Another beautiful weekend with some great events to enjoy in Maplewood, South Orange and beyond!
This is the last weekend to catch The Strollers’ production of Hairspray. The musical tells the story of plump teenager, Tracy Turnbad’s dream to dance on the Corny Collins show, a local TV dance program. When she wins a role on the show, she becomes an overnight celebrity, and meets a colorful array of characters. Tracy then launches a campaign to integrate the show. The musical is a commentary on the injustices of parts of American society in the 1960’s.
Hairspray
May 15 and 16 at 8 pm
Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online here or by calling 973-761-8453.
Montclair-based author Ylonda Gault Caviness will be at Words Bookstore in Maplewood on Friday to promote the launch of her new book CHILD, PLEASE: How Mama’s Old-School Lessons Helped Me Check Myself Before I Wrecked Myself (Tarcher/Penguin Random House Hardcover, May 2015). According to the publicity, Caviness “adds a refreshing and sassy new voice to the parenting conversation from an African-American perspective. Foregoing the politically correct safe zone, Caviness reveals the hard and fast rules of being black in America, including the unique and sometimes jarring set of expectations and goals under which black parents operate.”
Meet the Author: Ylonda Gault Caviness
Friday, May 15 at 7:30 pm
Words Bookstore, 179 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood, NJ
Free
On Saturday, the Ethical Culture Society in Maplewood will celebrate music and art with two very special events. At 5 pm celebrated Charles Ives scholar Neely Bruce will perform a special concert with Elizabeth Saunders and Christopher Grundy: Charles Ives: Songs in the Key of Z. From 7-9 pm there will be an artist’s reception for South Orange artist Florence Weisz, whose collage exhibition, Stones of Resonance: China, Tibet, Jerusalem, is on display at the Society from May through July. Refreshments will be served.
An Evening of Music and Art at the Ethical Culture Society of Essex County
Saturday, May 16 at 5 pm
516 Prospect St., Maplewood, NJ
Free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted.
Attend the On The Mic Music & Poetry Event at The Rack on Saturday night. You’ll enjoy a variety of styles and sounds with musicians and poets from all over the tri-state area at the cool event hosted by Steven Strickland. Feeling brave? Get on the mic and share a song or poem of your own. Invite your friends. Admission is FREE!
On The Mic – Music & Poetry Event
Saturday, May 16 from 7 – 10 pm
The Rack, 1844 Springfield Ave, Maplewood, NJ
Free admission
Tycoon Dog will play at a free family-friendly concert with music touching on rock, blues, reggae, funk, pop, soul and hillbilly country on Sunday afternoon. The event is sponsored by the Township of Maplewood, and is the kickoff event for the Township’s “Summer Concert Series at The Gazebo.” It will be an afternoon of sun, fun and music!
Tycoon Dog Concert
Sunday, May 17 at 3 pm
The Gazebo, corner of Springfield Avenue and Vermont Street, Maplewood, NJ
Free
Celebrated Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn will perform at SOPAC in support of his memoir Rumours of Glory and an 8 CD + DVD companion set on Sunday night. Cockburn’s songs, along with his humanitarian work, have brought him a long list of honors. Last year, the Luminato Festival honored Cockburn’s extensive songbook with a tribute concert featuring such varied guests as jazz guitarist Michael Occhipinti, folk-rapper Buck 65, country rockers Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, country-folk singers Sylvia Tyson and Amelia Curran, pop artists the Barenaked Ladies and Hawksley Workman, and folk-pop trio The Wailin’ Jennys.
Bruce Cockburn Concert
Sunday, May 17 at 7:30 pm
SOPAC, One SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ
Tickets are $38 – $58 and can be purchased online here
Check out our Events Calendar to see what else is happening in the towns and enjoy the weekend!
