Theatre & Dance

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Theatre & Dance

Spring 2025 Musical

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Weekend 1:

Friday, March 21, 2025, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 22, 2025, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 23, 2025, 3:00 p.m.

Weekend 2:

Friday, March 28, 2025, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 29, 2025, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 30, 2025, 3:00 p.m.

Margaret Williams Theatre

General Admission: $25 | Students/Seniors: $15

Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney animated feature, The Hunchback of Notre Dame showcases the film鈥檚 Academy Award-nominated score, as well as new songs by Menken and Schwartz. Peter Parnell鈥檚 new book embraces story theatre and features verbatim passages from Hugo鈥檚 gothic novel.

The musical begins as the bells of Notre Dame sound through the famed cathedral in fifteenth-century Paris. Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer who longs to be "Out There," observes all of Paris reveling in the Feast of Fools. Held captive by his devious caretaker, the archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo, he escapes for the day and joins the boisterous crowd, only to be treated cruelly by all but the beautiful Romani woman, Esmeralda. Quasimodo isn鈥檛 the only one captivated by her free spirit, though 鈥 the handsome Captain Phoebus and Frollo are equally enthralled. As the three vie for her attention, Frollo embarks on a mission to destroy the Roma 鈥 and it鈥檚 up to Quasimodo to save them all.

A sweeping score and powerful story make The Hunchback of Notre Dame an instant classic. Audiences will be swept away by the magic of this truly unforgettable musical.

Interested in more musical productions? Keep up to date with our latest productions on  and !

Past Events F21-S24

Sweeney Todd Musical banner announcement November 2021

Friday, November 19, 2021 at 8:00 P.M.
Saturday, November 20, 2021 at 8:00 P.M.
Sunday, November 21, 2021 at 3:00 P.M. 

Location: West Side Theatre

General Admission: $25 | Students/Seniors: $10
MDT Students Free

**All Tickets Must be Purchased in Advance.**

***All attendees must adhere to the NJCU Theater COVID-19 Protocols***

One of the most infamous and dark musicals ever written, Sweeney Todd is the unsettling tale of a Victorian-era barber who returns home to London after fifteen years of exile to take revenge on the lecherous judge who framed him, ravaged his young wife, and ruined his life. When revenge eludes him, Sweeney swears vengeance on the entire human race, murdering as many people as he can, while his business associate Mrs. Lovett bakes the bodies into meat pies and sells them to the unsuspecting public. Perhaps composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim鈥檚 most perfect score, Sweeney Todd is lush, operatic and full of soaring beauty, pitch-black comedy, and stunning terror. It鈥檚 one of the signal achievements of the American musical theater of the last fifty years, and it鈥檚 the high watermark of Sondheim鈥檚 six remarkable collaborations with director Harold Prince.

Interested in more musical productions? Keep up to date with our latest productions on  and !

Past Dates: November 12, 13 & 14


Sweeney Todd Company

Principal Cast

Sweeney Todd: Jordan Owens

Mrs. Lovett: Caylen Enriquez Montemayor

Anthony Hope: Damon Porter

Johanna: Jessica Garcia

Tobias Ragg: Justin Reed

Judge Turpin: Byron Flores, Jr.

The Beadle: Joshua Rosenthal

Beggar Woman: Emily Tunney

Adolfo Pirelli: Jason Concepcion

Jonas Fogg: Adam Halecki

Ensemble

Moses Garcia
Manuel Encarnacion
Qawiyya Haqq
Katie Harrigan
Jonathan Jarvis
Sarah Kay Russell
Kaileen Santiago
Ryanne Soriano
Gabby Stanowski
Olivia Ventura

Production Team

Director: Marc G. Dalio

Musical Directors: Amy Duran and John DiPinto

Costume Designer: Deanna Smith

Scenic and Lighting Design: Maruti Evans

Sound and Projection Design: Paul Gargiulo

Technical Director: Duane McDevitt

Assistant to the Director: Danette Sheppard-Vaughn

Production Stage Manager: Emily Niemeyer

Assistant Stage Managers: Linda Gomes and Ivelisse Segovia

Social Media Officer: Simone Briscoe

Pippin at NJCU (2022.03)

Weekend 1:
Friday, March 25, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. 
Saturday, March 26, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. 
Sunday, March 27, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. 

