www.kidsguide.com/new jersey/theater

PLEASE NOTE:
Hours, prices, exhibit and event information are subject to change.
Please call ahead or use the convenient website links to get the latest information prior to your visit.

The New Jersey Theatre Alliance,, an alliance of professional theaters in New Jersey, publishes a calendar four times a year. They also sponsor Family Week annually in Mar. and publish an annual publication, Class Act, which details educational and outreach -programs offered by the group's members and affiliate theaters. For information, contact New Jersey Theatre Alliance, 163 Madison Ave., Suite 500, Morristown, NJ07960, 973-540-0515, email info@njtheatrealliance.org, or visit their website at www.njtheatrealliance.org

new jersey theatre alliance sampler series
Select three plays from three different -theaters for $70, a -package that can save up to 50% off the price of single tickets. Receive a bonus ticket if one of the three original selections comes from a select group of theaters. Call for details or visit the Alliance website.

www.njartstix.org
A website for New Jersey's performing arts offers an overview of performances across the state and the opportunity to purchase "Hot Tickets," deeply discounted -tickets up to 24 hours in advance.

theatre rocks!
Young professionals over 21 can purchase a $25 ticket which includes admission to the show and themed private reception following the performance with other Theatre Rockers and the cast and crew of the play. www.myspace.com/njtheatrealliance.

Calendars for many venues are not available until mid-summer for the new season. Contact individual theaters for their schedule or go to the "Hot Picks," "Music &Dance" or "Theatre" pages at www.kidsguide.com for convenient links to websites.

All Children's Theatre
1180 Rt. 46 W., Parsippany, 973-335-5328, email: allchildrensth@aol.com. Where Every Child Is a Star - performing arts by young performers ages 4-17. Performances Saturdays spring-fall and Friday evenings in the summer. Air-conditioned theater seats 70. Group discounts. Established 1983.

ArtsPower Field Trip Series
39 S. Fullerton Ave., Montclair, 973-744-0909 ext. 15. Non-profit professional touring theater presents original school-time shows at theaters throughout the state and is also available for booking at school assemblies or other events. Consult website for schedule and to purchase tickets.

Bergen Performing Arts Center
30 NorthVan Brunt St., Englewood, 201-227-1030. Oct.-May season offering music, dance, musicals, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra concerts, comedy, family and special events. Education programs include school-time performances, artists-in-residence programs, a performing arts and dance school (201-816-8160).
Family Events
Jun 7
Seussical, Theatreworks. 1 &4pm.

The Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum
6 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, 973-971-3706. Oct.-July season with performances Thurs.-Sat. 8pm, Sun. 2pm. Theater series, summer Wyeth Jazz Showcase, A La Carte entertainment series, children's theater series and youth musical theater programs. Student discounts and subscriptions available.
2008-09 Season
Sept 25-
Nov
     The Transit of Venus, NJpremiere with Paula Prentiss.
Nov 20-
Dec 14
     Southern Comforts, romantic comedy.
Jan 22-
Feb 15
     Lady Day at the Emerson Bar & Grille, Billie Holiday.
Mar 5-29
     Fiction by Stephen Dietz.
May 14-
Jun 7
     The Grass Is Greener, 1960 play by Hugh & Margaret Williams.
Summer Theatre Series for Children
1-hr. performances at 11am & 1:30pm. Subscriptions available, group discounts. Admission to museum included. No babes-in-arms. Individual tickets $8.50, $7.50 members, series discounts.
Jul 12
     Safari Magic, FullEffects Productions. Ages 4-9.
Jul 15
     Skate &Break, break & skate dancing. Ages 3-adult.
Jul 16
     Desert Travels, Treehouseshakers Dance. Ages 3-adult.
Jul 17
     Pocohantas' Vision Quest, Kit's Interactive theatre. Ages 4-11.
Jul 22
     Ghost Net: An Enviornmental Musical of the Sea, Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children's Theatre. Ages 4-12.
Jul 24
     Harlem Wizards, basketball comedy. Ages 3-adult.
Jul 26
     StarFish, rock &roll.

Brookdale Performing Arts Center
765 Newman Springs Rd., Lincroft, 732-224-2411. Music, dance, and theater department performances Sept.-May and free Brookdale Under the Stars summer series.

