Jersey Arts Podcast

Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion's curator, Karl Flesch, joins the Jersey Arts Podcast to review pieces from their current exhibition, Gotta Match! We encourage you to view the photos on https://www.jerseyarts.com/ as you listen so that you can join in on our remotely-guided sneak peek of this unique show.

Gotta Match! explores the fascinating history of matchbooks, match covers, and ashtrays, revealing how these everyday objects became miniature works of art, powerful promotional tools, and reflections of American popular culture—all relating back to Trenton’s commercial and manufacturing history.

The exhibit encourages visitors to compare the glamorous image of smoking promoted in the past with today’s understanding of its serious health consequences.

Stay tuned to learn more about Gotta Match and upcoming events at the Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion.

Thanks for listening!

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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

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You might know classic Hollywood actor Mary Astor from The Maltese Falcon or Meet Me in St. Louis, but in 1936 her name was splashed across newspapers for a very different reason. Astor was entrenched in a messy custody battle with her ex-husband, and at the center of what was then deemed “the trial of the century” was Mary Astor’s own salacious diary.

90 years later, this saga is retold through a new show: Mary Astor’s Purple Diary (The Musical), based on a book by renowned illustrator Ed Sorel. The musical is written by award-winning cabaret performers and husband and wife team Michael Garin and Mardie Millit – Garin the music and lyrics, Millit the book.

This "fizzy little cocktail of a musical" as they lovingly refer to it, will have its second staged reading ever at New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch on Monday, October 26th. Mardie and Michael join the podcast to chat about the fascinating story behind the musical as well as their creative process. While the show is still in its nascent stages, they have terrific demo tracks that we’ll play little clips of throughout to give you a taste, featuring the voices of Michael and Mardie as well as Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin singing the part of Mary Astor and Broadway’s Max Crumm as Ed Sorel.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
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It’s in the third act of a three-act story structure when everything comes to a head. The plot builds to its peak, the characters demonstrate development, and the audience/reader/listener experiences the story’s climax—and maybe even a moral.

If the third act is the culmination of everything leading up to it, then the third act of Kathryn Grody’s life has been a wild one. The 2-time Obie Award-winning actor, mother, grandmother, and wife of actor Mandy Patinkin, found new recognition in 2020 when her son posted a video of her and Patinkin that earned them a new overnight fan base. From that viral success developed the family’s Don't Listen to Us podcast, a TV pilot, and a one-woman show written and performed by Grody called The Unexpected 3rd—coming to George Street Playhouse October 13 through November 1st, 2026.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

We are fast approaching Spooky Season, and with that comes the inimitable Rocky Horror Picture Show season. The cult classic has become synonymous with October and Halloween, likely due to the fabulous costume opportunities afforded by its cast of characters.

In this episode, Gina speaks with Golden Globe and Tony Award-winning actor Barry Bostwick, the film’s original Brad Majors. He will accompany the film’s tour to two stops in New Jersey this fall: State Theatre NJ on October 3rd and The Scottish Rite Auditorium on October 4th.

Bostwick has enjoyed fifty years of connection to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, so if you’re a Rocky Horror fan or perhaps just Rocky-curious, you’ll learn a lot!

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

If you’ve ever wondered if it’s too late to make a change, today’s guest may give you renewed faith in second acts. Liz Glazer is a former tenured law professor turned actor and standup comic.

Her comedy special Do You Know Who I’m Not? is now streaming on YouTube and she has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, , Don’t Tell Comedy, Nate Bargatze’s The Showcase and has opened for renowned comedians including Maria Bamford, Judy Gold, and Myq Kaplan.

Liz draws on her unique life experiences—as a former lawyer, law professor, a lesbian, a rabbi’s wife and a mother — bringing insight and laughter to audiences across the country. She performs regularly at top comedy clubs and festivals, as well as at law firms, law schools, synagogues, theaters and corporate events.

