Here is a look at upcoming events taking place from September 9-15, 2026 along with our featured listings. New Jersey Stage offers previews of events throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas. Click on the title to go to the full preview. Jump to Featured Events, Music, Theatre, Comedy, Dance, Film, Art, Event Listings.
Most of the events previewed here are articles created by New Jersey Stage, but you may send press releases to [email protected] to have your shows considered for previews. Featured listings are found in the NJ Stage calendar, reserved for advertisers, and provided with individual event pages for every performance. They serve as event boosters - they can help your shows get higher rankings with search engines. There is no cost for preview articles. Event pages are also available for $10 per event (multiple performances count as a single event). Event pages are also included with every banner ad purchase. Banner ads are available from $50-$100 per event and can be purchased up to 3 months in advance.
Wednesday, September 9 - MPAC presents Melissa Etheridge: The Rise Tour. (MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Melissa Etheridge ("I'm the Only One," "Come to My Window," and "I Want to Come Over" to name a few) has remained one of America's favorite female singers since bursting onto the scene in 1988. Etheridge brings her Rise tour to Mayo Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 7:30pm.
Premiere Stages presents the NJ Premiere of "Flawless" by John J. Wooten. (UNION, NJ) -- Premiere Stages at Kean University presents the New Jersey premiere production of Flawless by John J. Wooten, September 3-20 in Kean University's Bauer Boucher Theatre Center. Flawless had its world premiere at Penguin Rep and is being produced in partnership with Penguin Rep and Shadowland Stages. Director Joe Brancato, Artistic Director of Penguin Rep, returns to direct. Original cast Ellen Adair, Michael Frederic and Alexander Rios reprise their roles from Penguin Rep production.
Nostalgia Takes The Stage at MPAC this September with shows by Dion, Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone, and The Rascals. (MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Three of the 1960s' most popular artists take the Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) stage in September. From the classic doo wop sounds of Dion, to the bouncy pop of British Invasion faves Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone to classic American hitmakers The Rascals, MPAC will reverberate with the sounds, hits and memories of the 1960s.
Saturday, September 12 - The Fright Stuff has the right stuff at the New Jersey Film Festival!. Haunted houses are fun. Don’t listen to what that one family member says, this is an objective fact. A good haunted house is, for many, the highlight of the Halloween season. But have you even wondered what it takes to make the magic happen? Well, you’re in luck! Mike Meyer’s documentary, The Fright Stuff, gives you a peek behind the curtain; from the history of the industry, to interviews of successful companies, and even the construction of a haunted house. This film will shock you, creep you out, and weirdly enough, pull at your heartstrings.
Sunday, September 13 - Mesmerizing documentary Imprinted screens at the New Jersey Film Festival on September 13!. There is something almost mesmerizing about watching a dancer move alongside a horse. At certain moments in Imprinted, their movements feel so natural together that it is easy to forget how much trust and communication it takes to reach that point. Directed and produced by Martina Casas, the documentary follows choreographer JoAnna Mendl Shaw and her work with dancers and horses through The Equus Projects. What first seems like a film about an unusual form of dance slowly becomes something much more meaningful. Through beautiful movement, unexpected challenges, and quieter moments between the dancers and horses, Imprinted explores how two completely different species can learn to communicate without words.
Sunday, September 13 - Tony Award Nominee Joshua Henry to open Kean Stage's 2026-2027 season. (HILLSIDE, NJ) -- Kean Stage is thrilled to announce that Joshua Henry, three-time Tony nominee and star of Lincoln Center Theater's Ragtime, will open their 2026-2027 season with two performances of his show Get Up, Stand Up! on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 2:00pm & 7:00pm at Enlow Recital Hall (215 North Avenue) in Hillside.
Thursday, September 10 - Prudential Center presents Ella Langley on September 10th. (NEWARK, NJ) -- It's been a landmark year for Ella Langley. Fresh off a sweep at the ACM Awards where she won all seven awards she was nominated for, two recent American Music Award wins, and being the soundtrack of the summer for a trio of German fans on Twitter traveling through America during the World Cup. Ella continues one of the most dominant runs in music. She brings The Dandelion Tour to the Prudential Center in Newark on September 10, 2026 at 7:00pm. Special guests ERNEST and Gabriella Rose will open the night.
