SPECIAL COMING ATTRACTION: “COMEDY at THE HEADLINER” Neptune NJ November 12th    by Calvin Schwartz 

I continue to marvel at the exigencies of the universe with respect to synchronicity and commonality with fellow earth travelers. Three years ago, I bumped into Matt Swartz, energetic matrix behind Comedy Coach Productions, at a shore networking event. The meeting was perfunctory, pleasant, brief and seemingly permanently concluded with an exchange of business cards. Then, a few weeks ago, those aforementioned forces extant at Facebook, brought Matt and I together again; this time, with purpose and vision. Part of the forces were Matt’s comedic affiliations and pursuits. I love, love comedy. I need to laugh more than extemporaneously. Through the process of information gathering (not lurking) I discovered (I do write  for NJ Discover) that Matt is also a long time educator in Newark’s Public Schools. I am a product of Newark schools. The synchronicity deepens.

Lately, I’ve written about education and the future of planet earth so I am drawn to an educator’s aura. Matt and I met last week at the juncture of two Monmouth County roads for coffee and absolutely no donuts. I was keenly interested in his role as teacher, educator and track and field coach in Newark. And I was just as captivated with Matt’s comedic journey which began with his amazing comedian father Danny, who worked the Catskills and traveled around the country.

Finally, Matt told me about the special comedy show series he’s producing, “Comedy at The Headliner” which opens November 12^th. I was “sold” immediately. It features well known comedians Peaches Rodriguez, Mike Spade(also magician) and is hosted by the hilarious Dave Lester. It’s a fun night in Neptune on Route 35 at The Headliner along the banks of the Shark River, my favorite river on earth. I love to laugh and we’ll do plenty of that on November 12^th. So get off the sedentary sofa and come on down to the Jersey Shore.                        Calvin

Schwartz

FOR TICKETS CALL: Matt @ 732-397-4848 or Syasia at (848) 667-6338

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE:   https://www.facebook.com/events/1761886257406942/

The Legendary HEADLINER, the Shore’s Number 1 Night Club, along with Comedy Coach Productions presents the Shore’s newest, and hottest monthly Comedy Show starting Nov. 12th! Other dates to follow are December 10th, January 14th, and February 11th.

Doors open at 7 pm, Show starts at 8pm, and then when the show is over, dance and enjoy the rest of your evening with one of the shore’s best DJs. Nationally known comics from all over will be hitting the stage to bring the LOL. Comics from HBO, BET, TV, Movies, will be appearing each month.

Ticket price (only $20) to include admission to the show and all night to the Headliner. Plus, your first drink (wine, beer, or soda) is covered in your admission price. There will be food and drink specials all night!

More details to follow, but if you have any questions contact Matt Swartz at 732-397-4848.

PEACHES RODRIGUEZ:

Peaches is a Latina Diva of Comedy, who is a nationally touring comic, and a regular in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. She has appeared on CBS Paula Abdul Show, opened for Arsenio Hall at Caesars in Atlantic City, has performed at the world famous Apollo Theater and spoke at Yale University’s “Women in Comedy” panel last February.  Peaches is a veteran comic who is respected by her peers and all audiences she has performed for. She is a firecracker guaranteed to make the crowd explode with laughter.

MIKE SPADE:

A lifelong “Jersey Boy”, born and raised in Essex County, Mike has been entertaining audiences throughout the country for years, performing in comedy clubs, colleges, private parties, corporate events, and more.  He has been an opening act for Regis Philbin, Jeff Dunham, Chris Rock, Bon Jovi, and many others, including the entire cast of Celebrity Apprentice at their Season 12 finale. He consistently astounds audiences with his unrelenting energy and riotous Comedy-Magic. Mike’s show is filled with tons of amazing and hysterical routines.  With the perfect blend of Magic and Comedy, whether experiencing the sleight of hand artistry or the stand-up wizardry of Mike Spade, the audience will not believe their eyes! Cards, coins, and other objects vanish, re-appear, change colors, morph and materialize right before your very eyes!

MATT SWARTZ:

A lifelong public educator, and Head Varsity Track and Field Coach, Matthew formed Comedy Coach Productions in 2010, to bring Professional Comedy to the shore! His first show starred the legendary comedian HAMBURGER in Asbury Park. Matt has produced shows in Asbury Park, Ocean Township, Neptune, Brick, West Long Branch, and then expanded into Sayreville, Perth Amboy, and Newark. He has used his business to raise tens of thousands of dollars for College Teams, High School Teams, Breast Cancer Awareness, Autism, Little League Baseball, and most recently provide the entertainment for the Neptune Township Mayors Charity Ball that raised $20,000 for the Neptune Public Library.

Currently, Comedy Coach Productions has agreed to do four shows at the Shores Premiere Club, The Headliner, located on 1401 Route 35 in Neptune. The Jersey Shore’s hottest nightclub, The Headliner, is “High-Energy,” all the time. It is considered a favorite by locals and visitors alike due to its stellar entertainment lineup, close proximity to the Shore, and great hospitality. The Headliner is designed purely with the total entertainment experience in mind. You can have a drink, party with friends, get down on the dance floor, or grab a bite. Comedy Coach Production has joined forces with the Headliner to provide the Shore’s Best Monthly Comedy Show, featuring only A List Comedians.

