New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Theater to Go presents "Other Desert Cities" at Kelsey Theatre

originally published: 05/05/2023


Parker Madison, David Williams, Peggy Waldron, Dara Lewis

(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.

Brooke announces she is about to publish a memoir dredging up a pivotal and tragic event in the family’s history — a wound they don’t want reopened. Her wealthy Republican parents, former friends of the Reagans and stalwarts of their local country club, are wary and suspicious Her brother Trip won't play her game and her Aunt Silda knows way too much. Her parents fall into all their old routines as they plead with her to keep their story quiet. In this family, secrets are currency, and everyone is rich.

Other Desert Cities was a 2012 Pulitzer Prize finalist and a 2012 Nominee for 5 Tony awards. Ben Brantley of the NY Times called it "A witty and deeply enjoyable family drama. The most richly enjoyable new play for grownups."

The Wyeth family is portrayed by David Williams and Peggy Waldron as Lyman and Polly, the parents. Dara Lewis and Parker Madison as Brooke and Trip, their children, and Susan Schwirck as their aunt Silda the busybody recovering alcoholic.

Directed and produuced by Ruth Markoe, the creative team includes, Ron Lasky (stage manager), Haley Schmalbach (Set design), Kitty Getlik (lighting design), Eeric Collins (sound design), Ruth and Melissa Rittmann (costumes).




New Jersey Stage provides affordable advertising for the arts, click here for info



Performances take place Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm at Kelsey Theatre in West Windsor NJ on the campus of Mercer County Community College. Tickets are $20-22 and can be purchased online at www.KelseyTheatre.org

Theater To Go, under the leadership of Ruth Markoe, began in 1992 and has been providing quality entertainment in NJ and regionally since then. It is best known for audience participation murder mysteries and other interactive comedy theater and now produces full length plays and staged readings. In addition to the interactive comedy murder mysteries, Theatre To Go has been among the resident companies at Kelsey Theatre producing such plays as To Kill a Mockingbird, A Raisin in the Sun, Room Service, Cabaret, and Dial M for Murder, a runner up in the 2022 Broadway World Regional Awards for Best Play and Best Director. Most recently Ruth Markoe produced and directed The Fantasticks at Kelsey Theatre.




New Jersey Stage provides affordable advertising for the arts, click here for info



 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Westfield

Westfield Community Players presents "Much Ado about Nothing" set in the Jazz Age

(WESTFIELD, NJ) -- Westfield Community Players presents Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing with flappers and gangsters a la Al Capone? Performances run across three weekends (October 11-25, 2025).



Chatham

Chatham Players presents "Stage Kiss" by Sarah Ruhl

(CHATHAM, NJ) -- Chatham Players presents Stage Kiss by Sarah Ruhl across 3 weekends from October 10-25, 2025. Directed by Gabrielle Wagner Mann, the play is about art imitating life and life imitating art.



interACT

interACT Theatre Productions presents "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde"

(MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- interACT Theatre Productions presents Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde weekends from October 10-25, 2025 Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from the novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, this is a new and shocking version of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale of depravity, lust, love and horror featuring the many faces of Mr. Hyde.



Chatham

Chatham Players Kick Off Their 104th Season with Romantic Comedy, "Stage Kiss" by Sarah Ruhl

(CHATHAM, NJ) -- The Chatham Community Players will open their 104th season with the romantic comedy, Stage Kiss by Sarah Ruhl from October 10 – October 25, 2025 at The Chatham Playhouse. Art imitates Life. Life imitates Art. When two actors with a passionate history are thrown together as romantic leads in a forgotten 1930s melodrama, they quickly lose touch with reality as the lines between offstage and onstage begin to blur.



Thinkery

Thinkery & Verse reimagine "The Tragedy of Macbeth" in Colonial Middlesex County

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Thinkery & Verse returns to the Church of St. John the Evangelist in New Brunswick with the World Premiere of The Tragedy of Macbeth, adapted by Dr. J.M. Meyer and Karen Eliza Alvarado and directed by Dr. J.M. Meyer. The production has a three-week limited engagement at the Assembly Hall at the Church of Saint John the Evangelist from October 8-25, 2025.




FEATURED EVENTS

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

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


George

George Street Playhouse presents An Old-Fashioned Family Murder

Friday, October 24, 2025 @ 7:30pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: theatre


 

Dracula

Dracula

Friday, October 24, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre


 

Shakespeare

Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein"

Friday, October 24, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ - F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre
36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
category: theatre


 

The

The Growing Stage presents "Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Musical"

Friday, October 24, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Historic Palace Theatre
7 Ledgewood Avenue, Netcong, NJ 07857
category: theatre


 

interACT

interACT Theatre Productions presents "DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE"

Friday, October 24, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts
10 Durand Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040
category: theatre


 



Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info