In the Arts

Doo-wop enthusiasts can twist and shout at Rock ’n’ Roll’s #1 Revue April 1 at 8 p.m. at Pollak Auditorium, Monmouth University, West Long Branch. The musical extravaganza of “golden oldies” tunes will feature Joey Dee and the Starliters, Larry Chance and the Earls, David Brigati of Young Rascals fame, and Bobby Valli in a tribute to his brother, Frank Valli. Presented by BlueHawk Productions, a business venture of the university’s entrepreneurship class, the event will include a twist contest, auction and prizes. Proceeds will be donated to a university scholarship. Tickets are $40-$20 and are available at the door or by calling (732) 923-4666 and at www.bluehawkproductions.com.

The Red Bank Public Library will sponsor a poetry reading by five women poets as part of its celebration of National Poetry Month. Alissa Pecora, Paula Newcomer, Pattie Conroy, Gretna Wilkinson and Elaine Olaoye will present readings on April 2 at 2 p.m. at the library, located at 84 W. Front St. An open mic session will follow the readings.

A play written by Cheryl Chapin of Tinton Falls is among the winners of the 11th annual Joyce Indik Wordsmith Competition. Winning poems and plays will have staged readings at the Joyce Indik Readers’ Theater April 2 at 2 p.m. at the Plainsboro Municipal Building. The competition was sponsored by The Unlimited Potential Theater Company, a project of VSA arts of New Jersey, a nonprofit dedicated to assuring access to the arts to people with disabilities.

The Guild of Creative Art will present an exhibit of associate and exhibiting members work, April 2- 29. An artists reception will be held on Sunday, April 3, 3 – 5 p.m.

Artists who wish to become exhibiting artists or associate artists may present seven works in any one medium for judging. Works will be received Friday, April 22, from noon to 4:30 p.m. Media being considered are acrylics, drawing, oil, pastel, watercolor, photography and sculpture.

The guild, at 620 Broad St. in Shrewsbury, is a cooperative gallery that is open six days a week from noon to 4:30 p.m. and is free to the public. For information about exhibits and classes, call (732) 741-1441 or visit www.guildofcreativeart.com.

New Jersey Repertory Company presents the world premiere of Ruth Wolff’s “Beyond Gravity,” described as a haunting new drama of love and loss, and the price one pays for success. The drama opens Saturday, April 2, and runs through May 8. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and matinees on Sundays at 2 p.m. Special preview performances are on March 31 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and April 1, at 8 p.m. Preview tickets are $20. All other performances are $30 with discounts available for students, seniors and groups.

Admission is $10 off a $30 ticket when theatergoers bring a toy airplane to a Thursday, Friday, or Sunday matinee performance.

After the production closes, all donated airplanes will be delivered to the Ronald McDonald House in Long Branch.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.njrep.org and through theatermania.com.

NJ Rep is located at the Lumia Theatre, 179 Broadway in Long Branch. There is convenient, free, on-site parking. For additional information, call (732) 229-3166 or email: [email protected].

Concordia Chorale will present Bach’s B Minor Mass at Holy Trinity Church, 150 River Road, Red Bank, at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 10. The chorale will be accompanied by keyboard, violin, flute and oboe. The performance will feature Kathleen Berger, soprano; Samantha Talmage, mezzo-soprano; Jacob Feldman, tenor; and Steven Fredericks, bass. The performance will be directed by John Balme. A goodwill offering will be taken.

For more information, call (732) 495-2066 or email Info@ConcordiaChorale.

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Monmouth County high school seniors pursuing a career in the performing arts will be eligible for the John C. Rodriguez Scholarship, awarded in the amounts of $500 to $1,500. The award is designed to give a head start to talented young artists who intend to study their art forms at a four-year undergraduate college or university in fall 2005. Applications are available by contacting Jeffrey Norman at (973) 633-3965 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Applicants will be called for an audition on April 11 or 12, and winners will be announced on May 1. Applicants will be asked to prepare two of the following: a one- to two-minute theater monologue, a song from musical theater, standard or contemporary or a choreographed dance piece. The scholarship fund was established shortly after the untimely death of Rodriguez, a former Howell resident and artist, singer, musician and composer.

Michael Uslan, former Ocean Township resident and award-winning executive producer of more than 20 feature films including the “Batman” movies, will receive the Independent Spirit Award during the 2005 Garden State Film Festival April 7-10.

The festival will be held at the historic Paramount Theater and the Convention Hall on the Boardwalk in Asbury Park.

The awards will be presented at a black-tie dinner at The English Manor in Ocean Township on April 10. The dinner begins at 5 p.m. and will feature music by composer Julie Gold. Tickets are $110 and must be purchased in advance.

The awards dinner will mark the culmination of three days of 2005 Garden State Film Festival events, which will include numerous screenings, workshops, open talent casting call, panel discussions and other special events. For festival and ticket information visit www.gsff.org.

Through a grant from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Mass., is offering full tuition scholarships to 20 New Jersey educators. The scholarships apply to weeklong summer program courses in creative writing and visual arts that run June 26-Aug. 28. Ten of the scholarships include housing stipends and all 20 include vouchers up to $100 for materials. Scholarships are open to teachers of grades pre-K through 12, in public or charter schools, who can demonstrate that the opportunity will refresh and inspire their teaching. Applications must be postmarked by April 22. For an application and free catalog, contact the Fine Arts Work Center at (508) 487-9960 ext. 103 or 104 or visit www. FAWC.org.