Here are previews of plays taking place from April 11-17, 2023 including a look at productions starting, continuing, and closing this week. Plus a look at plays coming soon. New Jersey Stage covers Equity, community, college, and high school theatre.
Click on the title to go to the full preview. Be sure to send press releases for your plays to [email protected] to have your play be included.
Plays opening this week
April 12 to April 30, 2023 - Inis Nua Theatre presents Philadelphia Premiere of "Hymn" by Lolita Chakrabarti - (PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Inis Nua Theatre Company presents the final mainstage production of its 19th season with the Philadelphia premiere of Hymn, written by British playwright Lolita Chakrabarti. This play tells the story of two brothers who meet in adulthood, and their attempt to find connection and become family. This music-filled two-hander will be directed by Eric Carter and stars Dwayne Alistair Thomas and Garrick Vaughan. The show runs from April 12 to April 30th, for a total of 15 performances. All performances will take place at the Louis Bluver Theatre at The Theatres at the Drake, 302 S. Hicks Street in Philadelphia.
Wednesday, April 12, 2023 - Centenary Stage Company's Women Playwrights Series to Present Reading of "Jane, Queen's Foole" by Barbara Blatner - (HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company's Women Playwrights Series will continue with the second reading of 4 in the series for 2023 with a reading of Jane, Queen's Foole by Barbara Blatner. The reading will take place on Wednesday, April 12th at 7:30pm in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center at 715 Grand Avenue, Hackettstown, NJ on the campus of Centenary University.
April 13 to April 30, 2023 - The Black Box Spring 2023 Staged Reading Series - (ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- From April 13th through April 30th, The Black Box presents an eclectic series of new and under-produced plays, many at the start of the "incubation" process! These dynamic staged readings will be on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays - all starting at 8:00pm, The location is the new Black Box loft space, located at 8 East Palisade Avenue, 2nd Floor, between Van Brunt and Dean Streets.
April 14 to April 30, 2023 - Center Players presents "Deathtrap" - (FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Suspense and intrigue are coming to Freehold as Center Players presents Ira Levin's classic thriller, Deathtrap. Directed by Jeff Caplan of Freehold, the production will run from April 14-30, 2023 at Center Playhouse (35 South Street) in Freehold.
April 14 to April 30, 2023 - South Camden Theatre Company presents "Lettice & Lovage" - (CAMDEN, NJ) -- South Camden Theatre Company continues their 2023 season with Lettice & Lovage by Peter Shaffer from April 14-30, 2023. This is a comical and satirical play centered on a flamboyant tour guide who loves to embellish the history behind an English country house and who butts heads with a fact-conscious official from The Preservation Trust during one of her tours.
April 14 to April 23, 2023 - Old Library Theatre presents the NJ Community Theatre Premiere of Award Winning Musical "The Prom" - (FAIR LAWN, NJ) -- Old Library Theatre (OLT), Fair Lawn Recreation Department's resident theatre company, will present the New Jersey Community Theatre premiere of the Broadway musical, The Prom, over two weekends, April 14th through April 23rd. Performances are on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm, with Sunday matinees at 2:00pm. The Prom, written by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin, with music by Matthew Sklar, tells the story of four fading Broadway stars, who are in desperate need of a new stage.
April 14 to April 30, 2023 - Music Mountain Theatre presents "Blithe Spirit" - (LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre's 2023 season continues with Blithe Spirit beginning on April 14, playing on weekends through April 30. A smash comedy hit in London and New York, this much-revived classic concerns fussy, cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine, who has remarried but finds himself haunted (literally) by the ghost of his late first wife, Elvira. To gather background for his new book, Charles and his second wife, Ruth, invite the extremely eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, to perform a séance.
April 15 to April 16, 2023 - "On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan" comes to MPAC - (MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) will present a brand new production of the smash-hit musical On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan. This inspiring true story about heart, heritage and two people who believed in their talent—and each other—has already won the hearts of audiences and critics alike. On Your Feet! will have three performances at MPAC Saturday and Sunday, April 15-16.
April 15 to April 30, 2023 - The Holmdel Theatre Company presents "The Diary of Anne Frank" - (HOLMDEL, NJ) -- The Holmdel Theatre Company presents The Diary of Anne Frank weekends from April 15-30, 2023. Originally by Frances Goodrich & Albert Hackett, this is newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman. In her gripping new adaptation Anne Frank emerges from history a living, lyrical, intensely gifted young girl who confronts her rapidly changing life and the increasing horror of her time with astonishing honesty, wit and determination.
