Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 04/22/2026
(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) — You’re invited into a world of wit, glamour, and delightful chaos as the curtain rises on Present Laughter at Music Mountain Theatre (MMT). Running from April 24 through May 10, 2026, this sophisticated comedy by legendary playwright Noël Coward brings one of theatre’s most charming and complicated leading men to life.
Coward, one of the most influential voices in 20th-century theatre, is celebrated for his razor-sharp wit and stylish comedies, including classics such as Blithe Spirit, Private Lives, and Hay Fever. First performed in 1942, Present Laughter is often considered one of his most personal works, offering a humorous and insightful reflection on fame, identity, and the theatrical life.
At the center of the story is Garry Essendine, a celebrated stage star whose larger-than-life persona has made him the object of admiration, affection, and constant attention. As he prepares to leave for an overseas tour, his carefully balanced world begins to unravel. Admirers arrive unannounced, relationships blur, and emotions run high, turning his final days at home into a whirlwind of love, laughter, and self-reflection.
With Coward’s signature quick-paced dialogue and sophisticated humor, Present Laughter captures both the sparkle and strain of life in the spotlight. Beneath the comedy lies a thoughtful exploration of celebrity, desire, and the complexities of human connection, making the play as meaningful as it is entertaining.
Louis Palena takes on the role of Garry Essendine, joined by Molly Chase as his wife, Liz, alongside a talented cast that brings energy, elegance, and comedic precision to this beloved work.
Present Laughter has a running time of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one intermission.
Performances take place Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 3:00pm & 7:30pm; and Sunday at 3:00pm. Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling the box office at 609-397-3337. The theatre is located at 1483 Route 179 in Lambertville, New Jersey.
The children’s theatre production of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians will open Saturday May 2 and run through May 23. Showtimes are Saturdays at 11:00am & 1:00pm.
The mission of Music Mountain Theatre is to enrich, educate, and entertain our community through the study, performance, and appreciation of the arts.
The company began as Downtown PAC in 2001, offering classes and performances in local venues. In 2010, they took up residence at the Washington Crossing Open Air Theater, where they produced more than 150 shows as Curtain Up Productions. They moved into their own venue and opened their doors on October 6, 2017, as Music Mountain Theatre and The Theatre School at MMT with their inaugural production of Phantom.
Today, as the largest and most active performing arts center in Hunterdon County, they’re recognized as a community leader in theatrical entertainment and education, consistently named Best of the Region by The Bucks County Herald.
They offer about 30 adult and youth shows each year and a score of workshops, homeschool programs, and summer camps in a welcoming, inclusive environment. About 55,000 adults and children see their shows each year, which provide performing opportunities for more than 500 local adult and youth artists, while some 300 students enroll in their school programs each year across a range of disciplines including acting, musical theatre, and dance.
EVENT PREVIEWS
Studio Players' Reading Series presents "The Laramie Project 10 Years Later" on June 14th
(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Studio Players' Reading Series presents a Staged Reading of "The Laramie Project 10 Years Later" on Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 7:00pm. Written by Moises Kaufman and Leigh Fondakowski, this is a powerful and deeply moving epilogue to the groundbreaking original. The reading is directed by Thomas J. Donohoe II.
The Company Theatre Group presents a Staged Reading of "Final Day, the Musical" on June 16th
(HACKENSACK, NJ) -- The Company Theatre Group presents a Staged Reading of Final Day, the Musical in the Ruth Bauer Neustadter Gallery at Hackensack Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 3:00pm & 7:00pm. Set on the final day of World War II in Germany, Final Day follows prisoners awaiting liberation as they confront a camp commandant under orders to execute them all.
interACT Theatre Productions presents "Psycho Beach Party"
(MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- interACT Theatre Productions presents Psycho Beach Party by Charles Busch presented as part of OUT IN MAPSO PRIDE 2026 with two performances June 19-20 at The Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts.
The Barn Theatre presents The Solstice Showcase
(MONTVILLE, NJ) -- The Barn Theatre presents The Solstice Showcase, its biennial festival of original one-act plays, from June 19-21, 2026. This three-day event showcases new works of up-and-coming playwrights from the NJ/NY area and beyond and other theatrical talent.
Chatham Community Players present a reading of "Indecent" by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel
(CHATHAM, NJ) -- The Chatham Community Players present a reading of Indecent by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel on Sunday, June 21, 2026 at 7:00pm. The play charts the history of an incendiary drama and the path of the artists who risked their careers and lives to perform it.
Cape May Stage presents a reading of "What Would Meryl Do?" by Neal Lerner
(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- Cape May Stage presents a reading of What Would Meryl Do? by Neal Lerner on Monday, June 22, 2026 at 7:00pm. This is a one-man comic whirlwind about a desperate man in a small upstate town who decides to teach a class on how to live like Meryl Streep — because why not? Admission is free, but donations are accepted.
Middlesex County's Plays in the Park presents "All Shook Up"
(EDISON, NJ) -- Middlesex County's Plays in the Park kicks off its season with All Shook Up from June 17-27, 2026. Loosely based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, it's 1955, and into a square little town rides a guitar-playing young man who changes everything and everyone he meets.
Middlesex County Plays-in-the-Park presents "All Shook Up" by Joe DiPietro
(EDISON, NJ) -- Middlesex County's Plays-in-the-Park presents All Shook Up by Jersey's own Joe DiPietro from June 17-27, 2026. Loosely based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, it's 1955 and into a square little town rides a guitar-playing young man who changes everything and everyone he meets.
Cumberland Players presents "Reefer Madness, the Musical"
(VINELAND, NJ) -- Cumberland Players presents Reefer Madness, the Musical across two weekends from June 19-28, 2026. When a clean-cut kid from a stand-up American family falls prey to marijuana, his descent into the pit is filled with jazz, sex and violence. This pointed polticial satire will go straight to your head!
Pioneer Productions presents "Merrily We Roll Along"
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Pioneer Productions presents Merrily We Roll Along, the groundbreaking musical by Stephen Sondheim with a book by George Furth. Based on the 1934 play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, the musical premiered in 1981 and has since become one of Sondheim's most daring and emotionally resonant works. The show will run weekends from June 19-June 28, 2026 at The Stage at Fellowship Hall, located inside the Morristown United Methodist Church.
FEATURED EVENTS
