Join the Monmouth County Arts Council and The Latino Chamber of Commerce for a classical marimba concert and wine tasting reception to benefit the arts council at the Kirby House in Elberon, a historic mansion, hosted by Leigh Howard Stevens ThursdayMay 1, at 7 p.m. Stevens and Nora Clerc will present a program of Bach, Tchaikovsky andmodern composers. The Kirby House is located at 392 Kirby Ave., Elberon. Tickets $25. Seating is limited. RSVP to LisaMarie at (732) 212-1890, ext. 1, e-mail [email protected] or go to www.mostlymarimba.com and enter “ticket” into search box
Middletown native soprano Jo Ellen Miller will perform in recital May 3 at 7 p.m. at the Monmouth Museum on the campus of Brookdale Community College in Lincroft.
Monmouth Civic Chorus Artistic Director Mark Shapiro will be at the piano for the recital, which will benefit the civic chorus. Limited seating is available for this recital and champagne reception. Reservations are $80. Call (732) 933-9333, or visit monmouthcivicchorus.org for reservations.
New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch presents “Women Who Steal,” a broad comedy about a couple of broads who’ve had enough, by Carter W. Lewis, May 8- June 15. Asuburban housewife goes on a one-night rampage and her husband’s motormouth mistress is riding shotgun. Together, they confront their demons and their dreams, along with the men in their lives, in a hilarious and achingly human search for what really matters in life and in love. Five specially priced preview performancesMay 8-10; regular performances Thursday- Sunday. Tickets are $30 to $50. Reservations: online at www.njrep.org or call (732) 229-3166. NJ Rep is located at 179 Broadway in Long Branch and has free on-site parking. Red Bank Regional Visual and PerformingArtsAcademy dancemajors will perform the dance recital “The Wonderful World of Disney” May 3 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Approximately 27 numbers in the recital have been choreographed by students to music from “The Little Mermaid,” “Mary Poppins,” “TheAristocats” and other Disney shows. Tickets are $10, and $8 for children and senior citizens. For advance tickets, call (732) 842-8000, ext. 1364, or email [email protected] or.
In honor of the 325th anniversary of Monmouth County, the Matawan Historical Society will participate in the countywide historical tour weekend sponsored by theMonmouth County Historical CommissionMay 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. andMay 4 from noon to 5 p.m. Free guided tours of the Burrowes Mansion, 94 Main St., Matawan, will be given on both days, and light refreshments will be served. The Georgian-stylemansion, built in 1723, was prominently featured in a skirmish during the RevolutionaryWar when a company of New Jersey Royal Volunteers attempted to captureMajor John Burrowes Jr., who was able to escape through a back window. To learn more about the history of Matawan andMonmouth County and to take part in the anniversary, visit the mansion. For more information, call (732) 583-1736.
Independent Jersey Shore singer and songwriter John Padovano, the “Ironbound Crooner,” has released a new CD titled “The Red Bank Recordings: Volume One.” The CD is a collection of tracks recorded in Red Bank over a decade ago, mainly at local coffeehouses. Padovano, Fair Haven, plays bass guitar, lead guitar, harmonica, acoustic guitar, piano andmost of the percussion on the album, along with all of the vocals. He can be heard Friday nights at Cafe 360 in Freehold at 34 East Main St.
The New Jersey Watercolor Society
2008 Annual Member Show will run May 3-28 at the Guild of Creative Art, 620 Broad St., Shrewsbury. Opening reception is May 17, 4-6 p.m. Also on exhibit will be “Fantasy, Form & Reality” by Leslie Backlund, plus artwork by her students. Reception is May 4, 3-5 p.m. Hours at the guild are Monday-Saturday, noon to 4:30 p.m., Thursday until 7 p.m. For information, visit www.guildofcreativeart.com or call (732) 741-1441.
The Art Society of Monmouth County will host its annual members’ art and sculpture show May 3-29 at Long Branch Public Library, 328 Broadway. The display will include artwork done inmedia such as digital art and watercolor paintings. The nonprofit society is dedicated to the enjoyment and encouragement of the arts in Monmouth County. It meets the third Wednesday of each month with the exception of June-August at theMonmouth Beach Cultural Center, Ocean Avenue. Anyone with an interest in art is invited to join. The library’s hours are Monday- Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. For directions, call the library at (732) 222- 3900 or visit www.lmxac.org/longbranch.
Professional voice artist Rob Sciglimpaglia will discuss the different aspects of the industry, technique, and how to get your career started in “You’re on the Air … How to Really Make It in
Voice-Overs.” The class will be held on Monday, May 5, 7-9 p.m., at Red Bank Regional High School, 101 Ridge Road in Little Silver. Rob and his organization, SuchA Voice, have helped to launchmany careers.
For more information, visit www.suchavoice.com/plainfield or call (732)-682-7136 to register.
ArtsCAP, Asbury Park, will hold its first of a series of combined art shows, dramatic performances and wine-and-cheese tastings May 6 at 7 p.m. at the Mattison Park Restaurant, 649 Mattison Ave., Asbury Park. The fundraiser to benefit the Arts Coalition of Asbury Park will feature floral paintings of Asbury resident Doris China, a Brick Township teacher. China’s oils are inspired by the foliage of Puerto Rico, and painted on media such as wood and paper. Suggested donation is $20, and reservations are limited. For reservations, call Mattison Park at (732) 807-3435 or visit www.mattisonpark.com or www.artscap.org.
The Rockit for Kids Spring Concert is the culminating event of a six-week program offered by the Count Basie Theatre Cool School and Rockit for Kids, directed by Bruce Gallipani. The goal is to help young musicians learn and grow through performance technique by playing rock ‘n’ roll with their peers. The concert will take placeMay 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank. Tickets are $10, $8 for seniors. Call the box office for tickets at (732) 842-9000.
The Ocean Grove Area Chamber of Commerce will present the Ocean Grove Music and Art Festival Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Auditorium Park. The festival will feature artwork, pottery, sculpture, photography and jewelry, as well as live music in Bishop Janes Tabernacle. The free event will take place rain or shine. For more information, call (732) 774-1391 or visit www.oceangrovenj. com.
Compiled by Gloria Stravelli Designed by Eileen Russell Gerber