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This Week in Theatre: Previews for Plays Taking Place December 31, 2024 to January 7, 2025

originally published: 12/31/2024

Here are previews of plays taking place from December 31, 2024 to January 7, 2025 including a look at productions currently being presented and those coming soon. 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. Jump to Event PreviewsComing Soon.

Send press releases to info@newjerseystage.com to have your events previewed at New Jersey Stage. There is no cost for preview articles. Featured listings are found in the NJ Stage calendar, reserved for advertisers, and provided with individual event pages for every performance. Event pages are also available for $10 per event (multiple performances count as a single event). Event pages are also included with every banner ad purchase. Banner ads run from $50-$100 for a full month of coverage.

EVENT PREVIEWS

"ANNIE" returns to New York City for the First Time in a Decade  (NEW YORK, NY) -- Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSG Entertainment), Carolyn Rossi Copeland Productions, Inc. and Crossroads Live North America recently announced full casting for the limited engagement of iconic Tony Award-winning musical ANNIE at The Theater at Madison Square Garden which runs from December 4, 2024 through January 5, 2025. This run marks the return of ANNIE to New York City for the first time in a decade.

Luna Stage's "Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library" Gets A New 5 Week Run Off Broadway  (NEW YORK, NY) -- Congrats to Luna Stage! Due to critical acclaim and an incredible run of sold out performances at 59E59 Theaters, Luna Stage's New York premiere of Jenny Lyn Bader's Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library, directed by Ari Laura Kreith, is extending and moving to Off-Broadway's WP Theater for a limited five-week engagement, December 10, 2024 – January 12, 2025.




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Playhouse 22 presents "American Son" - a Play that Raises Questions about Race, Parenting, and Justice  (EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Start off the new year with "American Son", a drama by Christopher Demos-Brown and directed by Mimi B. Francis at Playhouse 22 that runs weekends from January 3-12, 2025. A play about an estranged bi-racial couple that must confront their feelings about race and bias after their son is detained by the local police following a traffic stop incident. Their disparate histories and backgrounds inform their assumptions as they try to find out what happened to their son.

 

COMING SOON

Next episode of "Gemstones" A Vivid Stage original series comes in January  (SUMMIT, NJ) -- Vivid Stage is celebrating its 30th Anniversary season, marking decades of bringing contemporary theatre to audiences in the state of New Jersey. Coming up is the third episode of the original series, Gemstones, by Phoebe Farber. The series blends the best storytelling qualities of mainstage performances with the exhilarating fun of improv. Episode 4 runs Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 2:00pm and Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 8:00pm.

American Theater Group's Monday Night Play Reading Series presents "Mother's Day" by Pandora Scooter  (RAHWAY, NJ) -- American Theater Group (ATG) will present the premiere reading of Pandora Scooter's new 2-person drama Mother's Day as part of its free Monday Night Play Reading Series on January 13, 2025 at Hamilton Stage in Rahway. The reading begins at 7:00pm.

George Street Playhouse presents "SMALL"  (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- George Street Playhouse presents SMALL from January 14 through February 2, 2025. This is a Penguin Rep Theatre production written and performed by Robert Montano (The Steel Man), and directed by Jessi D. Hill (Daniel's Husband). From the racetrack to the stage, Robert Montano shares his extraordinary true story of resilience and reinvention through the highs and lows of an unconventional life.

North Star Theater Company presents "Little Women" at Dover Little Theatre in January  (DOVER, NJ) -- North Star Theater Company invites audiences to experience the enduring charm of Little Women by Kate Hamill, adapted from Louisa May Alcott's beloved novel. This heartfelt and dynamic production will run for two weekends, January 17-19, 2025 and January 24–26, 2025, at Dover Little Theatre.




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Algonquin Arts Theatre Announces Casting and Creative Team for "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown"  (MANASQUAN, NJ) -- Algonquin Arts Theatre presents its January musical, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown from January 18-26, 2025. Rediscover the magic of childhood with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Sally and the rest of the gang. The musical brings to life the timeless stories that have captured the hearts of audiences for generations.

Paper Mill Playhouse presents "Mystic Pizza" - A New Musical based on the classic film  (MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse presents Mystic Pizza - a new musical based on the 1988 movie which starred Julia Roberts - from January 29 through February 23, 2025. Mystic Pizza is a new musical about three working-class girls who navigate the complexities of life, love and family in a small-town pizza joint.

Murder Mystery Co. presents "Till Death Do Us Part: Murder Mystery Dessert Theater" at Brookdale PAC  (LINCROFT, NJ) -- Brookdale Community College is set to host an unforgettable evening of mystery, mayhem, and merriment as the Murder Mystery Co. presents Till Death Do Us Part: Murder Mystery Dessert Theater on February 7, 2025 at 8:00pm. This thrilling event invites guests to indulge in delightful desserts, sip coffee or tea, and immerse themselves in an intriguing whodunnit.

NJPAC presents Insidious "The Further You Fear" Reimagined as an Immersive Stage Show  (NEWARK, NJ) -- One of the most successful horror film franchises of all time is being reimagined as an immersive theatrical stage experience. Insidious: The Further You Fear comes to New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 7:30pm.

FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

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Middletown

Middletown Arts Center Student Theatre Academy presents "Seussical Jr."

Saturday, March 22, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748
category: theatre


 

Middletown

Middletown Arts Center Student Theatre Academy presents "Seussical Jr."

Saturday, March 22, 2025 @ 2:00pm
Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748
category: theatre


 

Urinetown:

Urinetown: The Musical

Saturday, March 22, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ 07065
category: theatre


 

Purlie

Purlie

Saturday, March 22, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Hamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC)
360 Hamilton Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065
category: theatre


 

Purlie

Purlie

Saturday, March 22, 2025 @ 2:00pm
Hamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC)
360 Hamilton Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065
category: theatre


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Bristol

Bristol Riverside Theatre presents "In The Heights" by Lin-Manuel Miranda

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- The electrifying rhythms of Washington Heights pulse through Bristol Riverside Theatre (BRT) as Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical, a genre-bending blend of hip-hop, salsa, merengue, and soul, In the Heights, takes the stage March 25 through April 27, 2025. BRT's production is directed by the visionary Carlos Armesto, returning to BRT following his sensory-driven production Odd Man Out in 2023. This season, Armesto brings the beloved hit musical set on the vibrant streets of New York to the stage. BRT co-producers Amy and Ken Kaissar present the first large-scale production since the newly renovated space reopened.



Mary

Mary Bridget Davies to reprise Tony-Nominated Role in "A Night with Janis Joplin" at Bell Theater

(HOLMDEL, NJ) -- Bell Theater at Bell Works in Holmdel has unveiled the final show in its 2025 season. The rock musical A Night with Janis Joplin will close out the season from October 3-19 following Hedwig and the Angry Inch from June 13-29 and Steel Magnolias from July 25 to August 10. This lineup offers everything from laughter to tears to some all-out rock 'n roll extravaganzas!



Jersey

Jersey Arts Podcast: Broadway's Back at the State Theatre: 'Dear Evan Hansen' Takes the Stage

The six-time Tony Award-winning show "Dear Evan Hansen" is bringing its North American Tour to the State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ. The show boasts music and lyrics by EGOT winners - that's an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and a Tony - Benjamin Pasek and Justin Paul. "Dear Evan Hansen" offers a score that will have you whistling the tunes on your way out of the theater.



Eagle

Eagle Theatre presents "Ordinary Days"

(HAMMONTON, NJ) -- From one of musical theatre's most exciting new composers comes Ordinary Days, a refreshingly honest and funny musical about making real connections in the city that never sleeps (but probably should at some point). Eagle Theatre presents a limited run of Ordinary Days from April 11-13, 2025.



Playhouse

Playhouse 22 presents "Perfect Arrangement" by Topher Payne

(EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Perfect Arrangement by Topher Payne is presented by Playhouse 22 weekends from March 21 – April 6, 2025. This is a poignant comedy for our times focuses on the relationships between two couples and the complicated nature of their jobs.