Scott Goldman, Laoina Michelle, and Christopher J. Bailey. Photo by Jeffrey Auger
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- If you were wondering how one person could ever replace David Saint at George Street Playhouse, you were not alone. In fact, the company announced on April 21st that a new artistic team of Christopher J. Bailey, Scott Goldman, and Laiona Michelle will succeed Saint as the Artistic Producing Triumvirate of the company. In addition, the company announced their programming for the 2025–2026 season, selected by the company’s new artistic leadership, with support from David Saint.
The co-Artistic Producers will collaboratively run the artistic aspects of the organization under the leadership of the Executive Director. Christopher J. Bailey, who served as the Production Manager of George Street Playhouse, will oversee Production and Operations. George Street’s now-former General Manager Scott Goldman will look after General Management and Marketing. Laiona Michelle, who has directed a variety of George Street productions, will champion Artistic and Creative Management within the company.
Board of Trustees Chairman James N. Heston says, “We are delighted that the new artistic leadership comes from our current employees of accomplished, talented individuals who have dedicated between 6 and 26 years of their careers to George Street Playhouse. The artistic triumvirate of Christopher Bailey, Scott Goldman and Laiona Michelle is highly regarded by the Board of Trustees.”
Laiona Michelle, Christopher J. Bailey, and Scott Goldman at George Street Playhouse. Photo by Jeffrey Auger
“We are deeply grateful to the Board of Trustees for their trust and to David Saint for his remarkable leadership and support as we step into this next chapter for George Street Playhouse, says Bailey, Goldman, and Michelle. Each production invites audiences on a journey; whether through the intrigue of a mystery, the warmth of a holiday tradition, or the powerful resonance of history and human connection. We look forward to sharing these stories with our community and continuing George Street’s legacy of bold, engaging theater.
“As we step into these new roles at George Street Playhouse, we are thrilled to present a season that reflects the depth, heart, and artistry as built through David Saint’s tenure over 27 years.”
The Board of Trustees of George Street Playhouse will launch a national search for the company’s next Artistic Director.
George Street’s season will begin in October 2025 with Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro’s (Memphis) play, An Old Fashioned Family Murder. In December 2025, Ebeneezer Scrooge’s Big Jersey Christmas Show! by Gordon Greenberg (Holiday Inn, Dracula!) and Steve Rosen (The Other Josh Cohen) and directed by Gordon Greenberg will head into performances December 2 – December 21. The season will continue in March 2026, with What Became of Us by Shayan Lofti and directed by Laiona Michelle (GSP’s Little Girl Blue), followed by My Lord, What a Night by Deborah Brevoort (The Women of Lockerbie) and directed by Sheldon Epps (Play On!) in April 2026.
Full season subscriptions are on sale nowbeginning at $176. They are available for purchase at georgestreetplayhouse.org. Single tickets will go on sale at a later date.
October 14—November 2, 2025 | An Old Fashioned Family Murder by Joe DiPietro; directed by Larry Raben. On a dark and stormy night, a once-grand estate becomes the stage for a chilling crime in this razor-sharp comic mystery from Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro. When a pompous writer spills a family secret—tensions turn to murder and every guest is a suspect. A sharp-eyed widow, a smooth-talking fiancé, a jealous daughter—no one is who they seem, and everyone has something to hide.
Secrets unravel, betrayals come to light, and Mrs. Peck’s motherly instincts might just outmatch the detective’s.
December 2—21, 2025 | Ebeneezer Scrooge’s Big Jersey Christmas Show! by Gordon Greenberg & Steve Rosen, directed by Gordon Greenberg. Based on “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Move over, London—Scrooge is spending Christmas in Jersey! This fast, funny, and full-of-surprises reimagining of A Christmas Carol takes Dickens’ classic tale and gives it a fresh, local twist. Expect all the traditional ghosts—Past, Present, and Future—along with plenty of Garden State spirit, unexpected laughs, and a dash of holiday magic. No matter what exit you’re from, this high-energy holiday romp is a Christmas celebration that’s as big, bold, and unforgettable as the great state of New Jersey!
March 17—April 5, 2026 | What Became of Us by Shayan Lofti, directed by Laiona Michelle. Two siblings—one born here, one born there, grow up, grow apart, and come back together—again and again.
Spanning years and possibilities, What Became of Us is a poetic and heartfelt exploration of family, memory, and the moments that shape our lives. As their past and present intertwine, they navigate the unshakable bond that keeps pulling them back to each other.
What if things had gone differently? And where do we go from here?
April 28—May 17, 2026 | My Lord, What a Night by Deborah Brevoort, directed by Sheldon Epps. A Remarkable Friendship. A Night That Changed History.
Princeton, 1937. When world-famous contralto Marian Anderson is turned away from a hotel because of her race, she finds an unexpected host in Albert Einstein. What begins as a simple act of hospitality grows into a unique friendship between two brilliant minds—one that will resonate through history.
Based on true events, My Lord, What a Night offers an intimate look at the meeting of these two icons and the events that ignited Anderson’s legendary performance on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
Performance schedules, casting, and full creative teams will be announced at a later date.
