Villagers Theatre

Villagers Theatre An award winning community theatre/performing arts center in central NJ with two stages. https://www.villagerstheatre.org

Villagers Theatre was founded in 1960 by twenty people who dedicated their organization to bringing ongoing cultural enrichment to the Central New Jersey Area. For over forty years, the Villagers Theater has been providing quality entertainment and community service to FranklinTownship. The Villagers presented their first production in October of 1960 in the Van Middlesworth barn behind what is cu

rrently Oconners Restaurant. By January 1961 the group swelled to over one hundred people as the Villagers became involved in plays, musicals, children’s theatre, puppet shows, variety shows, playwriting and art contests. The Villagers used the Van Middlesworth’s barn until 1979 when the property was sold and the building converted to commercial use. Rather than search for a new home, the Villagers, at that time lead by Ron Schapow, decided to build their own. They convinced to township to lease them a piece of swampy ground in the back corner of what would eventually become the Municipal Complex. It was on this spot that the Villagers erected NJ’s first purpose built community theater in the history of the state. The new theater, a prefabricated metal barn, opened in 1980. This “new barn” was the Villagers home for the next seven years, until changing fire code and access laws forced the Villagers to close their building. Rather than give up and move, the Villagers rallied the township residents and raised over $250,000 to renovate and expand the Villagers theatre into the facility that it is today. The renovated Villagers Barn Theatre opened its doors in September 1988. The main theater seats 222 people and the Black Box Theater holds 100 spectators. The building is both air-conditioned and fully accessible for the disabled. For the archive of all of the plays, musicals and other events that have been produced by The Villagers Theater, please visit the productions section of this website here.
- See more at: https://www.villagerstheatre.org

And just like that, our 2026–2027 season is officially underway!We are so excited to share the incredible casts of our f...
08/20/2026

And just like that, our 2026–2027 season is officially underway!

We are so excited to share the incredible casts of our first two productions of the season: [title of show] in the BlackBox and Assassins on the MainStage.

Two wildly different musicals. Two phenomenal companies. And one very exciting fall at Villagers.

[title of show]
September 18–26, 2026
Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 PM
Sunday matinee at 2:00 PM

Assassins
October 9–17, 2026
Thursday 9/15, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 PM
Sunday matinee at 2:00 PM

We cannot wait to welcome these artists to the Villagers stage and officially kick off another season of bold, exciting, community-driven theatre.

Congratulations to both casts and creative teams — now the work begins!

Tickets and more information at VillagersTheatre.com.

https://forms.gle/uUWgM81Jno5Jfnur9AUDITIONS: THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOTAre we defined by the choices we make..or d...
08/11/2026

https://forms.gle/uUWgM81Jno5Jfnur9

AUDITIONS: THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT

Are we defined by the choices we make..or do we have the power to forgive ourselves? Is there good and bad in all of us?

Villagers Theatre is thrilled to announce auditions for Stephen Adly Guirgis’ THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, directed by Tom McNeill.

Set in a courtroom in Purgatory, the play puts Judas Iscariot on trial and calls saints, sinners and everyone in between to the witness stand. Darkly funny, provocative and deeply human, the play wrestles with guilt, free will, forgiveness, faith and one impossible question: is anyone truly beyond redemption?

We are seeking performers AGES 18 AND OVER ONLY.

Villagers Theatre enthusiastically encourages performers of all races, ethnicities, gender identities and expressions, body types, ages 18+, backgrounds and experience levels to audition. We are committed to building a bold and diverse company of actors for this production.

AUDITIONS
September 11 & 12
7:00–10:00 PM
Auditioners must arrive no later than 9:45 PM.

CALLBACKS
September 13
10:00 AM–2:00 PM
By invitation only.

PERFORMANCES
November 13–21, 2026
Villagers Theatre BlackBox
Somerset, NJ

DIRECTED BY TOM McNEILL

Interested performers should complete the audition sign-up form, including contact information, preferred audition date and time, and any known conflicts.

