Union Summer Concert Series Rocks with Foreigners Journey

Posted on July 16, 2022 by Karen Nowosad
Photo – K Nowosad showing the fan given by The Township of Union at their Annual Summer Concert Series

Township of Union Summer Concert Series

I enjoyed my outdoor experience at Shakespeare Theatre of NJ’s presentation of Much Ado About Nothing so much that I continued on the next week to an outdoor concert. Next stop: GSP Exit 141 where the Township of Union Summer Concert Series at Rabkin Park plays through July.

Their shows run every Thursday during July from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Concerts are open to the public and free. Bring a blanket or chair and sit and enjoy some very fine music.

The Rabkin Park field is large and well cared for. Parking and rest rooms are readily available. Compliments go out to the staff who handle the show. They were very helpful and very friendly as well.

To see the complete listing of concerts, visit the Township of Union website and go to their Annual Summer Concert Series page. On my visit, July 14, the band Foreigners Journey Featuring Constantine Maroulis played.

Foreigners Journey – Boston – New Jersey

Foreigners Journey on stage – July 14 at the Township of Union at their Annual Summer Concert Series 2022 Photo – K Nowosad

Originating out of Boston, Foreigners Journey covers hit songs from the bands mentioned in their name. This past year, New Jersey’s own Constantine Maroulis joined the band as their lead singer/front man. His inclusion brings additions to the set list from his hit Broadway show, Rock of Ages, and a few other rock classics as well as some tunes he writes.

The set list for show in Union included:

  • Long, Long Way from Home
  • Who’s Crying Now
  • Urgent
  • Be Good to Yourself
  • Cold as Ice
  • Faithfully
  • Juke Box Hero
  • Whole Lotta Love
  • I Want to Know Where Love Is
  • Stoned in Love
  • Bohemian Rhapsody
  • Anyway You Want It
  • Don’t Stop Believing

One additional song on the set list was one written by Constantine. The song titled “Once in Your Life” is from his latest album, Until I’m Wanted.

Front Man Constantine Maroulis with Foreigners Journey at the Township of Union at their Annual Summer Concert Series – Photo – K Nowosad

Crowd Appeal

The people attending this show were really treated to a fine evening of entertainment. The 90 minute show was a songfest that people sang along with and cheered on.

The band member are very fine musicians. This includes Joe Pettengill (bass and vocals), Kevin Herrera (guitar and vocals), Adam Tese (saxophone), Art Mambuca (drums), and Paul Kochanski (keyboards and vocals). The sounds produced by this group are authentic to the era from which the music comes. It was obvious to see many in the audience reliving the joys of songs that have meaning connected to something in their lives.

Constantine Maroulis is the front man and he does one heck of job making sure that crowd is totally a part of the show. Constantine was a favorite when he was a finalist on American Idol. One of the reasons for that was his ability to connect with his audience. He continues that practice at his live shows by his connection with the band as well as the audience. Constantine further enhances that connection as he comes off the stage and walks through the audience as he sings. He is a first rate entertainer out to make sure the audience has a great time at the show. From what I could see, they did.

The Show Ends

The 90 minutes went very quickly that night. Union tries to close off their concerts around 9:00 and so that hour was met. However, there were still a few of us that stayed for a few minutes to thank the band for great evening and many stayed behind to meet Constantine.

Leaving the Rabkin Park area, I found myself humming songs I heard that evening. It was definitely a very good time out that evening. The weather cooperated as it was a few days before the big heat wave came in. Yes, it was a perfect way to spend an evening outdoors in the summer.

Other Foreigners Journey Shows in NJ

Upcoming dates for Constantine Maroulis and Foreigners Journey in New Jersey include:

Aug. 18 – Axelrod PAC, Deal Park

Sept. 24 – Carteret PAC, Carteret

To see a full listing of all the group’s upcoming shows, visit their website.