BIOS
CHRISTOPHER J. BAILEY (Artistic Producer – Production and Operations) marks his 26th season at George Street Playhouse and 19th as its Production Manager, having previously served the Playhouse as Technical Coordinator and Sound and Lighting Manager. Most recently, he served as the Lighting Designer for George Street’s What the Constitution Means to Me and The Immigrant. He also served as the Lighting Designer for GSP’s production of Clever Little Lies, which moved to the Guild Hall Theatre in East Hampton and then Off-Broadway to the Westside Theatre. His other designs for GSP include 6 scenic designs as well as 9 sound designs for GSP’s Educational Touring productions, 28 lighting designs and 40 sound designs for GSP’s mainstage productions. Additionally, he has designed for Pearl Theatre, Barrington Stage, Premiere Stages, Bickford Theatre, Abingdon Theatre, Strand Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Two River Theater, Ashlawn Highland Opera, LKB Dance, Randy James Dance, Rand Theater, The Irish Repertory Theatre, Westport Country Playhouse, Long Wharf, Delaware Theatre Company, Jacob’s Pillow, and more. Mr. Bailey also teaches Stagecraft and Play Production at Middlesex County College.
SCOTT GOLDMAN (Artistic Producer – General Management and Marketing) was appointed General Manager in 2019 and has been with George Street Playhouse in various roles since 2005. His time at George Street Playhouse has allowed him to work with legendary artists spanning nearly 100 productions and the NY transfers of world premieres of productions of The Toxic Avenger, It Shoulda Been You, Gettin' the Band Back Together, Clever Little Lies, Curvy Widow and Little Girl Blue. Since 2012 he has also served as Foundation Manager for the Laurents/Hatcher Foundation, administering over $10M in grants for new plays across the country. Scott graduated with degrees in Speech Communication and Drama and holds a Masters Degree in Organizational Communications from Ithaca College.
LAIONA MICHELLE (Artistic Producer – Artistic and Creative Management) is the creator of Little Girl Blue, which won the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Solo Show and the Lilly Award for writing (2022). She is the book writer of Mandela, The Musical, which had its world premiere at the Young Vic (2022). Laiona's body of work at George Street Playhouse ranges from actress, director, and Artistic Associate. She has starred in Little Girl Blue, American Hero, and Tiny Beautiful Things in addition to directing What the Constitution Means to Me, Having Our Say, and Her Portmanteau. Some of her regional theatre credits include: Arena Stage, Goodspeed Opera House, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Shakespeare Theatre Company, and many more. Laiona Michelle made her Broadway debut in 2015 in the musical, Amazing Grace, which opened at the Nederlander. Prior to that, she was an original cast member with the first national tour of The Book of Mormon. Laiona has thirty plus years of experience that includes work on stage, film and television. She is a recipient of the Barrymore and Carbonell Awards (2004); and the NAACP Hollywood Award (2005). She has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Lucille Lortel and Antonyo Awards (2022); and the Helen Hayes Award (2005). Some of her TV/Film credits include “Lift,” “All My Children,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “The Blacklist,” “Crashing,” Amazon’s “Sneaky Pete,” and ”Blue Bloods.”
Laiona Michelle earned her MFA from Brandeis University.
For more than 50 years, George Street Playhouse has produced groundbreaking new works, inspiring productions of the classics, and hit Broadway plays and musicals that speak to the heart and mind, with an unwavering commitment to producing new work. As New Brunswick’s first producing theatre, George Street Playhouse became the cornerstone of the revitalization of the City’s arts and cultural landscape. Entering its 52nd season, the organization has a rich history of producing nationally renowned theatre.
Under the leadership of Artistic Director David Saint (1997-2025) the Playhouse filled a unique theatre and arts education role in the city, state, and greater metropolitan region. George Street Playhouse announced the appointment of Edgar Herrera as Managing Director, effective June 1, 2023. Effective January 1, 2025, Herrera became Executive Director.
Beginning with the 2019-20 Season, George Street Playhouse moved to the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center in downtown New Brunswick. Featuring two state-of-the-art theatres—The Arthur Laurents Theater with 253 seats and The Elizabeth Ross Johnson Theater which seats 465—and myriad amenities, the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center marks a new era in the esteemed history of George Street Playhouse. Founded by Eric Krebs, George Street Playhouse, originally located in an abandoned supermarket on the corner of George and Albany Streets, was the first professional theatre in New Brunswick. In 1984, the Playhouse moved to a renovated YMCA on Livingston Avenue, and in 2017 took temporary residence in the former Agricultural Museum at Rutgers University during construction of its new home.
The Playhouse has been well represented by numerous productions both on and off-Broadway. In 2018, George Street Playhouse was represented on Broadway with Gettin’ the Band Back Together which premiered on the Playhouse mainstage in 2013. American Son, produced by George Street Playhouse in 2017, opened on Broadway in 2018 starring Kerry Washington and Stephen Pasquale, and was seen on Netflix. Other productions include the Outer Critics’ Circle Best Musical Award-winner The Toxic Avenger. In 2015, It Shoulda Been You opened on Broadway and Joe DiPietro’s Clever Little Lies opened off-Broadway. Both shows received their premieres at the Playhouse. Other productions include the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Drama League Award-nominated production of The Spitfire Grill; and the Broadway hit and Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play Proof by David Auburn, which was developed at the Playhouse during the 1999 Next Stage Series of new plays.
George Street Playhouse programming is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.
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