Brundage Park Playhouse
Carrell Rd., Randolph, 973-989-7092. Community theater with Feb.-Dec. performances, improv comedy, For Kids by Kids performances, youth theater classes and summer camp. Performances on Fri. & Sat. at 8pm, Sunday 2pm. Jun 6-14
     Romeo &Juliet, William Shakespeare.
Jun 20-28
     The Pillowman, black comedy & mystery.
Jul 18-
Aug 2
     Jesus Christ Superstar, Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice.
Aug 14-17
     Kid's Cabaret 2008.
Oct 10-25
     Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, by C.G. Bond (non-musical).
Dec 5-13
     Richard III, William Shakespeare.

Centenary Performing Arts Guild
Centenary College campus, 400 Jefferson St., Hackettstown, 908-979-0900. Classic and traditional dance and music, theater season by professional Centenary Stage Company, Women's Playwright series, Jazz in July, and Festival of Shows presented by members of Young Performers Workshops at end of fall, spring &summer sessions. Student rates; student matinees; Family Night on Thurs. with 2-for-1 tickets available only at the door.
Jul 12, 19, 26, Aug 2
Jazz in July 2008.
Aug
Young Performers Workshop Festival of Shows.

Chatham Community Players
23 N. Passaic Ave., Chatham, 973-635-7363. In addition to the Player's regular season, Fantasy Theater, the children's entertainment arm of the Players, presents two productions per year. Subscriptions, student rates, group rates.

Community Theatre at Mayo Center for Performing Arts
100 SouthSt., Morristown, 973-539-8008. 1,200-seat venue offers a wide array of classical music, jazz, dance, drama, comedy, children's programming and contemporary music. Create-your-own subscriptions; family subscriptions; student and group discounts. Internship/community service programs available to high school students. School-time shows open to school groups. See listing under Music &Dance for additional events.
Selected Summer Events
Aug 8
Manhattan Comedy Night, 8pm.

Count Basie Theatre
99 Monmouth St.,Red Bank, 732-842-9000. Nov.-June season of concerts by major recording artists, comedy, dance, theater, classical music and family events in a 1,550 seat theater circa 1926. Cool School offers classes in acting, dance, music, voice and videography; youth jazz training program for middle and high school students; school shows. See Music &Dance for concert and dance listings.
Selected Events
Jun 13-22
     High School Musical, 3 & 8pm.
Nov 14-23
     Beauty &The Beast, 3 & 8pm.
Dec 6
     A Christmas Carol, 3 & 8pm.
Jan 31
     Cirque Le Masque, 7:30pm.
Mar 1
     New Shanghai Circus, 3pm.
Apr 5
     Movin' Out, Broadway National Tour, 3pm.
Apr 26
     Moscow Cats Theatre, 35 cats, 5 clowns. 1pm.

County College of Morris Family Performing Arts Series
Dragonetti Auditorium, 214 Center Grove Rd., Randolph, 973-328-5225. Performing arts -presentations fall and spring semesters for children 4 yrs. &up (no infants). Group discounts.

Cranford Dramatic Club
78 Winans Ave., Cranford, 908-276-7611. Community -theater has been presenting plays and musicals in Cranford since 1918. Oct.-May season features 3 major productions and annual holiday children's show in Dec. Subscrip-tions, sr. & student discounts -available. Performances Fri.-Sun.
Jun 7
     Improv Jelly, a night of improv comedy. 8pm.
2008-09 Season
Fall
     Production TBA.
Dec 5-14
     HighSchool Musical. 1:30, 4:30 &7:30pm.
Feb 6-21
     Trip to Bountiful.
May 1-17
     Peter Pan.

Crossroads Theatre
7 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, 732-545-8100. Regional theater presents 4-play main stage season with a focus on literary works that examine the African American experience. Subscription, student and group discounts are offered.

Darress Theatre
615 Main St., Boonton, 973-334-9292. Former 1920 vaudeville house presents theater, special events and film screenings, some with live organ accompaniment.

