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Cécilia

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Traditional music that causes a wonderful stir and fills to overflowing at every venue – that is Cécilia! Widely recognized as three of Canada’s finest musicians, it is a pleasure to see how much enjoyment Timi Turmel, Erin Leahy, and Louis Schryer find in playing together. While honoring their heritage as Cécilia, their music-making has an undeniably fresh and high-spirited sound.
They bring together the best of many musical worlds in their explorations of traditional, Celtic, and Québécois music. Every one of their pieces is skillfully arranged and highlighted with influences from contemporary, classical, jazz, and swing styles. Cécilia’s recent debut album Accent is an impressive offering full of vibrant rhythms and melodies, all resonating with a unique warmth and richness of expression.
Each performance by Cécilia is a call to come out and share, not only in the joy of three dedicated musicians making music together, but also in creating a unique and memorable musical experience with Timi, Erin, and Louis. You’ll find yourself with a smile that lasts long after the final notes of Cécilia’s accordion, piano, and violin have melted away.

Dracula

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This new adaptation restores the suspense and seduction of Bram Stoker’s classic novel to the stage. As Count Dracula begins to exert his will upon the residents of London, they try to piece together the clues of his appearances—in a valiant attempt to save themselves from a hideous fate. Rich with both humor and horror, this play paints a wickedly theatrical picture of Stoker’s famous vampire.
Performances
Friday, October 17, 2025 7:30 PM
Saturday, October 18, 2025 2:00 PM
Saturday, October 18, 2025 7:30 PM
Sunday, October 19, 2025 2:00 PM
Friday, October 24, 2025 7:30 PM
Saturday, October 25, 2025 2:00 PM
Saturday, October 25, 2025 7:30 PM
Sunday, October 26, 2025 2:00 PM
Cast
Check back soon
Production Crew
Check back soon
About the OCC Repertory Theater Company
Under the direction of Performing Arts Program Chair Paul Chalakani, the mission of the OCC/REP is to create opportunities for college and community participation in various rich and diverse theatrical experiences. The Company seeks to engage, entertain, inspire, and educate to enhance the cultural life of Ocean County College and the surrounding communities. The OCC/REP provides OCC students, faculty, staff, and residents of neighboring communities the opportunity to attend and/or participate in quality performances of theatrical works – musicals and plays, classical and modern, traditional and experimental, through a well-balanced theatrical season. Additionally, the OCC/REP provides an environment for students of our performing arts program to apply what they are learning in a collaborative and encouraging format. The OCC/REP celebrates the power of the theatre to illuminate and mirror the human experience.
The OCC Repertory Theatre Company is funded, in part, by the Ocean County College Foundation.

Dracula

0

This new adaptation restores the suspense and seduction of Bram Stoker’s classic novel to the stage. As Count Dracula begins to exert his will upon the residents of London, they try to piece together the clues of his appearances—in a valiant attempt to save themselves from a hideous fate. Rich with both humor and horror, this play paints a wickedly theatrical picture of Stoker’s famous vampire.
Performances
Friday, October 17, 2025 7:30 PM
Saturday, October 18, 2025 2:00 PM
Saturday, October 18, 2025 7:30 PM
Sunday, October 19, 2025 2:00 PM
Friday, October 24, 2025 7:30 PM
Saturday, October 25, 2025 2:00 PM
Saturday, October 25, 2025 7:30 PM
Sunday, October 26, 2025 2:00 PM
Cast
Check back soon
Production Crew
Check back soon
About the OCC Repertory Theater Company
Under the direction of Performing Arts Program Chair Paul Chalakani, the mission of the OCC/REP is to create opportunities for college and community participation in various rich and diverse theatrical experiences. The Company seeks to engage, entertain, inspire, and educate to enhance the cultural life of Ocean County College and the surrounding communities. The OCC/REP provides OCC students, faculty, staff, and residents of neighboring communities the opportunity to attend and/or participate in quality performances of theatrical works – musicals and plays, classical and modern, traditional and experimental, through a well-balanced theatrical season. Additionally, the OCC/REP provides an environment for students of our performing arts program to apply what they are learning in a collaborative and encouraging format. The OCC/REP celebrates the power of the theatre to illuminate and mirror the human experience.
The OCC Repertory Theatre Company is funded, in part, by the Ocean County College Foundation.

Calpulli Mexican Dance Company

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Using both folk and classical music and dance, Calpulli Mexican Dance Company’s Dia de los Muertos explores a love story that spans the boundary between the living and the departed. A loving couple falls victim to treachery and is separated, seemingly forever. The young woman enters Mictlán- the underworld of Aztec mythology- where the mesmerizing Catrina reigns as queen.
The original concept for Dia de los Muertos was a show by Calpulli premiered in 2004 at Queens Theatre in the Park named “Tiempo de Cempazuchitl/ Time of the Marigold.” Then Artistic Director Noemy Hernandez created Calpulli’s first story-based production of “Dia de los Muertos” in 2012 premiered at the Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University. The final production of story was premiered at Queens Theatre in 2016 under the Artistic Direction of Alberto Lopez Herrera, Dramaturg and co-story writer Roberto Lara, with Music Direction by George Saenz.

The Ocean Blue

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Getting their start as teenagers in the late 1980s in Hershey, PA, The Ocean Blue released their self-titled debut on the famed Sire Records, which launched many of their heroes in the U.S., including the Smiths, the Pretenders, the English Beat, and Echo & the Bunnymen. Embraced by college radio and MTV, the band quickly made their mark with early singles “Between Something And Nothing”, “Drifting, Falling” and “Ballerina Out of Control” which notched them Top Ten hits on Modern Rock Radio. Early success set in motion a run of four successful major label albums, including Cerulean (1991), Beneath the Rhythm and Sound (1993), and See The Ocean Blue (1996), followed by a string of beloved independent releases, Davy Jones Locker (2000), Waterworks (2003), Ultramarine (2013) and Kings and Queens/Knaves and Thieves (2019). With eight albums and several EPs under their belt, the band continues to perform and record, with work underway on a new album.
The Ocean Blue is David Schelzel (vocals, guitar), Oed Ronne (guitar), Bobby Mittan (bass) and Peter Anderson (drums).

