On Dec. 4, 1956, history was made in Memphis, Tennessee, as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash had an improptu jam session at Sun Records.
The Tony-nominated musical "Million Dollar Quartet" brings that legendary night to life with a tale of broken promises, secrets, betrayal and celebrations. Axelrod Performing Arts Center presents the show Friday to July 28 at the new Bell Theater at Bell Works in Holmdel.
With a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, "Million Dollar Quartet" is directed by original Broadway cast member Hunter Foster, along with Rachel Sabo-Hedges. Songs include “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Walk the Line,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Hound Dog.”
Alessandro Viviano stars as Presley, portraying the King of Rock and Roll for the ninth time. Brady Wease makes his Bell Theater debut as Lewis, having starred in multiple productions of "Million Dollar Quartet" across the country. As Carl Perkins, Sam C. Jones has portrayed the rockabilly guitarist in numerous productions. Versatile New York-based actor/musician Chance Wall takes on the role of Johnny Cash.
Go: "Million Dollar Quartet," Friday through July 28, Bell Theater, Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, $58 and $64; 732-531-9106, ext. 14, belltheater.org.
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Here are other things to do at the Jersey Shore this weekend, including a Beach Boys tribute act in Lakewood and performance art in Asbury Park.
Family Day in Asbury Park
The 18th annual Family Day at the Beach runs noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at 8th Avenue beach in Asbury Park.
There will be surf lessons, beach games, music, snacks, a scavenger hunt — and you can learn about ocean safety, too. The event is put together by the Mayor's Wellness Committee and the Jersey Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.
After registering on site, enter for free at 8th Avenue or Deal Lake Drive.
For more information, including how to be transported to and from the event within Asbury Park, email events@jerseyshore.surfrider.org or call 917-847-5542.
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Rain date is Sunday.
Go: Family Day at the Beach, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, 8th Avenue beach, Asbury Park, free; 917-847-5542, events@jerseyshore.surfrider.org.
Family Night on LBI
Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences is hosting a Family Night from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday. The theme is "Open Mic," and is hosted by LBIF staff member Jaycee Brill.
From poetry slams, music or comedy, the night offers seasoned and emerging acts the chance to shine. If you're feeling the itch to perform, sign up here or at the door beginning at 5 p.m.
The show takes place in LBIF's gallery. For kids 6 and under, there will be a fun room. Tickets are free but register here.
Go: Family Night, 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, LBIF gallery, 120 Long Beach Blvd., Loveladies, free; lbifoundation.org.
Performance art series in Asbury Park
Transformer celebrates the eighth year of its Siren Arts summer artist residency program and performance art series in Asbury Park with a new exhibition location: the Asbury Ocean Club’s corner space at 4th Avenue and Kingsley Street.
The new space will feature a free summer-long exhibition of Siren Arts performance photography by Sara Stadtmiller of Neptune, along with new paintings by Zach Storm of Raleigh, North Carolina. Also showing are selections from Transformer’s "FlatFile" program, an ever-changing collection of two-dimensional works sized 16-by-20 inches or smaller.
The new space also will be utilized by summer’s Siren Arts "deepwater" artists-in-residence, as they create new works to be presented in public performance art events at 7 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 15 on Asbury Park’s 2nd Avenue Beach. Performances last about 45 minutes. Visit @sirenartsap on Instagram for rain date locationdetails. (Artist talks precede the performances at 6 p.m. at the Asbury Ocean Club space.)
This Thursday, work fom tasha dougé will be shown on the beach. Based in the Bronx, "this Haitian-infused conceptual visual and performance artist ... leans on experimentation with different mediums that excavate and examine the nuances of the human experience," a release said. She centers "her Blackness and womanhood as a starting point to challenge notions and ideologies around identity, history, iconography and the political."
The "deepwater" exhibit runs through Sunday, Sept. 15. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays.
Go: Transformer art series, 7 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 15, 2nd Avenue Beach, Asbury Park, free. Exhibit on display through Sept. 15 at Asbury Ocean Club, 4th Avenue and Kingsley Street; info@transformerdc.org, @sirenartsap, on Instagram, transformerdc.org/siren-arts.
Bread & Roses fundraiser in Asbury Park
The film and music community are coming together Saturday at Art629 Gallery for Bread & Roses, Jersey Shore’s female-centric film festival.
The fundraiser will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. at the gallery, 631 Cookman Ave. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person, which goes to support the mission and operating costs of the festival.
Various band merchandise, supporting the musicians directly, will be available for purchase on-site or online. The lineup includes Shayne Desena, Martin Howth, Welcome Matts, Carlotta Schmidt, Rang Cherries, Sean Navat Balanon, Trust Fund Ozu, and Renee Maskin.
Vocal looping artist Martin Howth is the lead organizer, in collaboration with Marci Mazzarotto, founder and executive director of the festival. Bread & Roses will be returning to Asbury Park Oct. 18 to 20.
Go: Bread & Roses fundraiser, 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Art629 Gallery, 631 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park, $10; @breadrosesfilm on Instagram.
Solve a mystery in Keansburg
Different than your average "murder mystery," Beach Gallery in Keansburg will be hosting "Burglary on the Beach" at 5:30, 6:15 and 7 p.m. Thursday.
For $35, you get access to a "Clue" style, live-action, interactive crime scene full of suspense and puzzles to solve — and a $20 credit for food and drinks. Working in small groups, attendees will try to determine the identity of the "burglar."
The event also will take place Aug. 8 and 29.
Go: "Burglary on the Beach," Beach Gallery, 260 Beachway Ave., Keansburg, $35; 732-778-4098, beachgallerykeansburg.com.
Beach Boys tribute in Lakewood
Strand Center for the Arts welcomes Sail On: A Beach Boys Tribute at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The group plays all of the Beach Boys’ classic hits, some treasures from the band’s catalog, and, according to a release, "re-creates the soundtrack to an Endless Summer."
Tickets are $36 to $44.
Go: Sail On, 8 p.m. Saturday, Strand Center for the Arts, 400 Clifton Ave., Lakewood, $36 to $44; Strand.org.
'Addams Family' staged reading in Jackson
Keep the weekend going at 2 and 6 p.m. Monday with a staged concert version of the Broadway musical "The Addams Family" at the Jackson branch of Ocean County Library.
Directed and choreographed by Jesse Walker, the cast will feature New Jersey’s Bemba Balsirow as Mal Beineke, George Balsirow as Pugsley Addams, Serg Balsirow as Uncle Fester, Lois Blackman and Sherry Hecker alternating as Alice Beineke, Lyle Greene as Lucas Beineke, Rachel Levy as Morticia Addams, Kathryn Paidoussis as Wednesday Addams, Alessia Secli as Grandma, Aliyah Sulimenko as various Addams family ancestors, Henry Walker as Lurch, and Walker as Gomez Addams.
Book is by Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman, with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. Tickets are $5, and may be purchased via email at jessewalker17@hotmail.com.
Proceeds benefit Entertainment Community Fund, a national human services organization with a "unique understanding of the challenges involved in a life in the arts."
Go: "The Addams Family," 2 and 6 p.m. Monday, July 22, Ocean County Library, Jackson branch, 2 Jackson Drive, $5; jessewalker17@hotmail.com, entertainmentcommunity.org.
Gabriela L. Laracca contributed to this story.
Have an event coming up? Tell us about it. Email Bill Canacci at bcanacci@gannettnj.com.
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