"To Kill A Mockingbird" tops Weekend Date-Night Options

The Borgata, Atlantic City

THIS WEEKEND: Friday Grab Comedian Brad Garrett, whose standup routine conjurs none of the sad-sack persona he honed on "Everybody Loves Raymond," tries to elicit chuckles and more than a few, "OMG, did he really say that?" gasps, 8 p.m. Saturday Rock guitar hero Joe Walsh and blues legend B.B. King promise an "electric" evening.

NEXT WEEK: Duran Duran performs their greatest hits of the '80s and new tunes at The Music Box, 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29  

BOOK IT NOW: Absurdist comedian Steven Wright delivers his odd observations, 9 p.m., Nov. 4.

Check out theborgata.com for details about these and other shows.

Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown

THIS WEEKEND: Friday Channel your inner nerd and enjoy the odd lyrical twists to pop-music favorites when "Weird Al" Yancovic brings his "Alpocalypse Tour" to the Mayo Center, 8 p.m.; Saturday, The national tour of the Broadway musical "In The Heights" brings its peek inside Brooklyn, 8 p.m.

NEXT WEEK: Willie Nelson, legendary songwriter, country icon is, well, "on the Road Again," 8 p.m., Thursday

 BOOK IT NOW: ; "30 Rock" star and SNL veteran Tracy Morgan delivers his stand-up act, Saturday, Oct. 29, 8 p.m.; Blue Note Records presents "The Miles Davis Experience,"featuring Ambrose Akinmusire, 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5; Texas country/swing/gospel singer Lyle Lovett rescheduled his August show for 7:30, Sunday, Dec. 11

Check out mayoarts.org for details about these and other shows.

NJPAC, Newark

THIS WEEKEND: Friday The  The Tedeschi Trucks Band, the rockin' collaboration of husband-wife team of Susan Tedeschi-Derek Trucks, cranks up the amps at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Tony- and Emmy-winning singer/actress Leslie Uggams makes her NJPAC debut with Uptown Downtown, her autobiographical cabaret act, 7 p.m.

NEXT WEEK: Grammy-winning comedian Lewis Black brings his wicked wit and keep observations on, well, everything, 8 p.m., Thursday

BOOK IT NOW: ; Baila Mi Gente, NJPAC's annual Alternate RoutesLatin dance happening, features Cubanoson and DJ Jose Rodriguez; 7:30, Friday, Oct. 28; Panamanian singer/activistRuben Blades performs his blend of Afro-Cuban jazz and Latin pop, 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 4

Check out njpac.org for details about these and other shows.

The Prudential Center, Newark

THIS WEEKEND: Friday The New Jersey Devils lace 'em up and take to the ice against the San Jose Sharks, 7 p.m.

NEXT WEEK:  Nothing scheduled next week (read: No Nets games, NBA season is in jeopardy!)

BOOK IT NOW: The Seton Hall Pirates kick off the 2011-12 college hoops season with a game against St. Francis, at 7 p.m., Sat., Nov. 12; The Foo Fighters, with special guests Social Distortion, rocks the Prudential Center stage at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14; If you want to go to the Devils' house, but prefer your on-ice action to be a little less rough-and-tumble, grab tickets for Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream, which starts at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

Check out prucenter.com for details about these and other shows.

Scotty's, Springfield

THIS WEEKEND: Friday and Saturday "The Double Headliner Show" features Chipps Cooney,from America's Got Talent, and Tom Daddario, from XM/Sirius radio and Comedy Central; Mike Casey opens; 9 p.m.,

 NEXT WEEK Sherry Davey, who's appeared on Nick at Nite's Search for America's Funniest Mom II and Comedy Central's Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, performs Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28 and 29.

For details and more information, log onto scottyssteakhouse.com.

Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Madison

THIS WEEKEND To Kill A Mockingbird, the staging of Harper Lee's American classic tale of race, integrity and growing up in the South, through November 20.

BOOK IT NOW: "Something Wicked This Way Comes," an eventing of spooky readings from classic ghost and horror tales, is a perfect kickoff to Halloween! 7:30, Monday

Click on shakespearenj.org for details.

