On Wednesday, a 130-by-9-foot mural depicting the history of art was dedicated at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. The mural was designed by Bob Mataranglo and painted by him with students and faculty members. The project, consisting of 30 panels of various sizes on a curved wall, was begun in early October. The finishing touches are now being completed in preparation for the unveiling of thousands of hours of artwork by dozens of participating student and faculty artists.
Phoenix Productions in Red Bank will hold auditions for “Disney’s High School Musical” at Phoenix Studio Theatre, 111 Monmouth St., Red Bank, next door to the Count Basie Theatre. Auditions are Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Monday, May 7, and Thursday, May 10, 6-9 p.m. All roles are open. Jocks, cheerleaders, geeks and skaters are needed. Be prepared to sing something from the show and wear clothing suitable for a dance audition.
Visit www.phoenixredbank.com or myspace.com/phoenixhighschoolmusical.
“Weather or Not?” and “Children’s Art” (from the children’s workshop) are the themes for the May exhibit at the Art Alliance of Monmouth County gallery, 33 Monmouth St., Red Bank. Mary Cooper will be the artist featured in the window. The exhibit will run through May 30. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. An opening reception will be held Saturday, May 5, 6-8 p.m. For information, call (732) 842-9403.
Nancy Scharff will perform in “A Night of Praise and Worship,” featuring contemporary Christian music and original songs, at the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove June 2 at 7 p.m. The concert will include special appearances by the Ecumenical Choir and Children’s Chorus of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Praise Band and Orchestral Ensemble. Tickets are $23 and $18. Portions of the ticket sales will benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Long Branch. For tickets, call the box office at (800) 773-0097.
The Monmouth Folk Dancers teach international folk dancing Tuesdays, 7-10 p.m., at the United Methodist Church of Red Bank, 247 Broad St., Red Bank. Beginners welcome; partners not needed. Park and enter from rear lot; $4 charge. For information, call (732) 747-4831.
David Rochford of Red Bank is among the winners of the 13th Annual Joyce Indik New Jersey Wordsmith Competition. Rochford’s “To a Plagiarizing Friend” was among the poems, essays, short stories and plays submitted. The competition is sponsored by The Unlimited Potential Theater Company, part of VSA arts of New Jersey, which promotes the creative power of people with disabilities. Call (732) 745-3885, 745-3913 (TTY), e-mail to [email protected] or visit www.vsanj.org.
Brookdale Community College’s Alumni Association will be accepting submissions for the 21st annual Juried Art Show Friday, May 11, noon to 8 p.m., in the Center for Visual Arts (CVA) lobby at the Lincroft main campus. The Juried Art Show is open to all artists 18 years of age and over. Entries are limited to two per artist, in one category or two. Works accepted for the mixed-media show include: painting, printmaking, photography, graphic design, sculpting, ceramics, fiber, jewelry, computer graphics and mixed media. There is a $10 fee for single entries, $15 for two works. The show will run May 18-June 18. Call (732) 224-2705.
The Ocean Grove Music and Art Festival will be held Saturday, May 12, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Bishop Janes Tabernacle and Auditorium Square Park, Pilgrim Pathway & McClintock Street. The festival will feature rock, blues, sacred, funk, country rock, folk and even bagpipes. Musical performances will be free. Visual artists will display their works in Auditorium Park. Information is available at www.myspace.com/oceangrovemusic; www.oceangrovenj.com or by calling the Ocean Grove Area Chamber of Commerce at (732) 774-1391.at www.monmouthartscouncil.org/grants.php.
The Monmouth Symphony League will hold its Spring Luncheon and Musicale Wednesday, May 16, at 11:30 a.m. at the Raven and the Peach restaurant on River Road in Fair Haven. Pianist Jim McEowen will perform a selection of Broadway tunes. Proceeds will support the Monmouth Symphony Orchestra, which is in its 58th anniversary season. Cost of the luncheon is $40, and reservations must be made prior to Friday, May 11, by calling Joan Berzansky at (732) 531-0601 or Karen Slobodin at (732) 946-4311.
The Art Society of Monmouth County will hold its annual spring luncheon May 17 at 11 a.m. at the Shore Casino restaurant, Atlantic Highlands. Guest speaker Robert A. Loder Jr. will present a demonstration of painting with acrylics. Chances will be sold to win gift baskets of assorted art supplies and art-related gifts. Also at the luncheon, Ariel Redmond, of Holmdel High School, first-place winner in the society’s annual Merit Award Show, will be presented her scholarship award. Reservations are $32 for nonmembers and $30 for members, and may be made in advance by calling Elaine Smith at (732) 577-1181.