TWO LEGENDARY GROUPS: The Four Tops, shown here, will appear with The Temptations at State Theatre New Jersey on December 12.

State Theatre New Jersey presents The Temptations & The Four Tops on Thursday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m.

The two iconic Motown groups will perform their biggest hits including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch),” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” “Baby, I Need Your Loving,” and many more.

The Temptations are revered for their phenomenal catalog of music and prolific career. While the group has evolved over the years, founding member Otis Williams has continued to lead the group. They were ranked No. 1 in Billboard magazine’s most recent list of the Greatest R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of All Time. The Temptations are the recipients of numerous awards and honors, and have been the subject of the Broadway musical, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations. more

FOLK HERO: David Roth brings his bold style of singing and songwriting to Christ Congregation Church on Friday, December 13 at 8 p.m. (Photo courtesy of Michael and Suz Karchmer)

The Princeton Folk Music Society welcomes back singer-songwriter David Roth to Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane, for a concert on Friday, December 13 at 8 p.m.

Roth’s unique songs have made him a favorite of the Princeton Folk Music Society, which is presenting him for the sixth time. Roth’s songs have been recorded by Christine Lavin, Anne Hills, and Tom Chapin, among others. His appearances have ranged from singing the national anthem in front of a sold-out Chicago Bulls/New York Knicks game to intimate house concerts and innumerable workshops to singing for the United Nations 40th Anniversary celebration.

Tickets are available online or at the door (if not sold-out): $25 ($20 members, $10 students). Visit princetonfolk.org for tickets and livestream access.

PEACE AT PASSAGE: Singer-songwriter/activist John Flynn performs at the 40th anniversary fundraiser for Trenton’s Passage Theatre Company on December 7.

Singer-songwriter and activist John Flynn is the headliner at a night of song and peace Saturday, December 7 at 6 p.m. to mark the 40th anniversary of Trenton’s Passage Theatre Company. The event, hosted by Leticia Williams, includes pre-show refreshments provided by Gingered Peach and Kafe Ojala.

Flynn is considered a champion of justice and healing the community through group song. His voice is an ardent yet whimsical battle cry and he will inspire you to join the fight. The late Kris Kristofferson, a longtime friend of Flynn, has called him “an important artist whose work in prisons, rehabs, and half-way houses is distilled into the truth and the beauty of heartfelt and heartwarming slices of life.” more

“AUTUMN IN CRANBURY”: This work by Linda Gilbert is featured in “Flora, Fauna, and Water,” on view December 4 through December 27 at the Gourgaud Gallery in Cranbury. An opening reception is on December 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Cranbury Arts Council and the Gourgaud Gallery will present this year’s Open Call exhibit, “Flora, Fauna, and Water,” December 4 through December 27. An opening reception is on Sunday, December 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The show features works from a number of artists in two-dimensional mediums. Open Call has been run by Linda Gilbert, chairperson of the Gourgaud Gallery, for a number of years. more

“CAUGHT IN THE LIGHT”: This acrylic painting by Michael Berardesco is featured in “Mostly Small Works,” on view December 5 through January 5 at Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville.

Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville will present a gallery-wide group exhibit, “Mostly Small Works,” December 5 through January 5.

“WINTER CHILL”: This watercolor work by Beatrice Bork is part of “Mostly Small Works,” on view December 5 through January 5 at Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville. An opening reception is on Saturday, December 7 from 2 to 5 p.m.

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The Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunswick has named Jeremiah William McCarthy as chief curator. In this new role, effective January 6, McCarthy will serve on the museum’s senior leadership team and participate in shaping its mission and vision. He will oversee the museum’s curatorial department and assume responsibility for the Museum’s scholarly and artistic program while managing the development of the Museum’s permanent collection and exhibitions.

“It’s a great honor to take on this leadership role at the Zimmerli,” said McCarthy. “The Zimmerli’s mission to use art as a tool to educate, inspire, and challenge resonates deeply with me. I am thrilled to lead and empower the curatorial team to advance an experimental program that is diverse, accessible, and academically rigorous.” more

MCDONNELL AT ACP: The Arts Council of Princeton will host an artist interview and book signing with artist-author Patrick McDonnell on Saturday, November 30 from 3 to 4 p.m.

The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) will host an artist interview with Patrick McDonnell on Saturday, November 30 from 3 to 4 p.m. McDonnell — a Princeton resident — is the creator of the worldwide syndicated comic strip, MUTTS; a New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Honor-winning children’s book author, painter, and award-winning playwright. His original works are on view at the Arts Council through December 7.

The paintings in his Taplin Gallery exhibition — created with acrylic latex, oil stick, ink, and collage — are a continuation of the story of self-discovery told in his graphic novel, The Super Hero’s Journey, created for Marvel and Abrams Books.  more

On Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8, join Friends Of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) between 12 and 4 p.m. for a Holiday Open House at Mountain Lakes House, 57 Mountain Avenue.

