Autism Resources Fair, new 'Romeo and Juliet' and more NJ things to do this weekend

The Ocean County Library's annual Autism Resources Fair takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Toms River Branch. The goal is to provide resources for all ages, caregivers and educators through programming, speakers, workshops and more.

Keynote speaker Paul Aronsohn is New Jersey's Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities & Their Families. Aronsohn, who will speak at noon Saturday in the Bishop Building, also serves on the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. In addition, he was a member of the Human and Children Services Committee within Gov. Phil Murphy’s transition team. Register to attend the keynote here.

Among the events taking place during the fair is a Sibling Get-Together on the second-floor Hometown Dairy Room, adjacent to the Teen Zone. Siblings of children with developmental disabilities will have a chance to mingle in a relaxed, non-therapy setting. Children 7 to 15 are welcome at either the 10 a.m. or noon gathering. The Get-Together hopes to help kids cultivate new friendships, share ideas about handling tricky situations with their siblings, to validate their feelings, and to feel good about themselves.

Register at theoceancountylibrary.org/autism to attend this free program. Registration is not required to attend the fair.

Go: Autism Resources Fair, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Ocean County Library Toms River Branch, 101 Washington St.; 732-349-6200 or theoceancountylibrary.org/autism.

NJ's Luxx Noir London on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 15 grand finale

Is Luxx Noir London America's Next Drag Superstar?

Tune in at 8 p.m. Friday as the East Orange native and three other queens (Mistress Isabelle Brooks, Anetra and Sasha Colby) take part in the Season 15 grand finale of "RuPaul's Drag Race" on MTV. The winner takes home a $200,000 cash prize.

London has been seen on area stages from Paradise in Asbury Park to the annual Bushwig festival in New York City. In an interview with the Asbury Park Press in January, she said being a part of "Drag Race" and its push for LGBTQ visibility matters.

"I think it’s so important to see people like you in the public eye or on the big screen or being successful because it does just show you that, ‘If it’s possible for them, it’s possible for me,’ ” London said. “Had I not seen ‘Drag Race' or anything like that, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”

Go: "RuPaul's Drag Race," 8 p.m. Friday, MTV; mtv.com/shows/rupauls-drag-race.

A new 'Romeo & Juliet' at Two River in Red Bank

A world premiere modern verse translation of Shakespeare’s ode to young love is now playing at Two River Theater in Red Bank.

"Romeo and Juliet," the classic tale of star-crossed love, is infused with contemporary vitality by playwright Hansol Jung. Seen in 2020 as part of Two River Theater’s Two River Rising online reading series, this "Romeo and Juliet" was originally commissioned by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Play On! Project, and will be presented at Two River in partnership with the National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO).

The production features an all Asian-American cast and is co-directed by Jung and Dustin Wills, with original music by Brian Quijada. It is staged in the round, a first for Two River's Joan and Robert Rechnitz Theater.

The show continues NAATCO's work partnering with other theater companies, said co-founder and actor-manager Mia Katigbak.

"We are delighted and heartened that Two River Theater is presenting this adaptation with an all Asian-American cast," she said. "It is also such an immense pleasure for me to return to the Two River stage, after having performed here in 'I Remember Mama' (in 2016)."

"Romeo and Juliet" runs through April 30. Immediately following the closing in Red Bank, NAATCO, in partnership with Two River Theater, will present the production off-Broadway at Classic Stage Company, 136 E. 13th St. Performances will run May 9 to June 3, with opening night scheduled for May 14. More information can be found at www.naatco.org.

Go: "Romeo and Juliet," through April 30, Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Ave., Red Bank, $40 to $70; 732-345-1400, tworivertheater.org.

'The Diary of Anne Frank' in Holmdel

Exploring themes of antisemitism, isolation, fear and the enduring power of hope, Holmdel Theatre Company presents "The Diary of Anne Frank," running Saturday to April 30.

The production is based on Anne's journal, chronicling the years she and seven others spent hiding from the Nazis in the cramped attic of a home in Amsterdam before they were captured by the Gestapo and sent to concentration camps. Anne died in 1945 at Bergen-Belsen.

The play, written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, is a new adaptation from Wendy Kesselman. HTC's production is directed by Amy Jones and produced by Laurie Devino.

Go: "The Diary of Anne Frank," Holmdel Theatre Company, 36 Crawfords Corner Road, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, April 15 to 30, $25, $20 students/seniors; holmdeltheatrecompany.org/the-diary-of-anne-frank.

