Here are previews of plays taking place from June 27 to July 3, 2023 including a look at productions starting this week, those continuing this week, and those closing this week. 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.
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Plays opening this week
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 - Edward Albee: From A To Zoo Continues at Black Box on June 28th (ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- The Black Box, Northern NJ's incubator for new and under produced works from world-class artists, is proud to announce that Edward Albee: From A To Zoo will continue on Wednesday, June 28th at 7:30pm with Finding The Sun (1987) and Marriage Play (1987). Attend these exclusive readings for FREE at 8 East Palisade Avenue, 2nd Floor, between Dean Street and Van Brunt in Englewood, NJ.
Friday, June 30, 2023 - Howell PAL Theater Company to present "West Side Story" (LAKEWOOD, NJ) -- The Howell PAL Theater Company presents their 2023 production, West Side Story, at the Strand Center for the Arts in Lakewood on Friday, June 30th and Saturday, July 1st. From the first notes to the final breath, West Side Story is one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time. The book and score are written by Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim, and Leonard Bernstein widely regarded as one of the best ever written, with original direction and choreography by the world-renowned Jerome Robbins.
Plays ending this week
Paper Mill Playhouse Announces Cast and Creative for "Rent" (MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee, Producing Artistic Director; Michael Stotts, Executive Director), recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, has announced the cast and creative team for Rent by Jonathan Larson, directed by Zi Alikhan (Resident Director of Hamilton) and choreographed by Steph Paul (New York Theatre Workshop: How to Defend Yourself). The show runs June 7 through July 2, 2023.
Online International Premiere Screening of "Liberi Tutti!" – A Play Based on Chesterton's "The Surprise" (SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- The G. K. Chesterton Institute for Faith & Culture at Seton Hall University and the Rimini Meeting are pleased to announce that the Online International Premiere Screening of "Liberi Tutti!" -- directed by Otello Cenci and based on G. K. Chesterton’s "The Surprise" -- will be presented to view online from Tuesday, June 20 to Tuesday, June 27, 2023.
The Premier Theatre Company presents Roald Dahl's "Matilda The Musical" (RUMSON, NJ) -- The Premier Theatre Company will present the Tony Award-winning Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical at the beautiful Rumson School Auditorium on Forrest Ave in Rumson for 6 performances only. Opening night is Friday, June 23, followed by performances June 24, 25, 30 and July 1 and 2. Evening shows are at 8:00pm, Sunday matinees are at 2:00pm.
Plays continuing this week
New York Classical Theatre presents "Richard III" with All-Female, Gender-Fluid Cast (NEW YORK, NY) -- New York Classical Theatre has announced an all-female, gender-fluid, and disability-forward cast for Shakespeare's Richard III. The production, directed by Burdman, will play in Central Park from June 13 to June 25; in Brooklyn Commons at Metrotech from June 27 to July 2; and in Carl Schurz Park from July 4 to July 9. All performances are free and open to the public.
East Lynne Theater Company presents "A Tale of Two Cities, Cobbled Together by the Brothers Lovejoy" (CAPE MAY, NJ) -- East Lynne Theater Company's new Artistic Director Craig Fols will open his inaugural mainstage season with his own original adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" titled "A Tale of Two Cities, Cobbled Together by the Brothers Lovejoy". Fols' stage version of this world-renowned classic will make its world premiere on June 14 and will run Wednesdays to Saturdays through July 15.
Vanguard Theater presents "Spring Awakening" (MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Vanguard Theater presents Spring Awakening from June 22 to July 16, 2023. This hit musical features music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater. An electric, vibrant celebration of youth and rebellion, censorship and its consequences, Spring Awakening fuses issues of morality, sexuality, and rock and roll into a story that packs a powerful emotional punch.
Music Mountain Theatre presents "Spring Awakening" (LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre presents 8 performances of Spring Awakening from June 23 to July 9, 2023. An angsty rock musical adaptation of the seminal play about the trials and tribulations of growing up, Spring Awakening explores the journey from adolescence to adulthood with a poignancy and passion that is illuminating and unforgettable.
FEATURED
Thursday, June 29, 2023 @ 7:30pm - National Theatre: Broadcast in HD -"GOOD" at Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre, 400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Thursday, June 29, 2023 @ 8:00pm - Vanguard Theater presents "Spring Awakening" at Vanguard Theater, 180 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ 077042
Friday, June 30, 2023 @ 8:00pm - Vanguard Theater presents "Spring Awakening" at Vanguard Theater, 180 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ 077042
Saturday, July 1, 2023 @ 8:00pm - Vanguard Theater presents "Spring Awakening" at Vanguard Theater, 180 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ 077042
Sunday, July 2, 2023 @ 2:00pm - Vanguard Theater presents "Spring Awakening" at Vanguard Theater, 180 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ 077042
Sunday, July 2, 2023 @ 7:00pm - Vanguard Theater presents "Spring Awakening" at Vanguard Theater, 180 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ 077042
Plays coming soon
Vivid Stage presents Vivid Solos reading series in July (SUMMIT, NJ) -- Vivid Stage presents Vivid Solos, a play reading series, every Wednesday in July. The readings take place at 6:30pm on the lawn of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. Bring a comfy lawn chair and your favorite snack and enjoy a summer eve with them. The series includes works by Jerico Bleu, Steve Harper, Douglas McGrath, and Ian August.
