 The English Bride Professional Equity Play Apr. 5-21, 2013 |
Apr. 1-17, 2011
The Edith Bolte Kutz ’42 Theater (Blackbox) of the Lackland Center
Professional Equity Theatre Presentation
World Premiere Play
Winner of the 2010 Susan Glaspell Contest for
best new play, “How to Pray” by
Michelle Carter
will enjoy its World Premiere at the
Centenary Stage Company April 1-17 in Hackettstown.
 (L-R) Colin Ryan is “The Lover” and Amanda Duarte is “Faith” - How to Pray by Michelle Carter [closer view] |
Faith never wanted to have children. But she is moved to help her brother and his wife with baby issues. She could not have imagined the complications which would ensue, which ultimately thrust Faith into a life-changing ethical and moral dilemma. Winner of the 2010 Susan Glaspell Contest for best new play, How to Pray by Michelle Carter will enjoy its World Premiere at the Centenary Stage Company April 1-17 in Hackettstown.
With a surly house cat, an irrepressible dog that Faith adopted from a local shelter, a social-networking boyfriend, and a transgender Karaoke-singing friend, How to Pray is highly theatrical, and is filled with humor of the divine comedy that Faith’s life is. "It is also," Catherine Rust, Program Director of the CSC Playwright Series states, " ultimately a play about choice, and the unique situation that women and men find themselves in in today’s culture of miraculous technology, and the redefinition of the nature of ‘family.’ It is the perfect complement to March’s Women’s History Month celebrations."
 (L – R) Amanda Duarte is “Faith” and Steven Patterson is “Judi” in How to Pray” by Michelle Carter [closer view] |
Playwright: Michelle Carter (PEN Award-winner)
A resident of San Francisco, playwright Michelle Carter received the PEN USA Literary Award in Drama for her first two plays, Hillary and Soon-Yi Shop for Ties and Ted Kaczynski Killed People With Bombs, both of which premiered at San Francisco's Magic Theatre. She was the first American playwright-in-residence at the Donmar Warehouse in London. Her PEN-Award-winning plays are published by Dramatic Publishing and "Prometheus" appears in Plays for Actresses II (Vintage). Her first novel was published by Penguin Books.
| Writing
Workshop A special free writing workshop with PEN Award-winning playwright Michelle Carter will be offered for the public on Sat., Apr. 2, 2011 at 1 PM. Carter is the author of How to Pray which makes its World Premiere on the Centenary Stage this month. Reservations are required for the writing workshop and can be made by calling 908-979-0900 x5. |
| First
Sunday Talkback Program A Talkback with the Playwright and Cast will take place following the Apr 3, 2:30 Performance. It is open to the public at no charge whether you are attended that particular Sunday performance or not. A spirited discussion and exploration of the work and the issues of the play. |
| Reviews |
| How To Pray Reviews William Westhoven, DailyRecord.com Rick Busciglio, examiner.com™ New York Review Snippits: "Playwright Michelle Carter gives us a highly personal and stylishly theatrical view of Faith's search for the life she was meant to live." "...play is frequently entertaining and full of scenes that will stir your emotions and stimulate some deep conversations." "Adding to the deep impact of this production is the setting: Centenary's new black box theater..." "...when the situation calls for emotion, Duarte lets it burst out in authentically cathartic confrontations that edge her closer to the answers she is desperately seeking" "Patterson, though, steals the show, having so much fun with his tour de force buffet of characters that you can't help but have fun watching him...he manages to go over the top without undermining his character, a fine line he confidently walks like a Flying Wallenda." "Director Margo Whitcomb has to get the credit for excellent casting and making at least some sense out of a complex tale." "'How to Pray,' however, makes some valid points about traditional expectations in our modern world and will stimulate your mind and senses enough to make the journey to Hackettstown worthwhile." William Westhoven, DailyRecord.com [Full Review] "This is an excellent, intelligent, truly thought provoking journey of a young single woman, Faith, who is faced with a challenging set of ethical and moral choices. " "The very talented cast, directed by Margo Whitcomb, includes..." "Colin Ryan and Steven Patterson are terrific filling multiple roles." "An audience favorite with his quirky performances and fast costume changes as Frank, Judi, the Cat, the Kid and the Dog is Steven Patterson. " "...Maria Brodeur makes a strong video appearance as Alexis." Mr. Busciglio quotes the playwright from an interview with "Catherine Rust, Centenary Stage Company's General Manager and Program Director of the CSC's outstanding Women Playwright Series" 'I started thinking about ways in which women are being sold a bill of goods--not only by movies, but generally about how to live, and what experiences will be most deep and fulfilling. The writing of the play came out of those questions.' 'My intention for this play--and for all my plays I guess--is to give audiences an experience that they could only have sitting with other live human beings in one space, together. That experience, for me, can be transcendent in a way that few others can. Not that great movies and TV shows can't be transcendent. I guess I'm just interested in exploring how theater can do things that other arts and media can't.' Rick Busciglio, examiner.com New York Feb.18, 2011 [Read Full Review] |
Director: Margo Whitcomb
The play will be directed by Margo Whitcomb, who shares credits at San Francisco’s Magic Theatre, which has also produced
Carter’s earlier plays. Whitcomb was the former Associate Artistic Director of the American Conservatory Theatre in San
Francisco, and is a founding Artistic Director of the Hudson Valley’s Half Moon Theatre Company.
Play Development
How to Pray received development in the 2010 CSC Women Playwrights Series, as well as in the Mark Taper Forum (a world-class
venue for new American plays located in Los Angeles), where Carter was the recipient of the Forum Playwrighting Commission.
The Taper commission put Carter among the elite in contemporary American playwriting. Other writers selected for the honor
include the Tony Award-winning David Henry Hwang, Naomi Izuka, Jon Robin Baitz, Lisa Loomer and the Latino performance group,
Culture Clash.
