Crossroads Theatre Company News

The fall theatre season is in full swing and that means it's time to get your tickets, plan a meal out, and enjoy the fabulous offerings in the Garden State. From north to south, and east to west, there's musical theatre, drama, comedy, music, dance, and so much more.

George Street Playhouse has a new home at the brand new NBPAC (New Brunswick Performing Arts Center) which also serves as the resident home for American Repertory Ballet, Crossroads Theatre Company and the Mason Gross School of the Arts. The new cultural venue opened with an invitational gala on September 4th, featuring a performance from George Street Playhouse's upcoming production of LAST DAYS OF SUMMER, and the official ribbon cutting took place in a public ceremony the following day. In attendance were New Brunswick Mayor James M. Cahill and other local dignitaries.

The Crossroads Theatre Company is presenting a stunning production of 'Paul Robeson,' written by Phillip Hayes Dean. The show is wonderfully directed by the Theatre's Producing Artistic Director, Marshall Jones III and the role of Robeson is mastered by accomplished actor, Nathaniel Stampley. His powerful performance is complemented by the outstanding musicianship of Nat Adderley Jr.

Paul Robeson a?" a play examining the life of the famous scholar, athlete, entertainer and activist who graduated from Rutgers 100 years ago a?" is be the first production of the upcoming season of the Crossroads Theatre Company as well as Crossroads' first play in the new New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC).

The New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC) marked the opening of the world-class performing arts center in an event on Wednesday evening. The highly anticipated opening of the $172 million, state-of-the-art performing arts center officially raised its curtain in a star-studded evening with members of New Jersey's cultural arts, academic and governmental community. The new performing arts center will transform New Brunswick's downtown cultural arts district, setting a new standard for performing arts excellence throughout the Northeast.

George Street Playhouse has a new home at the brand new NBPAC (New Brunswick Performing Arts Center) which also serves as the resident home for American Repertory Ballet, Crossroads Theatre Company and the Mason Gross School of the Arts. The new cultural venue is set to open this evening (Wednesday) with an invitational gala at 6 pm at the Elizabeth Ross Johnson Theater, the larger of the two state-of-the-art theatres at NBPAC. This special event will feature two musical numbers performed by the stars of George Street Playhouse's upcoming engagement of the new musical LAST DAYS OF SUMMER, based on the best-selling novel by Steve Kruger and directed by Jeff Calhoun (GREASE, NEWSIES). NBPAC marks a new era in George Street Playhouse's esteemed history of bringing world-class productions to New Jersey audiences.

The upcoming season of Crossroads Theatre Company's three plays and Genesis Festival of new works was recently featured at their 2019/2020 announcement at The Heldrich in New Brunswick.

Carter Calvert, the Broadway actress-singer who is currently wowing audiences at Bucks County Playhouse as the iconic country music legend in a?oeAlways .. Patsy Cline,a?? will present her one-woman show, a?oeViva La Divaa?? at the historic playhouse on Wednesday, September 4 at 7:30 pm.

Premiere Stages will present the New Jersey premiere of Rohina Malik's Joseph Jefferson Award-nominated play Yasmina's Necklace at Kean University in Union September 5-22. Previously presented at the 16th Street Theater and Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Yasmina's Necklace tells the story of Abdul Samee. Abdul's father is Iraqi and mother is Puerto Rican - but if you ask him, he'll say he's Italian.

Award-winning actor Denzel Washington will be the recipient of Crossroads Theatre Company's inaugural Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee Living Legends Award at its signature fundraising event, on October 19, 2019, the Crossroads Theatre Board announced today.  

Two River Theater presents Oo-Bla-Dee, written by Regina Taylor, featuring original lyrics by Taylor and original music by composer/orchestrator Diedre L. Murray, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. The choreography is by Kenneth L. Roberson and the music direction is by George Caldwell, with vocal arrangements by Carol Maillard.

People's Light presents Mud Row, a world premiere play by recent Tony Award nominee Dominique Morisseau (Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations). Two generations of sisters navigate class, race, love, and family on "Mud Row," an area in the East End of West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Critically acclaimed drama Too Heavy for Your Pocket, winner of the prestigious 2017 Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award, will open at George Street Playhouse on April 23 and close the Playhouse's 2018-19 season as it prepares to move to its permanent new home at The New Brunswick Performing Arts Center this fall.

On his day off from appearing as Hermes in the Broadway production of Anais Mitchell's Hadestown at the Walter Kerr Theatre, two-time Tony nominee and Emmy winner Andre De Shields headed to the Victoria Theater at NJPAC in Newark to celebrate his company of fabulous singers and dancers under his direction in the Crossroads Theatre Company and NJPAC's co-production of Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies. Scroll down for photos from the party.

Symphony Siren and Broadway Diva N'Kenge (Motown: The Musical and Sondheim and Sondheim), is currently in Sophisticated Ladies, directed by Emmy Award Winner and multiple Tony Award Nominee Andre De Shields with choreography by Kimberly Schafer alongside other Broadway veterans and young stars.

The New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC), City of New Brunswick, and George Street Playhouse today announced The Elizabeth Ross Johnson Theater and The Arthur Laurents Theater named after two George Street Playhouse benefactors. The $7.75 million in gifts, the largest in George Street Playhouse history, strengthens NBPAC as the premier center for the performing arts. NBPAC, a $172 million redevelopment initiative that will transform New Brunswick's Downtown Cultural Arts District, opens its doors to the public this fall.

Two-time Tony nominee and Emmy winner Andre De Shields, currently in rehearsal for the Broadway production of Anais Mitchell's Hadestown, is simultaneously at the helm of Crossroads Theatre Company and New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)'s co-production of Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies at NJPAC, 1 Center Street in Newark, Thursday, March 21 - Sunday, March 24, 2019. Click here to purchase tickets.

Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison's first novel comes to life at the Wells Theatre. The Bluest Eye, directed by Khanisha Foster, follows the story of young Pecola in 1940's Ohio who is pregnant at her father's hands. She is taken in by a loving family and cared for by brilliant and kind sisters, Frieda and Claudia. The character-driven play, both poetic and daringly funny, illuminates the destructive powers of racism and class dynamics while exploring the power of community through exquisite storytelling. The Bluest Eye is produced in collaboration with Norfolk State University Theatre Company.

Andr De Shields directs this high-stepping revival for the 21st century, starring a dazzling cast of Broadway talent and featuring an onstage band well-versed in Duke's greatest music at New Jersey Performing Arts Center 1 Center Street, Newark NJ Victoria Theater $69 - $89

Crossroads Theatre Company and New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) are presenting a co-production of Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies at NJPAC, 1 Center Street in Newark, Thursday, March 21 - Sunday, March 24, 2019. Click here to purchase tickets.