The show must go on, they say, and that holds true as the region heads into the summer season. Amid anxiety and uncertainty about once reliable nonprofit arts funding sources that have been reduced or eliminated — see related stories, page 6 and 7 — organizations and venues are pushing forward with an impressive roster of summer concerts, performances, exhibits, and other celebrations.
Music
Princeton Summer Chamber Concerts
The 58th season of free summer concerts returns to Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium. The four concerts on the schedule are:
The Ivalas Quartet featuring Reuben Kebede, violin; Tiani Butts, violin; Marcus Stevenson, viola; and Pedro Sanchez, cello; performs works by Haydn, Skye, and Ravel. Thursday, June 26, 7:30 p.m.
The Bennewitz Quartet, consisting of Jakub Fišher, violin; Štêpán Ježek, violin; Jiři Pinkas, viola; and Štêpán Doležal, cello; performs music of Haydn, Janáček, and Dvořák. Wednesday, July 2, 7:30 p.m.
The Galvin Cello Quartet of Haddon Kay, Sydney Lee, Luiz Venturelli, and James Baik plays music from Mozart, Debussy, Beethoven, Handel, Gardel, Paganini, Mussorgsky, and Mehmari. Friday, July 11, 7:30 p.m.
The Manhattan Chamber Players featuring Yasmina Spiegelberg, clarinet; David Fung, piano; and Luke Fleming, viola; conclude the season with music by Mozart, Schumann, Enescu, Poulenc, and Bruch. Monday, July 14, 7:30 p.m.
Free tickets, typically made available one week prior to each concert, are required. Find out more at www.princetonsummerchamberconcerts.org.
The Princeton Festival
The Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s Princeton Festival runs from June 6 through 21, with an array of performances slated for a tented pavilion installed on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden.
The 2025 festival opens with ICON: The Voices That Changed Music, a program of songs by such iconic artists as Prince, Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight, Elvis Presley, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and others, performed by Capathia Jenkins and Ryan Shaw joined by the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. Friday, June 6, 7 p.m.
Grammy Award-winning soprano Renée Fleming partners with the PSO for a sold-out concert of the singer’s favorite songs and arias. Saturday, June 7, 8 p.m.
Sondheim in the City is Melissa Errico’s cabaret-style tribute to Broadway’s greatest songwriter. Prior to the concert, families are invited to take part in Community Day, featuring an instrument petting zoo, drum circle, farmers’ market, magic show, and more. Sunday, June 8, 4 p.m. Family activities run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tessa Lark, Violin: Stradgrass is one of several classical concerts set to take place at Princeton’s Trinity Church at 33 Mercer Street. Lark is a Grammy-nominated violinist as well as an acclaimed fiddler in the tradition of her native Kentucky. Thursday, June 12, 7 p.m.
The centerpiece of the festival is a production of Puccini’s opera “Tosca.” The tragic romance takes place in 19th-century Rome, where a love triangle between opera singer Floria Tosca, painter Mario Cavaradossi, and chief of police Baron Scarpia that explores themes of love, jealousy, and politics. Friday and Tuesday, June 13 and 17, 7 p.m.; Sunday, June 15, 4 p.m.
“An Evening of Pas de Deux” is performed by dancers from American Repertory Ballet accompanied by the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. The program includes selections from “Swan Lake” and “Don Quixote” as well as “Delibes Duet” by Ethan Stiefel, Artist in Residence at American Repertory Ballet, and George Balanchine’s Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux. Saturday, June 14, 7 p.m.
The second concert held at Trinity Church will be early music ensemble The Sebastians with “Baroque Brilliance,” a program featuring works by Corelli, Telemann, Vivaldi, Galuppi, and Handel. Wednesday, June 18, 3 and 7 p.m.
In honor of Juneteenth, experience “Masters of Soul,” featuring the harmonies and smooth moves made famous by legendary artists such as Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, James Brown, and more. Thursday, June 19, 7 p.m.
For Viva Vivaldi! duo Daniel Rowland, violin, and Maja Bogdanovic, cello, join an ensemble of PSO musicians for a program highlighting works by Antonio Vivaldi, Osvaldo Golijov, and Max Richter. Friday, June 20, 7 p.m.
ARRIVAL from Sweden is one of the world’s most popular ABBA show bands. It was founded by ABBA Original Musician Rutger Gunnarsson and the Swedish artist Vicky Zetterberg in 1995. Saturday, June 21, 7 p.m.
