Here are previews of plays taking place from November 26 to December 3, 2024 including a look at productions currently being presented and those coming soon. New Jersey Stage covers Equity, community, college, and high school theatre. Check back every week for the weekly theatre preview. Click on the title to go to the full preview. Jump to Featured Events, Event Previews, Event Listings, Coming Soon.
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Fighting Loneliness with Luna Stage's Production of 'Lonely Planet' "Down an old city street, inside a small map store, a pile of chairs begins to form. Two best friends, Jody and Carl, manage the ever-growing mountain of chairs while taking care of each other and navigating the dark reality that looms in the outside world. A funny and heartwarming story of friendship, love, and survival."
George Street Playhouse presents "Gene & Gilda" throughout December (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- George Street Playhouse presents Gene & Gilda, written by Cary Gitter (The Steel Man), and directed by Joe Brancato (Daniel's Husband), from December 3-22, 2024. The cast includes Jordan Kai Burnett (Channing Tatum's Magic Mike Live) and Jonathan Randell Silver (Virtuous Life of Joseph Andrews), who are reprising their roles from the original Penguin Rep Theater production as Gilda Radner and Gene Wilder respectively.
Luna Stage presents "Lonely Planet" by Steven Dietz (WEST ORANGE, NJ) -- Luna Stage presents Lonely Planet by Steven Dietz, directed by Melissa Firlit, from November 14 – December 8, 2024. Lonely Planet is a funny and heartwarming story of friendship, love, and survival. In the 1990s, down an old city street, inside a small map store, a pile of chairs begins to form. Two best friends, Jody and Carl, manage the ever-growing mountain of chairs while taking care of each other and navigating the dark reality that looms in the outside world.
Paper Mill Playhouse presents Irving Berlin's White Christmas: The Musical (MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse presents Irving Berlin's White Christmas: The Musical from November 27 to December 29, 2024. Based on the classic 1954 holiday film, it is a Technicolor Broadway musical extravaganza. The production is directed by Paper Mill's Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee.
Kick Off the Holiday Season with "The Best Time of the Year – Music & Memories of Christmas" at MCCC's Kelsey Theatre (WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- Put away the turkey, unpack the jingle bells and get into the holiday spirit with The MTM Players for a warm, fun, family-friendly musical revue "The Best Time of the Year – Music & Memories of Christmas" for one weekend and five performances, November 29-December 1, 2024, at the Kelsey Theatre on Mercer County Community College's West Windsor Campus.
Centenary Stage Company presents "A Christmas Carol: The Musical" (HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company's Family Friendly, Holiday Spectacular: A Christmas Carol: The Musical will run in the Sitnik Theatre from November 29 through December 15, 2024, with many performance times and dates available, including some weekday matinees. This is a musical stage adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic story, featuring music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and a book by Lynn Ahrens and Mike Ockrent.
Mile Square Theatre presents the World Premiere of "The Christmas Show Must Go On" (HOBOKEN, NJ) -- Mile Square Theatre presents the World Premiere of The Christmas Show Must Go On by Pia Wilson from November 29 through December 15, 2024. This is a new classic tale for Christmas! The fairies in the Christmas Realm have been losing their power and the Christmas ghosts may all be leaving the realm to become Halloween ghosts. Can the Christmas Fairy welcome humans to the show for the first time ever, stop the ghosts from defecting, and make the annual Christmas Show happen?
The Theater Project to Mark 30th Anniversary with "It's A Wonderful Life: The Radio Play" (SUMMIT, NJ) -- The Theater Project will mark 30 years of staging new plays and helping aspiring playwrights develop their craft with its 2024 production of It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play, November 30 and December 1 at the Oakes Center Theater in Summit.
Surflight Theatre presents "Miracle on 34th Street" (BEACH HAVEN, NJ) -- Surflight Theatre presents the Christmas musical, Miracle on 34th Street, from November 30 through December 15, 2024. Paula Hammons Sloan directs and choreographs and Pete Clapsis heads the cast as Kris Kringle. In the play, single mother, Doris Walker, doesn't want her six-year-old Susan's head filled with romantic notions - such as Santa Claus.
