Here are previews of plays taking place from October 31 to November 6, 2023 including a look at productions starting this week, those continuing this week, and those closing this week. Click on the title to go to the full preview. New Jersey Stage covers Equity, community, college, and high school theatre. Check back every week for the weekly theatre preview. Jump to Featured Events, Event Previews, Event Listings, Coming Soon.
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Shakespeare Theatre of NJ presents "A Man For All Seasons" (MADISON, NJ) -- The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) heads into its penultimate production for the 2023 Main Stage season with Robert Bolt's A Man for All Seasons. Bolt's dramatization of the political, social, and religious upheaval unleashed by Henry VIII's desire to divorce Catherine of Aragon in defiance of the Catholic Church, Spain, and the Pope is Shakespearean in its scope and themes. The production runs from October 18 – November 5, 2023.
Art House Productions presents "Tracy Jones" (JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Art House Productions presents the New Jersey premiere of Stephen Kaplan's play Tracy Jones, directed by Alex Tobey, with performances across three weekends from October 19 through November 5, 2023. The play is a touching comedy of individual connection in an increasingly busy world. The main character, Tracy Jones, rents out the back "party room" of Jones Street Bar and Grill: The Place for Wings and Things to throw a party to which she's invited every woman in the area who is also named Tracy Jones. Click here for a feature article on the production.
OCC Repertory Theatre Company presents "Doctor Frankenstein" (TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The Ocean County College Repertory Theatre Company presents Doctor Frankenstein, a new play by George Allison that asks the question, "What if Mary Shelley got it wrong... on purpose?" Performances take place in the Black Box Theater at the Grunin Center for the Arts from Thursday, October 26 through Sunday, November 5, 2023. Click here for photos from the production.
Pioneer Productions presents "Lost In Yonkers" by Neil Simon (MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Pioneer Productions is bringing Neil Simon's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning comedy, Lost in Yonkers to the stage at Fellowship Hall in the Morristown Methodist Church in downtown Morristown, NJ. The show will have six performances between October 27 and November 5, 2023. Pioneer co-founder Daniel Peter Vissers of Sparta directs this beautifully crafted coming-of-age story set in 1942 in Yonkers, New York. Click here for a feature article on the production.
Hudson Theatre Works Opens Season With Early Pinter Masterpieces - (WEEHAWKEN, NJ) -- Hudson Theatre Works kicks open its 11th Season with a double bill of one-acts by Harold Pinter, one of Britain's most influential modern dramatists. PINTER x 2 features two of Pinter's early works: The Dumb Waiter and The Lover. Like in all of Pinter's plays, seemingly ordinary events become charged with profound (though ever-elusive) meaning, haunting pathos, and wild comedy. Performances take place weekends from November 2-19, 2023.
SCTC Presents "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" - Next up at the South Camden Theatre Company’s Waterfront South Theatre is “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” based on the award-winning 2003 novel by British author Mark Haddon and adapted for the stage by Simon Stephens. The production opens on Nov 3 and continues Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday afternoons through Nov 19, 2023.
The Strollers presents "Children of Eden" - (MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- The Strollers presents Children of Eden across three weekends from November 3-19, 2023 at the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts. From musical theatre greats, Stephen Schwartz and John Caird, comes a joyous and inspirational musical about parents, children and faith... not to mention centuries of unresolved family business! It's about humanity - our first steps and fumbles, trials and triumphs, and ultimately how we live with one another on this earth.
Paper Mill Playhouse presents "The Great Gatsby" (MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse has announced the complete cast and creative team for its world-premiere production of The Great Gatsby, based on the iconic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The highly anticipated production will play October 12-November 12, 2023 at Paper Mill Playhouse (22 Brookside Drive, Millburn). Click here for photos from the production and click here for a review of the show.
Center Players to Open Season with "Steel Magnolias" (FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Center Players will begin its 2023-24 season with a Signature Series production of the enduringly popular Steel Magnolias. The comedic drama will run weekends from October 13 to November 5, 2023 at Center Playhouse at 35 South Street in downtown Freehold.
