West Side Story, Russell Brand, Chicago top Date Night Options

New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark

THIS WEEKEND: Tonight through Sunday — West Side Story, one of theater's most enduring musicals, celebrates its 50th anniversary with the revival of Leonard Bernstein's classic, Prudential Hall

NEXT WEEK:  Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, NJPAC's principal resident dance company, performs its yearly NJPAC show, 8 p.m., Friday, Saturday, May 11, 12, Prudential Hall; Will Downing, the reigning romanticst R&B crooner, makes women swoon at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 12, in the Victoria Theater. 

BOOK IT NOW: Chita Rivera, who performed for decades in a variety of Broadway's classic hits, performs her review, two shows, Saturday, May 19, Prudential Hall; Bill Maher, Jersey guy and comedic iconoclast and host of HBO's Real Time With Bill Maher, gets politcally incorrect at 8 p.m., Sunday, May 20

 Check out njpac.org to check out these and other events.

Wellmont Theatre, Montclair

THIS WEEKEND Tonight — Chicago is "Feelin' Stronger Every Day," so they keep playing around the country. Catch their horn-flavored rock and sappy ballads, 8 p.m.; Saturday — Shponle Presents The Masquerade with Phutureprimitive; 8 p.m.

NEXT WEEK: Rusko and Sigma perform at 8 p.m. Friday, May 11.

BOOK IT NOW:  Willie Nelson & Family, 8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, May 16, 17; Buddy Guy and Jonny Lang, 8 p.m., Saturday, June 9; Bonnie Raitt and Mavis Staples, 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 19.

Check out wellmonttheatre.com for more shows.

The Prudential Center, Newark

THIS WEEKEND: Tonight, Saturday — Red Hot Chili Peppers, 8 p.m., Sunday — Devils v. Philadelphia Flyers continue their thrilling NHL playoff series, 7:30 p.m.

NEXT WEEK: TBA — If necessary, Devils v. Flyers, 7:30 p.m., Thursday; McDonald's Gospelfest, 4 p.m., Saturday, May 12 

BOOK IT NOW: New York Liberty v. Sol, 4 p.m., Saturday, May 19; Trippy rock band Radiohead, with special guest, Caribou, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 31

Check out prucenter.com for details about these and other shows.

South Orange Performing Arts Center, South Orange

THIS WEEKEND: Tonight, Saturday, Sunday — Seton Hall University's theater department stages Resurrection Blues, Arthur Miller's 2006 allegorical comedy about a captured mysterious miracle-maker who will be killed on a reality show.

NEXT WEEK: Suzanne Vega performs her folky hits, Thursday; "An Evening with Tom Wopat" gives audiences the chance to see how the former "Duke of Hazzard" honed his musical chops over the years on the Broadway boards; Saturday, May 12

BOOK IT NOW: Russell Thompkins Jr. and the New Stylistics, features the voice of many '70s R&B classics, such as "You Make Me Feel Brand New," "Betcha By Golly Wow" and "Stone In Love With You"; 8 p.m., Friday, June 1.

Go to sopacnow.org for more details about all shows.

Scotty’s Steakhouse, Springfield

THIS WEEK: Tonight and Saturday — Doug Karpf, star of Sirius Satellite radio, Atlantic City clubs and USO shows, performs his act after his co-stars, Pat Barker and LaTice, warm up the Springfield crowd. 

NEXT WEEK: Robin Fox, star of the "Bud Lite Ladies of Laughter" shows, as well as XM and Sirius radio comedy channels, headlines a show that features Julia Scotti and Dr. Freddy Seltzer. Friday and Saturday, May 11, 12

BOOK IT NOW: Kerri Louise, who's appeared on Oprah, Last Comic Standingand starred with her husband, comedian Tom Cotter, in a reality show calledTwo Funny, takes to the Scotty's stage; Friday and Saturday, May 18, 19

For details and more information, log onto scottyssteakhouse.com.