Morven’s performance pavilion is located at 55 Stockton Street, Princeton. For tickets and more information, visit www.princetonsymphony.org/festival.
Bravura Philharmonic
The orchestra presents its season finale, “A Concerto Extravaganza,” featuring works by Rossini, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, and Wieniawski with solo performances by standout teenage pianists, violinists, and cellists. $20 to $40. Sunday, June 1, 7 p.m.
Princeton Alliance Church, 20 Schalks Crossing Road, Plainsboro. www.bravuraphil.org.
Princeton Shopping Center
The shopping center’s 40th summer of free concerts features Triumph Brewery’s pop-up beer garden in the courtyard. This year’s lineup of local bands is to be announced. Fridays, June 13 through August 15, 6 to 8 p.m.
Princeton Shopping Center, 301 North Harrison Street, Princeton. www.princetonshoppingcenter.com.
Princeton Public Library
The 2025 Listen Local series consists of six free concerts set to take place outdoors in Hinds Plaza on select Sunday afternoons. In case of inclement weather, concerts will be held in the library’s Community Room.
The series begins Sunday, June 1, at 4 p.m. with a show by No Control, presenting an homage to Eddie Money and rock and Motown favorites.
Future concerts in the series include:
June 22: Stay Tuned
July 13: New Yacht City
August 3: Stephanie Chin and Laurie Davis (double header at 3 p.m.)
August 17: Full Code
September 14: The Professors
All events are free. www.princetonlibrary.org.
Palmer Square
Palmer Square’s summer music series of free concerts on the green runs every Saturday from June through August from 1 to 3 p.m. Request-based dueling piano nights featuring the Flying Ivories take place Thursdays, August 7 14, and 21, from 6 to 8 p.m.
The lineup of Saturday performers includes:
June 7: KickStart, upbeat acoustic duo.
June 14: Peter Maness & The Master Keys, jazz, blues and R&B from the 1940s to 1960s.
June 21: Vintage Vibe Tribe, jazz and pop cover band.
June 28: Living Proof, cover band performing top 40, R&B, classic and alt rock, and country.
July 5: Kat Rivers & the Second Sight Duo, acoustic cover music.
July 12: JB Rocks, Bucks County-based duo.
July 19: Ess Gees, rock band.
July 26: TBA
August 2: Swingadelic, jazz/blues ensemble founded in Hoboken.
August 9: Q’City Yokels
August 16: Kindred Spirit, rock cover band.
August 23: Jake & Dan Duo, acoustic guitar and vocals.
August 30: TBA
More information: www.palmersquare.com.
McCarter Theatre’s ‘Jazz in June’
McCarter Theatre offers three concerts as part of its curated “Jazz in June” series.
Four-time Grammy Award winner and founding member of the former fusion group Return to Forever Stanley Clarke is a legend of jazz bass, playing both the acoustic and electric bass. Sunday, June 1, 7:30 p.m.
Vocalist Stella Cole exposes new generations to the Great American Songbook. Thursday, June 5, 7:30 p.m.
Five-time Grammy winning jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves is known for her seamless fusion of jazz and R&B. She is joined by Brazilian guitar virtuoso Romero Lubambo. Saturday, June 7, 7:30 p.m.
McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place, Princeton. www.mccarter.org.
Bucks County Playhouse
The New Hope Theater continues its visiting artist series with two performances by the string quartet Well Strung. The ensemble features Edmund Bagnell (violin), Christopher Marchant (violin), Daniel Shevlin (cello) and Trevor Wadleigh (violin) merging classical string performance with pop vocals, creating a sound that spans Beethoven to Taylor Swift. Saturday and Sunday, May 31 and June 1, 1:30 p.m.
Good Witch, Bad Witch is a concert of diva showstoppers featuring Alli Mauzey and Alyssa Fox, a former Glinda and Elphaba from the Broadway company of “Wicked.” Saturday, June 7, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m.
The Playhouse also offers several installments of its cabaret series in the barn, starting with Three Men and a Baby Grand featuring Real-life actor husbands Dylan Hartwell and Greg Sullivan, who force their long-time friend Brandon James Gwinn to co-parent a gay night of music and comedy. Sunday, June 15, 7 p.m.
