New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


?>

 

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents "Small Ball"

originally published: 05/17/2025

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Philadelphia Theatre Company closes out their season with Small Ball from June 6-29, 2025 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Commissioned and co-produced by Daryl Morey, President of Basketball Operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, Small Ball is an off-beat and surreal musical about a professional basketball team, a mysterious new recruit, a tiny island nation, and the big questions that bounce between them.

Philadelphia is a sports town, and Small Ball taps directly into that passion, while flipping the court upside-down in a journey to the fantastical beach of Lilliput. The musical follows Michael Jordan (no, not that Michael Jordan), a melancholy journeyman athlete who finds himself drafted by the Lilliput Existers, a team of six-inch-tall basketball players in an international league. With his dreams stalled and the weight of his new team’s fate on his shoulders, Michael must navigate bizarre post-game press conferences, cultural misunderstandings, and existential questions of greatness, all underscored by a vibrant, genre-bending score.

Small Ball features a book by Mickle Maher, an original score by Merel van Dijk and Anthony Barilla, and direction by PTC Co-Artistic Directors Taibi Magar and Tyler Dobrowsky. A special 50th Anniversary Gala will take place on opening night, Wednesday, June 11, at 7:30pm.

“This is exactly the kind of daring, idiosyncratic, and wildly entertaining show we love bringing to Philadelphia audiences,” says Tyler Dobrowsky, Co-Artistic Director of PTC. “Small Ball is hilarious and heartfelt—a musical that’s as much about humanity and purpose as it is about hoops. This city loves sports and even more importantly, an underdog story, and we’re thrilled to share it in our home city.”

Single tickets start at $25, plus applicable fees. Tickets are available at www.philatheatreco.org. They may also be purchased by phone at (215) 985-0420 or in person at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146. Please note: Small Ball contains strong language, adult themes, and surreal humor and is recommended for ages 13 and up.




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



Joining PTC for the East Coast premiere of Small Ball is a dynamic cast of nationally and internationally acclaimed performers whose work spans Broadway, major national tours, film, and award-winning regional theatre. The cast includes: Adam Chanler-Berat (Next to Normal, Peter and The Starcatcher, and Amélie on Broadway); Jordan Dobson (Hadestown, Bad Cinderella, A Beautiful Noise on Broadway); Sarah Gliko (Barrymore Award winner, The Bridges of Madison County at PTC); Nadina Hassan (Mean Girls 1st National Tour, We Live in Cairo at New York Theatre Workshop); Josh Totora (Barrymore Award winner, Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical in Man of La Mancha at Delaware Theatre Company); Lexi Thammavong (This Is the Week That Is at 1812 Productions); Rob Tucker (Twelfth Night at Shakespeare in Clark Park); and Amy Warren (August: Osage County and Act One on Broadway).

The creative team includes Katie Spelman (Choreographer), Christopher Ash (Scenic Designer), Olivera Gajic (Costume Designer), Thom Weaver (Lighting Designer), G Clausen (Sound Designer), Dan Espie (Music Director), Liz Forrester (Stage Manager), Chloe Kincade (Assistant Stage Manager), Taylor Williams, CSA (Casting Director) and Brenna Geffers (Additional Philadelphia Casting).

Philadelphia Theatre Company (PTC) is a vital civic institution dedicated to the creation of extraordinary theatrical experiences that reflect the essential issues and ideas of our time and that foster connection, understanding, and transformation. PTC engages and strengthens our community through exceptional productions of new and contemporary plays and musicals, inspiring education programs, and mutually beneficial civic partnerships. PTC develops exciting new work that resonates locally and nationally and upholds a deep commitment to be a fully inclusive, welcoming home for Philadelphia's artists, audiences, and people.




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here


EVENT PREVIEWS

Count:

Count: Stories from America’s Death Row

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- During a single day on death row, six men unpack their personal inheritances of violence, racism, mental illness, poverty, and surprising love. Count: Stories from America's Death Row is a production brought to you through a partnership between the Center for Barth Studies at Princeton Theological Seminary and Chesney Snow of Princeton University. Performances are scheduled for Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 3:00pm & 7:00pm in McCarter Theatre's Berlind Rehearsal Room.



Celebrate

Celebrate Courage and Authenticity with "She's NorMale – A Transgender Odyssey"

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Geenetica (Geena Buono) brings her heartfelt vision to the stage with She's NorMale – A Transgender Odyssey, a groundbreaking live multimedia musical production premiering Thursday, June 19, 2025 at House of Independents. Showtime is 7:00pm. As part of The North 2 Shore Festival in Asbury Park, NJ, this will be the second year the show kicks off the festival line-up.



Stargazer

Stargazer Performing Arts presents Inaugural Jersey Shore Young Playwrights Festival

(HOLMDEL, NJ) -- Stargazer Performing Arts will present the inaugural Jersey Shore Young Playwrights Festival on Friday, June 20, 2025 at the Duncan Smith Theater in Holmdel. This is a brand-new celebration of emerging talent from teen writers across Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May counties. The festival will showcase original plays written by students ages 13 to 18, brought to life in a staged reading by local actors and directed by Stargazer's co-director, Jim DeVivo.



Luna

Luna Stage presents a new solo adaptation of "The Ground on Which We Stand (abridged)"

(WEST ORANGE, NJ) -- Luna Stage presents a new solo adaptation of The Ground on Which We Stand (abridged) from June 5-21, 2025. The play was inspired by the history and legacy of The James Howe House, the first home owned by a formerly enslaved person in Montclair. The project was conceived and is directed by Ari Laura Keith.



Studio

Studio Players presents "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon"

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Studio Players presents The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon by Don Zolidis across three weekends from June 6-21, 2025. Over two hundred Fairytales in two hours... what could go wrong?



FEATURED EVENTS

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

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Count:

Count: Stories from America’s Death Row

Tuesday, June 17, 2025 @ 7:00pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Berlind Rehearsal Room)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
category: theatre


 

Count:

Count: Stories from America’s Death Row

Tuesday, June 17, 2025 @ 3:00pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Berlind Rehearsal Room)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
category: theatre


 

Play

Play Festival Reading Series: "Angel's Share"

Thursday, June 19, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Premiere Stages - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center
1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
category: theatre


 

Hedwig

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Thursday, June 19, 2025 @ 8:00pm
Bell Theater
101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
category: theatre


 

Play

Play Festival Reading Series: "Lia Del Mar"

Friday, June 20, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Premiere Stages - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center
1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
category: theatre