Here are previews of plays taking place from January 23-30, 2024 including a look at productions currently being presented and those coming soon. 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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George Street Playhouse presents "Ibsen's Ghost" (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- George Street Playhouse presents Ibsen's Ghost by Charles Busch from January 16 through February 4, 2024. Based on a few irrefutable facts, the play tells a tall (and hilarious) tale of the legendary Norwegian playwright's wife Suzannah the week after the great man's state funeral. The production is directed by Carl Andress.
Algonquin Arts Theatre presents "DEATHtrap" (MANASQUAN, NJ) -- Algonquin Arts Theatre presents DEATHtrap, a murder mystery by Ira Levin, from January 19-28, 2024. Sidney Bruhl would do anything to publish the next great play. He would even kill for it. This dark comedy, thriller will have audiences laughing one moment and screaming in terror the next as Sidney discovers he may not be the only murderer in the room.
Music Mountain Theatre presents "Lend Me a Tenor" (LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre opens their 2024 season with the Tony award winning comedy, Lend Me a Tenor, weekends from January 12-28, 2024. The play is set in September of 1934 and we see the Cleveland Grand Opera Company's gala season opener, centered on world-famous tenor Tito Morelli, performing as Canio in "Pagliacci," his greatest role. But the opera is jeopardized when Morelli falls into a drunken stupor.
Westfield Community Players Presents "God Of Carnage" (WESTFIELD, NJ) -- The Westfield Community Players presents "God of Carnage", a dark comedy with five performances from January 13-27, 2024. After an altercation between two young boys results in an injury, the two sets of parents get together with the objective to discuss and resolve the incident in a civilized manner. As the evening progresses, however, the parents become more childish, the "civilized" meeting devolves into utter chaos.
Haddonfield Plays & Players to Presents Monty Python's "Spamalot" (HADDONFIELD, NJ) -- Haddonfield Plays & Players will present Monty Python's Spamalot weekends from Friday, January 19 to Saturday, February 3, 2024. Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur's quest to find the Holy Grail. Inspired by the classic comedy film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. With a mashup of several Monty Python bits, this show will not only delight the Monty Python enthusiast, but any fan of musical comedies.
Players Guild of Leonia presents "Deathtrap" (LEONIA, NJ) -- Players Guild of Leonia, New Jersey's oldest continuing community theater group (since 1919), presents their first show of 2024 – the comedy thriller Deathtrap weekends from January 19 to February 4, 2024. With plot twists aplenty, Deathtrap tells the story of a has-been playwright, Sidney Bruhl, who is desperate to regain his prestige, and his young protégé, Clifford Anderson, who unwittingly offers an intriguing solution. How desperate remains a secret, and to tell you any more would be a crime!
The North Star Theater Company presents "The Full Monty" (NEWTON, NJ) -- The North Star Theater Company presents The Full Monty across two weekends (January 19-21 and January 26-28) at The Performing Arts Center at Sussex County Community College. The Full Monty is a story full of heart. Right to the end, audiences will be wondering if these lovable misfits will pull it off. With a raucous mix of razor-sharp humor and toe-tapping pizzazz, this heartwarming, upbeat comedy is a must-see for any theater enthusiast.
"A Matter of Faith" to have World Premiere at The Chain Theatre (NEW YORK, NY) -- A Matter of Faith, a new play by Ian Richard Barnes, will have its world premiere beginning January 24 for a limited off-Broadway engagement. Directed by Augustus Childres, A Matter of Faith will run thru February 4 at The Chain Theatre at 312 West 36 Street. The cast of this three-person, 85 minute play, features Ava Paris Locknar, Henry Frontini and Ian Richard Barnes.
Black Box Studios presents Selections from "The Rock Musical Soul Searching" and a Staged Reading of "Second Chances" (TEANECK, NJ) -- Featuring the music of Avi Kunstler, a special evening of Selections from The Rock Musical Soul Searching, preceded by a staged reading of the play with music Second Chances, will be presented by Black Box Studios on Wednesday, January 24th at 7:30pm at Debonair Music Hall in Teaneck, NJ.
NiCori Studios & Productions to present NJ premiere of "CATS: Young Actor's Edition" (BLOOMFIELD, NJ) -- NiCori Studios & Productions will be the first in New Jersey to produce "CATS: Young Actor's Edition", the brand new, one-hour adaptation of the world renowned Andrew Lloyd Webber TONY Award winning musical on Thursday through Sunday, January 25, 26 and 27, 2024.
