Previews for Plays Taking Place April 16-23, 2024

Here are previews of plays taking place from April 16-23, 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, and provided with individual event pages for every performance. Event pages are also available for $10 per event (multiple performances count as a single event). Click here for more information on our event pages. Event pages are also included with every banner ad purchase. Banner ads run from $50-$100 for a full month of coverage.

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.

Ocean County College Repertory Theatre Company presents “The Importance of Being Earnest”  (TOMS RIVER, NJ) — The Ocean County College Repertory Theatre Company presents The Importance of Being Earnest across two weekends (April 12-14 and April 19-21) in the Black Box Theater at Grunin Center for the Arts. Experience Oscar Wilde’s comedic masterpiece where two witty bachelors craft alter egos to escape their mundane lives.

Vivid Stage presents NJ Premiere of “Kodachrome”  (SUMMIT, NJ) — Vivid Stage, in residence at Oakes Center (120 Morris Avenue) in Summit, will present the New Jersey premiere of Kodachrome, a play about love, nostalgia, the seasons and how we learn to say goodbye, written by Adam Szymkowicz, from April 18-28, 2024.

Pushcart Players Presents “Velveteen Rabbit” at Algonquin Arts Theatre  (MANASQUAN, NJ) — Pushcart Players, celebrating 50 years, presents “Velveteen Rabbit” at the Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 10:00am & 11:45am. “Velveteen Rabbit” is based on the beloved children’s book by Margery Williams, adapted for the stage by Pushcart Players’ artistic director, Paul Whelihan. Choreography is by Stacie Gogo, music and lyrics are by NJ composer, Paul Farinella, and orchestrations are by Tony award-winner, Larry Hochman.

George Street Playhouse presents “tick, tick…BOOM!”  (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) — George Street Playhouse has announced the complete cast and creative team for tick, tick…BOOM!, directed by Artistic Director David Saint (The Club) with a book, music, and lyrics by Tony® Award winner Jonathan Larson (Rent). Featuring a script consulted by Tony® Award winner David Auburn (Proof) and vocal and orchestral arrangements by Tony and Grammy® Award winner, Stephen Oremus (The Book of Mormon), tick, tick…BOOM! will run from April 23 through May 19, 2024. The cast includes Daniel Marconi (Sweeney Todd) as Jon, Cathryn Wake (53% Of) as Susan, and John Yi (KPOP) as Michael. Click here for a podcast about the production.

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.

Salvador Dali and Sigmund Freud Meet in Lisa Monde’s Play “Dali’s Dream”  (NEW YORK, NY) — Salvador Dali’s wish to meet the famous psychoanalyst comes true in a dream… where Dali finds himself at Dr. Sigmund Freud’s sanitarium and becomes part of the famous sessions conducted by the “father of modern psychology”. All of this happens in Lisa Monde’s play Dali’s Dream. The limited engagement runs April 5-27, 2024 at The Gene Frankel Theatre in NoHo. The play is produced by MONLI International Company LLC and The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company.

Dover Little Theatre presents “Talk Radio” by Eric Bogosian  (DOVER, NJ) — Dover Little Theatre presents Talk Radio by Eric Bogosian across three weekends in April. This is a thought-provoking play that delves into the world of media and the power it holds over society.

Two River Theater presents the World Premiere of “A Thousand Maids” by Tony Meneses  (RED BANK, NJ) — Two River Theater has announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere comedy, A Thousand Maids, by Two River favorite Tony Meneses (The Hombres, Guadalupe in the Guest Room), directed by Drama League Director’s Project Fellow and recipient of the Yale 2019 Kauffman Memorial Prize, Aneesha Kudtarkar (Water by the Spoonful, Queen). The show will run April 6–28, 2024 in the Marion Huber Theater.

Centenary Stage Company presents 2024 Women Playwright Series Readings  (HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) — Centenary Stage Company’s Women Playwrights Series returns this spring with three brand-new play readings. Readings will take place on Wednesdays throughout April at 7:00pm in the Sitnik and Kutz Theatres of the Lackland Performing Arts Center at 715 Grand Avenue, Hackettstown, NJ on the campus of Centenary University. The Women Playwright Series readings are free to attend with donations welcome, advanced reservations have a $5.00 fee. Centenary Stage Company will also offer a live streaming option accompanying the in-person performances. Live stream access is free to participate with donations appreciated.

