Previews for Plays Taking Place December 23-29, 2025

Here are previews of plays taking place from December 23-29, 2025 including a look at productions currently being presented and those coming soon. New Jersey Stage covers Equity, community, college, and high school theatre. Check back every week for the weekly theatre preview. Click on the title to go to the full preview. Jump to Featured Events, Event Previews, Event Listings, Coming Soon.

Plays listed here are mostly previews created by New Jersey Stage, but you may send press releases to [email protected] to have your events considered for previews. There is no cost for preview articles. Featured listings are found in the NJ Stage calendar, reserved for advertisers, and provided with individual event pages for every performance. Event pages are available for $10 per event (multiple performances count as a single event). Event pages are also included with every banner ad purchase. Banner ads are available from $50-$100 per event and can be purchased up to 3 months in advance.

FEATURED EVENTS

Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”  (MADISON, NJ) — The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) presents It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, running December 3-28, 2025 at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre on the campus of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. This brings the beloved holiday classic to life in the format of a 1940s radio broadcast — complete with microphones, sound effects, and a talented ensemble of actors. Click here for an interview with the actors who portray George and Mary Bailey.

Cameron Knight Leads the Cast as Ebenezer Scrooge in McCarter Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol”  (PRINCETON, NJ) — A holiday tradition for 45 years, McCarter Theatre Center’s annual production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol returns December 9–28, 2025. Adapted and directed by Lauren Keating, this year’s production offers a fresh perspective on the classic story of redemption and generosity. Cameron Knight leads the cast as Ebenezer Scrooge, with music direction by Cris Frisco and choreographer Emily Maltby. Click here for a video feature about the production.

Middlesex County’s Plays-in-the-Park presents “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at State Theatre  (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) — Every December, Middlesex County’s Plays-in-the-Park moves from its home at the Stephen J. Capestro Theatre in Edison and travels to State Theatre New Jersey, lock, stock, and camel, to do their annual production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. This year there are four performances from December 27-28, 2025.

EVENT PREVIEWS

Quintessence Theatre presents “The Pirates of Penzance”  (PHILADELPHIA, PA) — Quintessence Theatre continues its 16th season with The Pirates of Penzance, the beloved comic opera by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, from November 19, 2025 to January 4, 2026. Directed by Quintessence Artistic Director Alex Burns, the resplendent and hilarious story follows a band of pirates who go to battle with the British bobbies over the hearts of a bevy of beautiful Cornish maidens, with only a Major- General and Queen Victoria to stand in their way.

Cape May Stage presents the World Premiere of “Let’s Catch Santa”  (CAPE MAY, NJ) — Cape May Stage presents the World Premiere of Let’s Catch Santa from November 19 through December 28, 2025. This is a new holiday play by Dan McCormick that combines magic, humor, hope and the Christmas spirit. The production is directed by Roy Steinberg.

Paper Mill Playhouse presents Disney’s “Frozen”  (MILLBURN, NJ) — Paper Mill Playhouse presents Disney’s Frozen from November 26 through Sunday, January 11, 2026. This musical transforms the magic of the beloved animated film to the stage in an enchanting adventure. When sisters Elsa and Anna are torn apart by a mysterious secret power, they each set out on their own journey of courage, self-acceptance, and discovery of love in all its forms.

Arden Children’s Theatre presents “A Wrinkle In Time”  (PHILADELPHIA, PA) — This winter, Arden Children’s Theatre invites families to journey across time and space with an exciting adaptation of Madeline L’Engle’s beloved book, A Wrinkle in Time. Adapted by John Glore, winner of the Newbery Medal, A Wrinkle in Time has inspired generations of readers, and even a major motion picture, since its publication. Now, the Arden brings this timeless classic to its stage for the first time. The production runs from December 3 through January 25, 2026.