Grunin Center for the Arts

07/25/2024

Our 2024 Fall Season is on sale now! We encourage you all to check out our shows and reach out if you have any questions. grunincenter.org

07/18/2024

Due to a cast illness, the All Shook Up performance on Friday, July 19th at 7:30 pm has been canceled. Ticket holders have been contacted to discuss options. Thank you all for your understanding!

07/05/2024

Theatre in London with OCC January 8 - 19, 2025
Open to both students and community members! Deadline to register is September 6, 2024 (space is limited).
Immerse yourself in the world of theatre and see 8-10 plays at the Royal National, the West End, and the Fringe! Attend talk-back sessions with actors, directors, playwrights, and designers and tour the Tower of London. There will be plenty of free time for sightseeing, shopping, museum visits and more.
Package Includes:
• Round Trip Airfare
• Ten Nights Hotel Stay
• English Breakfast Daily
• Tickets to (10) Plays/Musicals
• Tour of Shakespeare’s Globe
• Backstage Tour of the National Theatre
• Transfers
• Classes & Meetings
• Most Taxes and Tips
• (3) Course Credits
• Trip Insurance
Students receive three credits for course THTR-296-TVL1 - Travel Seminar: Theatre/London.
Scholarship opportunities are available to our students through the OCC Foundation!
For more information contact Professor Gary Shaffer at [email protected]

07/02/2024

07/01/2024

We are moving to a new ticket system. Sales for All Shook Up and BCCT’s production of The Little Mermaid JR. are paused and will resume at the latest on July 3rd at noon. Thank you for your patience while we update our website.

06/26/2024

We are thrilled to announce our Fall 2024 Season! Visit grunincenter.org for more information about this incredible lineup and our all new !

06/19/2024

Honoring , a day of reflection and remembrance for and equality. Let's continue to educate, advocate, and uplift black voices.

06/14/2024

Our Fall 2024 Season announcement is coming soon! Any predictions of shows this season?

05/29/2024

🎹 Join us for an intimate Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon with the Joel Zelnik Trio, this Sunday,June 2nd at 3pm! 🎶 Experience the timeless music of legendary pianist Bill Evans through the eyes of young pianist Joel Zelnik, who was inspired by Evans' genius.
General Admission seating in the Gia Maione Prima Foundation Studio Theater.
Get your tickets now for an unforgettable jazz experience: https://www.grunincenter.org/event/joel-zelnik-trio/

05/27/2024

As we enjoy the freedoms of today, let's take a moment to remember those who gave their lives in service to our country.

05/17/2024

🎵 Don't miss the chance to witness jazz pianist extraordinaire James Austin, Jr. live at the - this Sunday, May 19th at 3pm! 🎹 With his rich musical background and impeccable technique, James promises to deliver a performance that will leave you mesmerized. From his acclaimed debut album to his stellar collaborations at , James is a true virtuoso of the keys. Get your tickets now and experience the magic of !

05/17/2024

🌟 Experience the iconic sounds of & the Heartbreakers with at the on June 1st at 8pm! 🎶 Don't miss out on this incredible that captures the essence of Tom Petty's music with unmatched precision and passion. Tickets are flying off the shelves, so don't wait until the last minute to secure your seat for a night of nostalgia and timeless rock 'n' roll!
https://www.grunincenter.org/event/the-breakers/

05/16/2024

As our 2023-2024 Season comes to an end, we want to extend our sincerest gratitude to the Grunin Foundation for their generous endowment that continues to help us fulfill our mission in providing transformative experiences that connect our community together through the arts!

05/13/2024

As our 2023-2024 Season comes to an end, we want to extend our sincerest gratitude to the Ocean County College Foundation for their generous support for various events throughout this past season. The Afternoon Recital Series, the OCC Repertory Theatre Company productions, and many Main Stage performances are made possible, in part, through the support of the Ocean County College Foundation. Thank you for helping us fulfill our mission in providing transformative experiences that connect our community together through the arts!

05/09/2024

🙌🎉Check it out ~ This week's Discover Jersey Arts Podcast, produced by Maddie Orton, features James Austin Jr. , who is performing here at the Grunin Center in just 10 days!

"If you’re a Stevie Wonder fan, you have to give jazz pianist and bandleader James Austin, Jr’s music a listen."

👂Listen to the podcast here: https://tinyurl.com/3sun7c59

🎶🎹May 19th at 3pm - Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/ymdzt2ht

05/09/2024

As our 2023-2024 Season comes to an end, we want to extend our sincerest gratitude to Quebec Delegation General - New York, for generously funding the performance by Grosse Isle this past October. Thank you Québec Government Office in New York for helping us fulfill our mission in providing transformative experiences that connect our community together through the arts!

05/07/2024

🎹 We are just 10 days away from an unforgettable afternoon of piano mastery with here at the on May 17th at 2pm!
From Baroque to contemporary, Pratt's program spans four centuries of piano literature, featuring works by , , , , , , and , AND experience the brilliance of 's Sonata in B minor in the second half of the recital.

05/06/2024

As our 2023-2024 Season comes to an end, we want to extend our sincerest gratitude to The Latino Institute for generously supporting the performance by Mariachi Herencia de México . Thank you for helping us fulfill our mission in providing transformative experiences that connect our community together through the arts!