Weekend 2:
Friday, April 1, 2022 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. 
Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. 

Location: Margaret Williams Theatre

There's magic to do when Pippin learns the true meaning of glory, war, love, and fulfillment in Stephen Schwartz's iconic and unforgettable award-winning musical masterpiece.  Winner of four 2013 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival, this updated version of Pippin continues to captivate and appeal to the young at heart throughout the world.

Pippin is in search of the secret to true happiness and fulfillment.  Lead by the Leading Player and a troupe of actors, dancers and performers, Pippin is guided through the glories of the battlefield, the temptations of the flesh and the intrigues of political power.  In the end, though, Pippin finds that happiness lies not in extraordinary endeavors, but rather in the unextraordinary moments that happen every day.  Fulfillment comes not in 15 minutes of fame, but in living one鈥檚 life in the present and sharing that life with those who matter.

PIPPIN CAST

PRINCIPALS

Leading Player: Qawiyya Haqq

Pippin: Damon Porter

Charlemagne: Jordan Owens

Fastrada: Jenna Rotondo

Lewis: Byron Flores, Jr.

Berthe: Danette Sheppard-Vaughn

Catherine: Sydney Fournier

Shadow: Daniela Guido

Shadow: Aliya Jonov

Shadow: Laura Mendes

 

Ensemble

Aydan Alpdyildiz

Simone Briscoe

Alex Builes

Emily Chiasson

Jason Concepcion (U/S Pippin, Lewis)

Manny Encarnacion (U/S Charlemagne)

Caylen Enriquez-Montemayor

Jessica Garcia

Moses Garcia

Katie Harrigan

Kennedy Kandi

Bersabe Martinez (U/S Fastrada)

Lexylee Martinez

Perla Martinez

Joshua Rosenthal

Sarah Kay Russell (U/S Berthe)

Faith Shover

Ryanne Soriano (U/S Catherine)

Gabby Stanowski

Kayla Stewart (U/S Leading Player)

 

SWINGS

Taylor Eckerman

October Gomes

Kaileen Santiago                 

Emily Tunney

Juliette Vanneste

Olivia Ventura

Actor ins Oscar Wao with arm extended to his right

Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.
Virtual event with a recorded performance and live post-show talkback

Literature to Life stage presentation of
THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO 
Based on the novel by Junot Diaz
Adaptation and Direction: Elise Thoron
Performed by Kelvin Grullon

 | Tickets: $8 single | $50 for full class | $Pay what you can*
*It is our goal to share arts programming with our community. We thank you for any support you are able to give. 
Tickets can also be purchased by contacting Boxoffice@njcu.edu

This thrilling adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel chronicles the life of Oscar, an overweight science-fiction enthusiast who dreams of becoming the Dominican J. R. R. Tolkien.

Appropriate for high school and college ages | Study guide available upon request.

More Information

A Photo of Actor in Latehomecomer

Wednesday, May 18, 10:00 a.m.
Virtual event with a filmed performance and live post-show talkback

Literature to Life presentation of
The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir
By Kao Kalia Yang
Performed by Gaosong Heu
Adapted by Aurea Tomeski & Elise Thoron

Directed by Elise Thoron
Based on the novel The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir by Kao Kalia Yang, 漏 2008, published by Coffee House Press

The story follows her journey from a quiet, reticent student struggling to speak English while facing racial discrimination, to a self-empowered young woman claiming her voice to tell the untold story of her people.

Appropriate for elementary, middle, high school, and college ages | Study guide available upon request.