Questions about the production or audition process can be sent to:
[email protected]

We are honored to congratulate Villagers Theatre’s incredible 2026 Perry Award nominees!Our 65th anniversary season was ...
08/02/2026

We are honored to congratulate Villagers Theatre’s incredible 2026 Perry Award nominees!

Our 65th anniversary season was filled with unforgettable performances, remarkable artistry and the dedication of so many people who brought each production to life. To every cast member, crew member, production team, volunteer and audience member: thank you for making Villagers part of your story.

We are incredibly lucky to have a place to create, connect and call home, and we look forward to continuing to make theatre that inspires our artists, our audiences and our entire community.

Congratulations to all of our nominees!

ANYTHING GOES

Lighting Design of a Musical
Christian Confalone

Supporting Actor in a Musical
Josiah Rodriguez

Youth Actor in a Musical
Logan Ebersole

ARCANA

Production of an Original Play

Youth Actor in a Play
Wyatt Bridge

DIARY OF A SIMPY KID

Direction of a Musical
Mike Trujillo

Lead Actor in a Musical
Kori Caicedo

Music Direction
Amanda Zook

Production of an Original Musical

Sound Design of a Musical
Anthony Graceffo

LEGALLY BLONDE

Choreography
Lyle Dungee

Costume Design of a Musical
Derek Alfano, Anna Espinoza, Charles Milian, Alyson Pemoulie and Maria Printon

Stage Management of a Musical
Jack Tomy

MARY POPPINS

Choreography
Jenna Garrison

Costume Design of a Musical
Derek Alfano, Alefiyah Danish, Anna Espinoza, Andi Kern, Hilary Pearson, Maria Printon and Jared Milian

Production of a Musical

Properties in a Musical
Ian DiGuilio, Joanne Guerriero and Noelle McManus

Stage Management of a Musical
Nicole Dvorin and Shannon Olsen

Supporting Actress in a Musical
Tracey Lynne Haskell

ON TIME

Direction of a Play
Darren Nye

Production of an Original Play

Sound Design of a Play
Asher Kieshe

We hope to see you all on October 4th! Thank you

Registration is officially OPEN for Villagers Theatre’s 2026/2027 Emerging Artists season!Miniature Musical Makers prese...
07/20/2026

Registration is officially OPEN for Villagers Theatre’s 2026/2027 Emerging Artists season!

Miniature Musical Makers presents
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Grades 3–8
Session begins September 5 (9:00-3:00 PM)
Performances: December 18–20, 2026

Director/Choreographer: Jenna Garrison
Music Director: Angelina O’Neill
Stage Manager: Emily Aulenbach

Both programs offer students the opportunity to train with experienced theatre artists while rehearsing and performing a fully produced musical in a supportive, collaborative environment.

A few reminders:
• Tuition is $800, with a $150 non-refundable deposit due at registration.
• Your registration is not complete until your deposit has been received.
• Tuition includes a show T-shirt, commemorative poster, digital video, and professional digital headshot.
• Scholarships and payment plans are available upon request and review.
• If seeking scholarships/payment plans, please email [email protected] asap

Enrollment is limited. Once a program reaches capacity, additional registrations will be placed on a waitlist in the order they are received.

Visit the link below to register today.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSo5edFN9elC4HPST_K1z0oUF71mYKBe0d8ud5vDTaEd3HFg/viewform

Questions? Email [email protected]

Registration is officially OPEN for Villagers Theatre’s 2026/2027 Emerging Artists season!Villagers Teen Ensemble presen...
07/20/2026

Registration is officially OPEN for Villagers Theatre’s 2026/2027 Emerging Artists season!

Villagers Teen Ensemble presents
Les Misérables: School Edition
Grades 9–12
Session begins September 5 (11:00 AM-5:00 PM)
Performances: December 4–6, 2026

Production Team
Director: Jared Milian
Music Director: Kori Caicedo
Stage Manager: Rachelle Montilus

Both programs offer students the opportunity to train with experienced theatre artists while rehearsing and performing a fully produced musical in a supportive, collaborative environment.

