(MADISON, NJ) -- The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) presents Edward Albee's landmark American masterpiece Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? from September 5–27, 2026 at the F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre on the campus of Drew University.
One of the most celebrated and influential plays of the twentieth century, Albee's searing drama examines marriage, ambition, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. Over the course of one unforgettable evening, George and Martha invite a younger couple into their home for what begins as a friendly late-night drink and spirals into a devastating battle of wit, truth, and emotional reckoning.
Returning to the Kirby stage following her acclaimed performance as Serafina Delle Rose in The Rose Tattoo is Antoinette LaVecchia as Martha (Broadway: A View from the Bridge, Torch Song; Off-Broadway: Conversations with Mother, Kimberly Akimbo). Andrew Borba makes his STNJ debut in the role of George. Borba has performed in theatres across the country, including South Coast Rep, The Globe Theatre, Berkeley Rep, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Dallas Theater Center, Long Wharf, and others, as well as in over thirty television series and films. Rounding out the cast is Michael Underhill as Nick (STNJ debut; The Old Globe: The Merry Wives of Windsor, Henry VI) and Abby Burris as Honey (STNJ: Shakespeare LIVE! productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, and Macbeth).
The creative team is led by director Nisi Sturgis. Scenic design by Sara Beth Hall, costume design by Daniel Ciba, lighting design by Matt Weisgable, sound design by Ariana Cardoza, and fight & intimacy direction by David Anzuelo. Jenna Gregson stage manages with Anika Shirvaikar assisting.
"This play is one of the most ferocious battles of love, wit, and creative power ever put on stage," said director Nisi Sturgis. "It is funny in every sense of the word — hilarious and peculiar. Thrilling as a car crash, its magnetism doesn't let us look away as it explodes the facade to reveal raw truth."
Winner of the 1962 Tony Award for Best Play, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? remains one of the defining works of modern American theatre. By turns blisteringly funny and heartbreakingly honest, Albee's masterpiece challenges audiences with its unforgettable characters and timeless exploration of the fragile line between illusion and reality.
Single tickets for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? begin at $45 for Preview performances and begin at $65 for regular performances. Prices range from $45 to $85. The Theatre offers a variety of other cost-saving opportunities, including $25 student tickets with a valid student ID and a limited number of Pay What You Will tickets for every performance on a first-come, first-serve basis. STNJ also has a $35 under 35 ticket option, which offers $35 tickets for patrons aged 35 and under, with valid ID. Other discounts are available including subscription discounts; and 10% discounts for members of Seniors, PBS/Thirteen, Active Military, Madison Loyalty Club card holders, and AAA members. STNJ also honors the Family First Discovery Pass for families receiving benefits through SNAP, WIC, or Work First New Jersey. Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling the Box Office at (973) 408-5600.
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. As New Jersey's largest professional theatre company dedicated to Shakespeare's canon and other classic masterworks, STNJ's productions and education programs illuminate the enduring 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 provided by the F.M. Kirby Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The Edward T. Cone Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, CTW Foundation, The Samuel H. Scripps Foundation, Union Foundation, E.J. Grassmann Trust, Hyde and Watson Foundation, Jack K. Ayre and Frank Ayre Lee Theatre Foundation, The John R. Eckel Jr. Foundation, Turrell Fund, The Merrill G. and Emita E. Hastings Foundation, the Howard Gilman Foundation, and numerous other foundations, corporations, and individuals.