American Theater Group's Monday Night Play Reading Series presents "Moses in Berlin" by Erik Kahn on December 2nd (RAHWAY, NJ) -- American Theater Group (ATG) will present the premiere reading of Erik Kahn's new play Moses in Berlin as part of its free Monday Night Play Reading Series on December 2, 2024 at Hamilton Stage in Rahway, NJ. Joseph Discher will direct the reading. The reading is scheduled for 7:00pm.
Theater League of Clifton to Hold Auditions for Dinner/Theater Murder Mystery Comedy (CLIFTON, NJ) -- The Theater League of Clifton will hold auditions for its next dinner/theater production, "Girls Night Out," on December 3-4, 2024 from 7:00pm-9:00pm, at Mario's Restaurant (710 Van Houten Avenue) in Clifton. Call backs will be on December 5th.
"ANNIE" returns to New York City for the First Time in a Decade (NEW YORK, NY) -- Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSG Entertainment), Carolyn Rossi Copeland Productions, Inc. and Crossroads Live North America recently announced full casting for the limited engagement of iconic Tony Award-winning musical ANNIE at The Theater at Madison Square Garden which runs from December 4, 2024 through January 5, 2025. This run marks the return of ANNIE to New York City for the first time in a decade.
Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents "A Christmas Carol" (MADISON, NJ) -- Gather the family and rediscover the joy and magic of Charles Dickens' classic tale this holiday season as A Christmas Carol returns to the Main Stage of the acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ). This production plays at The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre on the campus of Drew University from December 4-29, 2024.
Classic Radio Road Show presents "It's A Wonderful Life" as a Radio Play Classic Radio Road Show presents It's a Wonderful Life, the holiday classic as a delightful radio play, in December. Performances take place in Marlboro, Piscataway, Aberdeen, and Monroe. All of the characters of Bedford Falls will be acted by a handful of talented actors. Sound effects will be performed by a Foley artist, manipulating props to create a soundscape.
Annual Somers Point Porch Performances to Take Place December 6th (SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- The Somers Point Unique Experiences Club, through the assistance of the Somers Point Business Association, and through the sponsorship of Debi and Chuck Westcott in honor of their love of Christmas and in remembrance of those present or have passed who shared this love is proud to announce the return of the annual Somers Point Porch Performances, December 6, 2024 starting at 6:00pm.
WHATCo presents "Love and Communication" as part of River's Edge Stage Series (KEARNY, NJ) -- The West Hudson Arts & Theater Co (WHATCo) presents Love and Communication, a play by award-winning Princeton playwright James Christy Jr., as part of its River's Edge Stage series the weekend of December 6-7, 2024. This limited production follows the surreal journey of parents desperate to find the right treatment for their autistic son, only to find their efforts putting their marriage at risk.
Harbor Stage Theatre Company Brings Festive Cheer with an original new musical, "A Holiday Homecoming" (LANOKA HARBOR, NJ) — Harbor Stage Theatre Company presents "A Holiday Homecoming" from December 6-8, 2024, at Lacey Township High School. Written by Steven Hensle, this is an enchanting adaptation of the beloved poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.
HACPAC presents "The Christmas Caper" (HACKENSACK, NJ) -- Hackensack Performing Arts Center (HACPAC) presents The Christmas Caper from December 6-8 and December 12-14, 2024. Written and composed by MaryAnn DiMaria and Nick Picciallo, The Christmas Caper is a two-act ninety-minute seasonal fantasy saga of Santa's stolen sleigh.
Lewis Center for the Arts presents "The Amish Project" (PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Lewis Center for the Arts' Program in Theater and Music Theater at Princeton University presents The Amish Project, Jessica Dickey's compelling drama that explores the aftermath of the 2006 shooting at an Amish schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, a small village in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Princeton senior Caitlin Durkin directs and portrays six characters forever transformed by the tragic event. Performances are on December 6-7, 2024 at 7:30pm in the Wallace Theater at the Lewis Arts complex on the Princeton campus.