And she is now bringing her upcoming special, Big Waitlist Energy, to the South Orange Performing Arts Center this September. Gina had a blast chatting with Liz and we think you’ll enjoy their conversation.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Today Gina is speaking with Broadway stars Joy Hermalyn and Brian O’Brien who will be starring together in the upcoming production of Come From Away at Axelrod Arts. The two have previously performed together in a production of Terrance McNally’s The Visit years ago. Today's interview became a mini reunion of sorts.

“Come From Away” tells the true story of seven thousand airline passengers from all over the world who were grounded in the small Canadian town of Gander in the wake of 9/11. As told by a cast of only twelve actors, the musical is an emotional and uplifting look at recent history.

While Joy and Brian hadn’t yet begun rehearsal for this particular production at the time of our interview, they are veteran performers of the show having performed the musical before in various roles. Therefore, their discussion focuses on the impact this show has had and continues to have on all those it touches.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Today’s episode hits extra close to home for host Gina Marie Rodriguez. As a member of the Puerto Rican diaspora who often feels neither here nor there, she says she is honored to get the chance to speak with the director and cast of the Ritz Theatre’s production of “La Gringa.”

La Gringa, written by Carmen Rivera, is the story of a young woman’s search for her identity. Mari­a Elena Garcia goes to visit her family in Puerto Rico during the Christmas holidays and arrives with plans to connect with her homeland. Although this is her first trip to Puerto Rico, she has had an intense love for the island, and even majored in Puerto Rican Studies in college. Once Maria is in Puerto Rico, she realizes that Puerto Rico does not welcome her with open arms.

Recording this episode while in Puerto Rico herself, on location for a short film with a very similar theme, this interview is special to Rodriguez. Culture should not be gatekept. This is a story of reclamation.

Stay tuned to hear from the cast and creative behind “La Gringa.”

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Today’s guest is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® Inductee, GRAMMY® Award-winning musician, and one of the most influential guitarists of all-time.

Jorma Kaukonen was named among Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists.” He pioneered a signature fusion of folk, blues, and rock and, ultimately, inspired generations of players to follow in his footsteps. The world first heard Jorma as an original member of Jefferson Airplane, playing lead guitar on a string of classic albums. He went on to co-found iconic blues duo Hot Tuna with Jack Casady, building up another parallel legacy thereafter. Renowned for his unprecedented fingerpicking and eloquent six-string phrasing, his catalog expanded with over 20 solo albums. He was notably inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame® as a member of Jefferson Airplane in 1996, while he and his bandmates garnered the prestigious GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

On this episode, Jorma and Gina have a very pleasant chat about his international upbringing, longstanding friendship with musical partner Jack Casady, and the unique names by which his music has been identified. Stay tuned to learn more.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

If you’re familiar with the notion of sibling rivalry, today’s episode may be the one for you. Today, Gina is speaking with the cast and director of Princeton Summer Theater’s production of True West.

Written by Sam Shepard, the play first debuted Off-Broadway in 1980 with Peter Boyle and Tommy Lee Jones in the leading roles. It was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1983 and went on to receive four Tony Award nominations, two Drama Desk nominations, and won an Outer Critics Circle Award for its Broadway debut in 2000.

Directed by Wasif Sami and starring Joe McLean and Jordan Rashdan, Princeton Summer Theater’s production will tackle the dark comedy this July. Stay tuned to learn more about the show and the work that goes into building a gritty, grounded examination of masculinity and sibling rivalry.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

*There is currently no live performance in NJ attached to this episode.*

In today's episode, Gina speaks with the talented blues artist, Jovin Webb. Perhaps you’ve seen him on American Idol, maybe you’ve been following him since his early days or perhaps this is your first introduction to his soulful music but no matter the journey, he is an artist to follow moving forward.

His raw and emotive debut album, “Drifter,” out on the iconic blues label, Blind Pig, released in 2024. The 12-song collection is a vibrant mix of growling low-down blues, Jovin’s wailing harmonica, heartfelt soul ballads, and rowdy, Little Richards-style rock 'n' roll.

His newest album, “Son of a Sinner” on the same label has recently been announced and will drop September 18th. The first single off that record, “Pray for Me” is included at the end of this episode.

