All The Shore’s A Stage

The Jersey coast offers more than just sun and sand. Use our guide and you’ll be ready to take in top-notch theater—from Broadway productions to children’s shows and outdoor classics.

Cape May Stage's Robert Shackleton Playhouse.
Courtesy of Cape May Stage.

Algonquin Arts Theatre
Founded in 1991, the nonprofit company presents dramatic and musical theater, dance, concerts and film in its 540-seat venue. 173 Main Street, Manasquan (732-528-9211; algonquinarts.org)
June 25: Pinkalicious
June 8-10, 15-17: Nunsense
July 29-31, August 5-8: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Avalon Players

At the Avalon Elementary School, the children’s theatrical group founded in 1968 draws on the talents of more than 100 children from the South Jersey area, ages 6 to 16. 32nd Street and Ocean Drive, Avalon (609-967-7544; avalonplayers.org)
August 4-7: School House Rock!

Axelrod Performing Arts Center

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Monmouth County presents a Rodgers and Hammerstein summer classic with a full orchestra in its 520-seat center in Deal. 100 Grant Avenue, Deal Park (732-531-9100; axelrodartscenter.com)
July 13-24: South Pacific

Cape May Stage

The professional Equity theater company, founded in 1988, performs in the 110-seat Robert Shackleton Playhouse, a former 19th-century church. (See Culture Corner, page 21.) Bank and Lafayette streets, Cape May (609-884-1341; capemaystage.com)
May 11-June 18: Say Goodnight Gracie
June 22-July 30: The Understudy
August 3-September 10: Steel Magnolias

East Lynne Theater Company
Founded in 1980, the company performs its battle-of-the-sexes-themed mainstage season at the First Presbyterian Church. 500 Hughes Street, Cape May (609-884-5898; eastlynnetheater.org)
June 15-July 23: He and She
July 5: Little Women
July 27-Sept 3: The World of Dorothy Parker

First Avenue Playhouse
The 23-year-old nonprofit’s shows include coffee and dessert, with special dinner packages available at three local restaurants. 123 First Avenue, Atlantic Highlands (732-291-7552; firstavenueplayhouse.com)
May 27-June 11: Fast Girls
June 17-July 2: Night of One Acts
July 8-30: Old Ringers
August 5-27: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Monmouth University
The private seaside university presents summer performances at its Shadow Lawn Stage at the Woods Theatre. 400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch (732-263-6889; monmouth.edu/arts)
June 23-July 9: Scapino
July 14-31: Molly Sweeney

New Jersey Repertory Company
For 13 years, this nonprofit theater company has focused on new works, such as this summer’s bio-play about the comic actress Judy Holliday, making its New Jersey premiere. 179 Broadway, Long Branch (732-229-3166; njrep.org)
July 7-August 14: Just in Time: The Judy Holliday Story

Ocean City Theatre Company
The regional nonprofit company produces three to five professional musicals a year at locations in Ocean City and Cape May Court House. Two of this summer’s works—The Music Man and Annie—are produced in conjunction with Ocean City Pops Orchestra. 501 Atlantic Avenue, Ocean City (609-525-9300; oceancitytheatrecompany.com)
June 29: Broadway on the Boardwalk
July 3-6: The Music Man
August 3, 10 and 17: Schoolhouse Rock Live
August 16-18: Annie
August 26-27: Godspell

Our Gang Players
The nonprofit community troupe enters its 34th season with more than 300 members of all ages, performing at the OceanFirst Theater at the Stafford Township Arts Center, which seats up to 808. 1000 McKinley Avevue, Manahawkin (609-597-0553; ourgang.org)
August 21-26: Oliver

Phoenix Productions
The nonprofit community theater company stages full-scale revivals of Broadway musicals at Red Bank’s historic Count Basie Theatre. Its summer production, Hairspray, also will be staged for one night at the Strand Theatre in Lakewood. 9 Monmouth Street, Red Bank (732-842-9000; countbasietheatre.org); 400 Clifton Avenue, Lakewood (732-367-7789; strand.org)
July 15-24: Hairspray at Count Basie Theatre
July 30: Hairspray at Strand Theatre

ReVision Theatre
The nonprofit professional company reinvents classics, such as this summer’s premieres, at the historic Carousel House on the boardwalk in Asbury Park. 700 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park (732-455-3059; revisiontheatre.org)
July 7-July 24: Xanadu
August 4-28: Spring Awakening

Spring Lake Shakespeare in the Park
The nonprofit company produces free outdoor productions of Shakespearean plays in Spring Lake’s Devine Park. This summer, the company hopes to expand with two performances in Asbury Park’s Sunset Park. Fifth and Warren avenues, Spring Lake (shakespearebythesea.net)
July 28-30; August 4-7: The Comedy of Errors

Spring Lake Community House and Theatre

Since 1978, the company has been putting on six professional musicals, comedies and dramas per season in an old-fashioned Tudor-style home created for World War I veterans. Proceeds from each opening night are donated to a different area charity. 300 Madison Avenue, Spring Lake (732-449-4530; springlaketheatre.com)
July 7-23: Cats
August 11-27: The Sound of Music

Surflight Theatre
The 62nd mainstage season features stars from film, television and Broadway. The professional company also presents theater for children, with different shows scheduled throughout the summer, including Alice in Wonderland (June 21 to July 15) and Cinderella (July 7 to August 4). Engleside & Beach avenues, Beach Haven (609-492-9477; surflight.org)
May 28-June 19: Rent
June 22-July 15: Grease
July 14-July 17: Love Letters
July 19-July 31: Art
August 4-21: The Female Odd Couple
August 24-September 4: I Do! I Do!

Two River Theatre Company
Founded in 1994, the company moved to Red Bank in 2005 after completion of its state-of-the art, 350-seat venue. 21 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank (732-345-1400; trtc.org)
Through June 5: Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris

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