Belleville Varsity Club honors senior athletes

During a ceremony last month, the Belleville Varsity Club honored senior student-athletes from the Belleville High School fall, winter and spring teams. It was a glorious way to commemorate the end of another prosperous BHS athletic school year.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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Comedy

LADIES OF LAUGHTER, “The Funny & Fabulous Tour,” on July 27 at 7:30 p.m. This night of hilarity will feature 2016 Ladies of Laughter Newcomer winner, Jocelyn Chia, and 2012 Ladies of Laughter winner, Robin Fox., South Orange Performing Arts Center, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, box office (973) 313-2787.

COMEDIAN SHANE GILLIS BRINGS HIS

“SHANE GILLIS LIVE” TOUR TO NJPAC on Friday, July 28 at 7 p.m. NJPAC, Prudential Hall, One Center St. Tickets: $39 to $49.

THE EMMY-NOMINATED TV SHOW “WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY?” on Friday, Oct. 13, at 8 p.m. at NJPAC, Prudential Hall, Betty Wold Johnson Stage, One Center Street, Newark. “Whose Live Anyway?” is 90 minutes of improvised comedy and song based on audience suggestions. Cast members are Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis, and Joel Murray. Tickets are on sale at NJPAC.org or available by calling 888. GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722) or by visiting the NJPAC Box Office at 1 Center Street, Newark.

Tickets: $39.50 - $99.

LADIES OF LAUGHTER, “The Funny & Fabulous Tour” on Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m., , South Orange Performing Arts Center, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, box office (973) 313-2787.

A LIVE CONVERSATION WITH CHEVY CHASE FOLLOWING A SCREEN OF CHRISTMAS VACATION on Friday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m., NJPAC, Prudential Hall, 1 Center St., Newark.

Tickets: $39.50-$95.50.

Lectures

AN EVENING WITH GRAMMY AWARD WINNING SOUL STORYTELLER ANTHONY

HAMILTON AT NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. NJPAC, Prudential Hall, One Center St., Newark.

NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON: THIS JUST IN: LATEST DISCOVERIES IN THE UNIVERSE at NJPAC on Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m. A thought-provoking evening with astrophysicist, professor, and author Neil deGrasse Tyson of the Hayden Planetarium. Tyson will discuss how a “cosmic perspective” profoundly influences what we think and feel about science, culture, politics, and life.

NJPAC, Prudential Hall, 1 Center St. Newark. Tickets are $39.50 to $99.50 and are on sale now at NJPAC.org, 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722) or by visiting the NJPAC Box Office at 1 Center Street, Newark, New Jersey..

Music

DENI BONET AND CHRIS FLYNN WILL BE PERFORMING AT THE BLOOMFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY ON JULY 8 AT 2 P.M. Bonet is a singer/songwriter and virtuoso violinist while Flynn is an accomplished guitarist, according to a press release from the library, which said that together they play quirky melodic and fun folk rock for all ages. The library is located at 90 Broad St. in Bloomfield.

THE WEST ORANGE COMMUNITY BAND will play its first summer concert of 2023 on Tuesday, July 11 in the Clipper Pavilion, Cherry Lane, South Mountain Reservation in West Orange. Rain location: Liberty Middle School. The summer concert theme is “Summer Travels” featuring music from across the country and around the world.

REVOLUTIONARY WORLD MUSIC ENSEMBLE SHAKTI WILL CONTINUE TO DISCOVER AND EXPLORE THE MUSICAL COMMONGROUND BRIDGING EAST AND WEST at NJPAC on Sunday, Aug. 20, at 8 p.m.. Tickets can be purchased by visiting njpac.org, calling 888-466-5722 or visiting the NJPAC box office at 1 Center St. in Newark.

AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH THE GRAMMY AWARD WINNING GLADYS KNIGHT on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. NJPAC Prudential Hall, Betty Wold Johnson Stage, 1 Center St. Newark. Tickets range from $49.50 to $129.50 and are available at: www.NJPAC.org.

HORIZON SOUNDS OF THE CITY 2023, A FREE LIVE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES TAKING PLACE UNDER THE STARS during the summer every Thursday Night starting July 13 and running through Aug. 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. on the NJPAC Campus at Chambers Plaza, 1 Center St. Newark.

On July 13, DJ FELIX HERNANDEZ kicks off NJPAC's Horizon Sounds of the City with his annual Rhythm Revue Dance Party;

On July 20, THE SUGARHILL GANG;

On July 27, NEWARK SALUTES ITS OWN in a talent showcase featuring local artists from each ward;

On Aug. 3, EDGAR JOEL AND ANTHONY COLÓN, who made their debut on salsa scene in the ‘90s, with songs like “En las Nubes,” “Hasta El Sol De Hoy,” and “Hechizo De Luna.”

On Aug. 10, KURTIS BLOW, considered one of the most influential Founding Fathers of Hip Hop, will take to the stage.

On Aug. 17, KINDRED THE FAMILY SOUL who will share their explosive music of positivity wrapped in a funky, neo-classic soul sound. JOURNEYMAN, “A Tribute to Eric Clapton,” Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. Fronted by guitar virtuoso Shaun Hague, with Robert Monroe, Darius Petersen, Dina Bach, and Brandon Stephens, Journeyman covers all Eric Clapton classics, South Orange Performing Arts Center, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, box office (973) 313-2787.   PEDRITO MARTÍNEZ GROUP, “Echoes of Africa,” Sept, 30 at 8 p.m. Pedrito Martínez is a master of Afro-Cuban rumba and Yoruba traditions, South Orange Performing Arts Center, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, box office (973) 313-2787.

DAMN THE TORPEDOES, a “Tom Petty Concert Experience” on Oct. 6, at 8 p.m. Led by guitarist Rich Kubicz, Damn The Torpedoes honors legendary artist Tom Petty, South Orange Perform-

“ ing Arts Center, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, box office (973) 313-2787.

AN EVENING WITH KAKI KING, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. Kaki King continues to live at the forefront of guitarists and performance makers, , South Orange Performing Arts Center, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, box office (973) 313-2787.

THE WEEKLINGS, “The Music of The Beatles & More” on Oct. 13 at 8 p.m., South Orange Performing Arts Center, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, box office (973) 313-2787.

Theater

SPRING AWAKENING,” A COMING-OF-AGE ROCK MUSICAL WITH MUSIC BY DUNCAN SHEIK AND BOOK AND LYRICS BY STEVEN SATER, will be performed at the Vanguard Theater in Montclair. The show is scheduled to run to July 16, Thursdays through Sundays with two shows on Sundays. Tickets: $35 and up, including fees. Purchase: bit.ly/ticketsVTC or by emailing the Vanguard Theater box office at boxoffice@dreamvtc.org Recommended for ages 12 and over as themes include suicide, abortion and sexual awakening.

AWARD-WINNING WRITER JOSEPH

VITALE’S “SUNSET PARK” —kicks off the Summer Season July 6-16 at the Theater Project, Burgdorff Cultural Center, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood. Tickets are available online at TheTheaterProject.org or by calling the box office, 908-809-8865

KALEIDOSCOPE KABARET, SONGS AND SHORT PLAYS FROM THE THEATER PROJECT’S PLAYWRIGHTS WORKSHOP AND YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS COMPETITION, July 28-30. Theater Project, Burgdorff Cultural Center, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood. Show times are Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m. with a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee. Single ticket prices are $32 for general admission, $25 for seniors and students. Senior Sunday prices—the first Sunday of each play performance—are $20.