Top 10 NJ Arts Events of Week: Elton John, Cardi B, Chris Rock and Kevin Hart, more

by JAY LUSTIG
elton metlife preview

Elton John will perform at MetLife Stadium on July 23 and 24.

Here is a roundup of arts events taking place around the state, through July 28.

MUSIC

As part of what he is calling the “final North American dates for Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour,” Elton John will perform at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, July 23-24 at 8 p.m. The tour, which began all the way back in 2018 — portions of it were postponed due to the pandemic, and illness — has been featuring hits from all stages of John’s career, and is scheduled to end in Europe in July 2023.

John was 71 when the tour began, is now 75 and will be 76 by the time the tour is over.

Rappers Cardi B and her husband Offset (of the group Migos) will co-host “Party With Cardi,” which is being advertised as a “day party experience” and will take place July 23 from 1 to 8 p.m. at Bader Field in Atlantic City. The event will also feature DJ sets by Nico Oso, Diamond Kutz and The Doughboy, and guest-hosting by “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcasters Gillie da King and Wallo.

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry brings a rare tour for his on-again, off-again side group, The Joe Perry Project, to Sound Waves at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, July 23 at 7 p.m., with Carte Blanche opening. Perry’s band features singer Gary Cherone (formerly of Extreme and Van Halen), bassist Chris Wyse, drummer Joe Pet and keyboardist Buck Johnson.

The Outpost in the Burbs presents TEOA (The End of America), known on the folk circuit for the rich three-part harmonies created by members Brendon Thomas, James Downes and Trevor Leonard, outdoors at the Van Vleck House and Gardens in Montclair, July 24 at 5 p.m. The band’s name was inspired by a passage in Jack Kerouac’s classic 1957 novel “On the Road,” where he writes about reaching “the end of America, no more land, and now there was nowhere to go but back.”

Butthole Surfers frontman Gibby Haynes will perform that band’s material as well as “other oddities” with students from the Paul Green Rock Academy, July 23 at The Saint in Asbury Park. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Chris Rock and Kevin Hart have shows coming up in Newark and Holmdel.

COMEDY

Two of the biggest attractions in the standup world, Chris Rock and Kevin Hart, are teaming up for a brief tour, titled Only Headliners Allowed, and two of the shows will be in Jersey: July 22 at 7 p.m. at the Prudential Center in Newark, and July 24 at 7 p.m. at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.

“When Chris and I realized we were both going to be on tour this year we immediately knew we needed to do something special,” said Hart in a press release. “We have been friends and mentors to each other for 20 years, but we have never shared a headlining stage together — until now!!!”

THEATER

Charlotte d’Amboise, Tony-nominated for both “A Chorus Line” and “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway,” will co-star in “The Last Supper,” a new politically satirical musical running at the South Orange Performing Arts Center, July 27-30 and Aug. 3-6 at 7:30 p.m., and July 30-31 and Aug. 6-7 at 3 p.m. This will be the musical’s world premiere. Written by Jeremy Desmon and Jeff Thomson, it is based on the non-musical 1995 film that featured Cameron Diaz, Jason Alexander, Nora Dunn and others.

FILM

Woman in Media–Newark’s 2022 Women’s International Film Fest, devoted to movies by and/or about women, takes place in various venues in Newark, Cranford and Red Bank, July 28-Aug. 6, as well as online.

CURTIS RAYE

OTHER

Curtis Raye will present a unique show titled “A Comedy & Bluegrass Show About Strange Public Records,” July 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Vanguard Theater in Montclair. The show combines comedic discussion about public records Raye has found — everything from building permit applications to letters to the President — with musical segments featuring bluegrass players Chris Luquette, Bennett Sullivan and Melody Allegra Berger.

The Monmouth County Fair runs from July 27 to July 31 at the East Freehold Fairgrounds, with rides, food, educational displays and demonstrations, animal shows, and live entertainment including daily bands. The Haven performs July 27 at 8 and 9:30 p.m., followed by The Chuck Lambert Band, July 28 at 8:30 p.m.; Yasgur’s Farm, July 29 at 8:30 p.m.; Zydeco Revelators, July 30 at 4:30 p.m.; Waiting on Mongo, July 30 at 8:30 p.m.; Dark City Strings, July 31 at 11 a.m.; and The School of Rock Red Bank House Band, July 31 at 4:15 p.m.

REVIEWS

“Much Ado About Nothing,” presented by Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey at St. Elizabeth University in Florham Park. (Through July 31)

“Ecstatic Decrepitude,” works by Peter Schumann at ArtYard, Frenchtown. (Through July 31)

“Billie Holiday at Sugar Hill: Photographs by Jerry Dantzic” at Newark Museum of Art. (Through Aug. 21)

“Maxwell Mustardo: Dish-Oriented” at Hunterdon Art Museum, Clinton. (Through Sept. 4)

“For the Culture, by the Culture: Thirty Years of Black Art, Activism, and Achievement” at Morris Museum, Morris Township. (Through Sept. 25)

CONTRIBUTE TO NJARTS.NET

Since launching in September 2014, NJArts.net, a 501(c)(3) organization, has become one of the most important media outlets for the Garden State arts scene. And it has always offered its content without a subscription fee, or a paywall. Its continued existence depends on support from members of that scene, and the state’s arts lovers. Please consider making a contribution of any amount to NJArts.net via PayPal, or by sending a check made out to NJArts.net to 11 Skytop Terrace, Montclair, NJ 07043.

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