(LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- New Jersey Repertory Company (NJ Rep) is presenting Sins of the Mother by acclaimed playwright Israel Horovitz, directed by Evan Bergman, weekends through May 3, 2026. Set in the tight-knit fishing town of Gloucester, Massachusetts, this play follows Douggie, a young man returning home to prove his roots among a group of rugged, fiercely loyal locals who live by their hands—and sometimes by violence. Photographer Andrea Phox was on hand to take photos.
In a place where everyone knows everyone, belonging must be earned. As Douggie attempts to confirm his past, he is pulled into a web of long-buried secrets tied to his mother and the town itself. What unfolds is a gripping, darkly humorous exploration of identity, loyalty, and the lingering scars of unfinished wars.
The cast features John Adams, Michael Bakkensen, Rudy Galvan, and Edward James Hyland.
All Photos by Andrea Phox
"Sins of the Mother is a powerful reminder of Israel Horovitz's extraordinary ability to capture the raw, complicated ties that bind us to our past. This play is at once intimate and explosive, and we're thrilled to bring it to our stage with such a remarkable cast and creative team." NJ Rep's Artistic Director, SuzAnne Barabas.
Performances take place Thursdays at 7:00pm; Fridays and Saturdays at 2:00pm & 7:00pm; and Sundays at 2:00pm. Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling 732-229-3166. The theater is located at 179 Broadway in Long Branch, New Jersey.
Director Evan Bergman has helmed more than 15 productions for NJ Rep, many of them world premieres. His work has also been seen at Ensemble Studio Theatre, Barrington Stage Company, Playwrights Horizons, and 59E59 Theaters. His film work includes the award-winning short Day Zero, and he is currently in pre-production for the feature film Life on the Flats.
Israel Horovitz is one of the most prolific and widely produced American playwrights, with more than 70 plays translated into over 30 languages and performed worldwide. His work is known for its raw humanity, sharp dialogue, and deeply personal storytelling.
NEW JERSEY REPERTORY COMPANY (NJRep) was founded in 1997 by SuzAnne and Gabor Barabas. Its current central headquarters is the Lumia Theater, located on lower Broadway in Long Branch. The theater's mission is to develop and produce new plays and to make a lasting contribution to the American Stage. Over two decades, NJ Rep has produced 152 plays, of which 128 have been world premieres. The theater has the additional distinction of having had many of its plays produced by other theaters around the country, totaling over 200 subsequent productions in the US and overseas.
