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This Week in Theatre: Previews for Plays Taking Place January 2-9, 2024

originally published: 01/02/2024


Here are previews of plays taking place from January 2-9, 2024 including a look at productions currently being presented and those coming soon. Click on the title to go to the full preview. New Jersey Stage covers Equity, community, college, and high school theatre. Check back every week for the weekly theatre preview. Jump to Featured EventsEvent PreviewsEvent ListingsComing Soon.

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FEATURED EVENTS

State Theatre New Jersey presents "Come From Away"  (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents the Broadway musical, Come From Away from January 5-7, 2024. This musical tells the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships. On September 11, 2001, the world stopped. On September 12, their stories moved us all.

Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times called the show “An affecting, stirring and unpretentious new musical. Christopher Ashley's production lets the simple goodness of ordinary people outshine sensational evil,” and Bob Verini of Variety raved, “Superb! Canadians Irene Sankoff and David Hein have forged a moving, thoroughly entertaining tribute to international amity and the indomitable human spirit.”




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Come From Away features a book, music and lyrics by Olivier, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award-winners and Grammy® and two-time Tony® Award nominees Irene Sankoff & David Hein, directed by Tony® Award-winner and Outer Critics Circle Award-winner Christopher Ashley, musical staging by Olivier Award-winner and two-time Tony® Award nominee Kelly Devine, and music supervision by Olivier Award-winner and Grammy® Award nominee Ian Eisendrath. The tour is directed by Daniel Goldstein with musical staging by Richard J. Hinds, based on the original Broadway direction and choreography.

EVENT PREVIEWS

In Death's Company presents "Half Moon" at Kelsey Theatre  (WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- Mercer County Community College's (MCCC) Kelsey Theatre and In Death's Company kick off 2024 with the thought-provoking and emotionally charged production of "Half Moon," from January 5-7, 2024 at the Kelsey Theatre on MCCC's West Windsor Campus.

EVENT LISTINGS

Friday, January 5, 2024 @ 8:00pm - Come From Away at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Saturday, January 6, 2024 @ 2:00pm - Come From Away at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901




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Saturday, January 6, 2024 @ 8:00pm - Come From Away at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Sunday, January 7, 2024 @ 1:00pm - Come From Away at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Tuesday, January 9, 2024 @ 7:00pm - Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr. at Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701

COMING SOON

Theatre 68 presents "I'm Not a Comedian... I'm Lenny Bruce" at NBPAC  (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Theatre 68 presents I'm Not a Comedian... I'm Lenny Bruce at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC) January 11-13, 2024 with performances each night at 8:00pm. Written by and Starring critically acclaimed actor Ronnie Marmo, with the blessings of Kitty Bruce (daughter of the late Lenny Bruce), along with the Lenny Bruce Foundation. The production is directed by Tony Award-winning stage and television star, Joe Mantegna.

 

Westfield Community Players Presents "God Of Carnage"  (WESTFIELD, NJ) -- The Westfield Community Players presents "God of Carnage", a dark comedy with five performances from January 13-27, 2024. After an altercation between two young boys results in an injury, the two sets of parents get together with the objective to discuss and resolve the incident in a civilized manner. As the evening progresses, however, the parents become more childish, the "civilized" meeting devolves into utter chaos.

Edward Albee: From A to Zoo Series at Black Box Starts Off 2024 with "The Lady From Dubuque"  (TEANECK, NJ) -- In association with The Estate of Edward Albee, Black Box PAC presents 1980's The Lady From Dubuque on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at Debonair Music Hall: 1409 Queen Anne Road b/w State Street and Walraven Drive in Teaneck. This performance kicks off 2024 with the monthly staged reading event Edward Albee: From A To Zoo, An Exclusive Stage Reading Series of Edward Albee's Plays.

Algonquin Arts Theatre presents "DEATHtrap"  (MANASQUAN, NJ) -- Algonquin Arts Theatre presents DEATHtrap, a murder mystery by Ira Levin, from January 19-28, 2024. Sidney Bruhl would do anything to publish the next great play. He would even kill for it. This dark comedy, thriller will have audiences laughing one moment and screaming in terror the next as Sidney discovers he may not be the only murderer in the room.

Haddonfield Plays & Players to Presents Monty Python's "Spamalot"  (HADDONFIELD, NJ) -- Haddonfield Plays & Players will present Monty Python's Spamalot weekends from Friday, January 19 to Saturday, February 3, 2024. Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur's quest to find the Holy Grail. Inspired by the classic comedy film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. With a mashup of several Monty Python bits, this show will not only delight the Monty Python enthusiast, but any fan of musical comedies.




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Count Basie Center for the Arts presents "All Things Equal – The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg"  (RED BANK, NJ) -- Count Basie Center for the Arts presents All Things Equal – The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Rupert Holmes on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 7:00pm. Over the course of ninety fascinating and often funny minutes, the play presents an intimate portrayal of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a true American original.

Vivid Stage presents "Gone Missing"  (SUMMIT, NJ) -- Vivid Stage presents Gone Missing from February 22 through March 3, 2024 at the Oakes Center in Summit. Featuring a Book by Steve Cosson and Music and Lyrics by Michael Friedman, this is a wry and whimsical documentary musical of loss devised from interviews with real-life New Yorkers by The Civilians, the acclaimed New York-based company.

