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This Week in Theatre: Previews for Plays Taking Place March 12-19, 2024

originally published: 03/12/2024

Here are previews of plays taking place from March 12-19, 2024 including a look at productions currently being presented and those coming soon. Click on the title to go to the full preview. New Jersey Stage covers Equity, community, college, and high school theatre. Check back every week for the weekly theatre preview. Jump to Featured Events, Event Previews, Event Listings, Coming Soon.

Send press releases to info@newjerseystage.com to have your events previewed at New Jersey Stage. There is no cost for preview articles. Featured listings are found in the NJ Stage calendar, reserved for advertisers. Listings are also available for $10 a piece. Click here for more information on our event listings. Event listings are also included with every banner ad purchase. Banner ads run from $50-$100 for a full month of coverage.

FEATURED EVENTS

George Street Playhouse presents the World Premiere of "The Club"  (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Everyone wants to belong to the club, but what will it cost you? That's the question in The Club by Chris Bohjalian, which is being presented by George Street Playhouse from February 27 to March 17, 2024. The Club is rich with biting wit and startling twists as it explores racism, marriage, and the lies we tell ourselves daily. And though the play is set in 1968, it's eerily timely. Click here for a feature article on the play.

McCarter Theatre presents "Dreamgirls"  (PRINCETON, NJ) -- This March, the McCarter Theatre Center, in a partnership with Goodspeed Musicals, presents the revival of the Tony® and Grammy® award-winning musical, Dreamgirls. Coming to Princeton after an acclaimed and blockbuster run in Connecticut, the production features talent that has illuminated stages from Broadway to national tours and graced airwaves on platforms like American Idol. Dreamgirls will take place at McCarter's Matthews Theatre from March 6-24, 2024.




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Graham Phillips and Talia Suskauer lead cast of "Sunday in the Park with George" at Axelrod PAC  (OCEAN TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- The Axelrod Performing Arts Center, in collaboration with Grind Arts Company, presents a bold new production of Stephen Sondheim's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece Sunday in the Park with George from March 8-24, 2024. The show is directed and choreographed by Eamon Foley (Broadway's Gypsy, Assassins, 13: The Musical) and starring TV and film star Graham Phillips (CBS's The Good Wife, CW's Riverdale) and Broadway's Talia Suskauer (Wicked's Elphaba). Music director Nate Patten (Broadway's Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, School of Rock) will conduct the 11-piece orchestra.

The Growing Stage presents NJ Premiere of "Arthur(tm) & Friends Make A Musical!"  (NETCONG, NJ) -- The Growing Stage: The Children's Theatre of New Jersey presents the New Jersey premiere of Arthur™ & Friends Make a Musical! This production,based on the Arthur™ book series created by Marc Brown and adapted for the stage with Book & Lyrics by John Maclay and Music & Lyrics by Brett Ryback, runs weekends from March 8-24, 2024 at the Historic Palace Theatre.

EVENT PREVIEWS

NJRep presents the World Premiere of "ESSPY"  (LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- New Jersey Repertory Company (NJRep) will kick off its 27th season with the world premiere of Nandia Shenoy's ESSPY, directed by Peter J. Kuo, beginning February 22, with its opening night on February 24 and running through March 17, 2024. ESSPY is a comic-drama about a young medical student embarking on a journey he never expected.

Chatham Players presents "The Beauty Queen of Leenane"  (CHATHAM, NJ) -- The Chatham Community Players presents the gloriously funny; wickedly amusing play, The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonagh from March 1-16, 2024 at The Chatham Playhouse. Set in the mountains of Connemara, County Galway, this play tells the darkly comic tale of Maureen Folan, a plain and lonely woman in her early forties, and Mag, her manipulative aging mother, whose interference in Maureen’s first and possibly final chance of a loving relationship sets in motion a train of events that leads inexorably towards the play’s terrifying dénouement.

Regional Premiere of "Rabbit Summer" at Mile Square Theatre  (HOBOKEN, NJ) -- Mile Square Theatre proudly announces the regional premiere of Rabbit Summer, a play written and directed by multi-hyphenate performer, playwright and director, Tracey Conyer Lee. This production marks a historic moment as the first time the playwright will direct her own work. Starring Steven St. Pierre as Wilson, Tsebiyah Mishael Derry as Claire, and Ricky Lyne'e as Ruby, Rabbit Summer is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged production. Performances run from March 6-30, 2024.

