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
"Chip and Gus" - a comedy with balls comes to Florham Park on July 20th
(FLORHAM PARK, NJ) -- On Monday, July 20, 2026, Chip and Gus, a comedy with balls will be presented at The Thomas H. Kean Theatre Factory. The play is performed, directed, and created by John Ahlin & Christopher Patrick Mullen. Showtime is 7:30pm.
Nutley Little Theatre presents "The Worst Fairy Tale Ever"
(NUTLEY, NJ) -- The Narrator is ready to start the show, but how is that supposed to happen when nobody else in the cast has read the script and the costumes haven't even arrived yet? Children, families, and the young at heart will find out when Nutley Little Theatre presents The Worst Fairy Tale Ever by Todd Wallinger July 25-26, 2026.
The Theater Project presents Kaleidoscope Kabaret
(UNION, NJ) -- Kaleidoscope Kabaret (that's Kabaret with a K), The Theater Project's annual festival of live music and short comedic plays, will liven up the stage of DMK Black Box Theatre in Union Township's new Arts Center from July 24-26, 2026.
Aspire Performing Arts presents Disney's "Descendants: The Musical"
(MONTVILLE, NJ) -- Aspire Performing Arts Company, an award-winning performing arts company based in Wayne, will present Disney's Descendants: The Musical from July 24-26, 2026 at the Barn Theatre in Montville. The production features two casts of young performers and is directed by Joey Nasta with musical direction by Shannen Lynn and choreography by Charlize Dominguez.
Mile Square Theatre presents "Urinetown: The Musical"
(HOBOKEN, NJ) -- Mile Square Theatre (MST) is proud to present its first-ever Pre-Professional Theatre Program production, Urinetown: The Musical, book and lyrics by Greg Kotis, music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann. The entire production is led by a team of professionals - the assistants and cast are all young artists ages 18 to 25, based in Hudson County and from across North and Central New Jersey. The production runs from Friday, July 24 through Sunday, July 26, 2026.
Country Gate Players presents "The Addams Family Musical" (Youth Production)
(BELVIDERE, NJ) -- Country Gate Players presents The Addams Family Musical (Youth Production) from July 24-26, 2026. This is the spectacular culminating production of their 2026 Summer Youth Performance Workshop.
Award-Winning "5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche" Returns for One-Day Fundraising Preview Before Edinburgh Fringe Debut
(GARWOOD, NJ) -- Before taking their award-winning production to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland this August, Cheese Platter Productions will present one final hometown performance, and one final opportunity for audiences to help send the company overseas.
Woodbridge Community Players present "9 to 5, The Musical"
(WOODBRIDGE, NJ) -- The Woodbridge Community Players present 9 to 5, The Musical from July 23-26, 2026 at The Theater at Woodbridge Middle School. Three unlikely friends take control of their office and learn there is nothing they can't do, even in a man's world.
The 1964 Civil Rights Act Takes Center Stage with "All The Way" at Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey on July 27th
(MADISON, NJ) -- The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) continues its acclaimed Revolutionary Voices play reading series with Robert Schenkkan's Tony Award-winning drama All the Way on Monday, July 27, 2026 at 7:30pm at the F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre on the campus of Drew University. This special one-night-only event brings together an exceptional cast to dramatize one of the most pivotal periods in American history.
Mystic Vision Players presents "Seussical, the Musical"
(LINDEN, NJ) -- Mystic Vision Players presents Seussical, the Musical across two weekends from July 24 through August 1, 2026 in the Susan L. Hudak Auditorium inside Linden High School. The musical features a Book by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty; Music by Stephen Flaherty; and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. It was Co-Conceived by Eric Idle and Based on the Works of Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss).
FEATURED EVENTS
