Here is a look at upcoming events taking place from May 19-25, 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. Click on the title to go to the full preview. Jump to Featured Events, Music, Theatre, Comedy, Books, Art, Community, Event Listings.
Most of the events previewed here are articles created by New Jersey Stage, but you may send press releases to [email protected] to have your shows considered for previews. New Jersey Stage offers the best promotion for the arts with banner ads from $50-$100 for up to 3 months of advertising. For more information on advertising with us, click here.
Crossroads Theatre Company presents "Sizwe Banzi Is Dead". (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Crossroads Theatre Company presents Sizwe Bansi Is Dead from May 19 - June 14, 2026 at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. This is a powerful, funny, and deeply moving story about identity, survival, and the extraordinary ingenuity of ordinary people navigating an unjust system.
McCarter Theatre Center presents "Mrs. Christie" - a new comedy-mystery by Heidi Armbruster. (PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre Center presents Mrs. Christie, a witty new comedy-mystery by Heidi Armbruster, from May 6–31, 2026. The production is directed by BOLD Associate Artistic Director Donya K. Washington in her McCarter directorial debut.
Vivid Stage presents Meet the Artist New Play Readings throughout May. (SUMMIT, NJ) -- Vivid Stage, in residence at Oakes Center, will present its annual Meet the Artist new play reading series on Wednesdays, May 6, 13, 20 and 27. This year includes works by Brad Goren-Wilson, Vince Gatton, Erin Mallon, and Elizabeth Irwin. All readings will take place at the Summit Community Center (100 Morris Ave) at 7:00pm.
Thursday, May 21 - UCPAC presents John Waters' "Pink Flamingos" in 35mm. (RAHWAY, NJ) -- Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) presents the film Pink Flamingos in 35mm on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 7:00pm. Join them for John Waters' notorious 1972 cult classic, starring the inimitable Divine as a self-proclaimed queen of filth competing in a grotesque rivalry for the title of "the filthiest person alive."
Middletown Arts Center and Dunbar Repertory Company presents "Seven Guitars" by August Wilson. (MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- The Middletown Arts Center, in conjunction with Dunbar Repertory Company, presents a special production of Seven Guitars, directed by Mark Antonio Henderson, across two weekends from May 23–31, 2026. The play by August Wilson follows a blues musician chasing redemption and a second chance as love, ambition, and fate collide in powerful portrait of dreams deferred.
Saturday, May 23 - Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Alexis P Suter. (TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Alexis P Suter on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 7:30pm. Three-time Blues Music Award (BMA) nominee including the 'Koko Taylor' and Best Soul Blues Female Artist award categories, Alexis is an American blues, and soul blues singer-songwriter.
Sunday, May 24 - Roxey Ballet presents Mowgli's Jungle Adventure - A Thrilling Family Ballet Inspired by The Jungle Book. (EWING, NJ) -- Roxey Ballet invites audiences of all ages to journey deep into the jungle with Mowgli's Jungle Adventure on Sunday, May 24, 2026 at the Villa Victoria Theater. This exciting family-friendly production brings the beloved story inspired by The Jungle Book to life through breathtaking dance, theatrical storytelling, colorful costumes, and imaginative choreography. Showtime is 2:00pm.
Wednesday, May 20 - Avenel Performing Arts Center presents Richard Barone & Glenn Mercer: Hazy Cosmic Jive on Wednesday. (AVENEL, NJ) -- Avenel Performing Arts Center presents Richard Barone & Glenn Mercer: Hazy Cosmic Jive on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 7:30pm.
White Eagle Hall presents The Feelies 50th Anniversary Shows. (JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- White Eagle Hall presents The Feelies 50th Anniversary shows on May 22-23, 2026. The band will be performing The Good Earth and Crazy Rhythms albums.
Saturday, May 23 - Centenary Stage Company presents Double Vision: The Foreigner Experience. (HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company in partnership with the Hackettstown Rotary Club presents Double Vision: The Foreigner Experience on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 8:00pm. The performance will take place in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center with proceeds in part to benefit the many initiatives of the Hackettstown Rotary Club.