DeBaun Auditorium
Stevens Institute of Technology, Castle Point on Hudson, 5th & Hudson Sts., Hoboken, 201-216-8937. Dance, music, theater and Spoken Word series, special events, family series and school touring shows.
Theater Company Series 2008-09
Oct 17-26
     The Secret Garden, A Concert Production.
Dec 12-21
     A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens.
Feb 13-
Mar 1
     The Who's Tommy, music &lyrics by Pete Townshend.
May 8-17
     A Year withFrog and Toad, musical based on Arnold Lobel's characters.

Dover Little Theatre
Elliot St., Dover, 973-328-9202. Community theater presents Oct.-June subscription series. Junior Theatre Initiative offers free reserved seats for school-aged children (aged 17 & under) at select performances. Reservations must be made by a parent or guardian 48 hours prior to performance and are open to youth in Dover and neighboring towns who have an interest in theatrical arts.

Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre
Baird Center, 5 Mead St., South Orange, 973-378-7754, ext. 2228. Professional theater in residence at the Baird Center produces innovative material, staged readings, annual family production, offers an internship program for high school and college students, classes for teens and adults, summer Teen Actors Conservatory and a variety of volunteer opportunities. First Friday, the first performance of each mainstage show, costs $10 for students.
Jul 25-
Aug 3
Dreamcatcher Junior: Touch the Sky, original family show of John Farrell's songs & stories.

Florham Park Players
299 Brooklake Rd., Florham Park, 973-377-9078. Community theater sponsors JerryGibson Memorial Youth Summer Theatre, a summer theater experience for ages 13-19.

Front & Center for Performing Arts
95 Victory Rd., Suite #1, Springfield, 973-258-1123. Front & Center students may perform in local community events, a full scale musical, competitions and a year-end revue. See ad and listings under Enrichment, Camps and Theatre.

Gaelen Center for the Arts
JCCMetroWest Maurice Levin Theatre, Leon &Toby Cooperman JCC, Ross Family Campus, 760 Northfield Ave., West Orange, 973-530-3444. Performance season includes shows for children and families as well as chamber music series, speaker series, New Jersey Jewish Film Festival and performances by the JCC's own orchestra, musical theater and children and teen production companies.

George Street Playhouse
9 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, 732-246-7717. Profes-sional theater dedicated to the production of new American plays offers subscriptions, student subscriptions, Next Stage Series (new play workshop series), student matinees and touring theater productions for grades K & up (732-846-2895 x115). Year-round theater classes for ages 5 to adult.
Sept 30-
Nov 2
The Toxic Avenger, world premiere of rock musical based on the classic cult film.

Growing Stage
The Palace Theatre, Rt. 183, Netcong, 973-347-4946. Professional children's theater presents Sept.-May season. Group rates, 5-play subscriptions available. Touring show available for schools and community organizations.

Hudson Theatre Ensemble
Sixth St. &Park Ave., Hoboken, 201-377-7014. Professional community theater presents adult series and Silly on Sixth children's series.

Hunterdon Hills Playhouse
88 Rt. 173W (Rt. 78 exit 12), Hampton, 908-730-8007, 800-447-7313. Dinner theater presents musical reviews, light-hearted comedies, annual holiday revue and summer musical.

Kean University Performing Arts
Wilkins Theatre, Morris Ave., Union, 908-737-7469. Sept.-May season includes dance, music, professional theater, solo acts, classical concerts, New Jersey Ballet repertory and children's ballet, Kean -theater, music and dance depts. performances, Holocaust Resource Center events, lecture series, family series and on school time performances. Student rates; subscriptions.
Jul 15-17
Treasure Island, Running Rabbit Family Theatre. 10:30am.

Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College
1200 Old Trenton Rd., West Windsor, 609-570-3333. Live cultural events, family theater, children's theater and adult events, both professional and semi-professional.
Summer 2008
Jun 27-
Jul 6
     The Taming of the Shrew, William Shakespeare.
Jul 11-
Aug 2
     Oliver, musical, Yardley Players.
Jul 25-
Aug 3
     The Fantasticks, musical by Tom Jones.
Aug 15-24
     Winnie the Pooh-The Birthday Tail, puppet musical, Maurer Productions Onstage. 2 & 4pm.

Livingston Community Players
Performances at Mt. Pleasant Middle School, Livingston. Community theater presents 4 plays annually. Call the Dept. of Recreation and Parks for information, 973-535-7925.

