Explore New Jersey

THEATRE

New Jersey’s theatre scene is a vibrant and diverse landscape, offering a wealth of captivating performances from Broadway-caliber productions to groundbreaking new works and intimate community theatre experiences. The Garden State boasts a rich theatrical heritage and continues to be a fertile ground for both established and emerging talent.

Major performing arts centers like the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, the State Theatre New Jersey in New Brunswick, the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, and the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank regularly host national tours of Broadway hits, renowned musical artists, and acclaimed dance companies.

Beyond these grand stages, New Jersey is home to critically acclaimed regional theatres such as the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn (a Tony Award-winning regional theatre), George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, and Two River Theater in Red Bank, all known for their high-quality productions and commitment to developing new plays. You’ll also find a thriving network of professional and community theatre companies across the state, including the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in Madison, Crossroads Theatre Company in New Brunswick, Cape May StageEast Lynne Theater CompanyThe Growing Stage – The Children’s Theatre of New JerseyNew Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch, the Ritz Theatre Company in Haddon Township, and the Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven.

Whether you’re looking for a dazzling musical, a thought-provoking drama, a hilarious comedy, or a family-friendly show, New Jersey’s theatre community provides endless opportunities to be entertained, enlightened, and inspired. Come experience the magic of live performance in the Garden State!

New Jersey’s Audition Season Kicks Off with Theatre, Talent Shows, and Open Mic Opportunities

New Jersey’s performing arts scene is heating up as the state enters a busy audition season across theatre, music, and community talent showcases. From...

Most Recent

Monmouth University presents Akhil Sharma as part of Visiting Writer Series

originally published: 12/05/2024 (WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- Monmouth University welcomes Akhil Sharma on Monday, February 3, 2024 as part of their Visiting Writer Series.  Free and open to the public, the event takes place in The Great Hall -104 at 6:00pm.Sharma is a highly decorated short-story writer and novelist; he’s been awarded many of the most prestigious prizes and recognitions that a fiction writer can receive. His first novel, An Obedient Father (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2000), hailed in New York Magazine by Jonathan Franzen as “A great novel” and described by Hilary Mantel in the New York Review of Books as “uncompromising,” with a “first chapter . . . blasts off the locks and splinters the...

Cirque Dreams Holidaze Lights Up State Theatre New Jersey with a Magical Holiday Spectacle

State Theatre New Jersey is bringing back the dazzling Cirque Dreams Holidaze for three highly anticipated performances from December 12–13, 2025. Celebrated as the original cirque holiday theatrical production, Holidaze transforms the stage into a mesmerizing winter wonderland, blending Broadway-style storytelling with breathtaking contemporary circus artistry. The show offers a festive experience designed to captivate audiences of all ages, making it a holiday tradition for New Jersey families and visitors alike. From the first moment the lights dim, the production immerses audiences in a world of imagination, where holiday characters leap, twirl, and defy gravity. Featuring an ensemble of aerialists, acrobats, jugglers, dancers, and singers, Cirque Dreams Holidaze combines the excitement of the circus with the...