Here are previews of plays taking place from May 31 to June 5, 2023 including a look at productions starting this week, those continuing this week, and those closing this week. Click on the title to go to the full preview. Be sure to send press releases for your plays to [email protected] to be included. New Jersey Stage covers Equity, community, college, and high school theatre. Check back every week for the weekly theatre preview.
FEATURED SHOWS
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 - The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents "The Rose Tattoo" by Tennessee Williams (MADISON, NJ) -- The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s (STNJ) 61st season will begin on May 31st with The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams. This exuberant, extravagant tale of Serafina Delle Rose, a Sicilian widow living on the turbulent Gulf Coast outside of New Orleans, is an astonishing and poetic ode to this irresistible force of sensuality and the power of longing, hope, and desire. Replete with a Greek chorus-like cast of colorful characters, the play is a boisterous and beautiful celebration of life and love. The production runs through June 18, 2023.
Saturday, June 3, 2023 - SOMA Backstage Reading Series at SOPAC to Showcase New Musicals and Plays by SOMA-Based Creatives (SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) has announced the casts for the inaugural SOMA backStage Reading Series productions: Revival by Broadway veterans Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen and Still by Juilliard Fellow Lia Romeo. The casts are filled with Broadway professionals local to the New Jersey community including Tony Award Nominee Christiane Noll. Performances take place June 3-4, 2023.
FEATURED
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 @ 7:00pm - Vivid Stage presents Meet the Artist: New Play Readings "Acts of Creation" at Summit Public Library, 75 Maple Street, Summit, NJ 07901
Thursday, June 1, 2023 @ 7:30pm - National Theatre: Broadcast in HD - "Best of Enemies" at Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre, 400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Friday, June 2, 2023 @ 7:30pm; Saturday, June 3, 2023 @ 2:00pm & 7:30pm; and Sunday, June 4, 2023 @ 2:00pm - MPAC's 9th Annual Spring Musical Production: Matilda at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC), 100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
Saturday, June 3, 2023 @ 3:00pm and Sunday, June 4, 2023 @ 7:30pm - SOMA backStage Reading Series, New Play: STILL by Lia Romeo at South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), One Sopac Way, South Orange, NJ 07079
Saturday, June 3, 2023 @ 7:30pm and Sunday, June 4, 2023 @ 3:00pm - SOMA backStage Reading Series, New Musical: REVIVAL by Chris Miller & Nathan Tysen at South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), One Sopac Way, South Orange, NJ 07079
Plays opening this week
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 - The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents "The Rose Tattoo" by Tennessee Williams (MADISON, NJ) -- The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s (STNJ) 61st season will begin on May 31st with The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams. This exuberant, extravagant tale of Serafina Delle Rose, a Sicilian widow living on the turbulent Gulf Coast outside of New Orleans, is an astonishing and poetic ode to this irresistible force of sensuality and the power of longing, hope, and desire. Replete with a Greek chorus-like cast of colorful characters, the play is a boisterous and beautiful celebration of life and love. The production runs through June 18, 2023.
Thursday, June 1, 2023 - Surflight Theatre presents "Steel Pier" (BEACH HAVEN, NJ) -- Surflight Theatre is excited to be opening their 2023 Season with a show celebrating the magnificent history of Atlantic City's Steel Pier in the 1930's: Kander and Ebb's Steel Pier the Musical. An assortment of depression era souls are eager to dance their way into fame & prizes gather on the Steel Pier. Songs by the creators of Chicago, Cabaret and other classics perfectly capture the rhythms of the 1930's dance era. Performances run June 1-17, 2023.
Friday, June 2, 2023 - Dunbar Repertory Company to produce August Wilson's "Jitney" at Middletown Arts Center (MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- The Middletown Arts Center is pleased to present August Wilson's Jitney, produced by the Dunbar Repertory Company and directed by Darrell Lawrence Willis, Sr., over two weekends, June 2-4 and 9-11. Set in the early 1970s, this richly textured play follows a group of men trying to eke out a living by driving unlicensed cabs, or jitneys, in the black neighborhood of Pittsburgh's Hill District. Jitney is the seventh in the Pulitzer-prize-winning playwright's ten-play cycle (collectively called The American Century Cycle or The Pittsburgh Cycle) on the black experience in twentieth-century America.
Friday, June 2, 2023 - South Camden Theatre Company and The Stride Collective present "Stop Kiss" (CAMDEN, NJ) -- South Camden Theatre Company and The Strides Collective are excited to welcome you to their celebration of equality and love for Pride with the production of Diana Son’s poignant and funny play Stop Kiss. This production is being directed by Jonathan Edmondson, the founding artistic director of The Strides Collective. Performances run weekends from June 2-17. In this comic and dark play, two young women, third-grade teacher Sara, and radio traffic reporter Callie become best friends about to discover something new about their relationships.
