Stages Festival
Audience at the Stages Festival
Luna Stage Company's production of Mi Casa Tu Casa
Teaching artist Lauren Moran Mills with young child at a theatre workshop
Mask Making Workshop
Children enjoying a performance at the Stages Festival
Now in its 18th year, the New Jersey Theatre Alliance's Stages Festival offers free and discounted performances, workshops, play readings and behind-the-scenes events for all ages every March. Events are presented by professional Equity theatres; some take place at their theatres, and some take place in libraries, community centers, performing arts houses, senior centers and more.
Join us, and bring your family and your friends, to experience the quality, inspiration and richness that New Jersey's professional theatres have to offer.
The Stages Festival is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
For a full listing of events online: Go to The Stages Festival website, view an electronic version of our print listing (below), or download and print a copy of our brochure calendar below under "download."
The following list reflects changes to the printed calendar.
Due to inclement weather, If You Give a Pig a Pancake at Vineland Public Library scheduled for 3/3/15 will take place on Tue, 04/21/2015.
Due to the inclement weather tonight's, 3/3/15 New Plays New Jersey reading at the Bickford Theatre will be rescheduled.
A Pocket Full of Rhymes at the Jackson Branch of the Ocean County Library on Thursday, 03/05/2015 has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience.
A Pocket Full of Rhymes at the Richmond Avenue School on Friday, 03/13/2015 has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day at The Academy of Our Lady of Peace Saturday, 03/14/2015 has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience.
New Voices: New Works presented by the American Theater Group will be presented on Monday, 3/16. Please disregard the date in the printed calendar. Reserve by phone: (732) 499-8226.
The Newark Writers Festival at NJPAC presented by Playwrights Theatre will be presented on Thursday, 3/19. Please disregard the date in the printed calendar. Reserve by phone: 973-514-1787.
Theater: As American As Apple Pie presented by the East Lynne Theater Company will take place at the East Lynne Theatre Company at 500 Hughes Street Cape May, NJ 08024. Please disregard the location information in the printed calendar. Reserve by phone: 609-884-5898 or reserve by email: eastlynneco@aol.com
Schoolhouse Rock at the Stony Brook Elementary School on Friday, 03/20/2015 has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience.
A Pocket Full of Rhymes at the Point Pleasant Borough Branch of the Ocean County Library on Saturday, 03/21/2015 has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience.
The performance of SchoolHouse Rock scheduled for 3/23/15 at the Brick Branch of the Ocean County Library will be replaced with Pushcart Players' production of Stone Soup and Other Stories.
The performance of Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day scheduled for 3/26/15 at the Berkelely Branch of the Ocean County Library will be replaced with The Growing Stage: The Children's Theatre of New Jersey's production of Tales from The Garden-A Celebration of the History and Folklore of NJ.
The performance of Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day scheduled for 3/28/15 at the Long Beach Island Branch of the Ocean County Library will be replaced with George Street Playhouse's production of Austin the Unstoppable.
The Stages Festival was a truly great experience -- one very unique to my life.
-Patron, Elenora B., Sussex, NJ
The kids love the shows and can't wait for another.
-Patron, Ann G. Morris Plains, NJ
A wonderful performance and cultural experience.
-Laura Mellor, Hillsborough Public Library
The mission of the Giggles Children's Theater is to help improve the attitudes and outcomes of underserved pediatric patients at St. Joesph's Children's Hosptial. With its superior quality productions, The Stages Festival is an integral annual partner in helping us fulfill this mission which not only brightens the spirits of sick children, but also brings excellent in theater to the city of Paterson.
-Marie Caliendo, Giggles Children's Theater @ St. Joseph's Children's Hospital
New Jersey Theatre Alliance is always looking for new venues and new partners to help spread the love of professional theater to all of New Jersey. If you would like to learn more about becoming a Venue Partner, contact Robert Carr.
While we make every effort to have the show go on, in some cases, a performance must be cancelled due to weather. If you have questions about a possible weather cancellation, check in here on the site or call the venue for updates.