Thursday, September 10 - The Soundtrack of Resilience: Explore Music's Role in Post-9/11 America at the Lacey Library. (FORKED RIVER, NJ) -- In honor of Patriot Day, the Lacey Branch of the Ocean County Library will host "The Soundtrack of Resilience: Music and 9/11" on Thursday, September 10, 2026. The event begins at 2:00pm.
Thursday, September 10 - McCarter's Season Continues with Julio Torres and Edmar Castañeda Quartet. (PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre Center's new season continues with comedian Julio Torres on Thursday, September 10 at 8:00pm, followed by the Edmar Castañeda Quartet on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 7:30pm
Friday, September 11 - Ocean Casino Resort presents John Fogerty and Steve Winwood on Friday. (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Ocean Casino Resort presents John Fogerty and Steve Winwood on Friday, September 11, 2026 at 8:00pm in Ovation Hall. The pair of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers bring their Legacy tour to Atlantic City.
Friday, September 11 - Music Box at the Borgata presents Justin Hayward on Friday. (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Music Box at the Borgata presents Justin Hayward on Friday, September 11, 2026 at 8:00pm. It's part of his The Story in Your Eyes Tour.
Friday, September 11- Moondance - Van Morrison Tribute. Rock and roll doesn’t get any better than Van Morrison. Van the Man has done it all - from classic rockers like Brown Eyed Girl and Domino to legendary tunes like Tupelo Honey and Into The Mystic, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has never failed to impress music lovers around the globe. See for yourself at when Moondance comes to the Lizzie Rose Music Room.
Saturday, September 12 - Centenary Stage Company presents Gunhild Carling on September 12th. (HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company will open its 2026/27 season with an extraordinary evening of music, swing, and entertainment when internationally acclaimed Swedish performer Gunhild Carling takes the stage at the Sitnik Theatre on Saturday, September 12 at 7:30pm.
Saturday, September 12 - The Williams Center hosts Spirit of 76 Expo on Saturday. (RUTHERFORD, NJ) -- The Williams Center hosts Spirit of 76 Expo with the Dressed to Kill KISS tribute band on Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 11:00am to 11:00pm. This event celebrates the 50th anniversary of KISS's legendary "Spirit of '76" Destroyer tour.
Saturday, September 12 - Edmar Castañeda Quartet to Bring Colombian Roots and Jazz to McCarter on September 12th. (PRINCETON, NJ) -- Colombian-born harpist, composer, and bandleader Edmar Castañeda has redefined what the harp can do in contemporary jazz, using the instrument to create rhythm, bass, harmony, and melody. A Latin GRAMMY nominee, Castañeda brings his quartet to McCarter Theatre's Berlind Theatre on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 7:30pm. Among his many credits, he performed and served as a music consultant for Disney's Encanto.
Saturday, September 12 - Strand Theater presents RAEL - The Music of Genesis and Peter Gabriel on Saturday. (LAKEWOOD, NJ) -- The Strand Theater presents RAEL - A Genesis and Peter Gabriel Experience on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 8:00pm. They are a New York and Northern New Jersey-based tribute band that recaptures the energy and originality of the "early years" live stage performances by Genesis.
Saturday, September 12 - The Nighthawks. The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents The Nighthawks on September 12, 2026 at 7:30pm.In April of 2022 VizzTone released the Nighthawks album "Established 1972" which represents 50 years of Washington DC’s road warriors going strong. On this landmark anniversary, founder, lead singer and harpmaster Mark Wenner is still at the helm, while drummer Mark Stutso, guitarist Dan Hovey and bassist Paul Pisciotta all share vocals and songwriting, making this lineup one of the strongest ever.
Saturday, September 12 - The Australian Pink Floyd Show. Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) presents The Australian Pink Floyd Show on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 8:00pm. The band will take the stage with a collection of greatest hits that resonate deeply with Pink Floyd fans worldwide, covering music from every era of the band’s evolution. Featuring a new stage set and video animation, cutting-edge lighting, precision lasers, massive inflatables, and impeccable live sound, TAPFS promises to offer an unforgettable experience for both long-time fans and newcomers.
Sunday, September 13 - Scottish Rite Auditorium presents Celtic Thunder on Sunday. (COLLINGSWOOD, NJ) -- The Scottish Rite Auditorium presents Celtic Thunder on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 6:00pm. They are an Irish singing group that performs around the world.