"Senior Moments - Big Beaver" to Have World Premiere in Middletown (MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- From the team that brought you the award winning Off-Broadway production Camp, A New Musical; Dealing, The Musical; and Accidentally On Purpose comes their brand-new original comedy, Senior Moments - Big Beaver which has its World Premiere at the Middletown Arts Center with a limited engagement from January 26-28, 2024.
National Tour of "Hairspray" comes to MPAC (MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Hairspray, Broadway's Tony Award®-winning musical comedy phenomenon, comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) for three performances Friday, January 26 at 8:00pm; and Saturday, January 27 at 2:00pm & 8:00pm. This is the story of 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV's most popular show. Can a girl with big dreams (and even bigger hair) change the world?
Shakespeare '70 to present "All My Sons" at Kelsey Theatre (WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- Shakespeare '70 presents Arthur Miller's powerful tale of morality, guilt, responsibility, and irrevocable loss of innocence during World War II, All My Sons, at the Kelsey Theatre on Mercer County Community College's (MCCC) West Windsor Campus, January 26 to February 4, 2024.
Black Box presents The Writers Project (TEANECK, NJ) -- The first installment of The Writers Project will take place on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at Debonair Music Hall. This special evening, the first in an ongoing series, will feature Black Box performers including Ilana Schimmel, J Niles, Danielle MacMath, Justin Jager, and Joseph Liberti performing segments of the original work of writers such as Michael Gardiner, Jakob Holder (Executive Director of The Edward F. Albee Foundation), James O'Connor (Edward F. Albee Fellowship Recipient), Matt Okin, and Steven Sarao. Showtime is 7:30pm.
Wednesday, January 24, 2024 @ 7:30pm - Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me, But Banjos Saved My Life at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC), 100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
Wednesday, January 24, 2024 @ 8:00pm - George Street Playhouse presents "Ibsen's Ghost" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Thursday, January 25, 2024 @ 2:00pm - George Street Playhouse presents "Ibsen's Ghost" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Thursday, January 25, 2024 @ 6:00pm - Yer Cheatin’ Heart…Just Stopped Beating at Avenel Performing Arts Center, 150 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001
Thursday, January 25, 2024 @ 8:00pm - George Street Playhouse presents "Ibsen's Ghost" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Friday, January 26, 2024 @ 6:00pm - Yer Cheatin’ Heart…Just Stopped Beating at Avenel Performing Arts Center, 150 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001
Friday, January 26, 2024 @ 8:00pm - Hairspray at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC), 100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
Friday, January 26, 2024 @ 8:00pm - George Street Playhouse presents "Ibsen's Ghost" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Saturday, January 27, 2024 @ 2:00pm - Deathtrap at Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736
Saturday, January 27, 2024 @ 2:00pm - Hairspray at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC), 100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
Saturday, January 27, 2024 @ 2:00pm - George Street Playhouse presents "Ibsen's Ghost" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Saturday, January 27, 2024 @ 6:00pm - Yer Cheatin’ Heart…Just Stopped Beating at Avenel Performing Arts Center, 150 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001
Saturday, January 27, 2024 @ 8:00pm - Deathtrap at Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736
Saturday, January 27, 2024 @ 8:00pm - Hairspray at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC), 100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
Saturday, January 27, 2024 @ 8:00pm - George Street Playhouse presents "Ibsen's Ghost" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Sunday, January 28, 2024 @ 2:00pm - George Street Playhouse presents "Ibsen's Ghost" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Sunday, January 28, 2024 @ 3:00pm - Deathtrap at Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736
Paper Mill Playhouse presents "After Midnight" (MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse presents After Midnight from January 31-February 25, 2024. Conceived by Jack Viertel (former Artistic Director of City Center Encores!), this Jazz Age rhythm and dance extravaganza is an electrifying musical revue that transports you to the Cotton Club of the Harlem Renaissance, an unparalleled time in New York City when jazz and swing were king. The production is co-directed by Dominique Kelley and Paper Mill Playhouse’s Associate Artistic Director Jen Bender and choreographed by Kelley.
Count Basie Center for the Arts presents "All Things Equal – The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg" (RED BANK, NJ) -- Count Basie Center for the Arts presents All Things Equal – The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Rupert Holmes on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 7:00pm. Over the course of ninety fascinating and often funny minutes, the play presents an intimate portrayal of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a true American original.
State Theatre New Jersey presents "Annie" (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents an all-new tour of the iconic Tony® Award-winning musical Annie for four performances from February 2-4, 2024. The world's best-loved musical returns to State Theatre New Jersey with all your favorite songs including "Tomorrow," "It's the Hard-Knock Life," and "Maybe."
