This Week in Theatre: Previews for Plays Taking Place May 31 to June 5, 2023

Here are previews of plays taking place from May 31 to June 5, 2023 including a look at productions starting this week, those continuing this week, and those closing this week. Click on the title to go to the full preview. Be sure to send press releases for your plays to infoatnewjerseystage.com to be included. New Jersey Stage covers Equity, community, college, and high school theatre. Check back every week for the weekly theatre preview.

Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Welcomes New Artistic Director

by Bruce Chadwick - published 2023-05-31
It was the summer of 1996 and young Brian Crowe was being interviewed for a job as an intern by Bonnie Monte, the artistic director of the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey at Drew University, in Madison. The phone kept ringing, actors were running in and out of her office, there was a stack of papers to read, bills to pay and letters from audience members to answer. It was bedlam.

50th Anniversary Tour of "Jesus Christ Superstar" comes to State Theatre June 9-11

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The fully renovated State Theatre New Jersey presents the reimagined 50th Anniversary tour of Jesus Christ Superstar for four performances between June 9-11, 2023. The musical is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of Judas. Reflecting the rock roots that defined a generation, the legendary score includes "I Don’t Know How to Love Him," "Gethsemane," and "Superstar."

PHOTOS from a rehearsal of "Jitney" by Dunbar Repertory Company

by John Posada - published 2023-05-23
(MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- The Middletown Arts Center presents August Wilson's Jitney, produced by the Dunbar Repertory Company and directed by Darrell Lawrence Willis, Sr., over two weekends, June 2-4 and 9-11. Set in the early 1970s, this richly textured play follows a group of men trying to eke out a living by driving unlicensed cabs, or jitneys, in the black neighborhood of Pittsburgh's Hill District. Photographer John Posada was at a rehearsal to take photos. Note: these photos are from a rehearsal where the actors were not wearing costumes; it was not on a designed set; and did not have stage lighting.

This Week in Theatre: Previews for Plays Taking Place May 23-29, 2023

Here are previews of plays taking place from May 23-29 including a look at productions starting this week, those continuing this week, and those closing this week. Click on the title to go to the full preview. Be sure to send press releases for your plays to infoatnewjerseystage.com to be included. New Jersey Stage covers Equity, community, college, and high school theatre. Check back every week for the weekly theatre preview.

Pioneer Productions to present "Songs for a New World" in Morristown

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Pioneer Productions brings Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown's (The Last Five Years, Bridges of Madison County) powerful musical, Songs for a New World, to the stage at Fellowship Hall in the Morristown Methodist Church in downtown Morristown, NJ. The show will have six performances in June, June 9, 10, 16, and 17 at 8:00pm and June 11 and 18 at 3:00pm. Pioneer co-founder, Daniel Peter Vissers of Sparta, directs this musical that examines life, love and the choices we make.

Steve Guttenberg talks about “Tales from the Guttenberg Bible”

by Charles Paolino - published 2023-05-17
Steve Guttenberg was having dinner with a group of actors when a woman asked one of them for an autograph and was refused. Guttenberg, now appearing in "Tales from the Guttenberg Bible" at the George Street Playhouse, recalls that one of the group, Sean Connery, got up and asked the woman if she would like his autograph. The woman asked him to address it to Mary and sign it "James Bond," and he did.

"Blues For An Alabama Sky" Shines in Princeton

by Gary Wien - published 2023-05-15
Champagne flows, tears fall, and shots are fired in Blues For An Alabama Sky, a play set in a Harlem apartment building during the Depression. It's a play about a group of dreamers, but the dream takes on a very dark turn.

Vanguard Theater presents Illuminating New Voices, New Works Festival

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Illuminating New Voices is a new Vanguard Theater initiative made possible by funding from Jordan Brand's Community Grant Program Black Community Commitment Grant to increase awareness of the role race plays in our history and drive a deeper understanding of the consequences of racism in our everyday lives. The grant is through a joint and equal commitment from Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand. Vanguard Theater was the only New Jersey not-for-profit, and one of two theaters across the country, to receive a community development grant.