East Lynne Theater Company to Celebrate the Holidays with "Lennie's Christmas Extravaganza: A Holiday Cabaret with Special Guests" (CAPE MAY, NJ) -- Lennie McKenzie, a favorite among the New York City piano bar scene, will return to East Lynne Theater with "Lennie's Christmas Extravaganza: A Holiday Cabaret with Special Guests" for two weekends: December 6-7 and December 13-14, 2024.
Click on the title to go to the event page for complete information on the show.
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 @ 7:30pm - George Street Playhouse presents "Gene & Gilda" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick
Bergen County Players presents "The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical" (ORADELL, NJ) -- Bergen County Players (BCP), one of America's longest-running little theater companies, presents The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical (Theatre for Young Audiences Edition), an "electrifying" (Newsday) musical adaptation of the New York Times best-selling novel written by Rick Riordan, with a limited holiday run at the Little Firehouse Theatre in Oradell from December 7-22, 2024.
Vivid Stage presents A Very Special Special on December 7th (SUMMIT, NJ) -- Vivid Stage, in residence at Oakes Center at 120 Morris Avenue in Summit, is celebrating its 30th Anniversary season, marking decades of bringing contemporary theatre to audiences in the state of New Jersey. This season, the company will present thirty performances of different kinds, in locations all over the region. Next up is A Very Special Special, a Holiday variety show, on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 8:00pm.
Jackson Arts Ministry Presents Newsies, The Broadway Musical, and Oliver! Jr. (LAKEWOOD, NJ) -- Jackson Arts Ministry (JAM) presents their Fall 2024 productions, Newsies, the Broadway Musical, and Oliver! Jr., at the historic Casino Auditorium at Georgian Court University on Saturday, December 7th, and Sunday, December 8th.
Classic American Tales to Hold Christmas Party (CAPE MAY, NJ) -- Classic American Tales (CAT) is throwing a little party to celebrate a successful 2024 Season and give a peek into the 2025 Season on Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 4:00pm – 7:00pm. The Cape May, NJ location will be revealed to attendees who purchase tickets.
Joel McKinnon Miller stars as Scrooge in McCarter's "A Christmas Carol" (PRINCETON, NJ) -- Get ready to be transported to 19th-century London for McCarter Theatre Center's annual production of Charles Dickens' classic, A Christmas Carol. Led by veteran stage and screen actor Joel McKinnon Miller as Ebenezer Scrooge, the show runs from December 10-29, 2024, in the Matthews Theatre.
Gateway Playhouse To Celebrate The Holidays with Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" (SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- Gateway Playhouse in Somers Point will bring everyone's favorite holiday classic, Irving Berlin's White Christmas - based on the famed Hollywood movie musical of the same name—to life from December 13-15 and December 20-22, 2024.
George Street Playhouse offers Live Streams of "Gene & Gilda" on December 13-14 (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- George Street Playhouse and The League of Live Stream Theater are thrilled to announce that Gene & Gilda, written by Cary Gitter (The Steel Man) and directed by Joe Brancato (Daniel’s Husband) will be available for streaming on December 13-14, 2024. Beloved entertainers Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner come to vivid life in this hilarious and heartfelt play.
SPQR Stage Co. Brings Fresh Life into Annual Holiday Show "Magic Flowers" (SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- The short-and-sweet original holiday show "Magic Flowers" will return to Studio;Space in Somers Point for a one-weekend run from December 13-15, 2024. A new cast is set to breathe fresh life into this now-classic Christmas production.
Axelrod Performing Arts Academy presents Winter Wonderland (HOLMDEL, NJ) -- Axelrod Performing Arts Academy presents Winter Wonderland with three performances at the Bell Theater December 14-15, 2024. Take a magical walk through a winter wonderland of holiday classics including selections from A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer, staged by Jessica Totoro.
Festive Mystery Awaits: Murder Mystery Co. presents "The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year" at Brookdale Community College (LINCROFT, NJ) -- Get ready for an evening of holiday cheer with a twist of mystery as the Murder Mystery Co. brings The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year to Brookdale Community College's Performing Arts Center. Join the festivities on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 8:00pm for a night filled with intrigue, laughter, and suspense.
