(MADISON, NJ) -- The Shakespeare Theatre’s 57th season promises to thrill audiences with productions filled with swashbucklers, star-crossed lovers, holiday magic, and wild and delightful comedy. Beginning in June and continuing through December, the 2019 season will include five productions on the 308-seat Main Stage at The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre in Madison, and one production at its Outdoor Stage, located on the campus of the College of Saint Elizabeth. The lineup includes The Three Musketeers (adapted by Ken Ludwig), The Rainmaker, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, A Christmas Carol, and, on the Outdoor Stage, William Shakespeare's Long Lost First Play (abridged).
Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte said of the upcoming season, “We are so excited to bring these theatrical treasures to our audience and we’re especially pleased to be kicking the 2019 season off in high style with Ken Ludwig’s thrilling, funny swashbuckler. His The Three Musketeers is a wonderful new take on Dumas’ classic novel. Each and every one of this year’s shows will appeal to people of all ages and from every walk of life!”
Ken Ludwig’s adaptation of Dumas’ The Three Musketeers launches their 57th season with dazzling sword fights and delightful comedy. Ludwig’s retelling of the great classic follows the story of D’Artagnan, a country boy with dreams of becoming a Musketeer and his sister Sabine, who has the same aspiration. Their daring adventures with the legendary Musketeers makes for an exciting night of theatrical adventure. Long-time trustee and company fight director Rick Sordelet will direct the epic swashbuckler. Ken Ludwig’s The Three Musketeers begins performances on June 12.
With performances beginning July 3, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is excited to bring William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged) to its Outdoor Stage on the campus of the College of Saint Elizabeth. From two of the same authors who wrote the hit 2016 Outdoor Stage production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised), this production will be a great way to introduce young patrons to the joy of theater through the irreverent and rowdy comedy that is the hallmark of these Shakespeare spoofs. Patrons can enjoy watching William Shakespeare get “roasted” while enjoying an evening of rollicking theater under the stars. The Theatre will once again be offering free tickets to patrons aged 18 and under to the Outdoor Stage. Resident director, Brian B. Crowe will helm this production.
Next on the Main Stage is The Rainmaker by N. Richard Nash, which will be directed by the Theatre’s Artistic Director, Bonnie J. Monte. Set in rural, dust-bowl America, The Rainmaker is a a story about a young woman’s longing for love and hope. Made famous by the film version starring Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn, performances of this American classic begin July 31.
The third Main Stage production of the Theatre’s 57th season will be William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, with performances beginning September 11. This ever-popular romantic comedy colorful brings audiences to the Forest of Arden where one of Shakespeare’s most colorful heroines, Rosalind, woos the love-sick Orlando while she’s disguised as a man. Inhabited by a multitude of rural and rustic characters, the play contains some of Shakespeare’s most eloquent speeches and beautiful songs. Veteran director and long-time company member, Paul Mullins, directs.
STNJ continues their season with Shakespeare’s most famous love story, Romeo and Juliet. Ian Belknap, Artistic Director of the renowned The Acting Company, will direct the Bard’s timeless masterpiece. Civil and domestic strife, a divided community, and the doomed union of Romeo and Juliet make this one of the most moving and ever relevant tragedies ever written. Performances of Romeo and Juliet begin October 16.
To finish the season, The Shakespeare Theatre is bringing the holiday classic A Christmas Carol back to its stage. Not seen at the Theatre since 2011, this unusual adaptation by Neil Bartlett uses a small ensemble of actors to bring scores of animate and inanimate characters to life as the despicable Ebenezer Scrooge encounters the haunting spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. This magical and moving classic tale materializes on the Main Stage December 4 and will be directed by Brian B. Crowe.
Complete Works subscriptions for the Theatre’s 2019 season are on sale now! Smaller and flexible packages will be on sale in early 2019. For those looking for the ultimate in flexibility, patrons can purchase a Membership to The Shakespeare Theatre. A one-time membership fee for the season costs only $45 and once you buy a membership, you can purchase tickets as frequently as you would like for any production, in any seating location, for only $40 per ticket.
Single tickets will go on sale in early April, alongside smaller ticket packages. The Theatre is proud to reinstate their 30 Under 30 ticket program as well as FREE tickets for young people 18 and under to the Outdoor Stage production.
Bring a group and save even more! The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey offers great prices for those looking to bring a group of 10 or more. For information about discount packages, subscriptions, groups, and single tickets, please visit ShakepseareNJ.org or call the Box Office at 973-408-5600.
The Theatre is additionally offering student matinee performances of As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, and A Christmas Carol. For more information about these school-time performances, please call our Education Department at 973-845-6745.
Special Events: The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will continue its tradition of presenting special one-night events that have become audience favorites. Titled the “Something Series,” the Theatre will introduce a new event in this year’s lineup called Something Romantic This Way Comes providing something new for couples young and old and those looking for love to do on Valentine’s Day. Something Wicked This Way Comes is a spine-chilling night on October 28, perfect for those looking to get into the Halloween spirit. On December 9, Something Merry This Way Comes provides an antidote to the commercial glitz and blitz of the season. For more information about these events, visit the Theatre’s website, ShakespeareNJ.org.
The acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is an independent, professional theatre company located on the Drew University campus. One of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation, serving approximately 100,000 children and adults annually, it is New Jersey’s largest professional theatre company dedicated solely to Shakespeare’s canon and other world classics. Through its distinguished productions and education programs, the company strives to illuminate the universal and lasting relevance of the classics for contemporary audiences.
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional major support is received from F.M. Kirby Foundation, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The Edward T. Cone Foundation, CTW Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, Bank of America, The Merrill G. and Emita E. Hastings Foundation, and Jack L. Ayre and Frank Ayre Lee Foundation as well as contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, government agencies and individuals.