View the FOPOS annual “Perspectives on Preservation Photo Exhibition,” enjoy complimentary refreshments, and stroll around the Christmas tree. Free. RSVP requested at fopos.org/events-programs.

“EMERALD ASH BORER GALLERIES ON WHITE ASH”: This work by Susan Hoenig is featured in “Rhythms of the Land,” on view December 5 through January 25 in the Hutchins Galleries at the Lawrenceville school.

“Rhythms of the Land,” an exhibition of paintings, forest compositions, leaf sculptures, cross sections of trees, and wildlife reliefs by Susan Hoenig is on view December 5 through January 25 in the Hutchins Galleries at the Lawrenceville school on Route 206. An opening reception is on Friday, December 6 at 6:30 p.m.

According to the artist, “The land upon which we gather is part of the traditional territory of the Lenape, called ‘Lenapehoking.’ The Lenape People lived in harmony with the land for thousands of years. Paintings, forest compositions, leaf sculptures, cross sections of trees, and wildlife reliefs are part of my ecological practice. I connect Earth and art to make visible the relationship between habitat, plant and animal life. My artwork explores the impact of ecological issues. ‘Rhythms of the Land’ engages the viewer to see the relationship between humans and their environment that sustains them. more

RENAISSANCE MEN: McCarter Theatre hosts the Renaissance Quartet, a group of Juilliard School graduates mentored by Itzhak Perlman, on Thursday, November 21. From left are Daniel Hass, Randall Goosby, Jeremiah Blacklow, and Jameel Martin.

The Renaissance Quartet, featuring violinists Randall Goosby and Jeremiah Blacklow, violist Jameel Martin, and cellist Daniel Hass, comes to McCarter Theatre on Thursday, November 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Graduates  of the Juilliard School who were mentored by Itzhak Perlman, the quartet blends classical mastery with a reimagining of chamber music traditions. The New York-based ensemble takes a forward-thinking approach to appeal to a diverse audience. more

ANNIVERSARY TOUR: Time-travel to 1973 with “Selling England by the Pound,” at State Theatre New Jersey on Friday, December 6. (Photo by Jean-Marc Hamel)

State Theatre New Jersey presents The Musical Box – 50th Anniversary Genesis—Selling England by the Pound on Friday, December 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $29-$49. 

Fifty years ago, Genesis released Selling England by the Pound and changed rock history. In 1973, Peter Gabriel’s famous theatrics and Genesis’ musical apex produced some of the most iconic images and sounds of the ’70s, which to this day have a cult following. The Musical Box, who shared the stage with Phil Collins and Steve Hackett as performing guests at such venues as London’s Royal Albert Hall and Paris’ Olympia, will perform the emblematic 1973 show in painstaking detail.

State Theatre New Jersey is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick. Visit Stnj.org for tickets.

Phillips’ Mill’s third annual Play with Words Student Playwriting Challenge is accepting submissions through midnight on January 12, 2025. Winners will be announced in late January, and winning plays will be presented at the location in New Hope, Pa., in a staged reading on March 1.

According to Fran Ferrone, who chairs the competition, one of last year’s winners, Saskia Cooper of The Pennington School, said that she “was nervous … that a joke wouldn’t land … but was really happy to see the actors having fun,” and plans to enter again this year.

She also quoted Abigail Wus of Pennsbury High School (Pa.), who thinks the pressure of juggling time between studies and her love of writing is worth it. “To anyone who has a notes app full of unfinished ideas and fragments of stories, I encourage you to write for Play With Words,” Wus said. “It provided me the motivation to try a new medium and helped me realize a new depth to writing that I will carry with me in the rest of my works.”  more

Mercer County Community College (MCCC) students from different departments are collaborating on an interpretation of a classic Greek tragedy The Bacchae of Euripides and A Mouthful of Birds, November 21-24, at the Kelsey Theatre on MCCC’s West Windsor Campus.

Both productions involve students from the Theater, Dance, and Entertainment Technology; Fashion Apparel/Design; and Advertising and Graphic Design programs serving as performers and costume designers and providing advertising/promotion support.

According to Jody Gazenbeek-Person, MCCC’s Theatre, Dance, and Entertainment Technology coordinator, the intra-program experience serves as a real-life lesson for a career in the entertainment industry, where understanding all aspects of a production is important for success.  more

Mikhail Voskresensky will present an all-new program on Saturday, December 14 at 7 p.m. in Bristol Chapel, on the campus of Westminster Choir College, 101 Walnut Lane. He will perform works by Beethoven, Mozart, Grieg, Scriabin, and Chopin. Tickets are $45 ($20 for students).

Dutch violinist Janine Jansen is set to make her long-anticipated Princeton University Concerts (PUC) debut with Belgian pianist Denis Kozhukhin on Wednesday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Richardson Auditorium.

The program features Robert Schumann Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 105; Clara Schumann Three Romances, Op. 22; and Johannes Brahms Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100 and Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 108.