A few reminders:
• Tuition is $800, with a $150 non-refundable deposit due at registration.
• Your registration is not complete until your deposit has been received.
• Tuition includes a show T-shirt, commemorative poster, digital video, and professional digital headshot.
• Scholarships and payment plans are available upon request and review.
• If seeking scholarships/payment plans, please email [email protected] asap

Enrollment is limited. Once a program reaches capacity, additional registrations will be placed on a waitlist in the order they are received.

Visit the link below to register today!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1qahki-qyxDvap1B9-oqkzbfyB74K9wukuRXFatlG0RG3TA/viewform

Questions? Email [email protected]

Registration is officially OPEN for Villagers Theatre’s 2026/2027 Emerging Artists season!This fall, we’re excited to we...
07/20/2026

Registration is officially OPEN for Villagers Theatre’s 2026/2027 Emerging Artists season!

This fall, we’re excited to welcome a new class of young performers into two incredible programs.

Villagers Teen Ensemble presents
Les Misérables: School Edition
Grades 9–12
Session begins September 5 (11:00 AM-5:00 PM)
Performances: December 4–6, 2026

Production Team
Director: Jared Milian
Music Director: Kori Caicedo
Stage Manager: Rachelle Montilus

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1qahki-qyxDvap1B9-oqkzbfyB74K9wukuRXFatlG0RG3TA/viewform

***************************************
Miniature Musical Makers presents
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Grades 3–8
Session begins September 5 (9:00-3:00 PM)
Performances: December 18–20, 2026

Director/Choreographer: Jenna Garrison
Music Director: Angelina O’Neill
Stage Manager: Emily Aulenbach

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSo5edFN9elC4HPST_K1z0oUF71mYKBe0d8ud5vDTaEd3HFg/viewform

Both programs offer students the opportunity to train with experienced theatre artists while rehearsing and performing a fully produced musical in a supportive, collaborative environment.

A few reminders:
• Tuition is $800, with a $150 non-refundable deposit due at registration.
• Your registration is not complete until your deposit has been received.
• Tuition includes a show T-shirt, commemorative poster, digital video, and professional digital headshot.
• Scholarships and payment plans are available upon request and review.
• If seeking scholarships/payment plans, please email [email protected] asap

Enrollment is limited. Once a program reaches capacity, additional registrations will be placed on a waitlist in the order they are received.

Visit the links in this post to register today.

Questions? Email [email protected]

07/13/2026

Show: [title of show] Theater: Villagers Theatre Theater Website: https://www.villagerstheatre.org/getinvolved/roles/ Theater Phone: Start date of auditions: 07/14/2026 [title of show] AUDITIONS Tue July 14 & Wed July 15, 7:00 – 10:00 PM The Villagers Theatre 515 DeMott Lane Somerset NJ 08873 SIGN...

Registration is just 10 days away!! MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
07/10/2026

Registration is just 10 days away!! MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Today’s the day!Single tickets for our 2026–2027 MainStage and BlackBox Series are officially on sale!Whether you’ve had...
07/06/2026

Today’s the day!

Single tickets for our 2026–2027 MainStage and BlackBox Series are officially on sale!

Whether you’ve had your eye on one production or have been waiting to plan your entire theatre season, now’s the perfect time to grab your seats. And if you don’t want to miss a single moment, subscriptions are still available and remain the best way to experience the entire season.

🎭 2026–2027 MainStage & BlackBox Series

[title of show]
September 18–26, 2026

Assassins
October 9–17, 2026

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot
November 13–21, 2026

Tuck Everlasting
February 19–27, 2027

’night, Mother
April 2–10, 2027

Sister Act
June 11–26, 2027

You can also purchase tickets now for our Mike Sockol New Works Series production, An Autistic Girl’s Guide to Hope & High School, as well as both of our KidsVill productions, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and Charlotte’s Web.

As a reminder, tickets for our Emerging Artists Series productions will become available when registration opens on July 20. That includes our VTE, MMM, and VTI productions.

We can’t wait to welcome you to Villagers Theatre for another incredible season. We’ll see you at the theatre!

Address

515 Demott Lane
Somerset, NJ
08873

Opening Hours

Friday 7pm - 10pm
Saturday 12pm - 3pm
7pm - 10pm
Sunday 1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+17328732710

Website

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