'Rock of Ages'

If you love '80s rock, chances are you're going to love the jukebox musical "Rock of Ages," playing through April 23 at Brookdale Performing Arts Center.

Featuring songs like "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi, "I Wanna Rock" and "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar and "The Final Countdown" by Europe, the show has become an international hit since its world premiere in Los Angeles in 2005. It had a surprising long run on Broadway, playing more than 2,300 performances before closing in 2015.

Tickets are $20.

Just a warning: This show contains adult content.

Go: "Rock of Ages," through April 23, Brookdale Performing Arts Center, 765 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, $20; 732-224-2411, brookdalecc.edu/venue/performing-arts-center-pac/.

'The Lost Weekend' in Asbury Park

At 7:30 p.m. Friday, ShowRoom Cinema in Asbury Park shows the new documentary "The Lost Weekend," which explores the 18-month relationship (1973-1975) that John Lennon spent with May Pang, his Chinese American assistant turned lover.

With Pang's help, Lennon reunited with his son Julian, and released the albums “Mind Games,” “Walls and Bridges” and “Rock and Roll.”

During this period, Lennon pursued successful collaborations with Elton John, David Bowie, Harry Nilsson, Mick Jagger and Ringo Starr, to name a few. In the film, Pang chronicles it all, revisiting her younger self, a naïve 22-year old experiencing her first unforgettable love.

Go: ShowRoom Cinema, 707 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park; 732-502-0472, https://showroomcinemas.com/.

'A Sephardic Awakening' in Freehold

The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County presents "A Sephardic Awakening" at 2 p.m. Sunday, a talk by Sol Romano on the history and background of the Sephardic Jews of Spain through family heritage.

Using his family history of Turkish Sephardic immigrants as an example, Romano aims to enlighten, or awaken, his audience to the story of Sephardic Jews with facts and stories about their origin, lifestyle and traditions.

Jews lived on the Iberian Peninsula from as early as the 11th century, and were identified as Sephardic, meaning “Spanish Jew.” Following the Spanish inquisition in 1492, Jews scattered around the Mediterranean, including to Turkey, where Romano picks up his family’s history.  Both of his parents immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s and settled on the Lower East Side.

Romano, who lives in Marlboro, was born and raised in Brooklyn. At his mother’s urging, he graduated from Central Needle Trades High School (now the High School of Fashion Industries). He established himself as a fashion designer and retailer, eventually rising through the ranks to vice president and CEO of several companies.

Admission is $8 for museum members, $12 for nonmembers. For more information, to register, or to receive the Zoom link, call the museum at 732-252-6990 or visit jhmomc.org.

Go: "A Sephardic Awakening," 2 p.m. Sunday, Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, second floor of Levi Solomon Barn, Mounts Corner Shopping Center, 310 Mounts Corner Drive, Freehold, at the corner of Route 537 and Wemrock Road (between the CentraState Medical Center and Freehold Raceway Mall); 732-252-6990 or jhmomc.org.

Ross Brewing opens in Port Monmouth

It's been a long wait, but it's time to help kick open the doors on Monmouth County's newest craft brewery.

Ross Brewing Company opens Friday in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown, joining more than 100 brewing operations currently making Jersey fresh beer. The brewery has been in the works for five years, and its opening will be followed by a weekend-long celebration featuring live music, celebrity beer tenders, and a dozen different beers.

Originally planned for Red Bank, the brewery boasts two waterfront beer gardens along Sandy Hook Bay.

“You’ve got fishing trawlers and tugs going back and forth all day long,” owner John Ross Cocozza said. "There’s no brewery anywhere in New Jersey, New York or Pennsylvania that has views like this, and it really makes for an entertaining environment.

Go: Ross Brewing, 909 Main St., Port Monmouth section of Middletown; rossbrewing.com.

Model Railroaders in Lakewood

The Ocean County Society of Model Railroaders hosts its Spring Open House and model railroad displays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Sheldon Wolpin Lakewood Historical Museum in Kuser Hall, located on the grounds of Pine Park in the northwest section of town.

There will be modern and traditional trains (both passenger and freight), and Thomas the Tank Engine will be making an appearance. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.

Go: Spring Open House, Ocean County Society of Model Railroaders, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sheldon Wolpin Lakewood Historical Museum, Kuser Hall, 500 Country Club Drive, Lakewood; 732-363-7799, ocsmr.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore things to do this weekend include Autism Resources Fair