The Growing Stage presents "Carmela Full of Wishes" (NETCONG, NJ) -- The Growing Stage: The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey, is thrilled to kick-off 2024 with Carmela Full of Wishes weekends from February 2-18, 2024. Adapted by Alvaro Saar Rios from the book by Matt de la Peña, Illustrated by Christian Robinson, this production is directed by Danny Campos, veteran TGS performer and teaching artist. The play invites us to Carmela’s 7th birthday, and she’s finally old enough to accompany her big brother on his errands.
Two River Theater presents the World Premiere of "The Scarlet Letter" by Kate Hamill (RED BANK, NJ) -- A new year, and a world premiere! Riding the wave of its 30th anniversary season, set in motion by audience sensation Hair this past fall, Two River Theater has announced the cast and creative team for its second production of the season: the world premiere of The Scarlet Letter by Kate Hamill (Pride and Prejudice, Little Women), one of the American theater’s most widely produced contemporary playwrights, and directed by Shelley Butler (Beautiful: The Carol King Musical, A Doll’s House Part 2).
Bergen County Players presents "Pride and Prejudice" (ORADELL, NJ) -- Heed the invite from some of the most memorable characters in fiction! Bergen County Players (BCP), one of America's longest-running little theater companies, will open its first mainstage production of the new year with a comedic retelling of Jane Austen's great romantic tale Pride and Prejudice. Performances run weekends from February 3-24, 2024 at the Little Firehouse Theatre in Oradell.
American Theater Group presents An Evening with Peter Filichia (RAHWAY, NJ) -- American Theater Group (ATG), a professional regional theater company in Central NJ, presents an evening with veteran theater critic and Broadway insider Peter Filichia during the grand re-opening celebration of the newly-renovated Hamilton Stage in Rahway on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 7:00pm.
Out of the Box Theatrics to present reading of "Trash" (NEW YORK, NY) -- Out of the Box Theatrics has announced the first reading of the company's Building the Box series of new plays. OOTB will present a reading of Trash, a new play written by James Caverly and Andrew Morrill. The readings, which will be directed by Nathaniel P. Claridad, will be presented on Monday, February 5 at 7:00pm, Tuesday, February 6 at 1:00pm, and Thursday, February 8 at 7:00pm at 154 Christopher Street (formerly the New Ohio Theatre).
Passage Theatre Company presents World Premiere of "Ghetto Gods in Divineland" (TRENTON, NJ) -- In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, Trenton's only professional theater company is paying homage to the Poor Righteous Teachers. Trenton's first superstar hip-hop group—the philosophers and messengers for good and for the 'hood—inspired Passage Theatre Company's upcoming show Ghetto Gods in Divineland, a brand-new play co-written by Richard Bradford and Anthony Martinez-Briggs and Directed by Ozzie Jones. The production runs from February 8-25, 2024.
Luna Stage presents the World Premiere of "RIFT or White Lies" (WEST ORANGE, NJ) -- Luna Stage presents the World Premiere of RIFT or White Lies by Gabriel Jason Dean, directed by Ari Laura Kreith, from February 8-March 3, 2024. Two brothers--one a progressive novelist, the other a convicted murderer and high-ranking member of a white supremacist prison gang–are united through their traumatic childhood. Now adults, these men navigate the edges of their brotherly bond. Are they truly so different? Is it possible to love someone whose beliefs you hate? RIFT is a story of estrangement, ideological divide, and the fight to change one another.
State Theatre New Jersey presents "The Cher Show" (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents the Tony® Award-winning musical, The Cher Show for four performances from February 9-11, 2024. The Cher Show is 35 smash hits, six decades of stardom, two rock-star husbands, a Grammy®, an Oscar®, an Emmy®, and enough Tony® Award-winning Bob Mackie gowns to cause a sequin shortage in New York City, all in one unabashedly fabulous new musical.
CDC Theatre presents "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940" (CRANFORD, NJ) -- CDC Theatre presents The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 across three weekends from February 9-24, 2024. This is an ingenious and wildly comic romp by playwright John Bishop. Poking antic fun at the more ridiculous aspects of "show biz" and the corny thrillers of Hollywood's heyday, the play is a non-stop barrage of laughter as those assembled (or at least those who aren’t killed off) untangle the mystery of the "Stage Door Slasher."
Vivid Stage presents "Gone Missing" (SUMMIT, NJ) -- Vivid Stage presents Gone Missing from February 22 through March 3, 2024 at the Oakes Center in Summit. Featuring a Book by Steve Cosson and Music and Lyrics by Michael Friedman, this is a wry and whimsical documentary musical of loss devised from interviews with real-life New Yorkers by The Civilians, the acclaimed New York-based company.
