In the Arts

The Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts in Long Branch will mark its double anniversary –– five years since its inception and one year since the grand opening of its facility at 20 Third Avenue — with a lively celebration today beginning at 6 p.m. The evening will feature light summer fare, wine, summer beats and “Inked!” an exhibition that examines the influence of tattoo culture on contemporary art. For more information, call (732) 263-1121 or visit www.sica.org.

El Lobo Negro Gallery of the Arts, 519 Bangs Ave., Asbury Park, will host M’ Zume Carnival, percussion sounds of Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean, on Saturday, July 23, at 4 p.m. The free performance is celebration of diversity sponsored by the gallery, Allen Project Inc. and Allen Chapel AME Church of Asbury Park, Monmouth Center for World Religions & Ethical Thought, and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County.

Jamaican singer Karen Smith will perform in a benefit concert for the Red Bank Education and Development Initiative Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. at the Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Ave., Red Bank. The fund-raiser will benefit the Initiative’s program to provide access to dental services for all Red Bank school children

RBEDI founder David Tarver will also perform as a member of the opening act All-Star R&B House Band, a combo assembled expressly for the occasion, which includes Shore music veterans Vance Villastrigo and members of The Jazz Lobsters.

Tickets are $50 and a limited number of $25 tickets are reserved for high school and college students. Tickets for premier seating and a pre-show cocktail reception with the artists beginning at 6 p.m. are $100. Tickets can be reserved by calling the box office at (732) 345-1400.

Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park will host a special screening of “Invasion for Flesh and Blood,” the sci-fi cult classic by Neptune Township filmmaker Warren F. Disbrow, on August 4. Doors open at 8 p.m. and showtime is 9 p.m. A music video for “Scarlet Moon,” Disbrow’s soon-to-be-released film about a diabolical power struggle among vampires, will also be shown.

Filmed in Monmouth and Ocean counties with an all-Jersey Shore cast and crew, “Invasion for Flesh and Blood” follows a housewife-turned-cyborg and her teenage sidekick as they seek to destroy flesh-eating, alien invaders. The movie is rated R and children under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Proof of age will be required. Admission is $5. For further information, visit the Web sites warrendis-brow.web.aplus.net. or www.asburylanes.com/>www.asburylanes.com.

Share your memories of Asbury Park as Helen-Chantal Pike, author of the recently released “Asbury Park’s Glory Days: The Story of an American Resort,” presents a special reading Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. at El Lobo Negro Gallery of the Arts in Asbury Park. “An Evening of Storytelling from the Pages of History” will include participation by contributors to her book including Madonna Carter, Claire Thomas Garland, Kay Harris, Rainette Holiman, the Rev. Carl Hunter IV, Lorraine Stone and Persia Walker. A discussion will follow. The gallery is located at 519 Bangs Ave. For more information, call (732) 775-3300 or e-mail elloboart@aol.com.

The Concordia Youth Chorale has returned from a 10-day concert tour of Italy. Highlights of the tour included singing at the papal audience as the pope drove by the chorus, singing at St. Peter’s in Rome and also at Puccini’s house in Lucca. The 26 singers from the chorale were accompanied by parents and family members.

The chorale’s next major performance will be in Carnegie Hall in November. Singers interested in joining the chorale should call (732) 495 2066 or e-mail the chorale at youthchorale@aol.com.

The New Jersey Repertory Company , 179 Broadway in Long Branch, will present the New Jersey premiere of Romulus Linney’s “Klonsky and Schwartz” Aug. 25 thru Oct. 2. The powerful and thought-provoking play explores the turbulent relationship between a writer and his mentor.

Performances will be held on Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30, $20 for previews, $35 for opening night with reception. The theatre is wheelchair accessible and there is free on-site parking. For reservations, call the box office at (732) 229-3166.