Jovin and Gina take a moment to chat about his music and share a little love for his home of Louisiana. Stick around to meet Mr. Jovin Webb.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Today, Gina is speaking with the Bacon Brothers. Yes, that is Hollywood A-lister Kevin Bacon and Emmy Award-winning composer, Michael Bacon. The siblings have spent the better part of three decades creating their own mix of folk, rock, soul, and country music. They call that diverse sound "forosoco," and it's taken them around the world, from headlining gigs in Japan to American performances at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry and Gruene Hall.

Their last album, entitled Ballad of the Brothers, highlights the differences between the siblings and their latest release, a single called People in the World is an anthem highlighting the good in the world. (If you stay tuned through the end of the episode, you’ll get to hear that song in full).

Their summer tour is bringing them to the Morven Museum & Garden with the Princeton Festival this June.

Stick around to learn more about the band and music in film as Gina chats with Kevin Bacon, and Michael who joins a little bit later in the conversation.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

“West Side Story” is making its way to the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn this May and we could not be more excited. If you’re unfamiliar with the classic tale, we suggest you buckle up and get ready for an evening of music you’ll be singing all the way home, and likely for the foreseeable future.

Chances are you’ve already heard the most famous songs whether you’ve seen the musical or not. “I Feel Pretty,” “Somewhere,” and “America” have solidified their status in the pop culture zeitgeist.

With music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents, this unforgettable classic captures the thrilling passion of first love and the heartbreak of a world divided. Set in 1950s New York, the musical is a reimagining of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It would seem that these themes still resonate with audiences over 400 years later.

Today, Jersey Arts speaks with actors Antony Sanchez, who plays Bernardo, and Kyra Sorce who plays Consuelo in the upcoming Paper Mill production. Stay tuned for an exhilarating chat about the behind-the-scenes of building West Side Story.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Today, we are speaking with the legendary violin virtuoso, Itzhak Perlman.

Winner of four Emmy Awards, sixteen Grammys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, a Kennedy Center Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Perlman is a superstar! A status, rarely afforded to classical musicians. He is beloved the world over for his talent, charm, and humanitarian efforts.

He will be inspiring audiences at the State Theatre New Jersey this April as he celebrates his 80th year and performs with his longtime recital partner, Rohan DeSilva. The program will include Mozart’s Sonata for Violin and Piano, No. 3 in B-flat Major; Franck’s Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major; Dvořák’s Sonatina in G Major; and others to be announced from the stage.

Stay tuned to learn more about Perlman’s outlook on music, education, and life.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

It is a big year for the Gateway Playhouse in Somers Point as they near their 10th Anniversary Season, but as they brace for that landmark next summer, they are offering a plethora of opportunities to their community and hopefully to you in the meanwhile.

In years past, the Gateway has split its season among straight plays and comedies with musicals. This year marks the first time that Gateway Playhouse has presented a full season made up entirely of musicals. Next on the marquee will be “Jesus Christ Super Star” followed by “Guys and Dolls” and then “9 to 5: The Musical.”

They are offering a lot more than just their main stage musicals but we’ll let today’s guests introduce themselves and then we can jump into everything the Gateway’s got to offer.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
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From the mind of Captain Underpants creator Dav Pilkey, Dog Man is half dog, half policeman, and the beloved subject of 14 graphic novels, a major motion picture, and a theatrical production—Dog Man: The Musical. Director/choreographer Jen Wineman, book writer/lyricist Kevin Del Aguila, and composer Brad Alexander discuss bringing this beloved character and his strange, silly world to the stage.

The Dog Man: The Musical tour will perform at Bergen PAC on Saturday, March 21st and State Theatre New Jersey on Sunday, March 22nd.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
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Laurie Berkner has been dubbed “The Queen of Kids’ Music” by People Magazine, and it’s not hard to see why. Berkner’s songs have been streamed 1.7 billion times. She’s sold 1.5 million albums and appeared at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Carnegie Hall, and the White House. She was even seen her in the recent HBO documentary, Happy and You Know It, which features some of the biggest names of the genre.

