In a world that feels increasingly divided, hurried, and uncertain, theatre invites us to gather and remember what connects us. It asks timeless questions about courage and justice, love and loss, ambition and mercy. It allows us to see ourselves—and one another—with greater understanding. That is why theatre matters.

The stories of Shakespeare and other great playwrights have persisted not because they belong to the past, but because they illuminate the present. They remind us that while the world changes, our shared humanity endures.

At The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, we invite you to see yourself in the story, wrestle with timeless ideas, and carry those conversations into your home, workplace, classroom, and community. We believe great theatre does more than entertain—it challenges us to listen more deeply, think more critically, and engage more fully with the world around us. It offers a place to imagine, question, laugh together, and explore what it means to be fully human.

Your generosity makes this work possible.

In 2026, donor support has already enabled us to:

Bring school performances of Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream to over 11,000 students — more than a thousand of whom are experiencing economic hardship.
Launch our REVOLUTIONARY VOICES series, fostering civic discourse through readings of great plays about American ideals.
Deepen learning through our adult book club where a community of lifelong learners gathers to discuss plays like The Learned Ladies, Dr. Faustus, and Fat Ham.

Most importantly, your generosity created thousands of moments when someone discovered a new perspective, connected with a neighbor, or experienced the transformative power of live theatre for the very first time.

None of this happens without you.

As a nonprofit theatre, everything we do depends on the generosity of people like you, who believe that the arts are essential.

When you make a gift to The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, you invest in stories that shape us, artists who inspire us, and a stronger, more connected community. Your support ensures we can continue to offer something increasingly rare: shared moments of discovery that bridge generations, backgrounds, and perspectives.

Thank you for believing in this work. With your help The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will remain a place where stories come alive, communities come together, and humanity takes center stage.

Each year, our Shakespeare LIVE! actors bring engaging productions to thousands of young people. For Abby Burris, one of the most unforgettable moments of the 2026 LIVE! tour came during Puck’s closing monologue in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. During the first performance of a double-show day, she heard murmurs ripple through the audience as she performed her final speech. Abby worried she had lost the students’ attention entirely. Afterward, another actor revealed the truth: not only were the students engaged, they had been quietly reciting the monologue along with her.

When the second performance reached that same moment, Abby heard the sound of chatter again. This time, she leaned toward the audience, opened her arms, and welcomed them into the speech.

In an instant, nearly 600 students joined her in unison, reciting, “If we shadows have offended...” Hearing hundreds of young voices speak Shakespeare’s words together was a magical reminder that the students hadn’t just watched the play—they had truly made it their own.

Keep Humanity Center Stage

Make a donation to The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey today.