Saturday, April 15, 2023 - The Broadway Lecture Series at Stageworks to feature Jennifer Holliday - (POMPTON LAKES, NJ) -- "One Night Only!" Tony & Grammy Winning Legend Jennifer Holliday comes to Pompton Lakes on Saturday, April 15th at to share stories and advice from her 40+ long career as part of "The Broadway Lecture Series at Stageworks." This series, created by Robert Bannon, is an ongoing chance to get up close and personal with some of Broadway's Best. Showtime is 7:00pm.
Plays ending this week
World Premiere of "Darkness of Light: Confessions of a Russian Traveler" to have limited run in NYC. (NEW YORK, NY) -- Dol Productions and Pivot Productions have announced the world premiere production of Alexander Kaletski's Darkness of Light: Confessions of a Russian Traveler, directed by Michael Mailer (The Minute You Wake Up Dead with Morgan Freeman, Heart of Champions with Michael Shannon, Blind with Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore) in his legit debut. Darkness of Light will play a limited engagement at The 36th Street Theatre (312 W 36th St. 4th floor, New York, NY). Performances begin Thursday, March 30, and continue through Sunday, April 16.
Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University presents "King of the Yees" by Lauren Yee. (PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Lewis Center for the Arts' Program in Theater will present King of the Yees by Lauren Yee on April 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15 at 8:00pm at the Berlind Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center at 91 University Place on the Princeton campus. The production is directed by guest artist Bi Jean Ngo and features lighting design by Princeton senior Angelica Qin. In Yee's semi-autobiographical play, her father, Larry, has been a driving force for nearly 20 years in the Yee Family Association, a seemingly obsolescent Chinese American men's club formed a hundred fifty years ago in the wake of the Gold Rush and the building of the transcontinental railroad.
Plays continuing this week
NJ Rep presents "The Shot" starring Sharon Lawrence. (LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- New Jersey Repertory Company will present Robin Gerber’s new play The Shot April 6–23, 2023 in its Studio Theatre. The Shot will star Emmy nominee and Broadway alum Sharon Lawrence (Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof). Michelle Joyner will direct the production.
Laurin Talese Stars as Billie Holiday in "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill" at Philadelphia Theatre Company. (PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Audiences are invited to step back in time to a seedy Philadelphia bar in 1959 for the final performance of jazz icon Billie Holiday. Philadelphia Theatre Company (PTC) is proud to produce Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, written by Lanie Robertson with musical arrangements by Danny Holgate. This Tony Award-winning Broadway and television play with music will be directed by PTC Resident Artist Jeffrey L. Page, fresh from his triumphant revival of 1776 on Broadway, for which he served as co-director and choreographer.
Two River Theater presents New Modern Take on "Romeo and Juliet". (RED BANK, NJ) -- A World Premiere modern verse translation of Shakespeare's ode to young love hits the stage at Two River Theater from April 8 – April 30, 2023. Romeo and Juliet, the classic tale of star-crossed love, is infused with contemporary vitality by playwright Hansol Jung (Wolf Play, Wild Goose Dreams, Cardboard Piano). Seen in 2020 as part of Two River Theater's Two River Rising online reading series, this Romeo and Juliet was originally commissioned by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Play On! Project and will be presented at Two River in partnership with the National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO).
Plays coming soon
Crossroads Theatre Company presents Genesis Festival 2023 of New Voices and New Plays. (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Crossroads Theatre Company presents Genesis Festival 2023 of New Voices and New Plays from April 19-23, 2023 at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. The 2023 Genesis Festival features new works for the stage from some of the world's most exciting writers, young and emerging artists, as well as well-known established writers. This is an interactive experience that invites conversation and audience feedback writers after each reading.
Spring Solos Series at Vivid Stage Continues with "The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey". (SUMMIT, NJ) -- Vivid Stage, in residence at Oakes Center at 120 Morris Avenue in Summit, begins with 101 Humiliating Stories by Lisa Kron from April 13-16, kicking off their three-week Spring Solos Series. Second in the series is The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey by James Lecesne (April 20-23); third is Harry Clarke by David Cale (April 27-30). Each of the three solo shows explores the many dimensions that every person contains, and allows each actor to portray a multitude of characters along the way.
Centenary Stage Company's NEXTStage Repertory to present "The Addams Family". (HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company's NEXTStage Repertory is currently in rehearsals for the spring musical production of The Addams Family. Performances will take place in the Sitnik Theatre on the Centenary University campus at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ. An original story about every father's nightmare: Wednesday Addams has grown up and fallen in love with a young man from a respectable family - a man her parents have never met.
