2018 - 19 Season of Events
Archive of Centenary Stage Company's 2018 - 19 season of events including professional theatre productions, live music and dance events.
Curtain Up!
w/ Paula Poundstone
Saturday, September 15 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Paula Poundstone is one of the country's preeminent comedians, known for her smart, observational humore and spontaneous wit that has become the stuff of legend. Paula won an American Comedy Award for Best Female Standup Comic and is recognized in innumerable lists, documentaries, and literary compendiums noting influential standup comedians of our time.
Oedipus Rex
Gates Ferry Series: What is truth?
Wednesday, September 19 at 7:30 pm
Kutz Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
"Truth un - avoided."
Staged reading led by guest artists Randall Duk Kim and Anne Occhiogrosso. Oedipus will try to escape his predicted fate only to collide with the dire consequences of doing so. The Gates Ferry Series: "What is Truth?" features two staged readings, one full-scale production and workshops free to the public built around classical texts.
NJSO Chamber Ensemble
Concert Series
Sunday, September 30 at 2:00 pm
Kutz Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Una Festa Musicale Italiana.
A musical tour through sunny Italy, brought to life by a string ensemble from the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Featuring everything from traditional tarantella dances to the soaring beauty of music by Puccini, Mascagni and Rossini, the program will transport you to a land where speech is like signing and melody flows like wine.
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Professional Theatre Series
October 12 - 28
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Adapted & Directed by Charles Morey.
Before Twilight and True Blood, only one vampire commanded "the children of the night". In this blood - thirsty tale of unholy terror, Count Dracula slips into Victorian London. The city seems helpless against his frightful power, and only one man, Dr. Van Helsing, can stop the carnage. A potent and theatrical adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic horror novel that is strongly faithful to the original.
A Year with Frog and Toad
Young Audience Series
November 1 - 5
The Little Theatre
Arnold Lobel's treasured characters hop from page to stage in a story of friendship and adventure. A hit on Broadway and nominated for three Tony Awards including Best Musical. Based on the well-loved books, and featuring a hummable score by Robert and Willie Reale, this whimsical show follows two great friends - the cheerful, popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad - through four fun-filled seasons.
The New Jersey Ballet
Professional Dance Series
Saturday, November 3 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth.
An evening of romance, sword fighting and witches! Based on Shakespeare's tragic masterpiece, Romeo & Juliet tells the tale of young lovers torn apart by family rivalries. Shakespeare's towering tragedy, Macbeth, comes to life through vivid dance. Based on the version by Vladimir Vasiliev with music by Kirill Mochanov. An expanded staging featuring more scenes, more characters, more dancing and witches.
The New Jersey Ballet
Professional Dance Series
Sunday, November 4 at 2:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Sleeping Beauty.
The full-length classical ballet that has drawn people to the ballet for more than 100 years. Sleeping Beauty delivers high drama, tender romance, spectacular dancing and glorious Tchaikovsky music. The New Jersey Ballet troupe of international artists brings the story to life with elaborate pantomime and glorious dancing in a magical fairy tale castle with phantasmagorical costumes straight out of an old storybook illustration.
Apples in Winter
Professional Theatre Series
November 8 - 18
Kutz Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
By Jennifer Fawcett
National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. Miriam loves to bake Apple Pies and today she has a special request to make her signature recipe. But this day is going to be different, because Miriam has decided that this will be the last apple pie she ever bakes.
King Lear
Gates Ferry Series: "What is Truth?"
Wednesday, November 14 at 7:30 pm
Kutz Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
"Truth Banished."
Staged reading led by guest artists Randall Duk Kim and Anne Occhiogrosso. King Lear will banish his daughter Cordelia and the loyal Kent for telling him the truth. The Gates Ferry Series: "What is Truth?" features two staged readings, one full-scale production and workshops free to the public built around classical texts.
