Sightlines: Todd Rundgren at NJ Festival of Ballooning; TEDxBroadway celebrates 10 years

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Todd Rundgren will headline Saturday night of the 2022 New Jersey Festival of Ballooning.

The singer-songwriter-producer, known for hits like “Hello It’s Me,” “I Saw The Light,” “Can We Still Be Friends” and “Bang The Drum," will take to the festival's Main Stage at 8 p.m. July 30, following the evening's mass ascension of hot air balloons amid a nighttime balloon glow.

More: Prog rockers Kansas announced as first headliners of NJ Lottery Festival of Ballooning

More: Collective Soul named Friday headliner for 2022 NJ Lottery Festival of Ballooning

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The three-day New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning will run from July 29 to 31 and feature twice-a-day mass ascensions of up to 100 hot air balloons, family entertainment and attractions, food, fireworks and more.

In addition to Rundgren, concert performances are also scheduled from children's performer Laurie Berkner, and rockers Collective Soul on July 29 and Kansas on July 31.

For concert and festival tickets and more information, visit balloonfestival.com.

TEDxBroadway turns 10

TEDxBroadway will celebrate its milestone 10th edition with a hybrid in-person and live-streamed event at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17.

TEDxBroadway, which brings together changemakers to examine "what's the best Broadway can be?," will take place at New World Stages in Manhattan and stream on Stellar.

“We’re pulling out all the stops to tell the stories that will impact the trajectory of the Broadway ecosystem in a positive way," said TEDxBroadway co-founder Jim McCarthy of Stellar in a news release. "And we believe that these are exactly the speakers that the community needs to hear this year."

Organizers announced some of the speakers for the May event. Others will be announced at a later date.

They include:

• Bryan Joseph Lee, a creative producer, arts marketer and civic organizer with a decades-long career building community at a local, national and international level. He is the founder of CNTR ARTS, a creative agency that centers artists, activists and communities of color through strategic consulting and civic placemaking projects.

• Margaret Hall, an emerging theater historian who is currently in the process of obtaining her master's degree in musical theater history from New York University, Gallatin School of Individualized Study, the first degree of its kind to be granted worldwide.

• Sammy Lopez, a producer with P3 Productions. During the pandemic, he co-founded The Industry Standard Group and Second Act Theatrical Capital, a decentralized leadership cohort of Black, Indigenous, and people of color producers to promote work reflecting diversity and increase the presence of BIPOC investors and producers in the commercial producing arts and entertainment field.

• Ash Marinaccio, a multidisciplinary theater artist whose research investigates documentary theater and theater in war/conflict zones. She recently founded Docbloc (docbloc.org), dedicated to bringing documentary artists from across genres together to create live performance projects. She is creator of the digital documentary series "Stage Left," currently available on Roku.

“We’re looking to gather the community who wants to make Broadway the best it can be both in-person and online,” said Damian Bazadona, TEDxBroadway co-founder and president of Situation. “With nine sold-out TEDxBroadway events, more than 3 million views of recorded talks in 14 languages online, we know this is something people care strongly about. We’re happy to welcome more.”

Livestream tickets for the event are $40. Tickets for the New World Stages event are $100. For more information, visit TEDxBroadway.com and Twitter: @TEDxBroadway.

Jelani Remy at Holmdel Theatre Company

Tickets for Holmdel Theatre Company's next edition of Broadway at the Barn are on sale now.

The evening will feature “Ain’t Too Proud” star Jelani Remy in a solo show "serving a mix of pop, soul and musical theater," HTC says. Remy's other credits include three years as Simba in the Broadway, national tour and Vegas companies of Disney’s "The Lion King."

The concert is set for 8 p.m. on April 2 at the Duncan Smith Theatre, 36 Crawfords Corner Road in Holmdel.

HTC also is bringing back its play reading series. At 7 p.m on Monday, March 14, there will be a reading of "Indulgence" by Mary Carol Stunkel, directed by Kirk White.

"Indulgence" asks "would you betray your husband to save your child’s soul?" It examines the marriage of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora.

The reading features Tess Ammerman as Katharina von Bora, John Bergeron as Martin Luther, Kevin Carr as Nikolaus Von Amsdorf and Jessica Sbordi as Barbara Cranach.

The performance will be followed by an audience discussion. Admission for the play reading is free, but donations are welcome.

For tickets to Broadway at the Barn, $45, visit ci.ovationtix.com/35876/production/1107445. For more information about the evening with Jelani Remy, the reading series and more, visit holmdeltheatrecompany.org.

Lines on the Pines

The 15th annual Lines on the Pines will take place at the Stockton University Student Center in Galloway from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 13.

The event brings together Pine Barrens authors, artists, photographers, artisans, historians, crafters, musicians, environmental groups, enthusiasts and more to celebrate the culture of the area, sell their items and share information, founder and president Linda M. Stanton said.

There also will be children's activities, book signings, music and more.

Visit linesonthepines.org for more information.

Ilana Keller is an award-winning journalist and lifelong New Jersey resident who loves Broadway and really bad puns. She highlights arts advocacy and education, theater fundraisers and more through her column, "Sightlines." Reach out on Twitter: @ilanakeller; ikeller@gannettnj.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Sightlines: Todd Rundgren plays balloon fest, TEDxBroadway coming soon