Previews for Plays Taking Place June 12-18, 2023

originally published: 06/12/2023

Here are previews of plays taking place from June 12-18, 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 [email protected] to be included. New Jersey Stage covers Equity, community, college, and high school theatre. Check back every week for the weekly theatre preview.

FEATURED SHOWS

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents “The Rose Tattoo” by Tennessee Williams (MADISON, NJ) — The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s (STNJ) 61st season will begin on May 31st with The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams. This exuberant, extravagant tale of Serafina Delle Rose, a Sicilian widow living on the turbulent Gulf Coast outside of New Orleans, is an astonishing and poetic ode to this irresistible force of sensuality and the power of longing, hope, and desire. Replete with a Greek chorus-like cast of colorful characters, the play is a boisterous and beautiful celebration of life and love. The production runs through June 18, 2023.

“Horseshoe Empire” by Margo Hammond to be Performed in Jersey City (JERSEY CITY, NJ) — “Horseshoe Empire,” by Margo Hammond is a play about one of the most famous figures in Jersey City history; Frank “I am the Law” Hague. The play will be performed across two weekend (June 10-11 and June 16-18, 2023) at the Apple Tree House (Van Wagenen House) in Jersey City.

Nutley Little Theatre presents “Hand to God” (NUTLEY, NJ) — Nutley Little Theatre presents the hysterically irreverent twisted comedy, Hand to God, opening Friday, June 9th, and continuing through June 24th. Written by Robert Askins, the play tells the story of a devilish, scandalous, and foul-mouthed hand puppet who manages to tear apart the balance in a Christian Puppet Ministry youth group – exposing the startling fragile nature of faith, morality, love, and how easily blood can flow.

Studio Players presents “The Real Thing” by Tom Stoppard (MONTCLAIR, NJ) — Cue one passionate but never fully satisfying love affair between Henry and Annie. That’s the premise behind The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard, which is being presented by Studio Players this June.

Plays opening this week

Tuesday, June 13, 2023 – New York Classical Theatre presents “Richard III” with All-Female, Gender-Fluid Cast (NEW YORK, NY) — New York Classical Theatre has announced an all-female, gender-fluid, and disability-forward cast for Shakespeare’s Richard III. The production, directed by Burdman, will play in Central Park from June 13 to June 25; in Brooklyn Commons at Metrotech from June 27 to July 2; and in Carl Schurz Park from July 4 to July 9. All performances are free and open to the public.

Wednesday, June 14, 2023 – East Lynne Theater Company presents “A Tale of Two Cities, Cobbled Together by the Brothers Lovejoy” (CAPE MAY, NJ) — East Lynne Theater Company’s new Artistic Director Craig Fols will open his inaugural mainstage season with his own original adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” titled “A Tale of Two Cities, Cobbled Together by the Brothers Lovejoy”. Fols’ stage version of this world-renowned classic will make its world premiere on June 14 and will run Wednesdays to Saturdays through July 15.

Thursday, June 15, 2023 – Bernie Wagenblast talks with playwright Mike Burdick on Cranford Radio podcast (CRANFORD, NJ) — Bernie Wagenblast talks with playwright Mike Burdick on an episode of the Cranford Radio podcast. His creation, Mike Burdick’s Stages of Madness, will be at Cranford Dramatic Club (CDC Theatre) for performances June 15-17, 2023.

Friday, June 16, 2023 – Mile Square Theatre presents 19th Annual 7th Inning Stretch (HOBOKEN, NJ) — Mile Square Theatre presents the 19th Annual 7th Inning Stretch of June 16-17. Each year, seven playwrights write seven 10-minute plays involving baseball. The plays run the gambit from heartwarming to hysterical; realistic to absurd. Whatever they are, you’ll enjoy a terrific lineup of short plays about the great American pastime. This year’s event features world premiere short works by a roster of playwrights including: Tim Errickson, Charlene Jean, Michelle Tyrene Johnson, Cherise Kimoy, Tim J. Lord, Nandita Shenoy and SC Stowe.