The Borgata 

THIS WEEKEND: Tonight — Russell Brand, the soon-to-be former-Mr.-Katy-Perry does, well... whatever it is that he does, Thursday and Friday, May 4,5, 9 p.m., The Music Box; Comedian-turned-sitcom-star-turned-talk-show-host-turned-comedian George Lopez, 9 p.m., Friday, May 5, Event Center

NEXT WEEK: Florence & the Machine, 8 p.m., Friday, May 12, Event Center

BOOK IT NOW: Joan Rivers, 6 p.m., Friday, May 19, The Music Box; Hip-hoppin' stud du jour Pitbull brings the party tunes, 9 p.m., Thursday, May 25, Event Center

Check out theborgata.com for details about these and other shows.

Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank

THIS WEEKEND: No shows this weekend

NEXT WEEK: Trailer Park Boys, a hiliarious troupe of comedians that have created a Canadian TV sensation, park their double-wide in Red Bank at 7:30 p.m., Thursday; Music, cultural and biofuel icon Willie Nelson performs at 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 12; Country singer LeAnn Rimes performs at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, May 13

BOOK IT NOW: Steve Winwood, whose music and influence on music has spanned decades, performs at 8 p.m., Sunday, May 27.

Go to countbasietheatre for more details about all shows.

Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown

This Weekend: Tonight — "Manhattan Comedy Night" is a review featuring emcee Melvin George, Andy Pitz, Tommy Drake and Joe Starr; 8 p.m.; Sunday — New Jersey Jazz Society presents Vince Giodano and His Nighthawks, 3 p.m.

NEXT WEEK: Burn the Floor is a sexy performance from a company consists of 20 dancers (10 couples), two vocalists and two live, on-stage percussionists, 8 p.m., Thursday; "An Evening with Steve Tyrell and Debby Boone," features their hits, 8 p.m., Saturday, May 12

BOOK IT NOW: Guitar hero Joe Walsh brings his "Analog Tour" into Mo-town at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 7; Darius Rucker, the lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish who's now topping the country charts as a solo performer, plays at 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 13.

Check out mayoarts.org for details about these and other shows.

Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Madison

THIS WEEK: The theatre begins its 50th Anniversary season! No shows this weekend 

BOOK IT NOW: Henry IV, Part One, the play that tells the story of the delinquent Prince Hal, the fiery 
Hotspur and the invented Falstaff, and a host of nobles and ne’er-do-wells, comes to life ppeared on May 30-June 24; The Liar, adapted by American playwright from the 17th-century comedy by Pierre Corneille, July 4-29

For details and more information, log on to shakespearenj.org

Shanghai Jazz, Madison

THIS WEEKEND: Tonight – Rob Paparozzi Quartet plays the music of Dr. John and Randy Newman; Saturday — Jerry Vivino Quartet features the members of The Conan O'Brien Show band; Sunday — Star vocalist Gregory Generet returns for one show

NEXT WEEK: Guitarist John Zweig leads his trio, Tuesday; Thaddeus Expose, with pianist Tomoko Ohno of the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-stars, performs Wednesday; Brynn, Grover and Jazz Jump features Groveman Kemble and Brynn Stanley, Friday, May 11; Nick Role Trio features the pianist and his bandmates, Saturday, May 12, MOTHER'S DAY EVENT, with Bucky Pizzarelli Trio, featuring three seatings (call to make reservations), Sunday, May 13.

BOOK IT NOW: John Carlini Trio features everything from jazz to blues and bluegrass, Friday, May 18; Grammy-nominated piano phenom Christian Sands brings his trio, Saturday, May 19

All shows 6:30 and 8:30. Check out shanghaijazz.com for more details.

Stress Factory Comedy Club, New Brunswick

THIS WEEK: Tonight and Saturday — Brian Posehn, a regular on the Sarah Silverman Show and HBO's Mr. Show. Don't recognize the name? You will recognize the face.

NEXT WEEK: W. Kamou Bell, a regular on Comedy Central and Comics Unleashed, performs Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 10, 11, 12

Book It Now:  Amy Shumer, who was featured on Last Comic Standing and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 17-19

Check out stressfactory.com for more details.

Union County Performing Arts Center, Rahway

THIS WEEKEND: Saturday — "Ballet With a Latin Beat II" kicks off a Cinco de Mayo celebration, 8 p.m.

NEXT WEEK: No shows

Go to unioncountypac for more details about all shows.