Centenary Stage Company presents Yasmina Reza's ART

Written by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton and directed by theatre legend Anne Occhiogrosso, Centenary Stage Company's mainstage theatrical season continues in the Lackland Performing Arts Center this Friday, February 16 at 8PM with Reza's 1998 Tony Award and 1996 Olivier Award winning comedy Art. "Wildly funny, naughtily provocative..." says the NY Post, it all begins when Serge buys an expensive painting by a celebrated artist. A white canvas with white diagonal lines. Old friends square off over the canvas, using it as an excuse to hilariously batter one another over various slights and failures. Art is a hilarious exploration of the very notion of what constitutes art while examining the meaning of friendship. "Anyone looking for a play that is funny, sophisticated, stylish, stimulating and moving should go to 'ART'." (Independent, London).

Centenary Stage Company's Art is directed by nationally acclaimed Artistic Director, theatre director, dramaturge and acting coach, Anne Occhiogrosso. Occhiogrosso co - founded the American Players Theatre with Randall Duk Kim and Charles Bright in 1979. Art features an all - star cast with an impressive collective resume of film, television, Broadway and regional credits.

Commercially known for his film work as the 'Keymaker' in The Matrix Reloaded and the voice of Master Oogway in Dreamwork's Kung Fu Panda franchise, Obie Award winning Randall Duk Kim made his acting debut in 1960 and has spent most of his working life on stage. His love of the classical repertoire and an early encounter with the Shakespearian acting of Morris Carnovsky has both fired and shaped his fifty-year career. His performances in the regional theatres include seasons at The American Conservatory Theatre, the Guthrie Theater, the Arizona Theater Company, the NY Shakespeare Festival, and the American Place Theater. His film credits include PRISONERS IN TIME, THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS, LOST EMPIRE (aka THE MONKEY KING), ANNA AND THE KING, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, DRAGONBALL EVOLUTION, THE LAST AIRBENDER, and NINJA ASSASSIN. His Broadway credits include the THE KING AND I, David Henry Hwang's GOLDEN CHILD, and FLOWER DRUM SONG.

Award-winning actor and singer, Kevin Carolan has built a successful career over the last 25 years and has been directed by some of the most talented artists in show business, including Martin Scorese, Larry David, Tim Van Patten, Joe Mantello, Walter Bobbie, James Lapine, and Mel Brooks. He has numerous appearances on television shows such as Orange Is the New Black, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Middle, The Good Wife, Royal Pains, Spin City, Fringe, White Collar, and the recurring role of the Barker in HBO's Boardwalk Empire. Kevin has also toured the U.S., Canada, Tokyo, and Dubai, U.A.E. as Amos Hart in the musical Chicago, and performed in regional theatres such as The Goodman Theatre, The Huntington Theatre, Goodspeed Opera House, and the Paper Mill Playhouse. He has appeared on Broadway in Dirty Blonde, The Ritz, Chicago (10th Anniversary Celebration), originated the role of Teddy Roosevelt in Disney's Newsies! The Musical, which he returns to in the national tour, and recently created the role of Baloo in a new adaptation of Disney's The Jungle Book, directed by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman, for which the Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) awarded him Best Supporting Actor in a Musical.

Centenary Stage Company's own award winning Artistic Director Carl Wallnau recent acting credits include Lionel Percy in Bakersfield Mist (Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum) alongside 4 time daytime Emmy Award winner Kim Zimmer, Dr. Watson in The Hound of the Baskervilles and Pandarus in Troilus and Cressida (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival), and Mr. Mayhew in Witness for the Prosecution (Bristol Riverside). He has directed numerous productions including the world premieres of Inventing Montana, The Tillie Project and The Poetry of Pizza, as well as, the American premiere of A Laughing Matter and the New Jersey premieres of Below the Belt, Square One, Rounding Third, Marvin's Room and The English Bride, which later transferred to NYC for a run at 59E59. Wallnau has been cited for outstanding direction. He has worked at numerous regional theaters including Paper Mill Playhouse, The Arden Theatre, Second Stage in NYC, York Musical Theatre in NYC, People's Light, The Lark Theatre, The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Hartford Stage, Bristol Riverside, Forum Theatre, Premiere Stages, Orlando Shakespeare Company, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Foothills Playhouse, Theatre 1812 in Philadelphia, Barnstormers and 14 months on the road with the First National Tour of Titanic. He received his MFA from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts.

Centenary Stage Company's production of Art runs February 16 through March 4 in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center. Performance dates are Fridays, February 16, 23 and March 2 at 8pm; Saturdays, February 17, 24 and March 3 at 8pm; Sundays, February 18, 25 and March 4 at 2pm; Wednesdays, February 21 and 28 at 2pm and Thursdays, February 22 and March 1 at 7:30pm. Ticket prices $27.50 for adults and $17.50 for children under 12 on matinee and Friday evening performances. Saturday evening performances are $29.50 for adults and $17.50 for children under 12. Thursday evening performances are $27.50 for ALL SEATS with a special 'buy one/get one' rush ticket special when purchased in person at the Centenary Stage Company box office starting two hours prior to performance time. The 'buy one/get one' rush ticket special is not valid for advance ticket sales, on - line or by phone. Offer is only valid in person at the box office during the designated time and may not be combined with any other special offer or discount.

Centenary Stage Company is also offering a buffet matinee for groups of 25 or more (up to 50) on Wednesdays February 21 and 28. Buffet matinees are $45.00 per person and include pre-show dining in one of CSC's private dining rooms, as well as admittance to the 2pm matinee. Buffet matinees must be scheduled in advance. CSC also offers discounted tickets for group sales of 25 or more. To find out more or schedule your group or buffet matinee call the Centenary Stage Company box office directly at (908) 979 - 0900.

Centenary Stage Company's production of Yasmina Reza's Art is sponsored in part by Heath Village Retirement Community and The House of the Good Shepherd.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit centenarystageco.org or call the Centenary Stage Company box office at (908) 979 - 0900. The box office is located in the Lackland Performing Arts Center at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown and is open Monday through Friday from 1 - 5pm and two hours prior to every performance. Centenary Stage Company can also be found across social media platforms; Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Like and follow to receive the latest CSC news and special offers.

The 2017-2018 season of performing arts events at the Centenary Stage Company is made possible through the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the NJ State Council on the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, the Sandra Kupperman Foundation, Zonta Morristown Chapter and CSC corporate sponsors, including Premier Season Sponsor Heath Village Retirement Community, Silver Sponsors Hackettstown Medical Center, The House of the Good Shepherd, Home Instead Senior Care (Washington), and Fulton Bank of New Jersey, and Centenary Stage Company members and supporters.

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