Annie: The Musical
Family Holiday Spectacular
November 23 - December 9
Sitnik Theatre: Lackland Performing Arts Center
Book and score by Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin
With equal measure pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hanningan in 1930s New York.
Michael Davis and the New Wonder
January Music Festival
Saturday, January 12 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre: Lackland Performing Arts Center
At twenty-six years old, "eloquent trumpet prodigy" Mike Davis (Wall Street Journal) has a voice beyond his years on his instrument, imbued with the sounds of prohibition-era speakeasies, Hoovervilles of the depression, and the glittering jazz palaces of the swing era. Together with his band they create a timeless cocktail of American music and classic jazz from the 20s and 30s inspired by Bix Beiderbecke, Red Nichols, and the California Rambers.
Harry James Orchestra
January Music Festival
Sunday, January 20 at 4:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre: Lackland Performing Arts Center
Since 1983, The Harry James Orchestra has continued the tradition of mellow arrangements and fine rhythmic playing that first made it famous. Now under the direction of Fred Radke, Harry James' lead trumpet virtuoso, the Harry James Orchestra continues to play in the major venues across the country and extensively throughout the world.
Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper
January Music Festival
Saturday, January 26 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre: Lackland Performing Arts Center
Considered one of the premiere bluegrass fiddlers of his generation, Mike picked up a fiddle at age four, and his talent was recognized early. His list of guest appearances over the years is a who's who of bluegrass legends. At the 2001 IBMA awards he earned Fiddler Player of the Year and shared the title of Entertainer of the Year. Together with his band Flamekeeper, Cleveland delivers some of the most powerful, exciting and authentic bluegrass you can find.
Reasons to be Pretty
NEXTstage Repertory
January 31 - February 4
The Little Theatre
by Neil Labute
​
A love story about the impossibility of love. Reasons to be Pretty introduces us to Greg, who really, truly adores his girlfriend, Steph. Unfortunately, he also thinks she has a few physical imperfections, and when he casually mentions them, all hell breaks loose. A hopelessly romantic drama about the hopelessness of romance. NEXTstage Repertory is the all student production division highlighting the close collaboration between the Centenary University Theatre Department and the professional Centenary Stage Company.
Martha Redbone
Concert Series
Saturday, February 9 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre: Lackland Performing Arts Center
Roots Project.
​
Martha Redbone is one of the most vital voices in American Roots music. A multi award-winning musician, she is celebrated for her tasty gumbo of roots music embodying the folk and country sounds of the Appalachian Mountains, the piedmont blues, and the spirit of her Cherokee/Choctaw mother's culture. Redbone broadens the boundries of Americana today.
An Enemy of the People
Professional Theatre Series
February 15 - March 23
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
by Henrik Ibsen
adapted by John Alan Wyatt
Part of the Gates Ferry Series. An Enemy of the People follows Doctor Thomas Stockmann, who discovers dangerous water pollution in the Springs, a highly anticipated resort that recently opened in his Norwegian town. With ripped-from-the-headlines relevance, this high intensity drama is a powerful investigation of ambition, integrity and the price we pay for the truth.
Reflections: Ireland in Song and Story
Concert Series
Sunday, March 10 at 3:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Featuring Irish Tenor, Timothy Liam Smith.
A tapestry of Irish song, story and cultural lore examining the themes of religions, emigration, the Troubles and more. Irish Tenor Timothy Liam Smith and his ensemble takes us on a journey ranging from Moore to Yeats to modern musicians and storytellers.
US Army Field Band
Concert Series - FREE EVENT
Saturday, March 16 at 3:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
The Jazz Ambassadors.
The Jazz Ambassadors is the United States Army's premier big band. Custom compositions and arrangements highlight the groups creative talent and gifted soloists. The diverse repertoire includes big band swing, bebop, Latin, contemporary jazz, standards, popular tunes, Dixieland, vocals, and patriotic selections
She Kills Monsters
NEXTstage Repertory
March 22 - 25
Kutz Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
by Qui Nguyen
​
A comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games. Agnes Evans leaves her childhood home in Ohio following the death of her teenage sister Tilly. When she discovers Tilly's Dungeons & Dragons notebook she stumbles into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was Tilly's refuge. A high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres and 90s pop culture offering a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.