The Cast
The cast of How to Pray will feature Amanda Duarte, Steven Patterson and Colin Ryan. Duarte’s credits include theatres from California to New York, where she also directs and is a monologist and storyteller, performing at such venues as Caroline's and the Upright Citizens Brigade. Patterson’s credits include Shakespeare festivals from Orlando to Oregon, as well as performances in New York and regionally. Ryan returns to CSC where he played David Garrick in the American revival of "A Laughing Matter. He is a MFA graduate of the Academy for Classical Acting, under the director of Michael Kahn and the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C.
| Centenary Brunch Sundays |
| Centenary College opens the special Centenary Brunch to the public on Sundays, in the dining hall of the Lackland Center. Serving from 11-1:30 PM, the brunch includes a traditional Breakfast Buffet, plus a Carving Station, Deli Counter, Luncheon Entrée, and more. The Brunch is priced at only $8.25, and no advance reservations are required. |
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Schedule
Performance times for How To Pray are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2:30 PM, Thursdays at 7:30 PM, with matinee
performances on Fri, Apr 1 at 2:30 PM (Preview), Wed, Apr 6 at 2:30 PM and Wed., Apr 13 at 2:30 PM. The play will be performed
in the Edith Bolte Kutz Theater of the new David and Carol Lackland Center on the campus of Centenary College.
| Apr. 2011 - How to Pray | |||||
| Wed. Mat. 2:30pm |
Thurs. Eve. 7:30pm |
Fri. Mat. 2:30pm Preview |
Fri. Eve. 8pm |
Sat. Eve. 8pm |
Sun. Mat. 2:30pm |
| 1 | 1 | 2 Writing Workshop |
3 "Talk-back" |
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| 6 | 7 Family Night |
x | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 13 | 14 Family Night |
x | 15 |
16 |
17 Access- ibility |
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 Colin Ryan is “the Lover”, Steven Patterson is “Dog” and Amanda Duarte is “Faith” in the Centenary Stage Company World Premiere of “How to Pray” by Michelle Carter [Closer View] |
About Lackland Performing Arts Center
 Lackland Performing Arts Center |
One of the most sophisticated performing arts venues in Northwest New Jersey, the David and Carol Lackland Center encompasses a 22,000-square-foot performance space, a new state-of-the-art 500-seat theatre (Sitnik Theater), a black box theater (The Edith Bolte Kutz ’42 Theater), a dance studio, scene shop, a costume shop, green room and dressing rooms. In addition to housing the theatre, the 68K square foot Lackland Center will be a home for a variety of cultural activity, and will include WNTI, the College’s listener-supported NPR Affiliate, and CCTV, Centenary’s Comcast-licensed television studio, and gallery space for visual artists.
Named in honor of Carol Burgess Lackland, A Centenary graduate (Class of 1954), and her husband, David A. Lackland, a Centenary College Trustee, The David and Carol Lackland Center has been designed to enrich student life and bring new cultural opportunities to northwest New Jersey. ...more (including photos, progress reports, and 'Tour Lackland with Carl')
| Lackland Center Seating | |
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Sitnik Lower Level Seating Seats assigned on a best available basis. [closer view] |
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Sitnik Balcony Seating Seats assigned on a best available basis. [closer view] |
| The Edith Bolte Kutz ’42 Theater (Blackbox) Seating Open Seating as the theatre configuration will change depending on the event. Parking [Large Map Link] [Print Map Link] |
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Tickets
Tickets for How to Pray range in price from $ 20 to $25, with special discounts for seniors, students and groups.
A special tradition locally for the economically-minded, Thursday evenings at CSC are "Family Nights" with two-for-one ‘rush’ ticket
prices available at the door on the evening of the performance. Tickets may be purchased through our Secure
Online Ticketing System or by calling the CSC box office at 908-979-0900, Monday through Friday, from 1-5 PM.
Individual Tickets are:
| Season Plays: | |
| Saturday: | $25.00 for adults, $22.50 for
seniors/students and $15.00 for children under 12 |
| Friday | $22.50 for adults, $20.00 for seniors/students and $15.00 for children under 12 |
| Other Evening Performances: | $22.50 for adults, $20.00 for seniors/students and $15.00 for children under 12 |
| Matinee showings (except Preview) | $20.00 for adults and seniors/students, $15.00 for children under 12 ($20.00 at the door) |
| Friday Preview Matinees | $17.50 for adults and seniors/students, $15.00 for
children under 12 ($17.50 at the door) 2010-11 Fri. Preview Matinee Dates: Oct 1, Nov. 5, Nov. 26, Feb. 18, April 1 |
| Thursday (2 for 1 at the door the day of the show only): | $22.00 |
| Concert / Dance Events | In Advance: New Jersey Ballet; Chamber Orchestra Kremlin $25.00 for adults ($30.00 at the door) $22.50 for seniors/students ($25.00 at the door) $15.00 for children under 12 ($20.00 at the door) All Other $22.50 for adults ($25.00 at the door) $20.00 for seniors/students ($22.50 at the door) $15.00 for children under 12 ($20.00 at the door) The at-the-door ticket prices: New Jersey Ballet; Chamber Orchestra Kremlin: $30.00 / $25.00 / $20.00 All Other: $25.00 / $22.50 / $20.00 |
| The 2012-13 season of performing arts events at Centenary Stage Company is made possible (and affordable) through the generous support of the The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, and sponsors, including Premier Sponsors Fulton Bank of New Jersey and Heath Village Retirement Community, as well as Silver Sponsors Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, Holiday Inn (Budd Lake-Rockaway Area), Bronze Sponsor, Mama's and Café Baci, in Hackettstown and Centenary Stage Company Members and Sponsors. |
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