In I’ll Follow the Sun, multiple award-winning songstress Marissa Mulder digs deep into the iconic catalogue of John Lennon and Paul McCartney and puts her unique stamp on infectious songs like “Penny Lane” to haunting ballads like “Julia” and “She’s Leaving Home.” Sunday, July 27, 7 p.m.
Bucks County Playhouse, 70 South Main Street, New Hope, Pennsylvania. 215-862-2121 or www.bcptheater.org.
Mercer County Parks Summer Concerts
The Friday concert series at the Mercer County Park Festival Grounds starts rocking in mid-July and continues through August with the following:
July 11: Formerly of Chicago The Players
July 18: Yellow Brick Road & All About Joel
July 25: Best of the Eagles
August 1: Yacht Rock Gold Experience & Elliot Lurie
August 8: Big Hix & Tennessee Whiskey
August 15: FEARLESS the Taylor Swift Experience
August 22: Earth, Wind, and Fire tribute band & Men of Soul
All concerts start at 6:30 p.m. and have a $5 entrance fee. Parking is free. For more information, go to mercercounty.org/parks.
Bristol Riverside Theater
The professional theater presents three shows as part of its Mid Penn Bank Summer Music Fest. This year’s concerts are all set to be held indoors at the recently renovated theater at 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, Pennsylvania.
“Beatles vs. Stones: A Musical Showdown” pits cover bands Abbey Road and Satisfaction against each other in alternating sets of Beatles’ and Rolling Stones’ classics, concluding with a joint encore. June 25 through 29.
“Purple Xperience” is Marshal Charloff’s tribute to the music of Prince, blending R&B, soul, and new wave. July 16 through 20.
“Oy Vey! It’s The Calamari Sisters” is a musical comedy blending Jewish and Italian traditions as the sisters are hired to cater an event at a Jewish funeral home. July 23 through 27.
Ticket prices are $50 and up. For more information: 215-785-0100 or www.brtstage.org.
Music in the Park
Lawrenceville’s Weeden Park plays host to a series of free Thursday evening concerts presented by Lawrenceville Main Street. Festivities start at 6 p.m. with food for sale and kids’ activities.
The 2025 lineup is as follows:
June 19: Lawrence Community Concert Band
June 26: Kindred Spirit
July 3: B.K. Rivers
July 10: Califon Hellbenders
July 17: Lakehouse
July 24: The Beagles with Joy
July 31: Alex Otey Trio
August 7: The Rebound
August 14: Top Shelf Entertainment
August 21: Clear Improv Ensemble
August 28: Princeton School of Rock
Weeden Park is located at the corner of Main Street and Craven Lane in downtown Lawrenceville. More information: www.lawrencevillemainstreet.com/music-in-the-park.
Blue Curtain
The nonprofit organizer of free concert performances hosts two shows in the amphitheater at Pettoranello Gardens off Mountain Avenue in Princeton:
Fabiola Mendez and her group, from Puerto Rico. Saturday, July 19, 8 p.m.
Elida Almeida and her group from Cape Verde. Saturday, July 26, 8 p.m.
More information: www.facebook.com/BlueCurtainConcerts.
Summer Music and More
The West Windsor Arts Council offers three evenings filled with free live music and art activities for all ages at Nassau Park Pavilion.
Each show is opened at 5 p.m. by cellist Dan Kassel performing with a special guest. Kassel has redefined the role of cello in contemporary music by combining classical technique with innovative live-looping technology to create lush, multi-layered soundscapes that transcend traditional genres. His music fuses elements of electronica, jazz, rock, and global traditions. His guests and the accompanying headliners, performing at 6 p.m., are as follows:
Gregg Merkle is a guitar virtuoso who performs his own remarkable compositions characterized by his dizzying finger-tapping style. The headliner, Channel Collective, led by multi-instrumentalist Jon Thompson and drummer Justin Leigh, presents a night of jazz with guest artists bassist Jason Fraticelli and pianist Glenn McClelland. Fraticelli has toured with Matisyahu, Spaga, and Melody Gardot, while McClelland is the keyboardist for the comedic/psychedelic rock band Ween. Saturday, July 12, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Peter Sandler is a folk singer who writes music to connect, heal, and inspire. Andy B.AND SoulFolk, the headliner, is the latest musical venture from New Jersey-based musician Andy Bernstein (aka Andy B), the longtime front man of Indie Roots Rockers, The VooDudes. In 2021, Andy B.AND became Andy B.AND SoulFolk with the addition of his backing band, comprising Gary Ambrosy, Paul Daloia, Matt Hahn, and Bill Homeyer. Saturday, July 26, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Johnny Zarfati is a young singer-songwriter from Cape May whose new single, “Ceasefire,” is a poignant and emotionally charged track that delves into themes of conflict and the longing for peace. Headliner Swara is a multi-genre Indian-American band that plays Indian film music and fuses Indian classical structures with other contemporary genres. They perform in a variety of languages such as English, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Saturday, August 9, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
More information: www.westwindsorarts.org.
