About Premier

The Premier Theatre Company, a non-profit arts and education corporation of New Jersey, celebrating its 24th season at the Henderson Theatre in Lincroft, NJ, has developed into one of the most highly acclaimed, fastest growing and unique theatre companies in New Jersey.  Its subscription base has increased year after year, with audiences traveling from throughout the tri-state area.  The Premier Theatre Company takes residence in the summer months at the Henderson Theater in Lincroft, and has previously resided at The Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan and the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park. Summer seasons will continue at The Henderson Theater.

Premier serves as a venue for aspiring singers and actors throughout the tri-state area.  In fact, over the past several years, the line-up of performers have come from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.  In 1994, Premier’s Anything Goes starred Tony Award Winner/recording artist Debbie Shapiro Gravitte, who then returned to Broadway to star in Les Miserables.  In 1995, Premier featured James Depaiva (Max Holden of One Live to Live) in Celebrate Broadway. Ron Palillo (known to audiences as Arnold Horshack on TV’s Welcome Back Kotter) starred as Nathan Detroit in Premier’s Guys & Dolls and Tony nominee, television and film star, Adrienne Barbeau appeared in the premiere of the comedy Thank You and Good Night.  Premier welcomed Steve Geyer, direct from Broadway’s successful revival of Grease, where he had the longest run in the role of Kenickie.  Steve appeared as Cornelius in Premier’s Hello Dolly in August, followed by the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in October.  While the majority of Premier performers are not yet members of Actor’s Equity Association, many have performed professionally and have since gone on to perform in national tours and on Broadway.  In addition, many of Premier’s musicians have New York and Broadway credits.

Fundraising, through benefit performances, is also a priority for The Premier Theatre Company.  In one year alone, Premier raised over $20,000 for charitable and non-profit organizations located in the Monmouth/Ocean County area. Premier regularly donates tickets to non-profit organizations for their members who would not be able to attend live performances.  The company feels strongly about giving back to the community which has made it what it is today. 

The Premier Theatre Company supports itself strictly through ticket sales and several generous patrons.

Mark E. Fleming, the Executive Producer and Artistic Director of The Premier Theatre Company, has produced and directed over 150 show over the past 22 seasons, including the first post-Broadway production of Sunday in the Park with George, the New Jersey debuts of A Chorus Line and Rumors, as well as the Monmouth County and South Jersey debuts of Evita and Me and My Girl.  He also produced world premieres of several stage productions now published by Samuel French Inc.