flea Market Spring Fling returns to the New Jersey Expo Center in Edison, New Jersey, on Saturday, April 11 and Sunday, April 12, 2026, bringing with it a two-day blowout of punk rock legends, hundreds of artists and makers, food trucks, live entertainment, tattoos, oddities, and community-driven fundraising on a scale that matches the event’s outsized reputation.

10) Freehold Jewish Center presents NJ Premiere Reading of “The Silence of Our Friends” by Gary Morgenstein – (FREEHOLD, NJ) — The Freehold Jewish Center (Congregation Agudath Achim) will present the New Jersey premiere reading of award-winning playwright Gary Morgenstein’s provocative new play The Silence of Our Friends on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 2:00pm as a special fundraising event with all ticket proceeds going to the synagogue.

11) Award-Winning Rockland Jazz Composer Takes New Live Album to Paramus – (PARAMUS, NJ) — Popular local jazz act The Peter Furlan Project host their New Jersey album release party for their freshly revealed Live At Maureen’s Jazz Cellar at Bergen Community College’s Ciccone Theater on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Showtime is 7:30pm.

12) Rock On! This Week’s Sound Bites… 04/09/2026 – “It’s not long enough but it’s a pretty good run of shows. I haven’t done a tour like this in about three years, even though it feels like yesterday, I haven’t done a tour like this in a long time,” laughed multi instrumentalist Hunter Hayes shortly before his two recent New Jersey shows at the Newton Theatre and The Stone Pony in Asbury Park. “I am thoroughly looking forward to it, I have been looking forward to doing a tour like this since “Evergreen“ started coming together, you know, coming to life; “Evergreen” has been an eight to ten year process, depending on where you want to start, it’s a pretty good run of shows and I’m really excited about it.”

13) Ocean County Library Toms River Branch to Host 2026 Ocean County Children’s Festival – (TOMS RIVER, NJ) — Celebrate early childhood with art, music, entertainment, and activities during the 2026 Ocean County Children’s Festival, presented by the New Jersey Association for the Education of Young Children (NJAEYC). The Ocean County Library Toms River Branch will host the event on Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 11:00am to 3:00pm.

14) Comedy Shows This Weekend: April 9-12, 2026 – Here’s a look at comedy shows taking place across the state from April 9-12, 2026. New Jersey Stage compiles this list from comedy clubs, casinos, and performing arts centers. You can send information on shows to [email protected] for consideration in future columns.

15) Two Generations of Jazz: Pianist Caelan Cardello and Bassist Rufus Reid at April Jersey Jazz LIVE! – “I find it wonderfully satisfying and enjoyable to make music with Caelan. The evening will go like the wind, and it is unfortunate we have only one set, but there will be more opportunities. Don’t be late!”​​​​​​​

EVENT PREVIEWS

MPAC’s annual Sustainability Series returns for 2026 with Free Presentation of National Geographic Live! – Rise of T.rex

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) — Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)’s annual Sustainability Series returns for 2026 with a free presentation of National Geographic Live! – The Rise of T.rex on Wednesday, April 15 at 7:30pm. Tyrannosaurus Rex is the most famous dinosaur out there, but few people know the true story of this species. This event is made possible through the generous sponsorship of BASF.

---

Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival to Take Place April 19th

(MANAYUNK, PA) — The largest food event in Philadelphia – and one of the largest food truck festivals in America – is back and bigger than ever! StrEAT Food Festival returns to Manayunk on Sunday, April 19, 2026, from 11:00am to 5:00pm. Over 85+ of the region’s top food trucks and food vendors will line historic Main Street for the day, serving up menus that range from savory BBQ and global street food to decadent desserts and sweet treats.

---

Passage Theatre to host 41st Anniversary Gala at Trenton War Memorial on April 25th

(TRENTON, NJ) — To celebrate the culmination of their forty-first season, Passage Theatre, the only professional theatre company in the city of Trenton, will host their annual fundraiser gala on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at the Trenton War Memorial. The event begins at 5:00pm.

---

Roselle Park Arts Festival returns April 25th

(ROSELLE PARK, NJ) — The Roselle Park Arts Festival, a free community-wide celebration of the arts, will return Saturday, April 25, 2026, bringing artists, live music and family-friendly activities to downtown Roselle Park.

---

U.S. Olympic Gold Medalists Headline 2026 Stars on Ice Tour

(NEWARK, NJ) — U.S. Figure Skating returns from Milan with one of the most decorated American teams in Winter Olympic history. The 2026 Stars on Ice tour will bring the opportunity to celebrate their achievements to Newark on Friday, May 1, 2026 for a 7:00pm performance at Prudential Center.

---

2026 Down & Derby Wine Festival: A Day of Wine, Music, and Derby Fun in South Jersey

(CAMDEN, NJ) — South Jersey’s most anticipated wine festival is back! The Fourth Annual Down & Derby Wine Festival will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 2:00pm – 7:00pm at Veterans Island in Cooper River Park. Hosted by the Camden County Board of Commissioners and Visit South Jersey, this exciting event will bring together the finest local wineries, live entertainment, delicious food, and derby-themed festivities.

---

RVCC presents Bill Blagg’s Magic in Motion

(BRANCHBURG, NJ) — Local audiences will have the opportunity to explore how physical science creates magic when the Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College presents Bill Blagg’s Magic in Motion on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 11:00am.

---

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.

---

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.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

---

 

---

Rutgers University Center for Social Justice Education & LGBT Communities – In Full Bloom: A Conversation with Durand Bernarr
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 @ 7:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC) New Brunswick, NJ

 

---

 

---

 

---