A spotlight on Long Branch’s vibrant arts—celebrating the people, projects and performances shaping our community.
Theater
New Jersey Repertory Company - 179 Broadway, Long Branch
Did you know Long Branch is home to one of the premier regional theaters in the country? Located on Lower Broadway, the New Jersey Repertory Company has been showcasing bold new works for 28 years. Founded in 1997 by Gabor and SuzAnne Barabas, the intimate 59-seat theater has produced more than 150 plays—125 of them world premieres. Many have gone on to thrive Off-Broadway, nationally and internationally, with more than 400 subsequent productions to date.
NJRep is one of only seven theaters nationwide to receive the National Theater Company Grant from the American Theatre Wing, sponsors of the Tony Awards, recognizing its outstanding contribution to American theater.
And part of the fun? You never know who might appear on stage. Richard Kind (“Mad About You,” “Only Murders in the Building”) and James Pickens Jr. (“Grey’s Anatomy”) recently starred in Michael Tucker’s (“L.A. Law”) world premiere play “A Tailor Near Me,” while Sharon Lawrence (“NYPD Blue”) commanded the stage in her one-woman show “The Shot.” Tickets: njrep.org.
Pottery & More
Bruce England and Don Bradford
Bruce England, a lifelong Monmouth County resident and retired special education professional, has worked in clay for more than 30 years and recently expanded into jewelry making, combining chain mail, copper wire weaving and hand-built ceramics.
Don Bradford is a potter and pottery instructor. After two semesters of ceramics sparked his passion, he taught for several years while studying with a local potter. He earned his master’s in visual arts with a focus on ceramics. He later balanced part-time teaching with building his own studio, eventually leaving public schools to teach privately and create pottery full time.
England has also raised and bred monarch butterflies for the past 20 years. This summer he bred monarchs at home to release at his nephew’s wedding, where he was honored to officiate. Nature’s overlooked details—rocks, rivers and especially leaves—continue to inspire his pottery designs.
England and Bradford approach clay from different perspectives. Bradford’s wheel-thrown work is symmetrical and functional, finished with glazes—earning him the title “glaze master” from England. They eat, drink and even cook with Bradford’s pieces every day. England, by contrast, focuses on slab work and hand building, often pairing Bradford’s custom glazes with commercial ones. Together they experiment with a range of firing methods, from electric and reduction firing to pit, barrel and raku.
At home in New Jersey, the pair find joy in their backyard—gardening, watching nature, spending time with their three dogs—and sharing a late-afternoon beer with their red-footed tortoise, Red. As they like to say, there’s no place like home.
About the Writer
Andrea Phox is a Master Professional Photographer, artist, and travel workshop leader based at the Jersey Shore. As author of The Art Current, she spotlights local creatives with curiosity and heart. When not in her studio in the West End Arts Center, she leads immersive off the beaten path, photo workshops from Cuba and the U.S., blending art, culture, and connection. See more at andreaphox.com