Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 03/04/2025
(RED BANK, NJ) -- The Count Basie Center for the Arts has announced the opening of spring and summer enrollment at its Turner Academy of the Arts, while over at Phoenix Productions, the Basie Center's community theatre company, news is out on its 2025-26 season.
The Count Basie Center Turner Academy of the Arts - Registration opens today for classes, week- and season-long camps and additional spring and summer experiences at the Basie Center’s Turner Academy of the Arts.
Information and registration for all spring and summer programs is open now online. Offerings include Broadway and musical theatre classes, techniques for acting in television and film, mainstage student productions of Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr., Alice In Wonderland Jr. and High School Musical, plus week-long camps inspired by Wicked, Dog Man, Moana, Descendants, Minecraft and Roblox and more. Classes for adults are also available, including Musical Theatre Dance and an Open Tap session in the spring.
Also available are summer session classes from the Count Basie Center Conservatory of Music, including beginner violin and piano, intermediate brass technique, and brass and woodwind ensemble.
Early Bird registration, which offers a 25% discount on many offerings, ends on March 14 for spring and March 15 for summer. Count Basie Center members also receive discounts on Academy offerings; visit www.thebasie.org/membership for more information.
Phoenix Productions - Fresh off a slate that attracted nearly 20,000 Broadway fans, Phoenix Productions, the Count Basie Center’s community theatre company, has unveiled its upcoming 2025/26 season:
* Legally Blonde – The Musical (Friday, August 1 through Sunday, August 3 at the Basie Center’s Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre)
* Fiddler on the Roof (Friday, September 26 – Sunday, September 28 at the Basie Center’s Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre
* Evil Dead: The Musical (Friday, October 17 + Saturday, October 18 at The Vogel)
* Meredith Willson’s Miracle On 34th Street – The Musical (Friday, November 21 – Sunday, November 23 at the Basie Center’s Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre)
* Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The Musical (Friday, February 20, 2026 – Sunday, February 22, 2026 at the Basie Center’s Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre)
* Ain’t Misbehavin’ – The Fats Waller Musical Show (Friday, March 27, 2026 + Saturday, March 28, 2026 at The Vogel)
* Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (Friday, May 1, 2026 – Sunday, May 3, 2026 at the Basie Center’s Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre)
Season subscriptions, which offer 15% savings, first choice of seats and no additional ticketing fees, are on sale now through www.thebasie.org/phoenix. Single shows will go on sale in early May.
Auditions for community actors are announced throughout the season and posted on Phoenix’s Facebook and Instagram channels.
EVENT PREVIEWS
The Mainstage Center for the Arts presents "High School Musical 2 JR."
(BLACKWOOD, NJ) -- The Mainstage Center for the Arts presents High School Musical 2 JR. on June 4-5, 2026 in the Dennis Flyer Memorial Theater. The Wildcats are back for an unforgettable summer at Lava Springs Country Club!
Mile Square Theatre presents "7th Inning Stretch" with a twist
(HOBOKEN, NJ) -- Mile Square Theatre's beloved annual fundraiser, 7th Inning Stretch, returns with a new look for this year inspired by the World Cup coming to New Jersey. This year’s edition takes place on Saturday, June 6, 2026 and trades baseball for soccer, featuring seven original short plays celebrating the passion, humor, intensity, and culture of the game.
The Broadway Theatre of Pitman presents "A Century on Stage: 100 Years in the Making"
(PITMAN, NJ) -- The Broadway Theatre of Pitman presents A Century on Stage: 100 Years in the Making from June 5-7, 2026. Join them for a once-in-a-century theatrical event as they celebrate 100 years of music, memories, and moments that have shaped The Broadway Theatre of Pitman, Broadway in New York City, and American culture itself.
Premiere Stages at Kean University Announces Semi-Finalists for 2026 Play Festival
(UNION, NJ) -- Premiere Stages, the professional theatre company in residence at Kean University, has announced the 2026 Premiere Play Festival Semi-Finalists. The Play Festival panel and literary staff reviewed 894 submissions, an increase of 89 submissions from the previous year, before choosing the 65 Semi-Finalists. An eclectic mix of plays, the Semi-Finalists explore a wide range of topics in a variety of genres.
Maurer Productions to Hold Auditions for "Midnight at the New Dawn" June 6-7
(WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- Maurer Productions OnStage and the newly formed Maurer TheaterWorks have announced a special co-production partnership — in association with Kelsey Theatre — for the world premiere of Midnight at the New Dawn. The ensemble comedy, written and directed by Dan Maurer, will hold open auditions on June 6-7, 2026.
Bergen County Players to present "Kodachrome"
(ORADELL, NJ) -- Bergen County Players (BCP) will conclude its 93rd season with Kodachrome, a delightful and deeply moving one-act comedy by Adam Szymkowicz. Running as part of BCP's Second Stage for three exclusive performances on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, 2026, this production invites audiences to find extraordinary magic within ordinary lives.
Main Street Theatre Company presents "Legally Blonde, Jr."
(OLD BRIDGE, NJ) -- Main Street Theatre Company presents Legally Blonde, Jr. on Saturday, June 6 at Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 3:30pm each day. Harvard's beloved blonde takes the stage by glittery pink storm in this fun and upbeat adaptation of the hit film and award-winning Broadway musical.
Luna Stage to present "& Sons" outdoors this weekend
(ORANGE, NJ) -- Luna Stage has brought & Sons back for three outdoor performances in the Kelli Copeland Arts Center Courtyard (located two blocks from Luna) June 5-7, 2026. Winner of the Kirk Prize for Best New Play, & Sons by Jack Angelo Cummings is a sharply funny, quietly devastating portrait of brotherhood, labor, and the ways men learn—often badly—to love one another. Admission is free.
Paper Mill Playhouse Announces 2026 Rising Star Awards Nominees
(MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse has announced the nominations for adjudicated production categories of the 31st Annual Rising Star Awards for Excellence in New Jersey High School Musical Theater. Often referred to as New Jersey's version of the Tony Awards for high school musical theater, the Rising Star Awards recognize outstanding achievement in performance, direction, design, choreography, music direction, and overall production.
Studio Garage presents "Chekhov's People" at HACPAC
(HACKENSACK, NJ) -- Studio Garage presents Chekhov's People at Hackensack Performing Arts Center on June 8-9, 2026 at 8:00pm each night. Performed in Turkish. The play explores the human condition through a blend of Anton Chekhov's The Good Doctor and his short plays The Bear and A Marriage Proposal.
MORE EVENTS
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