“We have been eager to present this legendary duo for a very long time,” said PUC Director Marna Seltzer, “and after the pandemic and illness delayed their debut, it feels surreal that this historic moment has finally arrived. As we head into the holiday season, I can think of no greater gift.” more

Princeton Youth Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker,” choreographed by Risa Kaplowitz and Talin Kenar, is on stage at Princeton High School Performing Arts Center Saturday, December 7 at 4 p.m. and Sunday, December 8 at 12 and 4 p.m. This version of the familiar holiday ballet is a coming-of-age story. Tickets are on sale at pyb.booktix.com.

On December 3 at 7:30 p.m., Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts presents Courtney Stephens’ live performance/film essay, Terra Femme, at the James Stewart Film Theater, 185 Nassau Street. Admission is free and open to the public.

An essay film, a memoir, a post-colonial reckoning, Terra Femme is a work of live cinema that takes the form of a narrated travelogue, with Stephens leading the viewer through errant cinematic scrapbooks, seeking out the stories behind the images, and wondering after the early 20th century women who captured and witnessed them. This live performance/film has toured widely.

The essay film is comprised of amateur travelogues filmed by women in the 1920s-1950s. With a score by Sarah Davachi, the fims raise questions about female representation in the archive, the role of amateurism in early non-fiction filmmaking, and the politics of the Western gaze. more

Princeton University Concerts (PUC) will welcome the Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer back for a special event performance of their A Chanticleer Christmas program of a cappella choral music, ranging from Renaissance masterworks to spirituals, on Saturday, December 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Princeton University Chapel.

Prior to the concert, PUC will host a Do-Re-Meet LGBTQIA+ & Allies Mingle in the form of a festive “ugly sweater party,” at 5:30 p.m. at Maclean House on the campus.

Chanticleer first came to PUC in October 2023, engaging with the community by inviting singers of all ages and abilities to sing alongside as part of PUC’s free annual Chamber Jam conducted by Artistic Director Tim Keeler, a 2011 graduate of the Princeton University Music Department; singing for one of PUC’s free Live Music Meditation events; and performing a concert at Richardson Auditorium. more

The Garden Theatre is partnering with the Princeton University Art Museum to again commemorate Day With(out) Art, an occasion to remember those artists and creators impacted by the AIDS crisis. This year’s program is on Tuesday, December 3 at 7 p.m.

The collection of videos Red Reminds Me…. will be screened, free to the public. The program will be introduced by Princeton University Art Museum Director James Steward, and followed by a discussion between Steward and one of the video’s directors, David Oscar Harvey.

Day With(out) Art was organized by Visual AIDS, “the only contemporary arts organization fully committed to AIDS awareness and creating dialogue around HIV issues today,” according to their website. It was first held on December 1, 1989, to coincide with the World Health Organization’s second annual World AIDS Day, and meant to “celebrate the lives and achievements of lost colleagues and friends.” more

“CRAFTING A HEART”: The Arts Council of Princeton will host a workshop with Gisele Fetterman, right, and Diana Weymar, left, on Wednesday, December 4 at 6:30 p.m. A hands-on art activity and signed copy of Weymar’s new book are included in registration.

The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) will present a workshop with Gisele Fetterman and craftivist Diana Weymar on Wednesday, December 4. Attendees will learn to create a unique mosaic heart out of ceramic and tile pieces and learn more about using art to transform anxiety into action.

All attendees will receive a signed copy of Weymar’s new book, Crafting a Better World. Additional books will be available for purchase at the event.

This beginner-friendly workshop includes all materials and small-group instruction. Registration is $65 and is available on artscouncilofprinceton.org. more

DAY OF ARTFUL JOY: Artisan card maker Danyelle Kessler will teach children and adults how to make unique greeting cards on Saturday, November 23 from $12:30 to 2 p.m. at Princeton Makes in the Princeton Shopping Center.

Art Against Racism is partnering with Princeton Makes, a Princeton-based artist cooperative, to present a Day of Artful Joy on Saturday, November 23. It will be a day of creativity and fun celebrating International Art and Health Month. This event is part of Arts and Health Mercer, sponsored by Mercer County art and cultural organizations. Learn more at artshealthmercer.org. The activities will be held at Princton Makes, located in the Princeton Shopping Center.

The Lovey Monsters Beginners Sewing Class for Kids will be held from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Ronah Harris, an artist and the creator of Lovey Monsters, will help kids unleash their imagination and craft their very own adorable monster stuffy. To enjoy this blend of creativity and fluffiness, one can purchase the Monster Lovey kit available for $12.50. more

OPEN STUDIOS: At the 2023 Open Studios event a then-junior, now senior, shares their work with a visitor. This year’s event is on November 20 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 185 Nassau Street on the Princeton University campus. (Photo by Jon Sweeney)

Juniors and seniors majoring and minoring in visual arts at Princeton University will open their studios to share and discuss their works-in-progress on November 20 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 185 Nassau Street on the Princeton campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The evening of Open Studios will feature work by students in a wide range of media including photography, sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, graphic design, and film, as well as multi- and interdisciplinary work. The student artists, from the classes of 2025 and 2026, will be present to discuss their work.  more