Red Carpet, Star Power and Comedy Come to Cranford for "Midlife Women: It's Your Opening Night!"

CRANFORD, N.J. - Rezul -- On Monday, November 16, 2026, from 5:30 to 8:30 PM, The Fifty Factor and Today is the Day present Midlife Women: It's Your Opening Night! at The Cranford Theater, 25 North Avenue West, Cranford, N.J.

The evening unites standout women from film, television, music, publishing and podcasting for a night of keynote remarks, candid panel conversation, stand-up comedy and networking. It is built for one audience: women in midlife who are ready to step into or explore their creative pursuits and passions in this second-half of life.

A Night Celebrating Midlife Creative Pursuits and Passions

The event is co-hosted by Jodi Hope Grinwald, award-winning author and founder of Today is the Day, and Kim Keating, founder and CEO of The Fifty Factor –a member networking and learning community designed for midlife women to create their best personal and professional midlives.

"For too long, women in midlife have been treated as the audience instead of the act," said Grinwald. "This night flips that script. Every woman on our stage is doing bold, creative work in her 40s and beyond. We want every woman in the seats to leave believing her opening night is still ahead of her."

"Midlife is an incredible opportunity for women to explore what's next," said Keating. "The Fifty Factor connects midlife women through celebrations and shared experiences - that's where the magic happens. That's what we envision for Opening Night."

"I've spent my career making room at the table for women, in government and now in New Jersey's film industry," said Kovach. "Midlife isn't the end of the story; it's when so many of us finally have the experience, confidence and voice to tell it. Opening night is whenever you decide to step on the stage."

"Women's value doesn't expire with fertility; we're the generators, keepers and transmitters of wisdom," said Berrios Lin.

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A Star-Studded Lineup

Keynote Speaker: Mayor Janice Kovach. Mayor of Clinton, N.J., Commissioner on the New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission, 2021 President of the NJ State League of Municipalities and former Director of the New Jersey Division on Women.

Kim Berrios Lin. Award-winning actor, producer, and writer; winner of Best Actress at the 2026 Catskill International Film Festival and Breakthrough Female Performance at the 2026 Festival of Cinema NYC. She plays a recurring role opposite Lea Salonga in HBO Max's Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, with credits including Law & Order: SVU, FBI, Pose and New Amsterdam. Her award-winning production company, And She Flew®, produced the short film And She Flew, starring Golden Globe winner Kathleen Turner, which has won Audience Choice at Chain Film Festival and Best Film at Mom Film Festival. She is also a co-producer of Thank You Mr. Brown, a documentary backed by legendary executive producer Francis Ford Coppola that tells the story of Garrett Brown, inventor of the Steadicam, and how his camera changed the way Hollywood makes movies.

Headlining Comedian: Monique Latise. Winner of The Sherri Shepherd Show's "Funny Over 50" comedy competition.

Desireè Hadley. Executive Director of the Newark Office of Film and Television, the city's first film office, which has supported productions including Searchlight Pictures' A Complete Unknown.

Diane Raver. Executive Director of the New Jersey Film Academy and Founder of the Garden State Film Festival.

Veronica Kautz. Publisher and owner of City Lifestyle Scotch Plains, and an actor.

Anne Wallman. Musician and Program Administrator for Contract Training at Brookdale Community College.

Event Chair: Marcella Gencarelli. Founder of The Women in Business Group at the Gateway Chamber of Commerce, connecting women entrepreneurs and professionals across the region.

Host Venue: Doreen Sayegh. Owner of The Cranford Theater, Union County's last independent, family-run movie theater, which she rebuilt and reopened in 2025 ahead of its 100th birthday.

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Co-Host & Panelist: Jodi Hope Grinwald. Leadership and growth strategist, corporate trainer, workforce development instructor, sought-after keynote speaker and Recording Academy member. She is the award-winning author of Today is the Day. LIVE IT!, with Today is the Day. OWN IT! coming in spring 2027, and host of the Today is the Day Changemakers podcast, heard in 143 countries and territories. She is co-founder and CEO of the Applaud Our Kids Foundation, a Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce ATHENA Leadership Award recipient and a New Jersey Governor's Award in Arts Education recipient.

Co-Host & Moderator: Kim Keating. Thought Leader. Futurist: Women & Work, Speaker, Founder and CEO of The Fifty Factor – networking community, learning hub and incubator for midlife women to create their best personal and professional midlives.  A sought-after speaker and podcast guest, Kim has been featured on The Oprah Podcast, The Necessary Entrepreneur. In 2026, she was named a "Woman of Inspiration" by ROI-NJ.

Event Details

What: Midlife Women: It's Your Opening Night!

When: Monday, November 16, 2026, 5:30–8:30 PM

Where: The Cranford Theater, 25 North Avenue West, Cranford, NJ 07016

Tickets: $100, includes red carpet walk, paparazzi photos, cocktail networking reception, comedy show and panel discussion.

Register: thefiftyfactor.as.me/OpeningNightMidLife (https://www.50-factor.com/events-1)

About The Fifty Factor

The Fifty Factor – Founded by Kim Keating,

About Today is the Day

Founded by Jodi Hope Grinwald, Today is the Day is an ecosystem that brings changemakers from around the globe together to authentically connect, collaborate and create lasting change. Today is the Day offers consulting, leadership connection and growth, and author coaching, and produces the Today is the Day Changemakers podcast, heard in 143 countries and territories, and the International Changemakers Forum.

Media Contact

Jodi Hope Grinwald, Today is the Day | jodi@todayisthedayliveit.com | 848-333-2819 or Kim Keating, The Fifty Factor. I 908-451-1295; kim@50-factor.com

Interviews with the co-hosts and presenters are available on request.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for brands that want to reach an influential audience of women in midlife. Contact Kim Keating, The Fifty Factor, kim@50-factor.com, 908-451-1295