Luna Stage
695 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, 973-744-3309. Professional equity theater offers an intimate setting in two black box theaters seating 99 and 50 people respectively and a 50-seat studio theater. Oct.-May season; Running Rabbit Family Theatre; theater education for children and adults.
Jun 22
Great Scott, It's Magic!, magic show. 11 &2pm. The 2pm performance only is free for all grandparents.

Running Rabbit Family Theatre
Thru
Jun 8
Little Red Riding Hood.

McCarter Theatre Center for the Performing Arts
91 University Place, Princeton, 609-258-2787. Internation-ally known artists in music and dance, theater and special events. Extensive education programs include student matinees, touring shows, theater workshops, group backstage tours, in-school programs and professional development. Discount subscriptions for ages 35 & under.
New
     Young-At-Art Subscription, age 35 & under young professionals, college students and teenagers can purchase subscriptions for $12 a ticket. Valid ID required.
2008-09 Theatre Series
Sept 5-
Oct 12
     Herringbone, starring BDWong.
Oct 12-
Nov 2
     Talley's Folly, by Lanford Wilson.
Jan 9-
Feb 15
     Mrs. Warren's Profession, by George Bernard Shaw.
Mar 8-29
     Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare.
Apr 17-
Jun 14
     The Brother/Sister Plays, by Tarell Alvin McCraney.
Selected World Passport Events
Nov 6
     Aurelia's Oratorio, acrobatics, illusion, clowning.
Jan 23-25
     Cirque Eloize in Nebbia.
Jan 30
     The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion.
Feb 14
     Reduced Shakespeare Company in Completely Hollywood (abridged).

Montclair State University
Alexander Kasser Theater, Montclair State University, One Normal Ave., Montclair, 973-655-5112, box office; 973-655-3059, info. Presents School of the Arts theater, music and dance performances and professional arts events through Peak Performances.

Montclair Operetta Club (MOC)
Performances at Memorial Auditorium, Montclair State University, 973-773-9933. Community theater presents two musical productions in fall and spring from Broadway classics to contemporaries. Student rates.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center
One Center St., Newark, 1-888-GO NJPAC. Classical music, international dance, world music &jazz, special variety events, theater and Familytime series. Additional events are listed under Music &Dance.
TheBest of Broadway
Jun 10-15
     Billy Joel &Twyla Tharp's Movin' Out.
Nov 18-23
     Cats.
Mar 10-15
     Fiddler on the Roof.
Apr 9-12
     Jesus Christ Superstar.
Selected Events
Sept 26-28
     South Asian Theater Festival, five distinct plays of SouthAsia.
Jan 31
     Cirque Eloizez in Nebbia.
Family Time Events
Jul 18-27
     1776-The Musical, New Jersey YouthTheatre. Ages 12 & up.
Aug 2-3
     Midnight Madness, New Jersey Youth Theatre.Exclusive preview of a developing new musical based on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Ages 13 & up.
Nov 1
     Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, Dallas Children's Theater. Ages 7 & up.
Nov 15-16
     The Velveteen Rabbit, Enchantment Theatre. Ages 6 & up.
Jan 31-
Feb 1
     The Starkeeper, Theatre de l'Oleil. Marionettes, shadow puppets &Japanese Bunraku. Ages 4+.
Feb 28
     The Frog Bride, David Gonzalez. Ages 6 & up.
Mar 14-15
     Madeline &the Bad Hat, ArtsPower. Ages 4 & up.
May 30-31
     Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny, Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia. Ages 3 & up.

New Jersey Repertory Company
Lumia Theatre, 179 Broadway, Long Branch, 732-229-3166. Professional theater presents new plays, classics and staged readings. Senior, student, group discounts.

New Jersey Youth Theatre
(formerly WYACT)
Westfield, NJ, 908-233-3200. Offers professional classes in drama, musical theater, voice and dance from September through mid-May annually. In April holds auditions for its prestigious, free summer program for aspiring young performers and technicians (ages 16-21+), culminating with one or more professional-level productions presented at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), and at other professional New Jersey theaters.
Jul 18-28
     Pulitzer Prize-winning musical "1776," NJPAC's Victoria Theatre. Box Office, 888-466-5722.
Aug 1-3
     Exclusive preview of developing new musical
     "Midnight Madness," based on Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," NJPAC's Victoria Theatre. Box office, 888-466-5722.