A graduate of Rutgers and raised in Princeton, New Jersey, Laurie Berkner will be back on home turf when her tour stops at McCarter Theatre for two performances on Sunday, March 22nd. She discusses her upcoming concert, the creative process, how she got started, and her 18th album coming out in June— Walking with the Penguins.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Eric Troyer and Dave Scott-Morgan of The Orchestra.

This may be one of my favorite chats because I felt like a fly on the wall watching two very talented friends catch up. A somewhat talkative fly, but a fly nonetheless.

If you’re unfamiliar, “The Orchestra Starring ELO and ELO Part II Former Members” is a successor band to Electric Light Orchestra, formed by former members of ELO and ELO Part II. At its inception as ELO Part II, the group featured five ELO members and has since evolved into a true rock supergroup, continuing today as The Orchestra, carrying forward the music, legacy, and spirit of ELO for audiences around the world.

They can explain their history better than I can so I hope you’ll stick around and join me as we listen to two old friends banter, reminisce, and entertain the nosy fly on the wall.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Theater aficionado’s will likely be familiar with the plays of Theresa Rebeck—the most Broadway-produced female playwright of our time and creator of the hit TV show, Smash. For the upcoming show, Samantha Inside Out at New Jersey Repertory Company, though, Rebeck is not the writer, but the director— a role she has increasingly enjoyed over the last several years.

Samantha Inside Out is a one-woman show by playwright Marisa Smith, a multi-hyphenate in her own right, who co-founded the publishing company, Smith and Kraus, which specializes in monologues. The two women are longtime friends and collaborators who chat with Jersey Arts about their upcoming show and the ins and outs of the theater business.

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Today we’re speaking with comedian George Lopez about the ins and outs of fame, the current sociopolitical climate, and how these things inform his life and his comedy.

You may know Lopez from his standup specials like 2025’s “Muy Catolico,” “We’ll Do it For Half,” and “The Wall: Live from DC.” Maybe from his 2002 sitcom “The George Lopez Show” or the more recent “Lopez vs. Lopez” in which he starred with his daughter Mayan. Perhaps his talk show “Lopez Tonight,” which made him the first Mexican-American to host a late-night talk show on English-language television, or one of his many feature film appearances.

Heck, maybe you know him as an author. He has had his hand in so many different artistic avenues that it is hard not to be impressed. As a Chicano performer in an industry that still underutilizes Latino talent, he has become somewhat of an icon, with a career to aspire to.

Stay tuned to get to know a side of George Lopez you may not have seen yet. Then make sure to grab your tickets for his appearance at NJPAC this February!

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

If you’re an avid news viewer, you’ve probably heard discussions of the U.S. Constitution bandied about as of late. Is it being violated? Are we upholding it? Does anyone really know what’s in it?

Well, if you’re not sure what’s in it but you’re intrigued and would like to learn through a fun and engaging night at the theater, Pioneer Productions Company invites you to their production of “What the Constitution Means to Me.”

And if you do know what’s in it and enjoy lively debate, you’re still going to want to see this show! But what is it really about?

The autobiographical two-time Tony-nominated play and Pulitzer finalist was written and first performed by Heidi Schreck. The synopsis reads: Fifteen-year-old Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions across the United States. In this hilarious, hopeful, and achingly human play, she resurrects her teenage self in order to trace the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that shaped their lives.

Miriam Salerno will tackle the role of Heidi alongside Benjamin Weisman as the Legionnaire under the direction of Pioneer Artistic Director Daniel Vissers. Ashlee Vissers will appear as the Debater.

Not only is this an engaging play, but this production is bookended by excitement, beginning with a pre-show USO performance by Jade Delos Santos and ending with a live debate where it is up to the audience to proclaim the winner!

Thanks for listening!

• Subscribe to The Jersey Arts Podcast in your favorite podcast player.

The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

• Subscribe to the Discover Jersey Arts' weekly e-newsletter to have stories delivered to your inbox.
• Follow and contact us @jerseyarts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.