(MADISON, NJ) -- The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) announces the launch of Revolutionary Voices, a compelling season-long play reading series examining the promise and potential of America. From gripping dramatic works to provocative proclamations, the four-installment series brings to life critical periods of American history, culminating in a newly-devised performance that weaves together founding documents and other key writings from throughout the nation's transformative history.
Created in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Revolutionary Voices invites audiences to engage with the language, ideas, and debates that continue to define the American experiment. Through staged readings and curated presentations, the series examines how revolutionary words shaped the country and still resonate today.
"Over two centuries ago, the promise of America was laid out by fiery orators and great thinkers in impassioned speeches and momentous declarations," said Brian B. Crowe, STNJ's Artistic Director. "While their bold and revolutionary ideas still ring out today, each generation has challenged their veracity and tested their resilience. We are excited to present this series which examines the promise of America — with all its potential and pitfalls, its challenges and triumphs — through the lens of these great writers."
The first installment, The Devil's Disciple by George Bernard Shaw takes place Monday, February 23, 2026 at 7:30pm. This is a sharp, witty drama set against the backdrop of the American Revolution. Brimming with bold ideas, moral reversals, and Shaw's trademark humor, the play challenges notions of heroism, sacrifice, and conscience — proving that the most unruly rebel may actually be a hero in disguise.
Next, The Agitators by Mat Smart takes place Monday, April 27, 2026 at 7:30pm. This one crackles with urgency, bringing to life the fierce, decades-long friendship between Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. From modest abolitionist beginnings, through the Civil War, to the highest halls of government, this gripping two-character drama explores activism, allyship, and the cost of fighting for change when progress demands impossible choices.
Robert Schenkkan's All the Way takes place Monday, July 27, 2026 at 7:30pm. This is a riveting political drama that thrusts audiences into the high-stakes first year of Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency. With pulse-quickening dialogue, the play chronicles the tumultuous battles behind the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, revealing the grit and compromise required to change the course of history.
The fourth and final installment is a devised piece titled We Declare: Words that Shaped a Nation, which takes place Monday, September 14, 2026 at 7:30pm. This a powerful theatrical journey through the speeches, documents, and proclamations from our nation's origin. We Declare brings to life the most influential and world-changing documents in American history. From the Declaration of Independence to the musings of prominent American luminaries, the event will feature two and a half centuries of diverse American voices, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Maya Angelou, Robert Frost, James Baldwin, and others. This engaging presentation reveals the drama, debate, and enduring impact behind the ideas that shaped the American experience.
Tickets for Revolutionary Voices are: Adult: $35/$55 (for We Declare); Youth (17 and under): $20. Discounts available for students and multi-event packages
Complementing Revolutionary Voices, STNJ will also present Classics for Kids!, a popular series of kid-friendly performances designed to introduce young audiences and their families to the joy of live theatre and classic children's literature.
The series begins with a Tanglewood Marionettes production of Sleeping Beauty on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 11:00am; followed by American Folktales on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 11:00am. This is a lively collection celebrating the rich storytelling traditions of the nation. Next, audiences will enjoy the return of Tanglewood Marionettes' celebrated production of The Dragon King on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 11:00am. The series concludes with Merry, Merry Mischief: Holiday Classics on Saturday, December 19 at 11:00am. This is a spirited and seasonal collection of short stories and poems perfect for celebrating the holidays.
Tickets for Classics for Kids! are Adult: $25; Youth (17 and under): $20. Discounts available for multi-event packages.
Together, Classics for Kids! and Revolutionary Voices reflect The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's commitment to serving audiences of all ages while celebrating the enduring power of great stories. All performances take place in the FM Kirby Shakespeare Theatre on the campus of Drew University in Madison, NJ.
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) is one of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation, serving approximately 40,000 adults and children annually. It is New Jersey's largest professional theatre company dedicated to Shakespeare's canon and other classic masterworks. Through its productions and education programs the company strives to illuminate the universal and lasting relevance of the classics for contemporary audiences.
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional major support is received from the F.M. Kirby Foundation, The MacMillan Family Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The Edward T. Cone Foundation, The Samuel H. Scripps Foundation, CTW Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, The New Jersey Cultural Trust, The Hearst Foundations, Shakespeare in American Communities, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, Union Foundation, John and Margaret Post Foundation, Provident Bank, Hyde and Watson Foundation, E.J. Grassmann Trust, Jack K. Ayre and Frank Ayre Lee Theatre Foundation, The John R. Eckel Jr. Foundation, Mimi Washington Starrett Foundation, Turrell Fund, the Merrill G. and Emita E. Hastings Foundation, and the Howard Gilman Foundation, as well as contributions from numerous other foundations, corporations, government agencies, and individuals.