More Information

A Chorus Line

Margaret Williams Theatre

 

First Weekend

 

Friday, March 17th 2023 @ 7:30pm

Saturday, March 18th 2023 @ 7:30pm

Sunday, March 19th 2023 @ 3:00pm

 

Second Weekend

Friday, March 24th 2023 @ 7:30pm

Saturday, March 25th 2023 @ 7:30pm

Sunday, March 26th 2023 @ 3:00pm

A Chorus Line examines one day in the life of a dancer, vying for a spot in the chorus of a Broadway musical. After the first round of cuts, each dancer is asked to speak, personally, about themselves. Discomfort opens into revelation, confession leads to redemption, and within the bright, outwardly homogenous chorus, the audience begins to see each dancer鈥檚 individuality. Based on real Broadway dancers鈥 stories, compiled by dancer and choreographer Michael Bennett, and with an award-winning score by Marvin Hamlisch, A Chorus Line is a funny, heartbreaking, and refreshingly honest journey through these stories of strength, determination, and fortitude on the path to artistic fulfillment.

** A Chorus Line contains moderate language and adult themes and is recommended for ages 12 and up. ** 

Nunsense Image

West Side Theatre

Thursday, April 27th @ 7:30 pm

Friday, April 28th @ 7:30 pm

Saturday, April 29th @ 7:30 pm

Sunday, April 30th @ 3:00 pm

Nunsense begins when the Little Sisters of Hoboken discover that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, has accidentally poisoned 52 of the sisters, and they are in dire need of funds for the burials. The sisters decide that the best way to raise the money is to put on a variety show.  Here we meet Reverend Mother Regina, a former circus performer; Sister Mary Hubert, the Mistress of Novices; a streetwise nun from Brooklyn named Sister Robert Anne; Sister Mary Leo, a novice who is a wannabe ballerina; and the delightfully wacky Sister Mary Amnesia, the nun who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head. This show has become an international phenomenon. With more than 5000 productions worldwide, it has been translated into 21 languages.

working musical header

Weekend One:
Friday, February 2, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.

Weekend Two:
Friday, February 9, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.

Margaret Williams Theatre

General Admission: $25 | Students/Seniors: $15

Based on Studs Terkel's best-selling book of interviews, Working: People Talk 快猫破解版 What They Do All Day, the Musical Working paints a vivid portrait of the workers that the world so often takes for granted: the schoolteacher, the delivery man, the waitress, the mason, and the stay-at-home parent, just to name a few. This unique localized production of Working will also venture into our own communities, sharing the stories of those passionate individuals with whom we share a neighborhood. Real life interviews supply a lyrical narrative through song and dialogue, shining light on the lives of those who create community.

Nominated for six Tony Awards, this modern revision features songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Stephen Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, James Taylor, Micki Grant, and more.

WORKING A Musical From the book by Studs Terkel, Adapted by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, Localized format conceived by Dan Levine for ACT of CT Orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire A co-production with William Paterson University, WP and NJCU students perform this musical in honor of artist Ben Jones, supported by a grant from the Mellon Foundation. Marc G. Dalio, Director WORKING is presented through a special arrangement with Musical Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. .

MELLON FOUNDATION LOGO SMALL

Working, A Musical is supported by the Mellon Foundation and is part of a year-long collaboration between William Paterson University and 快猫破解版 that is celebrating the American artist 鈥攁 1963 graduate of William Paterson and NJCU professor emeritus of art.

 

 

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Rainbow colored text reading Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
  • Friday, April 5, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 6, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 7, 2024, 3 p.m.
  • Friday, April 12, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 13, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 14, 2024, 3 p.m.

Margaret Williams Theatre

General Admission: $25
Students/Seniors: $15

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is an award winning musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice that reimagines the biblical story of Joseph, his father Jacob, his eleven siblings and the coat of many colors.

ENCHANTED EVENING POSTER WITH TEXT

Weekend 1:

Saturday, October 19, 2024, 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 20, 2024, 3:00 p.m.

Weekend 2:

Friday, October 25, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 26, 2024, 7:30 p.m.

Location: Margaret Williams Theatre

General Admission: $25 | Students/Seniors: $15

Featuring 25 songs from Musical Theatre鈥檚 Golden Age, this sung through review, conceived, written and directed by Marc G. Dalio, tells the story of 4 couples managing their relationships against the backdrop of 1950鈥檚 NYC.  Created as a partner show for this season鈥檚 Ordinary Days, Enchanted Evenings also gives us a look into the many joys, laughs and struggles of love and marriage, but through the lens and musical style of a different era.   With music from Annie Get Your Gun, Carousel, The Music Man, West Side Story, She Loves Me, Do Re Mi, South Pacific, Showboat, Guys and Dolls, Once Upon a Mattress, Kiss Me Kate, and more, this show will lift your spirits, warm your heart, and tug on the strings of nostalgia.   