Holmdel Theatre Company presents “Peter and the Starcatcher”  (HOLMDEL, NJ) — Holmdel Theatre Company is staging a new production of Peter and the Starcatcher, the Tony-award winning play that explores the origins of “The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up” (a.k.a. Peter Pan). The production will run for two weekends (April 12-21, 2024) and is directed by Kirk White and co-produced by Laurie Devino and Jessica Randell.

North Star Theater Company presents “Deathtrap”  (SPARTA TOWNSHIP, NJ) — The North Star Theater Company presents Deathtrap across two weekends (April 12-14 and April 19-21, 2024) in Schaffer Hall at St. Mary’s Episocopal Church. The classic play by Ira Levin involves Sidney Bruhl, a playwright who is struggling to write his next big Broadway thriller. He invites one of his students to his home after reading his script. The twists and turns begin as Sidney sees an opportunity to turn his situation around.

Old Library Theatre presents “A New Brain”  (FAIR LAWN, NJ) — Old Library Theatre (OLT), Fair Lawn Recreation Department’s resident theatre company, will present the musical, A New Brain, over two weekends from April 12-21, 2024. Created by Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist William Finn and playwright James Lapine, this is an unexpectedly funny show that gives a glimpse into the inner world of Gordon Michael Schwinn (played by Patrick Dwyer), a frustrated composer for a children’s television show.

Playhouse 22 presents “Steel Magnolias”  (EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ) — Playhouse 22 presents “Steel Magnolias” by Robert Harling, weekends from April 12-28, 2024. Better-known by the film with the same name, the play is a comedy-drama set in rural Louisiana about a group of gossipy women who are concerned about relationships with their families, loved ones, people in the community and most importantly themselves. The production is directed by directed by Ken Webb

The Ritz Theatre Company Partners with ParaSight Experience for a Hauntingly Unique Experience During “Murder on the Nile”  (HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ) — The Ritz Theatre Company has announced an exciting collaboration with ParaSight Experience, bringing a spine-tingling addition to their production of Agatha Christie’s classic Murder on the Nile running now through April 21, 2024. The partnership promises select audiences a paranormal experience like no other, blending the intrigue of live theatre with the thrill of the supernatural.

Spring Lake Theatre presents “HMS Pinafore”  (SPRING LAKE, NJ) — Ahoy, theater enthusiasts! Spring Lake Theatre presents the timeless classic “HMS Pinafore” from April 12-27, 2024. Audiences will be transported back to the Victorian era as they embark on a high-seas adventure filled with romance, humor, and unforgettable melodies.

Colt Coeur presents “Still” by Lia Romeo starring Jayne Atkinson and Tim Daly  (NEW YORK, NY) — Colt Coeur presents the New York premiere of Still by Lia Romeo from April 18 through May 17, 2024 at DR2 Theatre (103 East 15th Street). Directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt, Jayne Atkinson and Tim Daly will reprise their acclaimed roles as Helen and Mark in this new play for anyone who’s ever wondered “what if?” The two had a successful run at the Dorset Theatre Festival in 2023.

Ella Dershowitz and Jill Eikenberry to Star in World Premiere of “Two Hander” at NJ Rep  (LONG BRANCH, NJ) — New Jersey Repertory Company (NJRep) will continue its 27th Season with the World Premiere of Two Hander by Julia Blauvelt, directed by NJ Rep Artistic Director SuzAnne Barabas. The play stars Ella Dershowitz and Jill Eikenberry and runs from April 18 through May 12, 2024.

Centenary Stage Company’s NEXTStage Repertory presents “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical”  (HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) — Centenary Stage Company’s NEXTStage Repertory presents their spring musical production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical from April 18-28, 2024 in the Sitnik Theatre on the Centenary University campus. The musical was written by Joe Tracz, Composed by Rob Rokicki, and adapted from the best-selling book The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan with an original rock score.

