(ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ) -- First Avenue Playhouse presents Over the River and Through the Woods by Joe DiPietro from November 6-21, 2026. This is a heartwarming family comedy about the bond between generations.
Nick, a single, Italian-American guy from New Jersey, is very close to his family. His parents retired and moved to Florida, but that doesn’t mean his family isn’t still in Jersey. In fact, he sees both sets of his grandparents every Sunday for dinner. This is routine until he has to tell them that he’s been offered a dream job. The job he’s been waiting for – marketing executive – would take him away from his beloved, but annoying, grandparents.
He tells them about the job offer. The news doesn’t sit so well. Thus begins a series of schemes to keep Nick around. How could he betray his family’s love to move to Seattle, for a job, wonder his grandparents? Well, Frank, Aida, Nunzio and Emma do their level best, and that includes bringing to dinner the lovely – and single – Caitlin O’Hare as bait.
The production is directed by Barry Prag.
Performances take place Friday and Saturday. First Avenue Playhouse is located at 123 First Avenue in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey.
Over the River and Through the Woods premiered off-Broadway at the John Houseman Theater on October 5, 1998. Directed by Joel Bishoff, the production featured Val Avery, Jim Bracchitta, Joan Copeland, Marsha Dietlein, Dick Latessa and Marie Lillo.
Joe DiPietro has won two Tony Awards, a Drama Desk Award and three Outer Critics Circle Awards. Broadway: Diana (also on Netflix), Nice Work If You Can Get It starring Matthew Broderick and Kelli O'Hara (10 Tony nominations, including Best Book and Best Musical), Memphis (4 Tony Awards, including Best Book, Best Score and Best Musical), All Shook Up, Living on Love (starring Renee Fleming). Off-Broadway: Ernest Shackleton Loves Me (Off-Broadway Alliance Award - Best Musical), Clever Little Lies (starring Marlo Thomas), The Toxic Avenger (OCC Award - Best off-Broadway Musical), The Thing About Men (OCC Award - Best off-Broadway Musical), the much-produced comedy, Over the River and Through the Woods, as well I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (the longest-running musical revue in Off-Broadway history). His many regional credits include Conscience (George Street Playhouse), The Second Mrs. Wilson (Long Wharf Theatre), Chasing the Song (La Jolla Playhouse), The Last Romance (The Old Globe.) His musicals and plays have received thousands of productions across the country and around the world.
Monday, October 26, 2026
@ 5:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
Rahway, NJ
Senior citizens (55+) are invited to join area teachers and their students for a free play reading of select scenes from “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Christopher Sergel’s adaption of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel.
There are multiple performances including:
Monday, October 26, 2026
@ 8:00pm
NJPAC - Prudential Hall
Newark, NJ
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
@ 7:00pm
Grunin Center - Main Stage
Toms River, NJ
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
@ 7:30pm
Kean Stage - Enlow Recital Hall
Hillside, NJ
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
@ 7:30pm
State Theatre New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ
