In the Arts

Xiayin Wang

The Fine Arts Center at Ocean County College (OCC) has booked a full summer run beginning in June and running through August. All performances will take place on the college's main campus, College Drive, Toms River. Tickets are on sale now.

"The Heat Is On!" will sizzle on stage July 14 at 8 p.m. This critically acclaimed tour-de-force performance will examine the life, loves and career of Hollywood star Rita Hayworth. Explore her infamous marriages, turbulent relationships, ascent into Hollywood stardom in the '40s, and her final struggle with Alzheimer's. Tickets: $17 in advance, $20 at the door.

The Yates Musical Theatre's version of Pinocchio will delight children of all ages July 19 at 1 p.m. (group performance, 10:15 a.m.; call for details). This musical story takes audiences from the puppet's creation by Gepetto to his encounters with the fox and cat, along with his adventures in "Wonderfield in Owl Country" and "Playland." The excitement is heightened when he saves his father's life and becomes a real boy. Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

Red Bank-based Phoenix Productions will present the timeless musical "Fiddler on the Roof" July 13-22 at the Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St., in Red Bank. "Fiddler" is the tale of Tevye, a poor dairyman who struggles to balance the traditions of his family, faith and society in an ever-changing world. Performances are Friday and Saturday, July 13, 14, 20 and 21, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, July 15 and 22, at 3 p.m. Tickets: $29-$22 through the Count Basie Theatre box office by phone at (732) 842-9000 or in person at 99 Monmouth St.

The Community Chorus of Ocean County College will present The Music of Cole Porter and George Gershwin July 21 at 8 p.m. and July 22 at 2 p.m. Hits will include "Anything Goes," "Night and Day," "I Love Paris," "I Got Rhythm," "Summertime," "Embraceable You" and many others. Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 at the door.

Xiayin Wang will perform as part of the Fine Arts Center's Sunday Classics Aug. 5 at 2 p.m. A native of China, Xiayin Wang has garnered an enviable record of first-prize awards throughout China. She commands an eclectic repertoire ranging from Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt to later masters as Ravel and Rachmaninoff. Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 at the door.

Details and tickets: (732) 255-0500.

This month, The Premier Theatre Company rounds out its 22nd summer season of live entertainment at the Henderson Theater, 850 Newman Springs Road (Route 520), Lincroft, and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Broadway opening of another all-time classic musical, "The Music Man."

"The Music Man" tells the story of traveling salesman Harold Hill (portrayed in this production by DJ Brown, originally from Middletown) and his visit to a small Iowa town in 1912, where he meets and falls in love with the willful spinster librarian Marian Paroo (Deborah Murad of Red Bank).

The Premier Theater Company will present 10 performances of "The Music Man" July 13-29.

Tickets are $26 for adults, $24 for seniors, $16 for students (with ID) and $13 for ages 13 and younger. Group discounts are also available.

Details and tickets: (732) 774-STAR (7827) or www.premiertheatre.com.

The Core of Fire Dance Company & Friends will present "Let It Shine: An Evening of Music, Dance & Story" July 13 at 7 p.m. at the Stella Maris Retreat Center, 981 Ocean Ave., Elberon section of Long Branch.

The event will also feature performances by Matawan singer and clinical hypnotherapist Rosemary Conte, actress and storyteller Lorraine Stone, dancer Marcia Freeman, and the dance troupe Belly Stars.

Core of Fire is an interfaith, intergenerational dance ministry started by dancer/choreographer Carol Penn, Red Bank. Conte is part of a team of medical and holistic healing practitioners who are or have been professional performing artists.

Suggested donation is $10, and $5 for children. Details: (732) 583-4959

The trustees of the Monmouth Museum are planning a benefit party, "Stargazing on the Navesink," at the home of Christine and Michael Oster on Navesink River Road in Red Bank, July 13. The proceeds from this event will help fund "Blast Off! A Space Journey," a new exhibition opening in the Monmouth Museum's Becker Children's Wing in October.

Attendees will enjoy "Galactic Goodies, Cosmos and "Tangtinis." Dress is mainstream to Martian. Stargazer tickets are $50 per person. Astronomer tickets are $100 per person (includes four passes to "Blast Off! A Space Journey"), and Rocket Scientist tickets are $250 per person (includes a private after-hours tour of "Blast Off! A Space Journey").

Special party activities include stargazing over the Navesink, astrological readings, a Starlabs planetarium show, and spacesuit photo opportunities. Details and reservations: (732) 747-2266.

The Montclair Art Museum (MAM) has announced the July 14 opening of a first-of-its-kind exhibition, "Reflecting Culture: The Evolution of American Comic Book Superheroes," on view until Jan. 13. The exhibition traces the way in which comic books have reflected an ever-evolving American culture through more than 150 original drawings, rare comic books and graphic novels from the Golden Age of comics (1938-1946) to the present. Never-before-seen original drawings and other work from the private collection of area resident Michael Uslan, producer of "Batman" and "Batman Begins," will be the cornerstone of this exhibit, which unites seminal work of the genre from private collections around the country.

The Montclair Art Museum is located at 3 South Mountain Ave. in Montclair. Details: www.montclairartmuseum.org or (973) 746-5555. MAM is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed Mondays and major holidays. Museum admission is free to members and children under 12; $8 for nonmember adults, $6 for senior citizens and students with identification. Admission is free to everyone on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Calling all young artists! The Monmouth County Park System will host several sessions of Kids' Art at the Park throughout July. Youngsters are invited to create both representational and fantasy artwork inspired by nature. Students will focus on elements of design such as line, color, value, shape, texture and space. Classes will be held both indoors and outdoors the following days from 9:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.: July 16-20 (ages 10-14), and July 23-27 (ages 8-14). The cost for each session is $205 per person plus a $7 supply fee. For locations, details and registration, call (732) 842-4000. (TTY/TDD number is 711).