NJ Rep Presents WEST END FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS 2018

New Jersey Repertory Company is proud to present When the Circus Comes to Town, a Festival of the Arts that includes: 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. It's all taking place at NJ Rep's West End Arts Center, 132 West End Ave, Long Branch, September 20 - 30. For tickets or additional information call 732-229-3166 or visit njrep.org online.

FESTIVAL EVENT SCHEDULE:

Thursday, September 20 at 6:00PM-9:00PM - A FREE EVENT!
Art Gallery Show and Photography Exhibit Reception
SIDESHOW! artists include Mare Akana, Debbie Drum-Bitterly, Sheila Duane, Kate Eggleston, Frankie Lopes, (Kathryn) Dorsey Lucas, Nicole Michelle, Mike Quon, Lizzi Schippert,

Lori Lee Sperling, Aria Turner and Kira Yustak.

Cirque Optique photographers include Katia Barnes, Pamela Hope DeLuca,

Vincent DiGerlando, Tiffany Harned, Sadie Kawut, Vicki LaBella, Diana Lang, Jim LaSala,

Alyse Liebowitz, Elisabeth Koch McKay, Mary Naklicki, Kristin Nelson, Andrea Phox,

Douglas Smith, Bill Smithuysen and Joseph Sorrentino.

Friday, September 21 at 8:00PM
Theatre Brut Session 1

Circus Real by Alexis Kozak, Gravity: The Three Body Problem, by John Biguenet,

In the Hole by Christopher Daftsios, and Nightmare Alley a musical by Jonathan Brielle, followed a reception with live music by Emily Grove and complimentary refreshments.

Saturday, September 22 at 2:00PM
Theatre Brut Session 2

Oh No! I Flew Too Close to the Sun by Rand Higbee, Spontaneous Clownbustion by

John Weagly, Would You Like a Tissue? by Andrew R. Heinze, and Zazú by Michael Tucker, followed by a reception with live music by Stringbean & the Boardwalk Social Club and complimentary refreshments.

Saturday, September 22 at 8:00PM
Theatre Brut Session 3

All We Want by James McLindon, Clown Alley by Gino DiIorio, Sad Clown & the Circus de Italo by Adriana Palangio, and The Revisionist by Suzanne Barabas, followed by a reception with live music by Frank Lombardi and complimentary refreshments.

Sunday, September 23 at 2:00PM

Theatre Brut Session 4

Death Defying by Stephen Kaplan, Riding Lessons by Brett Hursey, The Circus Acrobat Girl by Lisa Kimball, and The Existential Marionette by Jeanne Beckwith, followed by a reception with live music by Jesse Herdman (Accidental Seabirds) and complimentary refreshments.

Tuesday, September 25 at 4:00PM-5:30PM - A FREE EVENT!
Children's Storytelling -- Under the Little Big-Top! is family fun for children, ages 5 - 10 years, with old-time circus flare, presented in partnership with the Long Branch Free Public Library. The program includes a 45-minute mini-circus open house with balloon-sculpting, face-painting, games and performers from the New Jersey Circus Center doing juggling, stilt walking and tightrope, followed by a 45-minute storytelling session with Librarian, Tara Sullivan. (Children must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian for the duration of the program.)

Wednesday, September 26 at 7:00PM
Poetry Night - Readings from over 30 poets from across the country including

Scott Anthony Asalone, Estelle Bajou, Carla Beuthe, Mark Brunetti, Jesse Burns,

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta, Moorea Cioppa, Emanuel di Pasquale, Frank Finale,

Anthony Gedell, Gregg Glory [Gregg G. Brown], Robert Goodman [S.R. Goodman],

Evelyn Hampton, Flora T. Higgins, Carrie Pedersen Hudak, Charles H. Johnson,

Laine Sutton Johnson, Frank Kozusko, Lavinia Kumar, Nancy Lubarsky, Irene Maran,

Susan Martin, H.A. Maxson, Derek Pollard, Susanna Rich, John Smith, Tony Tedesco,

Karen Topham, John J. Trause, Frank J. Valentino, Daniel Weeks, Rosemary Wright,

Ira Zapin, David Zimel and Sander Zulauf

Thursday, September 27 at 8:00PM
Theatre Brut Session 5

Covenant (or Bagels and Butchery) by Ken Weitzman, No More Writers by Richard Vetere, Verisimilitude by Jacob Zack, and When the Circus Came to Town by Stephanie Griffin, followed by a reception with live music by Jesse Herdman (Accidental Seabirds) and complimentary refreshments.

Friday, September 28 at 8:00PM

Live Music - Music on the Midway featuring indie folk-rock sounds of local bands including

Joe Makiovecki (Jackson Pines) and Homeless Apians, plus more to be announced!

Saturday, September 29 at 2:00PM
Theatre Brut Session 6

Doodle-lee Doo by Joel Stone, Fortune's Fool by Jared Michael Delaney, Like Brothers by Barney Fitzpatrick, Think Like a Man by Marisa Smith, followed by a reception with live music by Bethe Burns and the Legends, and complimentary refreshments.

Saturday, September 29 at 8:00PM
Theatre Brut Session 7

Blue Bench by Aleks Merilo, On the Underground or the Penguin Play by Susan Kathryn Hefti, Parlez-Vous by Lauren Waters & Marc Jablonski, and The Circus Train Wreck

by Andrea Fleck Clardy, followed by a reception with live music by

Matt Brown (Homeless Apians) and complimentary refreshments.

Sunday, September 30 at 2:00PM
Theatre Brut Session 8

By the Light by Kate McLeod, Extraordinary by Bara Swain,
Maximilian the Magnificent by L.H. Grant, and Stepping Into Fire an encore musical by

Jonathan Brielle & Tom Coash, followed by a reception with live music by Matt Brown and complimentary refreshments.

Early bird tickets to each Theatre Brut Sessions are $50 including live music and refreshments, $15 for poetry or music night, or purchase a festival pass to attend all the events for $300 (a savings of $130). To purchase your tickets call 732-229-3166 or visit www.njrep.org.