The MTM Players presents “Nunsense” at Kelsey Theatre  (WEST WINDSOR, NJ) — Tainted food, nuns in freezers, and lots of laughs are in store when The MTM Players brings the hilarious musical comedy Nunsense to the Kelsey Theatre stage, April 19 to May 5, 2024, on Mercer County Community College’s (MCCC) West Windsor Campus.

Gateway Playhouse presents “Much Ado About Nothing”  (SOMERS POINT, NJ) — Gateway Playhouse in Somers Point will open its 2024 mainstage season with William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. The beloved comedy will run for one weekend only, April 19-21, 2024 with performances on Friday and Saturday at 7:00pm and a 2:00pm matinee on Sunday. The comedy revolves around two couples in love: Claudio and Hero—whose ultimate coupling is almost ruined due to baseless accusations by Don John, the play’s villain; and Benedick and Beatrice, whose witty banter provides much of the show’s humor.

Bergen County Players presents “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”  (ORADELL, NJ) — Bergen County Players (BCP), one of America’s longest-running little theater companies, concludes its 2023-2024 mainstage season with the critically acclaimed, Tony Award-winning play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Adapted for the stage by Simon Stephens from Mark Haddon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, and directed by Alyson Cohn of Wyckoff, this play tells the story of Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old who is wrongly accused of killing his neighbor’s dog.

The Puffin Cultural Forum presents “Fly More Than You Fall”  (TEANECK, NJ) — Fly More Than You Fall, a new musical with sights set on Broadway and the West End will make its New Jersey premiere with a live musical concert presentation and talk back on April 20-21, 2024 at The Puffin Cultural Forum. Fly More, invites audiences to join Malia, a courageous young girl who bravely faces her mother’s terminal illness. Harnessing the power of storytelling and imagination, Malia transforms her challenges into opportunities for growth and strength. Her journey is a testament to resilience and grace, as she embarks on a heartfelt exploration of self-discovery and the beauty of growing up.

East Lynne Theater Company presents a Staged Reading of “Jersey Lawman: A Life on the Right Side of Crime”  (CAPE MAY, NJ) — East Lynne Theater Company presents “Jersey Lawman: A Life on the Right Side of Crime,” a staged reading based on the memoir by Jim Plousis and George Ingram on Saturday, April 20 at 8:00pm. Adapted for the stage by Thomas Raniszewski, the story highlights the 40-year law enforcement career of Plousis from his days as an Ocean City patrolman, to the harrowing and heartwarming tales of his time as Cape May County sheriff, to being nominated to United States Marshal by former President George W. Bush.

Virginia Rep presents “The Frog Prince” at Kelsey Theatre  (WEST WINDSOR, NJ) — A frog, a princess — and puppets! — bring the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale “The Frog Prince” to life for two performances only by Virginia Rep on Tour, Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 1:00pm & 4:00pm at the Kelsey Theatre on Mercer County Community College’s (MCCC) West Windsor Campus.

Curtain Up! “Broadway at the Shore” at the Ocean County Library Waretown Branch  (WARETOWN, NJ) — Enjoy the melodies that light up New York’s theater district without traveling to New York City. Join singer Cosette Lyncheski for “Broadway at the Shore” at the Ocean County Library Waretown Branch on Monday, April 22 at 6:00pm.

Thursday, April 18 @ 8:00pm – Vivid Stage presents “Kodachrome” at Oakes Center, 120 Morris Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901

Friday, April 19

7:00pm – “Mary Poppins, Jr.” presented by BCCT at Grunin Center, 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754

7:30pm – The Importance of Being Earnest at Grunin Center – Black Box Theater, 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754

8:00pm – Fiddler on the Roof at Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736

8:00pm – The Park Players presents “Jane Eyre: The Musical” at The Church Of The Good Shepherd, 1576 Palisade Avenue, Fort Lee, NJ 07024

8:00pm – Vivid Stage presents “Kodachrome” at Oakes Center, 120 Morris Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901

