Centenary Stage to Bring Back A CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE MUSICAL, 11/29-12/15

Back by popular demand, Centenary Stage Company presents this season's Family Holiday Spectacular A Christmas Carol: The Musical, running November 29 through December 15 in the Sitnik Theatre of The David and Carol Lackland Center. Charles Dickens' beloved Christmas classic is reborn in this musical extravaganza with a live orchestra and 75 performers appearing in dazzling dance numbers and moving songs.

This beloved tale gets the full Broadway treatment by the legendary Broadway team of Alan Menken ("Beauty and the Beast," "Little Mermaid,"), Lynn Ahrens ("Ragtime," "Seussical") and Mike Okrent ("Crazy For You," "Me and My Girl. A Christmas Carol retains its emotional power and pure joy, thanks to the marvelously-told story filled with beautiful melodies and emotional lyrics. The Star Ledger says, "Centenary Stage Company grandly picks up where Madison Square Garden left off."

Directed by Broadway veteran, Michael Blevins, A Christmas Carol features a cast hailing from New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The holiday musical is meant to celebrate all the programs of the Centenary Stage, including talents from professional Equity actors as well as members of the acclaimed Young Performers Workshop (YPW), Centenary theatre students, and local performers.

Osborn Focht (Hoboken, NJ) returns in the lead role of "Scrooge" for another phenomenal performance. Focht is best known for his appearance in Paul Simon's The Capeman on Broadway, and as Benny Andersson in Kristina at Carnegie Hall. Other returning performers include last season's lovable "Cowardly Lion," Jeremy Hilgert (Delaware Water Gap, PA) as Mr. Fezziwig; Equity Actor and CSC favorite Lea Antolini-Lid (Sparta) as "The Ghost of Christmas Past;" Sarah Lichty (New York, NY) as "The Ghost of Christmas Present" and regional actor Dave Scheffler (Easton, PA) as "The Ghost of Marley." Making his professional CSC debut is David Yawger (Columbia) as "Tiny Tim," who has worked his way up through CSC's educational programs starting with Tyro at a very young age and was one of the stars of this summer's YPW show A Year with Frog and Toad.

The Friday, December 6th performance of A Christmas Carol will coincide with Hackettstown's Hometown Holiday Celebration, which will include the arrival of Santa in a horse-drawn sleigh, carriage rides through Historic downtown, a parade featuring the Colonial Musketeers, an illumination event at Centenary College, and a holiday bazaar. For more information on the celebration, visit the Hackettstown Business Improvement District website at hackettstownbid.com.

Performances for A Christmas Carol are Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2 PM, Wednesday December 4 at 2 pm, and Wed, December 11 at 10 am (school matinee), with an additional preview matinee on Friday, Nov 25 at 2 pm. Ticket prices are $27.50 for adults on Matinees and Fridays and $29.50 on Saturdays with discounts for seniors, students and children under 12. Thursday evening tickets are $27.50 with a two-for-one Family Night discount when purchased at the door.

There will also be two performances where Scout Troops can get a discount when coming as a group. Friday, December 6th and Friday, December 13th scouts and their leaders can purchase tickets at $15 when they come in uniform. Reservations are required.

Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.centenarystageco.org, at the CSC Box Office in The Lackland Center at 715 Grand Ave in Hackettstown, or by calling 908-979-0900. The Box Office is open Monday through Friday 1-5 p.m., and 2 hours prior to performance times. CSC also operates a second Box Office during the season at 217 Main Street in Hackettstown open Monday through Friday 3-6 p.m. where patrons can enter to win dinner for two at Prickly Pear Restaurant.

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