The Cape May Stage theater company recently announced their full season of programming for 2026, and it’s a slate packed with opportunities for entertainment, engagement and enlightenment to be had this historic year in “The Nation’s Oldest Seaside Resort.” 

“Cape May Stage’s 2026 season arrives at an extraordinary moment, coinciding with Cape May’s 175th anniversary of incorporation, the 50th anniversary of its National Historic Landmark designation, and the 250th birthday celebration for the United States,“ the company stated in a press release announcing their schedule of events. 

“This remarkable alignment of milestones inspires a season rooted in reflection, creativity, and connection. Through stories filled with history, humor, romance, and imagination, we celebrate the richness of the human experience and the enduring power of live theatre.”

Just prior to the announcement, we spoke with Roy Steinberg, the theater’s producing artistic director, who discussed the coming shows with great pride and excitement.

“What Cape May Stage does, or what we aspire to do, is look at what’s going on in the world and in some way comment on that, or at least inspire the audience to have conversations about it,” Steinberg said. “You want people to come out of the theater and not feel lectured to, but say ‘whoa, that was really interesting and funny.’ We always want to entertain, but at the same time your life gets more exciting and more interesting.”

Steinberg’s enthusiasm for the company he’s led for the past 16 years was infectious, especially when talking about the level of talent that comes through the theater year-in and year-out.

“That’s what makesCape May Stage different than other theaters,” Steinberg said. “The talent is a couple of notches above what you might expect in a small place like Cape May.”

The coming season stretches from May through December, with five main productions as well as a number of one-night events and readings throughout the year.

With the 250th birthday celebration for America right around the corner, the company’s first major production of the year, “What the Constitution Means to Me,” seems a particularly timely fit.

The critically-acclaimed show, written by Heidi Schreck and directed for Cape May Stage by Steinberg, revisits the writer’s teenage years competing in constitutional debate contests to pay for college.

“The thing that’s fun about it is it’s in no way  preachy,” he said. “It doesn’t take any political sides.” 

That show runs June 3 through June 28.

Another highlight for the season, “Kalamazoo,” written by Michelle Kholos Brooks and Kelly Younger, and directed by Josh Iacovelli, tackles the growing societal issue of loneliness.

“There’s an epidemic of loneliness, partly because of technology, and people are losing their spouses and living longer, while at the same time people are dying of loneliness, because they don’t have somebody to live for,” Steinberg said of the show, which runs from July 15 to Aug. 23. “So it’s a play that’s much about what’s happening in our culture right now, but it’s not sad. It’s very funny.”

In the fall, the company performs a play that deals with the growing concerns around artificial intelligence, with “Your Name Means Dream,” written by Jose Rivera, and also directed by Steinberg

In the play, which runs from Sept. 9 through Oct. 18, an ill woman is cared for by  a robot operating with a form of artificial intelligence, and through their ongoing relationship takes on the role of a surrogate son to the woman, who has become estranged from her own child.

“The play asks the question, that with artificial intelligence, can a robot have a soul?” Steinberg said. For more information about Cape May Stage’s complete season lineup, ticket information and more, scan the QR code, follow them on Facebook or go to www.capemaystage.org.

[Photo Credit: Aleksey Photography]

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More to watch in Cape May County!

East Lynne Theatre

Cape May is fortunate to play host to two professional Equity theaters – Cape May Stage, mentioned above, as well as the East Lynne Theatre Company.

The company should be announcing the programming for their 2026 season soon, but in the meantime, you can check out the one-night special concert event – Tomy Cono: “The Voice of Tribute,” on Sat., March 28.

www.eastlynnetheater.org

The Clemans Theater for the Arts

717 Franklin St.

Cape May

Greater Ocean City Theatre Company

If you find yourself in Ocean City this summer, be sure to check out the schedule for the Greater Ocean City Theatre Company.

Their summer schedule of shows is filled with a number of children’s productions, as well as performances with older casts like “Fame,” coming to the Music  Pier on the boardwalk  July 17-18, and “Sister Act, the Musical,” at the Hughes Performing Arts Center, Aug. 4-13.

www.oceancitytheatrecompany.com

1501 West Ave.W

Ocean City