Saturday, April 20

1:00pm – The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD – Puccini’s La Rondine at Monmouth University – Pollak Theatre, 400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764

2:00pm – Fiddler on the Roof at Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736

2:00pm – “Mary Poppins, Jr.” presented by BCCT at Grunin Center, 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754

2:00pm – The Importance of Being Earnest at Grunin Center – Black Box Theater, 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754

7:00pm – “Mary Poppins, Jr.” presented by BCCT at Grunin Center, 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754

7:30pm – The Importance of Being Earnest at Grunin Center – Black Box Theater, 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754

8:00pm – Fiddler on the Roof at Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736

8:00pm – The Park Players presents “Jane Eyre: The Musical” at The Church Of The Good Shepherd, 1576 Palisade Avenue, Fort Lee, NJ 07024

8:00pm – Vivid Stage presents “Kodachrome” at Oakes Center, 120 Morris Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901

Sunday, April 21

2:00pm – “Mary Poppins, Jr.” presented by BCCT at Grunin Center, 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754

2:00pm – The Importance of Being Earnest at Grunin Center – Black Box Theater, 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754

2:00pm – Vivid Stage presents “Kodachrome” at Oakes Center, 120 Morris Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901

3:00pm – Fiddler on the Roof at Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ 08736

5:00pm – The Park Players presents “Jane Eyre: The Musical” at The Church Of The Good Shepherd, 1576 Palisade Avenue, Fort Lee, NJ 07024

Tuesday, April 23

7:00pm – The Works of Langston Hughes at Grunin Center – Black Box Theater, 1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754

8:00pm – George Street Playhouse presents “Tick, Tick… BOOM!” at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Black Box PAC presents a Staged Reading of “Me, Myself & I” by Edward Albee  (TEANECK, NJ) — In association with The Estate of Edward Albee, Black Box PAC presents a staged reading of Me, Myself & I (2008) on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at Debonair Music Hall. Showtime is 7:30pm. This is part of the company’s exclusive staged reading series of all of Albee’s plays.

The Summit Playhouse presents “Is He Dead?” by Mark Twain  (SUMMIT, NJ) — The Summit Playhouse presents Is He Dead? from April 26 to May 11, 2024. This is a play by Mark Twain based on an earlier short story. In it, a young painter of genius is in love but in debt. To achieve fame and fortune, he fakes his death while passing himself off as his own sister. Now rich, he must find a way to get out of a dress, return to life, and marry his love.

The Premier Theatre Company presents “Spring Awakening” at the Navesink Library Theater  (ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ) — The Premier Theatre Company will present Spring Awakening at the Navesink Library Theater in Navesink (Atlantic Highlands), NJ on from April 26-28, 2024. Set in the Germany of 1891, Spring Awakening follows a group of adolescents through their struggles in the journey from adolescence to adulthood.

Molière in the Park presents “The Miser”  (BROOKLYN, NJ) — Molière in the Park, in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance and LeFrak Center at Lakeside, and in collaboration with Brooklyn Public Library, presents a re-imagined version of Molière’s The Miser, translated and adapted by David Chambers, and directed by Molière in the Park’s Founding Artistic Director Lucie Tiberghien. The Miser runs April 27 – May 19, 2024 for 21 performances in a limited engagement at Prospect Park’s LeFrak Center in Brooklyn. Enter at 171 East Drive between Ocean Avenue and Lincoln Road.

State Theatre New Jersey presents “CLUE”  (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) — State Theatre New Jersey presents CLUE, the hilarious murder mystery comedy, with four performances from April 27-28, 2024. Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench?

American Theater Group’s Monday Night Play Reading Series presents “Larry: The Big-Time Broadway Producer”  (RAHWAY, NJ) — American Theater Group (ATG), a professional theater company in Central New Jersey, will present the endearing new comedy Larry: The Big Time Broadway Producer as part of its free Monday Night Play Reading Series on April 29, 2024 at Hamilton Stage in Rahway, NJ. Showtime is 7:00pm.