Summer Stages
Whether winding down their seasons or carrying on all summer long, area stages offer a fun combination of new works and old favorites.
Bucks County Playhouse
The professional season is already in progress at the theater landmark, but it continues through the summer with the following:
“Leader of the Pack” celebrates the life and times of Ellie Greenwich, whose doo-wop sounds skyrocketed to the top of the 1960s charts. Her rise to fame is told via a virtual hit parade of her music including “Chapel of Love,” “Da Doo Ron Ron,” “Be My Baby,” and, of course, the title song, “Leader of the Pack.” June 20 through July 20.
“She Loves Me,” the inspiration for the film “You’ve Got Mail,” is the love story of Amalia and Georg, two clerks in a 1930s perfumery, who are constantly at odds but both find joy in the romantic letters exchanged with anonymous pen pals they discovered through a “lonely hearts ad.” Little do they know, they are actually writing to each other! August 15 through September 14.
Bucks County Playhouse, 70 South Main Street, New Hope, Pennsylvania. 215-862-2121 or www.bcptheater.org.
Music Mountain Theater
The Lambertville theater built on the site of the historically important area theater circus continues its tradition of summer events with the following productions:
“Hair” is the American tribal love rock musical that celebrates the sixties counterculture in all its barefoot, long-haired, bell-bottomed, beaded and fringed glory. Through June 15.
“Young Frankenstein” is the musical based on Mel Brooks’ classic comedy film masterpiece telling the story of the bright young doctor Frankenstein (that’s Fronkensteen) who travels to Transylvania to complete the masterwork of his grandfather by bringing a corpse to life. June 20 through July 5.
“The SpongeBob Musical,” features SpongeBob and his friends coming together to save the fate of their undersea world when the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home. July 11 to August 3.
In “Man of La Mancha,” Cervantes is in prison awaiting trial during the Spanish Inquisition. He and his fellow prisoners perform a play-within-a-play, telling the story of the elderly Alonso Quijana, who renames himself “Don Quixote” and goes on a quest to right all wrongs in the world. $35. August 8 to 24.
Before she was hit-maker Carole King, she was Carole Klein, a spunky, young songwriter from Brooklyn with a unique voice. “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” takes you back to where it all began — and takes you on the ride of a lifetime. August 29 to September 21.
Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $35.
The theater also offers a series of matinee productions aimed at young audiences. This summer’s selections include:
“Disney’s Aladdin Kids,” June 14 to 28.
“Beauty and the Beast,” July 4 to 12.
“Little Red Riding Hood,” July 18 to 26.
“Disney’s Moana Jr.,” August 1 to 16.
“Rapunzel,” August 22 to 30.
Performances for most shows are on Fridays and Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tickets are $13.
Music Mountain Theater, 1483 Route 179, Lambertville. www.musicmountaintheatre.org.
Kelsey Theater
The theater on the campus of Mercer County Community College in West Windsor offers the following summer productions.
“Fiddler on the Roof” tells the story of Tevye, a poor dairyman, who tries to hold onto his religion, his Russian-Jewish traditions, and his five daughters while eluding the difficult future that looms ever nearer. $26. June 6 to 15.
“The Importance of Being Earnest,” Oscar Wilde’s “trivial comedy for serious people,” features high society fun presided over by Lady Bracknell. $22. June 20 to 29.
“Meet Me in St. Louis,” the heartwarming musical based on the Judy Garland movie, follows the Smith family ahead of the 1904 World’s Fair. $26. July 11 to 20.
Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. 609-570-3333 or kelsey.mccc.edu.
