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of New Plays
and New Jersey
premieres!

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Upcoming Reading

A man in a wheelchair and a woman share a joyful moment under colorful stage lights. The man, smiling broadly, is wearing casual attire and appears to be celebrating. The woman, standing beside him, looks upwards with a smile, wearing a black top and red pants.
  • Staged Reading
  • March 14
  • 2026

Plays by People

A staged reading of two short plays by Matheny Arts Access contributors Chris Saglimbene and Amy Myers. The Matheny Arts Access Program enables individuals with disabilities to create art without boundaries
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Past Readings

Restaurant bungalow surrounded by palm trees, near the beach, with a big sun in the back... all in a painted style with muted colors.
  • Staged Reading
  • Dec 5 - 8
  • 2025

Lia Del Mar

Lia Del Mar is a poignant exploration of familial love amid economic upheavals. In the Costa Chica region of Mexico, two generations of Afro-Mexican women do their best to make ends meet.
More info
A vibrant image combines abstract artistry with sports illustration. On the left, dynamic sketches of baseball players in action are rendered in a pencil-like style. On the right, a stylized face with bold geometric shapes and warm orange tones completes the composition, creating a contrast between realism and abstraction.
  • Staged Reading
  • Nov 21-23
  • 2025

Effa Loves Baseball

Effa Manley, the first woman inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, fights against the press and segregation while managing the Newark Eagles in pursuit of the Negro League World Series title.
More info

Past Plays

A collage of four different portraits, each featuring individuals with distinct styles and expressions, is set against a modern, abstract blue background. Counter-clockwise from top to bottom, the headshots include a woman with natural hair and red earrings, a man with glasses and a mustache, a smiling woman with curly hair, and a man in a collared shirt with a neutral expression. The background is stylized with abstract line patterns.
  • Reading Series
  • June 19 - 22
  • 2025

Play Festival Reading Series

You are invited to the 20th Annual Festival Finalists Reading Series, featuring the four finalists of the 2025 Premiere Play Festival at the Bauer Boucher Theatre Center, Kean University.
Learn more
A cabin in the forest at night, surrounded by fog, slightly illuminated by Mars peeking on the top right corner
  • Sep 4 - 21

Walden

After returning from a successful mission to the moon, NASA scientist Cassie’s reunion with estranged twin sister Stella reignites old conflicts, forcing the sisters to choose between life on Earth or pursuing a future in space, in “Walden.”
Tickets & info
A decoy mallard wearing a wooden crown and a red cape, sitting on top of Tupperware within a beige background
  • Play Festival Winner
  • Jul 17 - Aug 3

The Mallard

Two teachers fighting for their jobs come head-to-head with a pair of treasure hunters in “The Mallard”, a fierce and funny play about an antique mallard decoy.
More info
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