OffBook Productions presents North NJ regional premiere of “When Monica Met Hillary”  (HACKENSACK, NJ) — OffBook Productions presents Winter Miller’s play When Monica Met Hillary from May 3-12, 2024 at the Hackensack Performing Arts Center. Directed by founding director Laura Iacometta, the play spans a 20+ year timeline, following the lives of Monica Lewinsky and Hillary Clinton, accompanied by Lewinsky’s mother Marcia Lewis and Clinton advisor Huma Abedin. Miller’s play first premiered at Miami New Drama in 2022. OffBook’s production will mark the North Jersey regional premiere.

“East Carson Street” Premiering at Bell Theater  The World Premiere of a new musical, East Carson Street, will open the new Bell Theater in Holmdel, NJ. The play has music by Joe Grushecky with a book by Jonathan Rosenberg

South Street Players presents “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)”  (SPRING LAKE, NJ) — South Street Players presents “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” in Wesley Hall across two weekends from May 3-12, 2024. This play parodies the plays of William Shakespeare with all of them being performed in comically shortened or merged form by only three actors. The production is produced and directed by SSP Board Member Rob Sullivan.

Bridge Players Theatre Company presents “Once Upon a Mattress”  (BURLINGTON, NJ) — Bridge Players Theatre Company presents Once Upon a Mattress across 3 weekends in May 2024. The popular play features Music by Mary Rogers; Lyrics by Marshall Barer, and Book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer. If you thought you knew the story of “The Princess and The Pea,” you may be in for a walloping surprise!

State Theatre New Jersey presents “The Kite Runner”  (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) — State Theatre New Jersey presents The Kite Runner, a play with music based on Khaled Hosseini’s internationally best-selling novel for two performances on Friday, May 3 at 8:00pm and Saturday, May 4 at 8:00pm. Salar Nader, the renowned musician who dazzled audiences in the Broadway production, will reprise his role as tabla player for the tour.

Chatham Community Players presents “Nine”  (CHATHAM, NJ) — The Chatham Community Players concludes its 102nd Season with the critically acclaimed and modern musical classic, Nine with music & lyrics by Maury Yeston and book by Arthur Kopit from May 3-18, 2024 at The Chatham Playhouse (23 North Passaic Ave) in Chatham. Based on iconic film director Federico Fellini’s legendary work “8 1/2”, this spectacular musical adaptation features one man and the dozens of women in his life. Celebrated but impetuous film director, Guido Contini, succumbing to the pressures of filming his latest film epic, suffers a midlife crisis.

Let the Sunshine In! “Hair” is coming to CDC Theatre in Cranford  (CRANFORD, NJ) — The American classic rock-musical Hair, the final production of the 105th season at CDC Theatre, celebrates the sixties counterculture in all its barefoot, long-haired, bell-bottomed, beaded and fringed glory. To an infectiously energetic rock beat, the show wows audiences with songs like “Aquarius,” “Good Morning, Starshine,” “Hair,” “I Got Life” and “Let The Sunshine In.” Exploring ideas of identity, community, global responsibility and peace, Hair remains as relevant as ever as it examines what it means to be a young person in a changing world.

Celebrate the Kentucky Derby with “Derby Day,” a Run for the Roses-Themed Living Movie  (SOMERS POINT, NJ) — Grab your fascinator and head to “Derby Day,” a Kentucky Derby-themed comedic “living movie” written by SPQR Stage Company’s Artistic Director Bill Sterritt on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at Studio;Space in Somers Point. Showtime is 3:00pm.

 

The Premier Theatre Company presents “Spring Awakening” at the Navesink Library Theater

(ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ) — The Premier Theatre Company will present Spring Awakening at the Navesink Library Theater in Navesink (Atlantic Highlands), NJ on from April 26-28, 2024. Set in the Germany of 1891, Spring Awakening follows a group of adolescents through their struggles in the journey from adolescence to adulthood.

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Let the Sunshine In! “Hair” is coming to CDC Theatre in Cranford

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Celebrate the Kentucky Derby with “Derby Day,” a Run for the Roses-Themed Living Movie

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Centenary Stage Company to Hold Auditions for Summer Stock Season and Seeks Tech Staff

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