The MTV Video Music Awards will broadcast from New Jersey for the first time on August 26, at the Prudential Center in Newark.

But a few weeks before the big show, a production crew set up at Newark Symphony Hall to film a concert that will air during the awards show.

Taneshia Nash Laird, president and CEO of the Newark Performing Arts Corporation, which operates Newark Symphony Hall, says the film crew has been at the venue for several days and is scheduled to wrap on Friday.

“It’s pretty exciting," she says. “They’ve been using the entire building." The crew could be found in various corners of the 200,000-square-foot space, including the terrace ballroom and concert hall.

Nash Laird says the pre-taped concert will serve as as “an extra sponsored spot that they integrate into the VMAs."

Singer AJ Mitchell, an Illinois teen who signed with Epic Records in 2018 after getting attention for his YouTube clips, performed at the pre-taped segment.

“This is one of the things I’ve talked about wanting to do,” says Nash Laird, who recently became CEO at the 94-year-old hall on Broad Street. Another production company is already interested in using the space, she says.

Singer AJ Mitchell is filming a pre-taped concert at Newark Symphony Hall for the VMAs.Instagram: @imajmitchell

“I think it’s kind of awesome that Newark has all this stuff going on," Nash Laird says. “They definitely hired a lot of production assistants locally, which is really great ... At the end of the day, it’s jobs.

Audience members, who Nash Laird says were bussed into the 3,000-seat venue, were banned from sharing scenes from the set on social media. But Mitchell, 18, chronicled some of the experience for his 1.4 million followers on Instagram, where he teased the Thursday release of his latest single, “Slow Dance,” with Ava Max.

Nash Laird says Mitchell’s segment is sponsored by Mars Wrigley, which is opening a United States headquarters in Newark next year. In between scenes, the singer fielded fan questions on Instagram Live while shouting out Extra gum.

Taylor Swift will be among the performers at the MTV VMAs, which will be hosted by comedian and actor Sebastian Maniscalco.

Swift and Ariana Grande lead the nominations, with 10 each. Nominees from New Jersey include the Jonas Brothers and Halsey.

Have a tip? Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.

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