Friday, June 2, 2023 - The Lord Stirling Theater Company to perform "Blithe Spirit" in Basking Ridge (BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- The Lord Stirling Theater Company will perform the comedy classic "Blithe Spirit" by Noël Coward in the English Barn Theater at the Farmstead Arts Center in Basking Ridge. Performances run across two weekends (June 2-4 and June 9-11). In the play, novelist Charles Condomine is conducting research for his latest novel about a medium. As research, he and his wife Ruth invite local medium Madame Arcati to dinner, along with their friends the Bradmans. Charles is hoping to find a fraud. But perhaps Madame Arcati actually conjures up more than he expected.
Friday, June 2, 2023 - JCTC presents Voices International Theatre Festival Jersey City Theater Center, (165 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302 / Entrance from Barrow St., Jersey City, NJ, 07302).
Saturday, June 3, 2023 - NJRep presents PRIDE 2023 in June (LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- New Jersey Repertory Company (NJRep) will present PRIDE 2023 from June 3-25, 2023. This month long celebration includes an Art Gallery Show, a Photography Exhibit, and five one-act plays running throughout the month.
Saturday, June 3, 2023 - Two River Theater presents "Two Sisters and a Piano" (RED BANK, NJ) -- Two River Theater will conclude their 2022-2023 season with Two Sisters and a Piano, a passionate tale of revolution, art, and dreams written and directed by Pulitzer Prize-winner Nilo Cruz (Anna in the Tropics), running June 3-25, 2023 in the Joan and Robert Rechnitz Theater.
Plays ending this week
Bergen County Players presents "It Shoulda Been You" (ORADELL, NJ) -- Bergen County Players (BCP), one of America's longest-running little theater companies, presents the funny, uplifting, musical It Shoulda Been You, weekends from May 6 to June 4, 2023. Under the direction of Dottie Fischer, It Shoulda Been You puts a modern spin on the traditional wedding comedy, proving that when it comes to wedding day insanity, it’s all relative.
Classic Radio Road Show to Present "Blondie & Dagwood" and "My Favorite Husband" Classic Radio Road Show is presenting "Blondie & Dagwood" and "My Favorite Husband" with performances May 26-27 and June 4, 2023 in Freehold, Navesink, and Aberdeen. All the characters will be acted by a handful of talented actors. Sound effects will be performed by a Foley artist, manipulating props to create a soundscape. The cast includes: Duane Noch, Michael Bürgi, Sheldon Fallon, Laurie Noch, Roberta Fallon, and Donna Stiles.
Theater to Go presents "Other Desert Cities" at Kelsey Theatre (WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- Theater to Go in partnership with Kelsey Theatre presents Other Desert Cities by Jon Robin Baitz, in a production produced and directed by Ruth Markoe. The play will run for two weekends from May 26- June 4. It is a story of an American family and what drives them apart and keeps them together. Set in upscale and conservative Palm Springs California in 2004, Brooke Wyeth returns home after a six-year absence to celebrate Christmas with her family.
Plays continuing this week
Lantern Theater Company Presents William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" (PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Lantern Theater Company concludes its 2022/23 season with Twelfth Night, part of the company's ongoing commitment to produce the timeless stories of William Shakespeare for both the general public and local school students. Featuring live original music composed by Barrymore Award-winner Christopher Colucci, the Lantern's production of Twelfth Night runs Thursday, May 18 through Sunday, June 18, 2023, at St. Stephen’s Theater, the Lantern's resident venue.
Crossroads Theatre Company presents the 2023 Spring Festival (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The Spring Festival returns to Crossroads Theatre Company, at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC) and runs through June 11, 2023. Off the heels of the nationally acclaimed Genesis Festival, the Spring festival of plays and musicals closes out the Crossroad's 44th season, kicking off with Starchild- the Ballad of Debbie Walker, an electrifying new play by Divinity Roxx, former Beyoncé musical director, Grammy-nominated musician, author, and composer. This world premiere will hit the stage, May 24 - June 3.
Music Mountain Theatre presents "Something Rotten" (LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Welcome to the Renaissance and the outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce, Something Rotten, opening at Music Mountain Theatre on May 26 with performances running weekends through June 18, 2023. Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of the biggest star of the era, everyone's favorite bard: William Shakespeare. Something Rotten features large song and dance numbers and a wacky cast of over-the-top characters!
Plays coming soon
Paper Mill Playhouse Announces Cast and Creative for "Rent" (MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee, Producing Artistic Director; Michael Stotts, Executive Director), recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, has announced the cast and creative team for Rent by Jonathan Larson, directed by Zi Alikhan (Resident Director of Hamilton) and choreographed by Steph Paul (New York Theatre Workshop: How to Defend Yourself). The show runs June 7 through July 2, 2023.
