'American Idol' Singer Elise Testone to Release New Album

Kinnelon native will release 12 tracks of blues and soul songs next month.

She may not have won the title of "American Idol," but after competing on the show's 11th season, Elise Testone is now hoping to be an inspiration to music lovers around the world with the upcoming release of her new album, "In This Life." Testone, a 2001 Kinnelon High School graduate, has been hard at work on her album in between concert appearances following the conclusion of her season's "American Idol" episodes in 2012. She is self-producing the album, according to the Suburban Trends, which will feature 12 original tracks with a soulful, blues sound. The album is set to release in June. After a long run on the hit Fox singing competition, Testone was elimated just before the top-5 contestants were named. Her final performance was of …

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Kinnelon 'American Idol' Star to Release New Album

Elise Teston, a 2001 graduate of Kinnelon High School, will release her newest album "In This Life" in June.

“American Idol” star and Kinnelon native, Elise Testone, is getting ready to reveal her newest album entitled “In This Life,” according to a recent report. Testone recently played at the House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach in South Carolina with Hootie and the Blowfish and is preparing a tour in 13 cities to promote her new album, according to NorthJersey.com. Testone expects the album to be released in June, she said. “There is something for everyone,” Testone said of her 12-track album featuring back-up from “American Idol” singer Erika Van Pelt.  Click here for more the latest information on Elise Testone's tour and new album.

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Movies Playing in the Tri-Boro This Weekend

Offerings include the new "Star Trek" and last week's box office superhero, "Iron Man 3."

Trekkers rejoice! Filmmaker J.J. Abrams debuts his "Star Trek Into Darkness" this week, setting up an epic battle againt reigning champ  "Iron Man 3" for box office supremacy. Clearview Cinemas Kinnelon 8 is the place, along with the soon-closing Kinnelon 3 Cinema, to find these and other films. Here's the full list of what's showing this week, along with showtimes.  (Use the Moviefone widget to check out showings in theaters in other towns if you're going to be traveling.) THIS WEEK'S FILMS Kinnelon 3 Cinema Kinnelon 8 Clearview Cinemas' owner Cablevision is selling most of its tri-state properties, including the Clearview Cinemas 12, to Connecticut-based Bow Tie Cinemas. Due to the sale, according to Cablevision's website, the weekly …

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Bloomingdale Lyricist Has a Way with Words

Musical lyricist and librettist Mindi Dickstein is profiled.

NBC Cancels Sitcom 'Go On,' Which Starred Kinnelon Actor

The Matthew Perry vehicle got the axe along with comedies "The New Normal" and "1600 Penn."

We've seen the last from NBC sitcom "Go On." The half-hour program, which featured "Friends" actor Matthew Perry and Tony winner and Kinnelon High School alum Laura Benanti, was among three new comedies that debuted last fall but won't make next season's lineup, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "Go On" centered on a television sports talk show host (Perry) who enters group counseling after the sudden death of his wife; Benanti portrayed Perry's therapist. Also on the chopping block were new comedies "The New Normal," which featured a gay couple having a child through surrogacy, and "1600 Penn," which depicted life in the White House for a divorced president, his new wife and their family. "Go On" and the other shows were challenged by …

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Children's Choir Wows Bloomingdale Council

The choir led the council in the Pledge of Allegiance and sang two songs from their repertoire at the last meeting.

After only three practices, the Bloomingdale Children's Choir gave a public performance before the Bloomingdale Council at its April 23 meeting. Director Keren Tuck said the choir is made up of fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students from Walter T. Bergen and Samuel R. Donald schools. "I think you'll be as proud of them as I am when you hear what they've managed to accomplish together in three short hours," Tuck said. The children sang "America the Beautiful" and "Home" by Phillip Phillips before the council and many of their parents. The Bloomingdale Children's Choir is operated by the Bloomingdale Recreation department. They practice each Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m. The choir's mission, Tuck said, is to encourage music appreciation, …

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Monsters, Celebrities Take Over Sheraton Hotel

Debbie Gibson, Jerry Lawler, Patty Duke among stars at annual Chiller Theater event.

The Sheraton Hotel in Parsippany played host to all sorts of creatures, musicians and celebrities in the annual Chiller Theater event this weekend.  A constant flow of attendees from all over the area came to meet, be photographed with and get autographs from stars of television, movies and video.  Also on hand were numerous vendors selling everything from T-shirts to voodoo dolls to jewelry.  Some guests also dressed in costumes to share in the experience.

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Movies Playing in the Tri-Boro This Weekend

Offerings include the Mark Wahlberg-The Rock flick "Pain and Gain" and the ensemble rom-com "The Big Wedding."

Looking for something to do this weekend? As the weather gets warmer, expect the films to get funnier and more, um, explosive. (Yeah, we're waiting for the next Iron Man and Wolverine sequels—action, claws and stuff blowing up—and a new one in the "Hangover" comedy franchise that isn't about a forgotten bender.) At the local movie houses, it certainly looks like spring: The beautiful baseball biopic "42" continues (bring a hankie; you've been warned), as does Tom Cruise's sci-fi action flick "Oblivion. And new this week, there are "Pain and Gain" (a dark comedy featuring big, bulging muscular guys) and Diane Keaton, Aanda Seyfried, Robert DeNiro, Katherine Heigl and Topher Grace in "The Big Wedding" (what's spring without a romantic comedy…

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Movies Playing in Tri-boro This Weekend

Offerings include the presidential kidnap thriller 'Olympus Has Fallen' and last week's No. 1, '42.'

The weekend is nigh, and it's time to plan the next couple days' activities. Get your chores done and be sure to take time for fitness and outdoor fun. Do something to help someone, perhaps a random act of kindness. And yes, catch some television. But remember, there's nothing like the real big-screen experience.  Consider catching a film at the bicameral Clearview Cinemas in Kinnelon this weekend. There's something for everyone: the baseball biopic "42," about the legendary Jackie Robinson, is at the Kinnelon 8, along with the 3D version of the classic "Jurassic Park"; and at the Kinnelon 3, you'll find the Tina Fey rom-com "Admission." Here's the full list of what's showing this week, along with showtimes.  (Use the Moviefone widget to …

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Laura Benanti Joins Singers at 54 Below

Kinnelon native performed with Todd Almond, others.

Kinnelon native and Broadway actress and singer Laura Benanti joined several other singers on stage at 54 Below this week for a performance orchestrated by songwriter Todd Almond. The concert featured Tony Award-winning Benanti and Tony Award nominee Lindsay Mendez on Monday, according to Playbill.com. Benanti is a Kinnelon native and has starred in numerous Broadway plays and television shows, including the since-canceled NBC show, "The Playboy Club."  In addition to Monday's performance, Almond is working on a new musical with Warren Leight entitled "A Separate Peace."

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