Paper Mill Playhouse
Brookside Drive, Millburn, 973-376-4343; 973-379-3636. Professional theater presents musicals, plays, concerts, fall and spring children's theater and school time -performances. Flex pass options, group, sr. and student subscriptions.
2007-08 Season
Student rush tickets may be available the day of performance in person with student ID. On special dates for select shows, receive one free child's ticket with purchase of full price adult ticket.
Jun 4-6
     Little Shop of Horrors, Paper Mill premiere. Family Week July 1-6, children's tickets ( 18 and younger) are half off with purchase of full price adult ticket. 2008-09 Season
Sept 17-
Oct 19
     Oklahoma, Rodgers &Hammerstein.
Nov 5-
Dec 7
     Disney's HighSchool Musical.
Jan 14-
Feb 15
     The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde.
Mar 4-
Apr 5
     Master Class, by Terrence McNally, about opera diva Maria Callas.
Apr 15-
May 17
     1776, musical.
Jan 10-
Jul 12
     The Full Monty.
Children's Theatre Series
Fall
     Call for fall series.

Patriots Theater at the War Memorial
Located on Memorial Dr. in downtown Trenton's historic Capitol Complex, 609-984-8400. Owned by the state of New Jersey, Patriots Theater hosts the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, music, comedy and theatrical events Oct.-May and summer outdoor concert series.

Pax Amicus Castle Theatre
23 Lake Shore Dr. (Exit 26 Rt. 80), Budd Lake, 973-691-2100. Year round season of Broadway and off-Broadway revivals; professional productions of Shakespeare's plays for students; comics and other performing artists; and a season of theater for children. School time performances.
Selected Shows
Thru
Aug 1
     The Wizard of Oz.
Aug 2-23
     Sleeping Beauty.
Sept 6-27
     Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues Live.
Oct 4-25
     Aladdin.
Nov 7
     Edgar Allan Poe.
Nov 28-
Dec 20
     Frosty the Snowman.
Dec 6-20
     It's A Wonderful Life.

Plays-in-the-Park
Stephen J. Capestro Theater, Rt. 1S (1 block south of Menlo ParkMall), Edison, 732-548-2884. Middlesex County Department of Parks &Recreation's community theater presents summer outdoor and indoor performances at Roosevelt Park and annual holiday show at the State Theatre in New Brunswick (also see Arts in the Park).
Dec 26-28
Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. State Theatre, 15 Livingston Ave., New Bruns-wick, 732-246-7469.

Playwrights Theatre
33 Green Village Rd., POBox 1295, Madison, 973-514-1787. Professional theater devoted to the development of new plays and writers for the stage. World-premiere productions; free new play roundtable readings; extensive year-round educational programs for young people and adults, including special teen classes and classes for teachers (also see Enrichment &Camps).

Pollak Theatre
Monmouth University Performing Arts, 400 Cedar Ave., West Long Branch, 732-571-3483. Sept.-May season of contemporary concerts and special events, dance, theater, Running Rabbit Family Theatre and classical series.
Jul 22-23
Treasure Island, RunningRabbit Family Theatre. 10:30am.

Raritan Valley Community College
Edward Nash Theatre, Rt. 28 & Lamington Rd. (Rt. 78 exit 26 or Rt. 22W), North Branch, 908-725-3420. Major Artists Series, Sunday Sampler Series for younger children, FamilySeries for children ages 8 and older and their families, and School-Time performances. See additional listings under Music &Dance. Student & series discounts. Call for new season brochure.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey
F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, Drew University campus, 36 Madison Ave., Madison, 973-408-5600. Professional theater dedicated to the pre-sentation of Shakespeare and other -classic masterworks. Subscrip-tions, FlexPass, student rates and $10 -student rush tickets available for May thru Dec. -season. Pre-performance talks and post-performance -discussions on select dates. Shakespeare Live!, one-hour -production -followed by discussion for grades 3-12, available to tour schools, libraries and other organ-izations, 973-408-3964.
Main Stage
Thru
Jun 22
     madeus, by Peter Shaffer.
Jul 2-27
     King Lear, by William Shakespeare.
Aug 6-31
     Private Lives, by Noel Coward.
Sept 10-
Oct 5
     A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams.
Oct 15-
Nov 16
     Romeo &Juliet, by William Shakespeare.
Dec 3-28
     The Winter's Tale, by William Shakespeare.
Outdoor Stage
Jun 18-20
     The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged), a rollercoaster ride through the Bard's cannon on the outdoor stage.