Shakespeare Theatre of NJ presents "Shipwrecked! An Entertainment - The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as Told by Himself)" on the Outdoor Stage (MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) will re-open its ever-popular Outdoor Stage venue on July 5th with Shipwrecked! An Entertainment - The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as Told by Himself) by Donald Margulies. Since 2002, the company’s annual productions at this Greek-style amphitheater, located on the bucolic campus of Saint Elizabeth University, have provided thousands of people throughout the region with delightful productions under the stars. As always, this summer’s show is the perfect romp for all ages – from the youngest tots to venerable seniors.
The Theater Project's Summer Season Kicks Off With "Sunset Park" by Joseph Vitale (MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- The Theater Project, a leading incubator for rising talent and a showcase for New Jersey artists, is returning to Maplewood's Burgdorff Cultural Center, 10 Durand Road, for the second straight summer season. Award-winning writer Joseph Vitale's Sunset Park — three intertwining stories that prove no matter how old you get, love, longing, jealousy, and hope remain constant—kicks off the Summer Season July 6-16. The play was also a finalist in the 2022 NY Theater Fall Festival.
The Theater Project presents "Sunset Park" (MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- "No matter how old you get, love, longing, jealousy, and hope remain constant" -- Sunset Park by award-winning writer Joseph Vitale kicks off the Summer Season at The Theater Project, a leading incubator for rising talent and a showcase for New Jersey artists. The company is returning to Maplewood's Burgdorff Cultural Center, 10 Durand Road, with a packed schedule of new and lesser-known work. Sunset Park, performing July 6- 16, consists of four intertwining stories about growing older and coming to terms with the changes in our lives.
Lomotion Live presents The One Act One Act Play Festival (BOOTON, NJ) -- Lomotion Live presents The One Act One Act Play Festival the weekend of July 8-9 at The Parsippany Arts Center. Two nights of brand new short comedies written by top New Jersey playwrights. Directed by and starring a stalwart team of NJ Directors and Actors. This weekend promises to bring you a fun weekend full of laughter steeped in reality. Not your Mamas One Acts!
Surflight Theatre presents "Something Rotten!" BEACH HAVEN, NJ) -- Surflight Theatre continues their 2023 season with the hilarious musical comedy, Something Rotten! with performances from July 11-30. Welcome to the Renaissance and this outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce. Receiving 10 Tony Nominations, it was hailed by Time Out New York as "the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years." From the co-director of The Book of Mormon and the producer of Avenue Q comes something original...something fresh...Something Rotten!
Premiere Stages presents "Satellites" by Erin Breznitsky - An Innovative Exploration of Time and Space (UNION, NJ) -- Premiere Stages at Kean University will present the Premiere of Satellites by Erin Breznitsky from July 13-30 in Kean University's Bauer Boucher Theatre Center. Selected as the winner of the 2022 Premiere Play Festival, the first production of this new play will be one of Premiere's most ambitious to date, as a talented team of designers work with the director and cast to meld together projections, sound, lighting, scenic design and costumes to take audiences on a journey to space and back.
Middletown Arts Center Presents "The SpongeBob Musical", produced by The MAC Players (MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- The MAC Players at the Middletown Arts Center make a splash this summer with The SpongeBob Musical, a stunning, all-singing, all-dancing, dynamic stage show running over two weekends, July 14–16 and July 21–23. When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world. A delight for audiences young and old, The SpongeBob Musical is based on the beloved animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg and a book by Kyle Jarrow.
Exit 82 Theatre presents "Rock of Ages" (TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Exit 82 Theatre presents Rock of Ages by Chris D'Arienzo weekends from July 14-30.It’s the tail end of the big, bad 1980s in Hollywood, and the party has been raging hard. Aqua Net, Lycra, lace, and liquor flow freely at one of the Sunset Strip's last legendary venues, a place where sex machine Stacee Jaxx takes the stage and scantily clad groupies line up to turn their fantasies into reality.
Light Opera of New Jersey presents "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" (SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- Light Opera of New Jersey continues its 27th Season of operetta and musical theatre with a production of 2014 Tony award-winning A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder at South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC). The play is based on the 1907 novel Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal by Roy Horniman. Performances take place July 15-16 and July 22-23.