Liana Paniyeva, piano

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Hailed by the New York Concert Review as “a wonderful pianist”, and one with “tender regard for the music, a captivating inwardness” by Fanfare Magazine, Liana Paniyeva has won prizes in numerous competitions internationally and has performed at festivals in Norway, Hungary, Austria, Canada, England, Italy, Syria, South Africa, Spain and Israel. Her recitals have taken her to Carnegie Hall, Worcester’s Mechanics Hall, the Myra Hess Concert Series in Chicago, Merkin Hall in NYC to note highlights. In this program, Liana will perform works by Schumann and Brahms.
This event is funded by the Ocean County College Foundation.

Admiral James Stavridis

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If livestream viewing is interrupted due to technical difficulties, a recording of the event will be emailed to Livestream registrants within two business days following the event, and will be viewable for 48 hours once received.
About Admiral James Stavridis
A Florida native, Jim Stavridis attended the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, and spent 37 years in the Navy, rising to the rank of 4-star Admiral. Among his many commands were four years as the 16th Supreme Allied Commander at NATO, where he oversaw operations in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, the Balkans, and counter piracy off the coast of Africa. He also commanded US Southern Command in Miami, charged with military operations through Latin America for nearly three years. He was the longest-serving Combatant Commander in recent US history. Following his military career, he served for five years as the 12th Dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
In the course of his career in the Navy, he served as senior military assistant to the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of Defense. He led the Navy’s premier operational think tank for innovation, Deep Blue, immediately after the 9/11 attacks. Admiral Stavridis was promoted directly from 1-star rank to 3- star rank in 2004.
He won the Battenberg Cup for commanding the top ship in the Atlantic Fleet and the Navy League John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational leadership, along with more than 50 US and international medals and decorations, including 28 from foreign nations. He also commanded a Destroyer Squadron and a Carrier Strike Group, both in combat.
In 2016, he was vetted for Vice President by Secretary Hillary Clinton, and subsequently invited to Trump Tower to discuss a cabinet position with President Donald Trump.
He earned a PhD from The Fletcher School at Tufts, winning the Gullion prize as outstanding student in his class in 1983, as well as academic honors from the National and Naval War Colleges as a distinguished student. He speaks Spanish and French.
Admiral Stavridis has published thirteen books on leadership, character, risk, the oceans, maritime affairs, and Latin America, as well as hundreds of articles in leading journals. An active user of social networks, he has tens of thousands of connections. His TED talk on 21st century security in 2012 has close to one million views. He tweeted the end of combat operations in the Libyan NATO intervention. Two of his most popular books are the novel 2034: A Novel of the Next World War which was a New York Times bestseller and is being published in 22 languages; and To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and The Crucible of Decision. His most recent book, The Admiral’s Bookshelf, highlights twenty-five essential leadership lessons drawn from classic works of literature.
Admiral Stavridis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and Chief International Security Analyst for NBC News.
He is happily married to Laura, and they have two daughters – one working at Google and the other a Nurse Practitioner and former naval officer, both married to physicians.
The sponsors of the Blauvelt Speaker Series have generously underwritten the cost of tickets for this program. The Blauvelt Speaker Series is funded in part by the generosity of the late Bradford Thomas & Eleanor G. Blauvelt and the Wintrode Family Foundation.

Back To School Catechism

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It is that time of year again, and Sister is preparing her classroom for another long year of Catechism. You are in store for another hysterical lesson with “Back To School Catechism: The Holy Ghost and Other Terrifying Tales.” In this session, we discover the Church’s take on all the familiar Halloween tales of Ghosts and Goblins. Full of Sister’s signature class participation, you may get hands-on experience in how to build a Catholic appropriate Halloween costume.
Presented by Entertainment Events
Events marked as “Rental Presenter” are presented by a Rental Presenter – an individual and/or organization renting our theater. The presenter determines ticket prices, program content, and other event details.

Julie Fowlis

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Acclaimed nature writer Robert Macfarlane proclaimed that ”if snow could sing, it would sing like Julie Fowlis.” Hailing from the Outer Hebrides and now based in the Highlands, Julie Fowlis is a multi-award winning singer whose music is deeply influenced by the Hebridean islands where she grew up and by the Highland landscapes where she now resides. Voted Musician of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards 2023, and with a career spanning several studio albums and numerous high profile collaborations, her ‘crystalline’ and ‘intoxicating’ vocals have enchanted audiences around the world.
She will forever be recognized for singing the theme songs to Brave, Disney Pixar’s Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA winning animated film, set in the ancient highlands of Scotland. One of these songs was long-listed for an Oscar. A winner of ‘Folk Singer of the Year’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Julie has graced stages around the world, from village halls in the Highlands to Carnegie Hall in New York, the Mozart Concert Hall in Vienna, The Philharmonie de Paris, Shakespeare’s Globe in London and the World Festival of Sacred Music in Fez, Morocco. She has collaborated with the BBC Concert Orchestra in the Royal Albert Hall for the Proms, sang live at the closing ceremony of the Ryder Cup in Chicago in 2012 to a TV audience of 500 million, an event that was only eclipsed by singing live at the opening ceremony of the Glasgow XX Commonwealth Games in 2014, to a TV audience of over 1 billion. Her voice has been streamed on Spotify alone over 200 million times, and has been heard in space on an official NASA astronaut playlist. She even has a lily flower named after her.
She was vocal coach for the Eric Whitacre Singers on the Dreamworks Animation How To Train Your Dragon 3: The New World (Cressida Cowell, score by John Powell) in Abbey Road Studios, London in 2018. She is also an artist with a genuine curiosity and ability for cross-over, and regularly sings and records in other languages. She currently performs and records with the folk ‘supergroup’ Spell Songs. A natural collaborator, she has performed with artists such as James Taylor, KT Tunstall, Chris Thile, Graham Coxon, Bill Whelan (Riverdance), electronica duo Valtos, Tommy Smith and the Scottish Jazz Orchestra, Nicola Benedetti, the Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Mary Chapin Carpenter. On June 5th 2024 she closed the official D-Day 80 Commemorations in Portsmouth, England with a live BBC TV performance of The Parting Glass with full orchestra and spectacular drone light show.
A regular TV and radio presenter, she is also a sought after voice artist, recently involved with the Penguin Audiobook release for The Lost Spells, the hypnotic film Upstream (Robert Macfarlane, Rob Petit and oscar-nominated composer Hauska) and worked on the best-selling video game Assassins Creed Valhalla, with renowned Norwegian composer Einar Selvik.
She was Scotland’s inaugural ‘Tosgaire na Gàidhlig’ (National Gaelic Ambassador), an honor bestowed on her by the Scottish Government, and in addition to her BA and Masters degrees she holds an honorary Doctorate of Music from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. In 2023 she was the recipient of ‘The Sàr Ghàidheal Fellowship’, an award which recognizes outstanding contribution to Gaelic culture at Scotland’s National Gaelic college, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.
Julie is the voice of Scottish Gaelic for the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights Project, which aims to record the declaration in every language in the world. From Abkhaz to Zulu, the declaration has been recorded in 529 languages to date.

The Bronx Wanderers

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What comes to mind when a father, his two sons, and their two high school classmates get together and create a show? For starters, you can say a diverse recipe of hilarious personal stories, a vast repertoire of songs through multiple decades and genres, and one family’s journey together through life and music. The Bronx Wanderers pride themselves on being one of the only shows able to entertain grandparents, their children, and the grandchildren all in one sweeping musical tour de force. How do they accomplish this? Well, the generation gap between the band members (30+ years) forces them to satisfy themselves musically, which satisfies every audience they’ve encountered. The chemistry and energy they exert show after show proves they are still having the best time together on stage, and you can tell they perform each show like it’s their first or last.
The show’s founder and patriarch, Yo’ Vinny, takes you on a musical journey through his illustrious career in the record business while working for Lifesong and Columbia Records since he was 17 years old. He’s worked with too many artists to mention, but in the show, “each song you hear tonight is someone I’ve either had the pleasure to produce, sing backup for, or worked with in the record industry during my 30-year career.” For instance, you’ll hear songs by Dion and The Belmonts, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Billy Joel, The Animals, Queen, and even an artist or two from today’s generation. As they say in the band and in countless reviews, regardless of how old you are, coming to the show, everyone leaves feeling like they’re 20 years old.
The Bronx Wanderers have been going strong for over 16 years and have amassed many accolades such as touring the entire country headlining festivals, PACs, and casinos, securing a permanent residency in Las Vegas from 2016 to the present, filling in for Frankie Valli in Dubai, being the first and only act to have opened for Tony Orlando and Danny Aiello, backing Dean Martin’s daughter, Deana, for multiple shows, performing the national anthem for the NY Rangers at Madison Square Garden and the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, and still managing to have time to volunteer and do charity benefits for the Win-Win Charity Organization, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and multiple Veteran’s and Armed Forces charities and galas.
His two sons are no strangers to their levels of success. His younger son, Nick, had the opportunity to drum and perform for Frankie Valli with the Chicago Jersey Boys cast and was even offered a role in Blue Man Group (but his father and brother just couldn’t let him go.) The older son, Vin A., the music director and producer for the group, is an accomplished songwriter and arranger who recently got to open for Bon Jovi at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in front of 18,000 people with his original music.

Swingadelic

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Opera fans might remember “The Three Tenors,” but in the jazz world, there are “The Three Louies”—Armstrong, Jordan, and Prima! On September 21, longtime Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon favorites Swingadelic will return to pay tribute to these three legendary artists with a program guaranteed to put attendees in a good mood. The afternoon will also feature the sensational vocals of Vanessa Perea, who will inhabit the role of Louis Prima’s wives, Keely Smith and Gia Maione.
Swingadelic is a jazz/blues ensemble founded in 1998 by bandleader and bassist Dave Post in Hoboken, NJ. Initially, the band played jump blues in the style of Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner, and Louis Prima to ride the neo-swing craze, but by 2002, the band was maintaining a residency as an eleven-piece “little big band” at Maxwell’s in Hoboken. As the dance craze waned, the band kept busy with concerts, corporate and casual engagements, and recording. The band now holds down Monday nights at Swing 46 on New York City’s Restaurant Row in the theatre district and has performed at festivals from Maine to Atlanta, including Bele Chere in Asheville, MusikFest in Bethlehem, and Lincoln Center’s Mid-Summer Night Swing.
A few words from the bandleader: “Some years ago, Frank Mulvaney, ex-officio president of the New Jersey Jazz Society, called and asked if we could do a tribute to Louis Prima for the 2012 JazzFest. Since Louis Armstrong and Louis Jordan were major influences on Prima, we gave it a bit of thought and got back to Frank saying why not include Armstrong and Jordan, and call it A Tribute to the Three Louie’s due to the current popularity of The Three Tenors. Popular is a key word here. Unlike many of today’s jazz artists, these three great performers produced much of the popular music of their day, and their hits were routinely charted in Billboard. We had a great time learning some of these tunes that were not in our repertoire, and we are sure that for those of a certain age, there will be an enjoyable nostalgia factor.”
Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon is made possible through funding from the Wintrode Family Foundation, the Ocean County College Foundation, and support from the New Jersey Jazz Society.

Garrison Keillor Tonight

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Garrison Keillor Tonight is an evening of stand-up, storytelling, audience song, and poetry. One man, one microphone. There are sung sonnets, limericks and musical jokes, and the thread that runs through it is the beauty of growing old. Despite the inconvenience, old age brings the contentment of LESS IS MORE. Your mistakes and big ambitions are behind you, nothing left to prove, and small things give you great pleasure because that’s what’s left.
“I was unhappy in college because it was a requirement for an intellectual, but then I went into show business and discovered that people won’t pay to be made unhappy, their kids will do it for free.”
There is the News from Lake Wobegon, a town booming with new entrepreneurs, makers of artisanal firewood and gourmet meatloaf, breeders of composting worms, and dogs trained to do childcare. But some things endure, such as the formation of the Living Flag on Main Street, citizens in tight formation wearing red, white or blue caps, and Mr. Keillor among them, standing close to old neighbors, Myrtle Krebsbach (“Truckstop”) and Julie Christensen (“Bruno, The Fishing Dog”) and Clint Bunsen. And an a cappella sing-along with the audience singing from memory an odd medley of patriotic songs, pop standards, hymns, and ending with the national anthem.

Maureen Dowd

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If livestream viewing is interrupted due to technical difficulties, a recording of the event will be emailed to Livestream registrants within two business days following the event, and will be viewable for 48 hours once received.
About Maureen Dowd
Maureen Dowd is a columnist for The New York Times Opinion Pages and a feature writer for The Times’s Styles and Arts & Leisure sections. Ms. Dowd won the Pulitzer Prize in 1999, in the commentary category, for her “unsparing columns on the hypocrisies involved in the Lewinsky affair and the effort to impeach President Clinton.” Ms. Dowd was appointed a columnist for the Op-Ed page of The New York Times in January 1995 and has covered ten presidential campaigns. She served as White House correspondent during the first Bush and the Clinton administrations, gaining a wide following of admirers and imitators for her witty, incisive, and acerbic portraits of the powerful.
Ms. Dowd joined The Times as a metropolitan reporter in October 1983. She began her career in 1974 as an editorial assistant for The Washington Star, later becoming a sports columnist, metropolitan reporter, and feature writer. When The Star closed in 1981, she went to Time magazine.
A 1992 Pulitzer Prize finalist in national reporting for her coverage of the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill hearings, Ms. Dowd received the Breakthrough Award from Women, Men and Media at Columbia University in 1991 and a Matrix Award from New York Women in Communications in 1994. She was named one of Glamour’s Women of the Year for 1996 and won the Damon Runyon Award in 2000 for outstanding contributions to journalism. In 2017, she received the Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. In 2024, she received the Excellence in Journalism Award from the American News Women’s Club. She has written three best-selling books — Bushworld, Are Men Necessary? and most recently The Year of Voting Dangerously — plus Good Cop, a short story about her dad, a police officer in the U.S. Senate. Her latest book, Notorious, a captivating collection of her most compelling celebrity profiles, was released in March 2025.
Born in Washington, D.C., she received a B.A. degree in English literature from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. in 1973 and honorary doctorates from Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y., and the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. In 2012, she received an honorary doctorate from National University of Ireland, Galway. She received her master’s degree in English literature from Columbia University in 2023.
The sponsors of the Blauvelt Speaker Series have generously underwritten the cost of tickets for this program. The Blauvelt Speaker Series is funded in part by the generosity of the late Bradford Thomas & Eleanor G. Blauvelt and the Wintrode Family Foundation.

CeCe Teneal’s Divas of Soul

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Take a ride on the “Midnight Train to Georgia” over “River Deep, Mountain High” while award-winning vocalist CeCe Teneal delivers you the “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” you deserve in DIVAS OF SOUL, a one-of-a-kind concert event! This spectacular celebration of thirty years of chart-topping music from artists like Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, and more has wowed audiences worldwide, featuring hits from the Disco Era (“Ring My Bell,” “Best of My Love”) to Broadway (“And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going”) and Pop (“What’s Love Got to Do with It,” “I’m Every Woman”).
An award-winning songstress in her own right, Ms. Teneal has been nominated for four Independent Music Awards and claimed the title for 2011 Best Gospel Song (“I Heard You Prayin’”) and 2011 Best R&B Album (Train from Osteen), as well as 2018 Best Soul/Funk/Fusion Song (“Danger”). She was chosen as the halftime headliner for the 2019 Citrus Bowl, and in 2022, Mayor Buddy Dyer and Mayor Jerry Demmings proclaimed September 17th as Annual Cece Teneal Day in Orlando and Orange County, respectively, to celebrate her twenty years of arts and entertainment contributions. “[CeCe Teneal] forces you to feel and connect with emotions you didn’t know you had.” – Presenter, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando FL

Alexa Stier, piano

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This program explores the connection between bird calls, nature, and the supernatural. Rameau’s Tendres Plaintes evokes sighing, melancholic gestures, while Le Rappel des Oiseaux explores birdsong through elaborate ornamentations, idiosyncratic to the French baroque keyboard style. In Olivier Messiaen’s Petites Esquisses d’Oiseaux, robins, blackbirds, thrushes, and skylarks emerge in vivid, crystalline textures.
Schumann’s Waldszenen transports the listener to a forest, where nature is imbued with both beauty and mystery. Among these poetic vignettes, Vogel als Prophet stands out as an enigmatic prophecy delivered through the voice of a bird. The program concludes with Prokofiev’s Piano Sonata No. 2, a work that embodies what the pianist and scholar Boris Berman refers to as polypersonalia —a paradoxical blend of soaring lyricism, aggressive brutality, cabaret-like parody, and mechanical precision. The third movement draws upon the rich tradition of skazki, or Russian mystical fairy tales, reminiscent of the music of Prokofiev’s older Russian contemporaries, such as Rimsky-Korsakov and Medtner. Through these selections of works, the program traverses a vast landscape of nature’s wonders, supernatural whispers, and human imagination.
This event is funded by the Ocean County College Foundation.

DJ Willy Wow!

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Join GRAMMY®-nominated children’s songwriter, music producer, voice-over artist, and radio personality, DJ Willy Wow! for an interactive musical journey and dance party. DJ Willy Wow! uses his music to share about working together, being kind, and having fun. Whether you’re 1 or 101, get ready for DJ Willy Wow! to spin some epic tunes and, most importantly, get you off your feet!
This general admission show is presented for summer camp groups. A limited number of tickets are available to the public for free with advance registration.
This event is made possible through the support of the Wintrode Family Foundation

Split Level Concert Series

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The Jersey Shore Arts Center is thrilled to announce the
Second Season lineup of Americana singer-songwriters
of the Split Level Concerts music series!

NEW! Season Tickets are on sale NOW! Tickets for individual shows go on sale Friday, May 9th!​

Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

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Sweeney Todd has become a bloody, worldwide success since being awarded eight Tony’s, (including Best Musical), for its Broadway premiere. Stephen Sondheim’s and Hugh Wheeler’s (A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures) tasty, thrilling, theatrical treat has simultaneously shocked, awed and delighted audiences across the world.
An infamous tale, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to nineteenth century London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which, he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up… and the carnage has only just begun!

The Zoo Story

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Three-time Emmy winner Christian Jules Le Blanc (The Young and the Restless) and Matt de Rogatis (Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) star in Edward Albee’s The Zoo Story—a searing, no-holds-barred one-act produced by the renegade Off-Broadway company Ruth Stage. Set in Central Park, the play detonates themes of isolation, power, and the human need to be seen. Bold. Brutal. Unforgettable.

Cafe Artiste

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Thank you to all the artists who have shared their original music and art at Café Artiste! To all the wonderful people who come and enjoy the amazing shows. Thank you for supporting this special listening room giving these talented artists the attention and appreciation they deserve. A heart felt thanks to all those who volunteer their time to make Café Artiste run. It’s truly magical.

MURDER, MAGIC & MEAD: A Fantasy Tavern, Murder Mystery Comedy

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A FANTASY TAVERN, MURDER MYSTERY COMEDY
***RUNNING 6 WEEKS ONLY!***
BYOB! | COMEDY | RATED R | IMMERSIVE | AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION | MULTIPLE ENDINGS | NEW ENDINGS
October Ensemble’s hit original murder mystery RETURNS for the summer after a sold-out run earlier this year. Get tickets while they last!
A brand new show from October Ensemble featuring hot elves, sexy witches, singing bards and a murder to solve. Immersive. Interactive. And seriously hilarious. Can you solve the mystery? Prizes are drawn for correct guesses! Bring your friends, your best cloak, and your favorite bottle of mead! BYOB! Rated R. Fantasy costumes encouraged! Please note this show does not include a meal. It is BYOB and light concessions will be available. event_description_image_167074_1748915304_50476.png?_a=BAAAV6DQ
A local fantasy tavern, The Laughing Dagger, is a family owned tavern currently run by Pan Flute the Third. It has gained a reputation for selling illegal love potions. Two investigators, no-nonsense unicorn Officer Applesauce Sparklecake and his rookie partner, hot elf, Augustus Ambrose Whisperbottom, have been tipped off by an unknown source to investigate the claims. Inside the tavern, they meet: • Pan Flute the Third, the bartender, recently named owner and operator of The Laughing Dagger who makes up terrible songs with increasingly ridiculous instruments as the night progresses.
• Scorchy McHavoc, a desperate devil imp who is wanted for crimes and has come to the tavern for unknown reasons.
• Greg the Undeadinator, a necromancer who is struggling with the necromancy form of ED (Nerectile Dysfunction) and is unable to successfully raise corpses. He’s come to the tavern for help.
• Jinxica Broom, a local flirtatious witch, lover of Pan Flute the Third, and the one behind the love potion ritual.
• Gorbag Hellscream (aka “Helly”), a sophisticated ord and former love potion customer who believes the love potion is a scam and wants to prove it.
All is well until the ritual begins and someone is murdered. Who did it? The investigators jump into action and Greg the Undeadinator is able to partially reanimate the corpse for most of the show to help solve their murder.
Can you solve the murder?