Princeton Summer Theater
The company of student and up-and-coming stars of the stage present the following Thursday through Saturday series at the Murray Dodge Theater on the Princeton University campus:
“The Bridges of Madison County,” a musical based on Robert James Waller’s 1992 novel about an Iowa housewife and her romance with visiting photographer. June 12 through 28.
“Ken Ludwig’s The Game’s Afoot,” a murder mystery set in the Connecticut castle of a Broadway actor best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. July 3 through 19.
“Frankenstein,” based on the famed Gothic novel by Mary Shelley. July 24 through August 2.
Tickets are $30 for matinees and $35 for evening performances. For more information, go to www.princetonsummertheater.org.
Actors’ NET of Bucks County
The Morrisville, Pennsylvania, theater has one show left in its 2024-25 season, a production of Shakespeare’s comedy “Much Ado About Nothing.” The show follows two love stories in Messina, Italy — one of the obstacles that follow love at first sight, the other of love that takes time to blossom between acquaintances who initially feign dislike. Fridays through Sundays, June 13 through 29.
ActorsNET of Bucks County, 635 North Delmorr Avenue, Morrisville, Pennsylvania. www.actorsnetbucks.org.
Back to the Garden
Regional gardens and tours are in full bloom and offer an opportunity to get a bright start on the summer. Here are some fresh offerings:
Mill Hill Gardens
Gardens set in and around public spaces and historic architecture help commemorate the 34th annual capital city event. The walking and gawking begin at nearby Artworks Trenton, with ample free parking, at 19 Everett Alley and South Stockton Street, Trenton. Tickets are $20 and free for children under 12. Saturday, June 7, noon to 5 p.m.
For tickets, go to trentonmillhill.org.
Hidden Gardens of Lambertville
The annual event is organized by the town-based Kalmia Club, a women-led civic organization that takes its name from a flower. The self-guided walking tour starts at the clubhouse at 39 York Street, where attendees will also receive a map. The tour includes nine gardens and entails roughly 3 three miles of walking. Due to narrow paths in some gardens, strollers and pets are not permitted. Early registration, $25 to $26, closes June 13 at 3 p.m. Day-of registration is $30 and is available until 3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
More details at www.kalmiaclub.org.
Bucks Beautiful’s Kitchen & Garden Tour
The annual event takes visitors through tucked away gardens in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and gives an opportunity to speak with Bucks County Master Gardeners about trees and plants for home gardens. $45 through May 31; then $50. Sunday, June 8, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
More info at www.bucksbeautiful.org.
Bordentown Garden Tour
The Bordentown Historical Society once again presents its annual History in Bloom Garden Tour. This self-guided walking tour features a variety of beautifully curated home and community gardens throughout Bordentown, many with rich, local histories. Several participating homeowners will be n hand to share more about their gardens’ stories and the historical significance behind them. Saturday, June 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain date June 8).
Tickets are $23 in advance or $25 day-of. www.bordentownhistory.org.
Museum and Gallery Happenings
The region’s museums and cultural organizations provide ways to appreciate art, history, and culture while offering an escape from the summer heat.
Morven Museum & Garden
“Morven Revealed: Untold Stories from New Jersey’s Most Historic Home” shares rarely exhibited objects and newly discovered photographs that illustrate quotidian life at Morven over the past 200 years. The exhibit is part of a celebration of the venue’s 20th anniversary as a museum. On view through March 1, 2026.
55 Stockton Street, Princeton. Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $8 to $10. 609-924-8144 or www.morven.org.
The New Jersey State Museum
In addition to its long-term and permanent exhibitions, the museum features “Ecosystems at Risk: Threatened and Endangered in New Jersey,” which presents some of the major ecosystems present in New Jersey and highlights the plants and animals living in them, as well as the threats they currently face. On view through March 15, 2026.
205 West State Street, Trenton. Tuesdays through Sundays, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Free; donations requested. nj.gov/state/museum.
Zimmerli Museum
Crossing Borders: Geometric Abstraction 1960 to Now explores the range of geometric abstraction across six decades, national boundaries, and a wide range of materials. On view through July 31.
An Eye for Photographs: Gifts from Anne and Arthur Goldstein features 30 black and white photographs from the late 20th century that emphasize the role of photography within the larger context of avant-garde art. On view through July 31.
Napoleon: A Visual Legacy of Power explores images of Napoleon made after his death, revealing the ways art is intertwined with history and can be used to reinforce or challenge accepted narratives. On view through July 31.
