IN THE ARTS

Phoenix Productions will present "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank on Friday, April 4 and 11, and Saturday, April 5 and 12, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 6 and 13, at 3 p.m. The wildly popular fast-paced musical comedy by Andrew Lloyd Webber is about the Old Testament's Joseph and his ability to interpret dreams. Tickets are $22-$29, available by calling the box office at (732) 842-9000.

The Guild of Creative Art in Shrewsbury will host "On the Verge: Aspiring Artists," an exhibit of artwork by students at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School April 4-17, and at Red Bank Regional High School April 18-30. The Guild is located at 620 Broad St., Route 35, Shrewsbury. For more information, visit www.guildofcreativeart.com or call (732) 741-1441. Hours are Monday-Saturday, noon-4:30 p.m., Thursday until 7 p.m.

Phoenix Productions will hold auditions for "Disney's High School Musical" at the Phoenix Studio Theatre, 111Monmouth St., Red Bank (next door to the Count Basie Theatre) on: Saturday,April 5, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (arrive by 11 a.m.); 2 to 4 p.m. (arrive at 2 p.m.); Monday, April 7, from 6 to 9 p.m.; Wednesday, April 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. All roles are open. Auditioners should bring sheet music in their key, be prepared to sing 16 bars and dance. Minimum age to audition is amature 13. Needed are all types including brainy geeks, basketball-playing jocks, drama club kids, cool skaters, and peppy cheerleaders. For ensemble roles, not all singers must dance and not all dancers must sing. Also looking for specific skills like basketball handling, skateboarding, break dancing and cheer stunting or tumbling. Leads must sing and dance. Two adults needed: coach/father and drama teacher/female; no singing or dance required. Formore information, call (732) 747-0014.

The Monmouth Conservatory of Music will present a solo recital by acclaimed pianist Victor Goldberg at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, at the conservatory, 50 White St., Red Bank, in the parish hall of Trinity Church. Hailed for his imaginative and original interpretations, this Russian-born Israeli pianist is known for his extensive repertoire of classical masterpieces as well as rarely performed piano works. The program will include Brahms' "Handel Variations," Scriabin's "Fifth Sonata," C.P.E. Bach's "Fantasia," and other pieces. This event is part of the conservatory's GuestArtist concert series, offered to the community free of charge by this nonprofit music school. No reservations are necessary. For information, contact (732) 741-8880 or e-mail mcmredbank@ verizon.net.

Atlantic Artisans gallery in Atlantic Highlands will host "Live Art," an evening to be entertained and educated on what it takes to create a piece of art in all different mediums, Saturday, 4-8 p.m. Stop by and watch the artists at work, interact with them and learn about their art, from a unique biking performance in the window to painting with brooms. "Live Artists" are Kat Crippen, Spring Lake Heights, Jim Fitzmaurice, Rumson, Lauren Fuery, Old Bridge, Tim Kelly, New York City, Yvonne Yaar, Toms River, Richard Young, Atlantic Highlands, and Charles Blood, Liz Gembarski and Agnes O'Keefe, Leonardo.

Atlantic Artisans, 68 First Ave., features art created by local and American artisans in all styles, all mediums and not just wall art. For more information, visit www.atlanticartisans.com.

At 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council will present its third annual "Sounds of the Highlands" concert at the Central Baptist Church, East Highland Avenue at Third Avenue. This year's program will feature an eclectic mix of folk and acoustic, classical and jazz, and will showcase some of the area's finest talents, including: Bob Paddack's New Orleans Jazz Band; singer/songwriter Mary McCrink; The Jersey Shore Harp Ensemble and others.

Tickets are $10, $5 for children 12 and under. For advance tickets, visit The Flaky Tart, 145 FirstAve. in Atlantic Highlands, or call the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council ticket hotline at (732) 708-1584. Formore information, visit www.atlantichighlandsartscouncil. com.

Monmouth County residents age 60 and over are invited to submit one piece of original visual art inMonmouth County's annual 2008 Senior Citizen Art Contest and Exhibition.

Applications are available at theDivision on Aging, Disabilities and Veterans Interment Affairs at 21 Main St., Freehold. Copies can be requested by calling (732) 431- 7450 or download the complete application packet fromthe countyWeb site atwww.visitmonmouth. com/aging. The deadline to submit a completed application is June 20. Categories in both the professional and nonprofessional divisions are acrylic, craft, digital imagery, drawing, mixed media, oil, pastel, photography, print, sculpture and watercolor. Entries will be on display in the MonmouthCounty LibraryHeadquarters in Manalapan July 3-31.

Monmouth University's Visiting Writers Series will present author Caryl Phillips on Thursday, April 10, 4 p.m., in Wilson Auditorium on the West Long Branch campus. Phillips' plays include "Strange Fruit" (1980) and "Rough Crossings" (2007). His work has been translated into more than a dozen languages. His literary awards include the Martin Luther King Memorial Prize, a Guggenheim Fellowship and Britain's oldest literary award, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. He has taught at universities throughout the world and he is presently professor of English at Yale University. For additional information, visit www.monmouth.edu/arts.

Monmouth Players presents Nagel Jackson's heartwarming play "Taking Leave" April 12, 19, 25, 26,May 2 and 3 at 8:15 p.m. and matinees on April 13 and 20 at 2 p.m., at the Navesink Library Theater at the corner of Sears and Monmouth avenues in the Navesink section of Middletown. Tickets are $15, and $12 for seniors and students. Call (732) 291-9211 or visit www.monmouthplayers.org.

The Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues foundation's annual "Harpin' Help" benefit will take place Sunday, beginning at 12:30 p.m. at Bar Anticipation in Lake Como. The musical charity event will benefit Ocean Christian Community Food Bank and will feature phenomenal harmonica players and their bands. Admission is $15with two food items or $20 without. Under 21 must be accompanied by a parent. For more information, check out www.jsjbf.org.

The Concordia Chorale will perform Mozart's "Requiem" on Sunday, April 13, at 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 150 River Road, Red Bank .

Soloists will be Danielle Recchia, Samantha Talmage, David Kellett and Joseph Mendoza. The performance will be conducted by Cynthia Springsteen with John Balme accompanying. There will be a goodwill offering taken. General seating is available at the door.

Soar Productions is holding auditions for the British farce "What the Butler Saw" by Joe Orton April 13, 6-8 p.m., and April 14, 7-9 p.m.

Casting for characters: Dr. Prentice, male, late 30s to early 50s, psychiatrist running the clinic.

Mrs. Prentice, female, late 30s to early 50s, the doctor's unhappily married wife.

Geraldine Barclay, female, 18 to 25, a naive young woman who comes to the clinic to apply for a job as secretary. Nicholas Beckett, male, 18 to 30, an unscrupulous bellhop. Sgt. Match, male, 30-plus, a policeman who is a little slow on the uptake. Some roles require stripping to undergarments or crossdressing.

Actors will read from the script. Be prepared to use a British or cockney accent. Soar Productions' theater is at 1110 Union and Morningside avenues, Union Beach. Performances will be in June. For more information, call (732) 471-8268

Compiled by Gloria Stravelli Designed by Eileen Russell-Gerber