 The Ladies Man Professional Equity Play Feb. 17-Mar. 4, 2012 |
Oct. 1-17, 2010
Sitnik Theater of the Lackland Center
Professional Equity Theatre Presentation
Neil
Simon Opens the Lackland Theatre Season
At
Centenary Stage Company
 Photo L-R: Jeffrey Farber (behind), Allen Lewis Rickman, Liz Zazzi, Deborah Guarino, Maria Brodeur, Susan Barrett Photo by Carl Wallnau [Closer View] |
One of American's most prolific and successful playwrights, Neil Simon is often acclaimed for his unique way of exposing something real in the American spirit. With a notable contemporary relevance, Simon's The Prisoner of Second Avenue will officially open the Centenary Stage Company's professional theatre season in the new David and Carol Lackland Center on the campus of Centenary College in Hackettstown on October 1st.
The Play
"Is the whole world going out of business?" asks Mel Edison's wife Edna, as they face Edison's sudden unemployment, an intense summer heat wave, a prolonged garbage strike, a daytime robbery, noisy neighbors, and unending economic challenges that drive Edison to the brink of a nervous breakdown. Simon's play treats the challenges his characters face with his usual comic craft. The ability to create humor from the lives and troubles of everyday people is the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright's greatest contribution, maintains the American Masters Series on PBS.
Director
Artistic Director Carl Wallnau
| Reviews |
| "Here’s where Wallnau made his wisest move. He cast two of the state’s
most gifted performers, who have impeccable comic timing." "Allen Lewis Rickman deftly handles each Simon wisecrack with the ease of a hot spoon going into soft-serve ice cream." "Liz Zazzi expertly provides the voice of reason, the calming influence — until she’s not." "Samina Vieth has provided a handsome set for the Broadway-sized stage. The seating at the Sitnik, however, is much more intimate than what’s found in midtown Manhattan." "So get to the Sitnik now; it won’t have that lovely new-theater smell forever." Peter Filichia, The Star-Ledger [Full Review] "If you love live theatre, if you love to laugh (and cry, a bit), if you admire superior acting, or if you just want a 'good time,' we suggest you visit ASAP the beautiful and very impressive new home of the Centenary Stage Company." "Veteran film and stage actor Allen Lewis Rickman is wonderful in the comic role of Mel Edison. (He can be seen on the hit series “Boardwalk Empire” on HBO)." "Mel's wife is played to perfection by Liz Zazzi." "The supporting cast, all Mel's siblings, ... A trio of very funny, very professional actresses." Rick Busciglio, examiner.com™ New York [Full Review] "It helps that Wallnau has cast two of New Jersey's best actors, who share a volatile chemistry." "The vast stage in the new Sitnick Theatre... allows for an extra-wide set that gives the actors room to flex their creative muscles as well as an artistically pleasing design of window frames rising in the back." "Wallnau's only dilemma now is meeting the standard he and his company have set in their new address. That's a good problem to have, and one we can all enjoy watching him solve." William Westhoven, DailyRecord.com [Full Review] "Allen Lewis Rickman is a perfect Mel. The humor of his increasingly off-center outbursts is carefully calibrated so that he never loses either our belief or our sympathy." "The excellence of Carl Wallnau's unerringly tone-perfect, expertly paced production cannot be over praised." "The design elements of his production are exceptional. Samina Vieth has designed an eye pleasing set... The same is to said for the costumes of Julia Sharp." "Centenary Stage Company's funny, deeply moving and richly satisfying production of it is well worth a destination trip." Bob Rendell, talkinbroadway.com [Full Review] |
The Cast
Allen Lewis Rickman
Veteran actor Allen Lewis Rickman returns to CSC for a comic turn in the role of Mel Edison. Audiences will see Rickman this month in the premiere of Scorcese's "Boardwalk Empire" on HBO, and will remember his performance in Barry Levinson's television feature about Jack Kevorkian entitled "You Don't Know Jack, " with Al Pacino. Rickman was also featured this past year in the Coen Brother's film, "A Serious Man."Liz Zazzi
"One of the state's best actresses" (Star Ledger) Liz Zazzi will portray Mel's wife Edna. Zazzi has appeared at many of New Jersey's professional theatres, as well as New York's Central Park Summerstage, Riverside Shakespeare Co. and Lincoln Center.Jeffrey Farber
Jeffrey Farber will play Edison's brother Harry. Following a 'sizzling' performance of Henry Kissinger in "Nixon's Nixon" at the Virginia Premiere Theatre, Farber was also seen regionally in "A Thousand Clowns" at the Bickford Theatre, and as "Serge" in "Art" at the Womens Theatre Company.Susan Barrett
Susan Barrett will play Edison's NJ sister, Pearl. Barrett's television work includes appearances on 30-Rock, Law and Order and Late Night with Conan O'Brian. She has performed at venues from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and NY's Ensemble Studio Theatre to Lincoln Center.
