IN THE ARTS

McKay Gallery in Red Bank is calling for submissions for its third group show, "Red Bank," to be curated by Bob and Liz McKay. The theme is Red Bank's centennial and the call is for photos of Red Bank, black and white or color, east side and west side, at land and at sea, daytime and night time. Please, not just architecture, people as well; action! Red Bank has a rich history. The aim is to have between six and 20 artists show photographs in this exhibit, which will open Nov. 28. Deadline for submissions is Tuesday, Oct. 7. Work can be submitted by e-mail, on CD, on a Web site or brought to the studio, located on the second floor of 12 Monmouth St. Call for an appointment. All work shown must be for sale. There is no entry fee to have work considered. The show will run until Monday, Jan. 9.

Join professor Michael Aaron Rockland of Rutgers University as he takes a fascinating look at how popular culture illuminates the American character as examined through the books people really read and the films they really see. His talk, "Popular Culture: Or Why Study Trash" is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at Middletown Main Library. Rockland is the author of the critically acclaimed book "The George Washington Bridge: Poetry in Steel." The library is located at 55 New Monmouth Road. New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch will present the New Jersey premiere of Vern Thiessen's "Apple," a powerful play dealing with love, betrayal and forgiveness. It bravely addresses issues that confront and confound many couples and reveals how even the most difficult and seemingly irreconcilable wounds can be healed. The play opens on Oct. 23 and runs through Nov. 23. Performances run Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m. For tickets and more information, call 732-229-3166, e-mail info@njrep.org or visit www.njrep.org. Tickets: adults $36.50; previews $31.50. Reservations: online at www.njrep.org or call 732-229-3166.

Themes for the October exhibit at the Art Alliance of Monmouth County are "Telling Tales" and "Collage." The show will open 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. In the window gallery will be the work of bookmaking artist Richard Burton, of Ocean,

Four generations of women in an Italian American family deal with life's crises and learn a little about themselves in the process in the First Avenue Playhouse production of

"Daughters" by John Morgan Evans running Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. through Oct. 4. The playhouse is located at 123 First Avenue, Atlantic Highlands. Tickets are $20. For information and reservations, call 732-291-7552 or visit www.firstavenueplayhouse. com.

Compiled by Gloria Stravelli Designed by Eileen Russell Gerber

For the past three years, Sandra Longo, of Tinton Falls, has followed 19 local women who met in the pool at the Red Bank YMCA. The women, who call themselves The BlueBelles, forged an extraordinary friendship that's still going strong 20 years later. Longo documented the group in "The BlueBelles," a feature-length film that will have a private premiere at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Clearview Cinemas in Red Bank, with a second showing at 8:30 p.m.

The members of The BlueBelles range in age from 55 to 82 and live in local towns includingMiddletown, Holmdel, Red Bank, Tinton Falls, Long Branch and West Long Branch. They come from all walks of life, and don't always see eye-to-eye on political or religious issues but they love spending time together and take great pleasure in making each other laugh, which they do often and loudly.

Longo and her two-person camera crew, Anna-Maria, director of photography, and Lizbeth Finn-Arnold, associate producer, found the Belles' joy to be contagious. The Belles will walk the red carpet prior to the screening and take part in a Q&A immediately following the film. To learn more about "The BlueBelles" and future screenings, contact Longo at sclongo@usa.net.