Stages Festival continues to grow, in 21st year

by JAY LUSTIG
Stages Festival NJ 2018

RUTH ZAMOYTA

New play readings are part of the Stages Festival, which takes place throughout New Jersey in March.

The annual Stages Festival is now in its 21st year, and still growing. Last year’s 20th annual festival featured about 80 theater performances and programs for children and adults, throughout New Jersey in the month of March, all free or significantly discounted. This year, there will be more than 90.

The festival is presented by the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, along with its partners and funders, and many events require advance registration. For information, visit njtheatrealliance.org/stages.

In a press release, Nicholas Paleologos, executive director of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, said: “Everybody’s got a cell phone. They can watch whatever they want. Yet last year Broadway had the highest attendance ever. Why? Because in 2,500 years there’s never been a decent substitute for the soul-satisfying human experience of live theater. And nobody does it better than New Jersey. Which is why we are proud, enthusiastic supporters of the Stages Festival.”

Here is a complete listing of events:

March 1, 7:30 p.m.: New Jersey Women Playwrights Showcase of New Work: Reading of “The Gospel According to SB” by Susan Barsky, at Jersey City Theater Center at Merseles Studios. Suggested donation $10.

Art Centenary

CHRIS YOUNG

From left, Randall Duk Kim, Kevin Carolan and Carl Wallnau co-star in “Art,” which is at the Sitnik Theatre in Hackettstown through March 4.

March 1 at 7:30 p.m., March 2 at 8 p.m. and March 4 at 2 p.m.: “Art,” presented by Centenary Stage Company at Sitnik Theatre at Lackland Performing Arts Center, Hackettstown. Buy one, get one free ticket deal with code STAGES18.

March 2, 7 p.m.: Reading of “1000 Faces,” a new musical about Lon Chaney, presented by Skyline Theatre Company at Fair Lawn Community Center. Free.

March 3, 10 a.m.: “Intro to Stage Combat” workshop, for ages 13-18, at Centenary Stage Company, Hackettstown. Free but registration required.

March 3, 10:30 a.m.: “A Cinderella Tale … Happily Ever After,” children’s play at Ocean County Library, Little Egg Harbor Branch. Free.

March 3, 3 p.m.: “Plays by People” at Matheny Medical and Educational Center/Robert Schonhorn Arts Center, Peapack. Works by the playwrights of Matheny’s Arts Access Program. Free.

March 3 at 8 p.m. and March 4 at 2 p.m.: “Love Letters,” presented by The Theater Project at BCB Bank, Union. Free.

March 5 at 7 p.m.: “Miss Nelson Is Missing!,” children’s play at Ocean County Library, Berkeley Branch. Free.

March 6, 7 p.m.: New Plays, New Jersey series: Reading of John Wooten’s “Fading Grace” at Bickford Theatre at Morris Museum, Morris Township. $10 suggested donation.

March 7, 10 a.m.: “Austin the Unstoppable,” children’s play at Middle Township Performing Arts Center, Cape May Court House. Free.

March 7, 7:30 p.m.: New Jersey Women Playwrights Showcase of New Work: Reading of “Pushing the River” by Rosemary McLaughlin, presented by Jersey City Theater Center at Merseles Studios. $10 suggested donation.

March 8, 6 p.m.: “A Cinderella Tale … Happily Ever After,” children’s play at Vineland Public Library. Free.

March 8, 7 p.m.: New Plays, New Jersey series: Reading of Darrah Cloud’s “Turning” at Bickford Theatre at Morris Museum, Morris Township. $10 suggested donation.

March 9, 1:30 p.m.: “Miss Nelson Is Missing!,” children’s play at Ocean County Library, Lakewood Branch. Free.

March 9, 6:30 p.m.: “Mi Casa Tu Casa,” family play at Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre, Summit. Free.

March 9, 7 p.m.: New Plays, New Jersey series: Reading of Suzanne Trauth’s “La Fonda” at Bickford Theatre at Morris Museum, Morris Township. $10 suggested donation.

March 9, 16 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. and March 10-11, 17-18 and 24-25 at 4 p.m.: “Boy Sees Flying Saucer” at Growing Stage, Netcong. Recommended for ages 7 through adult. All tickets $15.

March 10, 10 a.m.: Musical theater workshop at Centenary Stage Company, Hackettstown. Free but advance registration required.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents a family version of “The Comedy of Errors,” March 10.

March 10, 11 a.m.: “The Comedy of Errors” at Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey at Drew University, Madison. Abridged version, appropriate for all ages. Free child’s ticket with purchase of $16 adult ticket.

March 10, 2 p.m.: “Macbeth” at Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey at Drew University, Madison. Abridged version, appropriate ages 11 and up. Free child’s ticket with purchase of $16 adult ticket.

March 10, 2 p.m.: “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” at Ocean County Library, Point Pleasant Borough Branch. Free.

March 10, 2 p.m.: “A Cinderella Tale … Happily Ever After,” children’s play at Ocean County Library, Lacey Branch. Free.

March 10, 2 p.m.: Young Playwrights Competition staged reading at Cranford Community Center. Free.

March 10, 7 p.m.: New Plays, New Jersey series, reading TBA, at Bickford Theatre at Morris Museum, Morris Township. $10 suggested donation.

March 11, 6 p.m.: New Plays, New Jersey series, Phoebe Farber’s “Psychodrama” at Bickford Theatre at Morris Museum, Morris Township. $10 suggested donation.

March 12, 10 a.m.: Breakfast at Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn. Discussion and performance by the Paper Mill Senior Players Workshop. Free but RSVP required.

March 12-13, 7:30 p.m.: Hudson Theatre Works’ Readings From the Edge: “The Exonerated” at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Weehawken. Free.

