In the Arts

Music lovers who head over to Riverside Gardens Park on West Front Street in Red Bank tonight will catch the jazz sounds of The Wolverines and the funk, boogie-woogie and honky-tonk music of The VooDUDES at the Comcast Jazz in the Park concert beginning at 7 p.m.

On Friday, Songwriters in the Park, sponsored by Brookdale's 90.5 The Night, will feature Rhett Miller, frontman and songwriter for the Old 97s rock 'n' roll quartet, at Riverside Gardens Park in Red Bank, beginning at 7 p.m.

Fair Haven singer/songwriter John Padovano will perform in "Freight Train Pajamas" at Espresso Joe's, 50 West St. in Keyport, Friday at 8 p.m. The concert will feature tracks from his new album, which focuses on people who struggle through hard times yet keep their spirit. On Aug. 18 at 8 p.m., Padovano will appear at Indigo Coffeehouse in Aberdeen.

For more information, visit www.johnpadovano.com.

Over The Rainbow Productions will hold auditions for the original musical comedy "Diamonds" Aug. 5 at 2 p.m. at the Eatontown Playhouse in the Tower Market Shopping Center, Route 35. Callbacks are Tuesday Aug. 15. Be prepared to sing 16 bars of a song and to dance. Needed are actors between the ages of 15 and 60.

There is an October production date. For information, call Debby at (732) 888-0339.

An exhibit of black and white photographs of New York in the 1930s and 1940s by Therese Mitchell will be on display at Mitchell Sanborn Gallery in Keyport Aug. 5-Sept. 5. The photos are illuminated by the writing of Mitchell's husband, the legendary "New Yorker" writer and chronicler of the city's streets, Joseph Mitchell. Mitchell Sanborn Gallery is located at 46 West Front St. For information, call (732) 888 0048, or visit www.mitchellsanborn-gallery.com.

A family barn dance will be held at the Croydon Hall Senior Center, 900 Leonardville Road in Leonardo just off Route 36 on Friday, Aug. 25, 7:30-10 p.m. Couples and singles welcome.

Donation is $3, children under 18 free but must be accompanied by a parent. No dancing experience is needed; the caller will teach all you need to know.

The event is sponsored by the Middletown Ramblers Square Dance Club. All are invited to come and see why square dancing is a great way to stay in shape, have fun, and meet lots of friendly people.

For more information and directions, call Betty at (732) 291-1188, Phyllis (732) 450-1931, or check the Web site at www.middletownramblers.org. Square dance classes begin Sept. 26 at Henry Hudson Trail Activity Center, Route 36, Atlantic Highlands.

The Unlimited Potential Theater Company, a project of VSA arts of New Jersey, is seeking poems, essays, short stories and plays by New Jersey residents 18 years or older for its 13th annual Joyce Indik New Jersey Wordsmith Competition.

The contest is open to all writers, and submissions by writers with disabilities are especially encouraged. Works submitted will be judged by a panel of theater/literature professionals.

Selected works will be showcased at a reception honoring the authors.

Deadline for submissions is Oct. 16. To request an application or for more information, contact VSA arts of N.J. at 703 Jersey Ave., New Brunswick 08901, (732) 745-3885 or at www.vsanj.org.