HACKETTSTOWN – Centenary Stage Company kicks off its official 2020-2021 season on Saturday, Sept. 26, with a special outdoor gala titled “Songs of Promise: An Evening of Music Celebrating Centenary Stage Company’s 35th Season.”

The concert will feature hit Broadway show tunes all focusing on the company’s theme for the anniversary season: Hope. The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m., on the front lawn of Centenary University, 400 Jefferson St., Hackettstown. Rain date is Sept. 27.

This cabaret concert will feature special live entertainment from some of Centenary Stage Company’s favorite artists. You’ll hear songs from productions like “Songs for a New World,” “Avenue Q,” “Man of La Mancha,” Sponge Bob The Musical,” “Nine to Five” and many more.

Singers will include talented alumni of Centenary University’s Theatre Degree Program, past CSC performers, and current Centenary students.

In addition to hearing some of Broadway’s greatest hits you’ll also be able to buy concessions from local food truck, Rosie’s Empanadas, and ice cream donated by Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream of Ledgewood.

Admission for the event is free, but CSC would appreciate donations at the door, in any amount. CDC and government recommendations regarding COVID-19, including wearing face coverings and social distancing family groups by at least six feet, will be strongly encouraged. Reservations for these events are required and limited. Make reservations and find more information at www.centenarystageco.org or by calling the box office at 908-979-0900.

Centenary Stage Company is a not-for-profit regional theater in residence at Centenary University. The 2020-2021 season of Centenary Stage Company’s performing arts events is made possible through the support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, the Sandra and CSC corporate sponsors, including season sponsors the House of the Good Shepard, Hackettstown Medical Center Atlantic Health System, Home Instead Senior Care (Washington), Fulton Bank and Centenary Stage Company members and supporters.

‘Christmas Carol’ auditions planned

HACKETTSTOWN – Centenary Stage Company will hold a non-Equity open call audition for the upcoming 2020 holiday production of “The Christmas Carol,” written by Stephen Temperley based on the story by Charles Dickens.

Auditions will be held by appointment on Friday, Oct. 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment, interested performers must call the Centenary Stage Company box office at 908-979-0900. Walk-ins will be seen as time permits. The auditions will be held in the Lackland Performing Arts Center at 715 Grand Ave., Hackettstown, on the campus of Centenary University.

Interested performers may prepare a monologue appropriate to the material or read from sides. Sides will be provided. If unable to attend, send resumes to boxoffice@centenarystageco.org – Att: Casting. Rehearsals begin Nov. 3 and run through Nov. 25 with performances running Nov. 27 through Dec. 13. Performance days are Wednesdays and Sundays at 2 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Centenary Stage Company is a not-for-profit professional theater company in residency at Centenary University.

“The Christmas Carol” by Stephen Temperley, author of “Souvenir,” is a new dramatization of the classic Dickens novel, intended for a small cast of versatile performers. Six actors will bring to life all the Dickens characters. “A Christmas Carol,” probably the most popular piece of fiction that Dickens ever wrote, was published in 1843. Dickens, through the voice of Scrooge, continues to urge us to honor Christmas in our hearts and try to keep it all year round.

The roles are:

Actor 1: Narrator, Timothy Cratchit, Beggar, Ignorance, Boy;

Actor 2: Mrs. Dilber, Christmas Past, Mrs. Cratchit, Annabel, Businessman;

Actor 3: Businessman, Fezziwig, Ghost of Christmas Present. Old Joe;

Actor 4: Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley, Businessman;

Actor 5: Fan, Belle, Want, Annabel;

Actor 6: Fred, Young Scrooge, Peter Cratchit.

For more information, to download sides or the full text visit www.centenarystageco.org.