Here are previews of plays taking place from August 8-14, 2023 including a look at productions starting this week, those continuing this week, and those closing this week. 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.
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FEATURED EVENT PREVIEWS
Saturday, August 12, 2023 - Algonquin Arts Theatre presents "Avenue Q" (MANASQUAN, NJ) -- Algonquin Arts Theatre presents the musical, Avenue Q from August 12-20, 2023. Winner of the Tony Triple Crown for Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book, this laugh-out-loud musical - featuring actors and puppets - tells the story of a recent college grad named Princeton, who moves into a shabby New York apartment on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that, although the residents seem nice, it's clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood, which is a racy, adults-only cross between South Park and Sesame Street. Click here for a feature article on the production.
Friday, August 11, 2023 - "Dealing, The Musical" to Premiere at Middletown Arts Center (MIDDLETOWN, NJ) — From the team that brought you the award winning Off-Broadway production "Camp, A New Musical", comes their brand-new original show, "Dealing, The Musical" - a show with a distinctively Jersey twist.
Saturday, August 12, 2023 - Shakespeare Theatre of NJ presents Staged Reading of "The Little Prince". (MADISON, NJ) -- The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) presents an elaborately staged reading of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry on August 12th as part of their new programming for the next generation titled Classics for Kids! This stage version is by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar, based on the original novella. The reading will be directed by Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte and the cast features many of STNJ's long-time company members as well as Peri Gilpin, who is best known for her portrayal of the character "Roz Doyle" on the long-running television series, Frasier.
Plays opening this week
Friday, August 11, 2023 - Center Players to Present "A Black and White Cookie" (FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Center Players will conclude its successful 2022-23 season with a Signature Series production of A Black and White Cookie, an insightful new play by playwright/novelist Gary Morgenstein. The comedic drama will run August 11-27, 2023 at Center Playhouse at 35 South Street in downtown Freehold, NJ.
Monday, August 14, 2023 - Surflight Theatre presents "Me, Myself and Barbra" (LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ) -- Jenna Pastuszek and Joshua Zecher-Ross bring Me, Myself & Barbra: The Music that Made Barbara Barbra, to The Surflight Theatre on Long Beach Island for two shows on Monday, August 14th. Joined by Maestra's Yuka Tadano on bass and Meghan Doyle on drums. Performances take place 5:00pm and 8:00pm.
Plays ending this week
"Tales at the Dormer House" include thieves, Gettysburg, and the "first-woman" Eve (CAPE MAY, NJ) -- Listen to stories by Chester Himes, O. Henry, Elsie Singmaster and Mark Twain while taking in the breeze on the porch of an historic bed and breakfast, drinking lemonade, and enjoying homemade desserts. It's all part of Classic American Tales' (CAT) popular "Tales at the Dormer House" in Cape May, NJ, every Thursday at 4:00pm through August 10.
SPQR Stage Company presents "Modern Drama" by Somers Point playwright (SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- Modern Drama, an original play by Somers Point playwright Bill Sterritt, will be performed at Studio;Space in Somers Point Mondays to Wednesdays at 8:00pm from July 31 to August 2nd and August 7-9, 2023. Modern Drama is about newlyweds—Crocker Morton, a playwright, and his wife Hillary—on their honeymoon at an English estate, during which Hillary has an affair with the gardener. To get even, Crocker has an affair with the maid, who happens to be the gardener's wife. Crocker then writes about the incident in a play called "Mind Your Manners," which becomes a huge hit on Broadway and beyond.
The Off Broad Street Players to present "The Wedding Singer" (MILLVILLE, NJ) -- The Off Broad Street Players will present The Wedding Singer across two weekends in August (August 4-6 and August 10-13, 2023) at The Levoy Theatre. The play takes place in 1985, and rock star wannabe, Robbie Hart, is New Jersey's favorite wedding singer. He's the life of the party until his own fiancée leaves him at the altar.
The Artist Collective Troupe to Bring Fairytales to Life In August (POINT PLEASANT, NJ) -- The Artist Collective Troupe will present both "Into the Woods" and "Into the Woods Jr." this August as their summer musicals! In this timeless, yet relevant, modern classic, the Brothers Grimm hit the stage with an epic fairytale about wishes, family, and the choices we make!
Plays continuing this week
Cape May Stage presents "Art" by Yasmina Reza (CAPE MAY, NJ) -- The award-winning play Art opens at Cape May Stage on July 20th and runs through August 27, 2023 with shows Tuesday through Sunday nights at 8:00pm. Written by internationally acclaimed playwright Yasmina Reza and directed by Roy Steinberg, this comedic show is set in Paris and focuses on the meaning of art and friendship in a battle of wits and words.
NJ Rep to Present World Premiere of "A Tailor Near Me" by Michael Tucker (LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- The New Jersey Repertory Company will present the world premiere of Michael Tucker's comedy A Tailor Near Me, directed by James Glossman. Starring Tony Nominee Richard Kind and James Pickens, Jr., this limited run will begin on July 27 in advance of its July 29 opening night and will run through August 27, 2023. In the play, a man goes to a tailor to have his suit pants let out because he's gained some weight since he last wore them. The tailor convinces him that what he really needs is a new suit, which leads to a negotiation, which leads to the making of a bespoke suit, which leads to alterations in both of their lives.
East Lynne Theater Co. presents "Driving Miss Daisy" (CAPE MAY, NJ) -- Cape May's famed East Lynne Theater Company will present Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Driving Miss Daisy from August 2 to September 2, 2023. Driving Miss Daisy relays the story of Daisy Werthan, an elderly Southern Jewish woman, and her African-American chauffeur, Hoke Coleburn. When Miss Daisy crashes her car into a garage, her son Boolie hires Hoke to drive her wherever she needs to go. The duo forms an unlikely, decades-long friendship.
Music Mountain Theatre presents "On the Town" (LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre presents On the Town, one of America's greatest musical comedies, weekends from August 4-20, 2023. With the pomp and fanfare of New York City, the brassy lyricism of Leonard Bernstein, and the sweet immediacy of a day of freedom during a time of war, On the Town is an American classic, beloved both for its moment in history and for its timeless qualities of youth and exuberance.
FEATURED
Saturday, August 12, 2023 @ 2:00pm - Matilda Jr. at Brook Arts Center, 10 Hamilton Street, Bound Brook, NJ 08805
Saturday, August 12, 2023 @ 7:00pm - Matilda Jr. at Brook Arts Center, 10 Hamilton Street, Bound Brook, NJ 08805
Saturday, August 12, 2023 @ 8:00pm - Avenue Q at Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736
Sunday, August 13, 2023 @ 2:00pm - Matilda Jr. at Brook Arts Center, 10 Hamilton Street, Bound Brook, NJ 08805
Sunday, August 13, 2023 @ 3:00pm - Avenue Q at Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736
Plays coming soon
The Theater Project presents "Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating, and Marriage!" (MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- Dr. Ruth Meets Emily Post: With help from her assistant Paco and a few cooperative audience volunteers, Miss Abigail demonstrates flirtation techniques from 1940s and 50s how-to-find-romance handbooks to prove that "love can't be bought -- but it can be taught!" in Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating, and Marriage! The Theater Project presents this play by Ken Davenport & Sarah Saltzberg from August 17-27, 2023 in Maplewood, NJ.
Jersey City Theater Center, Healthier Jersey City and Jersey City LGBTQ+ Pride Festival present "Lovefool" (JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Jersey City Theater Center, in partnership with Healthier Jersey City and Jersey City LGBTQ+ Pride Festival is proud to present Lovefool, created by Michael John Ciszewski with Brian Dudley. Lovefool will premiere at Jersey City will premiere at Jersey City Theater Center on Friday, August 18, 2023 at 7:00pm. Tickets start at just $15 and are available at www.JCTCenter.org.
Clifton Arts Center and Theater League to Host Joint Fundraiser Musical Revue August 25-27 (CLIFTON, NJ) -- The Theater League of Clifton and the Clifton Arts Center will host a musical revue joint fundraiser to benefit both community organizations. "A Toast to Broadway" will be held August 25, 26 and 27 at the Clifton Arts Center, 900 Clifton Ave. The Friday and Saturday performances will begin at 7:30pm. The Sunday matinee will start at 2:00pm.
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