Sunday, September 13 - Nat Adderly, Jr. Grunin Center for the Arts presents Nat Adderly, Jr. on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 3:00pm. Nat spent 25 years as the Music Director for rhythm and blues singer Luther Vandross, but after Vandross passed away in 2005, Adderley, Jr., the son of trumpeter Nat Adderley and nephew of alto saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, returned to his roots as a jazz pianist, mixing hard bop with R&B.
Tuesday, September 15 - Acclaimed Americana Singer-Songwriter Chris Knight to Perform at The Vogel on September 15th. (RED BANK, NJ) -- After 28 years as a recording artist, singer-songwriter Chris Knight remains boldly empowered to make music that always delivers the unflinching truth. In fact, the man raised in Slaughters, Kentucky uses a simple, direct barometer to regularly check his muse: "If I can't believe myself, I won't sing the song."
Tuesday, September 15 - The Vogel presents singer-songwriter Chris Knight on Tuesday. (RED BANK, NJ) -- The Vogel presents singer-songwriter Chris Knight on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 7:30pm. Special guest Chance Stanley will open the night.
Classic American Tales' presents Tales at the Dormer House every Thursday. (CAPE MAY, NJ) -- From June 4 through October 15, 2026 (except for July 2), Classic American Tales (CAT) once more presents Tales at the Dormer House in which guests are treated to lemonade and tasty treats while listening to stories written by noteworthy authors, read by a variety of performers. The schedule is 4:00pm every Thursday at the historic Dormer House Bed and Breakfast (800 Columbia Avenue) in Cape May, NJ. Performances are on the front porch, weather permitting.
East Lynne Theater Company presents the New Jersey Premiere of "Lunar Eclipse" by Donald Margulies. (CAPE MAY, NJ) -- East Lynne Theater Company presents the New Jersey Premiere of Lunar Eclipse by Donald Margulies from August 27 through September 20, 2026. In the play, George has been waiting for this night – the seven stages of a lunar eclipse are viewable from the farm that he shares with his wife Em – and she decides to join him in taking in the view.
Nutley Little Theatre presents "A Doll's House, Part 2". (NUTLEY, NJ) -- Fifteen years after leaving her family and stagnant marriage, Henrik Ibsen's Nora returns home in Lucas Hnath's A Doll's House Part 2. Nutley Little Theatre presents this sequel to Ibsen's classic play across three weekends from September 11-26, 2026.
Bell Theater at Bell Works presents "Come From Away" to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the attacks on 9/11. (HOLMDEL, NJ) -- Bell Theater at Bell Works presents the Tony Award-Winning Musical Come From Away from September 11 through October 4, 2026. Discover the remarkable true story of the small town that welcomed the world.
Somerset Valley Players present "The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood". (HILLSBOROUGH, NJ) -- Somerset Valley Players present The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood by Mary Lynn Dobson weekends from September 11-27, 2026. Get ready for a fast‑paced, side‑splitting spoof of the legendary outlaw you almost remember!
Skyline Theatre Company presents "The Guys" by Anne Nelson. (BLOOMFIELD, NJ) -- Skyline Theatre Company presents The Guys by Anne Nelson at the Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center from September 11-12, 2026. As we honor the 25th anniversary of 9/11, The Guys is a poignant, true-story-inspired drama.
Roundtable Theater Company presents "Songs For A New World". (FAIR LAWN, NJ) -- Roundtable Theater Company presents Songs For A New World across two weekends from September 11-20, 2026 at the Fair Lawn Community Center. This contemporary song cycle weaves characters and history together, illuminating the timelessness of self-discovery.
First Avenue Playhouse presents "I, Suspect". (ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ) -- First Avenue Playhouse presents I, Suspect by Eric Hackler weekends from September 11-26, 2026. The play tells the story of the murder of news anchor Cyrus Telyn and the challenge for the two detectives assigned to the case when every one of their suspects claims to be guilty.
Two River Theater presents August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson". (RED BANK, NJ) -- Two River Theater presents August Wilson's The Piano Lesson from September 12 to October 4, 2026. Directed by Francois Battiste, this epic Pulitzer Prize-winning play pits brother against sister as the Charles family fights over the fate of their prized heirloom - a hand-carved piano.
