Gabor Barabas and NJ Reps WEST END FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS from 9/20 to 9/30

New Jersey Repertory Company (NJ Rep) will be presenting their Second Annual West End Festival of the Arts from September 20 to September 30. The festival's theme is "When the Circus Comes to Town." This expansive 10-day fundraising event is for the development of the Company's West End Arts Center. Once NJ Rep raises enough money, it is hoped that the Center will become a cultural hub for the community.

There are exciting events at the upcoming festival for all ages that encompass many different genres in the arts including some programs that are free to the public. Throughout the ten days there will be Theatre Brut (32 short plays), live music, an art show, a photography exhibit, poetry readings, and new this year, an afternoon of children's storytelling.

Broadwayworld.com learned more about the West End Arts Center from Gabor Barabas, the Executive Producer of NJ Rep. "We acquired the West End School two years ago and our dream is to gradually transform the school into a cultural center with two theaters, studios and classrooms, residences for out-of-town actors and playwrights, an art cinema, and galleries for art and sculpture."

Barabas told us a little bit about the fund raising process. "We are launching our Capital Campaign this year and our goal is to develop the property in phases with the first phase being the development of our Main Stage theater."

(Pictured: NJ Rep's Executive Producer, Gabor Barabas and Artistic Director, Suzanne Barabas)

Barabas is very pleased that the West End Arts Center is currently being utilized and he is also optimistic about its future. "The school itself is a wonderful space that we are able to use right now prior to renovations to hold our ten-day arts festival featuring 32 new plays, an art show, a photography exhibit, a poetry night, and local bands. Our goal is to develop the West End Arts Festival into a major annual cultural event that will serve as a fundraiser to help create West End Arts Center into a place that will be the home of many artistic endeavors to come."

"When the Circus Comes to Town" West End Festival of the Arts will be held from 9/20 to 9/30. Early bird tickets to each Theatre Brut Sessions are $50 including live music and refreshments; $15 for poetry or music night; Festival Pass to attend all the events for $300 (a savings of $130). The festival is being held at the Company's West End Arts Center location at 132 West End Avenue, Long Branch, NJ 07740. Call 732-229-3166 or visit http://www.njrep.org/.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of NJ Rep