Romantic shows in New Jersey this weekend

“If music is the food of love, keep on playing,” Shakespeare said in “Twelfth Night.” “Give me an excess…”
Don’t overdo it, but Valentine’s Day is Monday, February 14. That means there are a number of Valentine’s Day-themed shows, and some without it would make a good V-Day date night anyway.
Here are six romance shows this weekend (and Monday) that should shake things up. Be sure to check with the sites as COVID-19 rules differ from city to city.
“Casablanca in concert”
Play it again, Sam.
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will do just that when they perform their show “Casablanca in Concert” which features live orchestral music accompaniment to the classic wartime romance “Casablanca.”
“La Marseillaise” has never sounded so good.
Performances are held at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, and the State Theater in New Brunswick.
New Jersey Symphony “Casablanca in Concert,” 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, Mayo Performing Arts Center, 100 South St., Morristown; 8:00 p.m. Saturday, February 12, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark; 3 p.m. Sunday, February 13, State Theatre, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. $39 to $89. www.njsymphony.org.
A howl on the boardwalk
Speaking of Paris…
Jersey Shore Howl’s new acoustic jazz trio will light up the Langosta Lounge on the Asbury Park promenade on Valentine’s Day, Monday, February 14.
“It’s going to be an enjoyable evening of gypsy jazz,” said Peter Mantas, Langosta’s entertainment director. “It’s like a night in Paris without the plane ticket.”
Howl, 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14, Langosta Lounge, 1000 N. Ocean Ave., Asbury Park. To free. www.langostalounge.com.
violin romance
Ludwig van Beethoven composed two novels for the violin, and the small instrument has a great capacity to express love. The South Florida-based Sons of Mystro, whose love for the violin leads them to play multiple genres on the instrument, perform Friday, Feb. 11 at Stockton’s Performing Arts Center in Galloway.
The group is made up of brothers Malcolm and Umoja McNeish, and Mystro is their father, a DJ.
Sons of Mystro, 7:30 p.m. Friday, February 11, Stockton Performing Arts Center, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway. $32. visit www.stockton.edu/pac.
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Long Branch Love Songs
Emily and Johnny arrive just in time for Valentine’s Day weekend.
Jersey Shore singer Emily Grove and Johnny Phillips of Burlap to Cashmere join forces for an afternoon of love songs on Sunday February 13 at the Whitechapel Projects in Long Branch.
Emily Grove and Johnny Phillips, 1 p.m., Sunday, February 13, Whitechapel Projects, 15 Second Ave., Long Branch. www.whitechapelprojects.com.
Whitney Cummings in Montclair
Whitney Cummings Valentine’s Day Appropriate Touch Me Tour arrives at the Welmont Theater in Montclair on Saturday, February 12.
The funny girl has advice for singles.
“Re the Tinder Swindler: If Someone Tells You They Own a Diamond Business and Doesn’t Wear Diamonds or Give You Diamonds, or Even Shows You Pictures of Diamonds, Google Stronger,” recently tweeted Cummings.
We’re guessing more such tips will air at Welmont on Saturday, just in case you’re single this Valentine’s Day.
Whitney Cummings with Ricky Velez, 7 p.m. Saturday, February 12, Welmont Theater, 5 Seymour Street, Montclair. $39 to $59. wellmonttheater.com.
Stupid cupid with stone pony
Southside Johnny has a fever, and the Asbury Jukes’ Stupid Cupid show on Saturday, February 12 at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park is the cure. It’s an evening of classic Jukes and Southside-style love songs.
Stupid Cupid with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, Stone Pony, 913 N. Ocean Ave., Asbury Park. $45 to $50. stoneponyonline.com.
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Jersey Shore native Chris Jordan covers entertainment and reporting for USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; [email protected]