About Cape May Stage Programming
Cape May Stage operates from mid-May through December with over 150 performances. Shows produced are mostly traditional and contemporary works over the past three years; however, emphasis has been placed on the commissioning of new works by both established and up-and-coming playwrights.
The shows produced annually include six or seven main stage productions plus featured solo productions that range from Magicians and Puppet Shows to new and original biographical one-act plays frequently scheduled on Monday and Tuesday nights during the season. This additional featured programming provides an opportunity for audiences to experience more ethnically and culturally diverse productions that are created and performed across the country.
Directors, designers, actors, production staff, and teaching artists are brought in from around the country (New York, Philadelphia, Orlando, Chicago, Los Angeles) to fulfill an eight-month production season and ten-month Education Outreach calendar. In addition to award winning regional artists, Cape May Stage has also attracted internationally renowned actors such as Robert Prosky (Tony Award nominee) and Estelle Parsons (Academy Award winner) to take part in projects. In 2008, the theatre’s production of Arthur Miller’s “The Price” which starred Robert Prosky and his two sons, transferred to The Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, the nation’s oldest theatre, and then to Theatre J in Washington D.C. to be part of a national Miller celebration.
Additionally, Cape May Stage is the only theatre company in southern New Jersey consistently promoting and commissioning new works. The annual production roster generally includes at least one world premiere, and several New Jersey or regional premieres. For several seasons now Cape May Stage has been able to bring a nationally renowned playwright to Cape May to work in conjunction with the company on a production of the playwright’s work. Past seasons have included Tony and Emmy Award winners and a Pulitzer nominee. Since the inception of the organization, the Artistic Director and Stage Manager have maintained a strong track record of writing and producing original works at Cape May Stage.
The high level of quality and distinctiveness of the organization’s programs are evident in the feedback received through audience comments for each show. Productions are selected to appeal to a wide audience base allowing patrons to experience programming that is entertaining and insightful; and is something that they may not otherwise have had the opportunity to experience, especially in South Jersey. The qualifications of the Artistic Director contribute significantly to the quality and success of the programs which are also reflected in the reviews and through awards received.
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