(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Middlesex County and Thinkery & Verse presents an original live production of Liberty Madness at State Theatre New Jersey on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 7:30pm. This is a dynamic, magical stage play that tells the story of America’s haunted past.
On the eve of the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin traveled to Perth Amboy to confront New Jersey’s royal governor–his own beloved son, William Franklin. In a war that destroyed much of the mid-Atlantic, families were torn apart as New Jersey became the crossroads of the American Revolution.
This live stage play tells an epic story through shadows and illumination, masterful storytelling, and live music, to understand the people who lived through the American Revolution 250 years ago. William Franklin, the Loyalist son of Benjamin Franklin, served as the last colonial Governor of New Jersey and remained steadfastly loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution. His refusal to support the Patriot cause put him in direct conflict with his father, who became one of the Revolution’s most influential leaders. Their opposing allegiances ultimately led to a deep and lasting estrangement that was never reconciled.
Admission is free, but you can reserve your tickets in advance here. The play runs approximately 90 minutes. State Theatre New Jersey is located at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Learn more about the Revolution in Middlesex County through Thinkery & Verse’s EDUCATIONAL GUIDE, highlighting the primary resource materials used to develop the play.
Thinkery & Verse seek to perform classically inspired, politically aware plays that challenge us to be empowered, globally-oriented citizens with a keen awareness of the high stakes of modern life. While their primary mission is to create new plays, one of their key creative methods is to perform their plays in repertory with classic works, thereby challenging their writers and actors to achieve new heights of creativity and aesthetics. Thinkery & Verse LLC is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of Thinkery & Verse must be made payable to Fractured Atlas only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
State Theatre New Jersey, a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, celebrated its 100th Anniversary after major renovations in December 2021. Originally built as a silent film and vaudeville palace, State Theatre's historic significance was honored when PBS featured it in its documentary series, Treasures of New Jersey. Having played a significant role in revitalizing New Brunswick—crowned "Jersey's Best Destination of the Year" for 2025 by Jersey's Best magazine—State Theatre resides in the heart of the city's arts district.
Today, State Theatre is the largest performing arts center in Central New Jersey and has welcomed more than six and a half million people through its doors since reopening as a nonprofit performing arts center in 1988. State Theatre New Jersey is a cornerstone of the cultural vitality of Middlesex County and averages a total economic impact on New Brunswick and the surrounding area of more than $18 million a year. The mainstage programs have included high-caliber artists such as Diana Ross, Tom Jones, Kevin Hart, Ringo Starr, Melissa Etheridge, John Leguizamo, Harry Connick, Jr., Peter Frampton, and Leanne Morgan. Program offerings include Broadway, orchestra, family, dance, comedy, rock/pop, jazz, Performances for Schools, and Sensory-Friendly Performances.
State Theatre New Jersey's programs are made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund. For information on events, go to MiddlesexCountyCulture.com.