Promotional Video for Foreigners Journey Featuring Constantine Maroulis

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A Summer Delight – ‘Much Ado About Nothing’

Posted on July 12, 2022 by Karen Nowosad
A scene from Much Ado About Nothing from Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey – James Michael Reilly, Benjamin Eakeley, Christian Frost, and Raphael Nash Thompson. Photo by Sarah Haley

When summer arrives, outdoor theater beckons to us. The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) traditionally runs a play a year outdoors. This practice which started in 2002 continues this year with Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Bring your blankets, low back chairs, and picnic dinner to the Outdoor Theatre on the campus of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station. The Greek-style amphitheater has a charm all its own as patrons can enjoy an outstanding production.

Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy. It is appropriate for ages and it provides a wonderful introduction to Shakespeare for younger theater goers. The performances of this show run until July 31st.

A Comedy but More

Much Ado About Nothing is a light heated play but one that also shows the dangers of rumors and innuendos. It takes place in Messina, Italy. The setting has a bright stage with a summer-like glow to it.

As groups of soldiers arrive in town, romance is in the air. Led by Don Pedro, Claudio and Benedick are the two men who have different notion of love in mind. Claudio has long been in love with Hero. As he returns, his feelings are rekindled. After a few missteps, the two plan to marry.

A ball is held complete with music and dancing. STNJ does of fine job of choreography in this scene which is a nice piece to have in the show. Benedick dances with Beatrice who is a cousin to Hero. This is an interesting pairing because Benedick is a confirmed bachelor and Beatrice ya confirmed spinster. However, they engage in interesting conversation which of course leads to feelings of love.

All seems on course until a malicious plot is hatched to deceive Claudio. As the plot develops, all sorts of antics are on stage. The “hiding in plain sight” to listen in, so popular in Shakespeare plays, happen. And in doing so, misunderstandings occur. Finally, Claudio tells Hero he will not marry her because she has been with other men. The news is so severe that Hero faints but the crowd thinks she is dead.

Benedick defends Hero’s virtue eventually exposing the untruths. This leads to Beatrice declaring her love for him. Claudio comes to Hero to claim their love and all ends pretty well.

We would be remiss not to mention the very funny actions of the town guards, led by Michael Stewart Allen as Dogberry, His actions warning the audience about aircraft overhead and then his attempts to harness his guards to do their duty provides a lot of funny scenes in this show.

So What is the Much Ado About Nothing ?

A unique paring of words but ones that really summarize the point of the play. The rumors and untruths about Hero have no sound basis so it is nothing. But much is made of it. Enough to generate much of the play.

As always, I find the themes in Shakespeare’s plays continue to have relevance to the current day. Today, we see conspiracy theories based on nothing substantial. But they do stir things up. For those who subscribe to their preachings and base action around them, are they also not making much ado about nothing?

Much Ado About Nothing Features a Large Ensemble Cast

Eleanor Holdridge directs Much Ado About Nothing. The production features a large cast with an ensemble of 23 actors. It includes many familiar STNJ veterans along with members of the 2022 Acting Fellow Company.

Leading the cast in the iconic roles of Beatrice and Benedick are Broadway veterans Benjamin Eakeley and Jesmille Darbouze. Other leading roles are played by Michael Stewart Allen as Dogberry, Raphael Nash Thompson as Leonato. Richard Bourg plays Antonio and Verges, James Michael Reilly as Don Pedro, and Fiona Robberson as Hero.

To Attend the Show

All performances other than the 4:00 p.m. Sunday Twilight Shows begin at 8:00 PM. 

For more information about The Shakespeare Theatre’s Outdoor Stage performances and its inclement weather policy, please call the Box Office at (973) 408-5600, or visit ShakespeareNJ.org. 

