Editor Pick
McCarter Theatre
- June 20, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
n2dwoods from Plainsboro, New Jersey
McCarter is a great theater for live shows, concerts, dance, etc. It gets some really big name people, and actually won the Tony Award in 1994 for Outstanding Regional Theatre. It frequently gets plays just before they head onto Broadway.
Throughout the school year (since the theatre is affiliated with Princeton University) there are events pretty much every day except Mondays, with weekend matinees and evening performances. Note: During the summer, the theatre is host to the NJ Opera Festival.
McCarter actually comprises two stages, the smaller of which is brand new (the original theatre has been active for 75 years). The season typically has five plays, each of which is on stage for a few weeks. At the same time, there are world music events, dance troupes, jazz events, cabaret singers, comedy shows, etc.
It frequently hosts one-night only specials which sell out quickly. Some names that have performed are (according to their website): Bill Cosby, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, Joan Baez, Bette Midler, Gregory Peck, Billy Joel, Tony Bennett, Penn & Teller, Carol Burnett, Tom Chapin, Richard Thompson, Shawn Colvin, George Winston, and the Flying Karamazov Brothers.
The location of the theatre is great, directly across the street from the NJ Transit Princeton (Dinky) station.
From journal A Local's Guide to Princeton for the Non-student