NEW COMEDY: “Midnight at the New Dawn” is an original play on stage at Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, from October 16-18.
Maurer Productions OnStage and the newly formed Maurer TheaterWorks have announced a special co-production partnership for the world premiere of Midnight at the New Dawn.
The ensemble comedy, written and directed by Dan Maurer, opens at Kelsey Theatre on October 16, reuniting the award–winning creative team for the first time in more than a decade. Shows are Friday, October 16, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, October 17, at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, October 18, at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is located on the West Windsor Campus of Mercer County Community College at 1200 Old Trenton Road.
The comedy is set in a New Jersey diner on New Year’s Eve. Four couples arrive at different crossroads in their relationships, with only two hours until midnight to figure out what comes next. Things get even more interesting when they find themselves part of a livestreaming web series called “Truth Be Told,” putting each couple and their relationships in the hot seat.
“This is the show I’ve been writing toward for a long time,” said Maurer. “It’s funny — genuinely funny — but it earns its laughs from real human drama. These are people you know. One of them may even be you.”
Maurer is a director, playwright, and member of the Dramatists Guild. He has co-produced more than 20 productions and directed runs of Driving Miss Daisy, Hollywood Arms, and Elton John & Tim Rice’s AIDA at Kelsey Theatre. Along the way, he won multiple NJACT Perry Awards and earned induction into the NJACT Hall of Fame. His short plays have received staged readings at theaters around the state. He recently founded Maurer TheaterWorks to develop original works; Midnight at the New Dawn is his company’s inaugural full-length production.
Maurer Productions OnStage has called Kelsey Theatre their home for more than 20 years. Founded by John and Diana Maurer, the company has mounted such productions as Monty Python’s Spamalot, Avenue Q, Shrek the Musical, and Young Frankenstein the Musical.
Tickets are $22 and $24. Visit kelseytheatre.org.