Sunday, June 18, 2023 – East Lynne Theater Company to Host Staged Reading of “Citizen James, or The Young Man Without a Country” to Honor Juneteenth (CAPE MAY, NJ) — East Lynne Theater Company (ELTC) will host its first-ever Juneteenth event – a staged reading, titled “Citizen James, or The Young Man Without a Country” — to honor the national holiday. A one-man show about acclaimed novelist and civil rights activist James Baldwin, the performance is pay-what-you-wish and will take place on Sunday, June 18, followed by an ice cream social at Fine Fellows Creamery. The event begins at 6:00pm.

Plays ending this week

Lantern Theater Company Presents William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” (PHILADELPHIA, PA) — Lantern Theater Company concludes its 2022/23 season with Twelfth Night, part of the company’s ongoing commitment to produce the timeless stories of William Shakespeare for both the general public and local school students. Featuring live original music composed by Barrymore Award-winner Christopher Colucci, the Lantern’s production of Twelfth Night runs Thursday, May 18 through Sunday, June 18, 2023, at St. Stephen’s Theater, the Lantern’s resident venue.

Music Mountain Theatre presents “Something Rotten” (LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) — Welcome to the Renaissance and the outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce, Something Rotten, opening at Music Mountain Theatre on May 26 with performances running weekends through June 18, 2023. Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of the biggest star of the era, everyone’s favorite bard: William Shakespeare. Something Rotten features large song and dance numbers and a wacky cast of over-the-top characters!

Surflight Theatre presents “Steel Pier” (BEACH HAVEN, NJ) — Surflight Theatre is excited to be opening their 2023 Season with a show celebrating the magnificent history of Atlantic City’s Steel Pier in the 1930’s: Kander and Ebb’s Steel Pier the Musical. An assortment of depression era souls are eager to dance their way into fame & prizes gather on the Steel Pier. Songs by the creators of Chicago, Cabaret and other classics perfectly capture the rhythms of the 1930’s dance era. Performances run June 1-17, 2023.

Advertise with New Jersey Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info

South Camden Theatre Company and The Stride Collective present “Stop Kiss” (CAMDEN, NJ) — South Camden Theatre Company and The Strides Collective are excited to welcome you to their celebration of equality and love for Pride with the production of Diana Son’s poignant and funny play Stop Kiss. This production is being directed by Jonathan Edmondson, the founding artistic director of The Strides Collective. Performances run weekends from June 2-17. In this comic and dark play, two young women, third-grade teacher Sara, and radio traffic reporter Callie become best friends about to discover something new about their relationships.

JCTC presents Voices International Theatre Festival Jersey City Theater Center, (165 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302 / Entrance from Barrow St., Jersey City, NJ, 07302).

American Theater Group announces cast of “Right to be Forgotten” (BASKING RIDGE, NJ) — American Theater Group (ATG), a professional regional theater company in Central Jersey, presents Right to Be Forgotten — a searing new drama by Sharyn Rothstein in June. The show will run June 8-10 at JCC MetroWest in West Orange, NJ and June 15-18 at the Sieminski Theater in Basking Ridge. It’s a powerful look at today’s social media landscape, the drama explores how a young man’s mistake at 17 haunts him online a decade later.

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.

Plays continuing this week

NJRep presents PRIDE 2023 in June (LONG BRANCH, NJ) — New Jersey Repertory Company (NJRep) will present PRIDE 2023 from June 3-25, 2023. This month long celebration includes an Art Gallery Show, a Photography Exhibit, and five one-act plays running throughout the month.

Two River Theater presents “Two Sisters and a Piano” (RED BANK, NJ) — Two River Theater will conclude their 2022-2023 season with Two Sisters and a Piano, a passionate tale of revolution, art, and dreams written and directed by Pulitzer Prize-winner Nilo Cruz (Anna in the Tropics), running June 3-25, 2023 in the Joan and Robert Rechnitz Theater.

Paper Mill Playhouse Announces Cast and Creative for “Rent” (MILLBURN, NJ) — Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee, Producing Artistic Director; Michael Stotts, Executive Director), recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, has announced the cast and creative team for Rent by Jonathan Larson, directed by Zi Alikhan (Resident Director of Hamilton) and choreographed by Steph Paul (New York Theatre Workshop: How to Defend Yourself). The show runs June 7 through July 2, 2023.

