2016 - 17 Season of Events
Archive of Centenary Stage Company's 2016 - 17 season of events including professional theatre productions, live music and dance events.
Curtain Up!
w/ The Doo Wop Project
Saturday, September 24 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Five Broadway guys blend and bend great POP and ROCK tunes! Featuring current and former stars of Broadway's smash hits Jersey Boys and Motown: The Musical. The Doo Wop Project recreates the tight harmonies of street corner sound to the biggest hits on the radio today with tunes from The Cadillacs, Belmonts and Flamingos to Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and The Four Seasons all the way to Michael Jackson, Jason Mraz and Amy Winehouse.
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily
Professional Theatre Series
October 7 - 23
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
by Katie Forgette
The wit of Oscar Wilde meets the cunning of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle when Wilde brings his dear friend, Lillie Langtry, to Baker Street. Someone has stolen the highly intimate letters Lillie exchanged with the Prince of Wales, and now she is being blackmailed. Only Holmes can solve the case, going so far as to disguise himself as an early version of Lady Bracknell from Wilde's latest play, The Importance of Being Forthright, while Watson falls head-over-heels for the Jersey Lily and a wicked professor attempts to bring the Crown to its knees.
Miss Nelson has a Field Day
Young Audience Series
October 15 - 17
The Little Theatre
Book by Harry Allard
Music & Lyrics by Joan Cushing
The Smedley Tornadoes have not only never won a football game, they have never scored a single point! Coach Armstrong goes bonkers and Miss Nelson decides to enlist the no-nonsense substitute, Coach Viola Sawmp, to whip the team into shape for the big Thanksgiving day game. Do the Smedley Tornadoes dare lose again?
Kick
CSC Fringe Festival
October 27 - 30
Kutz Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
"Riveting and truly worth seeing" - Kathryn Kitt, CenterontheAisle.com
It's not how high - it's how strong! Follow former Rockette Bernie from a kick line to 'A Chorus Line' to Hollywood and back in a powerful one woman show that weaves a tale with wisdom and humor.
Every (wo) man
NEXTstage Repertory
November 3 - 7
The Little Theatre
Centenary University & Centenary Stage Company's NEXTstage Repertory is the all student performanc division.
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​Everyman recounts the life and death of Everyman, an allegorical figure who represents all of humanity. At the beginning of the play, God orders Death to visit Everyman and to warn him that he will be judged by God himself.
The New Jersey Ballet: Don Quixote
Professional Dance Series
Saturday, November 5 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Don Quixote is rich in Spanish color, flavor, and laugh-out-loud humor of Cervante's masterpiece about an old knight, his squire, and their foray into the age of chivalry.
The New Jersey Ballet: Pinocchio
Professional Dance Series
Sunday, November 6 at 2:00 pm
The Little Theatre
Family Event!
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The classic adventure of 'Pinocchio' gets a thrilling new twist from the New Jersey Ballet Company.
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Hard Travelin with Woody
CSC Fringe Festival
November 10 - 13
Kutz Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
by Randy Noojin
Iconic folksinger Woody Guthrie is memorialized in this critically acclaimed, award-winning multimedia solo show packed with Guthrie's spirit, music, and artworks.
The Other Mozart
CSC Fringe Festival
November 17 - 20
The Little Theatre
by Sylvia Milo
"A gem of a show" (The Stage, London).
The Other Mozart is the true and untold story of Nannerl Mozart, the sister of Amadeus-prodigy, keyboard virtuoso, and composer - who performed throughout Europe with her brother, to equal acclaim, but her work and her story faded away, lost to history.
Shake-It-Up-Shakespeare:
Magic, Mystery & Mayhem
Young Audience Series
Saturday, November 19 at 11:00 am
The Little Theatre
A Celebration of the Works of William Shakespeare! Take a journey through some of the bard's greatest works and characters in this interactive performance, engaging young audiences and introducing a new way to look at Shakespeare. With scenes from Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and A Midsummer Night's Dream, including comedy and action-packed sword fights!