The Golden Age of Broadway

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Broadway’s Greatest Hits from the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s! AT THE JERSEY SHORE ARTS CENTER | 66 SOUTH MAIN STREET, OCEAN GROVE, NJ (Conveniently located minutes from Downtown Asbury Park!) Join New Jersey’s Most Beloved Tenor and Soprano, Dakota & Elle, for The Golden Age of Broadway: an enchanting summer concert inspired by Broadway’s most popular musicals of the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s!
Click the video below to listen to Dakota & Elle sing a gorgeous duet of “If I Loved You” from the classic musical, Carousel, just one of the many songs featured in The Golden Age of Broadway Concert.
Click “Buy Tickets” to select your seats or call 609-879-2776. Or, keep reading below to learn more about the concert. ABOUT THE SHOW
Step into The Golden Age of Broadway with an unforgettable concert experience inside the stunning Palaia Theatre at the Jersey Shore Arts Center. Featuring beloved showtunes from the ’40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s, this timeless program is brought to life by New Jersey’s most beloved tenor and soprano, Dakota & Elle — often compared to a young Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman. With ethereal voices and classical elegance, they bring “a piece of Carnegie Hall wherever they perform.” Join us for a nostalgic, soaring, and beautifully curated celebration of Broadway’s greatest hits.
Featuring songs from Oklahoma to West Side Story to The Sound of Music and more, this full two-hour concert is perfect for anyone who is a fan of Broadway’s greatest numbers from its golden age!
Showtimes (doors open 30 minutes prior to each showtime)
Friday, July 25th at 7:00pm
Saturday, July 26th at 2:00pm
Saturday, July 26th at 7:00pm
Sunday, July 27th at 2:00pm
The show will run approximately 2 hours, including an intermission. Concessions will be available
Click “Buy Tickets” to select your seats or call 609-879-2776
ABOUT THE VENUE & NEARBY DINING
The Jersey Shore Arts Center is a beautifully restored historic landmark nestled just blocks from the beach and the bustling downtown of Asbury Park. The building serves as a cultural cornerstone of the community, housing artists, performances, and creative programming year-round. Its crown jewel, The Palaia Theatre, blends old-world charm with modern comfort, offering an intimate and acoustically rich setting that makes every performance feel personal and profound.
🅿️ PARKING
Free parking is available in the front and back of The Jersey Shore Arts Center. If those lots fill up, street parking is available within walking distance to The Jersey Shore Arts Center. Handicap parking spots are available. ♿ SEATING & ACCESSIBILITY:
Seating is traditional theatre seating. You may choose your seats from a seating chart during checkout, or call the box office at 609-879-2776 for assistance with choosing your seats. Wheelchair seating is available and can also be selected on the seating chart during checkout (look for the wheelchair symbol). A wheelchair ramp is available to enter The Jersey Shore Arts Center via the front parking lot, and the theatre itself does not contain any steps. Restrooms are available in the lobby on the same level. 🍔🍣 NEARBY DINING: ENJOY A MEAL BEFORE OR AFTER THE SHOW!
The Jersey Shore Arts Center is just a short walk away from Asbury Park, with seemingly limitless restaurants to choose from, such as Moonstruck (3-minute walk), Pascal & Sabine (5-minute walk), Taka (2-minute walk), and more. While there are too many options to list them all here, peruse just a few of the best nearby restaurants according to Tripadvisor by clicking here. Don’t forget to grab your tickets first! Click “Buy Tickets” to select your seats or call 609-879-2776
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Dakota & Elle on The Palaia Theatre stage at The Jersey Shore Arts Center
MEET DAKOTA & ELLE
Dakota Reider and Elle Michael River are beloved tenor and soprano vocalists who perform live throughout the tri-state area. Their extensive repertoire includes classical, contemporary, and Broadway music, along with Golden Oldies favorites and elevated renditions of modern pop songs.
Dakota & Elle both studied with Juilliard graduate and world-renowned master-teacher, Steven Schnurman, and they’re often compared to a young Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman. Elle’s soaring, ethereal soprano and Dakota’s resonant and inviting tenor enchant listeners at concerts, dinners, club meetings, weddings, theatrical performances, fundraisers, and other events.
Beyond singing, Dakota & Elle are theatre-directing partners and event producers. Their award-winning productions include musicals, dinner theatre, cabarets, and traditional plays. CLICK “BUY TICKETS” TO SELECT YOUR SEATS OR CALL THE BOX OFFICE AT 609-879-2776

Queensrÿche

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The Verdict
Release Date: March 1, 2019
Fact: Queensryche have never been a band to rest on their laurels. In a career set against the new-millennium’s backdrop of cultural chaos, they’ve remained a constant; musically innovative and lyrically thought-provoking. One of rock’s most respected names who have weathered the storm and emerged in 2019 with The Verdict. It’s an album that echoes Queensryche’s three decades of career high-points while pushing ahead with the confidence and urgency of a band just now coming into its own.
With a legacy behind them that’s shifted over 30 million records and built a dedicated legion of fans while touring the globe alongside giants including Metallica, Def Leppard and The Scorpions, Queensryche have exceeded themselves once again. If Queensryche’s 15th studio album sounds like a young, hungry band just hitting its stride, it’s because that is precisely the case. Produced and mixed by Chris “Zeuss” Harris (Hatebreed, Rob Zombie), who helmed 2015’s Condition Human, it’s also Queensryche’s third album with frontman Todd La Torre, who joined the veteran band in 2012, taking the reins from erstwhile voice, Geoff Tate.
“The Verdict is that statement for us – in much the same way that [1984’s] The Warning was,” says founding guitarist Michael Wilton. “This one’s the creative convergence of this lineup. We got together and worked on every song as a band. The spontaneity, the creativity; it came out of all of us, working together as a band should.” From the hypnotic riff and melody of “Light Years” to the moodiness of “Dark Reverie” or the epic rock n’ roll workout of “Propaganda Fashion” , this is a record that stands up to Queensryche’s gold and platinum watersheds including Rage for Order, Empire or Promised Land.
However, The Verdict is very much an album for 2019: both in band’s far-reaching musical grasp, but also from a lyrical point of view. As far back as 1988’s career and commercial breakthrough, Operation: Mindcrime, the Bellevue Washington-born band distinguished themselves for combining powerful and progressive rock with equally evocative lyrics. Queensryche’s latest is no exception to that rule. “It’s very usual for Queensryche to write about geo-political, socio-political, socio-economic, governmental-type things,” says La Torre. “Ideas that push people’s buttons, but in not such a literal way. There’s definitely an abstract aspect to the lyrics that make it open to interpretation.”
Queensryche and its now-seasoned frontman aren’t afraid to be direct in their lyrical ire. “The first track on the record is called ‘Blood of the Levant’,” La Torre explains. “That really is about the Syrian war and how it started with these two kids spray-painting: ‘You’re next, Doctor!’ referring to Assad, because he was an ophthalmologist before he took power. That song has to do with the people becoming rebels against their own Syrian government and the one’s that support it, i.e. Iran, Russia, Hezbollah, and ISIS which took advantage of the war to invade Syria. Then you have the song, ‘Bent’, that isn’t political but has undertones in lines
like: ‘The poisoning of tribes.’ Which is basically referring to how we devastated the Native Americans. “To the lifeline of Flint.” Which is basically about the bad water in Michigan. ‘Now the black snake it crawls deep within sacred grounds, we will never consent.” Talks about the oil pipelines going through Native American land.”
The bond that runs through the current lineup of Queensryche (rounded out by bassist Eddie Jackson and guitarist Parker Lundgren) was tightened and tested during the making of The Verdict. When personal commitments forced drummer Scott Rockenfeld to sit out the recording sessions that spanned between Seattle’s Uberbeatz, Michael Wilton’s Washington State home studio and Zeuss’ Planet-Z Studios in Hadley, Massachusetts, La Torre ably handled the drumming chores with the sort of reverence for Queensryche’s subtleties and nuances he demonstrates behind the mic. “I’ve been drumming for 30 years,” says La Torre, who was recruited from Floridian metal band, Crimson Glory. “I certainly know the nuance and style of Queensryche’s drum parts first hand so it certainly made me a logical choice to record the drums.”
The band credits Zeuss’ return to the producer’s seat as a key part of The Verdict being a record that will take its place amongst their classics. “Zeuss understands us in way that probably no producer we’ve ever worked with has,” says Jackson. “He understands our history, our sounds, what’s in our DNA. He’s willing to push us and vice-versa. We were lucky to work with him again.” When asked where The Verdict sits in Queensryche’s discography, there’s no mistaking the fact that the band’s legacy and connection with their fans is key to their continued success.
“With the first self-titled album (2013’s Queensryche), Todd and I were the new guys and we wanted to “stick to the legacy of Queensryche” and stick to the legacy of the first five classic records,” says Parker, who initially joined the band in 2009. “Then when Condition Human came out, we were able to branch out a little bit, pushing the limits stylistically. This album is really the next step for us.”
“Having Todd and Parker in the lineup does create some new chemistry and new ideas when it comes to the songwriting,” Jackson affirms. “Having new blood in the band certainly gave us some new life for these past three albums. This is something we all have a passion for and having the freedom to write, record and tour without any limits is nothing short of refreshing.”
Queensryche’s impact on other bands and musicians is undeniable. While they dominated rock radio in the 90’s with a string of hits including “Jet City Woman” and “Silent Lucidity”, their influence on rock and progressive bands including the likes Dream Theater or the late, lamented Nevermore has been undeniable. “We grew up during the days when being experimental was a key element,” says Wilton. “Where you could write an album that was completely different than the previous album, put those songs in your set-list and that would completely work! That’s what allowed us to play with Bon Jovi, AC/DC and Iron Maiden! It’s about the musicianship, the songwriting that desire to carry the torch when songs were put together by musicians not machines.”
The Verdict is in and it’s testament to not merely Queensryche’s staying power as a force in rock in a turbulent new world, but a band without boundaries who continue to prove how timeless they truly are.

Waterparks

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For as much as Waterparks is a genre-busting collective of three friends who play music, hang out, and constantly flip the script, Waterparks really represents a bigger, dare we say, movement. The Houston trio— Awsten Knight [vocals, guitar], Otto Wood [drums], and Geoff Wigington [guitar]—have unassumingly brought vibrancy back to rock. (The only thing bolder than their melodies is whatever hair dye Awsten opted for this week!) Their strange magnetic pull has attracted a growing cohort of devoted fans who pack sold out shows, stream their songs like crazy, and have even elevated them to multiple Billboard charts as they’ve also headlined the Sad Summer Festival and accompanied My Chemical Romance on a sold out arena tour.
However, the next era begins with the band’s fifth full-length and debut album for Fueled By Ramen, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, and even more adventures…
Waterparks might just be the biggest band of tomorrow. To understand why, you have to go back to the beginning. Their 2011 formation cemented the union of three distinct personalities. Raised somewhere in between the iPod generation and the first wave of social media, Awsten, Otto, and Geoff occupied a singular creative crossroads. A glance at Otto’s listening history would span the likes of Every Time I Die and Balance & Composure, while Geoff found inspiration in crossover juggernauts such as Linkin Park. Awsten’s tastes covered the gamut from Donald Glover and One Direction, to Ke$ha (and everything else in between).
Following their launch, the group bubbled up with a famed one-off Houston appearance on 2013’s Warped Tour—which they eventually shined on for its entirety during 2016. It’s fitting they popped off on the same stage that also supported category-defiant disruptors a la Eminem, Deftones, Katy Perry, and more early on. With eye-catching, often meme-able music videos and a sound somewhere between alternative, pop, electronic, and rock spiced up with a little hip-hop attitude and even R&B vocal acrobatics, Waterparks fittingly defied categorization themselves and ushered in a new era of “alternative,” living up to the definition of the word for the 2020’s, speaking to not only music but also total cultural immersion with fashion, unforgettable videos, and a boundary-breaking culture.
They reached unprecedented heights with 2021’s Greatest Hits. Don’t let that title fool you—it didn’t collect their best-performing songs at a discounted price, but it did showcase their best material to date. As such, it cracked the Billboard Top 200 and landed in the Top 10 of the Top Alternative Albums Chart and Top Rock Albums Chart. In the wake of its release, they impressively eclipsed half-a-billion streams thus far. In addition to coverage from Rolling Stone, MTV, Kerrang!, and Alternative Press, they graced the covers of V Magazine and Upset Magazine (who also awarded the record a “five-out-of-five star” perfect score). Along the way, they sold out various headline tours. 2022 saw the band sign to Fueled By Ramen and turn the page on a new chapter in 2023 with INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
That brings us to the first single “FUNERAL GREY.” Powered by four different guitars (including a toy guitar for the main riff), the track swings like a wrecking ball from a buoyant verse into a distortion-lifted hyper-hypnotic hook. On its heels, they served up the introspective, infectious, and irresistible single “SELF-SABOTAGE.” Like listening to an internal dialogue, airy verses culminate with a self-effacing query, “What the f*ck is wrong with me?” Meanwhile, snappy guitars and fuzzy electronics underline the manically catchy hook highlighted by Awsten’s wild sky-high register. It’s yet another illustration of the boys’ uncanny knack for the unpredictable. Speaking of “F*CK ABOUT IT” [feat. blackbear] only further showcased their progression with its sticky hooks and artful vibe curation as it initially reeled in over 10 million streams (and counting).
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY really kicks into high gear with “REAL SUPER DARK.” Its heavy catharsis manifests through jarring electronics, guttural screams, and an unexpectedly catchy chant. Meanwhile, “BRAINWASHED” depicts the ups and downs of infatuation against a soundtrack of handclaps and a sunny guitar riff that wouldn’t be out of place in your favorite turn-of-the-century summer comedy. A rush of hyperpop-style production barely relents long enough for the singer to proclaim, “Now Jesus hates my guts. It’s getting personal,” before one last blast of apocalyptically catchy melody.
There’s something for everyone here. As always, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY is meant for the people comprising this greater movement—like everything Waterparks do.