The Ritz Theatre Company presents “I Hate Hamlet” (HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ) — The Ritz Theatre Company presents the comedy-drama play I Hate Hamlet from June 9-25, 2023. Dealing with a girlfriend who is keeping a firm grasp on her chastity, Andrew plays host to the ghost of John Barrymore (played by New York-based television and stage theater actor Peter Herrick), who, clothed as Hamlet, has come back to convince Rally to play the part!

FEATURED EVENT LISTINGS

Monday, June 12, 2023 @ 7:00pm – The Fertile River at Kean Stage – Enlow Recital Hall, 215 North Avenue, Hillside, NJ 07205

Tuesday, June 13, 2023 @ 7:30pm – “The Rose Tattoo” By Tennessee Williams at Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ – F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940

Wednesday, June 14, 2023 @ 7:30pm – “The Rose Tattoo” By Tennessee Williams at Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ – F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940

Thursday, June 15, 2023 @ 8:00pm – “The Rose Tattoo” By Tennessee Williams at Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ – F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940

Thursday, June 15, 2023 @ 8:00pm – Sister’s Irish Catechism: Saints, Snakes, & Green Milkshakes at Avenel Performing Arts Center, 150 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001

Friday, June 16, 2023 @ 6:30pm – Horseshoe Empire at Apple Tree House, 298 Academy Street, Jersey City, NJ 07306

Friday, June 16, 2023 @ 7:00pm – The Barber of Seville at Festival Performance Pavilion at Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540

Friday, June 16, 2023 @ 8:00pm – “The Rose Tattoo” By Tennessee Williams at Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ – F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940

Friday, June 16, 2023 @ 8:00pm – Sister’s Irish Catechism: Saints, Snakes, & Green Milkshakes at Avenel Performing Arts Center, 150 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001

Friday, June 16, 2023 @ 8:00pm – Songs For A New World at Fellowship Hall at Morristown United Methodist Church, 50 South Park Place, Morristown, NJ 07960

Friday, June 16, 2023 @ 8:00pm – “The Real Thing” by Tom Stoppard at Studio Playhouse, 14 Alvin Place, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043

Saturday, June 17, 2023 @ 2:00pm – “The Rose Tattoo” By Tennessee Williams at Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ – F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940

Saturday, June 17, 2023 @ 2:00pm – Sister’s Irish Catechism: Saints, Snakes, & Green Milkshakes at Avenel Performing Arts Center, 150 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001

Saturday, June 17, 2023 @ 2:00pm – Horseshoe Empire at Apple Tree House, 298 Academy Street, Jersey City, NJ 07306

Saturday, June 17, 2023 @ 6:00pm – Horseshoe Empire at Apple Tree House, 298 Academy Street, Jersey City, NJ 07306

Saturday, June 17, 2023 @ 8:00pm – “The Rose Tattoo” By Tennessee Williams at Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ – F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940

Saturday, June 17, 2023 @ 8:00pm – Songs For A New World at Fellowship Hall at Morristown United Methodist Church, 50 South Park Place, Morristown, NJ 07960

Saturday, June 17, 2023 @ 8:00pm – “The Real Thing” by Tom Stoppard at Studio Playhouse, 14 Alvin Place, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043

Sunday, June 18, 2023 @ 2:00pm – “The Rose Tattoo” By Tennessee Williams at Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ – F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940

Sunday, June 18, 2023 @ 2:00pm – Horseshoe Empire at Apple Tree House, 298 Academy Street, Jersey City, NJ 07306

Sunday, June 18, 2023 @ 3:00pm – Sister’s Irish Catechism: Saints, Snakes, & Green Milkshakes at Avenel Performing Arts Center, 150 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001

Sunday, June 18, 2023 @ 3:00pm – Songs For A New World at Fellowship Hall at Morristown United Methodist Church, 50 South Park Place, Morristown, NJ 07960

Sunday, June 18, 2023 @ 3:00pm – “The Real Thing” by Tom Stoppard at Studio Playhouse, 14 Alvin Place, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043

Sunday, June 18, 2023 @ 4:00pm – The Barber of Seville at Festival Performance Pavilion at Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540