05/04/2024

🎸 Don't miss your chance to experience the magic of the music of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers with The Breakers at the on June 1st at 8pm! 🎶 This tribute band is known for their authentic sound and electrifying performances that capture the essence of 's music like no other. Tickets are selling fast, so grab yours now for a night of classic hits and unforgettable memories!

05/03/2024

Immerse yourself in the music of with the , here on June 2nd at 3pm! 🎹 Experience the legacy of one of jazz's greatest pianists through the skillful interpretation of Joel Zelnik and his talented trio. Join us for an afternoon of soulful melodies and captivating rhythms in the intimate setting of the Gia Maione Prima Foundation Studio Theater. Reserve your seats today for a jazz experience like no other!

05/02/2024

🎶 From the storied streets of Chicago to the world-renowned stages of Carnegie Hall, James Austin Jr.'s musical journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Join us 🌟 Join us at the on May 19th at 3pm as he takes us on a musical adventure filled with soulful melodies and swinging rhythms. Reserve your seats today for an afternoon of pure jazz bliss!

05/02/2024

As our 2023-2024 Season comes to an end, we want to extend our sincerest gratitude to The Wintrode Family Foundation! Your generous support helps make our annual summer series, CAMP (Community Arts and Music Programming), and Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon series possible. Thank you for helping us fulfill our mission in providing transformative experiences that connect our community together through the arts!

05/01/2024

Audition for the Ocean County College Repertory Theatre Company's summer musical - 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑼𝒑
__________

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧: Tuesday and Wednesday, May 14 & 15 6:00pm - Call backs TBD.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: OCC Black Box Theatre.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭: Bring pix and resumes. Prepare a song of your choice. Bring sheet music in the correct key. Wear comfortable clothes and be prepared to dance.

𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑼𝒑 is a 2004 American jukebox musical with music from the Elvis Presley songbook and with a book by Joe Dipietro.

𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰
The show concerns the repressed residents of an unnamed American town in the 1950s who experience an awakening when a leather-clad guitar-strumming roustabout rolls into town. The story takes inspiration from the comedies of William Shakespeare, particularly Twelfth Night, and explores themes such as authoritarianism, homosexuality, and segregation.

𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬
5 female and 4 male featured roles
Opportunities for flexible casting in the expandable ensemble.

NATALIE HALLER (Early 20’s): a mechanic.
CHAD: a great-lookin’, motorcycling, guitar-playing, leather-jacketed roustabout.
JIM HALLER (mid 40’s-50’s): Natalie’s widowed father.
SYLVIA (mid 40’s): the no-nonsense, African-American owner of SYLVIA’S HONKY-TONK.
LORRAINE: Sylvia’s 16 year-old daughter.
DENNIS: a young, awkward, aspiring dentist.
MISS SANDRA: the beautiful, intellectual caretaker of the town’s museum.
MAYOR MATILDA HYDE (mid 40’s-50’s): the town’s conservative mayor.
DEAN HYDE: Matilda’s 16 year-old son. He has grown up at a military boarding school.
SHERIFF EARL (mid 40’s-50’s): the law in town. A man of not many words.
CHORUS

05/01/2024

🎤 Get ready to rock out with The Breakers at the on June 1st at 8pm! 🎸 As the country's premier Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers tribute band, The Breakers deliver an incredible live experience that pays homage to the legendary Tom Petty. Tickets for this highly anticipated show are selling fast, so secure your spot today and sing along to all your favorite hits!

04/29/2024

🎹 Get ready for a sensational afternoon of jazz with at the on May 19th at 3pm! 🎷 Hailing from the jazz capital of Chicago and mentored by legends like Barry Harris, James brings a unique blend of talent and passion to the stage. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the magic of his piano mastery. Secure your tickets now!
https://www.grunincenter.org/event/james-austin-jr/

04/29/2024

As our 2023-2024 Season comes to an end, we want to extend our sincerest gratitude to Mid Atlantic Arts for their support this year. The performance by Mariachi Herencia de México was made possible through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the performance by CelloGayageum - 첼로가야금 was made possible through the Performing Arts Global Exchange program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support through the National Endowment for the Arts. Thank you for helping us fulfill our mission in providing transformative experiences that connect our community together through the arts!

04/27/2024

🎵 Don't miss Sentimental Journey Big Band's performance of "The Music That Won World War II" at the
tomorrow, April 28th at 3pm! 🎶 Experience the power of music to uplift and inspire as we pay tribute to the iconic tunes that captured the hearts of a nation during wartime. With vocalist leading the way, get ready for an afternoon of swing, jazz, and timeless melodies that will leave you humming all the way home. Secure your seats now!

Sentimental Journey Big Band is here to transport you back to the 1940s with the timeless sounds of swing and jazz in The Music That Won World War II.

04/26/2024

🎺 Join us for an unforgettable night of music with the on May 4th at 7pm! 🌟 Take a musical voyage around the globe as we explore the rich traditions and vibrant melodies of England, Spain, Italy, Russia, Cuba, and America. Under the direction of conductor Anthony Tafrow, experience the beauty and diversity of world music like never before. Don't miss out on this spectacular performance!