Starring

Paulo Acevedo as Nathan

Glenzell Baker as Bill

Isabel Gallur as Maria

Rivier Garcia as Tony

October Gomes as Annie

Jay Jones as Frank

Katrina Rada as Adelaide

Tatyana Serrato as Julie

 

Production Team

Directed by: Marc G. Dalio

Musical Director/Pianist: Amy Duran

Sound and Video Design: Paul Gargiulo

Scenic and Lighting Design: Maruti Evans

Stage Manager: Sydney Millevoi

A thumbnail for the musical "Ordinary Days" featuring a city skyline in the background. In the foreground, for people are standing together. A list of the cast members' names is prominently displayed in the center of the page.

Friday, October 18, 2024, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 19, 2024, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 26, 2024, 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 27, 2024, 3:00 p.m.

Margaret Williams Theatre

General Admission: $25 | Students/Seniors: $15

From one of musical theatre's most exciting new composers comes Ordinary Days, a refreshingly honest and funny musical about making real connections in the city that never sleeps (but probably should at some point).

Ordinary Days tells the story of four young New Yorkers whose lives intersect as they search for fulfillment, happiness, love and cabs. Through a score of vibrant and memorable songs, their experiences ring startlingly true to life. Ordinary Days is an original musical for anyone who's ever struggled to appreciate the simple things in a complex place. With equal doses of humor and poignancy, it celebrates how 8.3 million individual stories combine in unexpected ways to make New York City such a unique and extraordinary home.

Interested in more musical productions? Keep up to date with our latest productions on  and !


Starring

Anatalia Aponte as Claire

Joshua Rosenthal as Warren

Mathew Segovia as Jason

Nebula Vidal as Deb

 

Production Team

Directed by: Marc G. Dalio

Musical Director/Pianist: John DiPinto

Music and Lyrics: Adam Gwon

Sound and Video Design: Paul Gargiulo

Scenic and Lighting Design: Maruti Evans

Stage Manager: Sydney Millevoi

Past Events F19-S21

Performer on stage

Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 9:45 a.m.
Margaret Williams Theatre
$8 for all students and adults (including teachers)
CONTACT: boxoffice@njcu.edu, 201-200-2429
GRADES: 1鈥6

Mexico Beyond Mariachi performs SUGAR SKULL! A Dia De los Muertos Musical Adventure! A heartfelt story following young Vita on a magical adventure where she discovers the true meaning of Day of the Dead with the help of a candy skeleton who suddenly springs to life. It鈥檚 an entertaining, educational show that takes you on a historic and geographical journey through traditional Mexican music and dance.

woman sitting, dissapointed

Thursday, November 7, Friday, November 8 & Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 8:00 p.m.
West Side Theatre
Tickets: $25, Students: $5

When Denitra loses the charter school lottery
for her daughter, she must find another way to escape from their underperforming neighborhood school. The answer seems like a risk well worth taking, but may end up requiring a bigger sacrifice than she ever could have imagined. Set in 2010 in Essex County, NJ - over a half-century after Brown Versus The Board of Education, LINES IN THE DUST questions how far we鈥檝e come and more importantly, where we go from here. (Luna Stage Commission)

Dancers on stage

Margaret Williams Theatre
Thursday, January 23, 2020 at 9:45 a.m.

$8 for all students and adults (including teachers)
Grades 4-12

To purchase group tickets please contact: boxoffice@njcu.edu or (201) 200-2429

A celebrated body of compositions that merge live dance, multimedia presentation and interactive dialogue to honor faith, survival and renewal as the cornerstones of her Eastern European roots and Jewish heritage. As a child of Holocaust survivors, Dorfman reveals her heritage through dance stories that interweave the common threads of our humanity. In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day, the show explores the rich tapestry of human experience and tradition through interdisciplinary and intercultural collaboration.

 

Joseph Cashore and his puppet

Digital Event

Saturday, May 9, 2020 at 2pm 

Stephanie Chaiken, Director, NJCU Center for the Arts, moderates a demonstration and Q&A with Joseph Cashore, creator of the acclaimed Cashore Marionettes.