Ceilidh
Professional Dance Series
Saturday, March 23 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
An Evening of Irish Music and Dance
​
Darrah Carr Dance. Since 1998, the Bessie Award nominated company Darrah Carr ha brought a bold new twist to conventional Irish Dance. The mixed repertoire program of traditional Irish music and dance include featured cast members Billy Elliot star Trent Kowalik and longtime Riverdance cast member Timothy Kochka. The program features a live music component and champion Irish step dancers who have garnered awards at numerous competitions on both the national and international circuit.
WPS: Babel
Women Playwrights Series
Wednesday, April 10 at 7:30 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
by Jacqueline Goldfinger
​
In this version of a near future society, prospective parents learn within the first weeks of conception which traits their child will have and what behaviors it is likely to exhibit. Based on these test results, they are either issued a PRE certification which legally guarantees the baby will be a "good" person or not. Two couples, both early in their pregnancies, collide over what to do with their PRE certification test results. With rapid advances in reproductive technology modern eugenics is science's Wild West.
Moe-tion Dance Theater
Professional Dance Series
Saturday, April 13 at 8:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Established in 2007, Moe-tion Dance Theater is a contemporary modern dance company based in New Jersey. Under the artistic direction of Maureen Glennon, the company is dedicated to experimenting and creating new forms of expression. The company enjoys collaborating together, creating new work that speaks to each one of the dancers. Moe-tion dance theater, known for their diverse repertory and site-specific work, has performed at numerous festivals, showcases and venues throughout the tri-state area.
Joe Piscopo
Special Event
Sunday, April 14 at 3:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Special Fundraiser for Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey.
​
Centenary University presents Joe Piscopo with special guest comedian Jeff Norris. Television, film, theater, nightclub - they're all fields in which Joe Piscopo has won the acclaim and affection of millions. Some of his gigs include Saturday Night Live, guest starring roles on Law and Order, Wise Guys with Danny Divito, Broadway's GREASE, and The Joe Piscopo Show on AM970.
WPS: Whippoorwill
Women Playwrights Series
Wednesday, April 17 at 7:30 pm
Kutz Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
by Ruth Kirschner
​
Nine-year old Bibi and her mother have made a good life together, but Bibi is determined to get to the bottom of what really happened with her missing father, about whom her mother tells a different story each time she asks. Three generations of women make this story sing.
WPS: Across the Aisle
Women Playwrights Series
Wednesday, April 24 at 7:30 pm
Kutz Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
by Alyssa Haddad
​
In Brooklyn a young interracial couple hosts their traditional families for Thanksgiving and drops the bomb that they are engaged, igniting the question, "how do you create a future with someone from an entirely different past?"
Avenue Q
NEXTstage Repertory
April 25 - May 5
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Music and lyrics by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez
Book by Jeff Whitty
​
Winner of the Tony "Triple Crown" for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Avenue Q is part flesh, part felt and packed with heart. Filled with gut busting humor and a delightfully catchy score, not to mention puppets, Avenue Q is a truly unique show that has quickly become a favorite for audiences everywhere. Recommended for mature audiences only.
​
New Jersey Civic Youth Ballet
Carnival of the Animals & Peter and the Wolf
Special Event
Sunday, June 2 at 4:00 pm
Sitnik Theatre : Lackland Performing Arts Center
Peter and the Wolf is a timeless classic. A story of unexpected friendships, teamwork and bravery. The dance, narration and musical themes help guide the story.
​
Carnival of the Animals is a charming ballet that tells the story of a young girl who falls asleep and dreams her favorite stuffed animal, a lion, has come to life. The entire ballet is a gem that leaves the audience feeling enchanted and inspired.