The Doo Wop Project, Dance Fest and More Coming Up This Season at Centenary Stage

Centenary Stage Company's 2016 - 17 season is fast approaching and in addition to its theatrical productions CSC will be hosting a season bursting with music, dance and special events for all ages and tastes.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

The 2016 - 17 season kicks off with Centenary Stage Company's annual Curtain Up! event on Saturday, September 24 at 8pm in the Sitnik Theater of the Lackland Performing Arts Center. This year's Curtain Up! event features The Doo Wop Project.

The Doo Wop Project begins at the beginning, tracing the evolution of Doo Wop from the classic sound of five guys singing tight harmonies on a street corner to the biggest hits on the radio today. Throughout the show DWP takes audiences on a journey from foundational tunes of groups like the Crests, Belmonts and Flamingos through their influences on the sounds of Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, and the Four Seasons all the way to Michael Jackson, Jason Mraz and Amy Winehouse. Featuring current and former stars of Broadway's smash hits Jersey Boys and Motown: The Musical, the Doo Wop Project brings unparalleled authenticity of sound and vocal excellence to recreate-and in some cases entirely reimagine-some of the greatest music in American pop and rock history.

Tickets for The Doo Wop Project are $45.00 for VIP Seating. VIP Seating is limited to 20 patrons and will be located on stage with the group. $40.00 for Premium Seating which is limited to the first three rows of the orchestra. $35.00 for regular orchestra seating and $30.00 for balcony. To reserve VIP or Premium Seating call the box office directly. As with all concerts, jazz and special events ticket prices increase $5.00 on the day of the performance. All ticket sales are final.

Centenary Stage Company in partnership with the Hackettstown Rotary present New York's funniest curmudgeon, Colin Quinn on Saturday, March 25 at 8pm in the Sitnik Theater of the Lackland Performing Arts Center.

A native of Brooklyn, Quinn began his stand-up career in New York as a regular on the Comedy Club circuit. Best known for his work on Saturday Night Live, where he anchored Weekend Update, on MTV's 1980's game show Remote Control, and as executive producer, host of Comedy Central's late - night panel show Tough Crowd with Colin Quin and as the reoccurring role of Hermie on the HBO series Girls. In addition to his television work, Quinn has appeared in many films, most notably, A Night at the Roxbury, Adam Sandler's Grown Ups franchise and as Amy Schumer's father in the film Trainwreck.

Quinn has also become known for his comedic one-man shows that offer his unique takes on history and growing up in New York City. As of 2015, he has written and starred in five shows: Irish Wake, My Two Cents, Long Story Short (Drama Desk Nomination), Unconstitutional, and The New York Story, two of which he collaborated on with Jerry Seinfeld as director. Long Story Short was also filmed as an Emmy nominated HBO special that aired on April 9, 2011 and Unconstitutional was released as a Netflix special in 2015.

Tickets for Colin Quinn on Saturday, March 25 at 8pm are $48.00 for orchestra seating and $43.00 for balcony seating. As a special fundraising event tickets are not included in Season Subscription or Flex Pass packages. All ticket sales are final.

MUSIC EVENTS:

Centenary Stage Company's annual January "Thaw" Music Festival returns for 2016 - 17 with a line-up of high energy musical guests. The Festival runs January 14, January 22 and January 28 in the Sitnik Theater. This year's festival will feature The Hoodoo Loungers, Sweet Plaintain and 3hree for Louis.

On Saturday, January 14 at 8pm CSC's January "Thaw" Music Festival presents The Hoodoo Loungers in the Sitnik Theater. The Hoodoo Loungers are a high-energy nine piece band performing music inspired by the rhythms, sounds, history, and spirit of New Orleans. The band's sound encompasses the traditional jazz, brass, classic R&B, and funk along with a blend of original music.

Then on Sunday, January 22 at 2pm the January "Thaw" Music Festival continues with 3hree for Louis. One of New York's most versatile musicians, Eddie Allen brings THREE trumpeters and an all-star ensemble to pay tribute to the legacy and music of jazz great and American icon, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong.

Finally, on Saturday, January 28 at 8pm in the Sitnik Theater CSC's January "Thaw" Music Festival closes with Sweet Plantain. This virtuoso quartet brings a freshness and inventiveness to every note they play blending jazz, Latin, hip hop, and classical styles.

Tickets for The Hoodoo Loungers on Saturday, January 14 at 8pm are $27.50 for adults in advance and $17.50 for children under 12 in advance. Tickets for 3hree for Louis on Sunday, January 22 at 2pm are $25.00 for adults in advance and $17.50 for children under 12 in advance. Tickets for Sweet Plantain on Saturday, January 28 at 8pm are $22.50 for adults in advance and $17.50 for children under 12 in advance. Ticket prices increase $5.00 on the day of the performance. All ticket sales are final.

Back by popular demand just in time for Saint Patrick's Day The Tartan Terrors are set to terrorize the Lackland Center with their unique brand of rock energy and traditional Celtic sound on Saturday, March 11 at 8pm in the Sitnik Theater. Hailed as "The heirs apparent to [Celtic] mayhem!" by Celtic Beat Magazine, The Tartan Terrors are their own Celtic Invasion, mixing rock with traditional folklore, dance, and comedy. With an arsenal featuring classic pipes and fiddle, driving drum tones, and signature guitar styles, the performance also features award-winning Step and Highland Dancers.