American Theater Group Presents Searing Drama "Right to be Forgotten" (BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- Following the success of its season opening production of Parade, American Theater Group (ATG), Central Jersey's professional regional theater company, has announced its next production -- Right to Be Forgotten -- a searing new drama by Sharyn Rothstein. The show will run June 8-10 at JCC MetroWest in West Orange, NJ and June 15-18 at the Sieminski Theater in Basking Ridge.
American Theater Group announces cast of "Right to be Forgotten" (BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- American Theater Group (ATG), a professional regional theater company in Central Jersey, presents Right to Be Forgotten -- a searing new drama by Sharyn Rothstein in June. The show will run June 8-10 at JCC MetroWest in West Orange, NJ and June 15-18 at the Sieminski Theater in Basking Ridge. It's a powerful look at today's social media landscape, the drama explores how a young man's mistake at 17 haunts him online a decade later.
Premiere Stages at Kean University Announces 2023 Premiere Play Festival Finalists (UNION, NJ) -- Premiere Stages, the professional theatre company in residence at Kean University, has selected its four finalists for the 2023 Premiere Play Festival. Now in its 18th year, the Festival is an annual competition for unproduced scripts that offers developmental opportunities to playwrights with strong affiliations to New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware. This year's finalists were selected from 701 submissions.
Pioneer Productions to present "Songs for a New World" in Morristown (MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Pioneer Productions brings Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown's (The Last Five Years, Bridges of Madison County) powerful musical, Songs for a New World, to the stage at Fellowship Hall in the Morristown Methodist Church in downtown Morristown, NJ. The show will have six performances in June, June 9, 10, 16, and 17 at 8:00pm and June 11 and 18 at 3:00pm. Pioneer co-founder, Daniel Peter Vissers of Sparta, directs this musical that examines life, love and the choices we make.
The Ritz Theatre Company presents "I Hate Hamlet" (HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- The Ritz Theatre Company presents the comedy-drama play I Hate Hamlet from June 9-25, 2023. Dealing with a girlfriend who is keeping a firm grasp on her chastity, Andrew plays host to the ghost of John Barrymore (played by New York-based television and stage theater actor Peter Herrick), who, clothed as Hamlet, has come back to convince Rally to play the part!
50th Anniversary Tour of "Jesus Christ Superstar" comes to State Theatre June 9-11 (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The fully renovated State Theatre New Jersey presents the reimagined 50th Anniversary tour of Jesus Christ Superstar for four performances between June 9-11, 2023. The musical is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of Judas. Reflecting the rock roots that defined a generation, the legendary score includes "I Don’t Know How to Love Him," "Gethsemane," and "Superstar."
Bergen County Players to Present "From Screen to Stage" (ORADELL, NJ) -- Bergen County Players (BCP), one of America's longest-running little theater companies, will present the final production of its successful 90th season, From Screen to Stage from June 9-11, 2023. Reprised from a concept originally seen on their stage in 2010, this is a new chance to see your favorite movie scenes from our American cinematic history come to life on the BCP stage as actors recreate them before your eyes.
New York Classical Theatre presents "Richard III" with All-Female, Gender-Fluid Cast (NEW YORK, NY) -- New York Classical Theatre has announced an all-female, gender-fluid, and disability-forward cast for Shakespeare's Richard III. The production, directed by Burdman, will play in Central Park from June 13 to June 25; in Brooklyn Commons at Metrotech from June 27 to July 2; and in Carl Schurz Park from July 4 to July 9. All performances are free and open to the public.
East Lynne Theater Company presents "A Tale of Two Cities, Cobbled Together by the Brothers Lovejoy" (CAPE MAY, NJ) -- East Lynne Theater Company's new Artistic Director Craig Fols will open his inaugural mainstage season with his own original adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" titled "A Tale of Two Cities, Cobbled Together by the Brothers Lovejoy". Fols' stage version of this world-renowned classic will make its world premiere on June 14 and will run Wednesdays to Saturdays through July 15.
Mile Square Theatre presents 19th Annual 7th Inning Stretch (HOBOKEN, NJ) -- Mile Square Theatre presents the 19th Annual 7th Inning Stretch of June 16-17. Each year, seven playwrights write seven 10-minute plays involving baseball. The plays run the gambit from heartwarming to hysterical; realistic to absurd. Whatever they are, you'll enjoy a terrific lineup of short plays about the great American pastime. This year's event features world premiere short works by a roster of playwrights including: Tim Errickson, Charlene Jean, Michelle Tyrene Johnson, Cherise Kimoy, Tim J. Lord, Nandita Shenoy and SC Stowe.
