Mission & History
Kevis Hillocks and Robert Barnes in Antoinette Nwandu's PASS OVER, directed by Devin E. Haqq (February 2020)
Our Mission
Luna Stage develops and produces vibrant plays about local and global experiences. We bring communities together for artistic events that spark conversations and create understanding and change. Firmly rooted in New Jersey's Valley Arts District — a crossroads of cultures — we celebrate the diverse voices that surround us. As producer, innovator, and educator, we are dedicated to eliminating barriers to participation and nurturing the next generation of audiences and artists.
Shakespeare’s RICHARD II. Photo: John Posada.
Our History
Luna Stage was founded in 1992 by Jane Mandel and became a professional theatre in 1995. For eighteen years, the company made its home in Montclair, New Jersey, first in a small space on Walnut Street and then in a larger facility on Bloomfield Avenue. In 2010, we moved to our current location in the Valley Arts District as an anchor organization in the dynamic movement to inspire creativity, vitality, and community engagement in the region.
As producer and incubator of cutting-edge contemporary drama, Luna has contributed to the development of over 100 new works for the stage, many of which have gone on on to be produced nationally and internationally. This season our World Premiere of Jenny Lyn Bader’s Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library debuted Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theaters for a sold-out run, then transferred and extended at WP Theater, and was named one of Theater Scene’s Top NY Productions of 2024. Other World Premieres include Tony Award winner Matthew Lopez's breakout play The Whipping Man, which went on to have its New York premiere at Manhattan Theatre Club and subsequently became one of the most widely-produced plays in the United States, and three World Premieres by Obie Winner Nikkole Salter.
This year, our MainStage production of Lonely Planet was included on two “Best NJ Performances of 2024” lists, and our commissioned World Premiere The Ground On Which We Stand received the 2024 Giles R. Wright Designation for Excellence in African American History. Luna also received the NJ Arts People's Choice Award for Favorite Small Theatre in New Jersey.
We collaborate with artists of multiple disciplines, backgrounds, and perspectives, and prioritize partnerships that illuminate obscured experiences and amplify underrepresented voices. By enriching our theatre programming with pre and post-show events, film screenings, and interactive activities, we deepen the impact of our work. Site-specific performances and work in non-traditional spaces invite new audiences to have access to and ownership of the work that is produced onstage.
All Luna Stage programs, classes, camps, and performances are Pay-What-You-Choose to promote equity and access to professional arts experiences in our region.