Tickets for The Tartan Terrors are $30.00 for ALL SEATS. Ticket prices increase $5.00 day of the performance. All ticket sales are final.

DANCE EVENTS:

Dance takes front and center at Centenary Stage Company as CSC welcomes back two exciting performances from the New Jersey Ballet on Saturday, November 5 and Sunday, November 6 in the Sitnik Theater of the Lackland Center.

On Saturday, November 5 the New Jersey Ballet presents Cervantes' masterpiece Don Quixote at 8pm in the Sitnik Theater. Rich in Spanish color, flavor, and laugh - out - loud humor of Cervantes' classic tale about an old knight, his squire, and their foray into the age of chivalry come to life through dance. Then on Sunday, November 6 at 2pm the New Jersey Ballet gives the classic adventure of Pinocchio a thrilling new twist on the Sitnik stage of the Lackland Center.

Tickets for Don Quixote are $25.00 for adults in advance and $18.50 for children under 12 in advance. Tickets for Pinocchio are $20.00 for adults in advance and $17.50 for children under 12 in advance. All ticket orders for concerts, jazz, and special events increase $5.00 day of performance. All ticket sales are final.

Centenary Stage Company's annual Dance Fest returns to the Sitnik stage for 2016 - 17 highlighting the best of professional dance companies from the tristate area. The festival opens with XY Dance Project, followed by Moe - tion Dance Theater and concludes with two performances by Nai Ni Chen Dance Company.

Launching the 2016 - 17 Dance Fest on Saturday, March 18 at 8pm in the Sitnik Theater is The XY Dance Project. The XY Dance Project has a unique movement style that blends contemporary dance through the spiritual rhythms of African dance, the grace and peace of Tai Chi and the heart of street dance.

The festival continues on Saturday, March 26 at 4pm with Moe-tion Dance Theater. Under the artistic direction of Maureen Glennon, Moe-tion Dance Theater is known for their diverse repertory and site-specific work.

Final the festival wraps up with two performances on the Sitnik stage by Nai - Ni Chen Dance Company. On Saturday, April 1 at 2pm Nai - Ni Chen presents 'The First Chinese New Year'. A spectacular production of dazzling props, colorful costumes, mesmerizing music, fantastic acrobatics, and lively dance perfect for ages 5 to adult. Then on Saturday, April 8 at 8pm Nai - Ni Chen returns for their repertory of original pieces. A blossom of color, energy and motion, "like endlessly proliferating forces of cosmic energy," (New York Times). The dances of Nai - Ni Chen fuse the dynamic freedom of American spirit with the grace and splendor of the Asian soul.

Tickets for the 2016 - 17 Dance Fest events are $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for children under 12. All ticket sales are final.

WOMEN PLAYWRIGHTS SERIES:

Now in its 24th season, the WPS is a developmental program dedicated to providing a working forum for the unique and underserved voice of women writing for the theatre today. Each season new plays are selected for a collaborative workshop process, with a professional director and actors. At the end of the rehearsal, a staged reading of the play is presented at CSC for our regional audiences, giving CSC audiences larger exposure to new work, as well as offering the playwright an opportunity to get feedback from the audience during the development process.

Women writers from around the country will converge in Hackettstown for the three week event scheduled on Wednesdays; April 12, April 19 and April 26 at 7:30pm, which will bring dramatic workshop-presentations of the three new full-length plays by women writers. Individual plays will be announced as selected. Plays presented in the developmental WPS program are finalists in the Susan Glaspell Award competition, and are under consideration for full production in a subsequent season at the Centenary Stage Company, the professional, Equity theatre in residence on the campus of Centenary College. Centenary Stage Company's Women Playwrights Series is open to the public with a suggested donation of $10.00. Reservations are highly encouraged.

YOUNG AUDIENCE SERIES:

Centenary Stage Company's Young Audience Series returns to the Little Theater for the 2016 - 17 Season. This year YAS will be presenting Miss Nelson is Missing!, Miss Nelson has a Field Day and Shake It Up Shakespeare: Magic, Mystery & Mayhem. As part of the third Saturday Series, CSC's Young Audience Series will be presenting a family favorite musical every third Saturday a month. Performances are currently scheduled for Saturday, September 17 at 11 am (Miss Nelson is Missing!); Saturday, October 15 at 11am (Shake It Up Shakespeare); Saturday, November 12 at 11 am; Saturday, February 18 at 11am and Saturday, April 8 at 11am. Tickets for YAS productions are $12.50 for adults and $10.00 for children under 12. Young Audience Series productions are also available for tour. Contact the CSC Administrative Office for more information. Centenary Stage Company's Young Audience Series is a program of the Centenary University Theater Department.

For more information regarding any of the 2016 - 17 series of events or to purchase tickets visit centenarystageco.org. Ticket purchase and inquires may also be made by contacting the CSC box office by phone at (908) 979 - 0900. The Centenary Stage Company box office is located in the David and Carol Lackland Center at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ and is open Monday through Friday from 1 - 5pm and two hours prior to every event.

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