Tony Award-Nominee Kate Baldwin to star in American Theater Group's "A Little Night Music"  (BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- Broadway's Kate Baldwin will star as Desiree in American Theater Group's (ATG) upcoming season premiere of Stephen Sondheim's beloved A Little Night Music. The production will run March 7-10, 2024 at the Sieminski Theater in Basking Ridge and March 14-24, 2024 at Hamilton Stage in Rahway. Baldwin will share the stage with her husband Graham Rowat (Broadway: Dear Evan Hanson, Sunset Boulevard) as Fredrik.




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Bergen County Players presents "The Fantasticks"  (ORADELL, NJ) -- Bergen County Players (BCP), one of America's longest-running little theater companies, continues its 92nd season with the longest-running musical classic, The Fantasticks. Full of buoyant humor, charming tunes, and a sprinkle of magic, The Fantasticks has been hailed as "a beautiful, poetic, and highly theatrical tale of the power and depth of love — gained, lost and found again" (Broadway World). Performances run March 9 through April 6, 2024.

Playhouse 22 presents "Check Please"  (EAST BRUNSWICK) -- Check Please, a play by Jonathan Rand, opens at Playhouse 22 on Saturday, March 9. Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm with Sunday matinees at 2:00pm through March 17. Check Please follows a series of blind dinner dates that couldn't get any worse -- until they do.

Classic American Tales to hold acting workshop at End of the Road Theater  (NORTH CAPE MAY, NJ) -- Ever wanted to pursue your passion for theater? Hold a script in your hands? Classic American Tales (CAT) is offering an acting workshop for ages 17 on up, and all levels of experience are welcomed. The location is End of the Road Theater (3845 Bayshore Road) in North Cape May on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.

Ribbon Cutting for Martinson Stage at Music Mountain Theatre  (LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- The stage at Music Mountain Theatre (MMT), located in Lambertville, is about to have a new name! In celebration of the one-year anniversary of a generous donation from John H. Martinson, venture capitalist and philanthropist, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at the theatre on Thursday, March 14th at 6:00pm to announce the official naming of the Martinson Stage at Music Mountain Theatre.

American Theater Group Presents "A Little Night Music" Post-Performance Talk Back  (RAHWAY, NJ) -- American Theater Group, a professional theater company in Central New Jersey, will present a talk back session following the Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 7:00pm performance of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music at Hamilton Stage in Rahway. Members of the cast and creative team will participate in the Q & A session, and all are welcome to attend. The cast is led by Two-time Tony Award-Nominee Kate Baldwin as Desiree Armfeldt, Graham Rowat as Fredrik Egerman (B'way: Dear Evan Hansen, Guys & Dolls) and American Idol Finalist Alyssa Wray as Petra.

Theater To Go presents "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" at Kelsey Theatre  (WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- Theater To Go continues its salute to New Jersey playwrights at Mercer County Community College’s (MCCC) Kelsey Theatre with the musical comedy "I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change," penned by Bergen County native Joe DiPietro, March 15-24.

South Street Players presents the 13th Annual Tri-State Theatre Festival   (SPRING LAKE, NJ) -- South Street Players presents the 13th Annual Tri-State Theatre Festival March 15-17, 2024 at Wesley Hall in Spring Lake. SSP will showcase the best new short plays written by local writers from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Lomotion Live presents a reading of "Apartment Swap" by Alli Hartley-Kong  (BOONTON, NJ) -- Lomotion Live presents a reading of Apartment Swap by Alli Hartley-Kong on Saturday March 16, 2024 at the Parsippany Arts Center. In the play, romance novelist Lily has spent her twenties "growing her garden" as a single woman eschewing romance--until her long distance partner proposes...

EVENT LISTINGS

Tuesday, March 12 @ 6:00pm - Core Ensemble presents "Ain't I A Woman!" at William Paterson University - Shea Center for Performing Arts, 300 Pompton Rd, Wayne, NJ 07470






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Wednesday, March 13

7:00pm - Disney’s Aladdin Jr. at Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701

7:30pm - Dreamgirls at McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theater), 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540

8:00pm - George Street Playhouse presents "The Club" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901



Thursday, March 14

2:00pm - Sunday in the Park with George at Axelrod Performing Arts Center, 100 Grant Avenue, Deal Park, NJ 07723

2:00pm - George Street Playhouse presents "The Club" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

7:30pm - Dreamgirls at McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theater), 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540

8:00pm - George Street Playhouse presents "The Club" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901



