Ed Jewett as Patrick shares a moment with his mother, played by Susan Greenhill, prior to his impending wedding.
The New Jersey Repertory Company, 179 Broadway, Long Branch, presents Robert King’s comedy, “The Best Man,” Sept. 14 through Oct. 15. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30. For reservations call (732) 229-3166 or visit www.njrep.org.
T.C. Murray’s Seraph Productions will revive “Oh Brother,” a one-person interactive comedy about a year in the life of Brother Christopher, a teacher in a Catholic high school in the late 1950s. Performances are Thursday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. at St. Anselm’s Parish Center, 1028 Wayside Road, Ocean Township. Murray, a retired Mater Dei High School teacher, plays the role of Brother Christopher. Performances will also be held Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15 and 16, at 8 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the door for $15, and $10 for senior citizens. For more information, contact Murray at (732) 530-7152
The Shrewsbury Foundation for the Arts is sponsoring “Shrewsbury Rocks! Battle of the Bands,” a free concert, at the Shrewsbury Borough Hall Gazebo Sept. 17, 2-6 p.m., rain or shine. The concert will feature eight local student and semi-professional bands. For information, visit www.shrewsburyfoundationforthearts.com.
First Avenue Playhouse will present “Proof,” playing every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. through Sept. 30, with a Sunday matinee on Sept. 17 at 2:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $15-$20. Call (732) 291-7552 or visit www.firstavenue-playhouse.com.
Chinese piano virtuoso Xiayin Wang will perform with the Amity Players, featuring Béla Horvth (violin), Tom Palny (viola) and Raphal Dubé (cello), in an evening of chamber music and a solo recital Saturday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m. at The Two River Theatre, 21 Bridge Ave., Red Bank. The program will feature works by Bach, Glazunov, Pugnani-Kreisler, Kreisler, Bazzini and Brahms. Tickets are $20 and are available online ($4.50 surcharge) at www.trtc.org or by calling the the box office ($3 surcharge) at (732) 345-1400 or visit www.trtc.org.
The Bluegrass and Oldtime Music Association of New Jersey will hold a stage show and jam session Sunday, Sept. 17, 1-5 p.m. at Embury Methodist Church Hall on Church Street in Little Silver. Five bluegrass, country and folk bands will play. Admission is $5, $4 members. Call (732) 787-1891 or visit www.newjerseybluegrass.org.
Auditions for “Beyond Therapy” by Christopher Durang will take place at the Brookdale Community College Performing Arts Center Sept. 18, 6 to 8 p.m.; Sept. 20, 6 to 10 p.m., Sept. 24, 3 to 6 p.m. Performances are Nov. 10-12 & 17-19. Call the box office at (732) 224-2411 for more information.
The Friends of the Monmouth Museum presents the first of a three-part lecture series, “Fall Into Fashion,” Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. at the museum, located on the campus of Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. Each lecture will be followed by a delicious light lunch. Tickets are $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers. For information, call (732) 747-2266 or e-mail to:[email protected]
Auditions for Mark Paller’s “A Christmas Carol” will be held Sept. 17 and 18 at 7 p.m. at First Avenue Playhouse, 123 First Ave., Atlantic Highlands. In this fresh approach to the classic tale, the playwright imagines its Christmas Eve in 1843 at the home of Charles Dickens, where friends and family have gathered and each guest must take a part in telling a story. The story unfolds with the cast of 10 playing over 40 parts. Needed are six males and three females ranging in age from 10-30 years old. The part of Charles Dickens has been cast. For character descriptions and more information, visit www.firstavenue-playhouse.com.
The Performing Arts Ensemble will hold “Nutcracker” auditions Sunday, Sept. 17 and 24 at 4 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. at The Galleria on Bridge Avenue in Red Bank. Parts are open for children ages 4-12, teens and young adults, beginners to professionals. Needed are girls and boys, female pointe dancers, dancers of other types, male dancers, gymnasts and male actors. The audition is free and rehearsal schedule is light and flexible. For information, call (732) 671-9655.
Monmouth University’s Hispanic Heritage Committee will present “Yo Soy Latina!,” a play by the award-winning playwright Linda Nieves-Powell and her Latino Flavored Productions Inc. on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 1 p.m.
The free performance will take place at the Rebecca Stafford Student Center, Anacon Hall, 400 Cedar Ave., West Long Branch. In a funny and moving ensemble play, a group of six Latina women share their individual anecdotes of living Latina in contemporary America. The play, to be followed by a question-and-answer session, is free and open to the public. An ethnic food sampling will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact Judy Ramos at (732) 571-3419.
The Count Basie Theatre will hold auditions for the Youth Jazz Orchestra Fall 2006 Session Saturday, Sept. 23. In collaboration with NYC-based American Jazz Venues and under the direction of Jazz Hall of Famer Clem DeRosa, the orchestra training program offers young musicians the opportunity to study with jazz pros. The10-week intensive begins Sept. 30 and offers a Jazz Theory and Improvisation class, as well as a three-hour Big Band rehearsal. Admission is by audition only. Applicants should contact Yvonne Lamb Scudiery, director of education for the Count Basie, at (732) 224-8778, ext. 106, and make an appointment for the Sept. 23. auditions.