Current Season

Photo from Beauty and the Beast
Disney's Beauty and the Beast, photo by Dabour Photography

Announcing the 2023-2024 FDU Theater Season

We recommend purchasing tickets online in advance because performances sell out quickly. 
When available, tickets are sold at the door.

Purchase Tickets

LYSISTRATA 

By Aristophanes  
Directed by Nolan Hennelly 
Set Design by Maiko Chii 
Lighting Design by David Landau 
Costume Design by Miranda Graves 

No peace? No Sex! It takes a woman to stop a war, and Lysistrata is that woman. With her home of Athens engaged in endless battle, Lysistrata enlists a group of women to abandon the beds of their war-obsessed husbands in an attempt to end the fighting. Written by Aristophanes in 411 BC, Lysistrata is likely the first anti-war comedy ever written, using humor to challenge male authority in a patriarchal society.

Lysistrata has earned its place in history by being provocative, risqué, thought-provoking, and…downright hilarious.  

This production will bring FDU Theater’s modern sensibilities, passions, and language to ancient Greece for a knock-down, drag-out, world-famous battle of the sexes.  

Content Warning: This production is not suitable for young audiences due to adult themes and language.   

October 5 at 10:30 AM (Preview) 
October 6 and 7 at 7:30 PM 
October 8 at 2:30 PM

Dreyfuss Theater, Florham Campus 

A CLASS ACT 

Music and Lyrics by Edward Kleban 
Book by Linda Kline & Lonny Price 
Directed & Choreographed by Cindy Thole Loewus 
Musical Direction by Allen Cohen 
Set Design by John Ehrenberg 
Lighting Design by Cameron Filepas 
Costume Design by Susanne Houstle 

This vibrant musical is based on the real life of Ed Kleban, the songwriter and lyricist best known for his work on A Chorus Line. He had his promising career cut short by cancer at age 48.  A Class Act was written to honor the man, his music, and everyone who touched his life.  

Using his own beautiful songs, A Class Act tells the story of Kleban’s successes, failures, and struggles, including his struggle with mental illness. 

When Ed’s friends gather at his memorial, Ed makes a surprise trip from “the beyond” to hear what he expects to be their loving tributes. Instead, he is shocked by their criticism. Determined to set the record straight, Ed shadows the speakers at the memorial as they relive scenes from his life, told with his own songs. This surprising and touching musical gives Ed and his music the recognition they deserve—and offers audiences an insider’s look at the person behind the art. 

December 7 at 10:30 AM (Preview) 
December 8 and 9 at 7:30 PM
December 10 at 2:30 PM 

Dreyfuss Theater, Florham Campus 

FLIPPED

by Stacie Lents 
Directed by Lauren Shields 
Set Design by John Ehrenberg 
Lighting Design by Cameron Filepas 
Costume Design by Samantha Lewis 

Flipped is a new, contemporary production completed as part of a commission for Prison Performing Arts’ National New Plays Initiative and inspired by Stacie Lents’ work with incarcerated artists in maximum security prisons. The professional production of Prof. Lents’ previous commission for PPA was nominated for a St. Louis Theatre Circle Award for Outstanding New Play.  

Set in rural Nebraska, Flipped is a tragi-comedy that tells the story of siblings Finn and Flip, who are desperate to escape their childhood. Encouraged and pushed by Flip, Finn fights to break free of the alcoholism and violence he grew up with to venture into a new world of his own. The play asks: can we truly escape our circumstances and are our choices really our own?  Flipped tells the story with comedy as well as compassion and will keep audiences guessing until the last beat.  

February 29 at 10:30 AM (Preview)  
February 29 at 7:30 PM
March 1, 2 and 4 at 7:30 PM 
March 2 at 10:30 PM (Special Late-Night Performance) 
March 3 at 2:30 PM 

Barn Theater, Florham Campus 

9 to 5 

Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton  
Book by Patricia Resnick 
Directed by Nolan Hennelly 
Choreographed by Cindy Thole Loewus 
Musical Direction by Dimitri Nakhamkin 
Set Design by Maiko Chii
Lighting Design by Cameron Filepas 
Costume Design by Susanne Houstle 

Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5, based on the hit movie, is a non-stop joyride of love, friendship and what it takes to set your own place at the table. Coming together in the male-dominated office world of the 1970s, three women team up to break through the glass ceiling and run their sexist bully of a boss out of town. But taking things over while their boss is…indisposed might not be as simple as they first thought. 

With laugh-out-loud humor, office romance, and a whole lot of heart, 9 to 5 makes getting even a lot of fun. And you’ll be singing Dolly Parton’s unforgettable songs all the way home! 

April 18 at 10:30 a.m. (Preview) 
April 19 and 20 at 7:30 PM 
April 20 and 21 at 2:30 PM

Dreyfuss Theater, Florham Campus 

Additional Performances 

The season will feature additional performances including: 

  • The Winter Chorus, Band, and Chamber Choir performance 
  • Vocal Recitals 
  • Fairleigh Dance Project 
  • School of the Arts Images Festival  
  • Fairleigh Dramatics, which performs an annual production selected, directed, and produced by FDU students! 

*Any FDU student needing financial assistance to purchase a ticket, please contact KatePM@fdu.edu.

Photo from play Avenue Q at FDU
Avenue Q, Photo by Brian A. Lewis Photography

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