New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



FEATURES | EVENTS | PREVIEWS | COLUMNS | LINKS | RADIO | ADVERTISE



Events This Week in New Jersey from May 12-18, 2026

Here is a look at upcoming events taking place from May 12-18, 2026 along with our featured listings. New Jersey Stage offers previews of events throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.



This Week in Music: Previews for Concerts from May 12-18, 2026

Here is a look at shows taking place from May 12-18, 2026 along with our featured listings and a look at some upcoming shows. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.



This Week in Theatre: Previews for Plays Taking Place May 12-18, 2026

Here are previews of plays taking place from May 12-18, 2026 including a look at productions currently being presented and those coming soon. New Jersey Stage provides comprehensive coverage of Equity, community, college, and high school theatre. Check back every week for the weekly theatre preview. Click on the title to go to the full preview. Jump to Featured Events, Event Previews, Event Listings, Coming Soon.



Villagers Theatre presents a reading of "The Best Most Super Fantastic Hiking Tour"

(SOMERSET, NJ) -- Villagers Theatre presents a reading of "The Best Most Super Fantastic Hiking Tour" by Fay Corinotis on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 7:00pm. Admission is free ($10 cash donation suggested).



Dover Little Theatre presents "Fun Home"

(DOVER, NJ) -- Dover Little Theatre presents "Fun Home" weekends from June 5-20, 2026. Adapted from Alison Bechdel's groundbreaking graphic novel, Fun Home is a refreshingly honest, wholly original musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes.










EVENT PREVIEWS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY | KIDS

To narrow results by date, categories,
or region of New Jersey click here.
(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- This summer, bergenPAC's Performing Arts School will light up the Taub Stage with the beloved Broadway classic Annie, running July 31 through August 2, 2026. Auditions for the production will be held on Wednesday, May 13th from 4:00pm to 9:00pm. Digital audition submissions will also be accepted now through May 13th. Callbacks will be on May 20th from 4:00pm to 9:00pm.

(HAMPTON, NJ) -- Hunterdon Hills Playhouse presents Some Enchanted Evening from April 7 through May 16, 2026. This is a celebration of songs that have become a part of our lives. We sing them in the shower and we sing them to entertain and amuse.

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- This spring, Arden Children's Theatre invites families into a hilariously twisted world where classic fairy tales don't go quite as expected in its next production of the 2025/26 season, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales (The Stinky Cheese Man). Based on the beloved book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, adapted by John Glore, the production brings the book's fractured fairy tales to life for kids and adults alike. Directed by Steve Pacek, the production runs on the Arden’s Arcadia stage with previews starting April 8, opening night on April 18, with performances running through May 31.

(NEWARK, NJ) -- Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will launch their Land Of Hope And Dreams American Tour across the country this spring, kicking off at Minneapolis' Target Center on March 31. The 20-date run will feature 19 arena shows, including several local shows in New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia.

(PITMAN, NJ) -- The Broadway Theatre of Pitman presents A Bronx Tale, The Musical, across three weekends from April 24 to May 17, 2026. Step into the vibrant streets of the 1960s Bronx in this gripping musical about a young man torn between the steady guidance of his hardworking father and the alluring power of a local mob boss.

(HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- The Camden County Board of Commissioners, along with Haddon Township, invites residents and visitors to the fourth annual String Band Parade down Haddon Ave, featuring the Philadelphia Mummers String Bands on Saturday, May 30, 2026 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. (note: it was rescheduled from April 25th due to the weather)







LATEST FEATURES

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY | KIDS



(NEW YORK, NY) -- On May 6, 2026 - a rainy Wednesday night in New York City - fans and friends packed into Francis Kite Club on the Lower East Side to celebrate the release of Live Wire, the new EP from Lily Vakili. The intimate venue created the perfect setting for a performance that felt deeply personal, emotional, and completely alive.



(RAHWAY, NJ) -- Saturday, June 6, 2026 marks the date when Jazz Royalty comes to Hamilton Stage with Dizzy Gillespie alumni and Grammy winning bassist John Lee in collaboration with 16-time Grammy winner Paquito D' Rivera.



Spotlight Central and Love Imagery have photos and a recap of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn at Monmouth University on May 1, 2026.



The New Jersey International Film Festival returns online and to Rutgers University on the weekends between May 29 - June 7, 2026. Professor Al Nigrin, Executive Director and Curator, provides a video overview of the films being showcase at the 31st annual Festival.



(RAHWAY, NJ) -- Dance Reflections presents "Dancescapes 2026" - an afternoon of original dance works at Union County Performing Arts Center's Hamilton Stage on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Showtime is 1:00pm.



(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Middlesex County and Thinkery & Verse present an original live production of Liberty Madness at State Theatre New Jersey on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 7:30pm. This is a dynamic, magical stage play that tells the story of America’s haunted past.



(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Vernon Reid and Corey Glover on Sunday, May 17, 2026. Doors are at 7:00pm, showtime is 7:30pm. Prepare for an extraordinary evening as two of the most influential figures in modern rock history take the stage at Lizzie Rose.










UPCOMING EVENTS


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




LATEST COLUMNS

After a long hiatus, the Central Jersey band Exit Eleven are back with a new single that they will celebrate the release of on May 8 at Asbury Park's fabled Stone Pony.


Terry Barber is an "Internationally acclaimed" vocalist who has graced stages such as The Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, The kennedy Center and more and his recent project called "Mercury" will now grace the stage of The Brook Arts Center, otherwise known as "The Brook,"  in Bound Brook, NJ on May 15 at 8 p.m. for a one night only engagement. 


Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by Teen Idle, Rich Lancia, Somebody Club, Suede Aces, and Exit Eleven. Plus a look back at "Songs for the Moon" by The Porchistas.




DAILY EDITION

Here is a look at the articles published yesterday. The Daily Edition comes out Monday through Friday with a recap of articles published Friday through Sunday on Mondays.