PINK TALKING FISH

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Pink Talking Fish is a Hybrid Tribute Fusion Act that takes the music from three of the world’s most beloved bands and creates a special treat for fans of the music.
Pink Floyd, The Talking Heads and Phish are all more than just bands… they are Phenomenons. Their creations have artistically inspired people and their mindblowing live performances have brought people together to form a special sense of community around the love for their favorite band.
Although the music from each act is different, Pink Talking Fish has discovered that fusing the material together creates an amazing story. The epic emotion of Pink Floyd…. The funky, danceable layerings of The Talking Heads…. The multitude of styles, unique compositional structures and pure fun of Phish…. to merge these three into one gives music lovers a special experience.
Pink Talking Fish features Eric Gould on bass, Richard James on keyboards, Zack Burwick on drums and Cal Kehoe on guitar. This is a band created by musicians who love the music of these acts. It’s purpose is to heighten people’s passion for this music by creating something fresh and exciting for fans. Discovering connections is part of the fun: Pink Floyd’s “On The Run” seamlessly fitting in the middle of the composition of Phish’s “You Enjoy Myself”. Perfectly placing Phish’s “Sand” into the groove of The Talking Head’s “Slippery People”. Segued collections from all three acts such as Run Like Hell > Psycho Killer > Run Like An Antelope > Run Like Hell or Mike’s Song > Have A Cigar > Once In A Lifetime > Weekapaug Groove. These ideas are the spirit behind Pink Talking Fish.
The story is ever evolving. The experience is always exciting. Come join Pink Talking Fish for the ultimate fusion tribute and celebrate the love of this music in unique fashion.

Kip Moore

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Hailed as “an uncompromising, genre-defying artist firing on all cylinders” (Vice/Noisey) and “one of country’s more thoughtful artists” (Billboard), multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter Kip Moore has blazed his own trail and cemented his place as one of music’s most beloved artists. Beginning with his auspicious debut in 2012, Moore has since released five critically acclaimed albums and penned over a dozen chart-topping singles, including the multi-platinum hits “Something’ ‘Bout a Truck,” “Hey Pretty Girl,” “Beer Money,” and “More Girls Like You.” With over 1 billion streams and 2.5 million monthly listeners, he’s performed sold-out headline shows in stadiums around the world including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, The U.K., Europe, and the U.S., leading to a nomination for CMA’s International Artist Achievement Award. His most recent album Damn Love was praised by Holler as “the best album of Kip Moore’s career” while earning further acclaim from Billboard, Music Row, and American Songwriter. Moore also appeared on Good Morning America to perform the album’s lead single and title track. Moore just wrapped up a stint with Billy Currington, which included a sold-out show in Nashville, and next, he will join HARDY this summer for his QUIT!! Tour. He’ll also undertake an extensive 14-show run in Australia this fall followed by a return to South Africa where he performed to crowds of over 40,000 people last year. For more information and tour dates visit kipmoore.net.

From Ashes to New

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In a small town, you either die where you came from or dream your way out. From Ashes To New understand this choice. As such, the Lancaster, PA band—Matt Brandyberry [rap vocals, keys, synths, programming, guitar], Danny Case [clean & unclean vocals], Lance Dowdle [lead guitar], and Mat Madiro [drums]—churn out an anthemic hybrid of hard rock, hip-hop, electronic, and alternative with enough energy to inspire you to get up, move forward, and maybe even, make a change. Since 2013, the group have risen from humble beginnings to the top of the 21st century rock vanguard with hundreds of millions of streams, sold out shows across the country, and acclaim from LoudWire, Alternative Press, and more.
“Growing up in Elizabethtown, PA felt hopeless in a way,” admits Matt. “You go to college and become part of corporate America, or you’re just “trash”. For the longest time, I fell into the latter category according to other people. My mentality was, ‘Who are these people to fucking tell me what I’m going to do with my life?’ They don’t make my decisions; I make decisions for myself. It took a lot of ups and downs, but it’s paying off. I owe it to the small town blue-collar mentality that made me work harder. Danny grew up in Rochester, but his story is the same. We were the loners picked last. Everyone underestimated us. We fought through it for all of our lives, and we’re going to be picked first now.”
“I was always an outcast who nobody gave a shit about,” agrees Danny. “The only thing I ever dreamt of was music. Like the other guys in From Ashes to New, nobody was going to tell me otherwise or stop me.”
During 2021, the musicians holed up in Lancaster with longtime collaborators and producers Grant McFarland and Carson Slovak to create their upcoming album. This time around, the band made a conscious decision to ignore outside influences and focus on what makes them From Ashes To New.
“We weren’t going to let other people tell us what to do,” affirms Danny. “We went back to the guys who produced us for a long time, because they worked cohesively with us.”
“We got back to the days of creating music to simply create,” adds Matt. “We ended up making the most genuine piece of art we could. At the same time, we applied everything we’ve learned as musicians, producers, and writers. We knew we were capable of doing everything bigger and better.”