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Shadow Lawn Stage is the professional Equity theater of Monmouth University, whose goal is to present the best of past and present plays and musicals for the Jersey Shore. Its focus is on comedy, drama, and Irish-themed shows. As a professional theater on a university campus—Actors' Equity Association is the official union for stage actors in the United States—Shadow Lawn gives students a unique opportunity to work side-by-side with Equity actors, learn the details of professional production (both backstage and onstage), and earn points toward Equity membership. Students get college credit for courses offered as part of the summer theater season.

All Shadow Lawn Stage productions take place in the beautifully renovated Lauren K. Woods Theatre.

Summer performances began in 1996 under the direction of John J. Burke, PhD, who continues as artistic director of the summer theater.

Chronology of Productions

2011

• Scapino by Jim Dale and Frank Dunlop
• Molly Sweeney by Brian Friel

2010

• The Sunshine Boys by Neil Simon
• The Au Pair Man by Hugh Leonard

2009

• The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged) by The Reduced Shakespeare Co.
• Shining City by Conor McPherson

2008

• Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott
• The Way You Look Tonight by Niall Williams
• The Odd Couple (female version) by Neil Simon

2007 (at Pollak Theatre during Woods renovations)

• Chapter Two by Neil Simon
• Love Letters by A.R. Gurney

2006

• Butterflies are Free by Leonard Gershe
• Da by Hugh Leonard
• And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

2005

• The Underpants by Steve Martin
• Stones in His Pockets by Marie Jones
• Little Murders by Jules Feiffer

2004

• The Turn of the Screw by Jeffrey Hatcher
• Lovers by Brian Friel
• Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring

2003

• Proof by David Auburn
• The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonough
• Gemini by Albert Innaurato

2002

• Angel Street by Patrick Hamilton
• Psychpathia Sexualis by John Patrick Shanley
• The Flight of the Earls by Christopher Humble

2001 (first season as Equity Theater)

• Dial M For Murder by Frederick Knott
• The Odd Couple by Neil Simon
• The Weir by Conor McPherson

2000

• Don’t Dress For Dinner by Marc Camoletti
• The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie
• Translations by Brian Friel

1999

• Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin
• Sylvia by A.R. Gurney
• Playboy of the Western World by J. M. Synge

1998

• Italian American Reconciliation by John Patrick Shanley
• Dancing At Lughnasa by Brian Friel
• Nunsense, the musical by Dan Goggin

1997

• The Heiress by Ruth & Augustus Goetz
• Lips Together, Teeth Apart by Terrence McNally
• Grannia, a new musical by Ruth & Augustus Goetz

1996 (performed as Monmouth University Summer Theater)

• Harvey by Mary Chase
• The Nerd by Larry Shue