Haddonfield Plays & Players to Presents Monty Python's "Spamalot"  (HADDONFIELD, NJ) -- Haddonfield Plays & Players will present Monty Python's Spamalot weekends from Friday, January 19 to Saturday, February 3, 2024. Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur's quest to find the Holy Grail. Inspired by the classic comedy film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. With a mashup of several Monty Python bits, this show will not only delight the Monty Python enthusiast, but any fan of musical comedies.

"Senior Moments - Big Beaver" to Have World Premiere in Middletown  (MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- From the team that brought you the award winning Off-Broadway production Camp, A New Musical; Dealing, The Musical; and Accidentally On Purpose comes their brand-new original comedy, Senior Moments - Big Beaver which has its World Premiere at the Middletown Arts Center with a limited engagement from January 26-28, 2024.

Paper Mill Playhouse presents "After Midnight"  (MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse presents After Midnight from January 31-February 25, 2024. Conceived by Jack Viertel (former Artistic Director of City Center Encores!), this Jazz Age rhythm and dance extravaganza is an electrifying musical revue that transports you to the Cotton Club of the Harlem Renaissance, an unparalleled time in New York City when jazz and swing were king. The production is co-directed by Dominique Kelley and Paper Mill Playhouse’s Associate Artistic Director Jen Bender and choreographed by Kelley.

Passage Theatre Company presents World Premiere of "Ghetto Gods in Divineland"  (TRENTON, NJ) -- In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, Trenton's only professional theater company is paying homage to the Poor Righteous Teachers. Trenton's first superstar hip-hop group—the philosophers and messengers for good and for the 'hood—inspired Passage Theatre Company's upcoming show Ghetto Gods in Divineland, a brand-new play co-written by Richard Bradford and Anthony Martinez-Briggs and Directed by Ozzie Jones. The production runs from February 8-25, 2024.

The Levoy Theatre presents Matilda, the Musical JR  (MILLVILLE, NJ) -- The Levoy Theatre presents 4 performances of Roald Dahl's Matilda, the Musical Jr from May 10-12, 2024. Rebellion is nigh in Matilda JR., a gleefully witty ode to the anarchy of childhood and the power of imagination! This story of a girl who dreams of a better life and the children she inspires will have audiences rooting for the "revolting children" who are out to teach the grown-ups a lesson.

Hoboken High School to Be First in U.S. to Present "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" School Edition  (NEW YORK, NY) /PRNewswire/ -- Broadway Licensing Global announced its selection of two schools to make history as the first to produce pilot productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child School Edition. In the United Kingdom, Barking-based Riverside School will have the opportunity to host the first-ever production of the School Edition. Following Riverside, Hoboken High School in Hoboken, New Jersey, will be first to produce the North American pilot production of the School Edition.


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Cape

Cape May Stage presents "Love, Loss, & What I Wore"

(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- Cape May Stage presents Love, Loss, & What I Wore from July 5-11, 2025. Based on Ilene Beckerman's bestselling book, this tender and witty play weaves together monologues and ensemble pieces to explore the deep connections between clothing and memory, touching on themes like mothers, prom dresses, bras, purses, and the timeless appeal of black clothing. Showtime is 8:00pm each night.



Classic

Classic American Tales presents "The Specialist" and "The Wizard of Oz" this week

(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- This week, Classic American Tales presents two different events in two different Cape May locations: The historic Dormer House B&B and Rea's Farm.



East

East Lynne Theater Company presents Ken Ludwig's "Dear Jack, Dear Louise"

(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- The award-winning, Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company (ELTC) – now in its 45th year–will present its first show of the company's Mainstage Season, Ken Ludwig's "Dear Jack, Dear Louise," from June 19 to July 12, 2025 with a special performance to honor Veterans on June 27. The heartwarming love story features Liz Mattera, an East Lynne veteran, as Louise, and New York-based actor Xander Furman as Jack, with Mark Edward Lang (ELTC's "Possessing Harriet") directing and lush period costumes by NYC designer Travis Chinick.



Montclair

Montclair Township Declares 'Montclair Theater Day' Ahead of Vanguard Theater's Inaugural Festival

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Known for its vibrant and lively arts scene, the town of Montclair continues to find new and meaningful ways to celebrate creativity within its community. One of the town's newest initiatives includes the inaugural Montclair Theater Festival, presented by Vanguard Theater and The Essex County Board Of Commissioners. This eagerly anticipated event is set to take place on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Glenfield Park in Montclair's historic Fourth Ward.



Dragonfly

Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center presents Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" in Metuchen and Plainfield

(METUCHEN, NJ) -- Not long after a revival of Thornton Wilder's play Our Town closed on Broadway, New Jersey audiences will have the chance to see the classic drama close to home. Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center will present the classic play in both Metuchen and Plainfield in July. Directed by Dragonfly's Artistic Director Catherine LaMoreaux, Our Town invites audiences into the heart of small-town America through the everyday lives of the residents of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire.



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The

The MAC players at the Middletown Arts Center present "Hairspray"

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748
category: theatre


 

A

A Broadway Tour of America

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre


 

The

The Wizard of Oz

Saturday, July 12, 2025 @ 2:00pm
Algonquin Arts Theatre
60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736
category: theatre


 

A

A Broadway Tour of America

Saturday, July 12, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre


 

A

A Broadway Tour of America

Saturday, July 12, 2025 @ 2:00pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre