Axelrod Performing Arts Center at intermission. Blogfinger photo. 3/12/23 Click image to enlarge.
A rousing musical number with the entire cast.
By Eileen and Paul Goldfinger, Editors Blogfinger.net
If you are like Eileen and me, COVID has kept us away from live theater, crowded performances, and movie houses. But all that is changing. We saw The Fabelmans in the Monmouth Mall theater, and it wasn’t crowded, so no mask and no one sitting near us. It would make me nervous to go to a small space like the Showroom in Asbury.
But, at the Oscars, it was clear that the industry is hopeful that folks will go back to the theater, and many have already begun to. An Oscar winner last night said that movies are made by people who want their work seen on a large screen in a theater. I believe that.
Going to a movie theater can be a thrill. When I was in high school my Aunt Janice, who worked at Bond Clothes in Times Square, where the Camel sign puffed smoke, took me to one of those huge New York theaters where I saw “High Noon.” It was just the two of us, then lunch, and I have never forgotten how exciting that was.
So Eileen and I decided to return to live theater, and, believe it or not, there is a beautiful theater just 10 minutes away with professional shows and a big parking lot. The Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal is a remarkably special and comfortable place, and you all should know about it.
We have been there many times in the past. Those who go there are dressed for going out, the sound system is fine as is the staging. The seats are well spaced and comfortable.The Axelrod goes out of its way to enhance the experience of theater goers. They sell treats at intermission, and we got to walk through a fine art display which they always have there, in rotation. You can even have a volunteer show you to your seat with a flashlight.
Last night we saw a production, by professionals, with an orchestra of Raisin in the Sun. There was a unique aspect to the audience, since about 1/3 were African Americans, and we enjoyed the diversity of our fellow theater goers.
That musical play of course is about a black family at the start of the civil rights movement in the fifties. The play, by Lorraine Hansberry is set in Chicago. It opened in 1959. It courageously touches on many issues experienced by that community in terms of family, jobs, opportunities, values, customs, etc. And it was so well done by the talented cast.
Unfortunately this was the last night of the Deal run.
Here is some music from the show “Raisin in the Sun.” Timothy Vallier
Axelrod: 100 Grant Avenue. Deal.
Take Main Street in Asbury Park. Go to the end and turn right, driving along Deal Lake. Take the left and cross the bridge. Ride along Norwood for a few miles and turn left on Phillips Avenue. Go past the railroad tracks and turn right into the Axelrod parking lot.
Do yourself a favor and check out their website:
Thanks for your post – often we are called the “best kept secret in theater in NJ” – so appreciate you spreading the word about our outstanding theater!
Elaine. I appreciate your interest in spreading the good word to the Grove. Especially since your resume is so outstanding. We average 400 hits per day, but when issues get hot in the Grove we can go much higher. And each day we suspect that at least half the total was not present on the day before. Please use Blogfinger@verizon,net. And we do not charge for advertising especially if it is for a good cause.
And Grovers: If any of you are planning yard sales this spring, summer and fall, let us know and we will mention you on BF. Send dates, times, cross streets and items for sale. There is still time for some of you to organize a town-wide sale. I will help. Paul
Thank you Paul! What is the best email to use? If it’s okay, I’ll share it with our media person so they can send you press releases?
Elaine: Thank you for making contact. I want to help promoting Axelrod. I might not be so attentive about keeping an eye on programming, but if you put me on your email list I may help with publicity. You can send me photographs also. Paul
Paul, thank you for posting about Axelrod Performing Arts Center! I started working there last March and was blown away by the quality of our productions. Having worked in theater for decades (I ran the Count Basie’s community theatre company, Phoenix Productions, for 12 years and I have taught, directed, served on Boards.) I knew of Axelrod but had no idea they were a professional, Equity theater. RAISIN had Phylicia Rashad on our production team, and starred Freddi Walker Brown (original cast of Broadway’s RENT) alongside a cast and staff of exceptional professionals. This past summer we had Tovah Feldshuh in our production right before she headed to Broadway to perform in FUNNY GIRL with Lea Michele.
I’ve been bringing friends from Ocean Grove (Saturday there were 17 of us seeing RAISIN) to introduce them to this wonderful resource “right in our backyard!” How lucky are we to live right near a professional theater – WITH parking!