Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 06/22/2025
Leighton Samuels as Ransome Foster and Samuel Shurtleff as Bert Barricune in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Photo by Joshua Eichenbaum
(NEW YORK, NY) -- After a critically acclaimed run in 2022, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance returns to The Gene Frankel Theatre for a limited Off- Broadway run. Thomas R. Gordon, Artistic Director of The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company, directs the production. The revival runs June 26 to July 26, 2025.
Written by Jethro Compton, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is based on a short story written by Dorothy M. Johnson. The original story was the basis for the 1962 film of the same name which starred James Stewart and John Wayne.
When Ransome Foster, a scholar from New York City, first came to the town of Twotrees he arrived bloody and beaten. But after a quick recovery and a promise to a young woman to help her learn to read, Foster begins to change the small town he starts to call home with love and education.
This catches the attention of Liberty Valance, an outlaw who seeks to restore his view of ”the norms of society” through terror & bloodshed. Suddenly, Foster finds himself on a collision course with the experienced gunman forcing him to make a choice: to run or to stand up for what he believes in, to live or to fight for what is right...
A classic western tale of good versus evil, of law and order versus intimidation and violence, of one man against Liberty Valance.
The cast features Mari Blake (Shadows/ART NY), Ben-David Carlson (Lend Me a Soprano/Shadowland Stages), Derek Jack Chariton (The Blacklist/NBC), Dillon Collins (A Midsummer Night's Dream/Gene Frankel Theatre), Emily Cummings (Dog Sees God/brooklynONE), Daniel Kornegay (Love’s Labour’s Lost/Gene Frankel Theatre), Leighton Samuels (FBI/CBS), Samuel Shurtleff (Betty’s Summer Vacation/Gene Frankel Theatre), and Scott Zimmerman (Feud/FX).
The creative/production team includes Susan Yanofsky (costumes), Nino Amari (set), Reid Sullivan (lighting), John Figueredo (technical director), Daniel Kornegay (graphics/social media), Nia Bakari (stage manager), and Jo Calhoun (assistant stage manager). Produced by The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company and The Gene Frankel Theatre.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance runs June 26 – July 26, with performances on Wednesdays – Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Saturdays - Sundays at 2:00pm. Running time: 1:45. Tickets are $25 (students/seniors), $35 (general admission) and are available for purchase online. The Gene Frankel Theatre is located at 24 Bond Street (Between Lafayette & Bowery), New York, NY 10012. Subways: 6 to Bleecker Street, B/D/F/M to Broadway/Lafayette.
Jethro Compton (Playwright) is a British writer, director and theatre producer. His play The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance has been produced over seventy times across the US and Canada and was published by Oberon Books in 2014.
Thomas R. Gordon (Director) is the leader of the motley crew that is The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company and a fighter for love and art in New York City. He is a graduate of Radford University and the NYU Educational Theatre Program. Before moving to New York, Thomas worked as a director, actor, lighting designer, sound designer and theater teacher in both Virginia and California. Select directing credits include: Dali’s Dream, You Are Not Alone, Teach Me How to Die, Dracula: Finding of a Shadow, The Picture of Dorian Grey, The House of Bernada Alba, Of Mice & Men, Medea, Arsene Lupin VS Sherlock Holmes, Let's Play: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the 2022 production of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company’s primary goal is to create theatre with sound. Any and all types of sound! Whether it is music, noise or a symphony of emotions pouring from an actor’s soul they aim to create theatre that must be heard to really be seen! Their second goal is to use sound and technology to help push the boundaries of what live theatre can do. They aim to carry on the Off-Off-Broadway tradition of pushing boundaries and experimentation! Their final goal is to create theatre that fights for a positive view of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation and “the underdog.”
EVENT PREVIEWS
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South Camden Theatre Company's New Play Reading Series presents a reading of "The Ocean Deep" by Katherine Vondy
(CAMDEN, NJ) -- South Camden Theatre Company's New Play Reading Series presents a reading of The Ocean Deep by Katherine Vondy on Monday, August 10, 2026. Admission is free with live music at 6:00pm and the reading & discussion at 7:00pm.
Gateway Playhouse to Hold Open Auditions for "9 to 5: The Musical"
(SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- Gateway Playhouse of Somers Point is holding open auditions for their third MainStage production of the year, the incredibly fun 9 to 5: The Musical. Auditions will take place from 6:00pm-8:00pm Monday and Tuesday, August 10 and 11, 2026. All roles are open and any performance experience is welcomed (must be 16 or older).
Middlesex County Plays-in-the-Park to Host Auditions for "Curious George: The Golden Meatball" on August 12th
(EDISON, NJ) -- Middlesex County's Plays-in-the-Park is holding auditions for its fall 2026 children's production of Curious George: The Golden Meatball on Wednesday, August 12, at 6:00pm at the Stephen J. Capestro Theatre located inside Roosevelt Park in Edison. Everyone's favorite mischievous monkey and his friend in the yellow hat sing and dance up a storm in this adventure-filled musical.
Music Mountain Theatre presents "Alice By Heart"
(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre presents Alice By Heart with three performances from August 12-13, 2026. From the Tony and Grammy Award-winning creators of Spring Awakening (Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik) and co-written by Jessie Nelson (Waitress) this is a touching musical inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Chimera Productions presents "Job" at Paul Robeson Center for the Arts
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Masquerade Theatre presents "Myths, Legends & Folklore Showcase"
(RIVERSIDE, NJ) -- Masquerade Theatre presents Myths, Legends & Folklore Showcase with performances on Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 8:00pm each night.
Algonquin Arts Theatre presents "Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical"
(MANASQUAN, NJ) -- Algonquin Arts Theatre presents Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical across two weekends from August 8-16, 2026. Bold, revolutionary, and electrifying, Hair captures the spirit of a generation and stands as the ultimate celebration of the 1960s.
Asbury Park Theater Company to Hold Open Auditions for "The Wolves" by Sarah DeLappe
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Ferrell Studios Community Theatre presents "Merrily We Roll Along"
(METUCHEN, NJ) -- Ferrell Studios Community Theatre, a nonprofit theatre organization serving Central New Jersey, announces its upcoming production of Merrily We Roll Along, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth. The production will close the company's 2025-26 season, themed "Our Time," with five performances at St. Luke's Episcopal Church Auditorium in Metuchen, NJ from August 20-23, 2026.
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