Theater Watch: Jackson Browne, Ghost Hunters, Craig Ferguson and More

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It’s another jam packed week at , with performances by Jackson Browne, John Hiatt and the Combo, Ghost Hunters, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Craig Ferguson and Joe Walsh. If that’s not enough to keep you busy, you can always check out Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England at the Two River Theater.

First up this week is singer-songwriter Jackson Browne who heads to the stage as part of his solo acoustic tour on Tuesday, Oct. 18. Browne hit the big time in the 1970’s, with hits such as Somebody’s Baby, These Days, The Pretender, Lawyers in Love and Running on Empty.  

Browne’s acoustic tour is an interesting mix of music and stories. Between songs, Browne takes the time to connect with the audience as he recounts stories of his life and music. Never a shy voice when it comes to activism, Browne’s solo tour is also “plastic free” both onstage and backstage.  Browne is a member of the Plastic Pollution Coalition, a group that works to stop single use plastic, and it is estimated that since 2008 his tours have helped save over 53,000 bottles from landfills.

On Wednesday, Oct. 19, John Hiatt brings his mix of rock, country, blues and folk to the Basie stage. Hiatt has been dubbed “one of rock’s most astute singer-songwriters of the last 40 years,” by the LA Times.

His big breakthrough came in 1987, when he released the album Bring the Family. The album generated hits such as The Usual, which would later be covered by Bob Dylan, and Have a Little Faith in Me, covered later with much success by Bon Jovi. Bonnie Raitt also went on to cover the song Crazy Thing Called Love, which rose to mainstream popularity.

Over his career, Hiatt has earned 11 Grammy nominations and found a place in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. His latest release, Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns hit the shelves in August.

On Thursday, Oct. 20, get in the Halloween mood by checking out Ghost Hunters live. Ghost Hunters, featuring the TAPS team members Grant Wilson and Jason Hawes is a paranormal investigation team from the popular SyFy television series Ghost Hunters. Ghost Hunters premiered on SyFy in 2004, and continues into its eighth season this year, becoming one of the longest running shows on SyFy.

TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society), founded by Wilson and Hawes, investigate places that are believed to be haunted. Originally beginning their career as plumbers, Wilson and Hawes recently have been able to leave their day jobs behind in favor of full time ghost hunting, even though they offer their services free of charge.

During Thursday’s show, TAPS will reveal their methods for tracking the paranormal and get a chance to engage in a live Q&A session with Wilson and Hawes. The team will also share some of their best stories of the paranormal.

On Saturday, Oct. 22, treat your ears to the sounds of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra as they present The Best of Bach. The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra is compromised of some of the finest musicians who will perform a challenging arrangement of music selections from Bach.

The orchestra will feature David Lockington as the conductor, Eric Wyrick on violin, and Bart Feller and Kathleen Nester on flute. They will perform selections from Coffee Cantata and Wake Up.

On Sunday, Oct. 23, Craig Ferguson brings his sense of humor to the stage for a night of laughs. Ferguson is known for a diverse career that includes movies, live stage, and TV, including a spot on the hit series The Drew Carey Show. In 2005, he began hosting The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and has lifted the show to its highest ratings since it began in 1995.

On Monday, Oct. 24, stop by the Basie to check out NJ native Joe Walsh with special guest Kenny Wayne Shepherd, as they bring their years of hit music to the stage. Walsh was a member of numerous groups, including The James Gang and the Eagles. He has had many solo hits, including Rocy Mountain Way, All Night Long and Life’s Been Good. Shepard is a five time Grammy nominee who has also played on the Experience Hendrix Tour.

If you are looking for something other than music this week, head over to Two River Theater and check out their production of Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England. The play is written by Madeleine George and directed by Ken Rus Schmoll.

The play is described as a “smart and funny academic sex comedy” which centers on life in a small college university town. With his college facing serious financial hardship, Dean Wreen must face the reality of having to close it’s on campus natural history museum.

At the same time, Wreen must deal with the reappearance of her ex-girlfriend, which, naturally, doesn’t sit well with her current flame. This play is rate “M” for mature content and language, and runs through Nov. 13. Be sure to check out http://trtc.org/index.php for tickets and show times.

Schedule:

Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011: Jackson Browne, 8pm

Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011: John Hiatt and The Combo, 8pm

Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011: Ghost Hunters Live, 8pm

Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011: New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, 8pm

Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011: Craig Ferguson, 5pm

Monday, Oct. 24, 2011: Joe Walsh and Kenny Wayne Shepard, 8pm

Oct. 15- Nov. 13, 2011: Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England, Two River Theater. Please check website for dates and show times