Shifting Perspectives on Environmental Crisis is a curricular exhibition using a variety of media to provoke questions about one’s relationship with the environment, both human and non-human, natural and built. On view through July 31.
Painting to Scale explores the constraints on access to materials that underpin narratives of “nonconformism” in the USSR. On view through September 14.
Indigenous Identities: Here, Now & Always, curated by the renowned artist Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (Citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation), provides a provocative survey of contemporary Native American art across media. On view through December 21.
Hope with Humor: Works by Jaune Quick-To-See Smith from the Collection. Organized in conjunction with Indigenous Identities: Here, Now & Always, this exhibition brings together prints and paintings by Jaune Quick-to-See Smith from the permanent collection that honor Indigenous survival and resilience. On view through December 21.
71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m., first Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Free. 848-932-7237 or www.zimmerli.rutgers.edu.
Artworks Trenton
“Plume: A Celebration of Birds” features the work of Ewing-based artist Laura Beard. “Ranging from realistic to abstract, whimsical to fantastical, her artwork invites the audience to consider birds differently and reflect on their presence and influence on our human world,” exhibit materials say. On view through June 6.
19 Everett Alley, Trenton. artworkstrenton.org.
Trenton City Museum
Currently running is “Cultural Connections,” an exhibition designed to showcase the work of artists active in aesthetic traditions outside those of Western Europe and to build awareness and artistic dialogue. On view through June 8.
Then look for the big show, “Ellarslie Open 42,” the large juried show featuring works by artists living in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. The show opens on Saturday, June 21, with an artists and members reception and awards ceremony from 5 to 7:30 p.m., followed by a Sunday, June 22, public reception from 1 to 4 p.m. This year’s juror is Sheryl Liebman Fisher, an associate director at Gallery Henoch in Manhattan. On view through September 7.
Cadwalader Park, Trenton. Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m., Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. Free. 609-989-3632 or www.ellarslie.org.
Princeton University Art Museum
As the Princeton University Art Museum prepares for the grand opening of its new on-campus facility, scheduled for October 31, exhibits continue at its Art@Bainbridge gallery on Nassau Street.
“Roberto Lugo: Orange and Black” features “vases that draw on the shapes, techniques, and decorative motifs of ancient Greek vases in order to tell personal and communal stories of contemporary social and political oppression,” museum materials say, displayed alongside ancient Greek vessels from the PUAM’s collection. On view through July 6.
“Léni Paquet-Morante: Extract / Abstract” features works by the Hamilton-based artist that reimagine landscape painting. “Working across various media, including acrylic painting, ink drawing, and monoprints, the artist prioritizes abstraction through her use of bold colors, impressionistic mark-making, and unusual crops,” museum materials say. On view July 19 through November 9.
Art@Bainbridge, 158 Nassau Street, Princeton. Open Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. artmuseum.princeton.edu.
Grounds For Sculpture
In addition to its main attraction of more than 300 outdoor sculptures on its 42-acre viewing grounds, the nationally noted venue is presenting “Clifford Ward: I’ll Make Me a World,” guest curated by Noah Smalls in the museum building. The exhibition spans more than a decade of creative work, much of which was created at Clifford Ward’s studio on the GFS campus. Ward is inspired by a diverse array of cultural influences, including contributions from the African diaspora, Australian Aboriginal people, and Native American and Māori cultures. His work often explores geometry, Cubism, mythology, and anthropomorphism. On view through January 11, 2026.
80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. $12 to $25. www.groundsforsculpture.org.
West Windsor Arts Council
The 2025 Faculty and Student Show exhibits what has been created during the past year in the center’s classes, including art by adults, youth, and teaching artists. A free opening reception takes place Friday, June 6, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. On view May 31 through July 12.
“See Beauty Everywhere: Art by Priscilla Snow Algava” marks what would have been the 85th birthday of the late Princeton-based artist who died of cancer in 2019. An opening reception takes place Saturday, July 19, at 4 p.m. for the show that aims to spread her messages of gratitude, hope, and love in the world. On view July 15 through August 9.
952 Alexander Road, West Windsor. www.westwindsorarts.org.
Gallery 14
The fine art photography gallery in Hopewell Borough is currently exhibiting “The Creative Tool,” featuring photographs by Dutch Bagley; and “How Trees See the World,” featuring photographs by John Stritzinger. On view through June 15.