Saturday, May 23 - The Barrymore Film Center presents "A Heavenly Evening" featuring Gary Lucas and Feifei Yang. (FORT LEE, NJ) -- The Barrymore Film Center presents "A Heavenly Evening" featuring Gary Lucas and Feifei Yang in a double bill of Chinese music culture on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 7:00pm.
Saturday, May 23 - Starland Ballroom presents Sevendust. (SAYREVILLE, NJ) -- The Starland Ballroom presents Sevendust on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 7:00pm. The night also features performances by Snot and American Adrenalin.
Hitchcock Meets Hilarious: Bergen County Players presents "The 39 Steps". (ORADELL, NJ) -- Fresh off being named the top live music or theater venue by 201 Magazine's "Best of Bergen" readers, Bergen County Players (BCP) invites audiences to brace themselves for a whirlwind of espionage and outrageous comedy with the Tony Award-winning The 39 Steps, which runs weekends from May 2-31, 2026. Directed by BCP life member Steve Bell, this breakneck adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 film classic blends film noir suspense with Monty Python-style absurdity.
Ritz Theatre Company presents "Porgy and Bess". (HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- The Ritz Theatre Company presents Porgy and Bess from May 1-24, 2026. Set in the 1930s in Catfish Row, a Black community in Charleston, South Carolina,the musical tells the story of Porgy, a kind but disabled beggar, and Bess, a woman trying to escape her violent lover Crown and the seductive pull of drugs offered by Sportin' Life. The production is directed by Darryl Thompson, Jr.
Haddonfield Plays and Players presents "Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill: The Musical". (HADDONFIELD, NJ) -- Haddonfield Plays and Players presents "Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill: The Musical" from May 8-23, 2026. This exhilarating musical was inspired by the themes and raw emotions laid bare in Alanis Morissette's seminal album of the same name.
The Players Guild of Leonia presents "Jesus Christ Superstar". (LEONIA, NJ) -- The Players Guild of Leonia presents Jesus Christ Superstar across three weekends from May 8-24, 2026. Featuring Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Lyrics by Tim Rice, this is a rock opera based on the last week of Jesus’ life, as seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.
South Camden Theatre Company presents "Chicken & Biscuits" by Douglas Lyons. (CAMDEN, NJ) -- South Camden Theatre Company presents Chicken & Biscuits by Douglas Lyons across three weekends from May 8-24, 2026. This is a story that explores love, family, and the families we choose, reminding us all of the resilience and unity at the heart of our community.
Classic American Tales celebrates Louisa May Alcott, Mark Twain, Paul Robeson, and the American Revolution in May. (CAPE MAY, NJ) -- In May alone, Classic American Tales performs on a farm, in two different libraries, and at historic Peachfield.
Luna Stage presents PLAYFEST in May. (WEST ORANGE, NJ) -- Luna Stage presents PLAYFEST across two weekends from May 14-24, 2026. PLAYFEST contains staged readings, works-in-progress, workshop performances, and magic! Best of all, tickets are FREE!
The Maplewood Strollers presents "Much Ado About Nothing". (MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- The Maplewood Strollers presents Much Ado About Nothing across two weekends from May 15-24, 2026. Wit flies, sparks ignite, and love is anything but simple in this classic by William Shakespeare.
The Barn Theatre presents Monty Python's "Spamalot". (MONTVILLE, NJ) -- The Barn Theatre presents Monty Python's Spamalot weekends from May 15 through June 6, 2026. King Arthur's legendary quest for the Holy Grail gets a hilarious twist in this uproarious musical, lovingly ripped from the 1975 classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Music Mountain Theatre presents "Disaster!". (LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre presents Disaster! weekends from May 15 through June 7, 2026. Earthquakes, tidal waves, infernos and the unforgettable songs of the '70s take center stage in Broadway’s side-splitting homage to classic disaster films.
First Avenue Playhouse presents "Old Love". (ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ) -- First Avenue Playhouse presents Old Love by Norm Foster across three weekends from May 15-30, 2026. This love story spans three decades with half a dozen meetings between Bud, a salesman, and Molly, his boss's wife.