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‘American Idiot’ in Asbury Park is a Winner

Posted on July 6, 2022 by Karen Nowosad
Shared from APTCo Facebook photos

Live theater returns to Asbury Park this month as the Asbury Park Theater Company presents American Idiot. An exuberant version of the Green Day Broadway hit show plays one more weekend in the Kingsley Theater at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel. Directed by William Whitefield, this show features a cast with singing voices that will knock your socks off! Green Day’s music and Billie Joe Armstrong’s lyrics are in good hands with Music Direction by Andrew Macirowski. Equally as exciting is the choreography provided by Serena Soffer as the cast puts on a first rate production. This show is a winner that theater goers will love seeing.

American Idiot Works for Post 9/11 World and Today’s World

American Idiot played on Broadway for 422 performances from 2010 – 2011. It won several Tony Awards as well as  the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. It is based on a book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. The story examines life in America after 9/11 and the effects on the young generation of the time. It was a trying time filled with people struggling to decide how to make a life of their own. Fitting into convention society is questioned as struggles with identity ensue.

This presentation of American Idiot comes at a time as people struggle to regain their balance in life post CoVid. Perhaps a chance to see a struggle from back then might provide reassurance for now.

Looking back at the lyrics of the opening song, one immediately sees a synergy between the two time periods.

Don’t wanna be an American idiot!
Don’t want a nation under the new media
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?

Welcome to a new kind of tension
All across the alien nation
Where everything isn’t meant to be okay
Television dreams of tomorrow
We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow
For that’s enough to argue . . .

Song excerpt from “American Idiot” by Green Day

American Idiot Songs Make the Plot Come Alive

Scene from ‘American Idiot’ Asbury Park Theater Company – Photo credit John Posada

The songs from this show come from Green Day’s album titled “American Idiot.” They are a powerful blend of rock music from Green Day’s catalog combined with great storytelling lyrics.

The story focuses on the individual journeys of three young men, Johnny (Jeremy Rotolo), Tunny (Connor Closs), and Will (Luke Surrestsky). Each follows a path where they encounter decision points that either allow them to move forward or threaten to ground them forever. Along the way, they encounter war, the struggle to support a family, and drugs.

An interesting gender twist adds to the role of the drug dealer, St. Jimmy (Kim Trachtenberg). This change from the original production makes it even more intriguing to see.

Scene from ‘American Idiot’ Asbury Park Theater Company – Photo credit John Posada

Other women featured in the show include Halle Ryan Lipton, Avery Gallagher, and Janie Hornstien.

The ensemble includes Grace Allison, Gavin Bailey, Shannah Dolan, Carina Duffy, Emily Gulden, and Leah Krupnick. Other ensemble members are Nathaniel Paris, Luke Pearlberg, Courtney Ravelo, Frank Saverino, Connor Sheridan, Fiona Sheridan, Rose Taylor-Riley and Joey Walsh. 

This cast and the band assembled on the side of the stage bring some amazing moments of music to the show. Some of the most memorable include:

The opening number, “American Idiot,” performed by the entire cast, is rousing and filled with high levels of energy.

The poignant “21 Guns” is also performed by the entire cast with the three men and women in lead vocals and stirs emotions.

“Wake Me Up When September Ends” is a moment in the show when the vocals of the three men and the company combine in fine harmony.

One of the final songs, although not the last, is “We’re Coming Home Again.” This is so well done it brought a few tears to my eyes.

Overall, high praise goes out to all connected with this production.

Future Productions

Now is the time to make plans to get tickets for what is coming next from Asbury Park Theater Company:

  • Running in December is Million Dollar Quartet. This is the story of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins as they got together in a recording studio in Memphis on December 4, 1956.
  • In April 2023, American Son will run. This is a play about estranged bi-racial couple. Their son is detained by the local police causing them to confront their feelings about race and bias.

It seems to me that live theater in Asbury Park is a very good idea. I applaud this new theater company and wish them all the best as they continue to provide good, solid entertainment to the Jersey Shore community.

For more information about these shows and ticket purchases, visit Asbury Park Theater Company’s website.

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