FOR TICKETS CALL: Matt @ 732-397-4848 or Syasia at (848) 667-6338

SPECIAL SPOTLIGHT: TIM WRIGHT, RUTGERS, NFL AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY; WRIGHT WAY ACADEMY, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS CAMP
bY Calvin Schwartz July 6th 2015

As they say in the journalism profession, there are assignments and ASSIGNMENTS. For me, being a loyal Rutgers alumnus and ardent Rutgers sports fan, when the information about Tim Wright, whom I personally watched make 50 catches during his Rutgers career, arrived at my email, I was thrilled to have the opportunity. Moments later, I called Tonya Payton, public relations specialist from S & S Associates and I was on my way to a memorable day with Tim Wright and other NFL players.  I was fascinated with the story of such a young NFL player, Tim Wright, giving back so much, so soon, to the community which helped mold him.

When Tim was seven, he started playing organized football in his hometown of Neptune and played for their high school for two years before transferring to Wall Township where he made the list of Top Ten New Jersey High School Football players. In September 2008, he attended Rutgers University on full scholarship. After a red-shirt year and an ACL injury, Tim’s passion, dedication and drive brought him a team captainship for his last two years at Rutgers as well as graduating with high honors and Big East academic awards. Despite the disappointment of not being picked in the NFL draft after graduating in 2013, and after prayer and many discussions with key people in his life, Tim tried out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he excelled as a tight end, finishing Number One among Rookie Tight Ends in catches, yards and touchdowns. He was traded to the New England Patriots in 2014 when they won the Super Bowl.

Along with the help of his wife Jodi-Ann, Tim has pledged and dedicated his life to uplifting his community and thusly the formation of the Wright Way Academy and their first endeavor, Friday Night Lights Football Camp on June 26^th 2015. The first part of the day began at Doolan’s Shore Club in Spring Lake, New Jersey at a Media and Sponsor’s Brunch.  Before the brunch and speeches, it was a bit of a wonderland for me, getting a chance to talk to NFL players and stars like Mohammed Sanu (Bengals), Ka’lial Glaud (Buccaneers) and Andrew Opoku (Baltimore Ravens). An impromptu infusion of humor ensued when Sanu, Glaud and I posed for a Rutgers alumni photo-op not before inviting rival UCONN star, Opoku to join us.

There was time for me to chat with some of the sponsors of the event; for me a particularly moving experience as I saw their commitment to Tim’s vision and how they assisted in his development as a special young man growing up in their community.  As Tim was making his opening remarks at the brunch, I was again moved by his sincerity, caring and eloquence in expressing his vision and strong desire to give back to the kids in the NJ Shore communities close to him. I thought he was a 20 year NFL veteran instead of beginning his third playing year.  After brunch, Tim suggested we sit and talk in a formal interview. I produced my recorder, flicked it on and he smiled.

I asked him to formally introduce himself. “My name is Tim Wright, originally from Neptune, where I went through the school system playing every sport all the way through my sophomore year then I transferred to Wall Township.” He talked about his Rutgers and NFL career and then segued to today. “This brings me to the platform where I was able to establish the Wright Way Academy Foundation-something which I launched in May. The premise behind that is to foster underprivileged children in bridging the gap between playing athletics, academics and quality of life for all kids.”

“What do you want to accomplish?” “What I want to do is give them the means, resources, and decent opportunities to become successful adults and that way they can serves as examples to kids that follow them which is what I am a product of as well. “How was it growing up,” I asked. Tim answered, “I was raised in my community with a lot of family members that supported me. A lot of people that came across my path- strength coaches, doctors, attorneys; different influences of people”  I told Tim, “It is easy for me to see you’re all about giving back especially to the community that helped you and I am such a great believer in taking care of youth. It’s youth who will lead us.” Then Tim smiled, “This is something which weighed heavily on my heart when I was younger. It just didn’t spring up when I got to the NFL. For me, my heart and passion is there. I am very fortunate to have support and blessings go to God.  And I am serving him and it allows me to carry out what I’m trying to do for my community.”

Next I told Tim that he is the perfect balance between athletics, academics, spirituality and quality of life and such an amazing example to the kids showing them how everything goes together. Tim thanked me for being there and said in closing, “We share a great relationship with our Alma Mater and when people are brought together, it’s all for a good reason.” I mentioned that it was a special synchronicity in the universe. “I’ll see you at the camp on the field. But I’m just a spectator with a camera” We laughed and shook hands.

An hour later, I was at the American Youth Football Complex in Wall. The kids were starting to arrive and register. There was a real air of anticipation and excitement. A few of the NFL players were tossing a football around. I saw one NFL wide receiver almost casually throw a pass some 70 yards down field. It was time for warm-ups and then an introduction to the camp by Tim Wright as the kids sat in the stands. One of the purposes for the camp, with ages ranging from 7 to 18, is to calculate their efforts and create individual benchmarks, so that each year, they will be able to strive for better results. This one day camp becomes a launching pad to measure growth each year. Later that afternoon, there were offensive and defensive development skills, an academic presentation, more warm-ups, combine testing, and one on one competition. A reception followed that night.

For me this day became a precious glittering example of a very special gifted athlete, Tim Wright, showing all the right stuff (athletics, academics, life) to the kids on the way up; an amazing role model. I absorbed his energy all day. And on the way home, although it was late June, being around football all day, I realized that NFL and college football kickoff is a couple of months away.  I couldn’t be happier with this assignment today.

For MORE information on the Wright Way Academy visit: www.thewrightwayacademy.org