Princeton Summer Theater Announces 2026 Season. (PRINCETON, NJ) -- Princeton Summer Theater has unveiled its 2026 subscription season which will run from June 11th to August 1st, featuring an exciting lineup of three mainstage pieces and a family-friendly musical. Productions include Barefoot in the Park, The 39 Steps, True West, and You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.
Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents "Private Lives". (MADISON, NJ) -- The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents Private Lives by Noël Coward from May 16 to June 7, 2026 in the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre. A razor-sharp comedy of manners, Private Lives crackles with Coward's signature wit and elegance.
Liberty Arts Theatre presents "I Know What I Give My Life For" (The Short Life Of Walter Klingenbeck) on May 19th. (LEONIA, NJ) -- Liberty Arts Theatre presents "I Know What I Give My Life For" (The Short Life Of Walter Klingenbeck) on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at American Legion Post #1 in Leonia. Admission is free, showtime is 7:30pm. The production is presented by Roland Weimer.
Zoopraxic presents "In the Devil's Hands" by Helen Banner. (LONG ISLAND, NY) -- In the Devil's Hands, Helen Banner's riveting new play will extend its run to 21 performances running between May 20 and June 14, 2026. Set in the Channel Islands in the 1940s, this intimate and immersive production will have its world premiere at the new micro theatre space Zoopraxic in Long Island City (first stop in Queens).
Asbury Park Theater Company presents Thornton Wilder's "Our Town". (OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- The Asbury Park Theater Company presents Thornton Wilder's Our Town across two weekends from May 21-31, 2026 at the Jersey Shore Arts Center. Described by Edward Albee as "the greatest American play ever written"- it is one of the defining plays of American theater. The production is directed by Bailey Dumlao.
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).
Bear Tavern Project and the 2026 Tomato Patch Jr Students present "Cosmic Campfire Chronicles". (WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- Bear Tavern Project and the 2026 Tomato Patch Jr Students present Cosmic Campfire Chronicles across two weekends from May 23-31, 2026 at the Kelsey Theatre. It takes place one quiet night deep in the forest, a group of children gathers around a flickering campfire, swapping ghost stories under a sky ablaze with stars. Suddenly, the stars begin to move.
Surflight Theatre presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's "A Grand Night for Singing". (BEACH HAVEN, NJ) -- Surflight Theatre presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's A Grand Night for Singing weekends from May 23 through June 7, 2026. Taste and imagination, the two key ingredients for a first-rate revue, abound in this fresh take on the Rodgers & Hammerstein canon, conceived by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie.
Main Street Theatre Company presents "Annie KIDS". (OLD BRIDGE, NJ) -- Main Street Theatre Company presents Annie KIDS on May 23-24, 2026. The irrepressible comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world's best-loved, Award-winning musicals.
Check out our This Week in Comedy: May 19-25, 2026 column for shows taking place throughout the state at comedy clubs, performing arts centers, and casinos.
Land of Make Believe slates Grand Opening for Memorial Day Weekend. (HOPE TWP, NJ) -- There are many traditions come Memorial Day Weekend including parades, tributes to our service men and women, past and present, and family gatherings. For many families there is another annual tradition - a trip to the Land of Make Believe, a close by destination with affordable, bargain pricing.
Tuesday, May 19 - Reshape Your Beliefs and Unlock Your True Potential with Bestselling Author Nir Eyal. (TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- What if the only thing standing between you and the seemingly impossible was belief? This is the question posed by bestselling author Nir Eyal in his newest book, Beyond Belief, which he will discuss on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 during a virtual discussion presented by the Ocean County Library. The event begins at 2:00pm.
Thursday, May 21 - Bruce Eric Kaplan to Receive the Maplewood Literary Award on May 21st. (MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- Bruce Eric Kaplan, writer, cartoonist and executive producer, will receive the Maplewood Literary Award on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at Maplewood Memorial Library. The event begins at 7:00pm. Admission is free and open to the public.
Creativity Unveiled as Middlesex College Opens Student and Alumni Art Showcase. (EDISON, NJ) -- Students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered on Thursday for the unveiling of the Student Showcase art exhibit on Middlesex College's Edison campus. The showcase features various student art selected by president Mark McCormick and the College's Visual, Performing, and Media Arts (VPMA) department, which is on display throughout the second floor of Chambers Hall, including the President's suite.