Mary Poppins
Family Holiday Spectacular
November 25 - December 11
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
An enchanting mixture of irresistible story, unforgettable songs, breathtaking dance numbers, and astonishing stagecraft. Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins delighted Broadway audiences for over 2,500 performances and received nominations for nine Olivier and seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Hoodoo Loungers
January Music Festival
Saturday, January 14 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
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.
3hree for Louis
January Music Festival
Sunday, January 22 at 2:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
A tribute to Louis Armstrong. 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, "Satchmo".
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"Trumpet solos marked by flowing logic and infectious, bouncing swing!" (Star Ledger)
Sweet Plantain
January Music Festival
Saturday, January 28 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Blending jazz, Latin, hip hop, and classical styles, this virtuoso quartet brings a freshness and inventiveness to every note they play.
The Music of Lisa Baldwin & Dave Haney
Special Event
Saturday, February 4 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Lisa Baldwin and Dave Haney play acoustic music that includes Lisa's original songs, bluegrass, country, traditional folk, and the work of contemporary singer-songwriters. A special benefit concert to support the Centenary University Innovation Fund.
The Surrogate
Professional Theatre Series
February 17 - March 5
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
World Premiere! O'Neill National Playwrights Conference finalist "The Surrogate" is an "All in the Family" for the 21st century. A smart funny play about what we can ask of our friends, our parents and spouses, and whether we'll get any of our important life decisions right.
A Thousand Cranes
Young Audience Series
Saturday, February 18 at 11:00 am
The Little Theatre
The true story of the young Japanese girl Sadako Sasaki, who inspired an international peace movement. A Thousand Cranes combines Japanese and American language, music, dance and highlights Japanese society in the after-math of World War II.
The Tartan Terrors
Concert Series
Saturday, March 11 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
"The heirs apparent to [Celtic] mayhem!" (Celtic Beat Magazine)
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Back by popular demand! The Tartan Terrors are their own Celtic Invasion, mixing rock's energy 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.
XY Dance Project
Professional Dance Series
Saturday, March 18 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
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.
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FREE workshop available with ticket purchase.
End Days
NEXTstage Repertory
March 23 - 27
Kutz Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
by Deborah Zoe Laufer
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Sixteen year old Rachel Stein is having a bad year. Her father hasn't changed out of his pajamas since 9/11. Her mother has begun a close, personal relationship with Jesus. Her new neighbor, a sixteen-year-old Elvis impersonator, has fallen for her hard. And the Apocalypse is coming Wednesday. Her only hope is that Stephen Hawking will save them all.
Colin Quinn
Special Event
Saturday, March 25 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
A special fundraising event for the Hackettstown Rotary Club.
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Best known for his work on Saturday Night Live, on MTV's 1980's game show Remote Control, and as executive producer and host of Comedy Central's late-night panel show Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn.
Moe-tion Dance Theatre
Professional Dance Series
Sunday, March 26 at 4:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Under the artistic direction of Maureen Glennon Clayton, Moe-tion Dance Theatre is known for their site specific work and dedicated to creating new forms of expression through dance.
Nai-Ni Chen: The First Chinese New Year
Professional Dance Series
Saturday, April 1 at 2:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Family Event!​
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A spectacular production of dazzling props, colorful costumes, mesmerizing music, fantastic acrobatics, and lively dance.
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School Matinee: March 31 at 10:30 am.
Nai Ni Chen: Crosscurrent
Professional Dance Series
Sunday, April 9 at 2:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
A blossom of color, energy and motion, "like endlessly proliferating forces of cosmic energy" (New York Times). The dances of Nai-Ni Chen fuse dynamic freedom of American spirit with the grace and splendor of Asian soul. The company will showcase its visionary new program CrossCurrent comprising of a series of work that highlights Ms. Chen's unique cross-cultural contemporary dance style.
