Centenary Stage Company News

Take a stroll down memory lane to relive the incredible harmonies and smooth moves made famous by such legendary recording artists as The Temptations, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross and The Supremes and many more. Centenary Stage Company's Jammin' in July Summer Concert Series welcomes the Masters of Motown to the Sitnik Theatre tonight, July 20th at 8 pm in the David and Carol Lackland Center at 715 Grand Avenue in Hackettstown.

Along with the discovery of 5,000 historic theater scores, buried in an attic in Washington, D.C., Founder and Artistic Director of The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra Rick Benjamin was stunned when he came upon George Gershwin's long-lost Broadway score for La La Lucile, which hasn't been performed since 1919. The piece will make its premiere in Hackettstown this month at the Centenary Stage Company's Jammin' in July Summer Concert Series.

The one and only Groucho Marx was an unforgettable figure in this country's history. The New York Times summed up this comedic genius as 'America's most gifted funny man.' This summer, Centenary Stage Company welcomes the performer that has been recognized and applauded world-wide for his ability to embody this legend. Award-winning actor/director/playwright Frank Ferrante brings back the classic laughs of the black and white era, in his popular touring show An Evening with Groucho tonight, July 13th at 8 pm at the Sitnik Theatre in the David and Carol Lackland Center.

An Acting Shakespeare Master Class will be led by veteran stage and film actor, Randall Duk Kim, and veteran stage director, Anne Occhiogrosso this summer at the Centenary Stage Company. Under the direction of these two acclaimed teachers, students in the Acting Shakespeare Master Class will focus on developing acting skills through the 'Bard's' great literary works that will aid and empower actors embracing auditions as well as performances. This class is designed for high school seniors, college students, and adult actors wishing to enhance their skills in classical language and performance.

The one and only Groucho Marx was an unforgettable figure in this country's history. The New York Times summed up this comedic genius as "America's most gifted funny man." This summer, Centenary Stage Company welcomes the performer that has been recognized and applauded world-wide for his ability to embody this legend. Award-winning actor/director/playwright Frank Ferrante brings back the classic laughs of the black and white era, in his popular touring show An Evening with Groucho Saturday, July 13th at 8 pm at the Sitnik Theatre in the David and Carol Lackland Center.

New Jersey Youth Theatre's production of West Side Story is part of Centenary Stage Company's Jammin' in July Summer Concert Series, which will also include An Evening With Groucho, Masters of Motown, and The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra with a Flex Pass available to all FOUR events at $90.00 per person.

Magic, mystery, laughter, and three New York premieres are the highlights of the 2013-2014 season at The Centenary Stage Company in their fourth year at the David and Carol Lackland Center. This year will feature eight diverse theatre events in the Lackland Center in addition to the New York premieres.

New Jersey Youth Theatre (NJYT) has spent the 25 years producing and mounting professional-level musical theatre productions with casts consisting of children, teenagers, and young adults. In 1997, when the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) opened its doors, New Jersey Youth Theatre took residency in the PAC's Victoria Theatre. Over a period of 15 years, NJYT and NJPAC produced award-winning shows that utilized the talent of over 600 young performers throughout the state. For the first time in 15 years, New Jersey Youth Theatre has separated from NJPAC and has ventured out on its own, returning to its community roots.

The Centenary Stage Company will host a tribute to one of the most exciting musical artists of our time, Ray Charles, with 'Forever Ray', a stellar 13-piece lineup of powerhouse musicians. Members of the band have toured or recorded with Ray Charles, Alicia Keys, Rod Stewart, Levon Helm, Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Kelly Clarkson, Patti LaBelle and Frank Sinatra to name a few.

The one and only Groucho Marx was an unforgettable figure in this country's history. The New York Times summed up this comedic genius as 'America's most gifted funny man.' This summer, Centenary Stage Company welcomes the performer that has been recognized and applauded world-wide for his ability to embody this legend. Award-winning actor/director/playwright Frank Ferrante brings back the classic laughs of the black and white era, in his popular touring show An Evening with Groucho Saturday, July 13th at 8 pm at the Sitnik Theatre in the David and Carol Lackland Center.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's first collaboration, Oklahoma!, which earned the legendary duo a special Pulitzer prize, opens the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's 22nd season. The musical previews tonight, June 12th and 13th, opens June 14th, running through June 30th on the main stage.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's first collaboration, Oklahoma!, which earned the legendary duo a special Pulitzer prize, opens the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's 22nd season. The musical previews June 12th and 13th, opens June 14th, running through June 30th on the main stage.

The world of Vampires and Zombies will come alive in the final workshop of the Performing Arts Series at the Warren County Library in Belvidere on Saturday, June 1 at 10 am , featuring hands-on instruction in theatrical make-up for aspiring performers.

The Centenary Stage Company will host a tribute to one of the most exciting musical artists of our time, Ray Charles, with 'Forever Ray', a stellar 13-piece lineup of powerhouse musicians. Members of the band have toured or recorded with Ray Charles, Alicia Keys, Rod Stewart, Levon Helm, Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Kelly Clarkson, Patti LaBelle and Frank Sinatra to name a few.

An Acting Shakespeare Master Class will be led by veteran stage and film actor, Randall Duk Kim, and veteran stage director, Anne Occhiogrosso this summer at the Centenary Stage Company. Under the direction of these two acclaimed teachers, students in the Acting Shakespeare Master Class will focus on developing acting skills through the 'Bard's' great literary works that will aid and empower actors embracing auditions as well as performances. This class is designed for high school seniors, college students, and adult actors wishing to enhance their skills in classical language and performance.

Centenary Stage Company's Music for a Today Afternoon series is coming to a close for the season and will be featuring The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey for the series' grand finale. Audiences can enjoy an intimate concert experience today, April 28 at 2 pm in the Little Theater at 400 Jefferson Street on the campus of Centenary College. The orchestra will be lead by Dr. Robert W. Butts with a program that reflects the various directions the orchestra has ventured into - from Baroque selections, to original compositions by Maestro Butts himself, and finishing with some opera selections that will include guest vocalists.

With the several theatrical and musical talents that Centenary Stage Company brings to Hackettstown, they still like to leave some room to dance. For a full week in April, audiences can enjoy performances by accomplished professional dance companies that come to the Lackland Center from all over New Jersey. CSC will be having its annual Dance Week, today, April 21st, through the 27th with performances by Umoja Dance Company, Moe-Tion Dance Theatre, Nimbus Dance Works, and The Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company.

Three generations of women come together in the rich and complicated personal tapestry of 'Can't Complain,' by Award-winning Australian playwright, Christine Evans, which will be the second presentation of the Centenary Stage Company's annual Women Playwrights Series (WPS) in Hackettstown tonight, Apr 17 at 7:30 PM.

Whether you're new to dance or have spent a lifetime studying this diverse art form, Centenary can provide a wealth of expertise and experience in several dance styles. The Centenary Stage Company will sponsor the 5th Annual Summer Dance Intensive at Centenary College this summer, July 8th thru July11th, on the Campus of Centenary College in Hackettstown NJ. The four day intensive provides the dance community with affordable, high quality dance instruction by masters in the field of dance. Last year the intensive was attended by over 30 young dancers in the area, with dancers in their teens, twenties, and up.

Called 'an intimate portrait of passion, betrayal and international espionage,' The English Bride, by New Jersey playwright Lucile Lichtblau, will make its World Premiere* at the professional Centenary Stage Company tonight, April 5-21 in the Lackland Center in Hackettstown.