Shanghai Jazz, Madison

THIS WEEKEND Friday, The Herb Woodson Blues Soul Quartet covers Otis Redding, Van Morrison and other soulful R&B classics, Saturday, The Helio Alves Trio performs Brazilian jazz.  

 NEXT WEEK Australian vocalist/bassis Nick Parrott brings his Nicky Parrott & Friends show to the Shanghai Jazz stage, Wednesday; The Jay D'Amico Trio performs on Friday, Oct. 28; Helen Sung, winner of the Kennedy Center's Mary Lou Williams Piano Competition, brings her Helen Sung Trio to Madison, Saturday, Oct. 29.

BOOK IT NOW: Legendary guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli performs Wednesday, Nov. 2; Jerry Vivino Quartet, featuring the star vocalist/saxophonist from the Conan O'Brien Show band, Friday, Nov. 4; Christian Sands, the pianist who most recently performed at the Grammys with the legendary Oscar Peterson, brings the Christian Sands Trio, Saturday, Nov. 5. 

All shows 6:30 and 8:30. Check out shanghaijazz.com for more details.

South Orange Performing Arts Center

THIS WEEKEND: Friday How Deep is the Ocean?, a production of SOPAC's resident theater company, Midtown Direct Rep, will be performed as a reading, 8 p.m.; Saturday Steppin' Out With Ben Vereen, features a musical autobiography with the iconic dancer/singer/actor; 8 p.m.

NEXT WEEK: Jazz accordionist Eddie Monteiro performs as part of the the "Jazz 'n the Hall" series, presented by the Seton Hall University Arts Council, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday 

BOOK IT NOW: South Orange native Jessica Kirson brings her one-woman show, which has been featured on Comedy Central's Fresh Faces and NBC's Last Comic Standing, 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5

Go to sopacnow.org for more details about all shows.

State Theatre, New Brunswick

THIS WEEKEND: Friday The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, led by the former Black Crowes frontman, plays their version of bluesy rock at 8 p.m.; Saturday "The Rat Pack Is Back" tries to recreate the swingin', koo-koo charm and talents of Frank, Deano, Sammy; 8 p.m. and  3 p.m., Sunday.

NEXT WEEK: "A Tribute to Pine Valley: Celebrating 41 Years of All My Children", offers a half-dozen of the show's male stars dishing about the classic ABC soap opera, 8 p.m., Wednesday

BOOK IT NOW: 'S Wonderful, takes the tunes of George and Ira Gershwin that kept America's toes tappin' and delivers them in a new musical; 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 30; Tosca, the classic drama, performed by The Royal Opera, will be broadcast on the theatre's 46-foot HD movie screen, 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 2

 Check out statetheatrenj.org for more details.

Stress Factory Comedy Club, New Brunswick

THIS WEEKEND: Tonight and Saturday Jimmy Shubert, whom you'll recognize from The King of Queeens and Comedy Central Presents, performs.

NEXT WEEK Richard Belzer, the standup veteran of many decades, who also happens to star onLaw & Order: SVU, does a one-night visit on Thursday.

BOOK IT NOW Jim Norton brings his edgy act to the Stress Factory, performing Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 3-5.

Check out stressfactory.com for more details.

Union County Performing Arts Center, Rahway

THIS WEEKEND: Tonight Peruvian singer-songwriter Gianmarco performs songs from "Dias Nuevos"; 8 p.m., Tonight and Saturday "The Laramie Project," a play by Moises Kaufman, is being staged (the play will also run Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 29).

NEXT WEEK: 

BOOK IT NOW: The Phantom of the Opera, the original movie starring Lon Chaney, will be shown at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31.; Blues legend Buddy Guy will try to rip off the UCPAC roof; 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 4

Check out ucpac.org for details about these and other shows.

Wellmont Theatre, Montclair

THIS WEEKEND: No public shows this weekend.

NEXT WEEK: Pixies and Surfer Blood perform at 8 p.m., Thursday; 

BOOK IT NOW: Goo Goo Dollsand Ryan Star perform at 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 11.; Kinks frontman Ray Davies brings three generations of songs, to the Wellmont, 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 18. Stephen Colbert is booked to provide his special brand of comedic mayhem on Dec. 2.

Check out wellmonttheatre.com for more shows.