In the Arts On Dec. 2, teachers and students from nine Monmouth County high schools attended a “Performing Shakespeare Workshop” at Red Bank Regional High School in Little Silver. The day-long event was sponsored by the Monmouth County English-Speaking Union in cooperation with RBR’s Performing Arts Department. Mini-workshops were given by teachers who had studied at the International Globe Centre in London through scholarships awarded by the Monmouth County Branch of the English-Speaking Union. In addition, Jamie-Brink Grant, associate director of education at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, presented a master class on ways to interpret and perform Shakespearean monologues. The 16th annual Shakespeare Competition for High School Students will be held at Brookdale Community College on Saturday, March 3. For more information, visit www.esuus.org and click on Shakespeare Competition 2007 or e-mail to: janetpitman@comcast.net. Paintings and drawings by students at Monmouth County Arts High School are on display through December at the J.W. Ross Library and Cultural Center, 1097 Ocean Ave, Sea Bright. The exhibit of works by gifted and talented students who participate in the arts program includes artwork by Christine Cittadino and Lisa Magi, both students at Monmouth Regional High School, Tinton Falls, and Suzanne Herlihy of Red Bank Catholic High School. For information, contact the Arts & Education Center at (732) 566-2787 or e-mail to: info@artsandedcenter.org. The “Godfather of Soul” will appear at the Count Basie Theatre to help top off the holiday season. The man, the myth ... the legendary James Brown will be at the Basie Saturday, Dec. 20, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $100-$48. To ring in 2007, spend New Year’s Eve with Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, Sunday, Dec. 31, beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are $100-$30. For tickets, call the box office at (732) 842-9000. A collection of original paintings, mixed media, large vibrant oils and small, intimate dog portraits by local artist Lisa Marie Hodder is on exhibit at the Front Street Trattoria in Red Bank through Jan. 2. For information, call (908) 309-5989 or e-mail to lisamarieoc@comcast.net. “Give a Gift of Art” holiday exhibit and sale is at The Guild of Creative Art in Shrewsbury through Jan. 3. The show presents works of art that will make great gifts for family and friends. The Guild of Creative Art is located at 620 Broad St. (Route 35), Shrewsbury, where hours are Monday through Saturday from noon to 4:30 p.m. For information, call (732) 747-1441 or visit www.Guildofcreativeart.com. Concordia Youth Chorale will hold its mid-season auditions Tuesday, Jan. 2 and 9, at 6 p.m. at Middletown United Methodist Church, 924 Middletown-Lincroft Road. The CYC is accepting singers from second through 12th grade. This is the last chance to join the chorale before its European tour in June (grades 5-12 only). For an appointment, call (732) 495-2066. First Avenue Playhouse will open the new year with a production of “Closer Than Ever” featuring songs by the team of lyricist Richard Maltby (“Miss Saigon”) and composer David Shire (“Big: The Musical”). Each song is an intimate story of relationships in a complex world. The musical revue will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday through Jan. 27 with Sunday matinees on Jan. 14 and 21. On New Year’s Eve, the playhouse is offering revelers a chance to enjoy a musical revue and dance the night away with a special opening-night performance of the new production. First Avenue Playhouse is located at 123 First Ave., Atlantic Highlands. For information and reservations, call (732) 291-7552 Soar Productions, a community theater company, will hold auditions Jan. 4, 4-7 p.m., for boys and girls ages 10–18 for a production of “Little Red and the Hoods.” Auditions will take place at 1110 Union Ave., Union Beach. Call (732) 471-8268 or visit www.soarproductions.org. New Jersey Repertory Company will present the world premiere of the drama “October 1962” by D.W. Gregory Jan. 4-28 at the Lumia Theatre, 179 Broadway, Long Branch. Set during the Cuban missile crisis, an ordinary middle-American town is turned upside down when a convicted murderer is released and returns home. Despite the concerns of his wife and the community, one of the residents takes the young man under his wing by giving him a job. The play is a classic exploration of what happens when fear tears a community apart. The cast includes Jenny Vallancourt of Red Bank and Juliet Kapanjie of Perrineville, who will be making their professional debuts. Performances will be Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $35, previews $25, and opening night with reception $40. Call (732) 229-3166 or visit www.njep.org.