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THEATRE ARTICLES

Showing theatre results: From 4 to 14



 

Two River Theater Unveils Bold Five-Year Strategic Plan

(RED BANK, NJ) -- The award-winning Two River Theater has announced a comprehensive five-year strategic plan through 2031, positioning the organization for continued growth and national leadership at a pivotal moment for the regional theater field.



Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center presents 2026 New Jersey One-Act Play Festival

(PLAINFIELD, NJ) -- Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center presents its 2026 New Jersey One-Act Play Festival, featuring five world premiere one-act plays by New Jersey playwrights, from April 24-26, 2026 at duCret Center of Art. The annual festival continues Dragonfly's mission of championing local artists, producing new work, and bringing diverse, community-centered storytelling to the stage.



Hitchcock Meets Hilarious: Bergen County Players presents "The 39 Steps"

(ORADELL, NJ) -- Fresh off being named the top live music or theater venue by 201 Magazine's "Best of Bergen" readers, Bergen County Players (BCP) invites audiences to brace themselves for a whirlwind of espionage and outrageous comedy with the Tony Award-winning The 39 Steps, which runs weekends from May 2-31, 2026. Directed by BCP life member Steve Bell, this breakneck adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 film classic blends film noir suspense with Monty Python-style absurdity.



Centenary Stage Company's Women Playwrights Series presents "Not It!" by Kathleen Coudle-King

(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company brings its acclaimed Women Playwrights Series to a powerful close on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 7:00pm with a staged reading of Not It! by playwright Kathleen Coudle-King. The performance will take place in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center on the campus of Centenary University. Admission is free, with donations welcomed.








Crossroads Theatre Company presents 37th Annual Genesis Festival of New Voices and New Plays

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Crossroads Theatre Company (CTC), a Tony Award recipient for outstanding regional theatre, presents the 37th annual Genesis Festival of New Voices and New Plays from April 9-11, 2026 at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC).



This Week in Theatre: Previews for Plays Taking Place April 7-13, 2026

Here are previews of plays taking place from April 7-13, 2026 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.



NENAproductions Theater Project presents Green Day's "American Idiot"

(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- NENAproductions Theater Project presents Green Day's American Idiot across two weekends from April 24 to May 2, 2026 at the Jersey Shore Arts Center. This is a high-octane rock opera that follows three lifelong friends—Johnny, Tunny, and Will—as they search for meaning in a post-9/11 world.



First Avenue Playhouse presents "Men Are Dogs"

(ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ) -- First Avenue Playhouse presents Men Are Dogs weekends from April 17 to May 2, 2026. This is Joe Simonelli's hilarious comedy about Dr. Cecelia Monahan, a therapist running a support group for single and divorced women.



Playhouse 22 presents "Fences" by August Wilson

(EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Playhouse 22 presents August Wilson's Fences weekends from April 17 to May 3, 2026. In this Pulitzer Prize Award-Winning play, Troy Maxson, a former star of the Negro baseball leagues, is working as a garbage man in 1957 Pittsburgh.







 

EVENT PREVIEWS

NJPAC

NJPAC presents a Spring Season of Jazz

(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents a Spring Season of Jazz with free monthly jazz jams at Clement's Place and two special concert events inside the Victoria Theater. This series, running from September through June, is co-presented by NJPAC's Jazz Advisory Committee and Rutgers University–Newark's Institute of Jazz Studies (IJS). Immerse yourself in the relaxing sounds of jazz music that stimulate the players’ and listeners' minds.



PBS'

PBS' Independent Lens Launches 20th Season of Free Pop-Up Screening Series in Teaneck and Nationwide

(TEANECK, NJ) -- The award-winning PBS documentary series, INDEPENDENT LENS, presents the launch of the upcoming season of Indie Lens Pop-Up in partnership with the Teaneck International Film Festival and the Puffin Cultural Forum. The season kicks-off on February 4, 2026 with The Librarians and continues through May. The series is free for all but sign up is required.



State

State Theatre New Jersey presents The Sound Studio Series 2026

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey proudly presents The Sound Studio Series, an immersive musical experience that places concertgoers at the very heart of the performance. Held in STNJ's intimate Studio space, limited to just 80 attendees, The Sound Studio Series features a dynamic mix of both classical and rock performances. Each concert concludes with an exclusive post-show meet-and-greet with the artists, offering fans a rare opportunity to connect directly with the performers. Tickets for the series are $20-$30.



Morven

Morven Museum & Garden's Grand Homes & Gardens returns with a new series for America's 250th

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Morven Museum & Garden's popular speaker series Grand Homes & Gardens returns for 2026. Coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Freedom at Home: Telling the Full Story of America's Founding Homes and Gardens examines four estates belonging to five signers of the Declaration: William Paca, Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Thomas Jefferson, and Arthur Middleton.



October

October Ensemble presents the World Premiere of "Oh Sh*t, Sherlock!"

(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- October Ensemble presents the World Premiere of Oh Sh*t, Sherlock! weekends from March 20 to April 12, 2026 at The Jersey Shore Arts Center. The actor playing Sherlock has never seen the script. Hilarity ensues as the rest of the cast tries to keep the mystery on track!












LATEST COLUMNS


Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Make This World Stand Still" by Lisa Bouchelle feat. Amanda Shires

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Make This World Stand Still" from Trenton-bred roots/country songstress Lisa Bouchelle's forthcoming album, "Vandals, Thieves & Lovers."




Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 04/09/2026

"It's not long enough but it's a pretty good run of shows. I haven't done a tour like this in about three years, even though it feels like yesterday, I haven't done a tour like this in a long time," laughed multi instrumentalist Hunter Hayes shortly before his two recent New Jersey shows at the Newton Theatre and The Stone Pony in Asbury Park. "I am thoroughly looking forward to it, I have been looking forward to doing a tour like this since "Evergreen" started coming together, you know, coming to life; "Evergreen" has been an eight to ten year process, depending on where you want to start, it's a pretty good run of shows and I'm really excited about it."




BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 4/6/26

Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by Ali Zanders, Sam Tunkel, Brian Westervelt, Jay Ingstrup, A Halo Called Fred, Damfino, Regency Club, and Night Windows. Plus a look back at "This American Life" by Diego Allessandro.