Gallery 14, 14 Mercer Street, Hopewell. Open weekends 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. www.gallery14.org.
Arts Council of Princeton
Three ongoing exhibits are on view through mid-June.
“Being Present” is a two-person exhibition that explores abstraction through the photographic artwork of Robin Resch and paintings of Shirley Kern. On view through June 14.
“Instant Gratification” is a body of work by Bryun Holt inspired by the 1972 Stanford Marshmallow Experiment — a study on delayed gratification that continues to echo in our modern, fast-paced, hyper-stimulated world. On view through June 14.
“Hours of Homecoming” by Kimyi Bo is conceived as a prayer book, informed by the tradition of the medieval European Books of Hours — a personal devotional text and images used to guide prayer and contemplation throughout the day of medieval Europe. On view through June 12.
Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. 609-924-8777 or www.artscouncilofprinceton.org.
Film
Princeton Garden Theater
The Nassau Street theater continues its traditional “Hollywood Summer Nights,” with special screenings of classic films on select weekday evenings and weekend afternoons.
The schedule is as follows, with screenings at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted:
In May and June: “Planet of the Apes” (1968), Wednesday, May 28; “The Maltese Falcon” (1941), Thursday, May 29; “Rebecca” (1940), Wednesday, June 4; “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953), Thursday, June 5; “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” (2000), Wednesday, June 11; “Wuthering Heights” (1939), Thursday, June 12; “Sunset Boulevard,” (1950), Tuesday, June 17; “Casablanca” (1942), Wednesday, June 18, and Sunday, June 22, 1 p.m.; “Nashville” (1975), Thursday, June 19; “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” ( 1962), Wednesday June 25; “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001), Thursday, June 26, and Sunday, June 29, noon (extended).
In July: “Gidget” (1959), Tuesday, July 1; “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981), Wednesday, July 2, and Sunday, July 6, 1 p.m.; “The Manchurian Candidate” (1962), Thursday, July 3; “The Great Dictator” (1940), Wednesday, July 9; “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (1969), Thursday, July 10; “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” (1983), Wednesday, July 16, and Sunday, July 20, 1 p.m.; “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town,” (1936), Thursday, July 17; “To Catch a Thief” (1955), Wednesday, July 23; “Rocky” (1976), Thursday, July 24; “Alien” (1979), Wednesday, July 30; “Bad Day at Black Rock” (1955), Thursday, July 31.
In August: “Heat” (1995), Wednesday, August 6; “North by Northwest” (1959), Thursday, August 7; “The Graduate” (1967), Wednesday, August 13; “The Lady Eve” (1941), Thursday, August 14; “The Conversation” (1974), Wednesday, August 20; “The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001), Thursday, August 21; “Oklahoma!” (1955), Sunday, August 24, 1 p.m.; “The Hustler” (1961), Wednesday, August 27; “Risky Business” (1983), Thursday, August 28.
In September: “A Place in the Sun” (1951), Thursday, September 4; “Dr. Strangelove” (1964), Wednesday, September 10; “Memento” (2000), Thursday, September 11.
Tickets for all films are $13.50. www.princetongardentheatre.org.
ACME Screening Room
The Lambertville nonprofit continues its presentation of independent and documentary films, guest speakers, and discussions throughout the summer.
Upcoming special events include a Mental Health Awareness Month screening of “Screenagers” followed by a reception and discussion with licensed social worker Doug Gravier. Saturday, May 31, 6 p.m.
CRACME UP COMEDY, a fundraiser for the screening room, starts with refreshments and mingling followed by a comedy performance hosted by Dwayne Dunlevy, Maureen Ferguson, and Emily Epstein. Together, they’ll take audiences on a ride through culture, identity, and the human experience — all through the universal language of laughter. Friday, June 6, 7:30 p.m.
25 South Union Street, Lambertville. www.acmescreeningroom.org.
State Theatre
The theater’s free Summer Movies Series features morning and evening weekday screenings on a 46-foot screen. Films are shown in English with Spanish subtitles. Free general admission tickets can be reserved online.
This summer’s schedule includes:
Despicable Me 4. Tuesday, July 1, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Moana 2. Tuesday, July 15, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The Wild Robot. Tuesday, July 22, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Tuesday, July 29, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Inside Out 2. Tuesday, August 5, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. www.stnj.org.
