See Broadway stars for free in Seaside Heights

Ilana Keller | Asbury Park Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Meet Bear the Broadway Dog Meet Bear. He's a black Lab puppy training to be a service dog. Oh, and he really loves Broadway!

Broadway is coming to the beach!

For three nights, stars of some of Broadway's biggest shows will hit outdoor stages in Seaside Heights for free concerts on the sand.

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Organizer Joseph John Brunetti said he wanted to create a night of family-friendly fun entertainment on the beach, and the idea to bring Broadway to the Shore struck him.

The idea becomes reality on Sunday, July 1, when the series kicks off with the cast of the upcoming "Gettin' The Band Back Together." The mayor is expected to greet the crowd, and the night also will feature performances from seniors and children's dance troupes.

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The series also is a way to honor his family's legacy of theater, Brunetti said. His parents met playing husband and wife in a show in New York City, and were married for 68 years, continuing their acting careers as they raised a family. His mother passed away in December.

A night with "Anastasia" will follow on Aug. 6, while Aug. 13 will feature cast members from "School of Rock," "Beautiful," "A Bronx Tale" and "The Play That Goes Wrong."

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In addition to performances of numbers from the shows (and skits in the case of "The Play That Goes Wrong"), the evenings will feature prizes and giveaways, including Broadway show tickets, autographed CDs and more. The evenings also will include meet-and-greets with the casts.

"I love Broadway and I saw all these people and I thought to myself, there's no way that if the Broadway shows came that the people wouldn't love it," said Brunetti, who partnered with Dee Pelligrino to bring the series to life. "The Jersey Shore, people think of it in different ways, and it hasn't always been classy and family. This is classy and this is family. I want every person to leave and say 'That was so cool, I cannot wait to do that again.' "

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The concerts on July 1 and Aug. 6 will take place on the Franklin Avenue stage, while Aug. 13's will be on the Beach Stage. All concerts start at 6 p.m. and are held rain or shine, except in the case of a thunderstorm.

Re-Define. Re-Imagine at HOI

Acclaimed vocalist and Shore favorite Chris Pinnella ("Trans-Siberian Orchestra") is debuting a new show at House Of Independents in Asbury Park.

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"Re-Define. Re-Imagine." will feature Pinnella and a 15-piece orchestra, including Michael Pinnella ("Symphony X") on piano and keyboards, presenting original arrangements of artists like Bruce Springsteen, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Led Zeppelin and more.

"Songs in the set vary from downright cinematic, featuring the orchestra cranking on all cylinders, with their gorgeous and powerful mashup of Lucio Dalla’s ‘Caruso’ with Michel Colombier’s ‘Emmanuel’ to the high energy, Herbie Hancock-inspired, ‘Machine,'" according to a news release. "Others, like Pinnella’s stripped-down version of Springsteen’s ‘If I Should Fall Behind’ begins a cappella, in four-part harmony." He'll also perform an arrangement of Billy Joel’s "And So It Goes" featuring only a string quartet.

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"Re-Define. Re-Imagine." is set for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 28, at House of Independents in Asbury Park. Tickets, $35 general admission, $55 VIP, can be purchased by calling 866-777-8932, online at Ticketmaster or by visiting the HOI box office inside Lola's Cafe on Cookman Avenue.

Students donate to Strand Center

Students from Lakewood Middle School recently donated $200 to the Strand Center for the Arts that they raised during a dress down day at school.

According to Principal Richard Goldstein, students wanted to donate to the Strand because they enjoy the performing arts. During a recent Music in the Parks event at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, LMS' band was rated Superior and the Chorus earned a rating of excellent.

Students wear navy polos and khaki pants as part of the school's dress code, which Goldstein said students and parents alike say they appreciate because it eliminates clothing competition. They each donated $1 to take part in the dress down day.

Band, chorus and orchestra students visited the Strand in Lakewood for the check presentation, along with Goldstein, Andrew Fodor, LMS band and orchestra director, and Rachel Resignato, LMS choral director.

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Accepting the check on behalf of the Strand Board of Directors were Fran Whitney, operations manager of the Strand, and Lori Davis, Strand front house manager.

Have a fundraiser or event coming up that relates to the stage? Tell us about it. Email ikeller@gannettnj.com, call 732-643-4260 or connect on Twitter @ilanakeller