Two River Theater presents August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson". (RED BANK, NJ) -- Two River Theater presents August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama The Piano Lesson from September 12 through October 4, 2026 in the Joan and Robert Rechnitz Theater. The production is directed by Francois Battiste (Hospice at Illinois State University, Broke-ology at B-Street Theater) and launches the theater's 2026/27 Season while continuing Two River's commitment to staging all ten plays in August Wilson’s Century Cycle.
Center Players presents a reading of "You've Got Hate Mail" on September 14th. (FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Center Players presents a reading of You've Got Hate Mail by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore on Monday, September 14, 2026 at 7:00pm. The reading takes place at The American Hotel and is directed by Sharon Coyle.
"The American Soldier" comes to Grunin Center - (TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The American Soldier is a powerful one man performance that brings to life the real struggles of American service members at war, as well as the courage of veterans and their families as they work to return home and reintegrate into civilian life. The show is based on actual letters written by veterans and their loved ones, offering an authentic and emotional look into their experiences. It will be performed at the Grunin Center for the Arts on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 7:00pm.
Friday, September 11 - Barrymore Award-winning playwright James Christy brings his solo comedy to the 2026 Philadelphia Fringe Festival. (PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Blending stand-up comedy and theatrical storytelling, James Christy's I Think Not comes to the Philadelphia Fringe Festival following its premiere at New York City's Algonquin Hotel this spring. The show will be performed at the iconic National Mechanics in Old City on September 11, 12, 25 and 26, 2026.
Saturday, September 12 - Roxey Ballet to Hold Auditions for its 31st Anniversary Professional Production of "The Nutcracker". (NEW HOPE, PA) -- Roxey Ballet, the region's professional contemporary theater-ballet company, is now holding auditions on Saturday, September 12, 2026 for its 31st anniversary professional production of The Nutcracker, the beloved holiday classic set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's epic score. This milestone season marks a triumphant return to The College of New Jersey's Kendall Hall Main Stage Theater in Ewing, where the two-act production will unfold on one of the region's premier professional stages.
Friday, September 11 - Love New York. The New Jersey Film Festival presents Love New York via Video on Demand on Friday, September 11, 2026. A story of missed connections, failed attempts at intimacy, and ultimately the redemptive and healing potential of a little bit of introspection, patience, empathy, etc. The ensemble film follows a dozen dysfunctional couples through a 24-hour perspective-shifting journey through New York City.
Sunday, September 13 - The Phantom of the Opera. (RAHWAY, NJ) -- Union County Performing Arts Center presents a screening of the 1925 silent classic film "The Phantom of the Opera" starring Lon Chaney.
ARTS 14C presents "The Fabric of a Nation". (JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- ARTS 14C will open The Fabric of a Nation on Thursday, July 2nd, a textile and fiber exhibition mounted in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The show gathers fourteen artists who spent the spring grappling with the unfinished and often contradictory legacy of the American Revolution — and the 250 years that followed. It will remain on view through September 11, 2026.
Zimmerli Art Museum Highlights Rutgers' Historic Role in U.S.-Japan Exchange. (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The latest exhibition at the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University-New Brunswick traces the cultural exchange between Japan and the United States starting from the mid-19th century to the present. The exhibition runs from September 9 through February 14, 2027.
Watercolor Artist Theresa Troise Heidel Returns to Ridgefield Park Library for Second Art Exhibit and Fundraiser. (RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ) -- Watercolors of sun-soaked New Jersey beaches, historic Asbury Park boardwalks, French countryside, and blooming florals will be on view this September at the Ridgefield Park Public Library, as the Friends of the Library once again welcome artist Theresa Troise Heidel for a solo exhibit and fundraiser open to art lovers near and far, with proceeds benefiting library programs. The exhibit will remain on view through September 30, 2026.
Art House Productions presents "Creation from Destruction". (JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Art House Productions presents Creation from Destruction, a group exhibition celebrating Art House's 25th Anniversary at the Art House Gallery from Friday, September 11 through Sunday, October 25, 2026. This exhibition is part of JC Fridays.
Watercolor Artist Theresa Troise Heidel Returns to Ridgefield Park Library for Second Art Exhibit and Fundraiser. (RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ) -- Watercolors of sun-soaked New Jersey beaches, historic Asbury Park boardwalks, French countryside, and blooming florals will be on view this September at the Ridgefield Park Public Library, as the Friends of the Library once again welcome artist Theresa Troise Heidel for a solo exhibit and fundraiser open to art lovers near and far, with proceeds benefiting library programs. The exhibit will remain on view through September 30, 2026.
