Max Weinberg will join Remember Jones to honor Meat Loaf at Axelrod

Singer-songwriter Remember Jones will honor Meat Loaf with a performance of his entire "Bat Out Of Hell" album and more at Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal on April 29 and 30 and May 1.

He'll be joined by E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg, who recorded most of the 1977 album. Weinberg will play the seven songs from "Bat Out Of Hell," with other musicians and guest vocalists, including Low Cut Connie, chiming in on Jim Steinman songs from other Meat Loaf albums.

More:E Street's Nils Lofgren pulls music from Spotify to support Neil Young in Joe Rogan issue

Limited VIP tickets for each performance will include a post-show reception and curated interview with Weinberg and Jones, who will discuss never-before-heard stories from the "Bat Out of Hell"  studio sessions and more. 

Tickets run $112 for VIP, $78 for Gold, including a copy of Remember Jones' new album before its release date, $64 Premium and $48 Regular.

Proof of ID and vaccination is required for entry.

For tickets, on sale now, and more information, visit axelrodartscenter.com. 

All Shore Chorus world premiere

It's not often you get to present a world premiere twice, but these are unprecedented times.

All Shore Chorus, which last year debuted "Safe Here in Your Arms" by recording each of their 100+ plus parts individually from home, will come together to sing the piece in person next month, conducted by its composer.

"We're just eternally grateful to be able to make music in person again," said Chris Sabol, president of All Shore Chorus and a teacher at Monmouth Regional High School.

Last year:From 100+ homes, this Shore choir gears up for new song premiere. Here's how they did it

Being together allowed the students to hear the harmonies and textures of the piece in real time. But there's also another element at play, Sabol said.

"I think there's a certain resilience that goes with the piece, being able to hear it in this new light and hear it in person and have our students together again. It does feel different," Sabol said. "It sounds different, too."

"Safe Here In Your Arms" was commissioned from Michael John Trotta, a choral composer who sang in All Shore Chorus when he was in high school. He lives in Red Bank. Poet Vaughn Roste wrote the piece's text.

Sightlines:Arts recovery grants available, Broadway's Caissie Levy sells out Holmdel

All Shore Chorus is made up of 102 students this year, with members from Allentown High School, Brick Township Memorial High School, Central Regional High School, Colts Neck High School, Freehold Township High School, Holmdel High School, Howell High School, Manasquan High School, Matawan Regional High School, Mater Dei School, Middletown High School North, Middletown High School South, Monmouth Regional High School, Point Pleasant Beach High School, Point Pleasant Borough High School, OCTVS Performing Arts High School, Ranney School, Raritan High School, Red Bank Regional High School, Saint Rose High School and Wall High School.

Sabol said there's a drive and hunger for these students to be part of ensembles like All Shore Chorus, and regional and statewide honors bands and choirs.

"These are the students that are probably most likely going to study music or music performance or music education," he said. "They are going to be the future music makers. I think there's a certain determination for these students to make these ensembles work and make them last."

All Shore's concert will include 10 pieces, including "Sarah," arranged by Stephen Hatfield; "Ballade to the Moon" by Daniel Elder; "Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal," arranged by Alice Parker for the Robert Shaw Chorale; and "Wade in the Water," arranged by Mark Hayes.

The concert is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5, at Monmouth Regional High School in Tinton Falls. The snow date is 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6, at Monmouth Regional.

Visit allshorechorusnj.com or follow the choir on social media (Instagram: @newjerseyallshore; Twitter: @AllShoreNJ) for more information.

NJ production assistant bootcamp

The New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission is inviting state residents who are interested in pursuing a career in film or television production to apply for a two-day Production Assistant bootcamp.

Set for Feb. 5 and 6 at Rutgers University in Piscataway, the training program is a "thorough, intensive, real-world, work-based job training program that provides trainees with an opportunity to gain skills, knowledge and understanding of film/TV production."

New Jersey Film Festival:Grown from a Rutgers basement, fest celebrates 40 years

A production assistant is generally an entry level position that can serve as a gateway for producers, directors and other crew jobs.

The camp is provided free of charge to participants, with sponsorship from Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Designed to train set and office production PAs, it will help participants "learn everything necessary to walk onto any film or television set and do the job right from day one," organizers said.

TV:Samantha Brown tours NJ's hidden (and not-so-hidden) gems

The program is the sixth bootcamp held in New Jersey since 2018, with 136 residents from diverse backgrounds participating.

Brandon Leventhal of Matawan was one of them. He was hired as a production assistant on the upcoming Zach Braff feature “A Good Person,” which filmed in New Jersey in 2021.

“I learned so much useful information and applicable skills at the PA bootcamp that boosted my confidence in my ability to be a competent member of a production," Leventhal said.

Applicants must be fully vaccinated and able to attend both days of training. They also must be available to accept work in New Jersey during the next several months, although a job is not guaranteed.

To apply via email, write pabootcamp@gmail.com, with "Rutgers-Piscataway boot camp" in the subject line. Emails should include your name, email, phone number and a short paragraph explaining why you want to attend.

Applicants may receive a request for a phone interview, and confirmation of acceptance into the training will be sent by email. Space is limited.

Learn more at pabootcamp.com. 

B Is For Broadway

The Actors Fund and Random House Children's Books teamed up to release "B Is For Broadway: Onstage and Backstage from A to Z."

The picture book is written by John Robert Allman, with illustrations by Peter Emmerich. It's a follow up to the hit debut "A Is For Audra."

Updates:To Kill A Mockingbird, Girl From The North Country to close, plan to re-open

A portion of proceeds from the book's sales will be donated to The Actor's Fund.

More:Broadway Week returns in 2022 with 2-for-1 tickets on sale now

The book invites readers to "step into the spotlight and celebrate a cavalcade of Broadway legends! Start with A for audition with the iconic lineup from 'A Chorus Line,' then peek behind B to see the backstage buzz, and dance along with C for choreographers."

Beloved stars like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Patti LuPone, Irving Berlin, Jennifer Holliday and Billy Porter can be spotted throughout, as well as New York theaters, shows like "Rent" and "Les Miserables," and "the crew, stylists and technicians who are vital to each performance."

"B Is For Broadway" will be released on Feb. 1. You can pre-order at retailers now.

Learn more about the work of The Actors Fund at actorsfund.org.

Second Caissie Levy concert added

Believe in second chances.

After Broadway's Caissie Levy ("Frozen," "Caroline, Or Change") sold out her Feb. 19 Holmdel Theatre Company Broadway at the Barn concert in record time, HTC added a second show due to the high demand.

The new concert is set for 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 18, and tickets are on sale now.

For more information, visit holmdeltheatrecompany.org/caissielevy.

Ilana Keller is an award-winning journalist and lifelong New Jersey resident who loves Broadway and really bad puns. She highlights arts advocacy and education, theater fundraisers and more through her column, "Sightlines." Reach out on Twitter: @ilanakeller; ikeller@gannettnj.com