(MONTVILLE, NJ) -- The Barn Theatre presents Torch Song by Harvey Fierstein across three weekends from March 13-29, 2026. This heartfelt play follows Arnold Beckoff, a Jewish drag queen performing as "Virginia Ham" in New York City. As he navigates love, family, and identity, he faces both joy and hardship.
Set in the late 1970s and 1980s, the story explores his journey as a gay man through humor, heartache, and resilience. Torch Song is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
The cast includes Aaron Carr (Alan), Corey Chichizola (Arnold), Maya-Lynn Davis (Laurel), Griffin Gartlgruber (David), Aaron Hancock (Ed), Leslie Silverman (Torch Singer), and Beth Valenti (Mrs. Beckoff).
The production team includes: Director: George Seylaz; Producer: Leslie Silverman; Stage Manager: Eileen Cadorette; Set Design: Lawrence Gabriel; Set Decor: Lawrence Gabriel; Lighting Design: Kai Goz; Lighting Board Operation: Jil Leonard; Sound Design: Andrea Young; Sound Engineer: Kai Goz; Props: Emma Ferentinos; Costumes: Evie Turner; Make-Up and Hair: Evie Turner; Vocal Coach: Joseph Christianson; Intimacy Coordinator: Amanda Castro-Conroy; and Dialect Coach: Nathan Scott Hancock.
Performances take place Friday, March 13 at 8:00pm; Saturday, March 14 at 2:00pm; Sunday, March 15 at 2:00pm; Friday, March 20 at 8:00pm; Saturday, March 21 at 8:00pm; Sunday, March 22 at 2:00pm; Friday, March 27 at 8:00pm; Saturday, March 28 at 8:00pm; and Sunday, March 29 at 2:00pm. Tickets are available for purchase online. The theater is located at 32 Skyline Drive in Montville, New Jersey.
Harvey Fierstein made his professional acting debut at La Mama ETC in 1971 in Andy Warhol's only play, Pork. He followed that with appearances in more than 60 Off-Off-Broadway productions before he began his career as a playwright. Early works like Flatbush Tosca and Cobra Jewels led to his underground hit Torch Song Trilogy, which transferred Off-Broadway in 1981, and then to Broadway in 1982, where it won the Best Play Tony Award as well as Drama Desk, Obie, and Dramatist Guild Awards. As an actor, Fierstein also won Tony, Drama Desk, and Theater World Awards for his portrayal of the lead. A revival of Torch Song at the Second Stage was warmly received in the fall of 2017 and returned to Broadway in 2018.
Harvey won his third Tony for the libretto of the musical La Cage Aux Folles, which is the only show in history to have won Best Musical and two Best Revival of a Musical Tony Awards. His other plays include Newsies (Tony nominated for Best Book), Kinky Boots (Tony Award for Best Musical, nominated for Best Book), A Catered Affair (Drama League winner Outstanding Musical of the Year), Casa Valentina, Safe Sex, Spookhouse and Legs Diamond.
