Previews for Plays Taking Place June 6-12, 2023

originally published: 06/06/2023

Here are previews of plays taking place from June 6-12, 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

Thursday, June 8, 2023 – Premiere Stages at Kean University Announces 2023 Premiere Play Festival Finalists (UNION, NJ) — Premiere Stages, the professional theatre company in residence at Kean University, has selected its four finalists for the 2023 Premiere Play Festival. Now in its 18th year, the Festival is an annual competition for unproduced scripts that offers developmental opportunities to playwrights with strong affiliations to New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware. This year’s finalists were selected from 701 submissions.

Friday, June 9, 2023 – 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.”

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. Click here for a review of the production.

FEATURED EVENT LISTINGS

Tuesday, June 6, 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 7, 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 8, 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 9, 2023 @ 8:00pm – JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Friday, June 9, 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 9, 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 10, 2023 @ 2:00pm – JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Saturday, June 10, 2023 @ 8:00pm – JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Saturday, June 10, 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 10, 2023 @ 8:00pm – Songs For A New World at Fellowship Hall at Morristown United Methodist Church, 50 South Park Place, Morristown, NJ 07960

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

Sunday, June 11, 2023 @ 2:00pm – JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Sunday, June 11, 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 11, 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 11, 2023 @ 7:00pm – Tony Awards Viewing Party at South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), One Sopac Way, South Orange, NJ 07079

Sunday, June 11, 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

Plays opening this week

Wednesday, June 7, 2023 – 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.

Thursday, June 8, 2023 – American Theater Group Presents Searing Drama “Right to be Forgotten” (BASKING RIDGE, NJ) — Following the success of its season opening production of Parade, American Theater Group (ATG), Central Jersey’s professional regional theater company, has announced its next production — Right to Be Forgotten — a searing new drama by Sharyn Rothstein. 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.

Thursday, June 8, 2023 – 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.

Thursday, June 8, 2023 – American Theater Group Presents Post-Performance Social Media Panel Discussion “Right to be Forgotten” explores internet privacy (WEST ORANGE, NJ) — American Theater Group (ATG), Central Jersey’s professional regional theater company, will host a panel discussion on Social Media Power and Control following its 7:00pm performance of the new play Right to Be Forgotten on Thursday, June 8, 2023 at JCC MetroWest in West Orange.

Friday, June 9, 2023 – 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.

Friday, June 9, 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!

Friday, June 9, 2023 – Bergen County Players to Present “From Screen to Stage” (ORADELL, NJ) — Bergen County Players (BCP), one of America’s longest-running little theater companies, will present the final production of its successful 90th season, From Screen to Stage from June 9-11, 2023. Reprised from a concept originally seen on their stage in 2010, this is a new chance to see your favorite movie scenes from our American cinematic history come to life on the BCP stage as actors recreate them before your eyes.

Plays ending this week

Crossroads Theatre Company presents the 2023 Spring Festival (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) — The Spring Festival returns to Crossroads Theatre Company, at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC) and runs through June 11, 2023. Off the heels of the nationally acclaimed Genesis Festival, the Spring festival of plays and musicals closes out the Crossroad’s 44th season, kicking off with Starchild- the Ballad of Debbie Walker, an electrifying new play by Divinity Roxx, former Beyoncé musical director, Grammy-nominated musician, author, and composer. This world premiere will hit the stage, May 24 – June 3.

Dunbar Repertory Company to produce August Wilson’s “Jitney” at Middletown Arts Center (MIDDLETOWN, NJ) — The Middletown Arts Center is pleased to present 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. Jitney is the seventh in the Pulitzer-prize-winning playwright’s ten-play cycle (collectively called The American Century Cycle or The Pittsburgh Cycle) on the black experience in twentieth-century America.

The Lord Stirling Theater Company to perform “Blithe Spirit” in Basking Ridge (BASKING RIDGE, NJ) — The Lord Stirling Theater Company will perform the comedy classic “Blithe Spirit” by Noël Coward in the English Barn Theater at the Farmstead Arts Center in Basking Ridge. Performances run across two weekends (June 2-4 and June 9-11). In the play, novelist Charles Condomine is conducting research for his latest novel about a medium. As research, he and his wife Ruth invite local medium Madame Arcati to dinner, along with their friends the Bradmans. Charles is hoping to find a fraud. But perhaps Madame Arcati actually conjures up more than he expected.

Plays continuing 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.

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).

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.

A Haunting Tennessee Williams Play in Madison: “The Rose Tattoo” As Tennessee Williams’ enchanting The Rose Tattoo begins, you are looking at, are part of, a home in a small town on the Gulf Coast, somewhere near New Orleans in the early 1950s, with people running about. The house is an old, ramshackle building with a large porch and a dirt yard – very 1950s Deep South. It is home for a lower middle-class seamstress/dressmaker, the beautiful but troubled Serafina Delle Rose (Antoinette LaVecchia) and her 16 year old daughter, who is growing older very fast. Around them are friends, other teenagers, a priest, women neighbors, the usual gang of small-town folks in the South.

Plays coming soon

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.

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.

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.

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.

Vanguard Theater presents “Spring Awakening” (MONTCLAIR, NJ) — Vanguard Theater presents Spring Awakening from June 22 to July 16, 2023. This hit musical features music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater. An electric, vibrant celebration of youth and rebellion, censorship and its consequences, Spring Awakening fuses issues of morality, sexuality, and rock and roll into a story that packs a powerful emotional punch.

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British Comedy “Round and Round the Garden” by Alan Ayckbourn to Be Performed in a Plainfield Garden (PLAINFIELD, NJ) — Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center presents Round and Round the Garden from June 22-25 on the front porch and in the garden of duCret Center of Arts where Dragonfly is the resident theater company. Round and Round the Garden, by acclaimed British playwright Alan Ayckbourn, focuses on the complicated interactions and tangled relationships of the main character, Norman, who just wants to be loved. The hilarious play explores themes of romance, lust, and the complexities of human nature through the conflicts of his family members and many love interests.

The Princeton Festival presents “I Am Harvey Milk” by Andrew Lippa (PRINCETON, NJ) — On Friday, June 23 at 7:00pm and Saturday, June 24 at 7:00pm the Princeton Festival presents I Am Harvey Milk, a musical theater oratorio by acclaimed Broadway composer and lyricist Andrew Lippa (Big Fish, The Addams Family). The show celebrates the legacy of Harvey Milk, an American icon and the first openly gay man to hold office in California.

Tuesday, June 06, 2023 @ 7:30pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theater)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
category: music