Joseph Cashore has been designing and performing his remarkable marionettes for over 30 years. His achievements include:

Henson Foundation Grant 鈥 to promote puppetry to adult audiences
UNIMA Citation of Excellence 鈥 highest honor a US puppeteer can receive
Pew Fellowship for Performance Art 鈥 based on artistic accomplishment
PennPAT Roster Artist 鈥 PennPAT roster artists 鈥渕aintain the highest standards of artistic quality and professionalism鈥

Edisa Weeks

Saturday, July 11, from 2pm - 3:30 pm
Digital Event

In this interactive and inspiring event, NJCU Center for the Arts Director, Stephanie Chaiken, will interview acclaimed dancer, choreographer, educator and curator - Edisa Weeks, and Edisa will present a workshop Exploring the Personal and Political.

Using personal memories and political events as source material, participants will explore methods for delving into movement and text to generate socially relevant and gutsy theatrical work. Participants are encouraged to tap into their theatrical and kinesthetic imagination and ability.

Level: Open to All

Please have ready for the workshop:
Plain Paper (3 or more pages)
Pen or pencil
One or more of the following: Crayons, Magic Markers, Colored Pencils

Edisa Weeks and her project roots

Edisa Weeks has had work performed in venues ranging from Aaron Davis Hall, Alfred University,  Emory University, the Guggenheim Museum, Harlem Stage, Jacob's Pillow, The Kennedy Center, to The National Black Arts Festival, Summerstages Dance Festival, and The Yard. She has also performed in swimming pools, senior centers, sidewalks, and storefronts to living rooms in Berlin, Germany, as part of Haus der Kulturen der Welts 50th anniversary celebration.

鈥婻aised in Uganda, Papua New Guinea and Brooklyn, NY, Weeks holds a BA from Brown University an

Arlene Chico-Luco and Eric Alvis

Saturday, August 22, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Digital Event

Join us for an interactive talk and workshop with Arlene Chico-Lugo and Eric Aviles, co-founders of the Liberation Arts Collective. These critically acclaimed actors/teaching artists/writers have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of stories being told, including roles examining the Latino experience in the United States. This program is part of our Creative Process Series and will explore Aviles' play Where You From? What You Be 快猫破解版? and discuss turning real-life experiences into a play, independent producing, responding to a global pandemic through online presentations, and the nature of artistic collaboration.

Sewing Machine

Thursday, October 22, 11:00 A.M. -12:20 P.M.
Free Virtual Event

Stephanie Chaiken, Director of the NJCU Center for the Arts, moderates a panel and workshop with Benjamin V. Marshall and Julie Weinberg of the 9th Floor Playwrights Collective, and Marc Dalio, NJCU - Area Coordinator of Musical Theatre Studies & Professor of Voice.

This panel and workshop will teach about structure for criticism from multiple perspectives when you have a draft of a new play -- and how to work with a group for feedback to lead you to a next draft

Spring 2021 Musical Theatre Production Promotion Graphic

Live Outdoor Event

Location: The Lawn @ The GSUB Patio

Friday, April 30, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 1, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 2, 3:00 p.m. 

Total Event time is approximately 3 Hours
Please dress appropriately for outdoor weather

Written by David Gonzalez with Cecilia Ortega-Cano, Dance & Music by Mexico Beyond Mariachi

Mexico Beyond Mariachi

Saturday, June 12, 2 p.m.
Virtual Event

Link will be sent 2 hours prior to the show

30 minute filmed show
15 min live Q&A with the artist

鈥淲hy is there fire in the woods? Where did the water go?鈥 The world is out of balance, and we must work together to bring the world, and ourselves, back into balance. Our Indigenous storyteller, Cecilia, guides us on a journey that starts with the magical Danzante and leads to an impossible challenge. Or is it? All along the way dancers and musicians from all parts of Mexico bring their glorious traditions to life. Featuring dances from Veracruz, Guerrero, Michoac谩n, and more, Agua Es Vida is a dance and storytelling adventure that celebrates Mexican culture with ALEGRIA!

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