Westfield Culture Takes Center Stage In New 'Spotlight Series'

WESTFIELD, NJ — The Rialto is highlighting Westfield's history and culture through a new lineup of events that begins on Thursday.

The Spotlight Series will be a ticketed monthly show with guests who have a connection to Westfield and have gone on to be successful in media or the arts. Each interactive talk will be held in the Rialto lobby and will be available online, where the community can submit questions through Instagram and Facebook for the featured guests.

“The Spotlight Series is more than a set of conversations; it’s an opportunity for our
community to reconnect with Westfield’s creative roots and to envision the Rialto’s
future as a vibrant gathering place for performances, cultural conversations, and
creative exploration,” added Bill Crandall, Rialto Board of Trustees President.

The Spotlight Series is also a fundraising effort looking to raise awareness for the next chapter in the Rialto's storied history in Westfield. The historic theatre, part of the Westfield community since 1922, is currently undergoing planning for its transformation into a new cultural center with spaces for performances, film screenings, art exhibits, workshops, and gatherings.

There will also be multiple classrooms, a cafe, and a bar.

The independent Rialto Center for Creativity nonprofit organization is raising 100 percent of the construction and operating costs for the project through state and county government funding, corporations, foundations, and individual donors.

While a grand opening date is yet to be announced, the organization says it will then be funded by ticket sales, rental revenue, and arts education courses.

Schedule Of Spotlight Series Events

● Oct. 16: Will and Aaron Eisenberg, Writers Guild of America
Award–nominated screenwriters, producers, and actors who grew up in Westfield and
went on to create for Nickelodeon, Netflix, Disney, Comedy Central, and more.
● Nov. 13: Tanya Birl-Torres and Monica L. Miller, Harlem Renaissance
scholars continuing the legacy of Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes, who
worked together in Westfield to write Mule Bone.
● Dec. 18: Lucy Ritter, a professional drummer who began her musical
journey at Westfield’s Wilson Elementary School and has since toured internationally
with Chappell Roan and Broadway’s Jagged Little Pill, including performances at
Coachella and NPR’s Tiny Desk.
● Jan. 15: Mike Emanuel, Fox News Chief Washington Correspondent and
Rutgers graduate, returning to share reflections on journalism, storytelling, and his
Westfield upbringing.

Talks run from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets and more information can be found on the Rialto's website.

The Rialto Theatre is located at 250 East Broad St.

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