Here are previews of plays taking place from August 15-21, 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 for full information about the play.
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FEATURED PLAYS
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 Avenue Q and here for photos from the production by John Posada.
Plays opening this week
Thursday, August 17, 2023 - 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.
Friday, August 18, 2023 - 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.
Plays ending this week
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.
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 September 3, 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.
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.
FEATURED
Friday, August 18, 2023 @ 10:00am - Seussical Kids at The Vogel, 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701
Friday, August 18, 2023 @ 12:00pm - Seussical Kids at The Vogel, 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701
Friday, August 18, 2023 @ 2:00pm - Seussical Kids at The Vogel, 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701
Friday, August 18, 2023 @ 7:00pm - Freaky Friday at The Vogel, 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701
Friday, August 18, 2023 @ 8:00pm - Avenue Q at Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736
Saturday, August 19, 2023 @ 2:00pm - Avenue Q at Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736
Saturday, August 19, 2023 @ 8:00pm - Avenue Q at Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736
Sunday, August 20, 2023 @ 3:00pm - Avenue Q at Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736
Plays coming soon
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.
Middletown Arts Center to Hold Auditions for "Guys and Dolls" (MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- The MAC Players at the Middletown Arts Center will hold auditions for the production of Guys and Dolls on Monday, August 28 from 5:00pm-9:00pm. A musical fable of Broadway, the play is based on a story and characters of Damon Runyon, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.
The Black Box continues Edward Albee: From A to Zoo series with "Malcolm" (ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- The Black Box, Northern NJ's incubator for new and under produced works from world-class artists, in association with The Estate of Edward Albee, presents Edward Albee: From A To Zoo, An Exclusive Stage Reading Series of Edward Albee's Plays. Next up is Malcolm (1966) on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 7:30pm.
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