The BrassWorks Gallery presents "Sharp Teeth, Long Tongues!". (MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- The BrassWorks Gallery presents Sharp Teeth, Long Tongues!, an exhibition of works by Ann Vollum, a New Jersey–based fiber and mixed media artist whose practice intertwines storytelling, cultural memory, and environmental consciousness. The exhibition showcases a range of Vollum's welt-felted sculptures and intricately embroidered textile works, each piece pulsating with color, texture, and imagination. It runs from February 8 - May 22, 2026.
Trenton City Museum presents "African American Abstractions". (TRENTON, NJ) -- Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie presents African American Abstractions, a vibrant and colorful showcase filling three galleries with works by James E. Dupree, Femi J. Johnson, and Kenneth J. Lewis. African American Abstractions is on view through May 24, 2026. Janis Purcell worked closely with the artists as the exhibition's curator.
ACC Gallery presents "Echoes over the Hudson". (TENAFLY, NJ) -- ACC Gallery presents "Echoes over the Hudson" from May 5-23, 2026. The exhibition brings together a dynamic group of contemporary Korean artists working across the New York Tri-State region.
Click on the title to go to the event page for complete information on the show.
Tuesday, May 19 @ 7:30pm - Crossroads Theatre Company presents "Sizwe Banzi Is Dead" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick
Wednesday, May 20 @ 7:00pm - Vivid Stage presents New Play Readings: "Neither Snow Nor Rain" by Erin Mallon at Summit Community Center, 100 Morris Avenue, Summit
Wednesday, May 20 @ 7:30pm - Mrs. Christie at McCarter Theatre Center (Berlind Theatre), 91 University Place, Princeton
Wednesday, May 20 @ 7:30pm - Crossroads Theatre Company presents "Sizwe Banzi Is Dead" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick
Thursday, May 21 @ 7:00pm - Pink Flamingos in 35mm at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage, 1601 Irving Street, Rahway
Thursday, May 21 @ 7:00pm - Open Mic Poetry Night with State Theatre New Jersey Poet-In-Residence Alyea Pierce at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick
Thursday, May 21 @ 7:30pm - Indigenous at Lizzie Rose Music Room, 217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton
Thursday, May 21 @ 7:30pm - Mrs. Christie at McCarter Theatre Center (Berlind Theatre), 91 University Place, Princeton
Thursday, May 21 @ 7:30pm - Crossroads Theatre Company presents "Sizwe Banzi Is Dead" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick
Friday, May 22 @ 7:30pm - Mrs. Christie at McCarter Theatre Center (Berlind Theatre), 91 University Place, Princeton
Friday, May 22 @ 7:30pm - Crossroads Theatre Company presents "Sizwe Banzi Is Dead" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick
Friday, May 22 @ 8:00pm - Princeton’s Famous Triangle Show: Aisle Be Damned! at McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre), 91 University Place, Princeton
Saturday, May 23 @ 2:00pm - Mrs. Christie at McCarter Theatre Center (Berlind Theatre), 91 University Place, Princeton
Saturday, May 23 @ 3:00pm - Dunbar Repertory Company presents "Seven Guitars" at Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church Street, Middletown
Saturday, May 23 @ 7:00pm - Princeton’s Famous Triangle Show: Aisle Be Damned! at McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre), 91 University Place, Princeton
Saturday, May 23 @ 7:30pm - Alexis P Suter at Lizzie Rose Music Room, 217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton
Saturday, May 23 @ 7:30pm - Mrs. Christie at McCarter Theatre Center (Berlind Theatre), 91 University Place, Princeton
Saturday, May 23 @ 8:00pm - Dunbar Repertory Company presents "Seven Guitars" at Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church Street, Middletown
Sunday, May 24 @ 2:00pm - Mrs. Christie at McCarter Theatre Center (Berlind Theatre), 91 University Place, Princeton
Sunday, May 24 @ 3:00pm - Crossroads Theatre Company presents "Sizwe Banzi Is Dead" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick
Sunday, May 24 @ 4:00pm - Dunbar Repertory Company presents "Seven Guitars" at Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church Street, Middletown
