IN THE ARTS

Teller and Aaron Posner

Due to the high demand for tickets, Two River Theater in Red Bank has extended the run of its unique production of "Macbeth," which will now run Jan. 15-Feb. 10. For the production, Obie and Emmy Award-winner Teller (of Penn & Teller) teams with TRTC Artistic Director Aaron Posner to re-imagine William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" as a startling, supernatural horror show. With magic designed by Teller, the tale is bloody, chilling and hallucinatory, revealing the twisted minds of the theater's most celebrated husbandand wife murder team. Co-produced with Folger Theatre, Washington, D.C. Tickets $32-$56

at the Two River Theater box office

at 21 Bridge Ave., (732) 345-1400.

TV, film and stage star Joe Piscopo, accompanied by the Red Bank Jazz Orchestra, will present a tribute to Frank Sinatra on what would have been Ol' Blue Eyes' 92nd birthday, Dec. 12, at 8 p.m., at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank. "Joe Piscopo's Sinatra Birthday Bash" will reprise Sinatra hits, with special emphasis on the musical relationship between Sinatra and Count Basie. One of Sinatra's most successful albums was recorded live in Las Vegas in 1966 with the Count Basie Orchestra and Sinatra and Basie had previously collaborated on two other albums. Piscopo came on the scene in 1980 as a member of the "Saturday Night Live" cast and quickly became known for his hilarious original characters and impersonation of Sinatra, his friend and idol. He currently tours with his own night club act which includes a Sinatra tribute.

Joe Piscopo

Tickets are $50-25 at the box office at (832) 842-9000, 99 Monmouth St., or www.countbasietheatre.org.

"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson will be presented by Soar Productions. Everyone is in an uproar when the troublesome Herdmans show up at the church Christmas pageant. But who would have guessed that the parents, teachers, children, and especially the Herdmans, could end up discovering the true meaning of the season? Friday, Dec. 7, 14, 21 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 8, 15, 22 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 16, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18, $15 seniors and students. There will be free pictures with Santa before each performance.

Augustus Arnone

For tickets call (732) 471-8268. Soar Productions is based at 1110 Union Ave., Union Beach.

A Holiday Arts Festival will take place Friday, noon - 5 p.m., at the Internet Cafe, 1 W. Front St. and upstairs at Dancing Foot Yoga in Red Bank. Presented by the Yoga Life Society, the festival will feature performances by Stephen Wise, Sharon Silverstein, Robin Benee, Rasa Lila and many more. The event will also feature fine arts and crafts, unique holiday gifts, children's play, raffles and prizes. For more information, visit www.yogalifesociety.com.

The Shrewsbury Chorale will present

"Hodie" by Ralph Vaughan Williams, a Christmas celebration set to texts and poetry from the Gospels, Milton, Hardy and Herbert Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. Also featured in the Holiday Concert will be favorite songs and carols of the season. The concert will take place at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 818 Tinton Ave., Tinton Falls. Tickets: $25, senior/ student $20, children 12 and under $10. For information, call (732) 776-5276 or visit www.shrewsburychorale.org.

The Monmouth Conservatory of Music Faculty Recital series continues Saturday at 4 p.m., with "Simultaneities," a performance of contemporary piano music by Augustus Arnone. The program features music from recent decades by Pulitzer Prize-winning American composers Milton Babbitt and Donald Martino, and works of frequently performed composer Roberto Sierra. Arnone, a contemporary music specialist, will introduce the pieces and share insights on recent developments in music. The concert is free and open to the public at 50 White St., Red Bank, in the Trinity Church auditorium. For information, call (732) 741-8880, or visit www.monmouthconservatory.org.

Among the fun, family-oriented festivities the Monmouth Museum is hosting this holiday season is a Kwanzaa Celebration with Lorraine Stone, Sunday, 2 to 3 p.m. Registration required by calling the museum at (732) 747-2266. The celebration is free for members and for nonmembers who pay the $6 admission. The museum is located on the campus of Brookdale Community College in Lincroft.

Compiled by Gloria Stravellli