Friday, March 15

7:00pm - Sunday in the Park with George at Axelrod Performing Arts Center, 100 Grant Avenue, Deal Park, NJ 07723

8:00pm - The Strollers and OffBook Productions present "Gloria: A Life" at Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040

8:00pm - George Street Playhouse presents "The Club" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

8:00pm - Dreamgirls at McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theater), 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540



Saturday, March 16

2:00pm - Sunday in the Park with George at Axelrod Performing Arts Center, 100 Grant Avenue, Deal Park, NJ 07723

2:00pm - George Street Playhouse presents "The Club" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

2:00pm - Dreamgirls at McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theater), 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540

4:00pm - Arthur & Friends Make a Musical! at The Historic Palace Theatre, 7 Ledgewood Avenue, Netcong, NJ 07857

8:00pm - Sunday in the Park with George at Axelrod Performing Arts Center, 100 Grant Avenue, Deal Park, NJ 07723




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8:00pm - The Strollers and OffBook Productions present "Gloria: A Life" at Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040

8:00pm - Phoenix Productions Presents: "Jesus Christ Superstar" at Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701

8:00pm - George Street Playhouse presents "The Club" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

8:00pm - Dreamgirls at McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theater), 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540



Sunday, March 17

2:00pm - Arthur & Friends Make a Musical! at The Historic Palace Theatre, 7 Ledgewood Avenue, Netcong, NJ 07857

2:00pm - George Street Playhouse presents "The Club" at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

2:00pm - Dreamgirls at McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theater), 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540

3:00pm - Sunday in the Park with George at Axelrod Performing Arts Center, 100 Grant Avenue, Deal Park, NJ 07723

5:00pm - Frank Ferrante in ‘An Afternoon with Groucho’ at The Vogel, 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701

COMING SOON

Lewis Center for the Arts to Host a Conversation between Playwright Larissa FastHorse and Director/Playwright Michael John Garcés  (PRINCETON, NJ) -- On March 20, 2024 the Lewis Center for the Arts' Program in Theater and Music Theater at Princeton University presents a conversation between playwright and member of the Sicangu Lakota Nation Larissa FastHorse, author of the widely produced The Thanksgiving Play, and Michael John Garcés, director, playwright, and recent artistic director of Cornerstone Theater Company in Los Angeles.

Black Box PAC presents Staged Reading of "At Home At The Zoo" by Edward Albee  (TEANECK, NJ) -- In association with The Estate of Edward Albee, Black Box PAC presents a staged reading of At Home At The Zoo (1959/2004) on Wednesday, March 20th, 2024 at Debonair Music Hall. Originally titled Peter & Jerry, At Home At The Zoo combines Albee's classic short play The Zoo Story (1959) with its prequel, Homelife (2004). Together these short plays form a complete story of Peter, a publishing executive; Ann, his wife; and Jerry, a stranger Peter meets in the park. Showtime is 7:30pm.

Beats, Rhymes, and Spoken Word Unite in Dahlak Brathwaite's "Spiritrials" at Vanguard Theater  (MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Vanguard Theater proudly announces the electrifying arrival of Def Poetry Jam luminary Dahlak Brathwaite's transformative hip-hop theater experience, "Spiritrials." This dynamic production seamlessly intertwines beats, rhymes, and spoken word, offering a unique meditation on the convergence of musical expression and historical struggle. For an exclusive weekend engagement from March 22-25, 2024, audiences are invited to witness this evocative performance that pushes the boundaries of storytelling.

The Theater Project to Honor winners of 22nd Annual Young Playwrights Competition  (UNION, NJ) -- Twelve talented New Jersey high school students will be honored in The Theater Project's 22nd annual Young Playwrights Performance and Awards Ceremony on Monday, March 25, 2024 at 7:30pm. The event includes opportunities to meet the honorees and see the four winning plays read by professional actors. The Theater Project, is a leading incubator for rising talent and a showcase for New Jersey artists. The event is free to watch via Zoom.

Paper Mill Playhouse presents "Gun & Powder"  (MILLBURN, NJ) -- Paper Mill Playhouse presents Gun & Powder from April 4 – May 5, 2024. The new musical features book and lyrics by Angelica Chéri and music by Ross Baum. Directed by Stevie Walker-Webb, choreographed by Tiffany Rea-Fisher and music directed by Austin Cook, Gun & Powder is a new musical inspired by the true story of Mary (Renée) and Martha Clarke (LaFontaine), African American twin sisters who take extraordinary measures to settle their mother’s sharecropper debt and save her home.

