(SUMMIT, NJ) -- Vivid Stage, in residence at the Oakes Center, will present In the Mix, an evening of new short plays that tell the stories of our times, from April 3-13, 2025.  This captivating evening of world premiere short plays blends comedy and drama to bring to life the topics that everyone's talking about.

Written in the last three months, these plays capture the pulse of the moment through the eyes of seven gifted playwrights. Showcasing the talents and versatility of Vivid's resident ensemble, these thought-provoking plays range from laugh-out-loud comedy to gripping drama. This vibrant evening of theatre speaks eloquently to the world we live in today.

Directed by Laura Ekstrand (Livingston), the cast includes Vivid Stage ensemble members Nicole Callender (West Orange), Clark Carmichael (Hewitt), Harry Patrick Christian (Montclair), Noreen Farley (Clinton), Becca Landis McLarty (Montclair), Scott McGowan (Maplewood), Daria M. Sullivan (Lyndhurst), and Harriett Trangucci (Summit). It also features guests Ciara Chanel (East Orange) and Benjamin Cruz (Dover).

This selection of plays includes Business as Usual, by Daria M. Sullivan, which takes a comedic look at  how one workplace tries to soldier on in the face of increasingly dire natural disasters. Bless Me, Father, by Steve Harper, deals with the tension that develops in a marriage when a couple is divided by their vote. Richard Dresser’s play, Parents’ Night, is a dark comedy about a parent-teacher conference that goes alarmingly wrong. Pandora Scooter’s play, Reba’s Tea Party, is “an absurdist romp through the zeitgeist” that depicts a dream shared by two little girls of different political persuasions.

David Lee White’s play, Call Center, takes a hilarious look at a senior citizen who is done with being targeted by telemarketers. Suzanne Bradbeer’s new play, as yet untitled, explores how relationships between neighbors (and a dog!) can be challenged, or even strengthened, by politics. And Angel J. Rivas’ play Forever Machine, gives a chilling look into the future of how technology may be poised to gobble up the humans in its thrall.

In the Mix will appear at Vivid Stage at the Oakes Center (120 Morris Avenue) in Summit from April 3-13, 2025. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm. Special dates: Thursday, April 3, is a preview performance; all tickets are $28. Friday, April 4, has an opening night reception following the show. Sunday, April 6, is Senior Sunday; seniors age 65+ pay $28. Talkbacks follow the April 6 and April 13 matinée performances. On Thursday, April 10, a Ladies Night Out dinner precedes the show, with vendors, food and mingling starting at 6:30pm. Sunday, April 13’s matinee will be audio described for patrons with vision loss.

Tickets range from $25 to $42, with special rates for subscribers and groups. Tickets are available for purchase online.  The theatre at Oakes Center is wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices are available at all performances. The parking lot is accessible from Ashwood Avenue, behind the theatre.

Vivid Stage was founded in 1994 as Dreamcatcher Rep, and is a non-profit professional ensemble of actors who build community with the audience by sharing contemporary, life-affirming stories that challenge, energize and entertain. Their work has at its heart a belief in the essential goodness of people and the power of live performance to connect people through our shared humanity. They expose theatregoers to ideas and lives like and unlike their own with the intention of awakening their imaginations and creating empathy for others. They deepen the experience of all their patrons with personal contact through receptions, talkbacks, and interactive programs.

The company’s activities include mainstage productions, improvisational comedy and cabarets, new play readings and a variety of educational and senior outreach programs. Vivid Stage, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) corporation, incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey.

Vivid Stage’s programs are funded by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Union County Department of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, and many other corporations, foundations and individuals.  Vivid Stage is an Equity Producing member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.

Graphic by Yolanda Fundora