Here are previews of plays taking place from August 29 to September 4, 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 and be sure to check out our new Advanced Search areas for previews and events that let you search within a period of time, region of the state, and within one genre or multiple genres of your choice.

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Plays opening this week

Wednesday, August 30, 2023 - 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.

Plays ending this week

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.

Surflight Theatre presents "Disaster!"  (BEACH HAVEN, NJ) -- Surflight Theatre continues their 2023 Season with the hilarious musical comedy, Disaster! from August 22 - September 3, 2023. It's 1979, and New York's hottest A-listers are lining up for the opening of a floating casino and discotheque. What begins as a night of boogie fever quickly changes to panic as the ship succumbs to multiple disasters, such as earthquakes, tidal waves and infernos. Click here to view photos of the production.

"Rock & Roll Man" Final Show is Sept. 1  If you are looking for a good show to see to finish your summer viewing, consider going to New World Stages for Rock & Roll Man. This musical journey tells the story of the beginnings of rock and roll. It focuses on the legendary DJ Alan Freed. Freed brought the music of black artists to the mainstream at a time when segregation was in full swing in the U.S. He is also credited with popularizing the term Rock and Roll to the emerging genre.

Plays continuing this week

PHOTOS from "All Shook Up" at Music Mountain Theatre  (LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre is presenting All Shook Up weekends from August 25 through September 10, 2023. The musical features a Book by Joe Dipietro and was inspired by and features the songs of Elvis Presley. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.

Plays coming soon

Premiere Stages at Kean presents "Selling Kabul"  (UNION, NJ) -- Premiere Stages at Kean University will present the New Jersey Premiere of Sylvia Khoury's Selling Kabul September 7-24 in Kean University's Bauer Boucher Theatre Center (Vaughn Eames Hall, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ). Directed by Taylor Reynolds, Selling Kabul will feature actors Atra Asdou, Anat Cogan, Afsheen Misaghi, and Zaven Ovian.

Howell PAL Theater Company presents "Peter Pan": Broadway's Timeless Musical  (LAKEWOOD, NJ) -- Howell PAL Theater Company's second summer musical, Peter Pan, Broadway's Timeless Musical whisks audiences away to a place where dreams are born and no one ever grows up. Performances take place at The Strand Theater in Lakewood on Friday, September 8, 2023 at 7:30pm and Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 2:00pm.

Bergen County Players to Open Season with "Rent"  (ORADELL, NJ) -- Bergen County Players (BCP), one of America's longest-running little theater companies, will open its 91st season on September 9 with Jonathan Larson's RENT, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning rock musical that shaped a generation of audiences. Performances begin Saturday, September 9 and will run weekends through Saturday, October 14 at the Little Firehouse Theatre in Oradell with shows on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:00pm.

Bergen County Players to Hold Auditions for "A Christmas Carol: The Musical"  (ORADELL, NJ) -- What do you get when you combine Disney's greatest composer with Dicken's classic A Christmas Carol? You get the longest-running family holiday spectacular in Broadway history! Bergen County Players (BCP) is pleased to announce open auditions for A Christmas Carol: The Musical at the little Firehouse Theatre, 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, NJ on Tuesday and Thursday, September 12th, and 14th at 7:30pm and on Monday, September 18th at 7:30pm.

McCarter Theatre presents "Bulrusher"  (PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre Center opens their 2023-2024 Theatre Series with Eisa Davis' Bulrusher, a transformational coming-of-age story filled to the brim with passion, humor, and even a touch of magic; on stage in the Berlind Theatre from September 13 – October 7, 2023. This is a co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, where the production will move after its run in Princeton.

Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents "Waiting for Godot"  (MADISON, NJ) -- The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) continues its 2023 Main Stage season with Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot. Hailed "one of the true masterpieces of the century" by the New York Times, Godot has fascinated and infuriated audiences since it burst upon the world in 1953. This funny, cruel, moving, enigmatic metaphor is "theatre of the absurd" at its most breathtaking pinnacle. The production runs from September 13 – October 1, 2023.

South Camden Theatre Company presents "Alabama Story"  (CAMDEN, NJ) -- South Camden Theatre Company presents the New Jersey and Regional premiere of Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones, weekends from September 15 through October 1, 2023. This is a play based on a true story about book banning, a librarian, a state senator, and black and white bunnies. The production is directed by Connie Norwood.

Billy Van Zandt & Friends to Reunite in Musical Celebration Evening to Benefit the Brookdale Performing Arts Center  (LINCROFT, NJ) -- The Brookdale Performing Arts Center in Lincroft will present Billy Van Zandt & Friends in a very special musical evening celebrating songs from the library of Van Zandt/Milmore theatrical productions. All proceeds from the Saturday, September 16, 2023, one-night-only performance will benefit the Brookdale Performing Arts Center. The event begins at 8:00pm.

Sieminski Theater presents "Bette Davis Ain't for Sissies"  (BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- Prepare to be transported back in time to the golden age of Hollywood as the Sieminski Theater presents Bette Davis Ain't for Sissies, a captivating theatrical experience that chronicles the remarkable journey of Hollywood legend Bette Davis. The show is set to take place on September 17 at 2:30pm, featuring a riveting performance by actress and playwright Jessica Sherr.