Deborah Guarino
Deborah Guarino (Sussex, NJ) will play Pauline. In addition to her work on the stage, Guarino is also the author of the popular children's book, "Is Your Mama a Llama?" Guarino has also appeared in the NBC series "Mercy."Maria Brodeur
A CSC favorite, Maria Brodeur (Rockaway, NJ), last seen in Hackettstown in CSC's holiday comedy "My Three Angels," will play Brenda.
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Playright
Neil Simon
Schedule
Performances of The Prisoner of Second Avenue, which will run through October 1 - 17, 2010, will be Thursdays
at 7:30 PM, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2:30 PM, with an additional preview matinee on Friday,
Oct 1 at 2:30 PM, and a Wednesday matinee on Oct 6th at 2:30 PM. A student matinee will be performed on Wednesday, Oct. 13th at 10am.
| Oct. 2010 - The Prisoner of Second Avenue | |||||||
| Tues. Mat. 2:30pm |
Wed. Stu.Mat. 10am |
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 | 3 "First Sundays" |
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| 5 | x | 6 | 7 Family Night |
x | x | 9 | 10 |
| x | 13 | x | 14 Family Night |
x | 15 |
16 |
17 Access- ibility |
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About the David and Carol Lackland Center
 Sitnik Theater of the Lackland Performing Arts Center |
The Centenary Stage Company has found its new home with construction the Carol and David Lackland Center (located at 715 Grand Ave, Hackettstown), completed in August, 2010. With a 22,000-square-foot performance space, the facility is the most sophisticated performing arts venues in northwest New Jersey. The center includes 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 is home to a variety of cultural activity, and including WNTI, the College's listener-supported public radio station, 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 for The Prisoner of Second Avenue range in price from $20 to $25, with special discounts for seniors, students
and groups. A "Buffet Matinee" series offers a catered luncheon with matinee performances for groups of 20 or more.
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 the CSC box office, Monday through Friday, from 1-5 PM (908-979-0900).
Flexible Subscription Offer
A special flexible subscription value is available for all theatre performances at CSC, which includes all five premiere performances for the total price of $85. The Flex-plan allows for the exchange of tickets for alternate dates (based on availability) when conflicts arise.
Subscription Values (Review
the Full Schedule) - 
Subscription Events)
Centenary Stage Company is often referred to as "the
best deal in the state." This event can be purchased as a part of
a discounted season subscription purchase. Centenary Stage Company offers several
subscription plans for its season with the mission of making arts affordable
for all. Patrons.
You may choose:
| Series A Subscription | Includes eleven events: all six of the CSC Concerts as well as all five productions in the professional Centenary Stage Company Season | $150.00 |
| Series B Subscription | Allows patrons to choose any six events from the CSC subscription season bundled with productions | $100.00 |
| Series C Subscription | Patrons interested exclusively in theatre may select a Series C subscription which includes the five professional Equity Centenary Stage Company productions. | $85.00 |
| Series Purchases: Call our Box Office at 908 979-0900 (new expanded online ticketing system for the new multi-theatre Lackland Center soon) |
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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 2011-12 season of performing arts events at Centenary Stage Company is made possible (and affordable) through the generous support of The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, and CSC sponsors and members, including Premiere Sponsors Fulton Bank of New Jersey (formerly Skylands Community Bank) and Heath Village Retirement Community, as well as Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, Mama's Café Baci, and Centenary Stage Company Members and Sponsors. |
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