Shea Center for Performing Arts
William Paterson University, 300 Pompton Rd., Wayne, 973-720-2371. Arts hotline: 973-720-ARTS. Theater, world music, folk, jazz, classical, new music, family shows and special events presented Sept.-May.

ShowKids Invitational Theatre (SKIT)
Shows at Voorhees High School, 256 County Rd. 513, Glen Gardner, 908-638-5959. Non-profit family community theater group was founded to provide a theater experience for children in Hunterdon County and give the community professional quality children's theater. Tickets $10-17, seats sell out quickly. Costumes and props available for rent.
Jun 8
Disney's High School Musical.

Somerset Valley Playhouse
Rt. 514 (689 Amwell Rd.), Neshanic Station, 908-369-7469. Year 'round community theater staged in a 1900's 2-room schoolhouse.
Main Stage
Jun 13-29
     Wonder of the World, by David Lindsay-Abaire.
Jul 25-
Aug 10
     Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge.
Sept 5-28
     The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
Oct 24-
Nov 9
     Angel Street, by Patrick Hamilton.
Dec 5-21
     The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

South Orange Performing Arts Center
One SOPACWay, South Orange, 973-275-1114. Intimate 415-seat theater features performances by major artists in dance, folk/rock, big band, jazz and classical music, theater, family events and performances presented by the Seton Hall University Arts Council and Battery Factory Theater in residence. Youth theater program.
Main Stage Show
Jul 11-20
     Children of Eden, Battery Factory Theater.

State Theatre
15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, 732-246-7469. Full schedule of Broadway, music, dance, opera, symphony and variety events plus a children's series. Student matinees (open to students &general public), artist-in residence program, Symphony Scholars program, and professional development workshops for teachers. For education programs, call 732-247-7200, ext. 534. Also see Music &Dance listings.
Selected Events 2008-09 Season
Nov 30
     Annie.
Feb 6
     STREB Extreme Action.
Feb 16
     Goodnight Moon & TheRunaway Bunny, Mermaid Theater of Nova Scotia.
Mar 27-28
     Hairspray.
Apr 4
     The Mikado, Opera A La Carte.
Apr 5
     National Acrobats of China.
Apr 23
     King Henry V, The Acting Co.
May 1-2
     The 25th Annual Putnam County SpellingBee.

Stony Hill Players
Performances at Oakes Outreach Center, 120 Morris Ave., Summit, 908-277-1732. Community theater produces three shows for fall, winter and spring seasons. Student discounts, subscription rates.

The Strollers
Burgdorff Cultural Center, 10 Durand Rd., Maplewood, 973-761-8453. Community theater presents three plays and one children's production during Nov.-May season. Student discounts, subscription rates.

Studio Playhouse
14 Alvin Place, Montclair, 973-744-9752. Community theater presents Dec.-May season with main stage and children's -productions.
Main Stage
Performances Thurs.-Sat. 8pm, Sun. 3pm.
Thru
Jun 14
     The Laramie Project, drama by Moises Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theater Project.
Sept 12-27
     The Secret Garden, musical. $22.
Children's Theatre
Nov 15-23
     The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood, Monty
Nov 23
     Pythonesque retelling of the classic story. 1:30 &3:30pm Sat. &Sun. $8.

The Summit Playhouse
10 New England Ave., Summit, 908-273-2192. Community theater presents three shows a year and sponsors Kaleidoscope Theatre, a summer youth theater program.
Jul 18-27
Willy Wonka Jr., Kaleidoscope Theatre.

Surflight Theatre
Beach &Engleside Aves., Beach Haven, 609-492-9477. Presents well-known children's stories and fully staged professional musical theater all summer to vacationers and residents of Long Beach Island. Ice cream concoctions at the ShowPlace Ice Cream Parlour next door are named after Broadway show tunes and served by singing and dancing waiters and waitresses. (609-492-0018 for seating info.)