WPS: Shame
Women Playwrights Series
Wednesday, April 12 at 7:30 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
by Sholeh Wolpe
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A dramatic comedy about secrets, a clash of cultures and the 'cost' of happines. 2016 Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference semi-finalist. Under the guise of a food delivery man, an Iranian nuclear scientist comes to the apartment of Noor and her older married sister Sahar, to confront Noor about her affair with his own sister. A clash of moral values, sexual identity and cultural expectations.
WPS: Apples in Winter
Special Event
Wednesday, April 19 at 7:30 pm
Kutz Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
by Jennifer Fawcett
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Miriam is making a pie for her son. It will be the last time she will do it for him. This play is about mothers & sons, and how we care for each other and about how to make really good apple pie. Winner of the Smith Prize for Political Theater, encouraging emerging playwrights to tackle the pressing issues of our time.
The Pleasure of His Company
Special Event
Sunday, April 23 at 3:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
FREE EVENT. Honoring the birth and death of William Shakespeare, classical theatre giants Randall Duk Kim and Anne Occhiogrosso star in The Pleasure of His Company: Our Love Affair with William Shakespeare and the First Folio. Conceived and written by Kim and Ochiogrosso the two character performance piece combines personal recollections, dramatic scenes and stories of Shakespeare's influence of their lives and more that four decade careers.
WPS: Hitler's Tasters
Special Event
Wednesday, April 26 at 7:30 pm
Kutz Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
by Michelle Kholos Brooks
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Inspired by the true story. Three times a day, every day, a group of young women have the opportunity to die for their country. They are Adolph Hitler's food tasters. And what do girls discuss as they wait to see if they will live through another meal? Like all girls, throughout time, they gossip and dream, they question and dance. They want to love, laugh, and above all, they want to survive.
Young Frankenstein
NEXTstage Repertory
April 27 - May 7
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
book by Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan
music & lyrics by Mel Brooks
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From the creators of record-breaking Broadway sensation, The Producers, comes this monster new musical comedy. The comedy genius, Mel Brooks, adapts his legendarily funny film into a brilliant stage creation.
Drive: A Tribute to the Cars
Summer Jamfest
Saturday, July 15 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Dedicated to producing accurate recreations of classic songs from the 80's decade. Highlighting a special tribute and authentic recreation of the music of "The Cars".
The Doo Wah Riders
Summer Jamfest
Saturday, July 22 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
There is no one else like the Doo Wah Riders. The Doo Wah Riders are country, with a unique, original sound. They define their sound as "high-energy country with a Cajun twist". Their tight musicianship and powerful arrangements of classic and original songs have made them favorites everywhere they go.
The British Invasion Years
Summer Jamfest
Saturday, July 29 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
book by Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan
music & lyrics by Mel Brooks
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More than just the Beatles, The British Invasion Years is three shows in one! First, you'll hear classic songs by iconic sixties British groups. Then the American musical "response" follows with memorable hits by celebrated artists. The sixties era retrospective concludes with an extraordinary note-for-note final.
Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra
Summer Jamfest
Saturday, August 5 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
The thrilling era of silent films comes alive again with the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra. "The premier American ragtime ensemble" as acclaimed by the Washington Post, takes you back to the early 1900's as they screen three of the greatest silent comedies ever made, Charlie Chaplin's One A.M. (1916), Buster Keaton's Cops (1922) and Laurel & Hardy's Big Business (1929) with their historic orchestral scores! Between films, the orchestra plays the rollicking rhythms of the early 20th century, featuring Joplin, Berlin, Gershwin and more.
Dr. K's Motown Revue
Summer Jamfest
Saturday, August 12 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
book by Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan
music & lyrics by Mel Brooks
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The ultimate Motown revue featuring an amazing array of seasoned musicians and singers. Journey through the Motown sound with true to its roots performances delivering an authentically vocal sound of the Motown roster of artists.