Middlesex College presents "Footloose, the Musical"  (EDISON, NJ) -- Middlesex College's Visual, Performing, and Media Arts Department presents Footloose, the Musical across two weekends (April 4-6 and April 11-13, 2024) at the Performing Arts Center in Edison. This is a stage adaption by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie based on the original screenplay by Pitchford. The musical includes music by Tom Snow and lyrics by Dean Pitchford with additional music by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins, and Jim Steinman.

Asbury Park Theater Company presents "Kabaret Kaput, A Surrealist Rock Kabaret"  (ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Asbury Park Theater Company (APTCo) is collaborating with Musician, Theater Maker and Story Teller Remember Jones who will co- produce and direct Kabaret Kaput, A Surrealist Rock Kabaret. This concert style cabaret will star Ellen Foley, Robert I. Rubinsky, and Jonathan Freeman. Kabaret Kaput will have three performances at the Jersey Shore Arts Center from April 5-7, 2024.

Algonquin Arts Theatre presents "Fiddler on the Roof"  (MANASQUAN, NJ) -- Algonquin Arts Theatre presents the classic musical, Fiddler on the Roof from April 6-21, 2024. A journey of love, loss, faith and family, Fiddler on the Roof is a celebration of life and all its challenges. The original production won ten Tony Awards, including a special Tony for becoming the longest-running Broadway musical of all time.

FEATURED EVENTS

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Sherlock

Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars

Thursday, January 30, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Historic Palace Theatre
7 Ledgewood Avenue, Netcong, NJ 07857
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

George

George Street Playhouse presents "Small"

Thursday, January 30, 2025 @ 7:30pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

Here

Here There Are Blueberries

Thursday, January 30, 2025 @ 7:30pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theater)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

Sherlock

Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars

Friday, January 31, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Historic Palace Theatre
7 Ledgewood Avenue, Netcong, NJ 07857
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

George

George Street Playhouse presents "Small"

Friday, January 31, 2025 @ 2:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

More events

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EVENT PREVIEWS

Magnolia

Magnolia Productions presents "Almost, Maine"

(ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ) -- Magnolia Productions presents Almost, Maine at the Navesink Library across two weekends (February 14-15 and February 21-22, 2025). This is John Cariani's heartwarming tale of regular people falling in and out of love in strange and sometimes hilarious ways.



Fund

Fund for Irish Studies at Princeton University presents a Conversation with Ireland's Abbey Theatre

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Princeton University's Fund for Irish Studies continues its 2024-2025 series with a conversation with members of Ireland’s Abbey Theatre: Literary and New Work Director Ruth McGowan and well-known Irish actor and Associate Artist Derbhle Crotty will discuss writing and performing in Ireland and perhaps offer readings from some Irish plays. Fund for Irish Studies co-chair and director of the Program in Theater and Music Theater Jane Cox will moderate the conversation on Friday, February 7, 2025 at the James Stewart Film Theater at 185 Nassau Street. The event begins at 4:30pm.



Algonquin

Algonquin Arts Theatre presents "The Diary of Anne Frank"

(MANASQUAN, NJ) -- Algonquin Arts Theatre presents four performances of The Diary of Anne Frank from February 15-22, 2025. Embark on a poignant journey through history with one of the most powerful and enduring stories of resilience, family, hope, and the human spirit. Anne Frank's eloquent and deeply moving words leap from the pages of her diary to the stage.



Centenary

Centenary Stage Company's NEXTStage Repertory presents Shakespeare's "The Tempest"

(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company's NEXTStage Repertory presents William Shakespeare's The Tempest adapted and directed by Stephen Michael Davis from February 6-10, 2025. The Tempest is Shakespeare's comedy about betrayal, ill-treatment, and the development of magical arts, all set against the backdrop of a plot for revenge.



Small

'Small' Brings Big Energy to George Street Playhouse

When thinking about occupations kids say they want when they get older, a list comes to mind – doctor, superhero, firefighter, etc. But not many would find their passion at the horse racing track and say they want to become a jockey. In "Small," an autobiographical play written and performed by Robert "Bobby" Montano, the story follows Montano as he races and fulfills his dream on the horse racing tracks of Long Island, New York. It does not stop there, however. The 90-minute play is a story of love, loss and more as Montano grapples with some difficult life decisions.