The Theater Project
1033 Springfield Ave., Union, 908-659-5189. Union County College's professional theater company presents April-Oct season, new play series, family program and hosts annual young playwrights competition.

Tri-State Actors Theater
Historic Crescent Theater, 74 Main St., Sussex, 973-875-2950. Professional regional theater presents MarchDec. season, New Play Reading Series and hosts the Tri-State Actors Youth Company, a theater training program for students.
Jun 12-
Jul 6
     The Star-Spangled Girl, by Neil Simon.
Aug 6-23
     Charlotte's Web, musical, Youth Acting Company.
Oct 8-
Nov 2
     The Woman in Black, a very scary ghost play.
Dec 3-21
     A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens.
SpecialEvents
Jul 12
     The Lost Ramblers, bluegrass.
Sept 27
     The Amazing Guitar of Glenn Zervas.

Two River Theater Company
21 Bridge Ave., Red Bank, 732-345-1400. Sept.-June season presents theater, dance, classical artists, family series and Renegade Readers Theater, a staged reading series starring high school students. Professional development; outreach programs. Senior and student discounts offered.

12 Miles West Theatre Company
Historic Center Theatre, 562 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield, 973-259-9187. New Jersey's first professional resident theater company is dedicated to presenting original and lesser known works as well as innovative interpretations of classic plays. Sept.-May season includes main stage productions, staged readings, guest artist series and children's theater. Theater arts program for children, teens and adults, 973-566-9700.Discounts for theater students and professionals on Thursday performances.

Union County Arts Center
1601 Irving St., Rahway, 732-499-8226. Concerts, jazz, comedy, theater, family and children events are presented in a 1,300 seat vintage 1920's auditorium. Student/sr. discounts. Summer theater programs for ages 5-18.
Aug 1-2
Gazillion Bubble Show with Fan Yang.

Villagers Theater
Franklin Twp. Municipal Complex, 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset, 732-873-2710. Community theater presents Main Stage, Black Box (adult themes), teen and children's productions Oct.-June. Summer theater arts program; children's parties.
Mainstage Productions
Jun 6-29
     Annie Get Your Gun.
Jul 11-
Oct 18
     Aida, Elton John &Tim Rice.
Sept 6-14
     Disney's 101 Dalmatians.
Sept 12-28
     The Odd Couple, by Neil Simon.
Nov 7-23
     Jekyll &Hyde.

Westfield Community Players
1000 North Ave. W., Westfield. Box office, 908-232-1221, opens 1 week before show. Office, 908-232-9568. Community theater presents Oct.-May season.

What Exit? Theatre Company
Maplewood, 973-763-4029. Professional theater company dedicated to producing contemporary comedies and comic dramas. Student rates available. The Performance Classroom offers dance, choreography, musical theater and audition technique classes for ages 6-18 as well as summer theater camp and dance and comedy classes for adults.

Westminster Arts Center
Corner of Franklin &Fremont Sts., Bloomfield, 973-748-9008 ext. 279. Sept.-May season consisting of Saturday morning/afternoon shows for the entire family presented by professional musical theater and puppet show companies. Adult productions of lesser known musicals are presented by 4th Wall Theatre. Student/sr. discounts offered.
4th Wall Theatre 2008-09 Season
Oct 3-18
     Dessa Rose, musical based on novel by Sherley Anne Williams. NJpremiere.
Jan 30-
Feb 8
     I Do! I Do!, by Tom Jones &Harvey Schmidt.
Apr 2-4
     TBA, Musical-in-Development Stage Series.
Jun 5-20
     The Wild Party, by Michael John LaChiusa and George C. Wolfe. Adult subject matter.

Women's Theater Company
In residence at Parsippany Arts Center, 1130 Knoll Rd., Lake Hiawatha, 973-316-3033. Professional theater company dedicated to development, promotion and inclusion of women in all aspects of theater production. Oct.-May season. School touring productions and theater workshops available.

Young People's Theatre
Performances 1pm at Terrill Middle School, Terrill Rd., Scotch Plains. Series of three children's performances Jan.-Mar. Tickets available at door.