A play about books, bravery, and the cost of speaking up is coming to Union this summer — and it arrives at a moment when those themes feel anything but distant.
"Alabama Story," written by Kenneth Jones, opens at the DMK Black Box Theater in Union on Thursday, August 6, and Union County Life has the full performance schedule and ticket details so residents can plan ahead.
The play follows an Alabama librarian and two reunited childhood friends as they navigate the forces of censorship and segregation during the American civil rights movement. It is a story rooted in a specific time and place, but the questions it raises about who gets to decide what people are allowed to read — and who is allowed to be seen — have not gone away.
The production is staged by The Theater Project, a New Jersey company led by artistic director Mark Spina that has made the DMK Black Box Theater its permanent home for its mainstage summer series. The theater is part of Union Township's Arts Center and Library complex at 1980 Morris Ave.
What's Playing and When
Performances run August 6 through 16, with evening shows, weekday matinees, and Sunday afternoon performances across two weekends. Evening performances at 7:30 p.m. are scheduled for Thursday, August 6, Saturday, August 8, and Friday and Saturday, August 14 and 15. Weekday matinees at 10 a.m. run on Friday, August 7 and Thursday, August 13. Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. are on August 9 and August 16.
General admission tickets are $35. Seniors pay $28, and students pay $20. On Sunday, August 9 — Senior Sunday — tickets are $23 for patrons 62 and older.
Ways to Attend for Less
The Friday, August 14 performance is Pay What You Can, making it an accessible option for residents who want to attend without a set ticket price. ⚠️ No minimum amount is stated — confirm with the theater before the event. Audio description for low vision patrons is also available at the August 14 performance.
Groups of 10 or more can attend for $20 per person, and a limited number of free tickets are available for student groups. For group sales and student group inquiries, call 908-809-8865.
Theater has a way of staying with you after the lights come up — and a story about who gets to speak, and who gets to read, is one worth sitting with.
Find more Union events, arts coverage, and community news on Union County Life.
