Our Annual Ghost Story

Centenary Stage Company (CSC), the professional equity theatre in residence on the campus of Centenary College, will once again offer a seasonal autumn treat with the presentation of Noel Coward's delightful, other-worldly comedy, Blithe Spirit. The production will run October 13 through 28 at the Centenary Theatre.

Written at the height of WWII, the scintillating nonsense of Blithe Spirit, with its ghosts, séances and sparkling dialogue, is one of Coward's most beloved works. From 1941 to 1946 Blithe Spirit established a "longest-run" record in the London theatre for a non-musical play, with 1997 performances. In this wittiest of comedies, novelist Charles Condomine invites the breezy Madam Arcati to a dinner party in his home, in order to investigate the language of the occult. Little does he dream that Arcati's séance will conjure up the ghost of Condomine's "departed" wife, Elvira, who promptly begins a campaign to win him back from his current, very alive wife, Ruth. Ghostly shenanigans ensue.

Bringing a special eccentricity to the role of "Madam Arcati" will be New York actress Colleen Kennedy, who was last at CSC in the role of "Miss Cluck" in A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur. Kennedy has been seen on Broadway as "Mrs. Burling" in An Inspector Calls, where she also understudied Rosemary Harris in the lead. She is a frequent artist at American Family Theater in Philadelphia and has been seen on television in All My Children.

The role of "Ruth" will be played by Josephine Hall, who comes to CSC by way of England and Virginia's Barter theatre, where she recently played "Maureen Folan" in their production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane. The role of the mischievous "Elvira" will be portrayed by Gwendolyn Lewis, who in addition to teaching in NYC, has extensive regional theatre credits from the Coconut Grove Theater in Florida to the Folger Theater in Washington, to the Phoenix Theater in New York. Additional cast members include Jessica Tabish as Edith, Anna Buckley as "Mrs. Bradman", and Sussex County resident, Wayne Gordan as "Mr. Bradman."

Performances of Blithe Spirit will be Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2:30pm (with 1:15 Buffet-Brunch option), Wednesdays at 2:30pm (requires advance reservation) and Thursdays at 7:30pm. For regional school groups, the Student Matinee will be offered Tuesday, October 24 at 11am, and will be followed by a "meet the cast" session and a short discussion of Noel Coward's work. Tickets may be purchased at the CSC Box Office (908-979-0900), by printing and faxing our online Tickets/Ordering form, and locally at Baron's Hallmark in the Hackettstown Mall. Tickets prices are as follows:

Saturdays: adult $17.50, Seniors - $15, Child. Under 12 $12.50

Buffet Matinees (available by reservation on Wednesdays and Sundays) $20 (brunch and show inclusive)

All other performances: Adults - $15, Children under 12 - $12.50, with the exception of Thursdays "Family Night" special with tickets two-for-one on the one $15 ticket, available at the door only. (Advance reservations are regularly priced)

Student Matinee groups: discounted student price - $5, made possible in part by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.

Performances at CSC are made possible in part by the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and local Arts Guild supporters.

Director: Carl Wallnau

New Outreach Mission for Americans with Disabilities

In CSC's new outreach mission for Americans with Disabilities, one audio described performance will be offered. One person is positioned in the lobby describing the performance as seen on a monitor located there.  The signal is sent to audience members with the special wireless headsets.  We're excited about this new offering.  "Signed" performances are coming!  Interested patrons should contact CSC in advance to ensure equipment availability.  

Tickets/Ordering