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Continuing to grow partnership that will bring new programs to the Asbury Park waterfront, boardwalk redeveloper Madison Marquette has partnered with Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Ocean Township, officials announced Monday morning.

Madison Marquette, which owns and operates the Asbury Park boardwalk and the Ocean Avenue located iconic Stone Pony and Wonder Bar, has a long-standing partnership with concert promoter Live Nation and entered into a collaboration with NJPAC in 2017. A recent partnership with Blackbird Presents [651 Cookman Avenue] allows concert and showgoers to get tickets in Asbury Park’s downtown.

This new partnership will bring professionally-produced musical concerts featuring Broadway stars to the historic Paramount Theatre, located at 1300 Ocean Avenue.

Immediate shows include Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall, scheduled for 7 pm June 23 and The Doo Wop Project at 8 pm on June 27.

Hosted by Judy Garland’s daughter Lorna Luft, Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall will be held on the fiftieth anniversary of Garland’s death. This will be the first recreation of the legendary singer’s live, recorded concert at Carnegie Hall in NYC on April 23, 1961, hailed as ‘the greatest night in show business history.’ The production is a collaboration between the Judy Garland Heirs Trust and Garden State Equality, with the show opening Asbury Park’s Pride Week events.

“This is a watershed event in the history of Judy Garland’s musical legacy and is the first time the Garland concert will be performed with meticulous research and preparation, giving listeners a true sense of what the orchestra really sounded like in 1961,” Grammy and Emmy nominated recording artist Michael Feinstein said. “It’s a remarkable achievement, and the presence of Judy Garland’s daughter Lorna Luft will add a first-hand family member to help guide the audience through the experience. How wonderful that this ground-breaking event is finally happening.”

Featuring stars from Broadway’s Jersey Boys and Motown, The Doo Wop Project is a journey from the foundational street harmonies to the greatest hits of the day. The production features music by the early pioneers – the Crests, Belmonts and Flamingos to hitmakers like Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and The Four Seasons to Michael Jackson, Jason Mraz and Maroon 5.

“Asbury Park is known for its dynamic music and arts scene, and we are thrilled to welcome the Axelrod Performing Arts Center and their Broadway-quality productions to the Paramount Theatre,” Madison Marquette Marketing Director Pasqualina DeBoer said. “This partnership expands the range of entertainment available to visitors and local residents of Asbury Park just in time for the summer season.”

For more information and tickets, click here or visit axelrodartscenter.com or ticketmaster.com.

[The Doo Wop Project photo courtesy of Madison Marquette]

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