Princeton University Library presents "The Art of Japanese Publishing: A Selection of Japanese Illustrated Books from the Marquand Library Collection 1660-1960". (PRINCETON, NJ) -- Princeton University Library celebrates the art and evolution of Japanese publishing with a new exhibition "The Art of Japanese Publishing: A Selection of Japanese Illustrated Books from the Marquand Library Collection 1660-1960," curated by Nicole Fabricand-Person, Japanese Art Specialist, Marquand Library of Art & Archaeology and Holly Hatheway, Director, Marquand Library of Art & Archaeology.
Click on the date for more information or to purchase tickets for the show.
Wednesday, September 9 @ 7:30pm - Melissa Etheridge: RISE at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC), 100 South Street, Morristown
Thursday, September 10 @ 7:30pm - Flawless at Premiere Stages - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union
Thursday, September 10 @ 8:00pm - Dion at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC), 100 South Street, Morristown
Thursday, September 10 @ 8:00pm - Julio Torres: Works in Progress at McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre), 91 University Place, Princeton
Friday, September 11 @ 12:00am - Love New York – Online for 24 Hours! at NJ Film Festival, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick
Friday, September 11 @ 7:30pm - Moondance - Van Morrison Tribute at Lizzie Rose Music Room, 217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton
Friday, September 11 @ 7:30pm - Flawless at Premiere Stages - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union
Saturday, September 12 @ 3:00pm - Flawless at Premiere Stages - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union
Saturday, September 12 @ 7:00pm - The Fright Stuff & Help Me – Online for 24 Hours and In-Person at 7PM! at NJ Film Festival, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick
Saturday, September 12 @ 7:30pm - Edmar Castañeda Quartet at McCarter Theatre Center (Berlind Theatre), 91 University Place, Princeton
Saturday, September 12 @ 7:30pm - The Nighthawks at Lizzie Rose Music Room, 217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton
Saturday, September 12 @ 7:30pm - Flawless at Premiere Stages - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union
Saturday, September 12 @ 8:00pm - The Australian Pink Floyd Show at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC), 100 South Street, Morristown
Saturday, September 12 @ 8:00pm - Magic Men Australia – Feel the Magic at Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center, 46 Washington Ave, Carteret
Sunday, September 13 @ 2:00pm - Sunday Film Series – The Phantom of the Opera (1925) at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage, 1601 Irving Street, Rahway
Sunday, September 13 @ 3:00pm - Nat Adderley, Jr. at Grunin Center - Studio Theater, 1 College Drive, Toms River
Sunday, September 13 @ 3:00pm - Flawless at Premiere Stages - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union
Sunday, September 13 @ 5:00pm - Imprinted – Online for 24 Hours and In-Person at 5PM! at NJ Film Festival, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick
Sunday, September 13 @ 7:00pm - Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC), 100 South Street, Morristown
Tuesday, September 15 @ 7:00pm - The American Soldier at Grunin Center, 1 College Drive, Toms River
Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Melissa Etheridge (“I’m the Only One” “Come to My Window,” “I Want to Come Over.”) has remained one of America’s favorite female singers since bursting onto the scene in 1988. Etheridge performs songs from her new album, Rise, and her hits.
Dion and his music have long represented a special time and place, reflective of a moment when a song could mean so much. When a singer could sum up what it means to be young, in love and on top of the world. Dion is more than a cherished memory as critic Dave Marsh noted, “Dion is the only artist from the 1950’s who has remained creative and relevant into the 2000s.” In 1958 he had three top-forty hits. In 2008 he was nominated for a Grammy. In 2020, is releasing new studio album Blues with Friends, joined by Joe Bonamassa, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Jeff Beck, Billy Gibbons and many other rock luminaries. In the ’50s he was one of a handful of innovators who defined rock ‘n’ roll and that’s still very much the case.
Julio Torres is an Emmy-nominated, Peabody-winning and WGA-winning writer, director, and comedian from El Salvador.
A writer and an AI software designer battle to create the next great play in this cautionary tale about the impending intersection of technology and creativity.
Rock and roll doesn’t get any better than Van Morrison. Van the Man has done it all - from classic rockers like Brown Eyed Girl and Domino to legendary tunes like Tupelo Honey and Into The Mystic, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has never failed to impress music lovers around the globe.
