(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- This holiday season, Vanguard Theater invites audiences to experience Tuck Everlasting, a poignant and thought-provoking tale that delves into the fragility, beauty, and complexity of life. Directed by Vanguard Theater’s Founding Artistic Director Janeece Freeman Clark, this production runs from December 5–22, 2024.

What would you do if you could live forever? Eleven-year-old Winnie Foster, who yearns for a life of adventure beyond her picket fence, is confronted with that question when she meets the Tuck Family. After Winnie learns of the magic behind the Tuck’s eternal youth, she must protect their secret as she faces an extraordinary choice: return to her life and grow old, or sip from the spring and live forever.

This extraordinary production boasts a cast of 21 performers, including Broadway actors whose combined credits span over two dozen Broadway shows and remarkable New Jersey professional talent. Audiences will be captivated by the likes of Lindsay Roberts Greene (Phantom of the Opera), Dwayne Clark (Shucked, The Color Purple, Paradise Square), and Mari Diop (The Lion King, Once on This Island), alongside other accomplished Broadway talent and New Jersey’s finest professional performers. With such a diverse and accomplished cast, this production promises an unforgettable theatrical experience.

Performances take place Thursdays at 7:00pm; Fridays at 7:00pm; Saturdays at 2:00pm & 7:00pm; and Sundays at 1:00pm & 5:00pm. (Note: there is no 7:00pm performance on Saturday, December 7th). Tickets are available for purchase online. Vanguard Theater is located at 180 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair, New Jersey.

Through Freeman Clark’s thoughtful direction, Vanguard Theater’s production of Tuck Everlasting offers an emotional journey that balances history with universal themes, leaving audiences to reflect on what it means to embrace life in all its complexity.

“In exploring these themes, I was particularly drawn to the unique lens of a Black family living through over a century of American history. What would it mean to navigate the sweeping changes of progress and pain, all while staying hidden to avoid persecution? Their immortality is not a blessing—it is a complex, often heavy burden shaped by the realities of a world that is not always kind or just.” -- Janeece Freeman Clark

The rest of the production team includes Maggie Aube (Assistant Director), Nicole D'Angelo (Musical Director), Lawrence Dandridge (Co-Choreographer), Jason Wells (Co-Choreographer), Rachel Zwerver (Production Stage Manager), Darby Blum (Assistant Stage Manager / Props Manager), Terrell Jenkins (Costume Designer), David Heguy (Lighting Designer), James Gibney (Lighting Tech), and Joseph Fils-Aime (Sound Designer).

Founded in 2015, Vanguard Theater is a not-for-profit company changing social and cultural narratives through theater dedicated to DREAM: Diversity, Reciprocity, Education, Activism & Mentorship. Their vision is to be recognized as a model in the theater community for purposeful inclusion of diverse voices and stories; partnerships that propel cross community conversations; and casting and leadership that reflects our communities.