THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN, Great Authors Out Loud Series, Johnny Winter and More Set for Centenary Stage, March 2013

As audiences begin to thaw out from the winter frost, Centenary Stage Company welcomes all to the theater. This March, CSC has a witty Irish play that helps audiences get in the St. Patrick's Day spirit, a CSC premiere performance for families of a popular kids book brought to life, a one-woman theatre extravaganza from a legendary Broadway star, a free staged reading presented by two theater greats talking about another theater great-Anton Chekov, and a weekend full of Blues music with world-renowned musical artists like Johnny Winter.

What better way to get geared up for St. Patrick's Day than enjoying a little Irish play about a little Irish Island filled with legendary Irish humor. The Cripple of Inishmaan written by Martin McDonagh runs from February 22nd through March 10th in the Sitnik Theater at the Lackland Center. In 1934, the people of Inishmaan learn that the Hollywood director Robert Flaherty is coming to the neighboring island to film a documentary. No one is more excited than Cripple Billy, an unloved boy whose chief occupation has been gazing at cows and yearning for a girl who wants no part of him. Billy is determined to cross the sea and audition for the Yank. As news of his audacity ripples through his rumor-starved community, The Cripple of Inishmaan becomes a merciless portrayal of a world comically cramped and relentlessly absurd.

CSC's Young Audience Series presents their new play, If You Give a Moose a Muffin from March 14th-17th. In this hilarious sequel to If You Give A Mouse A Cookie and If You Give A Pig A Pancake, a young boy entertains a gregarious moose by giving him a muffin. If a big hungry moose wants a muffin, he'll surely want some jam to go with it. So begins the comic complications of an adventure that will delight young audience members just as much as the first two productions.

CSC is proud to welcome Donna McKechnie to perform her one woman show, My Musical Comedy Life on Saturday March 16th at 8 p.m. It is an autobiographical musical celebration of song, dance, and storytelling, with music by some of Broadway's most celebrated composers, including Stephen Sondheim, Marvin Hamlisch, Cy Coleman, and Rodgers and Hammerstein, as well as more contemporary composers, like Ann Hampton Callaway. The Tony Award-winning star of A Chorus Line is regarded internationally as one of Broadway's foremost dancing and singing leading ladies. McKechnie has performed extensively on the concert stage, in cabaret, with symphony orchestras, and now brings her talents to the Centenary Stage.

The Great Authors Out Loud Series featuring Randall Duk Kim presents staged readings of plays written by four of the world's greatest playwrights whose mastery of language transcend their time and place to speak to us about what it means to be human. On Sunday, March 17th at 3 p.m. Randall, and fellow theatre expert Anne Ochiogrosso, will be presenting The Proposal, The Bear, and Swan Song by Anton Chekhov.

Legendary guitarist Johnny Winter brings his incredible Texas blues sound and style to the 4th Annual Blues Bash, taking place Friday March 22 and Saturday March 23. Johnny Winter headlines the Saturday night show, with national recording and fast rising star Samantha Fish, Blues Music Awards' Best New Artist, is also being featured with two additional acts. The sensationAl Lee Delray is the headliner on Friday, with two other acts opening up the action. Presented by Joe Hirsh Productions in cooperation with the Centenary Stage Company, and key sponsorship from PNC Bank, Mr. Music, and the Hackettstown Business Improvement District.

Cripple of Inishmaan tickets range from $­­­­­17.50 to $27.50 with discounts for students and seniors. Thursday night is Date Night with two for one rush tickets available at the door. Performances run from February 22nd through March 10th and are 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays with Wednesday matinees on February 27th and March 6th. All performances in the Sitnik Theater at the Lackland Center.

If You Give A Moose A Muffin tickets range from 12.50 for adults and 10.00 for children under 12. The performances are March 14th, 15th and 17th at 7 p.m. and Saturday March 16th at 11 a.m. in the Little Theater at 400 Jefferson St.

Donna McKechnie tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. The performance is Saturday, March 16th at 8 p.m. in the Sitnik Theater at the Lackland Center at 715 Grand Avenue.

The Great Authors Out Loud Series is a free event with reservations recommended. The performance is Sunday, March 17th at 3pm in the Black Box Theatre in the Lackland Center.

The Blues Bash performances are Friday March 22 & Saturday March 23rd. Doors open at 6:30pm each night. Tickets for Friday March 22nd are: All seats $20 Advance; $25 at the door.

Tickets for Saturday March 23rd are: Premier Seating (First Three Rows B-D) $60 each, Other Orchestra seating is $45 in advance and $50 at the door, Balcony Seating is $37.50 in advance, $42.50 at the door. There is also a Blues Flex Pass for $55 a person to attend both nights (does not include premier seating on Saturday).

The Centenary Stage Company is a not-for-profit professional equity theatre, in residence at Centenary College, dedicated to serving as a cultural resource for audiences of the Skylands Region with professional music, theatre and dance events and arts education programs throughout the year.

Photos: The Cripple of Inishmaan, Photo Credit Pat Lanciano; If You Give a Moose a Muffin; Donna McKechnie: My Musical Life, Photo Credit Kurt Sneddon with Blueprint Studios; Great Authors Out Loud Series: Chekhov, Photo Credit Pat Lanciano; Johnny Winter Band, Photo Credit Neil Ziozower.