March 13, 7:30 p.m.: Mile Square PlayGround: “New York 523” by Joseph Gallo at Mile Square Theatre, Hoboken. $10 suggested donation.

March 14, 7 p.m.: “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” at Morris Plains Borough School. Adults $5; children younger than 18 free.

March 14, 7:30 p.m.: New Plays, New Jersey series: Reading of Suzanne Trauth’s “La Fonda” presented by Jersey City Theater Center at Merseles Studios. $10 suggested donation.

March 15, 3:30 p.m.: “A Cinderella Tale … Happily Ever After,” children’s play at Ocean County Library, Point Pleasant Beach Branch. Free.

March 15, 6:30 p.m.: “Mi Casa Tu Casa” at South Street School, Newark. $2 admission.

March 15-17, 7 p.m. and March 18, 3 p.m.: Spring Reading Series at Kean Stage Series at Kean University, Union. Free, reservations recommended.

March 16, 7 p.m.: Stage Exchange series: Reading of Darrah Cloud’s “Turning” at Chase Room at NJPAC, Newark. $5 ticket deal.

March 16, 10:30 p.m.: “The Velveteen Rabbit,” children’s play at Ocean County Library, Plumsted Branch. Free.

March 17, 2 p.m.: “Mi Casa Tu Casa” at Institute of Music for Children, Elizabeth. Free.

March 17, 2 p.m.: “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” at Shea Center for Performing Arts at William Paterson University, Wayne. $8 for adults, children free.

March 18, 3 p.m.: Senior Player Workshop at Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn. Free but RSVP required.

March 18, 3 p.m.: “Walking the Valley,” 48-hour play project at Luna Stage Company, West Orange. Free.

March 18, 3 p.m.: “Sherlock Holmes Adventure of the Speckled Band,” radio play at Wyckoff Public Library. Free.

March 18, 4 p.m.: “Crowns Dialogue on Drama” at McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton. Discussion with McCarter Theatre Center artistic director Emily Mann and “Crowns” author and director Regina Taylor. Free.

March 19, 6 p.m.: “At Ninety-Three” at Tuckerton Library. Free.

March 19, 6:30 p.m.:  “Sherlock Holmes Adventure of the Speckled Band,” radio play at Ocean County Library, Island Heights Branch. Free.

March 19, 6:30 p.m.: “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” at Ocean County Library, Brick Branch. Free.

Bonnie Monte will participate in a panel discussion on “Popular Culture and American Theatre” in Princeton, March 20.

March 20, 7 p.m.: “Popular Culture and American Theatre: Past, Present and Future” at Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University. Panel discussion with . Bonnie Monte (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey), John Dias (Two River Theater), Ryanne Domingues (Passage Theatre) and Todd Schmidt (Paper Mill Playhouse). Free.

March 20, 7:30 p.m.: Mile Square PlayGround: “The Forest” by Lia Romero at Mile Square Theatre, Hoboken. $10 suggested donation.

March 21, 4 p.m.: “Mi Casa Tu Casa” at Newark Public Libary, North End Branch. Free.

March 21, 6 p.m.: “The Wizard of Oz” at West Cape May Elementary School. Free.

March 21, 7:30 p.m.: New Jersey Women Playwrights Showcase of New Work: “Wish Bone” by Phoebe Farber, presented by Jersey City Theater Center at Merseles Studios. $10 suggested donation.

March 22, 6 p.m.: “Peter and the Wolf” at Ocean County Library, Stafford Branch. Free.

March 23, noon: “A Cinderella Tale … Happily Ever After,” children’s play at Ocean County Library, Jackson Branch. Free.

March 23, 7 p.m.: Healing Voices OnStage: “Caregiver Stories” at Bickford Theatre at Morris Museum, Morris Township. Free; reservations recommended.

March 23, 7 p.m.: “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” at Stony Brook Elementary School, Pennington. $5 for adults, children younger than 18 free.

March 23, 7 p.m.: “Sherlock Holmes Adventure of the Speckled Band,” radio play at Oakland Public Library. Free.

March 24 and 31, 1 p.m.: Sample Summer Camp Day at Cape May Stage.

March 24, 2 p.m.: “Peter and the Wolf” at Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, Millville. Free.

March 24, 3 p.m.: “Sherlock Holmes Adventure of the Speckled Band,” radio play at Ocean County Library, Upper Shores Branch. Free.

March 25, 2 p.m.: Victorian Magic with Robert Aberdeen at Mahwah Public Library. Free.

March 26, 6 p.m.: “Sherlock Holmes Adventure of the Speckled Band,” radio play at Waretown Library. Free.

March 26, 6:30 p.m.: “Miss Nelson Is Missing!,” children’s play at Ocean County Library, Toms River Branch. Free.

March 26, 7 p.m.: Victorian Magic with Robert Aberdeen at Ocean County Library, Beachwood Branch. Free.

March 27, 7:30 p.m.: Mile Square PlayGround: “The Other White Meat” by Erin Mallon at Mile Square Theatre, Hoboken. Reservations recommended.

March 28, 6 p.m.: “Stone Soup and Other Stories” at Warren H. Wolfe Elementary School, Brick Township. Free.

Harry connick sting

Harry Connick K

March 29 at 7:30 p.m., March 30 at 8 p.m. and March 31 at 1:30 and 8 p.m.: “The Sting,” a new musical version of the hit 1973 film, at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn. Student rush tickets available.

March 31, 2 p.m.: “Timestorm,” radio play for ages 8 and up at Newark Public Library. Free.

March 31, 2 p.m.: “Miss Nelson Is Missing!” at Ocean County Library, Barnegat Township Branch. Free.

For information, visit stagesfestival.org.

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