Seeing live theater is such a fun, unique way for kids and adults to enjoy new and old stories. Plus, going to the theater is an exciting change of pace from the movie theater or your living room TV. That’s why Crème de la Crème of Bridgewater has put together this list of some awesome theaters in and around the Bridgewater area. So the next time you want to treat your kids or your partner to an entertaining show with live performers and a live audience, visit one of these five theaters.

Brook Arts Center

“Video Games Live at the Chicago Theater” licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr by shane.gibbons

The Brook Arts Center hosts a wide variety of theatrical performances, including concerts, dance, comedy, film screenings, and live theater, making it one of the area’s premier destinations for live entertainment. Inspire the little musician in your family with a trip to see the Brook Orchestra, which is made up of 50 local musicians. 

Book seats for any of the rockin’ cover bands that frequent the theater and play music from your favorite artists, like Billy Joel and The Rolling Stones. These events are a great way to introduce the kids to classic music and get them dancing in their seats or to meet up with friends for a fun night without the kids. Or, you could get tickets to see a comedy show featuring nationally recognized stand-ups. These shows would be great for a fun-filled date night or a girls’ night.

The Brook Arts Center is located at 10 Hamilton St. in nearby Bound Brook, New Jersey.

Villagers Theatre

Villagers Theatre features fantastic local thespians acting in former Broadway shows like “Mamma Mia,” “Fun Home,” and “Newsies” and plenty of other well-known plays and musicals. 

This theater even puts on shows for its different audiences. KidsVill is for children 12 and younger, and the theater has shown “Into the Woods Jr.,” the more kid-friendly version of the twisted fairytale musical. TeensVill is for kiddos 13 to 18, and they’ve hosted “Fame,” “Footloose,” and “Aida.” And the Main Stage and Black Box host a variety of family-friendly shows, unique dramas, gut-splitting comedies, and holiday specials.

You and your kids can even audition for their shows and take center stage in upcoming productions. Not only is this a fun activity for all ages, but it’s a great way for kids to express their creativity and gain training for performing arts professions if they’re interested.

You can find the Villagers Theatre at 475 DeMott Lane in nearby Somerset. 

Somerset Valley Players Theatre

Over in nearby Hillsborough stands a red building. It almost looks like a big red house, but it’s really a wonderful community theater that puts on both in-person and recorded virtual shows. Grab tickets to see classic plays like “The Importance of Being Earnest,” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Or, come see unique plays and musicals like the zombie-fied “Evil Dead: The Musical,” the youthful musical “Baby,” or the movie-turned-play “A Christmas Story.”

Like other local community theaters, the Somerset Valley Players Theatre offers audition opportunities for every show. So if you’re looking for your start in theater, this local staple is a great place to practice your acting chops and connect with the communities in and around Bridgewater.

Go see the Somerset Valley Players at 689 Amwell Road (Rte. 514) in Hillsborough.

George Street Playhouse

If you’re looking for Broadway-quality performances and shows without Broadway prices or traveling into New York, then this theater is your new go-to spot. That’s because the George Street Playhouse is a nationally recognized theater that has put on shows by both established and emerging playwrights, directors, and thespians. 

Many of the shows have appeared on and off-Broadway, meaning these fantastic shows come right to you. Previous shows include the musical “A Walk on the Moon,” the single-performer powerhouse of a play “Fully Committed,” period musical “Last Days of Summer,” and the imagined sequel to a class play, “The Doll’s House, Part 2.” If your kids miss a show, they can always wait until the GSP Touring Theatre presents at their school or a nearby school in the tri-state area. Or, you can stream their 2020 virtual season online to catch up or see what this theater is all about.

This theater also offers a variety of performing arts classes for people of all ages. Your kids can take part in an in-school residency program to learn from the Theatre’s Teaching Artists, develop communication and problem-solving skills, and train in the performing arts. Parents can sign up for available workshops and classes, too.

The George Street Playhouse hosts shows at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center right in downtown New Brunswick, New Jersey. You can find this fantastic local theater at 11 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick.

State Theatre New Jersey

The gorgeous State Theatre of New Jersey plays host to fantastic musicals, both new and old, special touring performers, tribute concerts, comedy and sketch shows, kids theater, holiday-themed performances, and much more. Plus, it’s hosted 100 years of fantastic shows, so it’s a community staple in its own right and a must-visit for any local family.

With the wide variety of shows available, you and your whole family are sure to find at least one amazing live show you have to see. Come see shows in the Broadway Series, like “Escape to Margaritaville,” “The Donna Summer Musical,” “Waitress,” “CATS,” or “Hairspray.” Treat the kids to Cirque du Soleil, musicals like “Anastasia,” plays like “Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” or the ballet. 

Plan a visit to the State Theatre New Jersey, which is located at 15 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick, right next to the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, home of the George Street Playhouse.

At Crème de la Crème of Bridgewater, we know how beneficial theater and storytelling can be for kids’ emotional and intellectual development. That’s why we use a variety of fun storytelling tools to introduce our students to new concepts and help them learn vital skills, like communication, empathy, and problem-solving. We even incorporate live theater and performance into our curriculum through Coconut Theater and KremTV. Contact us to learn more about how our whole-child approach can help your child thrive.