State Theatre New Jersey presents Night of the Living Drag Camp Slayaway on Friday

Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 10/20/2026

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents Night of the Living Drag: Camp Slayaway on Friday, October 23, 2026 at 8:00pm. This is an outrageous '80s slasher spectacular hosted by Violet Chachki, with performances by stars from RuPaul's Drag Race including Laganja Estranja, Jaida Essence Hall, Raja, Nicole Paige Brooks, and Salina EsTitties.

Expect high hair, sharp shoulders, neon lights, and enough hairspray to fuel a fire as the queens return for a night of killer performances, twisted comedy, and gnarly Halloween horror, all set against the sights and sounds of the decade that gave us aerobics, acid wash, and masked murderers.

Tickets start at $39 and are available for purchase online or by calling State Theatre Guest Services at 732-246-SHOW (7469). State Theatre Guest Services, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open by phone and email only, Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 5pm. For in-person purchases, Guest Services is open Tuesday through Friday from 12pm to 4:30pm. Additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.

State Theatre New Jersey, a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, celebrated its 100th Anniversary after major renovations in December 2021. Originally built as a silent film and vaudeville palace, State Theatre's historic significance was honored when PBS chose the theater as the first performing arts organization to be featured in its documentary series, Treasures of New Jersey. Having played a significant role in revitalizing New Brunswick—crowned "Jersey's Best Destination of the Year" for 2025 by Jersey's Best magazine—State Theatre resides in the heart of the city's arts district.

New Jersey Stage provides affordable advertising for the arts, click here for info

Today, State Theatre is the largest performing arts center in Central New Jersey and has welcomed more than six and a half million people through its doors since reopening as a nonprofit performing arts center in 1988. State Theatre New Jersey is a cornerstone of the cultural vitality of Middlesex County and averages a total economic impact on New Brunswick and the surrounding area of more than $18 million a year. The mainstage programs have included high-caliber artists such as Diana Ross, Tom Jones, Kevin Hart, Ringo Starr, Melissa Etheridge, John Leguizamo, Harry Connick, Jr., Peter Frampton, and Leanne Morgan. Program offerings include Broadway, orchestra, family, dance, comedy, rock/pop, jazz, Performances for Schools, and Sensory-Friendly Performances.

State Theatre New Jersey's programs are made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund. For information on events, go to MiddlesexCountyCulture.com.