Entertainment

Submitted by Somerset County Freeholders. Do you know an individual or organization that demonstrates exemplary leadership and dedication to the fine and performing arts in Somerset County? If so, Freeholder Brian D. Levine invites you to nominate them for the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission’s 2017 Excellence in the Arts Awards. The deadline is Friday, March 3. “The purpose …

The annual Franklin High School Choir Winter Cabaret opened Jan. 20, featuring the voices of 22 students and their vocal teacher. The two-day annual event is sponsored by the FHS Choir Parents and the school’s vocal music department. The Choir Parents use their proceeds to help fund the five annual scholarships awarded to graduating students who were in the choir. …

The annual Franklin High School Winter Cabaret scholarship fundraiser is set for Jan. 20 and 21 in the high school cafeteria. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. both days. The cabaret, which features performances from the vocal students of Timothy Walton, is the largest fundraiser of the year for the FHS Choir Parents Association. The association uses the money raised for …

An award-winning play dealing with race and the law will be presented by George Street playhouse, and will be preceded with a special event in January. “American Son,” which earned the 2016 Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award for a new play by an emerging playwright, will be performed at the New Brunswick theater on Feb. 7-26. Written by Christopher Demos-Brown, the emotionally …

Dante Hoagland has come a long way since voicing the letter “U” on Sesame Street. The 13-year-old township resident has appeared in a movie with Woody Allen, in music videos, commercials and in independent movies. But it’s his latest role that Hoagland – and his mom, Nicole – believes will put him over the top. Hoagland gets to demonstrate his …

Modern Motion Dance School will present “Scrooge – All Jazzed Up” from 2-3 p.m. Dec. 17 at Franklin Middle School, 415 Francis St. The show features students ranging in age from 3 to 15 years, performing ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop to portray Ebenezer Scrooge and his life-altering journey one Christmas Eve night. The story of Scrooge follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a greedy businessman …

Villagers Theatre, 475 Demott Lane, Somerset, is continuing its Yellow Brick Road fundraising efforts with two special programs in October. Filling in the Blanks, a new play written and directed by Khy Garner, runs from October 7 to 9. Shows are 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday with tickets at $15. On October 15, Carrie …

As a boy growing up in Korea, Taehoon “Ted” Kwalk was repeatedly told by his teachers that he had a natural talent for drawing and painting. He pursued the hobby through elementary and high school, but then dropped his pens and brushes when he came to the United States, more than 40 years ago. It was another 10 years – …

A theater troupe founded by Franklin High School alumni is about to get some major exposure. Strength Out of Shadows Theatre Company’s original production of “Financial Slavery: The College Debt Sentence” is slated to be performed at the New York International Fringe Festival later this month. The Fringe Festival NYC – one of seven cities in which it is hosted …

A $500 donation made by Donald Trump to the Villagers Theatre during a 1987 fundraising campaign has garnered some national attention in the form of a July 13 Washington Post story. The story, headlined, “We found something that a charity named in honor of Donald Trump. It is a chair,” was spurred by the Post’s ongoing investigation into claims by Trump …