Jon Francis will host the musical presentation “Uncanning Worms” at SICA Saturday at 8 p.m. This month’s showcase artists are Death Mask and Bradford Reed. $5 cover. SICA is at 20 Third Ave. Call (732) 263-1121 or e-mail to [email protected].
The monthly “Speaking of Art” series at the Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts in Long Branch (SICA) will present “Guns! And The Curatorial Process” Friday at 7:30 p.m. Donna Gustafson, curator of SICA’s new exhibition, “The Gun Show,” will discuss her inspiration and process in developing the provocative exhibition. Free and open to the public.
The Bluegrass & Oldtime Music Association of New Jersey will hold its March stage show and jam session Sunday 1-5 p.m. at Embury United Methodist Church Hall, Church Street in Little Silver. Admission is $5, $4 members. Five bluegrass, country or folk bands will perform. For information, call (732) 787-1891 or visit www.newjerseybluegrass.org
The Monmouth Civic Chorus and the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Monmouth County are co-sponsors of the concert “Let Freedom Sing” Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St. in Red Bank. Metropolitan Opera star Barbara Dever joins the chorus and orchestra for Beethoven’s beloved “Ode to Joy,” plus a world premiere based on the electrifying memoir “Before Night Falls” by Cuban dissident Reinaldo Arenas. Tickets: $30/$25, $27/$22 seniors, $10/$5 students. Call (732) 933-9333 or visit www.monmouthcivicchorus.org.
Saturday, March 24, at 8:30 p.m. in Pollak Theatre on the West Long Branch campus. A screening of the 1991 film “Ladies and Gentlemen … The Commitments!” will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Billed as the world’s hardest working band, The Commitments bring their Dublin-soul to Pollak Theatre for a raucous night of R & B featuring the original stars Kenneth McCluskey and Dick Massey. For information, or to purchase tickets, contact the box office at (732) 263-6889, or online at www.monmouth.edu/arts.
“One of my Wives is Missing (Catch Me if You Can)” by Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert will be presented through March 24 by Soar Productions. This Broadway comedy/whodunit recounts the tale of an advertising man who brings his bride to the boss’ mountain lodge for a honeymoon, then calls in the local police to investigate her sudden disappearance. Performances are at 1110 Union Ave., Union Beach, 8 p.m. Fridays, March 16, 23 and Saturdays, March 17 and 24; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 18. Tickets: $18-$15 by calling (732) 471-8268.
The Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation sponsors an ongoing free series in the Oceanview Lounge at The Ocean Place Resort and Spa in Long Branch, 1 Ocean Blvd. The schedule is: March 17, The Tone Masters; March 24, Terraplane Blues; March 31, Chuck Lambert. For information, call (732) 571-4000 or visit www.oceanplaceresort.com.
Making a name in the music business isn’t easy, as many local bands know all too well. The Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank is doing its part to promote local talent by offering the opportunity for New Jersey-based bands to open for national acts. The opening act for a sold-out show has access to potential new fans that they otherwise might not have. Experienced bands who are interested in opening at the Basie should submit a press kit for consideration to Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank 07701.
Two River Theater Company in Red Bank is presenting Sam Shepard’s “True West” directed by Robert M. Rechnitz. The play revolves around two very different, yet shockingly similar, brothers in this exploration of identity, American myths, and true family values. True West runs through Sunday, March 25. Tickets are $30-$54 and are available by contacting the box office at (732) 345-1400 or by visiting the box office at 21 Bridge Ave. in Red Bank.
“Watermarks” will be screened Tuesday, March 20, at 8 p.m. at Wilson Hall Auditorium at Monmouth University in West Long Branch. “Watermarks” is the story of the champion women swimmers of the legendary Jewish sports club, Hakoah Vienna. The film is part of the second annual Jewish Film Festival co-sponsored by Monmouth University in conjunction with the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Deal. For information, call Dr. Robert Youdin, director of the Jewish Culture Program at Monmouth, at (732) 263-5428 or Lori Schneider, JCC’s adult programming director, at (732) 531-9100, ext. 122.