Mile Square Theatre presents the World Premiere of "Funny, Like An Abortion" (HOBOKEN, NJ) -- Mile Square Theatre will kick off their 20th anniversary season with the World Premiere of Funny, Like An Abortion, directed by Madsie Flynn, from October 18 through November 5, 2023. This is a hilarious political comedy about the power of friendship. In a post-Roe world, Monroe finds herself knocked up and throws herself a surprise abortion party.
Chatham Community Players presents "Grand Horizons" (CHATHAM, NJ) -- The Chatham Community Players will open its 102nd Season with the hilarious and heartbreaking play, Grand Horizons by Beth Wohl from October 20 – November 4, 2023 at The Chatham Playhouse. In the play, Bill and Nancy have spent fifty full years as husband and wife. They practically breathe in unison, and can anticipate each other's every sigh, snore, and sneeze. But just as they settle comfortably into their new home in Grand Horizons, the unthinkable happens: Nancy suddenly wants out.
Luna Stage presents the World Premiere of "Westphalia" (WEST ORANGE, NJ) -- Luna Stage presents the World Premiere of Westphalia by Helen Banner from October 21-November 12, 2023. Directed by Lila Rachel Becker on Luna's MainStage, Westphalia imagines a futuristic world in which citizenship can be bought and sold, and where artificial intelligence determines an individual's psychological fitness to make bold life choices.
Music Mountain Theatre presents "Elf, the Musical" (LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre (MMT) presents a special four-weekend run of Elf, the Musical from October 27 through November 19, 2023. Get in the holiday spirit with the family favorite based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit!
Bergen County Players to present "Master Class" (ORADELL, NJ) -- Bergen County Players (BCP), one of America’s longest-running little theater companies, is excited to present the intense and powerful Tony Award-winning Master Class, weekends from October 28 to November 18. Under the direction of Alan Demovsky, this dramatic and profound play by Terrence McNally, one of America's preeminent playwrights (Love! Valor! Compassion!, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Ragtime, The Full Monty), is regarded as "rich, vivid," and "satisfying" by The New York Times. The drama about famed opera singer Maria Callas will coincide this year with the 100th anniversary of her birth.
Broadway Theatre of Pitman presents Disney's "The Little Mermaid" (PITMAN, NJ) -- Broadway Theatre of Pitman is presenting Disney's The Little Mermaid weekends through November 19, 2023. Based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, and the wildly popular Disney film, this musical staging of The Little Mermaid features a funny and fanciful book by Doug Wright, with the beloved score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and Glenn Slater in an expanded but completely faithful form, featuring the rambunctious and persuasive "Under the Sea," the romantic expectation of "Kiss the Girl," and that anthem to longing and belonging, "Part of Your World."
Tuesday, Oct 31, 2023 @ 7:30pm - A Man for All Seasons at Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ - F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
Tuesday @ 7:30pm - Doctor Frankenstein at Grunin Center - Black Box Theater, 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023 @ 10:00am - A Man for All Seasons at Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ - F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
Wednesday @ 7:30pm - A Man for All Seasons at Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ - F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
Thursday, Nov 2, 2023 @ 10:00am - A Man for All Seasons at Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ - F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
Thursday @ 8:00pm - A Man for All Seasons at Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ - F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
Thursday @ 8:00pm - Hudson Theatre Works presents PINTER x2: Two Plays By Harold Pinter at Theatre at THE WILSON SCHOOL, 80 Hauxhurst Avenue, Weehawken, NJ 07086
Friday, Nov 3, 2023 @ 7:00pm - OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts Academy presents "Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really" at Grunin Center, 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
Friday @ 7:30pm - Doctor Frankenstein at Grunin Center - Black Box Theater, 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
Friday @ 8:00pm - A Man for All Seasons at Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ - F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
Friday @ 8:00pm - The Strollers presents "Children of Eden" at Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040
Friday @ 8:00pm - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at South Camden Theatre Company, 400 Jasper Street, Camden, NJ 08104
Friday @ 8:00pm - Hudson Theatre Works presents PINTER x2: Two Plays By Harold Pinter at Theatre at THE WILSON SCHOOL, 80 Hauxhurst Avenue, Weehawken, NJ 07086
Friday @ 8:00pm - Pioneer Productions presents "Lost in Yonkers" by Neil Simon at Morristown Methodist Church, 50 South Park Place, Morristown, NJ 07960
Saturday, Nov 4, 2023 @ 2:00pm - A Man for All Seasons at Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ - F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
Saturday @ 2:00pm - OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts Academy presents "Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really" at Grunin Center, 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
Saturday @ 7:00pm - OCVTS Grunin Performing Arts Academy presents "Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really" at Grunin Center, 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
Saturday @ 7:30pm - Doctor Frankenstein at Grunin Center - Black Box Theater, 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
Saturday @ 8:00pm - A Man for All Seasons at Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ - F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
Saturday @ 8:00pm - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at South Camden Theatre Company, 400 Jasper Street, Camden, NJ 08104
Saturday @ 8:00pm - Hudson Theatre Works presents PINTER x2: Two Plays By Harold Pinter at Theatre at THE WILSON SCHOOL, 80 Hauxhurst Avenue, Weehawken, NJ 07086
Saturday @ 8:00pm - The Strollers presents "Children of Eden" at Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040
Saturday @ 8:00pm - Pioneer Productions presents "Lost in Yonkers" by Neil Simon at Morristown Methodist Church, 50 South Park Place, Morristown, NJ 07960
Sunday, Nov 5, 2023 @ 2:00pm - A Man for All Seasons at Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ - F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
Sunday @ 2:00pm - Doctor Frankenstein at Grunin Center - Black Box Theater, 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
Sunday @ 2:00pm - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at South Camden Theatre Company, 400 Jasper Street, Camden, NJ 08104
Sunday @ 2:00pm - The Strollers presents "Children of Eden" at Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040
Sunday @ 3:00pm - Hudson Theatre Works presents PINTER x2: Two Plays By Harold Pinter at Theatre at THE WILSON SCHOOL, 80 Hauxhurst Avenue, Weehawken, NJ 07086
Sunday @ 3:00pm - Pioneer Productions presents "Lost in Yonkers" by Neil Simon at Morristown Methodist Church, 50 South Park Place, Morristown, NJ 07960
Pebble Players Youth Theater presents "Mean Girls" (SUMMIT, NJ) -- Pebble Players Youth Theater opens their season at the Oakes Center with Mean Girls High School Version across two weekends from November 10-19, 2023. It's literally so fetch! Don’t miss this fun show that will knock your pink socks off! Based on Tina Fey's hit film, Mean Girls in 2004, the creators of this Broadway show didn't miss a beat! You will be mesmerized by these charming but ruthless plastics!
Monmouth University's Center for the Arts presents Paul Mecurio's "Permission to Speak" (WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- Monmouth University's Center for the Arts has announced the arrival of Paul Mecurio's critically acclaimed Off-Broadway show, Permission to Speak for a one-night-ONLY exclusive performance at the Pollak Theatre on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 8:00pm. This promises to be a night of laughter, reflection, and unforgettable entertainment.
LoMotion Live presents a reading of "Black Friday" to Benefit Elks Army of Hope (BOONTON, NJ) -- LoMotion Live presents a reading of Black Friday on Sunday November 12 at The Parsippany Arts Center in Boonton. Proceeds from this performance donated to Elks Army of Hope. Black Friday is a dark and gripping play by Michael O'Hagan that explores stereotypes, military experiences and an emotionally fraught relationships between a young, impulsive wiseass Airman Brendan Donohue, and his senior ranking female teammate, Staff Sgt. Shannon Hoffman, at a remote military checkpoint in Iraq. The reading begins at 3:00pm.
State Theatre New Jersey presents "Chicago, the Musical" (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents four performances of Chicago the Musical - Saturday, November 18 at 2:00pm & 8:00pm and Sunday, November 19 at 1:00pm & 6:30pm. Tickets range from $40-$105. Chicago has everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune, one show-stopping song after another, and spectacular dance numbers.
Center Players to present "Meet the Oakleys" Historical Play (FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Center Players presents Meet the Oakleys, an original historical play at historic Oakley Farms on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 2:00pm & 6:00pm. The historical dramatization is produced in partnership with the Heritage Arts Program of the Freehold Township Heritage Society and will serve as a fundraiser to benefit the nonprofit missions of Center Players and Oakley Farm.