West Hudson Arts & Theater Company presents "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown". (WEST HUDSON, NJ -- The West Hudson Arts and Theater Company (WHATCo) has announced the cast for You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown opening April 21st at WHATCo's new venue at 15 Frank E. Rodgers Blvd. South, Harrison, NJ (the former Holy Cross School.) Performances run April 21-30. Charlie Brown and the entire Peanuts gang explore life's great questions as they play baseball, struggle with homework, sing songs, swoon over their crushes, and celebrate the joy of friendship.
Trilogy Repertory To Present "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" At Sieminski Theater. (BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- The Sieminski Theater welcomes Trilogy Repertory to the stage in April for I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, a musical comedy about everything you have ever secretly thought about dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives and in-laws, but were afraid to admit. Performances run April 21-23 and April 28-29.
Park Players Productions, Inc. Presents "Pippin". (FORT LEE, NJ) -- Park Players Productions, Inc. will present Pippin across two weekends (April 21-23 and April 28-30). Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto. The musical uses the premise of a mysterious performance troupe, led by the Leading Player, to tell the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for meaning and significance.
Nutley Little Theatre presents a Sensory Friendly Performance of "Tin Cat Shoes". (NUTLEY, NJ) -- Nutley Little Theatre is proud to announce a sensory friendly performance on April 22nd at 2:00pm of Tin Cat Shoes by Trish Harnetiaux, Directed by Sarah Gorden. This performance is suitable for audiences with sensitivity to sudden light and sound cues.
The Artist Collective Troupe presents 2nd Annual "Wish Upon A Song". (BELMAR, NJ) -- The Artist Collective Troupe will present its 2nd Annual "Wish Upon a Song," an animated movie musical revue benefitting Make-A-Wish New Jersey, in Belmar on Saturday, April 22. Join all your favorite fairytale characters including princes, princesses, heroes, villains, and more for a musical journey that teaches us that the most powerful magic can be found right in our very own hearts!
Centenary Stage Company's Great Authors Out Loud Series Presents "A Celebration Of Shakespeare". (HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company's Great Authors Out Loud Series returns with a "Celebration of Shakespeare" through a collection of Shakespeare's works on Sunday, April 23rd at 7:00pm. This event will celebrate the playwright's birthday and the 400th anniversary of his first folio. Presented by Anne Occhiogrosso and Randall Duk Kim, this event is free to attend, and advanced reservations require a $5.00 donation.
George Street Announces Cast and Creative for "Tales from the Guttenberg Bible". (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- George Street Playhouse (GSP) has announced the full cast for the spring comedy event-- the world premiere of Tales from the Guttenberg Bible written by and starring Steve Guttenberg at the Arthur Laurents Theater at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. Performances run April 25th to May 21st, 2023.
Spring Solos Series at Vivid Stage to Close Out with "Harry Clarke" by David Cale. (SUMMIT, NJ) -- Vivid Stage, in residence at Oakes Center at 120 Morris Avenue in Summit, will close out their three-week Spring Solos Series with Harry Clarke by David Cale. Each of the three solo shows explores the many dimensions that every person contains, and allows each actor to portray a multitude of characters along the way. Harry Clarke takes place April 27-30.
The Summit Playhouse presents "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time". (SUMMIT, NJ) -- The Summit Playhouse presents The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Simon Stephens. The production runs during the weekends from April 28 through May 13, 2023 at The Summit Playhouse. Fifteen-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain, but is ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbor's dog he sets out to identify the culprit, which leads to a journey that will change his life forever.
State Theatre Presents "Legally Blonde-The Musical". (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The fully renovated State Theatre New Jersey presents Legally Blonde—The Musical with four performances from Friday, April 28 through Sunday, April 30, 2023. Based on the iconic movie, Legally Blonde—The Musical follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, sexism, snobbery, and scandal in pursuit of her dreams, and proves, contrary to dated bias, that you can be both legally blonde AND the smartest person in the room.
Luna Stage presents the World Premiere of "The Ground on Which We Stand". (MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Luna Stage presents the World Premiere of The Ground on Which We Stand, a multi-writer, site-specific performance exploring the history and impact of The James Howe House from 1780 to present day. The Howe House is the first property in the Township of Montclair to be owned by an African American and formerly enslaved person, and has been the site of much current controversy.
